If you were born in the '90s, chances are Pokémon was a huge part of growing up and beyond. On Wednesday, July 6, the launch of the new interactive augmented reality app, Pokémon Go, sparked a national movement. I mean a literal movement. Not only did the game unearth years of nostalgia, but it also awakened a deep childhood urge to explore outside.
Today, kids are so used to the presence of technology and how cool it is. I mean, there are some really neat gizmos and gadgets out there, but very little beats the sense of adventure when you explore your surroundings because you have nothing else to do. Pokémon Go combines these two feelings in one multi-beneficial experience that I just cannot help myself from talking about.
The first night Pokémon Go was released, my friend and I, you know what we did? We took a walk. I know, that doesn’t sound very impressive or world-shattering. The thing is, we millennials have grown into a generation of people who go to the gym to exercise or we do not exercise. Do people still go on walks? Suburban wine moms, maybe. Idk. But my friend and I left my house and we walked to the local park where the first Pokéstops were located. It was so exciting, walking through the neighborhood and stumbling upon Pokémon. Pokémon! In our own streets! Incredible. It felt so good to catch them. Not only is it super cool to see these creations from our little days in front of us, but to actually capture and own them is a life-long dream come true.
I went on another walk the next day. I needed to stop by the bank and I thought, “It’s not that far, why don’t I walk?” So I did. Would I have ever thought of doing such a thing otherwise? Absolutely not. And I don’t even wear a Fitbit! I then took a detour to find some nearby Pokéstops and discover new Pokémon. In the same day, I met another friend for dinner and a movie. On the way to the theater we stopped at several different Pokéstops to collect the items they had to offer. We arrived at the theater early enough that we had time to walk around the shopping strip in search for more Pokémon. We had time, why not? It’s an adventure we would not experience without Pokémon Go, even though we have the freedom to do so anyway. But the interactive game from our own pits of nostalgia gives us a reason and desire to adventure.
The Pokéstops are so cool too because it's like a gigantic, worldwide scavenger hunt. Not only are you awarded several essential Pokémon Trainer items, but you are given the chance to learn about local landmarks, buildings and more. I took a walk around a local college campus that I don't even attend and I learned so much about it. This app is revolutionary because it forces you to exercise and learn things while having fun. Weird.
What's even weirder is I can now say things like, “I caught an Eevee at the park!” and “I saw a Raticate in my kitchen sink!” and “I took a picture with a Nidoran!” Ah! It’s also really interesting to be aware of the world around you while you’re participating in Pokémon Go shenanigans (other than for obvious safety reasons) because you might be in the movie theater bathroom trying to catch a Pidgey next to the trash can when someone walks in. Awkward.
It’s only been a couple days since Pokémon Go was released and, despite several server glitches that I am willing to look past for a short time, I’m already obsessed. By searching through the Pokémon Go hashtag it’s obvious that the world is obsessed too. The question now is: who will be the first to catch ‘em all? And remember, if you see a 20-something roaming the streets staring at their phone, they’re not actually lost — they’re just beginning to find their adventure.
