What Pokemon Go Means to Marketing.

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pokemon go

I talk about the branding and marketing value of a category or incipient category in which there is “pent up demand.”  The flash boom growth of Pokemon Go is one such example. I know because I live near a park that is a waypoint (gym?) in the VR world that is the game Pokemon Go.  Cops have closed the park entrance, overflow teens and mills walk the streets after dark near the park in hopes of a glimpse of a creature. They break the law, entering the park, after hours just to play. Kids (may I call them kids?), who grew up on sedentary video games, Gameboys, and consoles have been waiting a long time to be unleased. Rather than shoot up bad guys with and against global acquaintances (guns games are becoming passe for kids), they’re actually out and about, meeting people. Virtual world fun in the real world.

In 10 years, many of these kids will be saying about their spouses “Remember meeting while playing Pokemon Go in the East Village?”

Many thought porn would be the first virtual reality (VR) breakthrough. Wrong. It’s promotional gaming.  And we’ve only seen the beginning. Marketers will figure this one out in ways that will reinvent promotion. Imagine developing a game in which you can knock 50% off the price of a TV for a little walking around time investment? This ain’t no “treasure hunt” walk about my friends, it’s a VR learn and share experience that’s going to be a woosh for marketing development companies.

Yesterday my dentist asked me to suggest a good marketing job for an intern. My answer today?  Get a marketing-development job that lets you dabble in VR. Bam!

Peace.