Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto announced during Nintendo’s Treehouse presentation at E3 2016 on Wednesday that the “Pokemon GO Plus” accessory will be released in late July and will cost 34.99 USD. The accessory is compatible with the Pokemon GO smartphone game, which is running field tests in Japan, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. They also added at the very end of their Pokemon GO presentation that they will have to release the Pokemon GO app before the Pokemon GO Plus accessory is released.
GAME FREAK’s Junichi Masuda, the music composer for Pokemon GO, appeared at the presentation and confirmed that there are plans to “eventually add some kind of connectivity” between Pokemon GO and the main Pokemon games, such as the upcoming Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon. However, he mentioned that when Pokemon GO first launches he wants players to really focus on the core aspect of the game, and said they will add new features like trading later.
Players will use the Pokemon GO app to find and catch Pokemon in the real world using location-based technology. Just as in the game series, certain Pokemon will be specific to certain areas. Water types can be found near lakes or oceans, grass types near wooded areas, etc.
Nintendo hopes that with the addition of the Pokemon GO Plus accessory it will let players enjoy their surroundings instead of just staring at their smartphone screens. The device can be used as either a wristband or it can be clipped onto suit jackets, etc. The Pokemon GO Plus device will have LED and vibration functions that will let you know when there is a Pokemon nearby. You can also catch a Pokemon using only the accessory and it will let you know if you were successful or not. The device uses Bluetooth technology to connect to players’ smartphones. Players will be able to play the game without the added accessory. 
You can set your smartphone to vibrate when a Pokemon is nearby. Players can also find PokeStops and Pokemon Gyms at “interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments.” At PokeStops players can acquire Poke Balls and other items that will help you on your journey. After the player has explored enough, these PokeStops will offer Pokemon Eggs that will hatch after the player walks a certain number of steps.
Pokemon Gyms will be empty until players assign Pokemon to them. Each player can only assign one Pokemon to the Gym, and so must work with a team to defend the Gym. At a certain point in the game, players will be asked to join one of three teams.
Players gain levels as a trainer to catch more powerful Pokemon and receive better items. Catching enough of one kind of Pokemon will allow you to evolve that Pokemon. The game will also offer achievement medals.
Niantic Labs and The Pokemon Company revealed the augmented reality smartphone app last September. Niantic has raised 20 million USD from The Pokemon Company, Nintendo, and Google for the game, and the three investors will give Niantic another 10 million USD upon meeting unspecified performance goals.
Pokemon GO will be available for Android and iPhones in late July 2016.
Source: Anime News Network
