Economics of Pokemon

[fbhjr]

Since the harbor cruise when I saw that sparkly pony Pokemon that got away,
I’ve been wondering how much I spent throwing 30 or so Pokeballs at it
trying to catch it.


It isn’t an easy question to answer. You get some Pokeballs for free and
get more when you go to Pokestations to refill. I spent a good bit of time
at Pokestations over the weekend getting free ones. So, technically my
answer is zero. (Yes, I know what my consulting rate is multiplied by the
time I spent walking around town over the weekend. If I was charged my
engineering rate for it they would have been VERY expensive Pokeballs…
But, that’s not what I’m on about.)

I also burned all the Pokeincense I had on the boat. I’m sure that’s why I
got a lot of creatures and creatures I’d never seen before. But, if you
use up what you get when leveling, they charge for that too.

Exact costs for this change depending on how many of the Pokecoins you buy
at once and how many of the items you buy at once.



I guess the good news is that the Pokeballs are the cheapest thing they
sell. Depending on how much you spend on coins and how many balls you buy
at once they are between 3 and 5 cents each. 30 was still a lot to throw
over the side of the boat. (I didn’t count, that’s just a guess.) But,
I’m glad it wasn’t $10 worth of balls I wasted on that pony.

It did spend the equivalent of a couple of dollars with of incense. I’m
not sure it was worth it or not. When I used one at game night last week,
it didn’t seem to make any difference. When I used it on the boat ride I
got lots of things I’d never seen before.
But, that could be that you get different things out in the harbor than in
a backyard in Worcester…

Through various Pokestops and leveling I’ve acquired a few lures. I
haven’t used them. And, honestly am not sure how to use them. But, it
certainly looks like they are worth more than Pokeballs. I don’t know if
they really pay off well or not…

To me, it looks like almost everything you can buy you get some samples of
leveling up and visiting Pokestops. So, that makes me less inclined to buy
them. I’m going to get them anyhow if I wait, or walk.

The thing I can’t get, that does frustrate me, is Pokecandy.
You need that to mutate the creatures into the next level of Pokemon. And,
you only get it by capturing that family of creatures.
So, all those fish I caught in the harbor I can’t mutate unless I catch
other fish.
If it was a question of paying a few dollars to buy the Pokecandy or paying
for parking in Boston to go to the harbor, I might just buy the Pokecandy.

But, that isn’t an option…

Comments

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

We did a side-by-side incense comparison the other night and the incense person got the same pokes and the same number of pokes as the non incense person.

Lures are like incense for everyone near that stop but actually works.

You also don't need to buy stuff in the game with real money. As soon as you claim a gym (1 a day) it gives you 10 coins. You click on your head, there's a timer when you have a gym, it says COLLECT NOW when you money ready.

Yes, pokes are different in different places.

You trade each rat in for 1 poke candy. When you get 25 rat candies you can level up your rat.

You will use fewer balls as you level up and get stronger balls.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

It's good to know about the gyms and the coins.
I found coins in my account and wondered. I didn't think I had paid for any, but feared I might have clicked something by accident when the system was being flakey on me.
But, I did take a gym over the weekend, so that would explain it...

[tjoel2]

My son has been fascinated with that game as well. I was just enjoying sitting in the park yesterday watching everyone walk by trying to fine the little guys. Apparently I was sitting on a very popular spot.

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

Holy carp that could get expensive!

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

I had no idea you had to pay for items to use

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

You don't have to. But, you can get an advantage if you do.
And, you can run out of things. There are other ways to get them, but buying them is quickest....

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

LOL. I have managed to spend only 20 bucks so far in the store. I feel lucky.

[merilune.livejournal.com]

Did you catch the Ninetales though??

I haven't played the game much. There are a lot of Pokemon hanging out at the hospital but not many near my home. I spend most of my time in those two places.

There is a park with painted cows in my town and I think almost every cow is a Pokestop. So I will have to go there and get some things.

Yes, not being able to buy Pokecandy is a pain. I would buy that!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I agree about the Pokecandy. That I might consider buying if they let me.

I did not get the Ninetales. I threw about 30 balls at it and finally had it in one when the game crashed. When it reloaded I had not captured it and it was no longer around.
Sad.

[merilune.livejournal.com]

That is sad. I have not seen a Ninetales OR a Vulpix. I guess they don't live in my town.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I did get a Vulpix on the same boat ride. I'm only 34 candy short of evolving it and haven't ever seen another...

I'm not that big on going the 60km into Boston just to chase one. Maybe if we go in to the city next week with the kids...