Pokémon GO

The Pokémon GO logo

*Pokémon GO* is a free-to-play augmented reality role playing game developed by Niantic in 2016. It allows players to collect and compete with a wide variety of Pokémon by exploring their real life surroundings. Players are able to catch wild Pokémon, hatch eggs, collaborate with other players for raids, and compete against each other. Pokémon GO already provides players with many cosmetic items that they can purchase with paid or free in-game currency.

## In-Game Currency

Pokémon GO only has one official currency within its game.

* **Pokécoins :** Pokécoins are the main form of premium currency within Pokémon GO. Pokécoins are mainly obtained through purchasing them in the shop. However, some pokécoins can be earned for free if players place a Pokémon to defend a team gym (strategic locations on the map that can be occupied by one of the three teams players can choose in Pokémon GO). For every 10 minutes a players’ Pokémon remains in the gym, the player earns one coin but there is a daily earning cap of 50 coins a day.
	+ **Uses:**
		- Consumables (Remote Raid Passes, Premium Battle Passes, Incubators, Pokéballs, Incense, Star Pieces, Lucky Eggs, Max Potions, Max Revives, Lure Modules).
		- Upgrades (Item Bag, Pokémon Storage, Postcard Pages, Team Medallion).
		- Cosmetics (Poses, Hats, Accessories, Tops, Bottoms, Socks, Footwear, Bags, Sets, Stickers).
		- Boxes.

## Currency Bundles

### Purchasing Pokécoins

To purchase Pokécoins, players can access the shop by clicking the pokéball at the bottom of their screen and selecting “shop”. From there, the pokécoin bundles will be at the bottom of the shop:

There are six pokécoin bundles that can be purchased, ranging from 100 to 14,500 pokécoins.

 550 Pokécoins
 1200 Pokécoins
 2500 Pokécoins
 5200 Pokécoins
 14500 Pokécoins

## Currency Exchange Rate

The currency exchange rate is an estimate calculated by accounting for all currency bundles available for purchase. You can find a detailed breakdown of this process here.

The currency exchange rate is the average rate of all 6 packs: 1 CAD to 87.31 Pokécoins.

## Payment Methods

The Payment Methods in Pokémon GO are determined based on the platform the user is playing on (iOS, Android).

The current payment methods for Pokémon GO through IOS and Android are the following:

* Mastercard
* Visa
* Amex
* Apple Pay
* Google Pay

## Refund Policy

To refund a purchase of pokécoins, players will need to contact the support of the respective platform they play on to review their refund policies and request a refund.

## In-Game Items

In Pokémon GO, in-game items are diverse in their uses, functions and prices. Many of the items available for purchase with pokécoins can also be obtained while playing for free, by visiting areas such as pokéstops or Pokémon gyms to spin photodiscs (a photo of the landmark object the player is at), receiving gifts from friends and completing tasks such as field research for rewards.

### Consumables

Consumables are items that players can use as a one time use to serve various needs.

The first section of available consumables for players to buy.The second section of available consumables for players to buy.The third section of available consumables for players to buy.
#### Remote Raid Passes

A raid pass is a pass that is obtainable by visiting a Pokémon gym and spinning a photo disc once per day to participate in a raid battle (a short event at a Pokémon gym where many players work together to defeat a boss). To participate in a raid battle, players must physically be at the Pokémon gym hosting the raid battle. A remote raid pass allows players to bypass being there physically, allowing them to participate from anywhere in the world. Players have a chance to receive a remote raid pass by completing tasks but remote raid passes can be bought in the shop for 195 pokécoins each, or a pack of 3 passes for 525 pokécoins.

#### Premium Battle Passes

Premium battle passes work in replacement to a regular raid pass (if a player does not own a raid pass), or can be exchanged to obtain premium rewards when players participate in GO Battle League (a feature where players can battle against each other online). Premium battle passes have a chance of dropping from completing special tasks or can be bought from the shop for 100 pokécoins each, or a pack of 3 for 250 pokécoins.

#### Incubators

Incubators are used by players to hatch Pokémon eggs that they obtain while playing Pokémon GO. There are three types of incubators available with the following two being purchasable in the shop:

* **Egg Incubator/Limited Incubator:** Breaks after three uses, can be obtained by levelling up or buying one in the shop for 150 pokécoins.
* **Super Incubator:** Breaks after three uses, hatches an egg 33% faster than other incubators. Is purchasable from the shop for 200 pokécoins, but can appear as a reward for completing special tasks.

#### Poffins

Poffins are treats that players can feed to their Pokémon to have them join the player while walking around the game. The only way to obtain poffins is by purchasing them for 100 pokécoins each.

#### Pokéballs

Pokéballs are the only way to catch Pokémon in any Pokémon game. Players start with regular pokéballs, but as they level up, different variations of pokéballs (great balls, ultra balls, etc.) become available for players to use. Pokéballs can be obtained in a multitude of ways, from levelling up, visiting pokéstops, gyms, opening gifts and opening gifts. If players want to buy pokéballs from the store, they offer the following options:

* **20 pokéballs:** 100 pokécoins
* **100 pokéballs:** 460 pokécoins
* **200 pokéballs:** 800 pokécoins

#### Incense

Incense is used to attract more Pokémon to a players location for them to catch for 60 minutes. Incense can be obtained through levelling, special research tasks or buying it from the shop for 40 pokécoins per incense, or 250 pokécoins for a pack of 8.

#### Star Piece

A star piece is an item that gives players a boost in obtaining stardust (a resource to power up Pokémon) for 30 minutes. It can be obtained through completing special tasks, but if purchased in the shop, one star piece costs 100 pokécoins, and a set of 8 costs 640 pokécoins.

#### Lucky Egg

Lucky Eggs are items that grant players a doubling in any exp gained for 30 minutes. Lucky eggs can be obtained through completing special tasks or can be obtained by levelling. Otherwise, lucky eggs can be purchased in the shop for 80 pokécoins each, or a set of 8 can be bought for 500 pokécoins.

#### Max Potions

Potions are items used to heal Pokémon either before, during, or after a battle. There are four types of potions (potion, super potion, hyper potion, max potion), each increasing in how much they are able to heal. The max potion is the strongest of the four, healing all health lost by a Pokémon. Max potions can be obtained from level 25 onwards, but a set of 10 max potions can be bought for 200 pokécoins.

#### Max Revives

Revives are items that are used to revive fainted Pokémon and restoring some of their HP. Max revives work similarly, but restore the entire HP of a fainted Pokémon. Max revives can be obtained from level 30 onwards, but a set of 6 max revives can be bought for 180 pokécoins.

#### Lure Modules

Lure Modules are items that can be activated at a pokéstop that will attract Pokémon to that area for 30 minutes. It is an item that once used by one player, it can benefit all players within the area. There are different  types of lure modules, each being able to attract specific Pokémon types or allow certain Pokémon to evolve in its vicinity.

Standard lure modules can be obtained through levelling, but other types of lure modules (ex: a glacial lure module), can only be bought from the shop. The following lists the prices of the modules available in the shop:

* **1 Standard Lure Module:** 100 pokécoins
* **8 Standard Lure Modules:** 680 pokécoins
* **1 Glacial, Mossy, Magnetic or Rainy Lure Module:** 180 pokécoins

### Upgrades

Upgrades in Pokémon GO allow players to extend space in items such as the Item Bag, Pokémon Storage, or Postcard Pages. Players are also able to switch their designated team by getting the “Team Medallion” upgrade.

#### Item Bag

The item bag page is where players can store all the items they obtain as they progress throughout Pokémon GO. The starting capacity for a player’s item bag is 350 items. Within the shop, players can increase the max capacity of the bag in increments of 50 items for 200 pokécoins per upgrade.

#### Pokémon Storage

Similar to the item bag, Pokémon storage is where all Pokémon caught are sent to be stored. This also has a starting capacity of 300, but can be increased in increments of 50 Pokémon for 200 pokécoins per upgrade.

#### Postcard Pages

Postcard pages is a feature where players can save postcards (these postcards are of actual real world areas). Postcards can be obtained through the gifts they receive when visiting a pokéstop, or when they receive gifts from friends. Postcard pages can be increased in increments of 50 from the shop for 100 pokécoins per upgrade.

#### Team Medallion

In Pokémon GO, players will be asked to join one of three teams once they reach level 5: Mystic, Valor or Instinct. A player can choose only one team and once chosen, will be able to defeat other team gyms or defend gyms that their team has claimed. Teams can also work together during raid battles. If a player wishes to change their team, they can purchase the team medallion in the shop for 1000 coins but can only be purchased once every 365 days.

### Cosmetics

Players already have some cosmetics in the following categories when they initially join, but all extra cosmetics are add-ons that can be purchased. Most of these cosmetics can be purchased by accessing the “style” section of a players profile, except for stickers. Some items also require players to have reached requirements to unlock other free cosmetics, or to unlock items that still require being purchased. All cosmetics are of different varieties (seasonal, clothing references to other Pokémon games, etc).

A player's profile showing their summary information. Players can access the area to customize their avatar by clicking the "style" icon on the far right.The various categories available to a player when customizing their avatar.Some of the many articles of clothing available for purchase while customizing an avatar.If a player tries on items and then proceeds to exit the style section, it will give the following prompt to purchase the item they are currently wearing:

#### Poses

Poses are displayed through a player’s character on their profile with any purchasable poses costing 500 pokécoins each.

#### Hats

If purchasable, hat prices can range anywhere from 50 pokécoins to 800 pokécoins. However, most hats are within the 150-200 pokécoin range.

#### Accessories

There are a variety of accessories for players to customize their player such as masks, glasses, gloves and belts, each with varying ranges of pokécoin prices:

* **Masks:** range from 50-200 pokécoins
* **Glasses:** range from 50-400 pokécoins
* **Gloves:** range from 50-200 pokécoins
* **Belts:** prices range from 100-150 pokécoins

#### Tops

Within the tops category, there are both tops and some full body outfits. Tops range from 75 to 500 pokécoins.

#### Bottoms

Purchasable bottoms range from 80 to 200 pokécoins.

#### Footwear

Purchasable footwear ranges from 50 to 200 pokécoins.

#### Bags

Purchasable bags range from 150 to 200 pokécoins.

#### Sets

Sets are complete outfits from head to toe. Purchasable sets range anywhere from 175 to 1000 pokécoins.

#### Stickers

Stickers are a cosmetic that can be attached to any gifts sent to friends within the game. Players can obtain stickers for free by receiving gifts, interacting with pokéstops, and participating in events or special research. If purchasing stickers in the shop, 10 stickers can be exchanged for 35 pokécoins, or 30 stickers can be purchased for 80 pokécoins.

Some stickers that were available for purchase at the time of recording. These specific stickers may not be in the shop anymore since some of them were for a Halloween event.The sticker exchange prices available for a set of ten and a set of thirty.
### Item Costs

As of October 29 2023, the current lowest and highest cost items that are purchasable in Pokémon GO are the following (not including items that are given for free or have to be purchased as part of a bundle):

 **Most Expensive Item** | Team Medallion

## Battle Pass

Pokémon GO does not have any battle passes. This is not to be confused with the premium battle pass, which is a one time use to receive premium rewards in GO Battle League.

## Subscriptions

Pokémon GO currently does not have any subscriptions.

## Loot Boxes

Pokémon GO currently does not have any loot boxes.

## DLC

Pokémon GO currently does not have any DLC.

## Editions

Pokémon GO currently does not offer any editions.

## Pay-to-Win Systems

Pokémon GO does not have any pay-to-win systems.

## Limited Time Offers

### Ticketed/Timed Research

Timed research are research campaigns where players have to complete a certain set of tasks within a limited time-frame for rewards. Within these events, ticketed research are bought with real money (not pokécoins) and give players various rewards if the timed research is completed.

Timed research that was specifically available for the Halloween 2023 event that was running at the time. These research events are global so any player has the ability to purchase it.One of the two timed research events available, with a description of what rewards can be obtained upon completion.The other timed research event available, which also has a description of what rewards can be obtained upon completion.
### Boxes

Within the shop are limited-time boxes players can buy with either pokécoins or real money. These boxes range from boxes for new players to boxes that are themed around the current event within the game. Each box is different in what they offer, but they offer a range of items, not limited to pokéballs, eggs, incubators, berries, passes, etc. and are priced according to which items and the quantity of items contained in one box.

Some limited time boxes that were available in the shop that offer different rewards.One of the limited-time boxes that a new player can purchase one time only to help them get started in the game.Another one of the limited-time boxes exclusive to new players that can be purchased once to help them in the game.
## Personal Review

**How does the video game’s culture impact microtransaction spending?**

The video game’s culture does not incentivize spending as most items can be earned over time for free. Purchasing only helps you get items faster, which is only necessary if players play very frequently.

**Is it possible to free-to-play while having a good experience?**

It is entirely possible to play for free and have a good experience as the microtransactions mainly improve progression rather than give exclusive features.

**What is the value proposition offered by the microtransaction systems and are they substantial improvements over not spending?**

The main value proposition is convenience, ease of use, and customization. Paying for microtransactions makes the game more enjoyable for players who want to progress as much as possible. For casual players who are not that interested in progression, the main value added is customization.

**Do microtransactions add “value” or simply add prices to features/items that other games include by default?**

Most microtransactions only add value in the sense that they save time, other than cosmetics which allow you to change your character's appearance. Other mobile games have similar microtransactions so Pokémon GO does not put default features behind a paywall.

**Do you need to spend to have fun?**

There is no need to spend money to have fun if you are playing casually as there are more than enough resources to make daily progress. Players who want to maximize their progression through the game may feel restricted by the game and feel a need to spend.

**Is it worth spending on microtransactions in the long run?**

No, unless you are very dedicated to this game and want to maximize your progression. Items such as remote raid passes would help you join raids from your home, incubators can help you with eggs, and storage slots would remove the need to throw away items to make space.

**Do I recommend that you spend on this game based on my personal experience playing it?**

I would not recommend it since most players can have a great time with the game without needing to pay.

## Resources

1. ↑ Pokémon GO Wikipedia
2. ↑ Pokémon GO guide: Pokécoins and the shop
3. ↑ Pokémon GO Help Center - Refund Policy