Pokemon Go is Awful

[Saetha]

Someone explain to me because this app is horrifically bugged. 50% of the time it gets stuck on a loading screen or tells me the servers are down. And when it does get to the actual tracking portion, 50% of the time it can't locate a GPS signal, retrieve my data (No pokemon show up in my captured pokemon menu) or register and display nearby pokemon. If it does get to tracking and display nearby pokemon, the distance doesn't update even if I walk five blocks away and end up right on top of a pokemon so it's impossible to know where to go. And even THEN, if everything goes smoothly and the thing actually WORKS, it will almost certainly crash as soon as I find and capture something - and of course, it won't register me as having done that once I boot it back up.

The game's just devastatingly broken. I don't understand why people are praising it. Thus far, in my experience, it's been a better loading screen/Google sign-in simulator than anything relating to Pokemon. Aren't we supposed to get pissed when a game is publicly released in such a terrible state?

 

[Zhukov]

Presumably the people enjoying it haven't been getting the bugs you have.

Although I have heard other complaints about the servers being down. Apparently demand was a lot higher than expected.

 

[InsanityRequiem]

Also a problem with the servers is that a lot of people in countries outside of the US, Australia, and New Zealand are getting and playing Pokemon GO. Which puts excessive and pointless strain on the servers since these unauthorized people are clogging it up for the authorized folks.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I'm assuming you've already done these things, but I have to ask anyway. Have you tried uninstalling the app, fully powering down your phone(not just pushing the button so the screen turns off), and then reinstalling? Also is there enough free memory on your phone to run the app, because there tends to a lot of unnecessary programs open and using up RAM on a phone if you don't keep on top of it or have an app killing program.

 

[Saetha]

I'm assuming you've already done these things, but I have to ask anyway. Have you tried uninstalling the app, fully powering down your phone(not just pushing the button so the screen turns off), and then reinstalling? Also is there enough free memory on your phone to run the app, because there tends to a lot of unnecessary programs open and using up RAM on a phone if you don't keep on top of it or have an app killing program.

I've tried powering down and closing out of everything that's not Go. I haven't tried completely uninstalling, however.

 

[Cowabungaa]

A lot depends on the quality of your phone's sensor output too, I reckon. That said, the game is very rough. I wouldn't blame you if you'd take a break for now and come back when it's a lot more refined. We usually get more pissed when we actually have to pay for a game. Since this is free-to-play people are less hassled. That, and a large portion of the player base doesn't belong to the demographic that actively pays attention to such things actively calls them out online.

That said, my current gripes are:

- Rustling grass is very inconsistent and almost feels random.
- The game tracks nothing when its closed.
- It explains sweet fuck-all in terms of gameplay.
- No battling and trading. Yet.
- Uncertainty whether it's my phone or the game that's causing GPS wonkyness.
- AR absolutely needing a gyroscope. Though that might be just me being salty over my 2015 Moto G.

We'll see how it'll improve over the coming months. It'd better though.

 

[Kingjackl]

I'd like to be a part of the craze, but it's hard when 3/4 of the time I log in, all I get is a blank map (and the remaining 1/4 I get "the servers are down"). I'm sure it'll improve with patches and time, but until then I'm putting it on hold.

 

[Achelexus]

"It's a beta."

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Pokemon will die when Nintendo makes a main series Pokemon on Mobile Devices only and Microtransactions up the ass.

Everything about Pokemon today is just RIPE for explotation of all the vices Mobile Gaming is guilty of.

And sadly sheep will eat it up like how they ate up Valve's practices:

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Still never managed to get a name through the character creation. At this point I don't think there are any names untaken.

 

[sanquin]

I do get server problems every now and then. Which is due to servers being overloaded. And my app crashes way too often when I catch a pokemon. (As in I throw the ball, it hits, the screen zooms in on the ball, and then it freezes.) It still registers the catch 3/4 of the time though. And that's about it for me. No other bugs I've encountered yet. The gps works fine too. It's accurate within about 20 meters I'd say.

 

[Thatguyky]

Presumably the people enjoying it haven't been getting the bugs you have.

Although I have heard other complaints about the servers being down. Apparently demand was a lot higher than expected.

Pretty much exactly this. I haven't had any of the bugs Saetha has. The first two days it was rough logging on (since the the third day through now it's been fine). The only bug I constantly run into is the gym battle bug where you can't finish off the opponents Pokemon and it gets stuck at 1hp. I know some people think it doesn't explain enough, but I enjoyed figuring out most things about the game from my own exploration and talking with people...

 

[Guffe]

Presumably the people enjoying it haven't been getting the bugs you have.
.

I wonder which ones he got, I have a Caterpie and Weedle....

On Topic:
My game is not flawed almost at all, a few times it has frozen, but a quick close and open game and good to go again.

 

[Hawk eye1466]

I've had a few infinite loading screens and overwhelmed server warnings but otherwise it's been pretty smooth. If it freezes for me I just close the app then reopen and it'll usually work.

I'm on an android phone so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Apparently demand was a lot higher than expected.

So it's Amiibos all over again.

 

[Drathnoxis]

I'm assuming you've already done these things, but I have to ask anyway. Have you tried uninstalling the app, fully powering down your phone(not just pushing the button so the screen turns off), and then reinstalling? Also is there enough free memory on your phone to run the app, because there tends to a lot of unnecessary programs open and using up RAM on a phone if you don't keep on top of it or have an app killing program.

I've tried powering down and closing out of everything that's not Go. I haven't tried completely uninstalling, however.

Well I would try that in case there was an error during your installation. Not saying it's guaranteed to fix the issues, but it's usually worth it to run through all the basic troubleshooting steps just in case. Also, you might want to check if your phone meets the minimum requirements of the software. It says there that Intel CPUs are not supported, so that might be your issue.

 

[votemarvel]

- Uncertainty whether it's my phone or the game that's causing GPS wonkyness.

I think it is the game to be honest.

The GPS is terrible with Pokemon GO but when I fire up Google Maps it can pinpoint whether I'm at the front or rear of my house.

 

[Qizx]

The game's just devastatingly broken. I don't understand why people are praising it. Thus far, IN MY EXPERIENCE, it's been a better loading screen/Google sign-in simulator than anything relating to Pokemon. Aren't we supposed to get pissed when a game is publicly released in such a terrible state?

Also, the GPS signal issue sounds like a fault with your phone.

This part is one that I have ab it of an issue with. I'm enjoying the game a lot, however I do have some GPS issues with it and I'm fairly confident it's not my phone. I use my phone for Google maps ALL the time (I travel for work) and it almost never has any issues. Pokemon GO has a fair amount of GPS related issues/connections related issues.

 

[My name is Fiction]

Dear OP

I Understand that you are currently quite perplexed as to the success of Pokemon Go
and your variable swath of technical issues. Now due to the explosion of Poke Mania this app has caused
you could probably inference that your experience is just particularly bad.
While I can't offer you any tech advice that other posters haven't given you already I personally look at
it like this.

"Oh wow it really works?"

Between the massive strain the servers take from the unauthorized users, the plethora of smart phone
specs interms of hardware, software, your carrier for your coverage...

Lets just say that the App is about as miraculous as the Demon Summoning App from the SMT series.