Pokemon hasn't been this popular since... Wait. Pokemon has been popular since it's release. But the media hasn't been this saturated with Pokemon since, well, ever. Yes, the game is insanely fun. Yes, it capitalizes on the popularity of the franchise, mobile gaming and the rise of augmented reality. It was bound to be a hit. But there's more to it.
Poke Stops are at local landmarks, right? Even in a small town like Bozeman, Montana, these landmarks cover a variety of public art pieces, historical sites and buildings- not to mention memorials. Even though I usually commute by walking, I had no idea how many statues were within five blocks of my apartment. I had even less of an idea about the local history. I'm learning. From Pokemon. On my phone. On my walk to work. Obviously, this excites me, but that isn't even scratching the surface.
Pokemon is getting my significant other and me to exercise. It turns out that I will walk ten kilometers in one day if it means I get a virtual pet. Getting healthy by gaming is something that's never quite got there before, even at the height of Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Fitness. Not to mention, it forces me to even go outside.
But these you already knew. Even if you don't play the game, it's hard to go three hours without a Pokemon meme showing up in your newsfeed. Where am I going with this?
Here: Pokemon Go is encouraging people to interact with their communities. By catching a Ratatta, someone is out on the sidewalk or in a park around others trying to catch the same Ratatta. People bond quickly over team alliances (Go Team Mystic!) and work together to claim a gym, or defend it.
Last week, a grandmother and her grandson were both catching Pokemon in a park across the street from my home. When my significant other and I walked by, also playing, the little boy asked about our favorite Pokemon. The four of us talked for a while. The grandmother asked what we did, and I mentioned my LGBTQ activism work. Instead of looking uncomfortable, she asked why transgender-inclusive bathrooms mattered. This conversation wouldn't have happened without Pokemon Go.
It can go so much farther than simply having conversations. Lures can be set up near where activism is happening. By utilizing Pokemon Go, we can tempt people to join in on the conversation and become a part of local groups that stretch far beyond team Mystic, Valor or Instinct. Just because people are there doesn't mean they will always care, but there's a huge opportunity to make people aware of the work going on in their community.
How many of you have ever been to a local government meeting, like the County Commission? Don't feel bad, almost no one participates in local government, particularly the 18-34-year-old crowd. What group of people does play Pokemon Go in high numbers? The exact same group. This is also the group with the lowest voter turnout. Imagine if a Charizard spawned in a County Commission meeting. Most people probably wouldn't go to a second meeting, but a couple people might find that the Commission is voting on something they really care about, or they might discover an interest in local politics.
It isn't only the political process that could benefit. Every activism group would. Pokemon Go is augmenting reality, and by doing so, it just might bring a bit more reality into our everyday lives.
