What’s made Pokémon GO such a viral success?

"Technology often needs a “killer app” to gain mass market appeal. For the touch screen, it was the iPhone; for wearables, the Fitbit. Augmented reality games have been around for more than a decade, so what was it about Pokémon GO that allowed it to become a global phenomenon? We believe it can be attributed to three core social components of the game: the blending of the virtual and the real, geo-location and the success of existing Pokémon culture." Read more

Thuong Hoang & Steven Baker The Conversation 13 July 2016