They say a Pokémon in hand is worth two in the virtual wild — and if you really want to catch ’em all, then it behooves you to know where to find ’em.
Well, if your goal is to complete your collection, you can thank Trulia for this gift: an interactive (nationwide) map that Trulia created for Pokémon GO, the runaway hit mobile game; the map shows potential hotspots for different types of Pokémon that might be missing from your set.
The purpose of the game is to collect virtual creatures (the elusive Pokémon), train them and battle them with/against your friends. Players collect Pokémon by finding them in different physical locations in their real-world environments — and by visiting different Poké Stops, where they can pick up items to use in the game, or gyms, where Pokémon can do battle with one another.
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There are already maps that exist to help guide players to Poké Stops and gyms, but Trulia’s appears to be the first comprehensive map guiding players to areas where they might be able to find the Pokémon themselves.
It is, however, based on some unproven assumptions — namely, that different types of Pokémon will be found in their “natural environments.” So what on earth does that mean?
The map shows five “types” of Pokémon — Electric, Fire, Grass, Psychic and Water.
According to Trulia’s blog post about the project, Electric Pokémon are mapped based on electricity usage in an area; Fire Pokémon are assumed to pop up around police stations, fire stations or other fire-related regions; Grass Pokémon like, well, grass (nurseries count, too); Psychic Pokémon hang out at places like schools and libraries; and Water Pokémon can be located in deserts. (Just kidding — you can find the Water Pokémon near and around bodies of water.)
A screenshot from Trulia’s Pokémon map.
So there’s no guarantee that this map is going to help you find the Charmander of every Poké-player’s dreams…but it sure can’t hurt to try!