How Niantic Can Improve Pokemon GO Events

Pokemon GO’s latest event, the summer solstice, is almost over, and it is sadly underwhelming. The event is little more than an experience boost, a sale on a cash shop items, and an increased chance of encountering fire-type and ice-type Pokemon. That’s it. This event is barely any different from other events, all of which have been a variation on “increased chances of encountering x” and “extra experience and/or candies.” I was starting to doubt if trainers would ever get a different type of in-game event, but then I saw how radically Niantic plans to change gyms. The news got me thinking: if Niantic can overhaul gyms, how can it overhaul events? Here are a few of my ideas/suggestions.

Contests

Pokemon Contests were introduced in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald and were a decent diversion from the standard Pokemon Battle. Niantic could easily implement its own contests, ones that reward participants with prizes. These contests could range from simple and fun competitions to see which team can control the most gyms the longest or catch the most Pokemon, or consist of the devs at Niantic judging creative nicknames for Pokemon. Or maybe the devs could judge the avatars of the players instead of their Pokemon. The sky’s the limit with contests, so long as the brain behind them is imaginative.

Get Rid of Region Exclusivity

I know I just complained that events in Pokemon GO usually revolve around increasing the chances of encountering certain types of Pokemon, but I will gladly admit that that the solstice event finally gave me a Charizard, Typhlosion, and Lapras. However, I believe Niantic thinks too small, only increasing the odds of encountering Pokemon I can find on a normal day. I would much rather have an event that lets me catch a Kangaskhan without visiting Australia or any other Pokemon that would otherwise require an intercontinental vacation. Granted, if the Pokemon GO Fest page is to be believed, Niantic will let trainers catch region-exclusive Pokemon in Grant Park, Chicago, but why leave the remaining 99.99% of players out in the cold? Is it too far fetched an idea to, um, ask for a Farfetch’d without having to trek to the birthplace of Nintendo?

Loot Drops

One of the more intriguing inclusions in the upcoming gym update is raid boss Pokemon that drop rare items. Quite frankly, it’s a brilliant idea that deserves to be expanded. An event that has wild Pokemon dropping items whenever they’re caught would be a godsend to people who play in locations with few Pokestops — or Pokemon Gyms. Actually, now that I think about it, maybe this should be a constant feature and the event would merely increase the odds of a loot drop. Or would that be too hypocritical of me?

 

These ideas are just off the top of my head. If you have any ideas of your own, let me know in the comment section.