Tag: Pokemon Go

  • Pokémon GO to host its first city safari in Mumbai

    Pokémon GO to host its first city safari in Mumbai

    Mumbai: In the heart of Mumbai, where the vibrant streets pulse with life, Pokémon GO fans are gearing up for an unprecedented adventure. The anticipated Pokémon GO City Safari will take place on Saturday, 29 March and Sunday, 30 March 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. IST. This two-day event promises an immersive exploration of the city, combining its rich culture with the excitement of Pokémon GO.

    Players from around the world will gather to experience the thrill of catching Pokémon at Mumbai’s iconic landmarks and local favourites. The event will feature gameplay, unique in-game bonuses, and opportunities to connect with fellow trainers in the ever-growing Pokémon GO community.

    “At Niantic, we are committed to enhancing the Pokémon GO experience with new features and adventures. Trainers in India have been looking forward to great Pokémon GO events, and we have been working towards providing them with the best experience to immerse themselves in the world of Pokémon through our in-game events and local meetups. Through the Pokémon GO City Safari in Mumbai, we’re excited to bring a special opportunity for the Trainers and communities in India who constitute a key share of our Pokémon GO world,” said Niantic Inc. vice president for emerging markets Omar Tellez.

    Notably, Mudbray, the Donkey Pokémon, will make its debut at the City Safari events, offering Trainers a chance to catch it along with other rare Pokémon like Alolan Meowth, Mr. Mime, Corsola, and even Shiny variants for the lucky ones. Additionally, Trainers can explore the city with an Eevee wearing an explorer hat, which can be caught during the City Safari Special Research and evolved into any of its known forms.

    Tickets for Pokémon GO City Safari: Mumbai are now available for Rs 499 for a one-day ticket, valid for either March 29 or March 30, 2025. Optional add-ons include the raid lover add-on (Rs 299) for additional raid benefits, the Egg-thusiast add-on (Rs 299) for egg-hatching bonuses, and the extra day add-on (Rs 399) for those seeking a two-day adventure. Tickets can be purchased through the Pokémon GO app under the Events section or on the Pokémon GO City Safari website, with availability on a first-come, first-served basis.

    As anticipation builds for Pokémon GO City Safari: Mumbai, more surprises are set to unfold. Trainers should stay connected through Pokémon GO’s official social media channels and in-app updates for the latest announcements. Please remember to be aware of your surroundings and follow local health guidelines while playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change, so be sure to opt in for notifications and updates to stay informed.

  • Pokémon Go onboards Riteish & Genelia Deshmukh as brand faces in India

    Pokémon Go onboards Riteish & Genelia Deshmukh as brand faces in India

    Mumbai: Pokémon Go, an augmented reality mobile game by Niantic, has announced Indian cinema couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh as brand ambassadors for India. The couple will engage with the game’s growing fan base in the country.

    Genelia Deshmukh, an avid Pokémon Go player, made a special appearance at the Pokémon Festivities celebrations in Mumbai, where Pikachu wearing a saree was showcased to highlight the cultural collaboration. Genelia, known for her family values and blending tradition with modernity, is excited about her partnership with Pokémon Go.

    “As a mom and a proud Indian, the Festival of Light event is a beautiful blend of tradition and technology. It’s incredible to see Pokémon Go celebrate Indian culture in such a fun and engaging way, with characters like Pikachu wearing a saree! Pokémon has always been special to me, and Pikachu is also both my kid’s favourite Pokémon. Seeing it in a saree is a wonderful experience and being able to share this joy with my family and the world through such an innovative approach is truly exciting,” said Genelia.

    Riteish Deshmukh echoed her excitement, adding, “As someone who loves technology and gaming, being part of the Pokémon Go family feels like a natural fit. Playing this game for so long since it came to India in 2016 and now associating with the brand to promote it truly thrills me as it not only encourages fun but also keeps our cultural heritage alive in such an interactive way.”

    Niantic’s senior director, strategic partnerships & special projects, Yuki Kawamura stated, “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Riteish and Genelia D’Souza Deshmukh to the Pokémon Go family. Their deep connection with Indian culture and passion for gaming makes them the perfect ambassadors. We’re always striving to create experiences that resonate with our diverse player base, and with this unique celebration, we’re bringing a special piece of Indian heritage to our global platform.”

    As part of their ambassadorship, fans can look forward to special videos featuring Riteish and Genelia sharing their experiences with Pokémon Go.

    Additionally, Pokémon Go is hosting exciting festival of lights celebrations, including a special event in Bengaluru on 2 November 2024, at Phoenix Marketcity, where Pikachu will appear in a saree, alongside surprises and giveaways for trainers.

    A sweepstake on Instagram will also offer two lucky winners from India a chance to attend the Pokémon GO City Safari in São Paulo.

    This partnership emphasises the couple’s appeal and Pokémon Go’s commitment to cultural localization in India, enhancing gaming experiences for its diverse player base. In September 2023, Niantic added Hindi language support to the game, reinforcing its focus on inclusivity and encouraging more players to join their Pokémon Go adventures.

  • Pokémon GO Fest 2024 brings global festivities to local parks

    Pokémon GO Fest 2024 brings global festivities to local parks

    Mumbai: Pokémon GO, an augmented reality mobile games by Niantic, is thrilled to announce Pokémon GO Fest 2024 in India. This is the biggest and the highly anticipated event of the year for the trainers and Pokémon GO communities worldwide. Elevating the excitement, Niantic is introducing new exciting elements, bonuses, rewards and special Pokémon this year.

    Trainers across India can join millions of trainers from around the world in this two-day-long event starting on 13 July 2024, from 10:00 am to 14 July 2024 till 6:00 pm. Filled with special research tasks, exclusive encounters, over 70 special and custom Pokémon, new avatars and much more, this an exciting opportunity for the communities and Trainers to catch Pokémon and embark on their Pokémon journey.

    The virtual trainer meetups will be hosted in 27 cities across India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Kanpur, Chandigarh, Agartala, Bardhaman, Vadodara, Coimbatore, Indore, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Thiruvananthapuram among others.

    Expressing his excitement on the global edition of Pokémon GO Fest 2024, Niantic Inc VP for emerging markets Omar Tellez said, “At Niantic, we are committed to enhancing the Pokémon GO experience with new features and adventures. This year’s Pokémon GO Fest 2024: Global is our biggest yet, and we’re excited to bring Trainers together from all over the world. With the Pokémon GO Fest, we want to offer existing and new Trainers in India a special opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Pokémon through our in-game events and local meetups. We look forward to seeing you all out there”.

    As Dusk Mane Necrozma and Dawn Wings Necrozma debut worldwide in Pokémon GO, the event promises to be action-packed. Trainers will have the opportunity to catch Necrozma in its regular form after defeating Dusk Mane Necrozma or Dawn Wings Necrozma in raids. In addition to encountering Necrozma and receiving the typical raid rewards, Trainers will obtain solar fusion energy or lunar fusion energy from Dusk Mane Necrozma or Dawn Wings Necrozma raids respectively.

    Featuring exclusive field research tasks and bonuses, special Pokémon will appear in four unique habitats which will rotate hourly during the event providing the trainers ample opportunities to catch them. Additionally, all Pokémon that will appear in the wild on the first day will also appear on the second day without habitat rotation. No trainer should miss out on the chance to add these special Pokémon to their collection.

    Trainers can also participate in special habitat-themed field research tasks and have an opportunity to grab exciting rewards, new poses and avatars such as Alolan Greeting Pose, Marshadow T-shirt. Trainers who hold tickets will also get a chance to earn encounters with Pikachu wearing a Sun Tiara and Pikachu wearing a Moon Tiara. From 12 July 2024 to 14 July 2024, there will be no limit on remote raids and the lure module will be available for an hour.

    Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change. Be sure to follow us on social media, opt into receiving push notifications, and subscribe to our emails to stay updated.

  • Yuzvendra Chahal champions Pokémon GO in his latest reel

    Yuzvendra Chahal champions Pokémon GO in his latest reel

    Mumbai: You have seen him bewildering the batsmen with his spin bowling attack, you have seen him backing up his team with solid fielding and now you can see what he does when he is not on the cricket field.

    Niantic, the world’s leading augmented reality (AR) company, has teamed up with cricket superstar Yuzvendra Chahal showcasing his passion for Pokémon GO and encouraging fans worldwide to join him on this exhilarating adventure. With his trademark charisma and enthusiasm, Chahal effortlessly captures the essence of the Pokémon journey, inspiring players worldwide to embark on their own adventures. This collaboration not only celebrates the intersection of sports and gaming but also underscores the power of community and connection that Pokémon GO fosters.

    Yuzvendra Chahal: The ultimate spinner on and off the field! Join him in spinning Pokéballs to catch Pokémon in #PokémonGO, and let the adventure begin!

     

  • Pokemon Company banks on multilingual content to boost its Indian presence

    Pokemon Company banks on multilingual content to boost its Indian presence

    Mumbai: The Pokemon Company has announced its India-focused hinterland content strategy to drive its subscriber base and viewership on YouTube. After the success of its Hindi YouTube channel, the company will also roll out its latest Pokemon animated series ‘Pokemon Journeys’  in three more regional languages – Telugu, Tamil and Bengali.

    The Pokemon Company will release one new episode in each language every Friday at 7 PM. The Telugu, Tamil, and Bengali versions of ‘Pokemon Journeys’ can only be seen on the official YouTube channels.

    With 8,00,000+ subscribers, The Pokemon Asia Official (Hindi) channel on YouTube has been streaming the ‘Pokemon Journeys’ series since 29 October 2021, gaining over 1,00,000 subscribers in three days.

    The ‘Pokemon Journeys’ series follows the adventures of the well-known regular Ash Ketchum and a new protagonist Goh, a 10-year-old newbie Pokemon Trainer who dreams of catching every Pokemon (including the Mythical Mew). Together with their partner Pokemon Pikachu and Scorbunny, the two boys will embark on a journey into the great big world of Pokemon, where mysteries and adventures await them.

    Commenting on the multilingual India strategy The Pokemon Company executive officer Susumu Fukunaga said, “I have seen that a great many people have watched the Hindi language version of our Pokemon anime that has been distributed on the Pokemon Asia Official (Hindi) channel since October of 2021. I am also thrilled that even more people in India will enjoy Pokemon animated content because we will begin the distribution of versions dubbed in Telugu, Tamil, and Bengali for the first time.”

    “Pokemon Journeys takes place in all regions from Kanto to Galar. It also features the various Pokemon you can encounter when playing Pokemon UNITE, which launched in India in September 2021, and Pokemon GO, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2021, and continues to add new levels of excitement. With the release of this animated series, the world of Pokemon will grow further in India,” she added.

    EMBED: Pokemon Asia Official (Hindi): https://www.youtube.com/c/PokémonAsiaOfficialHindi

    Pokemon Asia Official (Telugu): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_jZH5w5iZDk3lWhrHigMZw

    Pokemon Asia Official (Tamil): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHXCmuvYb1evPqKaaDs0GBQ

    Pokemon Asia Official (Bengali): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KQ63vWTffadkKgyy85_ng

  • Netflix targets anime fans with ‘Ingress: The Animation’

    Netflix targets anime fans with ‘Ingress: The Animation’

    MUMBAI: A new animated series based on the world famous augmented reality mobile game Ingress is coming to Netflix, according to a report published by Variety. Ingress is developed by Niantic, the developer of Pokemon Go. Animation studio Crafter, Japanese TV station Fuji TV and streaming giant Netflix are collaborating for the ongoing project.

    Famous computer-graphics artist Yuhei Sakuragi is directing the anime show Ingress: The Animation and Takeshi Honda is in charge of character designing. “The anime peers into the ‘Ingress’ universe and allows viewers to see a part of that universe that is uniquely expressed,” Niantic founder John Hank said as quoted by Variety.

    Makoto and Sarah are the main characters in the story who are impacted by the effects of the exotic matter spreading across the earth in the Ingress story. There’s a new antagonist as well.

    The over-the-top (OTT) platform has been expanding its anime slate. Earlier Netflix announced two new anime (Japanese animation) series, as well as the renewal of popular series Aggretsuko for a second season.  

    “As Netflix has grown around the world we have been astounded by the broad reach and great depth of anime fandom. We are partnering with the best global creators to produce a diverse slate of shows that we hope will excite the boundless passion of anime fans and make Netflix a premier destination for this beloved art form,” Netflix Japan and Anime content director John Derderian said earlier.

  • 2016’s top moments on Facebook

    2016’s top moments on Facebook

    MUMBAI: Each year, Facebook reviews the moments, events and trends that people shared and talked most about. Today, we’re excited to share those top moments from 2016. The top moments represents most talked about, shared and discussed topics that dominated the year that went by.

    The methodology to determine the top trenders is simple. The top 10 moments of this year’s Year in Review were measured by how frequently a topic was mentioned in Facebook posts made between 1 January and 27 November, 2016. To put this list together, mentions were analyzed in an aggregated, ‘anonymised’ way and then ranked to create a snapshot of the year on Facebook. The top 10 Live videos were measured by total cumulative views.

    While across the world, US Presidential Election, Brazil’s politics and Pokemon Go ruled conversations, in India, things were mostly festive this year with the top trending topic in the country being ‘Diwali’ followed by what Indian follow religiously ‘Cricket’. Uri Attacks and surgical strikes were the third most talked about topic on FB, given its grave significance, in the backdrop of the current nationalistic wave. Here is the full list.

    Top 10 most talked about topics from India in 2016 on Facebook:

    1. Diwali
    2. Cricket
    3. Uri attacks and surgical attacks
    4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Movie)
    5. Hardwell (India Tour)
    6. Priyanka Chopra
    7. Rio Olympics
    8. Pokemon Go
    9. Pathankot
    10. iPhone 7 launch

    Global Top Moments on Facebook

    1. US Presidential Election
    2. Brazilian Politics
    3. Pokemon Go
    4. Black Lives Matter
    5. Rodrigo Duterte & Philippine Presidential Election
    6. Olympics
    7. Brexit
    8. Super Bowl
    9. David Bowie
    10. Muhammad Ali

    This year was also the first time Facebook had introduced its live video options, and thus the top live videos warrant its own list.

    Top 10 live videos on Facebook from India:

    https://www.facebook.com/ajaz.qamer/videos/1769859169954467/
    https://www.facebook.com/sonakshisinhaofficial/videos/10154155457904701/
    https://www.facebook.com/AmitabhBachchan/videos/1440239589343159/
    https://www.facebook.com/IamSRK/videos/1660059270686996/
    https://www.facebook.com/aajtak/videos/10154902993692580/
    https://www.facebook.com/KajolDevgan/videos/1756974501230484/
    https://www.facebook.com/BollywoodTabloidOfficial/videos/1183974758358529/
    https://www.facebook.com/aajtak/videos/10154980331897580/
    https://www.facebook.com/AAPkaArvind/videos/1129804343783728/
    https://www.facebook.com/AjayDevgn/videos/1067612059943103/

    Top 10 global live videos:

    1. Candace Payne, Chewbacca Mom
    2. Ted Yoder, Soundscapes
    3. Buzzfeed, Countdown to the next presidential election
    4. Atlanta Buzz, People are lining up to hug police officers in Dallas
    5. NBC News, Election results
    6. Under the Hood, Video of a truck completely carved out of wood
    7. Viral Thread, Population count from US to CA
    8. CNN, Election results on Empire State building
    9. Dena Blizzard, Pokemon Go for moms ”Chardonnay Go”
    10. Super Deluxe, Election map

  • 2016’s top moments on Facebook

    2016’s top moments on Facebook

    MUMBAI: Each year, Facebook reviews the moments, events and trends that people shared and talked most about. Today, we’re excited to share those top moments from 2016. The top moments represents most talked about, shared and discussed topics that dominated the year that went by.

    The methodology to determine the top trenders is simple. The top 10 moments of this year’s Year in Review were measured by how frequently a topic was mentioned in Facebook posts made between 1 January and 27 November, 2016. To put this list together, mentions were analyzed in an aggregated, ‘anonymised’ way and then ranked to create a snapshot of the year on Facebook. The top 10 Live videos were measured by total cumulative views.

    While across the world, US Presidential Election, Brazil’s politics and Pokemon Go ruled conversations, in India, things were mostly festive this year with the top trending topic in the country being ‘Diwali’ followed by what Indian follow religiously ‘Cricket’. Uri Attacks and surgical strikes were the third most talked about topic on FB, given its grave significance, in the backdrop of the current nationalistic wave. Here is the full list.

    Top 10 most talked about topics from India in 2016 on Facebook:

    1. Diwali
    2. Cricket
    3. Uri attacks and surgical attacks
    4. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Movie)
    5. Hardwell (India Tour)
    6. Priyanka Chopra
    7. Rio Olympics
    8. Pokemon Go
    9. Pathankot
    10. iPhone 7 launch

    Global Top Moments on Facebook

    1. US Presidential Election
    2. Brazilian Politics
    3. Pokemon Go
    4. Black Lives Matter
    5. Rodrigo Duterte & Philippine Presidential Election
    6. Olympics
    7. Brexit
    8. Super Bowl
    9. David Bowie
    10. Muhammad Ali

    This year was also the first time Facebook had introduced its live video options, and thus the top live videos warrant its own list.

    Top 10 live videos on Facebook from India:

    https://www.facebook.com/ajaz.qamer/videos/1769859169954467/
    https://www.facebook.com/sonakshisinhaofficial/videos/10154155457904701/
    https://www.facebook.com/AmitabhBachchan/videos/1440239589343159/
    https://www.facebook.com/IamSRK/videos/1660059270686996/
    https://www.facebook.com/aajtak/videos/10154902993692580/
    https://www.facebook.com/KajolDevgan/videos/1756974501230484/
    https://www.facebook.com/BollywoodTabloidOfficial/videos/1183974758358529/
    https://www.facebook.com/aajtak/videos/10154980331897580/
    https://www.facebook.com/AAPkaArvind/videos/1129804343783728/
    https://www.facebook.com/AjayDevgn/videos/1067612059943103/

    Top 10 global live videos:

    1. Candace Payne, Chewbacca Mom
    2. Ted Yoder, Soundscapes
    3. Buzzfeed, Countdown to the next presidential election
    4. Atlanta Buzz, People are lining up to hug police officers in Dallas
    5. NBC News, Election results
    6. Under the Hood, Video of a truck completely carved out of wood
    7. Viral Thread, Population count from US to CA
    8. CNN, Election results on Empire State building
    9. Dena Blizzard, Pokemon Go for moms ”Chardonnay Go”
    10. Super Deluxe, Election map

  • Apollo Munich launches interactive online game ‘Kill the Killer’

    Apollo Munich launches interactive online game ‘Kill the Killer’

    MUMBAI: Swatting mosquitoes is a chore for anyone, especially during the monsoon season, but Apollo Munich Health Insurance makes it fun with an interactive online game – Kill the Killer, combined with a public interest message.

    Kill the Killer game is an innovative customer engagement tool that aims to educate people – “Not all mosquitos can be killed, one needs to stay completely covered rather than just merely using devices to banish them.” Kill the Killer game can be played on Apollo Munich’s homepage (www.apollomunichinsurance.com)anytime, anywhere and as many times as you would like to. All you need to do is swat as many mosquitoes as you can in 20 seconds and check your score thereafter. You can share your score on Facebook and Twitter, and you can even invite your friends to play it.

    Speaking about the idea behind the game, Apollo Munich CEO Antony Jacob said, “Gamification has undoubtedly become a very strong communication tool and the whole world talking about Pokémon Go corroborates it. The Internet offers a world of activities that people can indulge in and through this gamification means, we are hoping to raise awareness for dengue, educate consumers about the disease, and thereby infuse an interest in people to banish dengue fear from their lives. At Apollo Munich, we have always focused on innovation and this time around we are moving innovation from products to customer engagement.”

    The much awaited monsoon season in India not only brings respite to the summer and farmlands, but it also brings with it a slew of healthcare frights, as stagnant water provides breeding grounds for many infection borne mosquitos. Dengue, leptospirosis, malaria, etc. all arrive within a month of the rains. Although these diseases can be treated, dengue has become the largest vector borne disease and sometimes proves fatal, if left untreated.

    “Around 35% of the dengue cases in the world occur in India, and there were approximately a lakh cases reported in India in 2015. Apollo Munich’s Dengue Care, India’s first over the counter health insurance policy provides Indians with financial support in battling the dreaded dengue disease, with no underwriting. Available at a very affordable premium of Rs.1.2 per day, Dengue Care has found immense favour with people across the country who want to reduce the burden of medical expenses for themselves and their loved ones, especially during the monsoon season.”, he added.

    Known for its innovative products, Apollo Munich has been active in its social media initiatives and with gamification, the company is taking its customer engagement initiatives to the next level. People can share the game through social media and hence effect a larger understanding amongst the population. The company is embracing the online medium to further uncomplicate insurance and make it easy to understand for people. Moreover, such initiatives also help solve purchase related concerns and complete the purchase, as well as the renewal processes.

  • Apollo Munich launches interactive online game ‘Kill the Killer’

    Apollo Munich launches interactive online game ‘Kill the Killer’

    MUMBAI: Swatting mosquitoes is a chore for anyone, especially during the monsoon season, but Apollo Munich Health Insurance makes it fun with an interactive online game – Kill the Killer, combined with a public interest message.

    Kill the Killer game is an innovative customer engagement tool that aims to educate people – “Not all mosquitos can be killed, one needs to stay completely covered rather than just merely using devices to banish them.” Kill the Killer game can be played on Apollo Munich’s homepage (www.apollomunichinsurance.com)anytime, anywhere and as many times as you would like to. All you need to do is swat as many mosquitoes as you can in 20 seconds and check your score thereafter. You can share your score on Facebook and Twitter, and you can even invite your friends to play it.

    Speaking about the idea behind the game, Apollo Munich CEO Antony Jacob said, “Gamification has undoubtedly become a very strong communication tool and the whole world talking about Pokémon Go corroborates it. The Internet offers a world of activities that people can indulge in and through this gamification means, we are hoping to raise awareness for dengue, educate consumers about the disease, and thereby infuse an interest in people to banish dengue fear from their lives. At Apollo Munich, we have always focused on innovation and this time around we are moving innovation from products to customer engagement.”

    The much awaited monsoon season in India not only brings respite to the summer and farmlands, but it also brings with it a slew of healthcare frights, as stagnant water provides breeding grounds for many infection borne mosquitos. Dengue, leptospirosis, malaria, etc. all arrive within a month of the rains. Although these diseases can be treated, dengue has become the largest vector borne disease and sometimes proves fatal, if left untreated.

    “Around 35% of the dengue cases in the world occur in India, and there were approximately a lakh cases reported in India in 2015. Apollo Munich’s Dengue Care, India’s first over the counter health insurance policy provides Indians with financial support in battling the dreaded dengue disease, with no underwriting. Available at a very affordable premium of Rs.1.2 per day, Dengue Care has found immense favour with people across the country who want to reduce the burden of medical expenses for themselves and their loved ones, especially during the monsoon season.”, he added.

    Known for its innovative products, Apollo Munich has been active in its social media initiatives and with gamification, the company is taking its customer engagement initiatives to the next level. People can share the game through social media and hence effect a larger understanding amongst the population. The company is embracing the online medium to further uncomplicate insurance and make it easy to understand for people. Moreover, such initiatives also help solve purchase related concerns and complete the purchase, as well as the renewal processes.