Is anyone else tired of all the Pokémon Go hype?? I can't take one trip to the store without seeing 5 groups of people with their heads in their phones hunting for make believe monsters!
It's been almost a month, and this is the kind of talk I've heard every day for four weeks. Since I don't personally have a smart phone, I haven't experienced the thrill of hunting Pokémon down for myself, but I've seen enough people enjoy the experience to love the game anyway... What really bother me about this trend is the wave of Pokémon NO-ers! WHY? Why do you glare at the innocent players of a harmless game with so much distain? Why do you shake your head as they rattle off Pokémon names as though you are somehow better than them by not understanding the basics of a popular mobile game. Here some reasons I think people are still frustrated by the un-killable trend:
Invalid reason 1: They're tired of seeing groups of teens and adults with their heads in their phones instead of talking to each other!Teens hanging out while playing a Nintendo game might be worse than just holding meaningful conversations without any distractions. That's fair... I guess. But its not a valid comparison! It's not like those same people were having heart-to-heart conversations without their phones in hand last month, and this pesky game just ROBBED them of their social time! WELCOME TO THE TWENTYFIRST CENTURY! The people hanging out in groups playing the SAME real time game would probably all be on separate apps if Pokémon Go didn't exist. Many gamers are taking their time they used to spend alone at home playing unsocial games with their friends walking through their community checking about monuments and social spots. Because of the very mechanics of the app, people are able to socialize and talk WHILE playing a game together. What's the harm in that??
Invalid reason 2: But what about the News stories of people getting robbed by chasing lures into dark alleys or unmarked vans?
People were getting kidnapped, mugged, and stabbed long before this game came along. It's not Nintendo's job to eliminate global crime or physically prevent stupid people from wandering around alone. They recommend you travel in groups and what where you are going... What more can they do? Idiots will be idiots, but the majority of players will just have a good time without walking off bridges or wandering away from home alone.
Straw-Man argument 3: Nintendo is stealing all my personal information to steal to the government!
Most mobile apps have pretty long, sometimes sketchy terms of agreement nobody reads. The Pokémon Go app terms give access to your camera (for the augmented reality part of the game to work), and location (duh), but also some potentially allow access to some unneeded things like photos, contacts, and storage space. Still, this isn't anything new, it's just making headlines because this game is so unexpectedly popular. Most apps on your phone are probably stealing your information to sell to interested parties right now. So don't play. If you care so much, ditch your smart phone!
...Or just read all terms of agreement yourself whenever you download software.
HAHAHA! ..."Wait, you're serious?" Nobody reads that stuff! Most people don't even mind if their phone is tracked and the data is used by Google to anonymously determine how fast traffic moves or how popular shopping centers are. If you don't want anyone mining your information without consent... DON'T USE AN IPHONE! Just buy an android, delete all your apps, and don't use any search engines. They can save our searches to improve future results. And stay away from vending machines, coke fountains, and rewards card programs. They can all legally track your buying habits. ;) The rest of us prefer convenience and ignorance to privacy.
Honestly, I don't think anyone has a right to be upset they see a group running around a corner to catch a Squirtle. This game has given people who have trouble starting a conversation to hang out with their friends, while doubling the value of Nintendo the first two days. No, it isn't going to fix all the problems of society. It doesn't teach people how to socialize or exercise (although the mechanics encourage communication and group activity). A single videogame won't end organized crime, prevent kids from using their phones while driving, or teach anyone to watch their step while using their phone (although it isn't so engaging that normal people would be LESS capable of using their phone and walking.)
Nintendo has made a game that makes the world better in a few ways, and doesn't make anyone worse off at all. If you don't play the game that's fine (I don't play ether). You can hate the game all you want, just stop looking down on the over 4.3 million players still using the app.
To the rest of you, happy hunting! Thanks for reading! Comment if you disagree with my stance on Nintendo's new game.
- The Noah
