'Pokémon Go Plus' Wearable Wristband's Resell Price Rises to Upwards of $250

[MacRumors]

Given the intense popularity of the new augmented reality game Pokémon Go, a few retailers have begun facing shortages of the game's $35 wrist-worn accessory, the Pokémon Go Plus, which allows users to receive notifications about nearby Pokémon right on their wrists. Although some players expected the app itself to send push notifications to their phone's lock screen, as it stands the only way to be notified about a Pokémon's appearance is to use Battery Saver mode and leave the app open, or invest in Nintendo's accessory.

That investment will now cost you upwards of hundreds of dollars, unfortunately. At the time of writing, the Pokémon Go Plus is sold out at Amazon, GameStop, and even the official United Kingdom Nintendo Store lists it as "temporarily unavailable." As discovered by IGN, the wearable is still available on the reseller auction site eBay, but the average price is hitting somewhere between $100 and $250 for the official first-party version, and not a copy cat.

Some of the cheapest guaranteed pre-orders on eBay begin at around $140, while a few bidding auctions are currently in action with prices that will probably reach closer to $200. There are also a few Buy it Now options around that price range, with the absolute highest-tiers coming closer to $250. Low level auctions are starting frequently, but given that their start price is already a steep amount, like $60, it's likely they'll also break the $100 barrier.

The Pokémon Go Plus not only vibrates and notifies players of nearby Pokémon via a Bluetooth connection, but it lets them tap a button at the center of the device to throw a Poké Ball, without taking out their smartphone, in attempts to catch the Pokémon lurking nearby. The device was announced alongside the game back in September 2015.

As such, the accessory isn't necessary to the experience of Pokémon Go, but some players might see its addition to their time with the game as majorly beneficial, and perhaps more inclined to a safer experience given the fact that it lets players check in on the game without taking out their phone, although its new resell value is likely to impede more than a few purchases.

Those who have yet to do so can download Pokémon Go from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: 'Pokémon Go Plus' Wearable Wristband's Resell Price Rises to Upwards of $250

 

[MrLoL]

So $35 for something that could be an app on smartwatches?

 

[JaySoul]

I wish the human race could focus on augmenting our reality first.

 

[thisrocks]

Would pay $30 for IAP to unlock a watch app for this. I already wear an Apple Watch and play Pokemon Go, how much more nerdy do I need to look?

 

[576316]

I wish the human race could focus on augmenting our reality first.

Currently playing through a game called Soma. Exactly what you just said happened, but the robots did it.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

Would pay $30 for IAP to unlock a watch app for this. I already wear an Apple Watch and play Pokemon Go, how much more nerdy do I need to look?

I second this wholeheartedly. I just want a way to get notifications w/o needing the app to be open (or wear this band), how more perfect can the AW be for that?

 

[goobot]

So $35 for something that could be an app on smartwatches?

Yes but then they couldn't charge you $$$$$

 

[beanbaguk]

People are idiots.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

A bluetooth button, no different than the ones included with a $5 selfie stick and yet idiots are willing to pay huge sums for it.

 

[MrLoL]

Yes but then they couldn't charge you $$$$$

In-app purchase for a few dollars and that's it

And don't tell me they doesn't get revenue out of that app alone:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertc...-1-6m-daily-revenue-in-us-alone/#60a3f1c730b8

 

[keysofanxiety]

I already wear an Apple Watch and play Pokemon Go, how much more nerdy do I need to look?

Much more! Dress up as Ash Ketchum and twist your cap around whenever stuff's going down, for starters.

 

[0098386]

So that's how they plan on making money with it? Neat idea! I'd rather buy a physical object than a download ticket, as it were.
[doublepost=1468329351][/doublepost]

Yes but then they couldn't charge you $$$$$

So it should be a freeware game, in your opinion?

 

[Dilster3k]

I couldn't have ever predicted how popular this game would become. Ever since we found out it was fixated around AR last year, I thought it was bound for failure. Hopefully they will still produce some RPG type of game for the iOS platform, Nintendo is killin' it.

 

[efktd]

PokéRumors.

 

[bladerunner2000]

I'd pay $250 to not wear one. The teenage virgin look isn't cool.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I couldn't have ever predicted how popular this game would become. Ever since we found out it was fixated around AR last year, I thought it was bound for failure. Hopefully they still produce a RPG type of game for the iOS platform, Nintendo is killin' it.

I'd love to see Pokemon Go in the style of the original games. Pick/capture/trade Pokemon and level them up by battling, basically. 4 moves; learn more, delete old ones. Limited to 6 Pokemon you can carry at a time. Buy TMs/HMs and Protein/Iron through IAP if you want, though much like the original Blue/Red, that's not at all mandatory to ensure you progress.

Different regions and areas will have different Pokemon. Long grass, ponds, trees, forests. Maybe have the option to start as Team Rocket, Red, a Bug Catcher, Biker, Gym Member, etc., so you have different starter Pokemon and it's not all the same for everybody.

Have little "!" notifications popping up on your phone if there's somebody else nearby who plays it, so you can battle them if they accept. And Bluetooth between phones will project the virtual Pokemon on the ground battling!

Of course this is waaay too complicated and ambitious to ever be vaguely realised. Plus if it happened, I imagine we'd very quickly have a dystopian-style society; gangs of bikers riding around, stopping people and threatening them to a Pokemon battle.

 

[Klae17]

I'd love to see Pokemon Go in the style of the original games. Pick/capture/trade Pokemon and level them up by battling, basically. 4 moves; learn more, delete old ones. Buy TMs/HMs and Protein/Iron/Rare Candy through IAP if you want. Different regions will have different Pokemon. Long grass, ponds, trees, forests...

Maybe have the option to start as Team Rocket, Red, a Bug Catcher, Biker, Gym Member, etc., so you have different starter Pokemon and it's not all the same for everybody. Have little "!" notifications popping up on your phone if there's somebody else nearby who plays it, so you can battle them if they accept. And Bluetooth between phones will project the virtual Pokemon on the ground battling!

Of course this is waaay too complicated and ambitious to ever be vaguely realised. Plus if it happened, I imagine we'd very quickly have a dystopian-style society; gangs of bikers riding around, stopping people and threatening them to a Pokemon battle.

You can battle them at gyms right now to level. There are two moves, perhaps they might add four. You want the game to be like the old school but don't want three starters...? You can power up through Iap. Different places give different Pokemon already. Water near streams and rock near foothills. Fire near volcanoes. They are adding battling and trading. There's nothing too ambitious.

 

[applesith]

Haha it's like the Pokemon cards allover! #memories

 

[keysofanxiety]

You can battle them at gyms right now to level. There are two moves, perhaps they might add four. You want the game to be like the old school but don't want three starters...? You can power up through Iap. Different places give different Pokemon already. Water near streams and rock near foothills. Fire near volcanoes. They are adding battling and trading. There's nothing too ambitious.

Oh right, that's a little better than I thought. I've only been peering over my colleagues' shoulders when they're playing it, really. Except for when they disappear during their lunchbreak to beat a gym. I guess for moves I was thinking more the classics -- for instance you select Tackle/Growl and learn different ones, rather than just tapping the screen, though that wouldn't be difficult at all to add. And have more of a classic view of HP points, etc.

I didn't touch Pokemon after Gold/Silver/Crystal, though I'm getting properly hyped about the whole franchise again.

 

[TechZeke]

I wouldn't be caught dead walking around with this, and I consider myself geeky and a little bit nerdy. This is something I'd expect from the dyed hair-Pokemon shirt-Sanrio backpack-knee high stockings type that walks around with an Nintendo DS and Manga.

Or something I'd see from geekiest-nerdiest group in high school.

Then again, I'm not really a Pokemon fan, so whatever floats your boat.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I had heard of this product but not seen it... I was under the impression that you'd at least have some sort of screen so you know what pokemon has been detected and what you're trying to catch...

 

[Jeremy1026]

I'd love to see Pokemon Go in the style of the original games. Pick/capture/trade Pokemon and level them up by battling, basically. 4 moves; learn more, delete old ones. Limited to 6 Pokemon you can carry at a time. Buy TMs/HMs and Protein/Iron through IAP if you want, though much like the original Blue/Red, that's not at all mandatory to ensure you progress.

Different regions and areas will have different Pokemon. Long grass, ponds, trees, forests. Maybe have the option to start as Team Rocket, Red, a Bug Catcher, Biker, Gym Member, etc., so you have different starter Pokemon and it's not all the same for everybody.

Have little "!" notifications popping up on your phone if there's somebody else nearby who plays it, so you can battle them if they accept. And Bluetooth between phones will project the virtual Pokemon on the ground battling!

Of course this is waaay too complicated and ambitious to ever be vaguely realised. Plus if it happened, I imagine we'd very quickly have a dystopian-style society; gangs of bikers riding around, stopping people and threatening them to a Pokemon battle.

So you want Pokemon Red?

 

[Gymgenius]

Fools and their money...

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

I'd pay $250 to not wear one. The teenage virgin look isn't cool.

I'd just not wear one.

 

[peterh988]

They'll be on eBay for 99p in what, six months?