[Loial]

The title says it all really. I figure there must some folks stateside or otherwise playing it already!

I was only vaguely curious until yesterday when I got caught up in the online madness & saw some game play as well finding out it was free.

Eagerly awaiting the UK launch now. Decided just to wait rather using a workaround to get it early.

The first signs it might available soon are appearing as it has just launched in Germany.

I haven't but my daughter plays a Pokemon video game!

I am not but I definitely have adult friends who are playing it. lol

[Loial]

I think a significant proportion of players are adults... people like me who were into Pokemon when it was first a craze.

I think it remains to be seen how long or short lived the current craze will be.

[Fredje]

When it will be officially released I will start playing

Not officially available in Canada, though there are ways of getting around it.

I actually spoke to the DQ franchise owner on the corner of my street. Apparently there is a pokemon in his parking lot; and, it's been great for business.

[amandalouise]

i checked it out because people that I know are playing it. did not like it. sure its fun and all but walking around my neighborhood focused on my cell phone waiting for a pokemon character to show up on my screen is not my form of entertainment. not to mention the danger element that when you log on \enter your game anyone else in the city can see the other players. there are many reports starting to show up on news casts and other media stating this game is causing people to get hurt, mugged and victims of other crimes. because people are waiting for others to show up looking for their pokemon to throw the ball at and harming those that show up. there are also many reports of people walking into traffic, slamming into walls\ street signs\ street poles and even ending up in trespassing on other peoples properties, getting arrested because the home owners dont know who that person is walking around their back yards, looking in the shadows, in windows basically looking like they are casing the homes for a break in.

I have caught many people going through my back and front yards and the police are beginning to know me and my wife by name. we are in the process of installing a locked gate \fencing for protection and privacy from this game and people we do not know feeling like they can walk up to our home and point their cell phones in our windows around our lawns and gardens, porches...its pretty sad that there is a cell phone game out there that allows people to invade other peoples property and privacy and the home owners have to resort to fencing\gating in their property from this.

I deleted the game off my cell phone and will never use it again.

[Amazonmom]

I love it lots of fun

[Raindropvampire]

My BFF had to pick her teenage son up after he was picked up for trespassing Remember to be smart when you are playing it and don't go after the Pokemon no matter what

[Loial]

Pokemon GO is now officially available in the UK. Just d/l & installed it... will be firing it up momentarily.

Originally Posted by Raindropvampire

Remember to be smart when you are playing it and don't go after the Pokemon no matter what

You'd think being older I'd be more measured but I think after all the hype, logical thinking may momentarily go out the window!

[Loial]

Oh tears...

Turns out my phone doesn't have a gyroscope, has an accelerometer but no gyroscope so no AR. (it's a new top mid-range phone too... oh well)

On the plus side... my flat is within range of a PokeStop.

[healingme4me]

I'm playing. My sons are playing. I don't understand all the talk about tresspassing and not watching where one is going. The landmarks are clearly defined for pokestops. And one doesn't readily chase down a pokemon. It shows up on the screen and you press on it.

Where I live has numerous historical landmarks. It's great to see people out and about at parks. My oldest showed me a screenshot of a historical city where he was yesterday for camp. The community is lined with stops. And it's a good place for a family day, anyways.

A pokestop is google earth placement of landmarks. And you spin the disc. Collect supplies. Need supplies to catch pokemon.

[Loial]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I'm playing. My sons are playing. I don't understand all the talk about tresspassing and not watching where one is going. The landmarks are clearly defined for pokestops. And one doesn't readily chase down a pokemon. It shows up on the screen and you press on it.

Where I live has numerous historical landmarks. It's great to see people out and about at parks. My oldest showed me a screenshot of a historical city where he was yesterday for camp. The community is lined with stops. And it's a good place for a family day, anyways.

A pokestop is google earth placement of landmarks. And you spin the disc. Collect supplies. Need supplies to catch pokemon.

After just spending an hour walking around catching pokemon, I agree that to be honest there isn't much issue being aware of surroundings... just need to check screen every so often & it vibrates when a pokemon appears anyway.

Although, I can appreciate for those who can use AR, that looking at pokemon that way might be distracting in the short term. Handy trick is you can tap on a pokemon & then it won't disappear even if you keep walking until you catch it. At least with AR turned off.

I was surprised at how much walking is needed to find pokemon. My first jaunt took me 2 miles.

I think I spotted maybe 3 people playing... although as of yet, not accosted anyone to ask!

It's great the sort of little landmarks it can lead you to... spotted a few things I've never seen living here my whole life! Also found an honorary Spanish consulate!

[healingme4me]

I've spotted more people than I can count, playing the game. I did notice some taking a tour through the historical part of my community. My youngest brings his ds, though, he gets a little more frustrated than usual when there have been glitches, never mind the glare of the sun on the screen.
I'll need to pack a bag of waters and snacks for an upcoming trip. The screenshot shows that it will be a hike. Which is great because these are things that I like to do, but the kids were typically "bored."
It also gets them out of the house more. My neighborhood park has a gym. Of course, as of this morning my team has it. Haha. My oldest and his friends take it back each night before it's time to come home.

Added note. I've been back to the community where I work. The kids there are all bicycling around town together. It's great to see kids out more often for a change.

[Loial]

Definitely seen other people playing now!

Seems pokemania is here just as much as anywhere else. At lunch there must have been nearly 20 of us near 2 lure modules & even 30 mins ago at 8pm, there were 10+ people at the park where a lure module was.

Crazy.

Only downside side was, tonight connection was horrible over 4G. Was ok in the morning/early afternoon though so I guess those are the times to play it here.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I'm playing. My sons are playing. I don't understand all the talk about tresspassing and not watching where one is going. The landmarks are clearly defined for pokestops. And one doesn't readily chase down a pokemon. It shows up on the screen and you press on it.

Where I live has numerous historical landmarks. It's great to see people out and about at parks. My oldest showed me a screenshot of a historical city where he was yesterday for camp. The community is lined with stops. And it's a good place for a family day, anyways.

A pokestop is google earth placement of landmarks. And you spin the disc. Collect supplies. Need supplies to catch pokemon.

anyones home can be listed as a landmark\point of interest. short version our home was listed as a landmark by the previous owners due to the age of the building and they did not want the city to tear it down.

google landmarks are any point on the map that is a point of interest ie anyone who has posted pictures of their homes online and got many likes for it, any place where people visit, any place that is a place of history. any place that had any thing to do with any historical event, or a park, school, police station, fire station, lighthouse, (much of the state of NY is a free for all simply because its main park (the Adirondack Park) spans many counties, towns and cities and mountains.

one such example of a private home being listed as a landmark is any home that is on the underground railroad route from back in the days when black slaves left the south and migrated north for freedom.

my point NY has many private homes that are listed as "landmarks" it can be something so simple as their home is close to the boardwalk or their home used to be a school house, light house or just because the owner registered their home as historical due to the homes age and when it was constructed.

my home is considered a landmark on google because it used to be a school house and the previous owners got it registered after hurricane sandy so that it would be restored rather than tore down.

I know someone else who is also having the same problem because her home is close to central park. the GPS\google mapping is showing her home as being in central park when it isnt.

[amandalouise]

did some more checking on this google gets their list of "landmarks and points of interest" from what is being google searched, when people do a google search it becomes a topic of interest\ point of interest, whats trending now and other lists that makes that item show up when someone types in something in the search bar. just the dynamics of how google and google maps and gps services and in general how the internet works.

[LadyShadow]

I played for like ten minutes, and I couldn't catch one! Call me stupid but I can't seem to get them in my ball. So I deleted the app frustrated and feeling stupid. I heard its a big hype, but I don't want to be walking around strange neighborhoods and such.

Oh yeah here in NY, there have been several accidents related to Pokemon GO. Not the safest thing I think.

Okay guys, fess up time from me - I have not a clue what this craze is all about.

Could some kind soul plainly write an idiots guide for me please?

[doyoutrustme]

Level 16

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by prefabsprout

Okay guys, fess up time from me - I have not a clue what this craze is all about.

Could some kind soul plainly write an idiots guide for me please?

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.

[Loial]

Originally Posted by prefabsprout

Okay guys, fess up time from me - I have not a clue what this craze is all about.

Could some kind soul plainly write an idiots guide for me please?

Here you go!

Pokémon Go, explained in fewer than 400 words

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[amandalouise]

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.

[Agent Misty]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

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.

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.