How Does Pokemon Go Track Steps: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you an avid player of Pokémon Go, but have always wondered how the game tracks your steps? Look no further as we dive deep into the mechanics of how this popular mobile game tracks your physical movements. In this extensive guide, we will provide an in-depth explanation of how the game works, so you can step up your Pokémon catching game!
Introduction
Pokémon Go is a location-based augmented reality game, meaning it uses your smartphone’s GPS system to track your physical location. It has been praised for encouraging players to engage in physical activity, as in-game progress is directly linked to the distance you cover in the real world. The game has a unique way of tracking the distance you walk or run, which leads us to the main question – How does Pokémon Go track steps?
How Does Pokemon Go Track Steps: The Basics
To put it simply, Pokémon Go tracks steps by counting the number of changes in your GPS location. This means that it tracks your movement based on your phone’s GPS data. It does not rely on a pedometer or any other type of physical tracking device. The game will track how far you have moved and use that data to hatch eggs and earn candies for your Pokémon.
The Math Behind Distance Tracking
Now that we know how Pokémon Go tracks your movement, let’s take a deep dive into the math behind the game’s distance tracking. In Pokémon Go, one kilometer (km) is roughly equal to 1,200 steps for most players, although this number can vary depending on factors such as walking speed and GPS accuracy. The game tracks your GPS location every minute and calculates the distance covered from the change in your GPS coordinates.
The game may average your GPS location over a set period, such as every four minutes, to account for GPS inaccuracies, which can cause fluctuations in your distance tracked.
Maximizing Your Gaming Experience
Understanding how Pokémon Go tracks your steps can help maximize your gaming experience. Here are some tips and tricks to increase your distance tracking in the game:
Walk in a Straight Line
As Pokémon Go calculates distance based on GPS location changes, it’s best to walk in a straight line when trying to hatch eggs or earn candies. Walking in circles or zig-zags may cause the game to register less distance.
Keep Your GPS Accuracy High
Your GPS accuracy can impact the distance that’s tracked while playing Pokémon Go. To keep your accuracy high, make sure that your phone’s GPS setting is on, avoid being in areas with high buildings or trees surrounding you, and move to open areas.
Use Adventure Sync
Adventure Sync is a feature in the Pokémon Go app that allows the game to track your movement without it being open on your phone. The feature requires permission to access your phone’s activity data, allowing the game to track your movement even when it’s not being used. This feature can be enabled in the game’s settings menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is Pokémon Go’s distance tracking system?
The game’s distance tracking system is generally accurate but may vary for different players based on their GPS signal quality, walking speed, and other environmental factors. It is best to keep your phone’s GPS setting on and avoid areas with low signal quality.
How long does it take to hatch an egg in Pokémon Go?
Egg hatch time varies based on the egg’s rarity. For example, a 2-kilometer egg usually takes about 20-30 minutes of walking to hatch, and a 10-kilometer egg may take around 90 minutes of walking.
Can I cheat in Pokémon Go?
Using cheat hacks, bots, or GPS spoofing to falsify your location and distance tracking is against the game’s terms of service and can result in a permanent ban from the game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pokémon Go tracks the number of changes in your GPS location to calculate your physical movement in the game. The game’s distance tracking system may vary for different players based on various factors such as walking speed, GPS quality, and environmental factors. Understanding how the game tracks your steps can help you maximize your gaming experience, and hopefully, this guide has provided you with everything you need to know about the topic! With this knowledge in mind, it’s time to catch ’em all!