One of the problems I have been reading about is lack of participation in raids. From my home in a predominately single family residential area of a major city, I can only see one gym on the main screen. I only receive notices of upcoming raids as to that one gym. To participate in raids, a trainer has to be alerted to them. I can think of two methods that Niantic could implement to increase the number of trainers receiving those notices. The obvious one is to increase the radius of the "nearby" function. I think a better way would be to add an "opt in" feature on each gym. A player that visits a gym would be able to click a button enabling that player to receive notices of upcoming raids as to that gym. What do you think and what would you like to see implemented from within the game to increase notices about upcoming raids?
I agree that it is a problem. I have 11 gyms within a 10km walking distance of me and i have never seen another player in a raid (other than my girlfriend). So this means that lvl 3 & 4 raids are out of the question.
So for me the whole raiding scene is quite the failure.
As to your question: add a function on the gym badge tab to see which of the gyms you have visited has a raid. This would be a very simple graphic representation.
I like the your in-game notification proposal - and would also like another button on that gym which is enabled if you have a defender there that says "Forfeit" or something that would call home that PKM (with his coins, of course). Might not be able to re-enter for 24 hours but that would be a huge improvement in limiting alt-account shaving which I fear is going to get much worse.
Also TSR is starting a "Gym Radio" system, in beta right now but their Atlas woks well so I'm hopeful this would too. Otherwise, gymhuntr or local FB group is how I learn of nearby raids.
Is the problem that people don't know about them? Tons of people were showing up at raids the first couple days, they certainly didn't have a problem finding them then, and that was even before gymhuntr showed them...
IMO, the reason people aren't showing for raids is they think it is a waste of their time. People waited over an hour for raids to happen just for them to be over in a matter of seconds. So many people said "That's it?!" And made comments about not doing that again.
And I kind of agree. 2 raids going on across the street right now...walk over, wait 120 seconds for it to start, beat it in 60 seconds, get no TM. No thanks, I'll keep watching tv...
