App Development Lessons Learned From Pokemon GO
Four Ways to Develop a Better Mobile Application
Augmented reality and millennial nostalgia have quickly helped make Pokémon Go the most popular game in mobile history.
Released in the United States on July 6, Pokémon Go allows players to explore the real world in a quest to be the very best Pokémon trainer.
Pokémon Go has become a huge hit with more than just those who grew up with the Game Boy cartridges, trading cards and animated show. With over 25,000,000 users in the United States playing the game per day, the app has seen retention rates more than twice the mobile app industry standard.
In what has essentially been the first mainstream, widespread use of augmented reality gaming, it’s not a surprise that Pokémon Go has caused quite a stir in the real world.
During the short time the app has been live, it has helped solve crime, been used to commit crimes, walked users off a cliff, led to the discovery of (multiple) dead bodies, has inspired people to quit their day jobs and has ruined relationships.
But it’s all in good fun, right?
Even if the fad wears off in the coming months, Pokémon Go is sure to go down as one of the most influential, controversial and arguably most fun mobile apps in history.
It’s going to be hard for any app developer to match the success Niantic has achieved in such a short amount of time, but there are several lessons we can take from Pokémon Go to make your next app a little bit better than you had imagined.
Discover Ways to Make Augmented Reality Work for You
The appeal of layering a virtual world on top of the real one is probably the biggest cool factor Pokémon Go has going for it. Due to the success of the app, you’re going to see a large number of developers trying to cash in on similar functionality.
Something as simple as allowing users to “check in” to a physical location or earn rewards in both the real and virtual space can be huge factors in influencing user retention.
Make Friends with Familiarity
Users are always looking for something they can relate to and nostalgia should never be underestimated. The fact that the game focuses on the original 150 Pokémon — the only Pokémon that matter in the eyes of most twenty-somethings who grew up on the brand—plays a major part in the apps popularity.
Features that users can relate to; no matter the type of application will lend itself to creating a better user experience and improving retention numbers.
Make Your App Easy to Use
Pokémon Go is easy to pick up and play but provides just enough of a challenge to keep users interested. There is nothing overly complex about getting started with the game – and it rewards users for exploring some of its deeper features. You always want your app to focus on meeting the user’s initial needs first. There’s no need to overdo it and cause frustration.
Keep in Mind User’s Security Concerns
While Pokémon Go has been absolutely huge the app has raised security concerns due to the developer’s access to user’s Google account information. Before your app exits beta, ensure it is as secure as possible—especially if sensitive information like credit card numbers are stored within the app.
Work with ThrottleNet to Develop Your Mobile App
We want to be the best, like no one ever was. Truth be told, we probably won’t develop the next Pokémon Go. However, ThrottleNet can help you design and develop an award-winning application to help you conquer lands far and wide.
