On July 6, game developer Niantic released Pokemon Go to Australia and New Zealand. After a few hours of nervous panic from American fans, it was released in the United States. For all two of you who haven't heard of Pokemon Go, it is an augmented reality mobile game where you catch and battle Pokemon. It differs from regular Pokemon games because you actually have to go places to do anything. Need to visit a landmark that gives out useful items? You have to walk there! Want to battle at a Pokemon gym that is claimed by one of three teams? Bike there! At a location rich with Pokestops? Make friends with the hundreds of other people there for the same reason!
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I was recently in Dallas to visit my sister. While we were there, we decided to go for a walk around the community. The path we took was full of Pokestops and had a few gyms, as well. The game had only been released for a day at this point. Anyone want to guess how many players I saw on that walk? At least 35 adults bumbling about trying to “catch 'em all.” My mother, father and sister were all making fun of me for not only playing the game, but also for noticing and interacting with other players. They just about died when I high-fived a dude for catching a Ponyta near me.
After the walk, we went back to our hotel, and I did not check anything other than Pokemon Go. I was walking outside catching Rattatas and wondering why there were so many police cars zooming by, blissfully unaware of the horrific event taking place a few miles away.
Nintendo and Niantic have created a gem. It gets you to exercise by walking from place to place. Companies have been trying for years to get gamers to exercise (the Wii, Xbox Kinect and Playstation Move being examples). So many people have been going so many places, one person found a dead body in a stream.
They have not only gotten gamers to go outside, but they have also unified people. Far too many people stay inside in modern times, only socializing with people they know through a screen and not experiencing the world. Go has lured people of all backgrounds out of their cave of shadows into the real world. There are all sorts of people playing – nerds, jocks, blacks, whites, men, women, young and old! Nothing matters except the team you're on (Team Mystic forever).
If you have not started playing yet, I recommend you do. It is free on the Android Play store and the Apple App store.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there is a Jigglypuff down the street I need to catch.
