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We started this episode with a discussion of recent gaming sensation Pokémon GO, which is an “augmented reality” game where users track and interact with virtual Pokémon creatures through their mobiles. (Apologies to those who tired of the topic!)
If you’d like to understand why everybody is glued to their mobile screens more than normal, Restarter Ben Skidmore explains it for us.
The game raises fascinating questions about the future of mobile and about the staying-power of games.
We then talked about the popularity of retro-gaming with the news that Nintendo will re-release its classic games from the 80s bundled on a closed, mini console. It appears the company would like to step in and make money from older games, given the success of unsanctioned emulators. In principle we welcome this, but it remains to be seen whether this, like Pokémon GO, will be a flash in the pan.
Links we mentioned:
- Tips on saving battery to play Pokémon GO
- Debate on NYT Opinion pages about Pokémon GO
- Ars Technica on the Nintendo game console
- Nintendo NES vs. Retropie in PC World
Bonus link, our favourite new-retro game (banned from app stores!) Phone Story
[Feature image “Pokémon Go” by Flickr user Edowoo is licensed under CC BY 2.0]
