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GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/13/16 7:39 a.m.

My how the tables have turned:

http://www.wired.com/2016/07/pokemon-go-dating-app/

Back when Pokemon was played on Nintendo handhelds, it was more like an anti-dating app

WilD
WilD HalfDork
7/13/16 8:14 a.m.

I have now had the app for 24 hours. I still think it's neat. However, the fad/frenzy seems to be strong with this one...

I am a runner, so I am generally out and about around town anyway. This time, I took my phone on a 3.5 mile run after work, and the game was a very effective tool for fartleks. I would run quickly between pokestops or pokemon encounters, at which I would stand around for a minute or two. I'm sure I looked like a complete idiot. The most interesting aspect though was my heightened awareness of other people around. I noticed WAY more people out and about staring at phones. Kids on bikes (dangerous!) and just people walking around pokestops or sitting near gyms. My towns little "downtown" is a hotspot of gyms and pokestops. Activity seemed intense for a Tuesday night. I'm reasonably certain I saw people pulling up in cars (like a whole van load of teens at one gym) and stopping for a few minutes to interact with the game. This level of popularity surprised even my dorky self.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/13/16 8:57 a.m.
GameboyRMH wrote: And interesting to consider the power Nintendo now wields to direct foot traffic around...the selection seems to be random right now (with a police station in Australia getting selected for example), but what if it wasn't?

Called it:

https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/13/pokemon-go-sponsored-locations-to-let-brands-in-on-the-fun/

Esoteric Nixon
Esoteric Nixon UltraDork
7/13/16 9:37 a.m.

It's a lot of fun. I've never played it before, but I enjoy it myself. Lots of people do, and they seem to be enjoying it with others, so live and let live. Get off your own lawn.

Huckleberry
Huckleberry MegaDork
7/13/16 11:17 a.m.

I found a little fella in my lap, he evolved a bit... and I've been "training" him pretty consistently for years.

captdownshift
captdownshift GRM+ Memberand UberDork
7/13/16 1:44 p.m.

Burrito
Burrito Dork
7/13/16 1:59 p.m.
Huckleberry wrote: I found a little fella in my lap, he evolved a bit... and I've been "training" him pretty consistently for years.

Diglett, huh?

captdownshift
captdownshift GRM+ Memberand UberDork
7/13/16 2:05 p.m.

In reply to Huckleberry:

bastomatic
bastomatic UltraDork
7/13/16 2:06 p.m.

I admit to playing it daily since Friday, and having a lot of fun.

Monday night I went out walking after the kids went to bed, and chatted up a guy on our Main street while looking for a "rare" Pokemon. Never did find that Pokemon, but I did find out he was a neighbor a few doors down, had a toddler the same age as mine, and we have a lot of common interests (including Pokemon of course).

Tuesday on break at work, I walked around our courtyard and ran into a couple guys from Maintenance and a Physician hangout out together. I only really ever exchanged pleasantries with the maintenance guys before this. We all talked about Pokemon for a while, and the conversation turned to family and work.

Actually come to think of it, it's a lot like the bond that smoking creates, except it's not going to give you cancer.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
7/13/16 2:21 p.m.

You know, if people are having fun, getting outside, and making new friends, how can anyone complain? (Well, I'm sure that someone here will.)

ThunderCougarFalconGoat
ThunderCougarFalconGoat Reader
7/13/16 2:36 p.m.

Rules of the Internet:

If it is new, it is automatically inferior to the way something once was, and will undoubtedly bring about the end of days.

WonkoTheSane
WonkoTheSane GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
7/13/16 3:07 p.m.

Funny, I thought the only rule of the internet was Rule 34. Guess I never really pondered what happened to #1-33...

Wall-e
Wall-e GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/13/16 3:32 p.m.

It's ruining our young people. I went for a walk on my lunch break and on my way through a park I noticed some of the women had removed their tops to take in some sun. Not ten feet away a group of teenage boys were staring into their phones arguing with each other over cartoon characters.

Beer Baron
Beer Baron UltimaDork
7/14/16 8:07 a.m.

etifosi
etifosi Dork
7/14/16 11:57 a.m.

Pokemon carnage.

Waiting for a Tesla to crash while in "autopilot" mode and meat behind wheel is playing Pokemon.

DrBoost
DrBoost UltimaDork
7/14/16 4:02 p.m.

Do you just wander around looking at you phone waiting for the game to pop a character on your screen? I've not played it, but seems that's what you do. Am I missing something besides the aforementioned striking up conversations with strangers?

WilD
WilD HalfDork
7/14/16 4:19 p.m.

In reply to DrBoost:

Pretty much. You don't need to really look at your phone all the time though. It can be set up to turn off the screen and vibrate and/or make a sound when a Pokemon appears. You can then pull your phone out and do your thing. And there is more to the game than the wild pokemon capture aspect, but that is a very big part of it.

DrBoost
DrBoost UltimaDork
7/14/16 6:28 p.m.

Ok. Well, I'm glad folks are having fun.
I don't get it, and I'll keep it that way.

Wall-e
Wall-e GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/14/16 7:11 p.m.

I suppose it's no sillier than the pretend football teams that will starting up in a few months.

EastCoastMojo
EastCoastMojo GRM+ Memberand Mod Squad
7/14/16 7:49 p.m.

I just hope there's no pokemon on my property. If I wake up to strangers wandering around my yard they are going to E36 M3 themselves laughing at my bed head hair, and I really don't want to have to clean that mess up.

captdownshift
captdownshift GRM+ Memberand UberDork
7/14/16 10:05 p.m.

I anxiously await photos of Pokemon that appear at cars and coffee and track events. Pokemon in photos with cool cars is something that I could strangely get behind for some reason.

I've also chosen to be a member of the blue team.

WOW Really Paul?
WOW Really Paul? MegaDork
7/15/16 9:53 a.m.

In reply to captdownshift:

Do you vape or are you a vegan? Still better than being a paste eater(yellow team)

Derick Freese
Derick Freese UltraDork
7/15/16 3:18 p.m.

Team Mystic here. No vaping, pretty much a carnivore. Team Uno!

captdownshift
captdownshift GRM+ Memberand UberDork
7/15/16 4:16 p.m.

In reply to WOW Really Paul?:

Ironically the blue team puts an emphasis on evolution

Derick Freese
Derick Freese UltraDork
7/15/16 5:21 p.m.

Yeah, a trick is to power up a Pokémon before evolving it while it is cheaper to power up. That nets you a higher power Pokémon than wild caught evolutions.

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