A Red Warning for Niantic

On Sunday 1^st April, Niantic hit a lot of iOS players with a red warning and shadow ban. For many of us, it’s the first time we got the warning. And many so called ‘legit’ players were hit with it too. Which tells us that the algorithm they use to detect ‘spoofing’ is anything but perfect. And almost guarantees that Niantic will not enforce any permanent bans at this stage.

The ‘punishment’ attached to the red warning is a little vague. Essentially, those affected will not be able to ‘see’ anything other than common mons (Pidgey, Rattata, Psyduck, Staryu, Whismur, Barboach, Poliwag, Oddish, Ponyta, Bellsprout, Paras).

The Good News:

Shiny hunters will still be able to catch shiny Aron and Magikarp.

We can also do raids*

And it’s still possible to catch a shiny raid boss.

We can obtain eggs from pokestops, walk them and hatch them.*

We can complete nearly all the Field research tasks.

We can complete the Special Research quest and catch Mew –

Ditto is still catchable …

Ghosts can be caught in raids – or by completing the ‘Make 3 great throws’ field research task (the one that rewards you with a Gastly encounter).

Ghosts can also appear when you use incense in a ghost nest.

* IMPORTANT note on these two points: Niantic wants your money. That is why they do not extend your ‘punishment’ to preventing you battling in raids or hatching eggs. They need you to buy raid passes and incubators. You are still important to them.

Take heart from this. It is clear that the ‘spoofing’ community is massive. And I will argue that ‘spoofers’ spend way more money per head than so called ‘legit’ players. It stands to reason. Those of us who can hop location will naturally be able to access more raids. Auto-walk tools allow us to burn through eggs a little quicker. Even the simple fact that ‘spoofers’ can play in all weathers at all times of day should dictate that we play more often and are liable to spend more money in game.

Niantic needs us. Pokemon Go needs us. Indeed, many legit players have needed us to make up the numbers in raids and help them secure Mewtwo and T5 bosses. While the game will not die without spoofing, it will hit Niantic’s profits hard and make raids – including ExRaids –way more difficult for a significant portion of the player base. It may also reduce Niantic’s investment in future features.

There are many ‘legit’ reasons for Niantic to ease off on spoofing, or even accommodate some sort of mechanic into the game that allows trainers to ‘travel’.

1.     Not all trainers are able bodied. Many will have difficulty walking or even leaving their houses.

2.     Those in rural areas do not get the same opportunities to raid and catch good Mons as those in cities. The game is simply unfair.

3.     There are whole countries that are yet to experience a Pogo event. Even then, not everyone can afford the time or money to travel.

4.     Wild Shinies are incredibly rare. Without the ability to regularly access good nests, they will be simply unobtainable for most. Which bursts the bubble of ‘gotta catch ‘em all’.

5.     Rain sucks. Icy cold weather sucks. The game can be unplayable for a lot of the year, depending on where you live. Unfair.

6.     Playing at night is not always safe (unless you can spoof). Especially if you are on your own. Do we want our daughters, girlfriends or wives heading out into dark streets and parks at night?

7.     Younger kids aren’t always safe when they play legit. What if they spot a rare Mon in a dodgy or inaccessible area? The temptation would be great. As would the potential for harm to come to them.

8.     Regional Mons are off limits for most legits.

9.     High level raids and Ex Raids are simply not doable for many legits. Not everyone is in a Discord group or a town with a large Pogo community. And not everyone wants to play in groups with strangers.

10. Let’s be honest, ‘Legit’ Pokemon Go is pretty uninspiring (unless you live in eg. Tokyo or NYC). I liken it to a cross between a walking app and stamp collecting. Legits talk a lot about meet ups, Discord Groups and making friends in their local community. Which is fine, but it’s certainly not exclusive to legit playing. The online spoofing community is vast, happy and helpful. We share our joy of the game in exactly the same way. And our more prolific game play allows us to provide lots of helpful research and tips for all trainers.

The main gripe legits have with spoofers is when they see their local gyms taken over by the latter. I totally sympathise with their frustration. It’s a practice I frown upon and spoofers should stop it.

But that really is the only way that spoofers adversely affect legit gameplay in the current meta. And not all spoofers even do it.

So don’t be fooled by the legits who get on their high horses over spoofing. Most of it is born out of a kind of jealousy that we’ve found more creative ways to enjoy the game more fully. And hey, it’s only a game. Some people ought to get over themselves!

There is no timeframe on the current red warning. Estimates are that it could take 5-14 days to evaporate. This could run us perilously close to Community Day 4 on April 15^th.  I doubt Niantic would be foolish enough to prevent such a vast proportion of the player base from capturing a shiny Mareep. If they do, I suspect many of us will depart the game entirely. As much fun as spoofing in Pokemon Go can be … the legit version is too arduous, unrewarding and unfair to commit time and money to.

Good luck, however you play!