What is really behind the Pokémon Go craze - The Washington Post

At the end of the article: "“It’s a craze,” said Pachter. It may have a long shelf life for a craze, he said — at least as long as it takes most people to catch every Pokémon— but he doesn’t see it lasting forever. “Pet Rocks lasted more than 100 days, too,” he said." Also see Why did Google get rid of the company behind Pokémon Go? (Recode) and Sen. Al Franken questions Niantic over Poképrivacy policy (TechCrunch)

"Capturing these little monsters isn’t just good for players. In just a few days since its July 6 launch, the game has become a national sensation, nearly overtaking Twitter in daily active users. It currently ranks as the most profitable game on Google and Apple’s app stores. On Monday, Nintendo’s stock jumped 25 percent. On Tuesday, it rose another 13 percent.

The game is perhaps the first real success story of the use of augmented reality technology, which blends the digital and real world together. The combined effect is part bird-watching, part geocaching, part trophy-hunting, with a heavy dose of mid-1990s nostalgia.

All that success means Pokémon Go won’t be the last of these types of games."

What is really behind the Pokémon Go craze - The Washington Post