Pokémon Go helps make real-world connections

Ever since the free game Pokémon Go was released on July 6, crowds have filled the sidewalks of busy streets and given their undivided attention to their phones. Having played a fair share of the game myself, I can say that there is definitely a reason for this phenomenon.

When the much-anticipated game finally hit the App Store, I was attending a summer program at the University of Michigan, and soon enough, everyone there was hooked on the game — students, counselors and even some of the professors.

The day after the game’s release, the majority of students spent the 15-minute walk to class with their heads down and eyes glued to their screens. Despite the seeming isolation of pursuing these creatures, Pokémon Go helped create a friendly atmosphere, one in which players assisted each other with the game.

Before long, phrases such as “Where was that Pikachu?” or “Wait for me, I gotta hit that Pokéstop” became routine. Striking up conversations with other students was a straightforward task, since many of them shared an interest in the game.

Although it has been over a month since this encounter, I still remember an undergraduate student I met in a park. He was tall, wore large, black-rimmed glasses and had dark, curly hair. My friends and I were sitting on the edge of a fountain when he looked over our shoulders and asked, “Hey, you guys playing Pokémon Go?”

After showing us his extensive collection of Pokémon, he led us to The Diag, a large open space in the university’s Central Campus, where hundreds of people were playing the game.

Right as we walked in, Pokémon began popping up one after another like people in a busy marketplace. I was ecstatic, as the sheer number of spawning Pokémon meant we didn’t even have to move to catch them all. During the last week of camp, we returned to this spot every day to catch more.

However, as great as Pokémon Go sounds, it still has its drawbacks. When I first arrived back at home and opened the app, I was utterly disappointed. In small towns like Saratoga, there are very few Pokémon, and as I progressed further through the game, the more time consuming it became. As the school year started, there simply wasn’t enough time for me to make reasonable progress in the game.

Despite its downfalls, the game is easy to learn for beginners. Plus, the opportunity to meet others and exercise is a bonus. But be careful, because I might defeat your Pokémon if you’re not paying attention.