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Pokemon Go gets players to explore in their communities

July 21, 2016   ·   0 Comments

If you’ve been paying attention to social media, the news, or even just the people around you, it’s likely you’ve been hearing the words ‘Pokemon Go’ quite frequently lately.

The game exploded in popularity following its release less than two weeks ago. While it didn’t get released in Canada until Sunday evening, many people were able to download it using a file that had been leaked to the internet, launching the craze across the nation.

Pokemon Go is a mobile game that combines Augmented Reality with the famous Nintendo game, allowing players to catch Pokemon anywhere they go, battle other players at gyms, and collect items from Pokestops.

While many people seem baffled at the popularity of the game, one of the biggest benefits Pokemon Go has been highlighted for is the ability to get people outside and meet other people.

Here in Orangeville, residents are not immune to the game’s pull. Last Thursday, a Facebook group for local players was created. In less than a week the group has expanded to over 200 members who, despite many of them not knowing one another before, have begun meeting up frequently around town to catch Pokemon and play together.

“The fact is that it actually gets you out of the house to exercise and to socialize,” said Kim Adamson, an active member of the group. “I have chronic depression and anxiety, which can make it extremely hard to get outside and meet people. But now I’m out, getting exercise, and meeting new people. It’s better than therapy – it’s an amazing tool that Niantic has developed.”

In fact, many of the active players locally have heralded the game for the very same reasons, explaining that it has helped to increase their social circle and help them feel more comfortable in social situations.

“I think people are more comfortable when they have something in common to chat about,” said Stephanie Gushie, who has been a Pokemon fan since public school. “Having such a widespread effect from this app has made that socialization many of us struggle with much easier to deal with. I normally keep to myself, but in order to gain ground in the game, I have to talk to people, and that has earned me more than a handful of new friends in just the past week.”

While the game seems to have come out of nowhere, it is actually Niantic’s second attempt at an augmented reality game. Their first game, Ingress, applies the same kind of concept, where players use their phones to navigate through their communities, attempting to control portals for their teams.

“The main objective in Ingress is to draw lines to connect portals,” said Ken Reilly, a local resident who plays both games currently. “If you connect three portals to make a triangle, the area fills with your team’s colour, and you score points for your team.”

Ken explained that one of the reasons he feels that Pokemon Go has taken off, whereas Ingress did not, is the simplicity of the game.

“There’s a lot of simplicity in Pokemon Go, which makes it much more accessible,” he said. “It’s much easier to meet fellow Pokemon Go players since it’s new and everyone is getting in on the phenomenon.”

He added that in Ingress, unless you are at a portal, there is not much to do, whereas with Pokemon Go, the creatures can show up just about anywhere, meaning there is always something to do.

Unlike Ingress, Pokemon Go also has its 20-year established franchise to help bring recognition and excitement.

“Everyone recognizes it, while Ingress is its own IP with nothing established outside of itself,” he said. “It’s a new coat of paint over a game I already enjoy. Plus, it’s Pokemon. I played the original games when they came out.”

Niantic’s development of Pokemon included aspects from their Ingress platform. For example, Ingress used Google Maps to locate key points of interest to place their portals. Many of the Pokestops and Gyms are located in the very same spots.

This aspect of the game provides another massive benefit for players.

“Exploring your community is a large benefit that people overlook about the game,” said Stephanie. “Each Pokestop is a point of interest, so standing around and waiting for the game to load, I’ve come across historical points or local shops I’ve never seen before. It kind of opens up your world.”

One place you are likely to see players frequenting in town is the gazebo behind Town Hall. The Historical Plaques Monument near the gazebo is a gym, while the game still identifies the now-removed burning tree sculpture as a point of interest with a Pokestop. On some evenings, there have been more than 20 players gathered there, socializing and battling for control of the gym.

The game has become so popular that even Orangeville’s Mayor Jeremy Williams participates. His son began playing through the mirror version before the game’s official launch in Canada, and the Mayor became hooked while playing it with him.

“I’m naturally curious; anytime there is new technology, I want to find out about it and see how it works,” said Mayor Williams. “The game is spectacular, and addicting. It brings people out, and really helps grow a sense of community. You’re always going out and meeting people, and it’s overall a positive experience.”

He added that of all the games that have come out since pong, he feels this one is the most capable of connecting people in a positive way.

“How many times can you go out on a Sunday afternoon in town and see more than 10 people out and about as a group, playing the same game and socializing?” he asked. “It’s unheard of. Pokemon Go is actually encouraging people to get up off their butts, do something active, and actually meet new people.”

For many lifelong fans of Pokemon, the game has given them a way to expand their circles and connect with other fans in ways they might not of before, as well as provided the opportunity to share that love with people who are starting to fall in love with Pokemon now.

“It’s really surprising to most people to find out what fandoms are like,” explained Kim. “They provide this awesome way to connect people over something they have in common, and it draws people closer together. Another fandom of mine led me to two of my best friends. I hope this fandom leads me to more. It can be hard to make ore friends as an adult, but this helps.”

Another exciting facet of the game for fans is that the augmented reality technology does, in a way, bring the Pokemon to life. Using players’ cameras, the Pokemon actually appear in the player’s surroundings, allowing it to look as if they are actually catching one of the creatures right in front of them.

“People know Pokemon, they have grown up with it, and now it’s nearly coming ‘alive’ with AR technology,” said Stephanie. “It’s a thing that I could only dream of having when the game first came out. It’s not just a game, it’s an advancement in technology and in ourselves.”

Although Pokemon Go requires data to play, there are several great places to access Wifi downtown, allowing players with limited data to still enjoy the game and participate in adventures.

And unlike many of today’s games and activities, this is literally a game that can be played by anyone of any age. The Facebook Group has people as young as high schoolers all the way to adults in their 50s and beyond, actively playing the game.

Karley Jackson, an active player and young mother, has a three-year-old son who adores playing with her on a daily basis. During an interview with the Citizen, Dominic was battling the gym and catching Pokemon for many of the players gathered at the Town Hall gazebo.

“The game is my favourite, and I like to play it with my mom and Jade,” Dominic said through shy smiles. “I like Eevee. And I like catching Butterfree.”

Pokemon Go is available for download on most mobile devices through the Google Play Store or Apple Store.

To check out the Facebook group and get involved with local players, visit www.facebook.com/groups/919361214841078.

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