The release of the upcoming "Pokémon GO" augmented reality game is indeed drawing closer as the developer expands its ongoing field tests outside of Japan.
According to an announcement posted by developer Niantic on its website, the field tests for "Pokémon GO" will be expanding to Australia and New Zealand. As with the Japan version of the beta, fans who are interested in the field tests are required to sign up on the "Pokémon GO" website set up by the developer. However, signing up is not a guarantee of users being able to access the field test itself since the beta will be closed and limited.
According to GameSpot, the field test overview page lists some requirements for the beta expansion. Reportedly, fans will have to be located in New Zealand and Australia during the period the beta tests will be conducted and should have an iOS or Android mobile device. Meanwhile, those who will be selected for the beta field tests will be chosen "based on a variety of factors, which may include OS-types, experience in real-world games and an element of luck".
In addition, much like what transpired in the Japan field tests, users in the new locations will also have to abide by the confidentiality clause, which forbids sharing related content on social media. This makes "Pokémon GO" have "an element of surprise for our users at public launch".
Meanwhile, Niantic has not disclosed anything about the field test expansion other than the announcement. However, fans may expect that the field tests in Australia and New Zealand will be almost the same as the Japanese version. Currently, the field tests for "Pokémon GO" are ongoing in Japan, and leaked reviews (before Niantic cracked down on leaksters) said that there will be no multi-player content on the beta. Rather, Niantic is looking for feedback on the user interface and app itself, as well as fans' reactions to how the Pokémon-capture feature works.
