Pokémon Go is taking over everything…and we do mean everything! Restaurants, malls, parks, libraries, museums; you name it, and there is probably a Pokéstop or Gym there as well. Don’t know what Pokéstops or Gyms are? Keep reading…
Everywhere you turn, people are running after these invisible creatures on their phones, which has recently caused a stir in the news about general public safety and responsibility. So, we are here to give you a few helpful tips for keeping yourself educated and safe while you are trying to “catch ‘em all!”
Don’t Pokémon and Drive. This has become a HUGE issue and the last thing you want is to get into a car accident because you were chasing after a “Vaporeon.”’
Stay hydrated, Pokémon chasers! It’s the middle of summer and this app requires users to be mobile and on the go! Great for getting people out and about, yes, but also dangerous in the heat wave that much of the U.S. is experiencing! Make sure to stop at convenient stores for a cool beverage or bring a water bottle with you.
No trespassing! If your hunt is leading you to a park, church, mall, etc., be aware of the hours of operation for these establishments.
Don’t Pokémon and Go by yourself…seriously. Multiple cases are popping up of people being mugged by taking a wrong turn down a dark alley. You might want to consider the buddy system. Simply have a friend tag along or, even better, create a group for all your friends to join!
Be aware of your surroundings while playing. Looking down at a phone can distract you while you are walking from point A to point B. Take a split second break to look up from the screen to make sure that you aren’t walking into parked cars, meandering through a busy intersection, or walking into a lake.
Now, if you’re reading this and haven’t played the game yet, here’s a little breakdown of the lingo:
Pokéstop – This is a place where crowds gather to collect Pokémon and other items they may need while playing the game. You’ll often see people wandering these locations with their eyes glued to their phones. That’s because these people are busy collecting more Pokéballs in order to catch the next Pokémon they see!
Gym – This is a place where players go to train and battle their Pokémon once they have reached level five or higher. Gyms are located in areas that drive lots of traffic and are natural hubs of activity. Users will definitely be playing in full force at these locations.
This all might seem like fun and games, but it’s actually a billion dollar industry – a $7.5 billion industry to be precise, with revenue continuing to climb every day. Since the release, Nintendo’s stock has also doubled with a 24.52% increase*. Pokémon Go also remains at the top of download charts for Android and Apple users. Current research states that the app has already been downloaded on 5% of Android smartphones in the U.S. alone. And if those numbers didn’t WOW you enough already, it’s expected Pokémon Go will create between $140 million – $196 million in turnover each month, without sponsored locations.
For more fun facts on how to play the game, check out this video here! https://youtu.be/AVWPWYYIcpk
If you want to see what others are doing with Pokémon Go, search the hashtags #PokemonGo or #PGo on social!
*At time of publication.