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Flattening the Curve: The Role Geo-Location Games Play

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Introduction

This was written by one of our Discord members.

The real world rarely has dramatic effects on video games. Europe's GDPR, Asia's rules on loot crates and United State's Loss of Net Neutrality are but a few examples that affect Internet-connected video games. In 2020, we now have a global pandemic with COVID-19. Sports events, large gatherings and most recurring annual conventions are being cancelled left and right. Spectators of art and culture will not gather at concerts or go to the movies. Governments are closing borders and enacting curfews and quarantines; while severely incentivizing (or at least: officially recommending) that users stay home and attempt to get in proximity to the fewest amount of human beings as possible. All in the hope of Flattening the Curve. Work from home, take some days off, and for all that is holy, wash your hands!

What does this mean for players of AR and Geolocation games?

It means that putting on your shoes, going outside and catching some Pokemon/darting some dinosaurs/discovering foundables is no longer a safe and carefree activity as it was before. To adapt to this new reality, video game companies have to tweak their game to allow confined players to still benefit from the game. We have seen this with Ludia: they have added an offer to purchase 350 darts for 100 coins (instead of hardcash) while adding a GIGA SCENT to the Free Incubator. This scent lets players dart two creatures every 2 minutes, regardless of their movement, and it lasts for three hours. That's a potential of 180 creatures spawned right at your feet, while staying in the comfort of your home!

Giga Scent

Parting Words

While confined, we appreciate it when video game companies opt to do small tweaks so as to provide us with the means to keep playing the game that we have grown to love. We all have our priorities in life: the most important ones are to stay alive and stay safe. Thank you, Ludia, for allowing us to stay safe while enjoying the game!

References

GDPR
https://gdpr-info.eu/

Asia's rules on loot crates
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loot_box#Asia_and_Oceania

Unites State's Loss of Net Neutrality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality_in_the_United_States

Flattening the Curve
https://www.wired.com/story/whats-social-distancing-flattening-curve-covid-19-questions/

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