If you haven't been living under a rock these past few weeks, you've probably heard about the release of Pokemon Go, an AR app that allows you to catch Pokemon in real time in the world that surrounds you. Furthermore, if you are one of the thousands of players, you've probably heard a fair share of backlash and negativity others have shared. Well, I'm here to proclaim that Yes, I am a twenty-something college graduate who happily walks around chasing imaginary creatures at ungodly hours, and I dare someone to tell me it is a waste of time and energy because this game is about more than just Pokemon and Profit to me.
This game has brought me together with all kinds of people, from those that I know, knew, and didn't even know existed. My mother and I actually go out and hunt Pokemon together for hours on end sometimes. It's not the most traditional form of mother-daughter bonding, but it works for us. We've both played Pokemon since the beginning of the series, and the release of this app has made it that much more meaningful when continuing our journey together to be the very best.
It's also brought me together with people I never would have talked to if I had not began playing this game. I never really talked much during my summer courses. I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most outgoing of people. However, after the release of this game, it was as if everyone in the class suddenly was each others best friend. We would go out hunting Pokemon during class breaks and talk about our latest capture. This game became more of a social app for me than a gaming app, and I loved it!
Furthermore, this game is more motivating than Sean T when it comes to getting out and being active. Since I've started playing Pokemon Go, I'm hitting my 10,000 step goal almost daily without even thinking about it, and apparently the same is true for a lot of people out there. It's amazing seeing how many more people are out and about at pokestop hotspots.
Plus, let's be honest. We all wished while we were growing up that we could do what this app let's us do . . . go off into the big, bold, mysterious world and catch our very own Pokemon! We all wanted to catch a pikachu in our backyard or run into a jigglypuff while making our way to class. We wanted to meet the professor and catch our first starter pokemon in our living room. Don't deny it!
That's why I'm proud to play this great game. It's so many things to so many people. It's not just entertainment, but a fulfillment of a childhood dream for a lot of my generation. It's a way to have an excuse to get out and be active. It's a chance to meet people and strengthen the bonds you have with those you already know. Only one person can be the very best, but we can all strive to be the very best together and celebrate in the game that has brought together generations.
