Nintendo has done it again. Yet for those of us 90s babies who were looking for a nostalgia trip with the release of Niantic’s latest hit, I don’t think this is quite what we had in mind. Sure, the new Pokémon Go mobile game took off like a rocket within hours of being released, but it’s safe to say the developers had no idea how massively popular their creation would become in just a few days.
In case you haven’t caught wind of the latest trend in mobile gaming, here’s a brief summary of what you’re missing:
In cooperation with the Pokémon Company, Niantic, Inc. released Pokémon Go, a mobile gaming application compatible with both Android and iOS platforms. Within days of its initial release, the game became the #1 downloaded application in the Apple App Store. In the game, players create and personalize a character and use pokéballs to capture different Pokémon, which they can then train, battle, and trade with other players. Sounds simple enough, right?
Here’s the catch. The game is GPS driven, meaning it connects to your location and the interface is basically a bona fide map. Pokémon of varying levels of rarity show up at different locations, encouraging game players to wander around looking for new types of Pokémon. There are also Pokéstops where players can collect more pokéballs, potions, eggs, and other items necessary for advancement in the game. Additionally, popular locations such as schools, churches, tourist attractions, and others are the sites of what the game calls Pokémon gyms. These are where players can battle their Pokémon against those of other players in order to claim the gym for their team. There are three teams in the game: Team Valor (red), Team Instinct (yellow), and Team Mystic (blue).
Now that the basics are covered, we get to the crazy part:
Addiction
Pokémon Go did not reach top-grossing app in the Apple App Store for no reason. It’s addictive. Just today leaving work, I had to maneuver around hordes of teenage children congregating in the parking lot competing with each other to capture Pokémon. When I returned a couple hours later to pick up something I had forgotten, the same children were still in the parking lot, joined by about 15 or 20 more. The amount of time these kids are wasting on this game is ridiculous, and yes, it is wasted. The game has no educational purpose, real life application, or significance to bettering these children as members of society, and therefore it is, in fact, a waste.
Medical Problems
The repetitive hand and wrist motions required to capture these virtual Pokémon will very likely lead to increased risk of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and arthritis, or worse, early onset of these problems. CTS and arthritis both can be extremely painful and are costly to treat or repair. Additionally, staring at an electronic screen for hours on end can lead to problems with eyesight. Prolonged use of electronic devices and viewing of electronic screens has also been correlated to headaches and muscle cramps.
Serious Injury
As is common with the use of cell phones and mobile devices in general, Pokémon Go presents many potential mobility hazards. Just in my own experience watching kids playing this game, I’ve seen how careless many of them can be. The ones that were camped out in the parking lot were just sitting in the middle of it, blissfully unaware of the possible dangers of being run over by drivers not paying any attention. The same goes for the multitude of people I’ve seen walking right out into traffic, chasing after Pokémon, and remaining totally oblivious to the fact that they’re basically leaving their life up to chance. I have friends that have admitted to playing the game while driving, claiming that driving as opposed to walking down the road helps them catch Pokémon more efficiently. If you thought texting and driving was distracting, imagine flying down the street at 50 miles per hour while trying to catch a Dragonair.
In my humble and often disregarded opinion, Pokémon Go stands a pretty good chance of doing more harm than good. It may be that no serious issues ever arise as a direct result of this game, but why not be safe rather than sorry? Nonetheless, I’m pretty sure the higher-ups at Nintendo and Niantic are really enjoying rolling in stacks once again.
