Invasion Of Pokémon Go

When my sons were still kids, they loved Pokemon. Pokemon ‘Pocket Monsters’ took the world by storm in 1995, spawning a generation of kids who were hooked by the game on GameBoys and Nintendo game consoles.

Fast forward to Pokémon Go just released this month in many regions around the world but it is not available in Malaysia yet. It has become a massive phenomenon and an instant hit, doubling Nintendo’s value since the game’s launch in the United States earlier this month. The game quickly became one of the most used smart device apps, surpassing the previous record held by Candy Crush Saga in the United States.

Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic for iOS and Android devices. Utilising GPS and the camera of compatible devices, the game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear on device screens as though in the real world. The game allows you to find and catch more than a hundred species of Pokémon as you explore your surroundings.

Explore cities and towns around where you live and even around the globe to capture as many Pokémon as you can. As you move around, your smartphone will vibrate to let you know you’re near a Pokémon. Once you’ve stumbled across a Pokémon, take aim on your smartphone’s touch screen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it. If you are successful in capturing it, you will own the creature and be awarded candies and stardust which can be used to evolve a Pokémon or raise its combat power.

Also look for Pokémon pit stops known as PokéStops located at interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers, and monuments, where you can collect more Poké Balls and other items.

The game has been praised for the socialising that happens when players meet and become friends, for the overall experience of the game and the incentive to adventure in the real world, with some medical professionals also praising it for potentially improving the mental and physical health of players.

But it has also attracted some controversy due to the use of certain locations such as cemeteries, memorials and railway stations as PokéStops, reports of causing accidents when players have their eyes glued to their phones and being a public nuisance at some locations. Just a few days ago, two Canadian youths were so engrossed in the game that they wandered into US territory unaware of their surroundings. Fortunately for them, they were not charged for the illegal border crossing.

I believe the game will also create a huge buzz in Malaysia once it is released here. So watch out parents! Oh yes, I think a lot of adults in Malaysia will also be hooked by the game.