"Some ideas about what Pokemon Go needs to thrive - and it's not 'free stuff.' (Long)"

#PokemonGO: I've been watching a lot of Indigo League lately. Actually, watching it for the first time. I always knew what Pokemon was, but I was rather old when the first series came out and I never played any of the games before this one. But when Go came out, everyone got real excited for it and I got the app like pretty much everyone else did, just to see what it was like. The AR stuff sure looks good in a promo video.However, I couldn't play. My phone at the time was a piece of shit and the game was buggy as hell. Crashed constantly. This was pretty frustrating as I have small kids and they wanted to go out and catch a few. So I basically gave up on the game for several months and only came back to it a few months ago, when I finally got a new phone (Moto G4 Plus, which I really recommend). Naturally I was instantly hooked. The fact that I live in an area that is very walk-able and full of stops doesn't hurt.In the last month and a half or so, I've gotten up to level 23 through mostly casual play and filled up my Dex pretty solidly. Taken over a few gyms, learned the ropes, bought a bag expansion. I'm still pretty far from completing my Dex, still see black shadows occasionally, still going after as many Magikarp as I can. But, I can already see that something is missing from this game. I couldn't put my finger on it for a while but watching Indigo League with my kids really helped nail it down for me: there are few of the secondary features I associate with a 'personal growth' quest present in the game. Think about Ash for a minute, I know he's just one example of a trainer but let's face it, he's the archetype for all of us and I doubt there's anyone in this sub who hasn't imagined themselves as him once or twice. Ash starts out as a total newbie with nothing, who knows very little about Pokemon or how they work or capturing them, and sets out on a quest to get them.What's his goal? To become the best. How does he do this? NOT by catching Pokemon! Catching the Mons is secondary to his personal growth and development, which comes about as he is faced with a variety of situations that challenge him in different ways. If the show was simply a record of Ash going around catching Pokemon and having occasional battles at a gym, it would have totally sucked and you wouldn't have watched it! And that's what the game feels like to me right now. I catch stuff and evolve stuff, I fight occasionally. But so what? What's the point of doing so? I feel like it's kind of like a boring cartoon as the goals currently in the game don't really show any advancement and don't really add to my enjoyment over time. There's not even really a feeling of accomplishment.So what are some of the elements that could be added to the game, easily, that AREN'T free stuff, would fit with the overall theme of the game, and would keep long-time players interested, active and most importantly for Naintic, spending money? And that would add in some of these interesting and missing elements? What's going to keep me coming back? Just a few ideas, in no particular order, and I'm interested in hearing all others as well:(note, I'm not including things like 'add more pokemon' or 'trading' that have already been widely discussed)Famous Gyms. While I love having local, individualized gyms that players can access and get rewards from daily, I wish towns and cities had an official Gym in them the way that they appear in Indigo League. These gyms could have a small cut-scene (similar to existing ones in the game) introducing you to the local gym leader the first time you access them, and a secondary one when you go back to fight again. The gyms would contain a computer-controlled team of very high-level Mons that shift periodically as different people challenge the gym. ** Just like in the show, you win, you get a badge to show off**. Rural players, make like Ash and get walking to the next town.Collectible Items. These could occasionally pop up on your map instead of Pokemon. They don't necessarily have to add any bonuses to your character, tho they could. Could be cosmetic items that your character wins over time and can then wear. Could be a backpack increase. Could be something bad!Bad Guys. I feel like the designers of this game thought this would be fulfilled by, well, each other; that the 'bad guys' for all of us would be the other teams. However, this is problematic for a few reasons: first, you rarely MEET anyone on another team! They take over your gyms (mostly remotely, fug you cheaters, hope you all get banned permanently) and that's it. So they aren't fulfilling the purpose. The classic example, and one that I have no idea why wasn't included in the game, is Team Rocket. Random interactions with them could be put into the game pretty easily. There could be special Mons you could only get from defeating one of them that you find in the wild. Lots of different directions you could go with this.Ability to see other players on your map. I play quite often on a college campus and I KNOW there are tons of other people playing. But I never see them doing so, or rarely do so. The game is actually quite isolating in that it's rare to actually meet someone in RL these days, even in a populated area, who is playing. Just put a dot on my map showing someone else is there, it doesn't even have to be accurate. Or a meter of some sort showing how much activity there is in my area right now. Something.Let us show off! There ought to be a persistent character page, accessible online, that simply shows your profile, outfit, and dex. Maybe a couple of your strongest or best Mons. The data exists so it shouldn't be overly difficult to do so. The fact that there's currently ZERO way to proudly show your collection, other than showing screenshots here, is an absolute shame.Add in some simple quests. These don't have to be complicated and the reward can be a trifling amount of stardust or something. Just give us something to DO in the game besides catching Mons!!! Back to Indigo League: Ash didn't just catch stuff and fight, he helps people, he saves Mons in trouble, he goes to the hospital, he learns, he makes decisions. Right now Go has exactly zero of that. You catch Pokemon and you fight. That's it. I can't tell you how lame that is, when simple quests can be added in.Have some tournaments. These could be at the 'city gyms' I mentioned earlier. You put in your six best and by a certain date or time, they all fight in a big seeded tournament. If you're around, you can watch. Prizes for champs, participation badges for losers, fun for all.I'm sure I'll think of more but it's my lunch break, and these Magikarp aren't going to catch themselves. I'd love to hear all your non 'free stuff' ideas, and I'll add good ones into this post.Cheers to you all - via /r/pokemongo http://ift.tt/2ig3xIF