When Pokémon first came to fame in the ’90s, few would have expected it to still be a topic of conversation more than 20 years later. However, that’s exactly what happened when the old phenomenon’s newest spin-off, Pokémon Go, which was released to the public on July 6, captivated mobile gamers of all ages — even here in Moorestown.
The concept of the game is simple. Players capture, battle and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, that appear as if they exist in reality on the screen of their mobile device. Free to play, the location-based augmented reality mobile game creates the illusion that a Pokémon is nearby a player by utilizing the GPS and camera features of compatible devices.
Demonstrating its immediate success, just 24 hours after its release on the App Store, it topped both the “Top Grossing” and “Free” charts while later becoming the fastest game to top the App Store and Google Play. Also, according to CNBC, on July 12, the game became the most active mobile game in the United States ever with 21 million active users, surpassing Candy Crush Saga’s peak of 20 million.
“A lot of people are playing it. I drove down Main Street last night and there were probably 50 people walking down the street playing it,” 22-year-old Christopher Miller, an employee of Primo Hoagies located at 41 E. Main St., said.
This immediate success has left some wondering, what makes the game so enticing? While some attribute the community’s fondness for the game to its motivation to get outside and exercise, others believe it has the ability to increase social interaction amongst local residents.
Local landmarks and parks have seen an influx in visitors due to the presence of the game’s virtual characters stationed in these locations. Businesses are also benefiting from the game through their use of lures in the game that attract players to the PokéStops on their property.
Maurizio Randazzo, owner of Maurizio’s Bistro located at 33 E. Main St., admits that he’s considered purchasing a lure for his restaurant. In addition, he has also capitalized on the gaming sensation by offerings one-dollar slices of pizza to kids who come to Muarizio’s and present the app on their phone.
“The game is great for kids to get exercise, but they must be careful when crossing the streets,” Randazzo said. “I’ve seen some kids who probably walk 10 to 20 miles a day playing this game — hopefully they just don’t hurt themselves.”
While the game seems like an overall positive addition to the mobile gaming community and the physical community, it does have its critics. In the past few weeks, players of the game have been cited with their eyes glued to their phones even while crossing streets and walking down sidewalks. If the distraction component of the game isn’t dangerous enough, there have also been reports of people beaching user’s cyber security and using the game’s lures and PokéStops to draw people in for possible kidnappings, thefts, muggings, etc.
In response, many news outlets are releasing a series of safety tips for kids playing the game, which often range from telling parents where he or she will be headed to not talking to strangers to traveling to PokéStops with friends and staying in well-lit, public areas.
Even with these concerns, it’s clear that participants of the game don’t plan on putting down their virtual Pokéballs anytime soon. From the Moorestown Mall to Main Street, community members are out and about actively seeking to “catch ’em all.”
