Pokemon No!

Has the Pokemon Go phenomenon hit your household yet?  It only launched here just over a week ago and already I am sick of hearing about it!  It has become an epidemic and you can't turn on the TV or radio without hearing about some Pokemon related story.   I can't deny that it is a very clever concept though and making its creators a bucket load of money.  

If you are still wondering what on earth everyone is talking about, here's a potted summary. 

Pokémon Go is a free app that you can download onto your phone.  It can't be played stationary, so in that respect I'm all for it.  Kids can't just sit on the sofa all day playing, they have to get up and move around which can only be a good thing.  The augmented reality game uses your phone's GPS and camera to find virtual Pokémon creatures in your neighborhood. It looks something like this ...

The app tracks user location and uses notable real-life landmarks as "Pokéstops" where players can collect Poké Balls (yes I know) and capture Pokémon. For example, the trail head just 5 minutes from us is a Pokestop and so Ethan is a frequent visitor (just a shame it's all uphill and 110 degrees outside!).  So instead of catching Pokémon in the traditional digital landscape, players are forced to get off their couches and explore the real world to capture Pokémon and engage in virtual battles. As players move around they encounter different Pokémon depending on the time and their location.  You also have to walk certain distances in order to complete tasks, for example you have to walk anywhere between 2 - 10 km before you can hatch an egg (!).  Once you reach a certain level, you can have your Pokémon battle other players' at "gyms." These are also situated at local landmarks, e.g. our local Library is a 'gym' - I imagine they are totally thrilled by the hoards of kids (and incidentally this game is not just being played by kids!) appearing through it's doors, muttering at their phones for a few minutes and then leaving again!  Most churches appear to be gyms too, which is a very clever way of enticing you in (or just a little bit freaky in my opinion). 

Just 5 hrs after it was released Pokemon Go became the no 1 downloaded app and Nintendo shares have increased by 24% and increased their market valuation by over $9 billion so far ... and it's only been out just over a week! 

It has completely dominated the news over here and every day now we are seeing more reports of accidents that people have had whilst playing, because they are not paying attention to where they are going.  Mishaps with revolving doors and walking into trees seem to be the most common, whilst some You Tuber in Brooklyn fell into a pond whilst live streaming a video of himself trying to catch a 'water pokemon' in the local park, LOL!   It seems there is no end to people's stupidity whilst playing this game though and there have been some more serious incidents reported too - two guys in California fell 80ft off a coastal bluff whilst playing in California and had to be rescued from a the beach, and a multiple pile up on one of the major freeways here was caused when someone apparently stopped in the middle of the road in an attempt to catch a Pokemon!!!  Really???!  As if texting while driving. isn't a big enough problem now we have to watch out for idiots like this! 

As a result ADOT (Arizona Dept of Transport) came out with another of their catchy signs this week (you may remember I previously shared their Star Wars one) 

Today I even read that two people (a man and a woman in their late 20s!) were apprehended at a zoo in Toledo, Ohio after having jumped a fence at night trying to catch Pokemon and were apprehended near the tiger exhibit!  Seriously people - get a grip!

I also read today that some enterprising person is now offering to drive you around to all the best locations in your area for $30 an hour and of a local police station (blue team gym) and fire house (red team gym) situated next door to each other who spend their down time battling for supremacy!  

At least my crafty skills came in handy this week when I was able to make Ethan a team logo (he's in the red team apparently) for his water cup ... 

extra brownie points for me!

No doubt we will be plagued by more Pokemon related news items in the days and weeks still to come as it doesn't look as though it's going away any time soon, however,  I suppose it does make a welcome change from 'Trump reports' (er ... not sure that came out quite right.  On the other hand ...) and Brexit, which I am equally bored with  **sighs**.

Anyway peeps, hope you feel more informed now (whether you wanted to be or not!) and if you are about to rush off to download the app remember to look up every now and then and WATCH WHERE YOU'RE BLOODY WELL GOING!

Until next time ...

TTFN

Bev x