Pokémon Go has Australians on their Feet. I will put it out there right now, that this free app has done more for getting people up and walking, than many of the government paid advertisements advising people that walking is good for their health has ever done.
But Australia is a Nanny State
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The only thing that could dampen this new found enthusiasm for the great outdoors is that Australia is a nanny state, read this if you don’t believe me. In fact, Sportsbet is currently running bets, on which places will ban these Pokémon seekers, according to Business Insider.
Increase in people Outside
Just walking around our neighborhood, we have seen a massive increase in people exploring their natural environment. People are walking because Pokémon Go requires you to get outside and walk to catch the Pokémon, which is the aim of the game. The Pokémon Go are in the great outdoors, and so are Australians.
Ok, we may all be walking with our eyes glued to our screens as more and more Pokémon virtually appear on the path in front of us, but does that matter? The inherent online pharmacy mental health benefits of walking have been well and truly documented, but now we have an app that achieves what so many others have failed to do. Australian’s in vast numbers are on their feet.
People are even setting up deck chairs around gyms to play Pokémon Go .
Pokémon Go Outdoing other Social Media Platforms
Pokémon Go has hit the countries where it has been released in a big way, with more users currently more engaged with Pokémon Go than are currently using Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and even ..yes, Tinder. So that is saying a lot.
Why are we Playing?
How do I know this? Well after being unuable to avoid all of the media and social media mentions of Pokémon Go; and in the interests of keeping up with popular culture, not to mention research; we also downloaded the free app, and on our first day walked 10kilmetres. And we were not the only ones.
Not only did we have Pokémon on our screens but they were on the beach, in the bushes and the shops, churches and police station, … and we were with hordes of people doing the same thing. We spoke to many people on our first outing because we were all enjoying this pursuit of Pokémon. I would say judging by the palor of the skin of many of the people that we met, that they have not seen the sunlight for a long, long time.
So what is Pokémon Go?
Pokémon GO is a free app that you download and start playing. The aim is to walk out of your front door because it won’t work otherwise, and start wandering around looking for little creatures called Pokémon. You capture these and then eventually train them at places called gyms.
Pokémon Go was developed by Niantic Labs, and based on the Nintendo owned Pokemon, phenomena in its own right. Pokémon first appeared in the 1990’s. Pokemon was developed by Nintendo, and based on the Japanese love of catching bugs. In fact, the creator Satoshi Tajiri, loved bug hunting when he was young, and you can see this in the appearance of the bugs of the Pokémon.
Pokémon Go only appeared less than a week ago. The downloads in the Australia, NZ, and the UK where it is currently available is staggering. The staggering number of people out and about …and walking …. is even more staggering.
Because of the geo caching properties of this game, you stop at what are called PokéStops and get goodies to help you in your quest. These PokéStops are at lots of landmark locations, so you get to learn more of your local area as you wander.
Don’t Hate on Pokémon Go
While people might hate on Pokémon Go, and claim that they could do as much walking a dog, I would say …crap. It is well known that gamers rarely leave their rooms, so intent on winning the battle in whatever video game is the craze at the time. Well .. Pokémon Go has got these people out of their houses and got them out in droves. Facebook and Twitter are full of stories of parents in awe of the fact that their kids want to go walking, and that their teenagers have actually left their rooms. I wondered whether we were too old to be hunting Pokemon, but we aren’t. It is one of those apps that anyone can use and play ..and they do. Our 75-year-old neighbor got us to explain it and download it for him. Haven’t seen him since, as he is chasing a Charmander.
What a Fun Way to Discover a New place
When we head down to Canberra, and then onto to the snow at Perisher next week, we will look for the occasional Pokémon. Based on geo-caching, what better way is there to explore different destinations…if you occasionally lift your head up, and read what the signs say.
Pokémon Go has Australians on their Feet
Anyhow, I need to go for a walk. I like catching Pokémon; I am getting fitter by walking so much, and I am learning new things where I live. I am meeting lots of new and diverse people, and that is really pleasant. Well done Pokémon Go, you got Australian’s on their Feet, where others have failed before hand.
If you are a Pokemon Go Sceptic
You might like to read how one sceptic at The Freedom Travellers, converted to a Pokemon Go, and is loving it.
I’ve been a fan of this series when I was a child and now, I admit that I downloaded the game and got hooked to it! Pokemon Go motivates me to walk more to catch them all. Turning my lifestyle from a complete sedentary to an active one.
Pokemon Go is fun, and it does get you outdoors. So happy you are enjoy the dual benefits of this game.
I never really got into Pokemon back in school when it came out, sure they’re cute & I do love anime – just Pokemon wasn’t my cup of tea for some reason. My partner downloaded the app on his phone for our 5yo son to play – SUCCESS!! He wants to go hunting all the time, there’s LOADS of check-ins or poke stops in our area. We live near a lot of parks & things so could almost just walk laps to keep topping up lol. We jump in the car & head for further away destinations to try & hunt for different new Pokemon. If it’s late or too cold we try to stay in the car for check-ins, but it doesn’t always work that well, it’s not designed too. I’m hanging to get a new phone – my phone won’t allow iOS updates needed to run the app. I used to walk 12-14km once or twice a week just for fun, but my sensor I used to track my distance/times broke & trying to break my records & stuff wasn’t possible any more. Also since summer was so hot I hid inside most days, I’m terrified of sunburn these days & I don’t always remember to do all of the slips, slops & slaps lol. Anywho I’ll stop babbling now, I’ve drowned you all in enough words for now!! Thank you for your awesome article, it highlights all the wonderful, fun bits about the app that I like & I completely agree that it’s done far more for getting people outside & moving about than many of the other apps that are meant to do that. Have fun & stay safe everyone ?
I really enjoyed reading this, as we agree – it gets people outside and having fun. We are still enjoying it a lot.
My walking club decided to download the pkemon app, and now we meet twice a week and look for those little things. We are having fun.
well done Barga. We have been surprised with how many people of so many differing ages and backgrounds, and seeing the health, and fun benefits of Pokemon Go.
All i heard about was Pokemon so decided to have a go with my boys. Now we are all walking every day so I agree with what you say.
Enjoy, we are walking a lot too, and that can only be a good thing.
Mr 22 is one of those very pale Pokémon Go players, who has suddenly discovered the great outdoors! LOL … I have downloaded the App but haven’t played yet, but anything that helps me to walk / exercise is a great idea … just don’t tell the hubster! 😉
No, you have to take the hubster with you. We met a girl who told us it was the first time her boyfriend and ever gone walking with her. He looked sheepish, and she was delighted.
You have me tempted to download it, yet a bit afraid of how much of my day it will consume. thanks for explaining it, and good on you for being a trend setter. Confused about the little guy with your coffee – I though it didn’t work indoors?
It will consume a lot of your time, but you will walk long distances = fitness; meet new people =nice; and the pokemons can get inside so they ate my breakfast.