Fess up... who is playing Pokémon GO?

here in america pokemon is a cartoon character. each "pokemon" character has a different name and shape and what it does for human owner. (think like having a cat or dog ).

now take it a step further. each pokemon character has fights (called battles) with other pokemon characters for their owners entertainment and pleasure, and to get out of sticky situations. (think like a wrestling tv show where wrestlers fight each other in a ring and each wrestler wants that famous wrestling belt that says they are the best)

in this case the reward for winning a battle is a human owning the other humans pokemon character. the goal is to own as many pokemon characters that you can aquire in battles.

in pokemon a person has poke balls that they use to fight and capture the pokemon characters and the human can lure a pokemon to their location for battle and capture.

now bring this concept into pokemon go .....pokemon go incorporates google maps into the game. when a person turns on the app. they see the game imposed on a map of their location. As they are out around their town and location a pokemon character will pop up. the human throws a pokeball at it and if hit the character goes into the pokeball and becomes owned by that human. there are spots (in the game these spots are called poke stops) around the map where the person can go to recharge\buy\ acquire more poke balls and exercise\train their aquired pokemon characters and battle each others pokemon characters.

though it is a fun game many are finding this real time game playing has its problems and dangers like criminal activity of people setting out their "lures" and then waiting for someone to come to battle \capture the pokemon. when they get there the criminal mugs, stabs or otherwise harms the person that shows up thinking the "lure" is a pokemon that needs to be captured. the google maps and google gps system that the game uses is mis informing game players that private homes are public places where they can battle\capture\train\ and recharge pokemon characters and poke balls. its also becoming a hazard in some cities because public service locations (police and fire stations) are finding it hard to do their jobs with people blocking entrances, sneaking around in the shadows and using their buildings as places to capture\battle and train recharge.

Here you go!

Pokémon Go, explained in fewer than 400 words

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Been out playing more Pokemon GO today. Hard not to when everyone has lure modules set up near your flat.

Actually had some decent conversations with a couple of people today & swapped numbers with one of them.

Most people playing the game seem to be 20 somethings to me. Seen very few kids/teenagers playing. Apparently there is a facebook group for my city which has 650+ members.

cnn, world news and local news broadcasts are reporting convicted child sex offenders are now using pokemon go to talk with, and play the game with and lure children. ( cant say I didnt see this one coming), just a beware tip for parents in general and parents who have children old enough to go out around on their own playing this game.

The world can be a very sick place when activities like Pokemon are used for criminal purposes. It kind of reminds me of Halloween and taking advantage of candy, masks,etc.

Oh my god! That is horrible! I just cannot stand that such people have to tarnish every good and fun thing in the world. I am really, really hoping to not see in the news of an attack/molestation/murder/etc. occurring and having been directly or even indirectly been caused by victim playing the game. I do know my fiance has been threatened with violence several times by other players of the game becoming hostile over "gyms". Such encounters can escalate so quickly and it worries me. Luckily the only inflicted harm he's had is falling off his bike while playing.

Thanks for the explanations everyone, very helpful.

Sounds fun but disheartening to hear those with bad intentions are misusing it, I guess it's up to parents to step up to the mark and teach their kids safety, keeping to daylight, very public areas, not engaging with strangers, keeping to their own group of friends.

I thought this article pretty well sums up what I've seen going on:

Pokemon and the power of nostalgia

Amazing how many people you see going around playing it. I didn't think it'd be as big here as in the US, but seems it is probably.


Yeah it is a concern but I think you are right in that if people take the right precautions, however old they are then they will be fine.

Certainly a lot of good to come out of it. Gaming outside the house really seems like a winner.

Although it is possible just to put lures down & get the pokemon to come to you... you still have to travel around to the different areas to get different types.

People need to stop being so negative. If a game can make people actually go outside it's a great thing! My friend just got it and she loves it! She wants me to get it too but her phone is so much better so I think I will tag along her anyway. It would be the same fun. Also I am amused by the craziness people collecting at pokestops where you barely see a soul normally. My friend is happy and she hasn't been happy of excited in ages.

People might be walking around but how much are they really taking in? Two men just walked off a cliff in California cause they weren't paying attention.

the first thing the game says whenever they open it is to stay aware of your surroundings. it's the first loading page.

One of the first things you learn about driving is too keep your eyes on the road! But we all know about texting and driving already. Some people will get hurt by looking at their phone while walking/traveling. My fiance hit the curb on his bike while playing and messed his hand up.

However he loves the game and has a great time! And he is getting out of the house and I know he is enjoying the outdoors and taking things in because we go together sometimes and both enjoy the wind and the trees and seeing everyone else outside too.

Besides, you're more likely to get into adverse situations or get a minor injury from some activity anyway if you actually leave the house and do outdoor things, pokemon go or no pokemon go.

Wow that stinks.

Sorry to hear that homes in ny are being listed as landmarks.

I've been to several communities in the commonwealth, but homes were not listed.

Bummer

That is the truth!

It's one of those games that is simple enough to put the phone down to walk. Just took the kids seaside, yesterday. To walk down a jedid warf which is maintained by the dept of the interior(meaning those types of landmarks), I'm teaching my sons to read a map this way.

Was talking to someone local to me the otherday about is it "safe" or not, as discussing my urban neighborhood. It's concluded that it is. Even heard a couple of local cops talking about it when I stopped for coffee the other morning.

This is good for National Parks, as this is a promotional year. Every child that is/was in the 4th grade has a free pass.

I haven't played it, but I wonder if it can be combined with cycling? From what I have heard, it's about finding these creatures out and about, so it sounds like it could go with cycling.

It encourages exercise, being outside instead of sitting in front of the TV or computer playing video games. People always have to learn their limitations when they get something new. Shoot, when you get a bicycle & learn to ride, it can be dangerous also until you get the hang of handling it in relationship to yourself.

It's the first video game that actually takes people outside & it brings people together. Good things will always be figured out by the bad people how to use it to their advantage. If we fear everything in our life, we wouldn't step one foot out the front door.....that's what agoraphobia is all about. With everything else that is going on in this world to cause fear, it's wonderful to get something that makes people feel good & brings them out of themselves.

Jimi.....I'm so glad it's been such a good thing for your friend. Agree with you on the good this is providing at this point for society & the newness probably won't wear off for awhile at least as new people start getting involved with it.

What is Pokemon Go?

Okay, I finally checked it out on YouTube... definitely not gonna Pokémon GO near that.

{ Kein Teufel }
Translation: Not a devil
[ `id -u` -eq 0 ] || exit 1

lol.....

I wanted to download it but the Google Play store said it's not compatible with my phone.