If you haven’t heard by now, the Pokémon phenomenon has once again taken over the hearts of millennials. This time, the nostalgic card game has been transformed into a GPS-activated, interactive mobile app where players can catch Pokémon in real time (and real life).
Yes, you read that correctly: people are walking the streets of your local neighborhood trying to catch them all. And virtually none of them are ashamed of it.
What’s the deal with this phenomenon? To start, we’re a nostalgic generation and this app brings back memories of staring into a Game Boy or Nintendo DS. Admittedly, if you didn’t happen to catch them all back in 2004 on your Game Boy Advance, this new-age technology may not appeal to you. But for those of us who did strive to be the very best, this game is becoming a lifestyle.
With the app being released for both Android and Apple markets, trainers of all ages can download the game and start the adventure right away. The catch? The app continually crashes, though this inconvenience by no means stops the hoard from playing.
What does this mean for college students? Sorry professors, but if Pokémon Go still has appeal this fall, you will certainly catch a student or two looking for Pokémon in the classroom, or see groups of young adults huddled in proximity hypnotized by a gym battle. The one guarantee is that most students will be constantly looking down at their phones.
On the bright side, more people are getting out of their houses and walking the streets because the game requires physical movement to progress.
With any good thing, however, comes some sort of side effect. While millennials are out and about catching Pokémon, it’s important to consider the safety of the game. It’s been noted that you shouldn’t “Pokémon and drive,” as this could distract drivers and cause inordinate amounts of damage. Articles have also been written about places where people shouldn’t go while playing the game, such as sacred monuments and private property. The fact that such warnings have been issued at all brings to light just how far individuals have gone and will go to catch them all. Like any new lifestyle choice, Pokémon Go must first be practiced safely.
For those who don’t quite understand this phenomenon, try not to concern yourself. Enjoy watching people wander, seemingly aimlessly, with phone in hand. As long as everyone is safe and not in violation of too many rules, the world should be free to enjoy its new fad. For all of us in this day and age must come to realize, Pokémon is no longer just a game, it’s a lifestyle. So go, go and enjoy yourself and, as always, try to catch them all!