Pokémon Go is a smartphone game application that presents the players with an augmented reality gaming experience. Pokémon Go is a relatively new smartphone application that took the world by storm recently. The augmented reality in Pokémon Go allows users to catch Pokémon through their phone cameras. In a typical case, the game is played through the user’s camera in any location they may be at any time. Since a user can only be at one location at any one time, the game provides the user with opportunities to catch a ‘Pokémon’. Pokémon is the virtual creature that is only seen through the phone camera in the gamer's location. One must therefore physically move around with their smartphone to capture and train Pokémon. Once captured, Pokémon can be trained to fight other Pokémon. The games, augmented reality and simplicity took the world by storm in what became the ‘Pokémon Go fever’.
This game is, however unintentionally dangerous. That is simply because the players are too engrossed with the augmented reality that they view through their cameras and are completely unaware of their surroundings. My little brother Mathews, of age fifteen, is one such gaming enthusiast. Last month he almost got run over by a bus in the name of catching a Pokémon. Aside from that, there are several injuries and even deaths being reported in the wake of Pokémon fever: road accidents are among the highest causes of these deaths (Babler). Mathews thinks this game is fun because he can hang out with his friends and explore the neighborhood as they play. Also, he simply likes it because there is no such game with an augmented reality, such as Pokémon Go available on his smartphone. Aside from the fact that it is GPS activated, it is also free to play. This sort of gaming addiction may seem to be without negative consequences. However, most gangsters have shifted their attention to such addicts.
Pokémon Go addicts have become the new prey to gangsters in the streets. This is because they are easy to approach and attack since their attention is centered on the game. As a consequence, most addicts are not aware of their surroundings. In the wake of Pokémon fever, the number of gang victims spiked simply because most gamers would venture into unsafe neighborhoods till very late at night. The game is simply so addictive that most players lose track of time. In their quest to be the best Pokémon trainers in the world, they lose touch with the reality of time and their routine. Gangsters playing the game can also set a beacon in the game, which is reflected in the real world and attracts monsters to a real world location. Once the victims enter the trap, they become subject to the mercy of the gang (Hamill)
In conclusion, therefore, this game has had a significant impact on the society. From a positive standpoint, gamers are easily able to exercise without actually being aware of it. The time and zeal at catching one of the Pokémon gets one to spend time running around the neighborhood: hence exercising. It's also an excellent way to pass time and also spend it with friends or colleagues and even make more friends. However, this augmented reality in the game is quite addictive and given the fact that gamers are barely aware of their immediate surroundings, it makes them prone to getting hurt, succumbing to road accidents or becoming victims of robbers who lure them into traps. It would be interesting to note the death toll resulting from Pokémon Go fever in five years’ time.
Works Cited
Babler, Emma. "Gotta Sue ‘Em All? The Property, Privacy, And Safety Ramifications Of Pokemon Go". Afaceri juridice europene - European Legal Affairs. blog. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 Aug. 2016.
Hamill, Jasper. "Pokemon Go Used ‘To Lure Innocent Victims Into A Trap’, Cops Claim". The Sun. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 Aug. 2016.
