Pokémon GO: Applications for the Economics Classroom

Abstract

Pokémon GO is a free-to-play, location-based, augmented reality game developed by Niantic for iOS and Android devices. The game draws on the familiarity of Nintendo's Pokémon video games, which led to trading card games, animated television shows and movies, comic books, and toys that grew in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Users in Pokémon GO explore the real world around them in an attempt to catch 'em all. The game quickly grew to over 25 million active daily users in 2016, making it the biggest mobile game in U.S. history. Given that many college and high school students have played the game, this provides a unique opportunity for instructors to use this viral sensation in the classroom to enhance economics education.

Teaching Economics Using SimCity BuildIt Video Game

“…As a result, faculty began incorporating video games as instructional tools. Al-Bahrani et al (2018) discuss how the immensely popular mobile video game "Pokémon Go" can be utilized to teach economics, while Martinez, Gimenes, and Lambert (2022) provide a more systematic study on the use of video games in academic learning. Seyedahmad and Shute (2021) examine the impact of video games, particularly on creativity.…”

Learning Economics in the Massively Multiplayer Online World of RuneScape

“…This has been done in a few settings. Al-Bahrani et al (2018), examined the economic lessons of the Pokémon-Go! craze of 2016.…”