你知道Pokémon Go是怎麼來的嗎?

原本已經退燒的「神奇寶貝 皮卡丘」，搭上Google地圖抓寶，沒想到又捲土重來，成為席捲全球的超火手遊「精靈寶可夢」。(圖/東網)

你今天抓寶了嗎?「精靈寶可夢」成為近來熱門手遊必備款，但你知道Pokémon Go是怎麼來的嗎?沒想到一個原本只是Google在愚人節的玩笑，竟然無心插柳柳成蔭，連遊戲公司本身都很驚訝，原來結合了Google地圖尋找皮卡丘可以成為時下最熱門的遊戲。本集新聞英文要告訴大家Pokémon Go的由來，跟著子璇老師一起認識Pokémon Go，還可以學英文喔~~

●‘Pokémon Go’ Went From Prank to Phenomenon

由一個惡作劇搖身變成風潮的『寶可夢』

An app that began as an April Fools joke has become a worldwide phenomenon, taking gamers out of the living room and on to the streets as they compete to capture, train and battle Pokémon characters using their mobile phones.

一開始只是愚人節玩笑的手機應用程式，現在席捲全球、蔚為風潮，它把玩家從客廳引到街上，讓他們在使用手機捕捉、訓練、讓神奇寶貝對戰的過程中互相競爭。

The origin of Pokémon Go is quite peculiar. It began as an April Fools joke launched by Google in 2014. In a mischievous post, Google announced that for one day, Pokémon would appear on Google Maps, letting powsers search for them at real-world landmarks. It was said to be a new training tool, created in conjunction with Pokémon and Nintendo for hunting Pokémon using Google Maps. The company claimed to hire the worlds best Pokémon Master—because it valued technically savvy risk takers who can navigate through tall grass to capture wild creatures.

『精靈寶可夢GO』的起源很特別。它原本是Google在2014發布的愚人節玩笑。Google在一個惡作劇貼文裡宣布在當天，寶可夢精靈會出現在Google地圖上，讓瀏覽地圖的人可以在真實世界地標中找這些精靈。這個程式據說是一個與精靈寶可夢以及任天堂公司合作創造的，訓練用Google地圖尋找寶可夢的工具。該公司宣稱要雇用世界第一的寶可夢精靈訓練師，因為它很重視能夠『穿越草叢、捕捉野生動物』的科技專家與冒險者。

2014年愚人節，Google開玩笑宣稱，神奇寶貝皮卡丘會出現在Google地圖上，希望藉此雇用能夠『穿越草叢、捕捉野生動物』的科技專家與冒險者。(圖/達志)

The enthusiastic reaction to Googles fake Pokémon Challenge video resonated within Niantic Labs, which is a little-known startup that had been incubating within the company. “People seemed to really love that combination of Maps and Pokémon,” said Niantic Labs’ chief executive, John Hanke.

Google發表的假『精靈寶可夢挑戰』影片獲得廣大回響的同時，公司內部的創業者，尼安蒂克實驗室特別有共鳴。尼安蒂克實驗室的執行長約翰、漢克表示『人們似乎真的很喜愛地圖與寶可夢精靈的彙整。』

When the app is opened, it shows a map of the area around the player, with various points of interest marked – statues, clock towers and so on. Players have to physically walk up to one of the points, referred to in the game as a Pokéstop, then tap an icon on screen to be rewarded with items and experience points.

精靈寶可夢這個程式被打開之後，會顯示出玩家周圍環境的地圖，會標示一些有趣景點，像是雕像、鐘塔等。玩家可以實際走到這些地點附近，在遊戲中稱為寶可夢驛站，然後點選螢幕上的圖示，來獲得寶物或者經驗值。

打開精靈寶可夢程式後，會出現玩家附近的地圖，走到附近景點的寶可夢驛站，可獲得寶物或經驗值。(圖/pixabay)

A prank was what it took to hatch a mobile video game that has turned into a cultural phenomenon. Yet, the real-world aspects of the game have also, inevitably, led to a darker side emerging. Players might be immersed into the game and be petrified on the road, causing problems to other pedestrians. Authorities have issued warning in terms of safety.

精靈寶可夢把區區的一個愚人節玩笑變成一個文化現象。然而無可避免的，在真實生活中裡，這個遊戲還是帶來一些負面影響。玩家可能會完全沉浸在遊戲中，在路上突然僵住不動，造成其他行人的不便。有關當局已經發布警告提醒人們注意安全。

寶可夢浪潮來襲，近來各大公園晚上常擠滿低頭抓寶人士，被譏為「喪屍」。（資料照/尤姓民眾提供）