Last week, Niantic Labs and the Pokemon Company released a phone application that has taken the world by storm. Pokemon GO is an augmented reality game that gives players a chance to enter the world of Pokemon by traveling around their communities to “catch” creatures that randomly appear around them. It’s brought about a remarkable phenomenon that seems to be drowned out in the tragedies that seem to plague our world these days, so I wanted to spread the good news.
The basic idea behind Pokemon GO is that you have to get out of the house and explore in order to “catch ‘em all” - the objectives include walking around different places to either catch Pokemon, hatch eggs, visit PokeStops for items, or battle at Pokemon Gyms.Though news media outlets seem to focus on publicizing the negative incidents that have occurred as a result of the game, there have been many positive effects brought about that impact both the individual and society at large. Here are just a few of them:
1. Mental Health:
For individuals with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, getting out of bed in the morning can seem to require more energy than it actually would take. Because of this, many of these people will appear closed off as they stay in bed, stay inside, and try to conserve the little energy that they feel they have. One of the most noteworthy side effects that has occurred with Pokemon GO’s release is a positive influence on the mental health of all players! The game has provided a motivating factor that, in my experiences, gives a little boost in energy to enable me to leave the house. Finding new species of Pokemon or finally evolving one of them provides instant gratification, and the overall feel of content and happiness overrides the negative feelings that weigh on that person’s mind.
2. Physical Health:
Because you have to move around to catch different species of Pokemon or access different PokeSpots or Gyms, there has been a noticeable effect on physical health as well for many players. The game essentially tricks the mind into exercising for those of us who would otherwise sit around the house. Hatching eggs, for example, requires walking a certain number of kilometers, and the coding in the system won’t account for distance traveled at a speed greater than about 15 miles per hour (meaning that you can’t cheat by driving around to hatch eggs). Even walking 2 kilometers to hatch an egg can positively influence a person’s physical health, so the other activities in the game only work to positively affect the same.
3. Environment:
The different locations that a Pokemon Trainer will visit over the course of their journey include a variety of places, from parks to historical sites to religious buildings. Trainers have taken to carrying trash bags with them as they go around, picking up trash and working to keep clean the different places that will undoubtedly become frequented by other trainers. This reduces the presence of litter in different places that are accessed by the public, ultimately beautifying the area and reducing any negative impacts on the environment that would otherwise occur.
4. Economy:
On top of all of these things, the influx of individuals playing Pokemon GO has actually led to economic gain for many businesses, including both small entities and large corporations. Different companies are offering promotional deals for players who come to their restaurant, offering special deals or discounts off of goods and services in exchange for their business. Everything from reduced pricing on food to free data for a year are causing Pokemon Trainers to spend money, helping the economy in a time when things aren’t so good for many in the country.
When I was growing up, I remember people calling me a nerd for being such a huge fan of Pokemon. Even as I grew into my teenage years and early 20s, people would insist that I was “too old” to be playing Pokemon and needed to grow up. The release of Pokemon GO not only made popular that which I’d been a loyal fan of since I was a child, but also led to a lot of good things for people all around the world. As the media continues to push the negative impacts of this game, and as tragedy after tragedy strikes communities around the world, keep in mind that there is still good in the world.
