In just one week, Pokémon Go has become the biggest mobile game in history with 15 million downloads, and 21 million daily active users. With all of the hype, it’s no wonder why it’s slowly taking over the normal day-to-day activities of the average person.
1. Everyone is constantly looking at their phones... 100 times more than before.
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It is so obvious when people are playing Pokémon Go, holding their phones up, looking at their friends phone and walking ever so determined. It’s no wonder that people have been killed from this game from not paying attention. The fact that the game says, “Remember to be alert at all times. Stay aware of your surroundings,” definitely says something.
2. People are outside getting exercise.
Could Pokémon Go be the cure to America’s obesity problem? Probably not... but in order to get certain Pokémon, you need to go to certain landmarks. Water Pokémon, for example, are found by ponds, lakes, oceans, etc. As dumb as it sounds, people are out and about 24/7 looking for them.Even myself. The other night I walked around campus for a good hour looking for Pokémon. Would I ever normally walk on campus for an hour? Nope, not even during the school year.
3. Everyone is talking about it.
On radio, social media and television. Every fifth tweet on my Twitter newsfeed is about leveling up, or finally getting the rare Pokémon you’ve been looking for. Businesses are starting to advertise with Pokémon somehow linked to what they’re trying to sell. My school is a great example; look at this Facebook post they created of our mascot:
Go Bradley.
4. People are going places they normally wouldn’t. And at unusual hours.
3 a.m. trip to the riverfront? Hell yeah, let’s go. People are making trips that are out of their way to discover and catch more Pokémon. Since Pokémon gyms are tactically located in cultural areas, such as public parks, historical markers, museums and monuments, people have been expanding their horizons on the places they visit, specifically for Pokémon.
5. Even people who didn’t play Pokémon are now playing.
With the excitement and rush that this game has brought to the world, even those who did not experience Pokémon in their childhood have downloaded the game. Do they like it? Who knows, but since everyone and their mother’s mother is playing it, why not see what all the excitement is about?
Whether these statements have a positive or negative affect on people is up to you. The fact is, Pokémon Go has rapidly taken over in a matter of days. But the real question is, will it last, or is the game just too hyped right now?
