wp-plugin-hostgator domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114ol-scrapes domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home4/scienrds/scienceandnerds/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/23171300\/peridot-hands-on-preview-niantic<\/a> It\u2019s hard to put into words how cute the little creatures in Peridot<\/em><\/a> are. The virtual pets, which star in the next release from Pok\u00e9mon Go<\/em> developer Niantic, seem scientifically designed to make you say \u201cawww.\u201d They have big eyes and colorful bodies, and they really react when you give them some attention. I was only able to play a short amount of a pre-release version of the game, but I\u2019m already smitten.<\/p>\n I had the chance to try a hands-on demo of Peridot<\/em> with senior producer Ziah Fogel at Summer Game Fest<\/a> last week in Los Angeles. The game is essentially a cross between Pok\u00e9mon Go<\/em> and Nintendogs<\/em>, with all of the augmented reality and location-based gameplay you\u2019d expect from Niantic but with a greater focus on taking care of your virtual pet. You only have one peridot at a time (more on that later), and your main goal is simply keeping them happy, so they\u2019ll mature into a well-adjusted adult, which can then breed to create even more cuties.<\/p>\n When you first start up the game, you\u2019re presented with a baby creature \u2014 each peridot is unique \u2014 and tasked with giving it a name. I panicked and named my cute, pink buddy \u201cNFT.\u201d (See the correct pronunciation here<\/a>.) From there, there\u2019s a sort of quest system revolving around your pet\u2019s desires. They might want to be petted or have a certain kind of food. My little NFT (again, I apologize for the name) really wanted to see some flowers, so we wandered over to a nearby restaurant that had a vase of roses on its hostess stand. My peridot saw them via AR and immediately perked up.<\/p>\n Niantic is quick to point out that there really isn\u2019t a punitive element here. Your pets can get a little sad, but they never get hurt or (gasp<\/em>) die. Peridot<\/em> is a game built around positive reinforcement. Making them happy helps them grow. It\u2019s also a game with a big focus on tactile interaction. You pet your little guy by rubbing its head (there\u2019s even some nice haptic feedback) and can play with it by tossing a tennis ball, which will bounce off of walls and trees in realistic fashion. In order to forage for food and other items, you draw a circle on the screen, and your pet will dive in before coming back with whatever it managed to gather. And depending on what surface it\u2019s foraging in \u2014 like, say, sand or water \u2014 you\u2019ll get different kinds of items.<\/p>\n
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