How To Utilization A Pokemon Become Type Game
Niantic is an established leader inwards location based games in addition to has already enjoyed pop success amongst their Ingress game. However the stratospheric success of Niantic's Pokemon Go agency that the potential for location based augmented reality games is in conclusion beingness to a greater extent than widely recognized. There is no dubiety that the popularity of Pokemon Go agency that at that topographic point volition presently last many imitators.
So - how create y'all create a game similar Pokemon Go based on location data?
1. Build a Database of Points of Interest
There are plainly many elements to Niantic's Pokemon Go. At the midpoint of the game, however, is the placement of Pokemon inwards the existent world. In nitty-gritty Pokemon are mapped to item locations inwards the real-world based on Niantic's database of points of interest.
At a basic degree features inwards Pokemon Go are mapped similar this:
Places of Interest: Pokemon
Public Spaces: Gyms
Water - Water Pokemon
Niantic's database of points of involvement comes from users of Niantic's Ingress game. Niantic Labs began every bit an internal start-up at Google, Therefore it is security to assume that the master information behind Ingress in addition to Niantic's before mobile guide 'Fieldtrip' (showing nearby places of interest) came from Google Maps.
Players of Niantic's Ingress were encouraged to submit points of involvement to the game. This has enabled Niantic to extend their database of interesting places - especially inwards areas which lacked information inwards the master game.
At the midpoint of Ingress' master database were locations which had some 'cultural' interest. This is of import to the success of Niantic's location based games. It agency that when players take in real-world locations acre playing Ingress or Pokemon Go at that topographic point is unremarkably something interesting for players to see.
So how create y'all create a database of POI's?
If y'all don't desire to start from scratch y'all could ever operate something similar Google Places or Mapzen's Who's on First gazetteer.
Alternatively y'all could operate OpenStreetMap data. Using the Overpass API y'all tin pick out in addition to download OSM map data. For illustration (copying Niantic's preference for places of cultural interest) y'all could operate the Overpass API to download the locations of all buildings inwards a metropolis tagged 'museum' in addition to 'gallery' to create a database of museums in addition to fine art galleries.
2. Create a Base Map
Pokemon Go appears to last using Google Maps for its base of operations map of streets in addition to location data. If y'all likewise desire to create upon the success of Google Maps y'all could operate the Google Maps API, the Google Maps API for Android in addition to the Google Maps SDK for iOS.
The disadvantage of using Google Maps is that y'all solely accept limited options for creating your ain map style. Mapbox in addition to Mapzen accept both written recent posts nigh how y'all tin create a base of operations map similar to that used inwards Pokemon Go. If y'all desire to create your ain map mode based on OpenStreetMap information in addition to thence y'all could ever operate Mapbox Studio.
3. Find Your Users Location
Once y'all accept a database of interesting locations in addition to a base of operations map on which to house them y'all accept the basic requirements for your game. However y'all volition quest to depository fiscal establishment jibe your user's location before showing them their nearby points of interest.
To create this y'all could operate a geolocation service, such every bit the Google Geolocation API or the Geolocation API.
Alternatively y'all could operate geo-fencing to decide when a user enters a predefined geographic area. You tin operate geo-fences to define an expanse or thence a location in addition to trigger actions on your map based on when users travel into your defined area.
4. Create an Interesting Game
Now comes the difficult part. Once y'all accept a database of interesting places, a map in addition to a way of checking your users' locations y'all directly quest something fun for them to do. This is where y'all quest to instruct creative in addition to come upward up amongst your ain ideas.
The potential is limitless simply y'all mightiness desire to consider location based ideas such as,
finding, dropping, grooming objects /characters
buying, selling or capturing territory
finding or hiding virtual objects (a sort of virtual geocaching or virtual treasure hunt)