Many, if not all of you, have heard about the phenomena sweeping the nation called 'Pokémon Go.' For those of you that have been unplugged from the internet for the past week or decided to start a social media cleanse, I'll catch you up.
'Pokémon Go' is an app available on both Android and Apple phones that uses augmented reality to put the player in the world of a Pokémon trainer. The creators of the app, Niantic Inc., teamed up with Google Maps to create a virtual world that is mapped out in real time reality. In order to play the game, players must physically walk, drive, or fly to the location of the Pokémon in order to catch them. Players can also battle it out with other trained Pokémon at PokéGyms and pick up Pokéballs to catch more Pokémon at locations called PokéStops (tongue twister, I know).
This app is quickly taking over the nation and according to Survey Monkey has become the biggest game in U.S. history and is the current #1 most downloaded app only 24 hours after hitting the app store. 'Pokémon Go' has even been featured on the news for the massive amount of people seen playing it in the streets.
To say the least 'Pokémon Go' has been bringing people together and making the world a bit more special. Here are five reasons why:
(Feel free to listen to this while you'rereading)
1. Nostalgia
For anyone who grew up on the well-known anime show, this app is an opportunity to finally become a trainer in real life. This has been the dream of many '80s and '90s babies and now, Niantic has made it a reality.
2. Fresh air and exercise
Remember those Nickelodeon commercials that encouraged us to “Get up, Get out, and go play!"? Early 2000s Nickelodeon recognized the problem kids were having with physically getting outdoors, outside of PE class. We were more interested in TV, video games, and Napster to fill our free time. 'Pokémon Go' brings back this Get Up and Go mentality because of the way the game is played. In order to move their avatar in the virtual world of the game, players have to physically move to the area on the map in person.
3. Meeting new people
Millennials are known for three things: our constant need for instant gratification via social media, our unemployment rate, and valuing our indoor comfort over the outdoors. Because 'Pokémon Go' players have to physically be in the vicinity of Pokémon, PokéStops, and PokéGyms to play, they get the opportunity to meet new people from all over the place from different backgrounds with an already established common interest.
The day my brother and I downloaded the game for the first time we decided to take a drive to find more Pokémon. We drove into a location and not even one minute after we pulled up, another car drove up. The woman driving rolled down her window and said, "Hey! Are you guys playing Pokémon too?!" To which we responded by raising our phones in our hands and saying, "Yeah! ...What are the PokéStops?". The woman got out of her car leaving her family of Pokémoners with their eyes fixed on their devices and walked over to answer our questions. She even gave us some tips on how to find some more PokéStops in the area.
4. Discover places you never knew existed
I've lived in the same town for almost all of my life and through 'Pokémon Go' I've discovered businesses, backroads, and monuments that I've passed by my entire life without even giving a second thought to.
5. It's awesome!
'Pokémon Go' is a fun app that I would dare say could even be considered social media. I've met so many people through the simple desire to catch 'em all. In our time of such civil unrest around the world, I think we could all use a little camaraderie amongst the masses.
Now, go download it before they start making us pay for it!
