It is impossible to remain unaware of the events surrounding the new Pokemon Go frenzy. Things are such that even if you are located in the most remote of the regions, you are likely to have come across distracted hunters in search of their treasure.
They are everywhere – offices, trains, gyms and even your own house. Just the other day, I met with an unexpected knock from my neighbour’s kids requesting me to let them in so that they could capture the Pikachu hiding in my backyard! While, it may sound cute and funny – this crazed hunt is turning into something quite dangerous.
Vaporeon Stampede in Central Park
Take for instance, the recent incident that took place in Central Park. The players caused a literal stampede in search of a ‘Vaporeon.’ A recording of this incident has been posted online showcasing just how religiously the players seem to be indulging in the quest of this special but virtual creature.
While, the number is undefined – the unusual gathering that took place at Central Park is quickly becoming one of the most primary causes of concerns. Each week, the augmented reality game seems to be reaching higher peaks. There are endless drivers following Pokemon Go on their phones while driving, naturally facing unavoidable crashes.
If this is not bad enough, people have started hitting the streets in planned mass numbers, unannounced. Places like Sydney and Melbourne reported Pokemon ‘trainers’ flocking to popular locations to figure out the primary sightings of major pokemons.
How about discovering a dead body while searching for a Pokemon? Well, that was ticked off from the list when Riverton resident, Shayla Wiggins came across a corpse floating the Wind river during her search for a Pokemon. Adding to the list of bizarre stories surrounding the Pokemon craziness is the tale about Jonathan Theriot from Texas catching ‘Pidgey’ while his wife was in labour.
About Pokemon Go
Pokemon Go – the new gaming app was released by Nintendo in July, 2016. It essentially makes use of augmented reality to turn your smartphone into a Pokemon collecting simulator through the use of GPS, thereby allowing the player to map his/her location and placing items that they may discover around random and popular landmarks.
It clearly seems to be a big hit in most places it has been released in. There are many medical professionals that praise the app for potentially improving the mental and physical health of the players. However, the question remains – is it really worth all the public nuisance that is being caused?
