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We'll cover certain reasons why this new form of Pokémon engagement can be considered a fad or not. Let us know what you think!
By:
Max Ringelheim
Over the past few weeks, Pokémon has made a major comeback. The once-viral Nintendo Game Boy "game"—and later, the viral trading card game—has now been revived, only this time in the form of augmented reality on people's smartphones!
. Millions of people are searching for and catching Pokémon everywhere, but this time in the most realistic way yet: using their mobile . Pokémon characters are coming to life through the company's new mobile reality technology, allowing people to discover Pokémon in places like their own living room, kitchen, parks, supermarkets, and more.
. So is the hype real? I mean, is this new innovation from the popular game developer truly the next big thing? Will millions of users become a billion one day? Or will "Pokémon GO" fade away, with hardly anyone talking about it six months from now?
Below, we’ll explore some reasons why this new way of engaging with Pokémon might be just a fad, as well as reasons why it could become the sustainable and successful game of the future. Let us know what you think and whether you agree with the conclusion at the end!
Why is it a fad?
Quick-fading trends come and go all the time: just look at things like Pogs, Homies, Ferbies, or the once-famous Dreamcast gaming system. You'll notice they all have one thing in common: they came and went. This is especially true for the children's market. Over time, kids found new forms of entertainment with other fun games and animated characters over a 12- to 24-month period. They simply moved on once their enjoyment of each of these examples began to wane.
Pokémon was a fad once before—just lookat the company we're talking about. Pokémon has become notorious for creating products that keep surging in popularity over the two decades it's been around. Whether it was their trading cards or Game Boy games, these products lost steam after about 12 to 24 months. That’s not to downplay the brand’s prominence, and kudos to their ability to remain relevant for such a long time. However, we have to be realistic and remember that literally no one was obsessively talking about Pokémon two months ago.
Limited user base - Back in the 90s and even today, kids are obsessed with Pokémon, but it doesn't appeal to anyone over 30. Pokémon has always been a game geared toward kids and continues to cater to them. As mentioned above, kids will easily find a new form of entertainment in due time.
Not enough mainstream value proposition— What tangible or intangible value do people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s get out of playing Pokémon GO? I just don't see the value justifying the amount of time someone needs to commit to playing this game competitively, especially for older demographics who have less free time. I believe that the value needs to be there in order for older populations to gravitate toward it.
Consumer confusion - "I don't get it" - that's what many people around the world are simply telling themselves. Unfortunately for Pokémon, these people don't have the time or energy to spare right now to figure out how to play. They'd rather just go about their lives without Pokémon.
:Why it isn't a fad:
They own their own intellectual property— Pokémon owns all the intellectual property associated with its technology. Therefore, they aren't reliant on anyone else to dictate how they will grow their business. Considering that they have grown their business model and creative concept into a dominant force over the past 15 years, I would expect them to continue growing significantly.
An established brand with millions of devoted followers and fans— in the late 90s, Pokémon built a loyal fan base of millions (including myself); in fact, tens of millions. In their current venture, they have the ability to leverage all those fans and followers to help grow their new concept. I was a huge fan of the Game Boy game and trading cards when I was 10 years old. I have no connection to Pokémon these days. However, if they found a way to resonate with me through the new game today,m of the millions of others who can help spread the word and appreciate what the new Pokémon has to offer.
They've outlasted the competition for years—Dragon Ball Z, Kirby, Sonic, and Digimon all have one thing in common: they never became as popular as Pokémon. Therefore, Pokémon has remained at the top of the pack in terms of animated video game characters and TV series. The fact that it has stayed at the top for so long gives me reason to believe that it will continue to do so thanks to its promising new game innovations.
They're proven and trustworthy— do you have any concerns about their reliability when you think of Pokémon? Do you wonder whether their games will actually work properly? For the majority of consumers, the answer to each of these questions is "no." Pokémon delivers top-notch products to consumers, and there is no doubt about the performance of their various entertainment platforms. This lack of questions and hesitation gives consumers no reason at all not to at least give this new game a try and see if they like it.
Augmented reality is the future. - Pokémon's use of augmented reality comes at the perfect time. This industry is on the rise, and people are gradually beginning to recognize the power of this technological advancement. Pokémon recognizes the future of this technology and the role it will play in society. They are simply getting an early start with augmented reality, knowing that the future is promising, and as a result, they can be considered a market leader in this field.
They're tech-savvy— By embracing the latest augmented reality trend, Pokémon is demonstrating its continued use and application of advanced technology. It was one of the first massively popular games on the Game Boy Color. When it was released, Nintendo recognized the potential of this early innovation. Now they're doing the same thing with augmented reality. The best part is that they have all the resources in the world to expand their tech teams in order to keep pace with any demand or changes that arise within the industry.
Max Ringelheim is a 26-year-old seasoned, successful entrepreneur—and, like many others before him, a failed one. After graduating from college, Max co-founded and bootstrapped his own video conferencing technology company called Vonvo.com. After 3.5 years and achieving many milestones—such as raising over $150,000 in angel funding and having his software used at the United Nations—he decided to put Vonvo on hold. He then transitioned into a consulting role for various startup companies in NYC. Some of his most recent consulting roles included serving as an SDR for an ad-tech startup called ListenLoop and being responsible for co-launching the recently acclaimed “Hoverboard Movement.” Some of his accomplishments in the hoverboard industry included generating over $1 million in sales revenue in less than 8 weeks and establishing dozens of partnerships with various notable celebrities. Max is now looking for new opportunities with exciting companies where he can leverage his tireless work ethic, extensive network, and viral growth hacking skills.
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