Pokemon Go is certainly the subject of many headlines lately whether it be from the latest article on Buzzfeed or the most recent news story. The hype is phenomenal, and not entirely unexpected. Pokemon has never been something small, and now the reach is even larger. As someone who didn't watch or play as a kid, the game is still a fun and inventive take on exercise. Somehow this app has found a way to get people outside. Really, it's not that hard to understand why when you look into it.
The current generation of teenagers and people in their 20's or early 30's are the kids who grew up with the game. Pokemon was a show, a Game Boy game, and probably more that I don't remember. However, this generation is now facing depression, a generally lacking economy, a world in distress, and learning how to exist in a world that has more problems than can be counted. Sure, this is just growing up, but sometimes growing up isn't easy or fun, and the game gives people a connection back to their childhood, and even gives their kids a new connection to their parents.
A connection back to childhood isn't the only benefit of the game. At the core of it all, Pokemon Go is a health game. The entire point is to leave your house and go walking or exploring the world around you. Sure, people have ended up in some really interesting situations (such as finding a dead body), but these are not the norm. Not to mention, the game is not responsible if you don't look where you're going. The point is that people are getting exercise which is beginning to help people with depression because they have a reason to actually exercise like they say they will all the time. It's giving people a way to exercise outside of simply walking or running because we all know that's boring. Pokemon Go is giving people an entertaining walk with their friends or a dog.
The game is also connecting people who may not otherwise meet. For example, my first day out hunting for Pokemon on a college campus I met new people and a really nice dog. Maybe I don't remember their names, but I remember that we were all trying to find something other than a Rattata or Pidgey. Pokemon Go is a connection, and a new look at a world you've already seen.
Maybe you don't understand the hype, and maybe it's just hype that will go away. But isn't people feeling better mentally, and exercising a benefit? Maybe the craze will leave and it'll be a few people who were more obsessed with Pokemon as a kid still looking, and maybe it won't die. Either way, Pokemon Go isn't something to dismiss. After all, it did take over the world overnight, and even people who never played Pokemon are playing now.
So get over hating it. After all, every generation has it's obsessions.
Now get out there and catch 'em all.
