pokemon go...

[Shoreline Music]

Think about a video game you played when you were a kid. Perhaps Space Invaders, or PacMan, or maybe Mortal Kombat or Castle Wolfenstein. Now imagine an app that uses actual maps and landmarks to put those characters in your real world neighborhood, at your church, at McDonald's, wherever, and you have to go explore those places to capture them or interact with them. That's what Pokémon Go does.

Many of today's millennials grew up playing Pokémon. It's a harmless game where you capture little monsters (pocket monsters) and train and evolve them to fight against the monsters from other teams. I actually took my kids to the world championships when they were held in San Diego, and was surprised what a fanatic following this one game had. A decade later, those same kids are getting their first whiff of nostalgia.

Of course, now when one of my kids says, "Sure, Dad, I'd love to go for a walk downtown with you," I'm just a bit suspicious of their motives.

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by fazool

A terrific, special and fantastic game idea that is harmless fun and gets kids out exploring. Its such good clean fun the Boy Scouts of America is using it to attract scouts.

I only marginally understand what's going on with this app, but based on what little I've seen in the media...if the player's attention is only through their eyes on a smartphone, how much real exploring is going on when the surroundings are merely a blur?

Originally Posted by Shoreline Music

Think about a video game you played when you were a kid. Perhaps Space Invaders, or PacMan, or maybe Mortal Kombat or Castle Wolfenstein. Now imagine an app that uses actual maps and landmarks to put those characters in your real world neighborhood, at your church, at McDonald's, wherever, and you have to go explore those places to capture them or interact with them. That's what Pokémon Go does.

Many of today's millennials grew up playing Pokémon. It's a harmless game where you capture little monsters (pocket monsters) and train and evolve them to fight against the monsters from other teams. I actually took my kids to the world championships when they were held in San Diego, and was surprised what a fanatic following this one game had. A decade later, those same kids are getting their first whiff of nostalgia.

Of course, now when one of my kids says, "Sure, Dad, I'd love to go for a walk downtown with you," I'm just a bit suspicious of their motives.

Not to minimize the fun millennial swill have, but perhaps harmless until players start getting run over by vehicles, falling, whatever, while engrossed in their smartphone screen.

[flaggerphil]

Actually, I see nothing wrong with the game as long... as with anything...precautions are observed.

People get run over by cars while riding bikes if not careful.

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by flaggerphil

Actually, I see nothing wrong with the game as long... as with anything...precautions are observed.

Hey! This is the AGF and we must hate everything new!

[dekutree64]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

I only marginally understand what's going on with this app, but based on what little I've seen in the media...if the player's attention is only through their eyes on a smartphone, how much real exploring is going on when the surroundings are merely a blur?

Not to minimize the fun millennial swill have, but perhaps harmless until players start getting run over by vehicles, falling, whatever, while engrossed in their smartphone screen.

Their eyes may be on the smartphone, but the smartphone is showing the real world as it is in front of them, just with stuff added to it. So yes, you really are exploring, and paying attention to your surroundings as part of the game.

Much safer than walking while texting, for example.

[RayCJ]

The local news in my town has reported three fender benders in the last couple weeks -attributed to this game. I ride my bike every day to do errands and get daily groceries. Prior to hearing about this Pokemon Go game, I happen to notice an awful lot of mothers with their kids driving somewhat haphazardly. It's very similar to spring-time when there are garage sales every weekend and people drive like idiots to get to them. Now I know what's going on. These people are totally distracted while playing this game and looking at the GPS.


Ray

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Wadcutter

Good Lord, you gotta be kidding me.

His explanation is very incomplete.

It's a game. Think about any game you play. Think about checker, chess, poker, anything.........you could easily say "you gotta be kidding me" about every single one. Same with every hobby.

By that reasoning, there is no real-world productive result of playing a game.

This is simply a game people play. The brilliant genius behind it is that it actively couple virtual-world online gaming with the real world.

Also, it's not 12- year olds. The biggest demographic seems to be college-age kids.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Scott O

If everyone here was 12 years old you'd be totally into it.

Apparently its a bigger hit even with college-age kids.

It's nice to see a smash hit game take the world by storm, especially one as clever as this.

Our 18yo son went out for a walk at 2:30AM because some pokemons spawned in the neighborhood - he ended up walking 3 kilometers.

Before you scoff at Pokemon Go, you should ridicule those people wearing Fitbits, to tell them if they're being active enough.

[Long Jon]

Originally Posted by Acousticado

I only marginally understand what's going on with this app, but based on what little I've seen in the media...if the player's attention is only through their eyes on a smartphone, how much real exploring is going on when the surroundings are merely a blur?

Not to minimize the fun millennial swill have, but perhaps harmless until players start getting run over by vehicles, falling, whatever, while engrossed in their smartphone screen.

I really must protest at the term "Millenial Swill", they are people just like us and have a right to some respect.

[fazool]

The world is full of naysayers. Anything that becomes quickly popular is instantaneously and unilaterally demeaned by anyone who isn't part of it.

And when that isn't enough, they trump up the dangers to society of this thing they aren't part of.

It only happened with rock and roll, radio, television, electricity, gasoline cars, electric lights, indoor plumbing, school buses, high school football, the lunar landing, paved roads, bahama shorts, microbrew beer, laptop computers, reality TV, bonsai gardening, hula hoops, knickerbockers, saddle shoes, drive thru restaurants, canoe racing, colored hair, electric guitars, holding hands in public, blue jeans, hamster wheels, Julia Child cooking, flouridated water, .........

[jpd]

Originally Posted by mc1

good fit for today's world or maybe not such a good idea?

Another craze that will die out in a year or less....summertime diversion for the young

[Gasworker]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY

Invest 4:58. All is good in moderation.

[mc1]

it's a phenomena:

'Pokemon Go' gets people on the move

Vancouver police issue safety warnings to Pokemon Go players

Pokémon Go players laud game for bolstering mental health and encouraging them to go outdoors

Pokémon Go players are using hacks, drones and cheating tools to get out of walking

Hunting for Pokemon with my son in historic Lunenburg, my doubts lifted

Holocaust Museum, Auschwitz memorial want ‘disrespectful’ visitors to stop playing Pokemon Go

8 reasons you should be playing Pokemon Go with your kids

Trespassing Pokemon GO players are prompting 911 calls across America

Groups using popular ‘Pokemon Go’ app to register voters

Noah Cyrus using Pokemon Go to find a boyfriend

[fingerguy]

I was a gamer. I used to spend hours playing Microsoft Motorcross Madness II, then Unreal Tournament, and then a ton of driving games.

I finally came to realize I spent hours playing a game and came to the conclusion I don't want to spend the time I have left on this earth playing games. So I took up playing a guitar, and doing Sudoku (on pen and paper).

So when I see these people today walking around so engrossed in their games/phones, and knowing I am in IT and I am not, makes me laugh.

I remember the days of rotary phones, and I have to say I miss those days. For when I get out of work, I unplug, and a big part of that is why I yet to get an electric guitar.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by fingerguy

I was a gamer. I used to spend hours playing Microsoft Motorcross Madness II, then Unreal Tournament, and then a ton of driving games.

I finally came to realize I spent hours playing a game and came to the conclusion I don't want to spend the time I have left on this earth playing games. So I took up playing a guitar, and doing Sudoku (on pen and paper).

....

I was/am an avid gamer (MMORPGs). I'm also an avid guitar player. So I get it.

But, in the big picture how is Sudoku better than Unreal? I would argue Sudoku is a waster of the time you have on Earth.

For that matter, how is playing guitar a "better" use of your time on Earth than playing a game? It's better because it's better for you.

For them, playing Pokemon Go is better than playing Sudoku or playing guitar.