I have always been the biggest Pokémon nerd. I began with blue and red and have played every single one since then. When the idea of Pokémon Go was announced, I will admit that I was very skeptical. I downloaded it last Friday and have wasted most of my life on it. It turned out incredible and is definitely something new that has captured so many awesome features that Pokémon taught me over the years. Even with all of these awesome features, some unexpected negative side effects have been seen all over.

Seeing a Pokémon in your house is one of the coolest feelings in the world, only to be surpassed by the feeling of catching a hard-ranked Pokémon. It is incredible how you swipe and target the Pokémon to throw the ball. It leaves suspense and definitely requires more skill than going to your bag, picking a Poke ball, and using it. So timing is obviously very important, but sometimes being perfectly timed does not ensure a capture. When dealing with a difficult Pokémon, which is displayed by a red ring, a perfectly timed ball can still not catch it. There is a feature where you spin the ball and it makes the catch rate much better. The fact that they added an alternative method that requires finesse just shows that the creators did not want this to be a basic game, it is truly admirable.

The biggest thing I have noticed since the release is the wide variety of people playing. People who never even played Pokémon can be seen swiping and attempting to catch them in public. When you are in public, remember that other people can see you and try not to do anything too embarrassing. I think the variety is fantastic because it just shows how a great game can get so many people interested. It also helps people understand how I grew up and why I am so obsessed with the idea.

Now on to the huge negative that the news has been ranting about lately. People are getting so consumed with the game that they are neglecting to think about their safety or their surroundings. It is really easy to get wrapped up in the idea of catching and drive around in your car checking Pokestops. This is an awful idea obviously, but when you get wrapped up in the game, something like this can be overlooked for the sake of trying to be “the best there ever was.”

So how to enjoy the game while staying safe? Have some common sense. If texting and driving isn’t safe, obviously texting and playing a very interactive game is not a good idea. Also, when trying to catch something, avoid jumping into the street. And searching late at night in neighborhoods is not the safest plan of action. Be smart and be aware that not all people are courteous.

So while it is an awesome game, just remember that this game can be dangerous if not handled responsibly. Learn the spin technique to catch rare and legendary Pokémon. Last but not least, remember that you are in public and people can see you, so don’t let trying to catch a Pokémon make you look like a total fool.