Nintendo 3DS game sales double thanks to Pokémon GO

Think of it as the halo effect of Pokémon GO. Nintendo is enjoying increased games sales for its 3DS handheld thanks to the insane popularity of Pokémon GO.

Shipments of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, games for the 3DS handheld device, have more than doubled in Japan since the Pokemon smartphone app debuted in early July, according to data from gaming magazine Famitsu. These games have been available since 2014 but are now enjoying renewed popularity thanks to Pokémon GO.

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Upcoming ‘Pokémon Go’ updates promise to be more respectful of real-world places

Pokémon Go has taken the world by storm and with that an influx of people in popular areas and sometimes even outside someone’s home. And some of these Gyms and PokeStops hope they can opt out. Right now, you can request a removal of a Gym or PokeStop but that isn’t a quick solution. The Pokémon Company’s J.C. Smith said they are working on new features that are “appealing to fans but also respectful of the private institutions that are affected by it.” You’ve heard of businesses capitalizing on the craze but it’s understandable that some notable landmarks would rather not be part of this including the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the U.S.

Source: Gamespot

Two Canadian teens accidentally crossed the border into the U.S. while playing ‘Pokémon Go’

Guys, we know playing Pokémon Go is fun and all but please be extra aware of your surroundings as well. It was recently reported that two Canadian teens accidentally crossed the U.S. border and had to be apprehended in Montana by federal agents. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection that two teens illegally entered the U.S. last Thursday on foot and they were “unaware of their surroundings” while playing the famous augmented reality-based game. The two teens were brothers from Alberta and were later reunited with their mother.

Source: TIME

‘Pokémon Go’ is the most downloaded app in its first week on the Apple App Store

With the hype and just all of the nostalgic-stricken Pokémon fans out there, we’re not surprised that the popular augmented reality-based Pokémon Go has broken records. Apple has confirmed to TechCrunch that the game is the most downloaded app on its platform, and it’s not even available in most countries yet. Eight years into the launch of the App Store, it’s amazing that we still get records beaten this way.

TechCrunch’s Romain Dillet points out that this shows the social aspect of app discovery. We already know what our phones are for and the many things we can do with. Now, people want to find out what others are doing. And if it seems relevant and popular, it makes use want to jump on the bandwagon.