Pokémon Go Datamining Moments

In my previous post, I had detailed about the nifty yet dicey process of datamining and how Pokémon games can be involved. In this post, I'd like to delve further into one side of that, the Pokémon Go side of things. As noted, Pokémon Go is a target for the process because of the potential for the things that the process may reveal. And much has indeed been revealed with the process throughout the progression and development of things within the game by certain noteworthy actors.

One of those actors call themselves PokéMiners, and by their names, what they do is quite clear. They perform datamining in connection to Pokémon, in this case being Pokémon Go. They've been able to pull out a few interesting features, many of which have been subsequently confirmed. Meanwhile, The Silph Road, in addition to being a community organizer, has its own ties to datamining, if only as a publisher of the information on Reddit. Both of these are significant actors nonetheless.

As for things that have been revealed, they have been quite varied. Datamining had previously revealed the content and the dialogue (of Professor Willow) for the first ever paid Special Research for Community Day, which by now is known that it was slated for March but ended up happening in April. Prior to Pokémon Go Fest, datamining also had revealed the addition of Shadow Mewtwo, which should have been a strong indication that Team Go Rocket was to be quite involved. For some events, datamining had indicated the Shiny forms to be involved as well, and this has been fairly accurate.

Other things have been less so, or at the least cannot be fully verified by the average player or as of yet. It was datamining that revealed that the Shiny forms of all first-generation Pokémon have been included, certainly for instant compatibility with the Let's Go games. Earlier this year, datamining had also indicated further Community Day voting plans before they rematerialized differently. Most recently, datamining has revealed the possible workings of the Mega Evolution system that is soon to come, and though it's likely to be accurate, it would be wise to not put in too much stock in them at the moment.

Though some of the revealed information may be sensitive - at least initially before everyone can access them - datamining has proved to be a boon for Pokémon Go, having resulted in a good deal of information that later on also became actual in some ways. The process will likely remain controversial, especially for a game as lively as Pokémon Go. But I suppose with or without the knowledge of them, what happens will likely not detract from continued enjoyment of the game and all its specific particulars.

One year ago: It's Gonna Be...

Two years ago: A Mascot Reinterpretation

Three years ago: Local Hangouts and Pokémon