April Fools Pranks: The Google Maps Pokemon App

by Christopher Freeburn | April 1, 2014 10:21 am

Google (GOOG[1]) is getting into the April Fool’s Day spirit with a fake contest looking to recruit[2] a Pokémon Master.

Google sign on wall 630[3]

The Google Maps Pokémon Challenge — announced via a YouTube video[4] — invites users of its Google Maps smartphone app to hunt down Pokémon characters from the iconic Japanese video games and cartoon franchise scattered across actual locations around the world. Users of the Google Maps app for Apple’s (AAPL[5]) iOS and Android devices can fill their “Pokedex” by using the mobile app to locate the characters and then tapping on them when they are spotted, CNET notes.

Google has inserted 150 Pokémon characters in various places. The contest — which promises employment at Google as a Pokémon Master — expires at 2 p.m. (Pacific Time) on April 2. Mobile device owners who want to test their Pokémon capturing skills can do so by opening the Google Maps app, clicking on the search bar, and then clicking on the blue circular icon that launches the game.

Since 2000, Google has launched a variety of annual April Fool’s pranks, including last year’s announcement of Google Nose, which promised to allow users to search smells.

GOOG stock rose more than 1% in Tuesday morning trading. GOOG stock has gained more than 35% over the past year.

More Recent Google Headlines:

Endnotes:

  1. GOOG: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=GOOG
  2. with a fake contest looking to recruit: http://www.cnet.com/news/googles-april-fools-prank-puts-pokemon-in-the-real-world/
  3. [Image]: https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Google-sign-on-wall-630.jpg
  4. via a YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMD6xELI_k
  5. AAPL: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=AAPL
  6. Hello RoboCop, NYC Police Test Google Glass: https://investorplace.com/2014/02/hello-robocob-nyc-police-test-google-glass/#.Uvuh3nlhOf0
  7. Google Glasses Get Fashionable With New Designs: https://investorplace.com/2014/01/google-glasses-gets-fashionable-new-designs/#.UvuiMXlhOf0
  8. Google Glass Driver Found Not Guilty Thursday: https://investorplace.com/2014/01/google-glass-goog-stock/#.UvuiW3lhOf0

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2014/04/april-fools-pranks-google-maps-pokemon-app/

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