Back in the late 1990’s Pokemon was just some silly card game that the kids would play. Whether the kids were trading cards or catching Pokemon on the latest Gameboy color they were always keeping themselves occupied with these odd looking creatures. As time went on, the fad started to die down and soon catching Pikachu would no longer so exciting. The percentage of children who played with the cards became very low, that is up until a couple weeks ago. This year, the year 2016 the game would be changed forever as a whole new version of the game was released. The new version of the game is called Pokemon Go and players are to walk around the city while trying to catch virtual Pokemon. This new method has got children, adults, and seniors playing Pokemon. Normally when a virtual game has such an outbreak, it has a negative affect on the world however, I don’t think this is the case. This new and improved game has got people getting up and getting active and it has everyone coming together as one and that is just what this world needs
In recent years our society has been trying their hardest to promote healthy living, after the rates of obesity starting rising higher than ever. Company's all over have been trying to create healthier menus and Nickelodeon even tries to stop network for 30 minutes to get kids to get up and get active. It is not easy to get people interested in working out. However, since Pokemon Go has been released Apple had more steps calculated all around then the company has ever seen before. People are creating time to go out to the park and walk around for hours at a time. I have never in my 19 years of living seen the local parks so busy. I work at a recreation center at a local summer camp and there have been parents that walk about a mile from their house to the rec center to pick up their children just so they can “catch ‘em all.” The outbreak of exercise that people are accidentally (or purposely) getting from just going Pokemon catching is crazy and it is just what we needed to get people to want to get active.
More importantly than getting active, this new Pokemon Go app has got people coming together as one. The other day I was with a few friends at a local park catching some Pokemon when a couple of strangers started talking about their experiences with us. They told us all the cool spots to go and how to level up. Had I not been catching I guarantee you I would’ve been freaked out by strangers stopping me to talk randomly. As we started talking they mentioned that there are Facebook groups for local teams and people who live close by are starting catching groups where they set aside time to go catching with strangers. It’s like it doesn't even bother anyone that these people are strangers as long as they are catching. Everyone is helping everyone get higher up in this game and its awesome. With all the violence going on in recent days, its very assuring seeing everyone get along over a silly virtual game.
Yes, Pokemon Go can be dangerous with people catching and driving, walking across the street to catch a rare Pokemon and not looking both ways, or getting lured into dark alleys where someone plans on mugging you. If you ask me that’s what Darwin was talking about when he said “survival of the fittest.” Personally I feel like you have to be stupid for Pokemon Go to be a dangerous game. So before you go catching put on your thinking cap and go “catch ‘em all.” Be Safe, Be smart, Stay active. Happy catching everyone.
