A 2021 update to the game introduced Pokéstops, which gave players in-game rewards for scanning real locations using their devices. It required users to opt in and upload the recording.
Yeah, Pokèstops were a thing from the start - they carried over from Ingress. What they introduced later was the possibility to “scan” Pokestops by basically filming at the physical location.
I guess that kinda solves the GPS spoofing that ruined it for me. Going for a long walk to a pokestop with nobody around, only for someone to hack and remotely take over the stop while I’m sitting there…
I think the data collection is a little too intrusive for me to even attempt playing it again though.
I guess that kinda solves the GPS spoofing that ruined it for me.
I don’t think it did - as I recall it was completely optional; Really felt like a straightforward “trade 3D data for this reward”. And I don’t remember this feature being specifically linked to Gyms (the subset of Pokestops you’re thinking of), but I could be wrong. At a later point they did enable interacting remotely with Gyms you had a Pokémon in, perhaps that was an attempt to even the playing field against spoofers?
Going for a long walk to a pokestop with nobody around, only for someone to hack and remotely take over the stop while I’m sitting there…
Oof, yeah I can see how that would suck - I mostly played in urban areas, so I could just assume anyone out of sight could reach the Gym from a nearby building. It never amounted to more than “where the hell are they reaching this from?!”, though in hindsight spoofers are a better explanation. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.
I think the data collection is a little too intrusive for me to even attempt playing it again though.
Yeah, I’ve sometimes thought about trying to get back into it, but every time I’ve tried I’ve just … not enjoyed it that much. Don’t think I’ve done that since the Saudis got ownership, and now this post is really the final nail in the coffin.
Weren’t those a feature at launch?
Yeah, Pokèstops were a thing from the start - they carried over from Ingress. What they introduced later was the possibility to “scan” Pokestops by basically filming at the physical location.
I guess that kinda solves the GPS spoofing that ruined it for me. Going for a long walk to a pokestop with nobody around, only for someone to hack and remotely take over the stop while I’m sitting there…
I think the data collection is a little too intrusive for me to even attempt playing it again though.
I don’t think it did - as I recall it was completely optional; Really felt like a straightforward “trade 3D data for this reward”. And I don’t remember this feature being specifically linked to Gyms (the subset of Pokestops you’re thinking of), but I could be wrong. At a later point they did enable interacting remotely with Gyms you had a Pokémon in, perhaps that was an attempt to even the playing field against spoofers?
Oof, yeah I can see how that would suck - I mostly played in urban areas, so I could just assume anyone out of sight could reach the Gym from a nearby building. It never amounted to more than “where the hell are they reaching this from?!”, though in hindsight spoofers are a better explanation. Ignorance is bliss, I guess.
Yeah, I’ve sometimes thought about trying to get back into it, but every time I’ve tried I’ve just … not enjoyed it that much. Don’t think I’ve done that since the Saudis got ownership, and now this post is really the final nail in the coffin.