In just a few days, Pokémon Go has become part of my vocabulary. People my age as well as my coworkers are obsessed with the new app, and they aren't the only ones. Pokémon fans in the United States are rejoicing. A new game app called Pokémon Go was released on July 6, 2016, and is currently the number one free app on the iTunes App Store.
As a person who has never been a part of the Pokémon fandom, I had no idea that a new Pokémon game was being released. However, true Pokémon fans did know about the release and were anxiously waiting for it to be released at midnight on July 6.
From a non-fan perspective, the point of the new app is for people to get Pokémon and other Pokémon characters in order to advance levels. However, what sets Pokémon Go apart from other iPhone apps is that the game forces its players to be active. Like actually walking around, outside, or taking a drive. Instead of wanting to go to work, my coworkers have been wanting to take breaks to go on walks in hopes of finding another Pokémon or giving shifts away to spend more time outside exploring.
There are pros and cons to this game. The best thing about this game is that gamers are encouraged and want to go outside and explore to find Pokémon. The release date couldn't have been better because since it's been sunny and gorgeous outside, people are more than willing to go outside and enjoy the day. However, there are negatives to this new kind of game play. While it is great that gamers are actually seeing the outdoors and not hiding in their houses for hours or days, walking around, distracted while looking down at your phone, isn't the safest. Distracted game play can cause people to easily trip, bump into people by accident, or not look up while walking. Also, active game play can cause people to want to go to dangerous places, such as forests or an abandoned lot, just to gain more points. Pokémon Go addicts are even forgoing important stuff, such as working and eating, just to spend more time outside collecting Pokémon.
I honestly think that the new Pokémon Go game is interesting and a really cool idea. However, it is just another video game that people are obsessed with. I think that there should be a time limit on each game play so that players are forced to eat, take a break from the game and actually enjoy life. Even though players are going outside and exploring, they are not actually enjoying the day because their eyes are glued to the screen.
My advice is this: Enjoy Pokémon Go. Have fun, be safe, and try to get as many Pokémon as you can. Just make sure to take a few minutes here and there to enjoy the bright sunny days without staring at your phone. Have a good balance between living your life in reality and living your life through an avatar in Pokémon Go.
