Game trailer: Discover Pokemon GO!
Pokémon GO opens a universe of Pokémon to find, catch, trade, and battle on your iPhone or Android device!
People are getting really into Pokemon GO, a new mobile take on the classic franchise. In fact, they're maybe getting a little too into it.
The app quickly shot to the top of the charts for Apple's free apps and has gathered at least 5 million downloads on Google's Play store. In Australia it sent scores of people into the streets across Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, and everywhere besides. It also quickly led to an unexpected side effect: a number of reported Pokemon-related injuries.
"Pokemon Go put me in the ER last night," read one post on the Pokemon GO subreddit. (Yes, the app has its own subreddit.)
![There are three PokeStops associated with the museum.](/web/20160910090948im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/2/d/2/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.520x294.gq2squ.png/1468384096464.jpg)
"Not even 30 minutes after the release last night, I slipped and fell down a ditch," said the Reddit user. "Fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in my foot, 6-8 weeks for recovery. I told all the doctors I was walking my dog lol ... Watch where you're going, folks!"
Others posted that they, too, had near misses or minor scrapes from chasing Pokemon a little too enthusiastically. Some have reported mishaps while seeking Pokemon and driving, which is a thing that just shouldn't happen.
That bears repeating: do not Pokemon GO and drive.
![Pokemon Go fans meet at the Opera House on Sunday.](/web/20160910090948im_/http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/2/e/b/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.520x294.gq2squ.png/1468386116349.jpg)
A medical school in Arizona even sent out an email to its student body, reminding them to capture carefully.
Saying that the school was aware its campus had "been invaded by Pokemon" — a friendly invasion — AT Still University's message said, "Please approach them with caution and remember to look up from your phone to avoid tripping or running into something."
The app itself includes a warning in the loading screen asking players to pay attention to their surroundings, but it's clear that some people are getting so excited that they forget to heed it. Niantic, which partnered with the Pokemon franchise to create the app, has some rules of the road for its other major title, Ingress, that may prove useful.
"Pay attention to your surroundings; you never know what beautiful or interesting things you'll see while playing the game," the company cautions in its advice to players.
Niantic has also reminded Ingress players to respect real-world rules when an in-game point of interest shows up on someone's private property — no trespassing — which is a good reminder for Pokemon Go players and any augmented-reality game the future may bring, too.
Shortly after the app's release in Australia, the Darwin Police Station instructed players via a Facebook post not to get too close while attempting the catch the Sandshrews that apparently frequent the area.
"Whilst the Darwin Police Station may feature as a Pokestop, please be advised that you don't actually have to step inside", the post reads.
While Pokemon GO is proving problematic for those who are getting maybe a little too wrapped up in the game, it's also having some unexpectedly positive effects.
One Reddit user reported using an item that helps draw Pokemon to a particular place, only to find that it also drew several players from the area to the same spot.
"A couple people in at my local park put down some lures close together and it ended up causing a random meet up!" the original poster said. "About 30 random people grouped up to catch pokemon!"
The items, called Lure Modules, can be bought and dropped by any player at any "Pokestop" (or landmark), to benefit all nearby players. Lures have seemingly been causing impromptu get-togethers across the US, Australia and New Zealand, including in Melbourne's Southbank over the weekend where a group of several lures had fans gathering en masse.
A perfect storm of pokestops at Southbank has caused a massive crowd of players. Norms totally baffled. pic.twitter.com/cHbjJekdAS
— James Croft (@jamescroft) July 10, 2016
Unfortunately the phenomena has not gone unnoticed by those with less friendly motivations. The Missouri Police Department in the US has reported via Facebook that groups of muggers are suspected to be using lures to target their victims.
The Washington Post, with Fairfax Media
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