“You dive into the Pokémon Go world on this present day” – Muricas News

In the summertime of 2016, the builders at Niantic broke all data with a brand new cell recreation: Pokémon Go. The massive hype solely lasted a couple of weeks. However the recreation about Pikachu, Charmander and Mewtu nonetheless has a lot of followers and 1000's of lively gamers.

The so-called trainers will meet subsequent weekend within the Britzer Backyard in Berlin. The three-day Pokémon Go Fest takes place there. From July 1st to third, the inexperienced areas of the Neuköllner Park can be remodeled right into a digital enjoying discipline.

In an interview, Philip Marz, Head of Advertising and marketing for Pokémon Go EMEA, explains why the competition is happening within the Britzer Garten of all locations and why Pokémon Go has been so profitable to this present day.

Mr. Marz, how lengthy has the Pokémon Go Fest been round?
The origin of the Pokémon Go Fest goes again to 2017, nearly a yr after the launch of the app. It occurred in Chicago then, similar to in 2018. Demand elevated repeatedly in all areas throughout this time, which meant that we have been capable of carry the competition to Europe for the primary time in 2019, particularly to Germany within the Westfalenpark in Dortmund.

Why there?
At such occasions there's a lengthy listing of necessities that should be given or fulfilled. And sadly there are solely a handful of parks in Europe the place that is potential. And one among them in 2019 was the Westfalenpark.

Because of the pandemic, the reside occasion was canceled for 2 years. And now the restart in Berlin?
We couldn’t be happier and extra excited now to carry this again to Europe, again to Germany and into the actual world. After all, because the host metropolis, Berlin additionally has a special exterior affect on a world stage. Berlin as a culturally formed metropolis speaks for itself, but in addition because the federal capital – we count on 60 p.c worldwide individuals.

Why is the Britzer Backyard notably appropriate?
The scale and buildings of the Britzer Garten are merely excellent for what we need to do there. This at all times follows three ideas: motion, discovery and interplay in the actual world.

Will the whole park turn out to be a enjoying discipline?
The park is big in its primary design and even bigger than what we all know from 2019 from the Westfalenpark in Dortmund. That’s why we needed to restrict ourselves to a sub-area that occupies about half of the Britzer Backyard when it got here to the presentation and design of our occasion format.

Can solely Pokémon gamers enter the backyard this weekend?
A regulation was discovered with the operator Grün Berlin that those that have an annual cross can even entry the park as a way to supply many individuals the chance to have the very particular Pokémon Go expertise in Berlin. No matter whether or not you play the sport or not.

What hurdles are there on web site?
There are numerous areas of water that we can not use for occasions. What's at all times crucial to us within the implementation is the community to make sure the absolute best Web connection. It helps you probably have stage floor. However the Britzer Garten has some hills and can also be densely overgrown. So we needed to exclude a couple of areas.

“Hardly anybody performs Pokemon Go anymore,” it's typically stated. Is that right?
Pokémon Go is among the most profitable cell video games of all time with greater than a billion downloads within the obtainable app shops and remains to be on everybody’s lips. The sport continues to be very profitable and positioned within the related goal group. It’s a recreation for everybody, for each lady, for each particular person, no matter pursuits, no matter background. And we specific that with these experiences in the actual world. It doesn’t take any earlier data to participate and to develop and take part on this enjoyable for your self. And that’s what makes Pokémon Go so profitable, now in its sixth yr.

Niantic has maintained to this present day that any participant can proceed to play without spending a dime if she or he is unwilling to pay any cash for it.
It's also crucial to us to actually assure this accessibility. It’s not a pay-to-win recreation. After all, you may make investments a couple of euros to get to your vacation spot quicker. However it’s not required for total success and that’s what, at its core, stands above all for us. The neighborhood core is clearly our focus.

When did you begin at Niantic?
I began at Niantic in the summertime of 2017. We have been nearly 70 staff worldwide. Right now we're greater than 1000. You may see how the corporate has grown with the product. For me personally, it's nonetheless one thing very particular to do my half, since you even have a really particular connection – each to the corporate and to the product, as a result of you've been a part of the entire growth since infancy.

Did you watch the collection as a child and play Pokémon on the Sport Boy?
I used to be born in 1987. I bear in mind it: I got here from college and naturally I needed to watch Pokémon on RTL 2. And likewise play on the Sport Boy – in fact. In order that was a part of my youth. And when you then have the chance to revive a bit of childhood reminiscence and now technologically take the entire thing into the actual world, that’s additionally very interesting for an grownup. And also you don’t must be a gamer to be 100% behind this product.

So Pokemon Go is a recreation for younger and previous?
We'll see folks of all ages and backgrounds within the Britzer Backyard. It begins within the early single digits all the way in which as much as… the oldest participant I’ve met myself was 98. And that’s simply wonderful. That is precisely what's so essential to us and what we at all times concentrate on.

What precisely can guests count on at Go Fest subsequent weekend?
The Pokémon Go Fest is about discovering a recreation board that regularly connects the digital and actual worlds. You dive into the Pokémon Go world on this present day. While you enter the Britzer Garten, you're greeted by music, it’s like a go to to the amusement park. There are completely different worlds of expertise, particular decorations, areas the place you may trade concepts with different coaches and followers. And you'll take photographs with Pikachu.

Pikachu to the touch, so to talk?
Pikachu is in fact one of many strongest and most recognizable components. Even when it now performs a subordinate position for this occasion, particularly throughout the recreation, Pikachu particularly has ensured that the model, the product, is given consideration worldwide within the first place.