Pokemon Go - Popular Game Essay

Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go is a very famous gaming app in both Google play store and Apple app store. According to developer Niantic Labs , Pokémon Go has been downloaded more than 650 million times, which is a really impressive number. Many bloggers, journalists or even people who never watched Pokémon animated series also commented on this game. Some even compared it with Shinto, which is a Japanese religion since they both do not necessarily need people’s understanding. People just need to trust it and practice it.

Due to the fact that many people read and talk about this game consistently, it has become more and more significant, thus, a popular culture. Why is it so famous and attract so many people to download and play? Personally, I think there are two main reasons behind:

1. It brings back people’s sharing memories

2. It successfully blurs reality and fantasy

3. It successfully puts ideology in practice

Bringing back people’s sharing memories

Pokemon is a world famous Japanese anime television series, which was first aired in 1998 in over 95 countries. It then released two movies and gained more fans. In US, the two highest grossing anime films are both Pokemon films. Pokemon Go successfully brought people’s childhood/old memories by releasing this game, which contains emotion connection. People, no matter how old they are, they all want to catch 1. For people who have never watched Pokemon anime television series, they may want to try to get into this popular culture since this is what others play and do. They do not want to be stereotyped or labeled as ‘people who are old-fashioned’ or ‘outcast’. Therefore, in order to join this big pokemon community, people in all ages will download this game and have a try.

Not only bringing back people’s sharing and collective memories, Pokemon Go also combines old characters with new technology, which creates a popular culture.

Blurring reality and fantasy

In order to capture different kinds of Pokemon , people need to keep walking and moving within the real world surroundings. They cannot only focus or simply go to the same place. In addition, if you want to capture a Pokemon which is related with water, for example, Vaporeon, which is a water-type Pokemon, you need to go near a river or sea. Therefore, it allows people to go out and communicate more.

Within its technology, it also lets people to get into this ‘verisimilar’ world or virtual reality. People may ask, ‘was it real or just a fantasy?’ The answer is ‘both’ and that is why it becomes a popular culture: It allows people to escape from reality. With Pokemon Go, they can connect with each other and capture different pokemons in this verisimilar world. They create bonding within each other and they can work with each other. Trust can be built and language barriers can be broken down throughout this process. In addition, when people catch a rare or legendary pokemon, they will have a sense of achievement that they may or may not gain in real life. Plus, they can get ‘reward’ in this game, which is not only a cute or powerful pokemon, but also respect and praise by other players.

Ideology in practice

Ideology’ as a term of critical analysis 'promises a way into the exploration of the relationships between power, meaning and subjectivity, relationships with which the media are clearly quite centrally involved….' (Corner, 2016: 266). Its social function actually help people maintain relationships with each other and help members perceive the world in a certain way. By joining this virtual reality, members can find their sense of belongings.

Ideologies are expressed in the way people talk, act, think, read and write. In Pokemon Go, people all have the same goal, position and activities. This will increase in-group solidarity and make group behavior standardized. People can also maintain relationships.

Conclusion

To conclude, no matter people like Pokemon Go or not, they all talk about it. They express their opinions through different social media. Since Pokemon is always talked by public, it shows that this game has value.

This game also successfully brings back people’s sharing memories and it can break down the language barriers among people and let them to explore their countries or even the world more. In addition, people get sense of achievement and they feel respected when they play this game. Since it blurs reality and fantasy, it allows people to escape from reality. It is a popular culture because it brings people together and form a community. It is certainly a game which is mass-produced.

iPhone

IPhone, is a line of smart phones by Apple and is welcomed by people all around the world. Not only leading the mobile phone industry, it is also popular culture. It is also deeply related to Mass Society Theory, which refers to popular culture as being produced by the industrial techniques of mass production and is also a commercial culture. (Strinati, 2005: 10)

The following will be divided to 3 parts:

1. How can its slogans and logo attract people

2. How does it similar with a religion

3. How Steve Jobs becomes an icon

How can its slogans and logo attract people

Apple's logo is an apple with a bite. People may compare with the apple in Bible which represents temptation or tree of knowledge. iPhone may also be interpreted as a ‘sin’ which people can be delighted if they buy and use Apple products.

Apple creates quite a number of slogans for iPhone which captures people’s hearts. ‘ The sign of Design with YOU in mind’ is an example. It makes people feel that iPhone can fulfill their needs because it is designed for them. Another example is ‘iPhone 6S- Ridiculously powerful’. The word “ridiculously mean that something which can cause surprise or disbelief. It leads people to think that ‘I can do anything if I have iPhone 6S!’ There are also some simple but powerful slogans