Click here to to read a column on ‘Pokemon Go’: What parents need to know
Two weeks ago, virtually every 1990s kid’s dream came true. With the release of the new hit phone app “Pokemon Go,” people can now digitally catch their favorite Pokemon creatures out in the real world.
The app quickly shot past Twitter in terms of daily users, and it’s still on the rise.
Even if you have never played the original Pokemon games, you can learn to appreciate “Pokemon Go.” The game takes a new spin on the world of Pokemon by making you get up and “go” find them.
The app is designed to be played outside using a phone’s GPS and camera. The game map interacts with you as you explore the real world, generating Pokemon characters – which are cartoon animals you can capture and train for battles in the game – that you could imagine living in your area.
For people like Marcus Pinto and his friends who are playing in Cambridge, “Pokemon Go” allows them to continue playing video games while interacting with friends in the real world.
“It’s fun hanging out with friends,” he said. “It gets you out of the house.”
A large part of the game so far has been interacting with other players, or trainers, as they are still learning all of the tips and tricks. Some gamers are willing to travel quite some distance to try to catch them all. Nick Cummings, of Cambridge, has been able to use the game to meet people from all over Minnesota.
“You can meet a lot of people playing,” he said. “I have already meet people from Mora and St. Cloud playing down here.”
While on the go, it is easy for players to forget they are not playing this game from the safety of their homes. This game has many people around town looking down at their phones more than usual, and it can cause some safety concerns.
Isanti County Sheriff Chris Caulk has seen people playing “Pokemon Go” all over the county, and while the sheriff supports having fun, his main priority is safety.
“People really need to be focused on their surroundings,” he said. “With staring down looking at your phone, I could totally see someone getting hurt.”
This game is played out in parks, neighborhoods and even downtown, where gamers need to keep their heads up and pay attention.
“I have seen people in areas that are busy,” Caulk said. “People are now even more focused on their phones.”
While many have heard the extreme satire stories of people walking off cliffs or creating traffic jams while driving, there are cases where “Pokemon Go” has been a dangerous game. A teen in Pittsburgh was hit by a car while crossing the street to chase a Pokemon.
Caulk has seen people biking and playing the game, which may not be the safest way to get around. Staring at your phone makes it much easier to hit someone or something when you are not paying attention. Another big no-no: playing the game while driving.
“I’m sure there are people out there who are playing and driving,” Caulk said. “If you are going to do that, find someone who is not playing, everyone else get in, and have that person drive.”
The Isanti County Sheriff’s Office will not hesitate to pull someone over if they feel that person is driving in an unsafe manner. If you are pulled over while playing, you could be served a ticket for inattentive driving.
Another tip to improve player safety is to make sure you know where you are playing. This means knowing your surroundings and where you can and cannot go. The Isanti County Sheriff’s Office has already received one trespassing call directly related to “Pokemon Go.” Again, Caulk wants to urge players to be smart about their decisions.
“If you need to go, ask permission,” he said. “Be focused on your surroundings. If there is Pokemon here, there will probably be another one just like it somewhere else.”
To ensure that everyone can have a good time, it is important that “Pokemon Go” players stay safe and not cause an inconvenience for others.
Caulk mentioned places in town, such as the Cambridge Post Office, may be hot spots for players, but the additional foot traffic can create problems for other people coming and going. While it is OK to play near the post office, many players are sitting on the steps outside the front door of the post office, and it is not a good idea to block the building during business hours. Also, remember to abide by park rules and park hours.
If you would like to test your strength as a “Pokemon Go” trainer, be sure to check out one of Cambridge’s many battle gyms at places like The Gamer’s Den and the Cambridge Public Library.