Most people have probably heard of a new app that came out over the summer called Pokemon Go. While you maybe decided not to be one of the many people who downloaded the game, at least one of your friends probably has and so you hear them talk about what awesome Pokemon they just hatched while you had been walking to class together. No matter what team you or your friends are on, you've all got your reasons for playing the game. Since I've fallen in love with this game myself, I decided to come up with a few reasons why I think the game has become so popular and why I like the game.
1) I get out more since I got the app. Ever since I downloaded the app, I've wanted to go out and see what kind of Pokemon are in the area. Sometimes I'm lucky and can catch pretty cool Pokemon right from my bedroom, but other times I have to walk up to the gas station right up the street in order to catch that Ponyta I saw was nearby. Of course, I'm always sure to be safe about where I go and when I go, as anyone should while playing this game. Still be aware of your surroundings, just like the game first tells you when you open it up!
2) It's a good way to get friends to go out more. Have you ever been hanging out with your friends and you all are just sitting next to each other on your phones? Suggest going out for a Pokemon hunt! The best thing is if any of you find a really cool Pokemon while you're wandering together in the neighborhood, you don't have to fight to catch it; everyone gets the Pokemon, so it's okay to holler when you found a really cool one!
3) It has become a great conversation starter. One time when I was out fairly late with some friends hunting Pokemon, we decided to go to a Pokestop that was close to my friend's house. While we were there, another group of friends showed up, and it was a fairly random place so we asked if they were there for the Pokestop as well. That was indeed the reason they were also there, and so we started talking about the different Pokemon that we had each caught. We didn't exchange numbers with these people or stay in contact, but it was nice having new people to talk to for a while, and it wasn't even an awkward first conversation either.
4) It's a great reminder of my childhood. When I was little, I used to wake up and watch Pokemon before going to school. I never personally collected Pokemon cards, but all my friends did and I always found it interesting hearing them talk about the cards. I also loved the Pokemon games. Having this new app has helped bring back some of my old love for Pokemon that I had forgotten about. I'm definitely planning on re-watching Pokemon, too!
5) The game brings some healthy, friendly competition among friends. Since everyone can get the Pokemon that we all find, we don't have to worry about fighting over Pokemon with this game. However, with the three different teams, sometimes things can get a little crazy when you have a friend who chose a different team than everyone else. We all know that one friend who decided to go with a different team than the one we had all agreed to join, and it helps bring some friendly competition into the mix. As long as nobody takes the game too seriously, you all can definitely have some fun with friendly banter about one another's teams.
Even if you don't play the game, you've definitely witnessed through social media how popular this game has gotten. Tons of people are making jokes about why they're ending up in the middle of fields and even taking screenshots of having found Squirtle on top of a toilet or something silly like that. While it's evident that this game is fun and can bring friends together, we must remember to be careful while playing this game. Don't stare at your phone the entire time you're walking. Your phone will vibrate if a Pokemon appears so you are allowed to look at where you're walking, which is important. I'm also glad that a recent update won't let the app work well when you're driving, because people should most definitely not try to play the game while driving. Just remember to take precautions and be safe, and you'll be able to continue having fun with this game. We gotta catch em all!
