“Pokemon Go” Nintendo Co., Ltd (ADR)(OTCMKTS:NTDOY) accounts are selling like hot cake on third party sites as people yearn for ways of starting at the top rather than grinding from the bottom. While some accounts are going for as little as $100, others are being sold for a premium fee of upto $400. The buyout price depends on the number of powerful and rare Pokemon that an account boasts. Just like other popular games, Pokemon Go requires player’s to start with limited power and build over time depending on the type of Pokémon’s one captures. Dozens of advertisements pitching accounts that can allow one to start at a much higher level are already cropping up much to the concern of game developer Niantic.
Niantic has already warned against engaging in such practices stating that the same amounts to cheating. Notices of Pokemon Go accounts up for sale on sites like Craigslist and Facebook have since been taken down. How effective Niantic warning will be remains to be seen given that there are a bunch of sites that cater for this kind of transactions in the black-market. Selling of accounts in the gaming world is not something new as accounts for World of World of Warcraft and Clash of Clans continue to generate strong demand in the secondary market. Responding to secondary markets selling gaming accounts has always been a challenge for game makers. Blizzard has tried to stop the sale of World of Warcraft accounts but with little success given the strong demand in the secondary market. Niantic is no exception. PlayUp CEO, Eric Schweitzer, believes that the market for Pokemon Go accounts is just but starting.
Another mobile game that is on our radar is Pocket Starships by SPYR Inc (OTCMKTS:SPYR). As per today’s press release, gamers could soon be presented with an updated version of Pocket Starships in the upcoming months. Look like the company is currently working on second major update due later this year. SPYR Inc seems to be targeting the eSports arena. Paul Thind, SPYR’s Managing Director of Games and Apps recently said, “…with an eSports upgrade, tournaments could be held with players simultaneously playing each other on mobile devices and PCs. Mobile eSports is in its infancy and we hope to make a mark in that world with Pocket Starships when the time is right.” As per today press release, PC games like League of Legends, DOTA2 and Counter-Strike a re responsible for the excitement generated in eSports arena. However, mobile titles like Vainglory and Clash Royale are are not far way behind in the mobile eSports arena.
