If you can count on a company to put up a cool April Fool’s gimmick, that would definitely be Google.
In conjunction with April Fool’s this year, Google has updated its Google Map to include a cool new Pokémon Challenge which allows anyone with a smartphone or tablet earn the all-important title of ‘Pokémon Master.’
The Pokemon Challenge couldn’t be more timely: Kids who were once obsessed with Nintendo’s Pokémon in the late 1990s are now the up-and-comers at some of the world’s biggest technology companies.
To start playing, you simply launch the Google Maps app on your smartphone and tap the ‘Search’ option at the top of the screen. You’ll then see a new ‘Press Start’ option with a blue Pokéball icon, signalling the classic quest that awaits every aspiring Pokémon trainer.
We tested Google Maps ourselves (just to be sure on such an occasion) and it really works, even though we are in Singapore. The Pokemon adventure starts at the Pokemon Lab located at Tokyo, where you will get to explore the maps of Tokyo when you are maneuvering around hunting for wild Pokemons.
However, this is not just limited to Tokyo. Right now, Google Maps on Android and iOS is actually populated with Pokémon creatures all over the world. Zoom in to major cities and you’ll see Nintendo’s little critters hanging out on the standard map view. You can also search for Google’s headquarter at Amphitheatre Parkway and there will be Pokemons loitering around too.
Here’s the promo video by Google:
You have until Wednesday to be Google’s Pokemon Master. Will you be the one to catch them all?enablejsapi=1&html5=1&
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