Flashback to 2001: I am four. My big brother has this game that's about animals. Some are cute, and some are downright weird. My favorite is Jiggly Puff because she is pink, squishy, and she sings. My brother likes Charizard, the fire-breathing, flame-tailed, orange dragon. I don't actually know how to play, but I'm good at sorting the cards by cuteness.
2016: I still have all of my Pokémon cards. I am now a level 13 trainer, and the app has only been out for 10 days. I have stayed out past three a.m., ran through backyards, played in a lightning storm, had a 30 minute battle with a guy parked next to me, been laughed at by onlookers, and been yelled at by cops all because of Pokémon Go. I have taken five gyms, and lost them all at some point. I currently have caught 64 types and seen just as many, but my collection exceeds 200 total caught. I think I'm doing pretty alright.
For those of you who don't know, Pokémon Go is an app where you can catch Pokemon in your own world. You actually become a trainer rather than just a card collector. My boyfriend calls it, "the new era."
You start off by creating your character, a virtual "you" to collect the Pokémon. Professor Willow is there for assistance to give instructions. Then you get to choose one of three starter Pokémon to begin assembling your collection. It is also seen as practice to catch more Pokemon later on. From there, you begin to explore. In the bottom right corner there is a section that shows nearby Pokemon. You walk around your real world and find these virtual critters to collect, not to kill (apparently that was unclear to some people). When you get powerful enough (level 5), you can pledge your allegiance to one of three teams: Valor, Instinct, and Mystic. If you have powerful Pokemon, you can battle them against other teams in Gyms to gain more experience for your Trainer and Pokemon, to earn bonus coins, and to expand your Team's territory.*
Pokéstops help you stock up on items: Pokeballs to catch Pokemon, Razz Berries to feed difficult Pokemon when you try to catch them, potions to heal, and eggs which eventually hatch into Pokemon after you walk certain distances.
You can attract Pokemon to your location anywhere using Incense, or to Pokéstops using Lures. Lures benefit all Trainers in the area, but Incense are personal. It has been said that the more people you have, the better chance of getting more and different Pokémon.
With that being said, the buddy system is always a good idea. There have been reports of robberies of players because they are too distracted by their electronics. Niantic even has a disclaimer asking players to be alert of their surroundings. There are other cases of stabbings, car accidents, and death due to trespassing, but those are few and far between. It is not the game's fault for the lack of common sense among its users. Just like anything else, one must be careful. However, GO communities are being formed and people from the same teams or even towns will meet up and adventure together. There is safety, and better odds for rare types, in numbers.
I believe this game is as innovative as it is entertaining. People are actually going outside and walking around again. We are playing outdoors, even though we still have electronics in our hands. It's a fun way to exercise. And for us "90s babies" and older, it is a blast from the past. It is the game we have been waiting on. It is our childhood reborn. Running through neighborhoods chasing Pokémon makes me feel like I am 4 again following my older brother on the hunt. Now, he is 21 and I am 19 and he's chasing after me as I track the critters. This game is bringing out the young child in us all. Go catch 'em all.
*DISCLAIMER: It is all for fun. Happy hunting!
