Pokémon GO Q&A: Important questions answered - Part 1

As a casual player or even beginner there are certainly situations you face and you would prefer having a proper answer. On this page, I try to answer a few of these.

Q: What happens if I each the limit of 300 Pokémon?
A: Either you have to buy more spots or you get rid of Pokémon you may have more than once.

Q: How to remove Pokémon and what happens if I do it?
A: If you have too many Pokémon you can send them away. Once a Pokémon is removed, you receive one BonBon of the Pokémon family you let go. Means, if you for example sent away a Bulbasaur, your Venusaur will benefit from it. Can be an efficient way to get BonBons.

Q: How long does it take to evolve to a stronger Pokémon?
A: It depends on the Pokémon. You can see the necessary level to evolve. Usually it's at level 25, 50 or 100! Depending on which Pokémon it can go fast, but if similar Pokémon don't appear often it can take months.

Q: Why is augmented reality not working?
A: Some devices are facing issues that if a new wild Pokémon appears, the camera for showing the real world cannot be used. In this case the following message appears: "We’re not detecting your phone’s orientation. Would you like to turn off AR Mode?” It means that your device may not have a gyroscope. Apparently an issue for many Huawei devices.

Q: What is the meaning of the blue aura around some Pokemon in the Pokedex?

A: It simply just means that the Pokémon was just caught recently and the blue aura is only highlighting it.

Q: Can I use the app in the train or bicycle?

A: Yes, you can, but you will get a warning message. Always a chance for a PokéStop at the next train station.
Although I would recommend it anyway near traffic, it also works from bicycle if you don't ride too fast. Tested on empty streets on the countryside.

Q: Can I use train rides to get more km for my eggs?
A: Usually quite quickly a warning message pops up not to use the app while driving. Also, the kilometer count for the eggs stops. However I had a few situations where I actually got some mileage, even if it was just for a few hundred meters.

Q: How to earn virtual money?
A: Go to gyms, defeat all the Pokémon (even if it take several attempts to get their CP down to 0) and then place on of your own Pokémon there. The longer it stays the more you earn. Once it's defeated it will be sent back to you. I don't exactly how it's calculated, but a few hours bring around 30 PokéCoins.

Pokémon GO 0.129.2.: Lots of Pokémon in Japan!

Now in Japan, I feel like I find more Pokémon than ever before. And Generation 4 is coming!

Now leveled up to level 23 and many more Pokémon on my belt I'm currently running through Japan and I noticed that I can catch many more than before. Most likely because I'm mostly in a city and the chances are therefore higher.

And through this high amount of Pokémon I was able to level up easier and could now finally evolve my pocket monsters. For example all three first Generation Eevee evolutions which seem to be really competitive - especially Jolteon (サンダース) with CP 2032.

According to my Pokédex I have seen 255 different Pokémon and caught 178 of them. With Generation 4 now being added I've got to catch monsters I've never seen before. And since I'm playing it in Japanese since I haven't played games including G4 Pokémon. Especially モウカザル already been one of my favorites.

I also got some more experiences with Gym battles. But it can be really annoying on bigger public places like train stations. Playing with Team Red after trying a few times I defeated the opponents Pokémon, but as I needed a few seconds to recharge my own defeated monsters, I couldn't place my own Pokémon there as another team already took over the gym. No chance, some areas are just to busy.

But even if I could keep the gym at another place - it's not like some at a village where you can keep the gym for a while to receive some coins. I think my record of keeping a Pokémon at gym here in Japan was maybe a bit more than an hour. But still, that was outside Tokyo.

Generally, I have a better feeling for the game now. Using the friends option to exchange presents I also quite interesting. Let's see where I can go from here!

Until my next "Pokémon GO diary" entry!

Pokémon GO 0.111.3.: The hunt continues!

With a better phone and the ongoing summer I got myself going again on the hunt for Pokémon!

Next entry on my Pokémon GO diary - or better 'once in a while blog'.

With the current summer and a better phone I found the motivation to go on the hunt again and I heard from other players that they are still active.

Plus, I still have so many Pokémon eggs from several places around the world such as Las Vegas, New Zealand or Canary Islands. So I decided to incubate all of them now by going for a walk or several runs by bicycle (I know, not really recommended, but it's in the countryside, so...^^).

So by running around and catching various Pokémon from the Kanto, Johto and Hoenn region I could increase my level from 11 to 16. Still not much, but alright for a casual player.

I won battles at the gym now a few times and also got some PokéDollars (I think that's how the currency is called), so let's see what I do with that.

Looking at my PokéDex there's still a lot to find. Out of the currently available 375 Pokémon I only caught 92 and saw 136 of them! So the hunt will continue! 

Pokémon GO 0.87.5: Christmas, Hoenn and New Zealand

My hunt for new Pokémon continues - this time around Christmas time in New Zealand.

Even Pokémon GO gives you a Christmas feeling if try to catch a Pikachu you see the most famous pocket monster with a Christmas hat.

Apart from that some of the Pokémon from the Hoenn region have been released and once you run around the city you get plenty of them:
Treecko, Torchic, Seedot, Skitty, Meditite, Gulpin, Seviper, Poochyena,...

This is actually the last generation I'm aware of the names since I played a lot with the trading cards back then. Following the Advanced Generation I did not keep up with it, but that may changes!

Maybe I should also mention that I was confronted by the bug that once a Pokémon was caught the ball appeared in the initial throwing position again and jumped around as it was a Pokémon. You could only stop the scenario by pressing the run button at the top left. At the end the Pokémon unfortunately was not counted as caught.

But generally I enjoy catching the monster from the third generations. I will drop some updates from time to time...

Pokémon GO 0.69.1: My surprising return after one year!

Around one year ago I played Pokémon GO the last time - apparently in September my account was banned - and could not play again. And now it works again - with the same account!

It did not really play that much last year, mostly in Las Vegas and a bit in Germany - when I was in Japan I could not really test it. A shame. From my old phone back then I used a workaround by installing the apk file manually, since the download via PlayStore did not work, but at one point the latest version at the time - 0.39 - stopped me from logging in.

That was the reason I stayed away from the game and asked to reactivate my account. Nothing happened. After switching from the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini to an LG K5 in June I tried to log in again - still did not work...

Suddenly working again!

Today I gave it another shot: Downloaded the current version 0.69.1 via Google PlayStore, installed the game, agreed to login with my Google Account and suddenly I could see the loading screen seeing the Pokémon Tyranitar from the second generation Johto! And the game opened with my old account. I can still see the history!

After catching my first Pokémon after one year and collecting some items my history looks a bit weird (see above). I am not too much

aware what happened during that year. I know they added the second generation of Pokémon and extending the possibility to catch more different Pokémon and being able to actually have battles which seemed not so easily possible at the beginning.

Therefore for me it´s now rediscovering the game again and increasing my Pokédex. Let's see how it's going to turn out the next few days. I'm currently in Spain and I don't know if there are any rare Pokémon here. Anyway, I could already level up from 5 to 6 which is nothing, but not surprising since I haven't played a lot. 

Feel free to comment on your experiences and what happened during that year! I'm now outside checking out the area.. ;)

Pokémon GO 0.39: Unable to authenticate - damn!

I was trying to update Pokémon GO to 0.39, the latest version, but a message stops me from doing it.

Using an older device with Pokémon GO can sometimes be a burden. The game itself freezes or stops more often.

Also having an unofficial Android 5 version installed means that you have to do every update manually, because Google Play Store doesn't allow a download for your device.

So you get your apk package mirror from other sources, but so far it wasn't a problem for me to install the latest software version. It was a working 'workaround'.

But my attempt to install version 0.39 didn't turn out to work. I also have to admit that I haven't started the app for a few days. So I did the update manually and the message 'Unable to authenticate. Please try again.' appeared. 

I deleted the app, cleared cache & data and also made a reboot before trying to install the app again. No chance. Same error.

While finding a solution I found a video where someone mentioned that he could make it work trying to start the game with flight mode and no Internet connection. Didn't work out in my case.

So.. Is my account maybe banned for some reason? I filled out an ban appeal to find out if something's wrong with my account. Maybe they'll unlock it and if they keep it locked I may decide to use another email address.

TheSuperAdmins #004: Catch them all!

Pokémon GO is still unavoidable, even for TheSuperAdmins. Just be aware which Pokémon you approach...

See in big: #4 Catch them all!

See all comics

Read also about Pokémon GO:
- Why Pokémon GO was the best for Pokémon
- Galaxy S3 mini and Pokémon GO

Why Pokémon GO was the best for Pokémon

There was a time where almost everyone had a Gameboy and got addicted to the virtual monsters. Now everyone has a smartphone and the idea of using this platform instead of a classic handheld was a very clever idea...

I think I'm a good example for many current Pokémon GO players: I grew up with the first generation of Pokémon playing the Gameboy games and the TCG, I also know the second generation from the Johto area. I also know a few Pokémon from Hoenn (3rd generation), but what happened afterwards I don't know. Same about watching the anime.

Many other fans now in their mid-20s have a similar background. There are also the kind of people just knowing from the first 151 Pokémon. Anyway, for a lot of people Pokémon was gone for a lot of years even if it was still there with new games and so on.

Not everyone has a current Nintendo console or handheld at home to play these games. But everyone has a smartphone. So the idea of using the Android and iOS platform in combination with a free application was a great way for a revival of Pokémon.

It has a nostalgia effect: Now everybody can walk out and be a real Pokémon trainer. Like a childhood dream becoming reality. It was right thing to do in the current era where we have smartphones, with camera, GPS and mobile data. As an app in an app store it was quite easy to distribute the application to anyone - so easy that the servers where having trouble to face such a big amount of players. People like me having an older phone with and incompatible Android version also found a way...

But it's not just played by people in their 20s. Even small kids from primary school are playing it with their smartphone. At that age I didn't even had a phone at all...

Let's also look at the effect on the media. News sites which probably haven't mentioned Pokémon for more than a decade are also spreading news about the new app. Facebook pages making jokes about people playing GO, lots of memes were created and it's a boost for the whole brand. It had such a huge impact in the world - it also reminded the people that Pokémon still exists.

It also has an effect on the merchandising. I noticed that especially while walking past souvenir shops at places like Santa Monica or Venice Beach in California. Almost every shop selling T-shirts had Pokémon shirts in their assortment.

As mentioned before: That also little kids are playing the game has also an important meaning: It brings the Pokémon to the next generation. The generation of people growing up with a smartphone!

Of course there happened some incidents with people crossing the street without watching for cars or some kids illegally crossed a national border. I think these incidents make people more aware of what's happening - especially in the media. People need to look after themselves, you can't blame a car manufacturer for crashing your car even if it was your own fault.

Now it's going to be interesting if it was just a 2016 summer hype or if people keep playing the game. There'll surely be other augmented reality games in the near future. As long as there won't be a Mario Kart Go, as some made fun of in social media.

And Pokémon GO can be extended any time since they just used the first 151 Pokémon. Just the first generation, so they have way more to offer and they will. Let's see what the future brings.

Anyway: The summer of 2016 will be remembered as the revival of Pokémon.

Galaxy S3 mini and Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO has made a big impact during the last week. So big that I also wanted to be a part of it, but with a Samsung Galaxy S3 mini and Android 4.1.2 it wasn't possible... Although...

While I was in Toronto last week the Internet was already filled with stories, screenshots and all sorts of stuff about Pokémon GO. You couldn't avoid it. Even the Toronto Metro had three articles about Pokémon GO, with one about the advantages for the children like learning to use GPS and managing mobile data ('Parents should make most of Pokémon Go', July 13).

Anyway, at the same day after my arrival in Chicago on the way to my accommodation I met a guy playing Pokémon GO while waiting on the sidewalk before the lights turned green. He caught a wild Gastly. At that I point I thought: 'You need to have that!' 

Unfortunately installing the app wasn't even possible with my three-year-old Samsung Galaxy S3 mini. At least Android 4.4 would be necessary. But I couldn't go further than 4.1.2. I found some tutorials and saw that it's possible to run a modded version of Android 5.x on the Galaxy S3 mini.

I already wanted to try some Android mods earlier, but up until now there was no need because every app I used was still running properly. With Pokémon GO I finally got the motivation to upgrade.

Custom Recovery and Custom OS

So the first thing I needed was a Custom Recovery. The integrated Recovery Mode within my branded phone doesn't have the option to install a custom OS. Of course not. In order to install this recovery system you need to use Odin on your PC and connect your phone via USB cable. Turn off your phone and press Volume Down, Home and the 'Turn on' button to able to install a Custom Recovery via Odin.

Possible Custom Recoverys are either Clockworld or TWRP. After my first attempts using TWRP failed, which meant that the old recovery mode started instead of the new one I tried Clockworld which could boot without issues, but after reading that it would be better to use TWRP for Android 5 on this phone I tried to install TWRP again. Starting the Recovery Mode is possible by starting your phone with Home button + Volume Up.

This time it worked. In the next step I had to copy the Android 5 image (to be found on http://novafusion.pl/downloads/) and a Google Apps package on the root folder of my phone, After starting the recovery mode I was able to select the images, first the OS, then the Google Apps package. I selected the little basic one.

OS: aosp5.0_golden.nova.20141106

Apps: pa_gapps-modular-mini-5.1-20150315-signed

After a reboot the configuration for the Android Lollipop 5.1.1 started. It went flawlessly through. After installing some basic apps, I could finally install Pokémon GO, but without using the Play Store, because my phone isn't listed for being able to run this game. So I downloaded the apk file (com.nianticlabs.pokemongo_0.29.2-2016071201_minAPI19(armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com) and installed the app manually.

While being in Las Vegas I could finally start catching Pokémon through the hotels WiFi. It was quite fun running through the casinos looking for the monsters.

By now I could catch 14 Pokémon and I'm about to reach Level 5. It's far from being a master and was just getting started.

And as a side effect it feels like having a new phone. Faster and better, it's the best what could happen to my phone from 2013.

For those who need more information upgrading their S3 mini - feel free to comment below.