A short history of Nintendo’s attempts to lure you outdoors with Pokémon
Pokémon GO has taken the world by storm. It forces gamers into the fresh air. Many people laud the game as a health-conscious move from Nintendo and a revolution in mobile gaming. Nintendo has been trying to lure you outdoors since the franchise began.
The idea for Pokémon was born out of creator Satoshi Tajiri’s childhood love for collecting insects. It makes sense that the game relies on outdoor exploration. Past attempts to get players out were never as direct as GO but they paved the way for the current experience.
Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
The first release in the Pokémon franchise started a worldwide obsession with capturing, training and battling fictional creatures. A game made for Game Boy might seem like a solitary activity but Nintendo had other plans. Players used a Game Link cable to connect two devices for trading and battling. It was a small step towards the outdoors. Players who wanted the multiplayer option had to find a fellow fan.
Pokémon Pikachu, or Pocket Pikachu (1998)
Pokémon Pikachu was a digital pet and exercise toy featuring Pikachu. The device had an internal pedometer that rewarded exercise with points. Players strapped the device to their belt to earn a point, or watt, for every 20 steps. Most players just shook the device to get watts but it generally got kids moving.
Pokémon Trading Cards (1999)
Pokémon cards were the playground currency of the late 90s. They defined reputations and friendships. The recess bell was the cue to sprint to the playground to trade cards. After schools started banning the cards, kids met up after school. They headed to local public trading spots. It is a tenuous link but it belongs on the list.
Pokéwalker (2009)
The Pokéwalker was a small pedometer device that rewarded active players with points. These came bundled with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. They encouraged players to move to earn experience points, watts and items. One study discovered that the Pokéwalker was the most accurate pedometer of its time.
