PokéVision is a real-time Pokémon GO locator

Since the launch of Pokémon GO, there have been a handful of tools for avid trainers out there to try and cheat the system with. I don’t advocate such cheats, but sometimes when there’s an Onyx nearby and those stupid little footprints aren’t working and you just can’t find the damn rock snake, a little help is needed. Help like PokéVision, which will locate Pokémon for you in real-time. At all times.

Using the Niantic API that was utilised in their previous geocaching-like game, Ingress, PokéVision is able to populate your surroundings with accurate locations of Pokémon. Not only will it show you exactly where your next Geodude or Dratini is, it’ll also let you know how much longer said Pokémon will be around for. Because there’s nothing worse than walking a few kilometres to have the Pokémon flee on you after one toss. I’m looking at you Dragonite.

There’s currently no iOS or Android app for PokéVision yet, but the service is easily available via your browser on either PC or your mobile of choice. Having to flip between the map and the app constantly (especially since you want those distance counters on your eggs counting) might be a nuisance, but it’s likely not to change. Niatinc won’t want something like this to plug into Pokémon GO easily, because it mess with the main hook of their game. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if hey took steps to try and make PokéVision itself redundant soon.

But until then, it’d your easiest way to hunt those rare Pokémon that have just been a few meters from your grasp so many times. I’d still only resort to it in the most extreme situations (because the real joy of happening upon a rare Pokémon yourself just can’t be beaten), but if your not like me there are no better tools. That’s if you’re still playing Pokémon GO, that is.