Love it or hate it, the augmented reality Pokémon GO is the future of gaming. It is also a magnet for fraudsters.
"Do you GO Pokémon on your phone?" A colleague asked me last week. "No," I answered, covering as much condescension as possible, "because I'm an adult." But a few days later, I sold and installed, simply because of the critics. And because I did not want be called "Grandpa" on any perceived aversion to technology.
Maybe you have a job, a family, a life. you can quit reading now and focus on some something more important. the Pocket Japanese Monster (Pokémon) craze began in 1996 as a role-playing video game for the Nintendo Gameboy device. Then it became an anime series and spawned many merchandising. Now, 20 years later , latest incarnation of Pokémon is a location-based, augmented reality game, played on smartphones and tablets.
Pokémon GO is now getting children to ignore television. The goal is simple: catch the creatures (by throwing a ball to them), imprison them in the ball to increase their power and their evolution, then challenge other Pokémon in battle and try to take control of " gyms "local (fight centers). You can also swap the creatures of a virtual currency candy or incubate the eggs to hatch potentially rare Pokémon. Players collect experience points and improve their training level as they continue the quest to "catch 'em all." - At least 151 of them is antithetical to conservation A more ethical game could. teach children to protect or rescue animals - but where's the fun in that
everything Pokémon GO takes place in the "real world", using GPS and a bright display that resembles a cartoon version of Maps. So you have to walk to catch Pokémon, and wave your phone around, often with the camera. Not a game to play while lounging around your house in the nude. the PokéStops ( where you can win lures incense and healing potions) and gyms are benchmarks of the real world, such as fountains, malls and museums.
'Dumb and Dangerous'
supporters of Pokémon GO say it is great because it allows children outside and moving. Critics say it is stupid and dangerous. Dangerous? Well, there have been reports of players being mugged, having car accidents and trespassing. But it is much less dangerous than many other Indonesian hobby, such as smoking, or not to wear a helmet while riding bikes illegally. For example, two 12 years old boys died in the city of East Java Blitar June 22 when they crashed their motorcycle speed on the back of a car. There was no media outcry demanding that the children stop riding motorcycles. Instead, there were reports about the dangers of Pokémon GO.
The police and military have banned their staff to play the game during the service. It's just common sense. Many government officials have also spoken out against Pokémon GO, threatening to dismiss officials to play the game.
Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise women drafted a decree prohibiting gambling in schools . She said parents should also forbid their children to play the game because it "may cause damage to children's minds and make them lazy."
Many schools already ban smartphones in classes. Banning Pokémon GO is a stupid move. smart schools could instead use the game as an educational resource for children interested in lessons, especially mathematics and geography. for example, using fractions, ratios and percentages study the Pokémon appearances.
virtual Coins
teachers can also use the game to teach kids about online fraud. Some players have been scammed by trying buy virtual PokéCoins. Even though the game has not yet been officially released in Indonesia, you can download it from unofficial sources and begin making "in app purchases" spend Rp.15,000 for 100 units currency or Rp.299,000 for 2,500 pieces.
When these parts are offered by third parties, you can usually kiss your money goodbye. There are also websites offering "free PokéCoins" to people who complete online surveys or posting links on social media. The scammer makes money for completed surveys and reposts, and rewards you with nothing.
Indonesian pop singer Cakra Khan (25) saw an online post by someone "selling" a GO Pokémon account with a high level of experience. He transferred rp.1 million to the bank account of the seller and received nothing. The songster of the hoarse voice said his experience has not cured of his addiction, but it was a lesson to be more careful and not use real money when playing the game.
another singer hanging over the game is Titiek Puspa (78). She warned that Pokémon GO could cause children to become selfish bullies.
More worrying is expected invasion of privacy and data theft. The official version of the application provides the developer, Niantec Labs, access to your personally identifiable information and movements. The company shares some of this information with third parties, apparently to improve its services. It can also give you information on "government officials and law enforcement or private parties." It also warns that "no method of transmitting information over the Internet or the storage of information is completely secure ... [so] we can not warrant the security of any information."
Download the game from an unofficial source and sign in with your account can lead to the installation of malware or even a horse version of trojan that gives scammers full access to your phone.
players who download and install cheat-games applications can also be exposed to malware.
claims by politicians that the game could jeopardize the safety and the state of Indonesia's secrets may seem exaggerated, but if officials install an unofficial version and then install the third cheat tools, they could open a door to hackers.
Some politicians have embraced Pokémon GO on the grounds that it may encourage tourism and fitness. Communication and Information Technology Minister Rudiantara said the game is not dangerous, but asked developers to ensure that it does not show "vital state objects" such as courts, police stations and power plants.
When I finished writing, I will uninstall Pokémon GO my phone. It is an unwelcome distraction that failed for me addicted. But augmented reality technology is fascinating and will play a great future in e-commerce, digital marketing, education, and industrial and medical applications. If you intend to play the game, be sure to download only from trusted sources and do your best to protect your personal data .