Players of Pokemon Go, who are called trainers, took a total of 144 billion steps while playing the game during a three-month period as measured by new Microsoft research.
A study published Oct. 6 by Microsoft showed users of the Pokemon Go app increased their number of steps significantly during the study period and estimated the total steps taken by all U.S. users of the game to be 144 billion, roughly the distance to Mars and back, noted Digital Spy. according to Digital Spy.
The additional steps taken amounted to nearly 1,500 per day, or about a 25 percent increase over previous activity levels, and 13 percent more than the control population.
The study subjects had an average age of 33 and about a third of those studied were classified as overweight, according to the Anime News Network. The study noted that if current activity levels were maintained, the app could add a cumulative 2.825 million years to Americans’ lives.
Unfortunately, these numbers will likely never come to pass. Pokemon Go’s use peaked on July 15 and proceeded to drop 79 percent since that time.
The app has since been launched in over 100 countries and territories and will launch for Apple Watch in the near future. A new Pokemon GO Plus accessory also has been made available for those who don’t have access to an iOS or Android device.
Although use of Pokemon Go did not prove to be sustainable (at least so far), the study showed promise for other games and apps that can creatively encourage users to take more steps and increase their activity.
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