Game Theory: The SECRET Psychology of Pokemon GO!

The host expresses frustration about Team Rocket not being an option in Pokemon GO, setting up the episode's tone.

• Base stats are invisible to players • Attack Duration is a major hidden variable recently discovered • Players cannot access or understand these mechanics to play optimally

• Removal of footprints making the game randomly frustrating • Increased fleeing and escaping at higher levels encouraging spending • Major bugs still exist in the game • Recent gameplay changes are turning Pokemon GO nearly unplayable

The host urges Niantic to communicate with the community and preserve the goodwill of their record-breaking mobile game before players lose interest.

Team Mystic claims 43% of the game's user base due to user interfaces, bandwagoning effects, and color theory preferences.

• Over 30% chose their team based on personality alignment • 11% selected based on play style compatibility • Team choice reveals how the brain works and interacts with the world

The host conducted a Poké Poll survey to gather data on why players selected their specific teams.

Can personality be accurately determined just by knowing which Pokemon GO team someone is on?

Guys and girls showed practically no differences in their reasoning for choosing teams, demonstrating that female and male gamers are more alike than assumed.

• 18% chose because a friend was on the same team • 6% thought the team provided strategic advantage • 11% chose because it aligned with their play style

• 33% of girls chose based on personality match vs. 26% of guys • 19% of guys chose based on team color vs. 15% of girls

Team Mystic has the most females at over 40%, while Valor and Instinct are both closer to 30%.

The Myers-Briggs test categorizes people into 16 types based on four dimensions: Introvert vs. Extrovert, Sensors vs. Intuitors, Thinkers vs. Feelers, and Judgers vs. Perceivers.

• Gamers are more introverted than the general population (70-30 split vs. 50-50) • Gamers are more intuitive, preferring pattern recognition and puzzle-solving • This drives fascination with unraveling game mysteries through theories

Personality distribution across the three teams reveals distinct psychological patterns in team membership.

Personality types, when analyzed across teams, explain why certain teams attract different player demographics.

Extroverts are most likely to choose Team Valor, which has the highest percentage of outgoing, socially engaged players among the three teams.

• Extroverts seek action and excitement • They tend to be more competitive and aggressive in games • They are eager to engage with other Pokemon GO players

Team Valor's emphasis on strength and honing combat skills directly matches the extroverted personality preference for action and competition.

• Valor has a majority of Sensor personalities, unlike Mystic and Instinct • Sensors learn by doing and experiencing immediate competition and battling • This contrasts with intuitors who piece together abstract information

Team Mystic has the fewest extroverts, attracting quieter, more introverted and softspoken people.

• Emphasis on gaining wisdom and intelligence • Focus on thoughtful strategy rather than brute force • Appeals to introverted personalities

Since most gamers are introverted, Mystic's emphasis on thoughtful strategy aligns with the majority of active players, explaining its dominance.

The 'N' personality type is significantly higher in Team Mystic, as the team's mantra of wisdom appeals to intuitors who piece information together to solve puzzles.

• Few people chose Instinct for its color preference • Most joined because a friend or popular YouTuber played Instinct • Others wanted to support the underdog team

Humans prefer fairness-based systems where success depends on effort rather than natural talent, making underdogs appealing to those valuing grit and determination.

• Team Instinct attracts Perceiving types (P) more than other teams • Perceivers are spontaneous, flexible, and less uptight • They trust Pokemon to be themselves rather than forcing strategies

Fewer Instinct members exist among older players, who develop more structured personalities (J types) as life becomes more regimented with age.

Humans are naturally drawn to underdog scenarios and root for the team expected to lose due to an innate preference for fairness.

• Vandello and Goldshmied's experiment showed subjects favored underdog teams • When Team B earned 3 times more money despite being the underdog, 2/3 of subjects switched to support Team A • Students valued grit, determination, hard work, and desire to succeed over pure odds

• Monkeys became uncooperative when given cucumber while others received grapes • Dogs refused to perform tasks if other dogs received better treats for the same action • Fairness awareness exists across animal species

YouTube audiences show similar patterns, excited when small channels grow but losing interest once channels become too large and favored.

• Bandwagoning effects influence team choice • Color psychology affects selection • Personality traits dictate team alignment • All factors combine to explain team distribution

Findings represent statistical trends, not absolute rules—not every Team Mystic member is an intuitor, and not all extroverts join Team Valor.

Team Mystic's majority results from game psychology, team colors, and gamer personality preferences all favoring that team simultaneously.

The host humorously predicts that when no one plays these teams in a month, it will be because Niantic broke the game.