Idiot starter question

[Pelethar]

Tried this with my young daughter today but couldn't get going.

Obviously we caught the first one that the game gives you but then couldn't find any more. I looked on the map and saw a little puff of leaves that I think means there's a Pokemon there. Walked there but nothing happened, we were on top of it on the map but when I clicked into the thing a pt the bottom right, it still showed them all with 3 footprints next to them, which if I've understood right means we are not near them.

Basically, what are we doing wrong? In really simple terms, how do we go about finding another Pokemon to catch?

Cheers

 

[Sirindu]

A few questions first, to better understand how to help you:

1. In the bottom right hand corner, how many different pokemon would you say were showing up there? (this is basically your nearby radar, by the way)

2. Do you live in a somewhat rural area?

In general, some things you should know:

Seeing leaves rustle does not *necessarily* mean there is a pokemon there. So you weren't doing anything wrong by looking there, it's just that there are no guarantees.

The bottom right hand window is your nearby radar. Three footprints is furthest away, but still close. Two, closer. One footprint and it's very nearby. Zero footprints and you should almost be right on top of it.

The method for using the "1, 2, 3, nearby footprints" is explained below:

Let's say you have a Pokemon with 2 footprints showing on your radar. (if you do not, walk around until you DO have one with 2 footprints).

Now, choose a direction and walk that way in as straight a line as possible (doesn't have to be perfect). If the footsteps increase to 3 immediately stop, note the general location of where you have stopped, then turn around 180 degrees. Walk back the way you just came. It will eventually decrease to 2 again.

Keep walking. Unless you just got lucky and are now heading straight to your Pokemon, the steps will eventually increase to 3 again. Stop. Turn around. Look back and eye the general location where you stopped in the other direction and try to gauge the midpoint between that spot and where you are now. Walk to the midpoint.

In the middle, between the two locations where the pokemon's distance became 3 prints away, you choose either left or right and walk. You will either head directly into the Pokemon or directly away from it, which is easily corrected when you see the steps increase.

 

[Pelethar]

Ah, thanks mate. Makes sense. So it's much more about the "nearby Pokemon" list than the rustles.

In answer to your question there were three on the list I think (all with three footprints) and we live in a suburb type area, lots of houses and not much else.

Appreciate the response, cheers

 

[NightKrow]

At the moment, I think there is a bug in the game that means that all of the Pokemon have 3 footprints in the "Nearby" display, no matter how far away they are. I opened up my game just now and there's a Pidgey and a Zubat near my house that I can see on the map, yet in the "Nearby" screen both Pidgey and Zubat have 3 footprints.

Until Niantic fix the bug with the footprints, I'd suggest either running the game while walking between Pokestops and hoping that some Pokemon do appear (if you have the Vibrate setting on, the phone will vibrate to let you know when there is a Pokemon nearby) or using one of the Incenses that you get at the start of the game if you're still having trouble finding any Pokemon.

 

[Sirindu]

Ah, thanks mate. Makes sense. So it's much more about the "nearby Pokemon" list than the rustles.

In answer to your question there were three on the list I think (all with three footprints) and we live in a suburb type area, lots of houses and not much else.

Appreciate the response, cheers

Yes, it's more about the radar than the leaves rustling. But your answer also helps me understand your situation better. In more urban areas, your nearby radar will usually be full with 8 or so Pokemon. Your area is probably not as densely populated (with the little creatures, that is).

I'd suggest taking your daughter to a downtown area and visiting a bunch of Pokestops, like NightKrow suggested. Downtown areas seem to have a LOT of pokemon and usually a lot of people playing, too. PokeStops will give you more poke balls and items to help you catch pokemon, and they're usually in fun places like parks and restaurants.

As NightKrow said, some people are experiencing a bug where the radar is not working correctly. I have not experienced this myself, but that's also a possibility for you. Bottom line: play in a more urban area and you should just bump into Pokemon fairly constantly.

 

[Pelethar]

Got it, thanks.

I have to say that it's been a buggy and frustrating experience so far; not sure if this is connected to the (presumably) overwhelming demand for the game, but it's not been good as a new player. Latest news is that the game refuses to log me in, saying my login details are wrong (they're not). I tried to reset the password just to see if that sorted it; it then told me that I'd already asked to reset the password (I hadn't) and to try again in "a while" - no idea whether that means 5 minutes, 2 hours, 3 days, whatever. That's on top of the game taking what feels like about an hour to boot up each time and apparently a bug that wrecks the footprint thing as well!

Anyway - just venting. Really do appreciate the answers guys and will probably leave it for today and then (assuming I do ever get my logon details resurrected) try it next time we're in a busier area.