What’s the deal with Pokémon Go?

***Rachel Khoo would like to thank all the inspiring people who helped make the Khoollect studio a hive of creativity. Although the Khoollect studio’s doors have now closed, you can keep up with Rachel’s newest adventures on RachelKhoo.com and on Rachel’s Instagram and Facebook pages – and, continue to enjoy the Khoollect website’s stories and recipes, which will remain available.***

It’s quite hard to miss at the moment, but Pokémon Go has taken the world by storm.

A large chunk of 20-30 somethings who had collected and traded Pokémon in their school years has suddenly been given the chance to become their childhood fantasy: a real-life Pokémon trainer.

For people who don’t know what Pokémon Go is, it’s a free downloadable game that uses augmented reality technology so you can catch Pokémon from your phone screen but they appear to be in the real world. The aim of the game is to catch as many Pokémon as possible, collect medals and fight Gym Leaders.

The app uses your GPS location to map out where you are in the real world. As you walk around your environment, Pokémon will appear, ready to be captured through the use of virtual Pokéballs.

Pokéballs and other essential Poké items such as a Pokémon eggs can be collected from real landmarks called Pokéstops. For example, my local White Hart pub on the River Thames is now a Pokéstop.

The media has picked up on businesses cashing in on the phenomenon such as offering deals to Pokémon Go players to come collect items from their Pokéstop or purchasing lure items to help lure better, rarer Pokémon to their premises…therefore making it a more appealing place for Pokémon Go players to come visit and refuel.

What makes the game more interesting is that the particular type of Pokémon you catch will depend on the type of environment you’re in. If you’re in a park, grass-type Pokémon abound; if you’re by the sea you’ll find water Pokémon; and, if you go out at night time, ghost or fairy Pokémon are most common. If you’ve picked up some Pokémon eggs from a Pokéstop, they hatch and evolve as you walk.

There are already stories of people getting caught up in muggings, getting hit by cars, a couple in America were shot when people thought they were burglars; and some business owners are banning it as players are over-crowding popular Pokéstop and Gym destinations. 

But one there’s one thing that’s clear: it’s bringing people together. The craze is not limited to just die-hard Pokémon fans; people of all ages are getting in on the action and it’s managed to create a large, global community. There’s even a Global Community Manager position in San Francisco for Pokemon Go! Whole cities are coming together. Events are popping up around the world where players can team up for explorations and capturing rarer Pokémon. It’s merging the world of digital technology and the outside space, which of course I love. 

What are your thoughts on Pokemon Go? A waste of time or a new excitement? Head over to the forum to input your opinion.

 

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Hannah Adams

Hannah is a bit of cheese fiend, climbs walls for fun and #khoollects enamel cooking ware....

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