RRSpin - Pokemon Go players find exercise, fun, friendship with app

Friday, 15 July 2016 09:18

Pokemon Go players find exercise, fun, friendship with app ^Featured

Written by Lance Martin

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Park, left, and Bell talk as they walk the Canal Trail.

They are reconnecting with an iconic video game from their past. Only this time it’s bringing them outside.

In a week’s time, a phone app called Pokemon Go has created a buzz across the globe and its impact has been seen in Roanoke Rapids and Halifax County.
The aim of the game is simple: Use the app to collect Pokemon characters, which are generated randomly through GPS and can be found most anywhere — especially at certain landmarks like the Halifax County Visitors Center, the dog run there and even Historic Halifax, which is ripe with them, local players said Thursday.
The local players, which have formed a Facebook group to give notice of meetups where they go on hunts, have read the negative press about the game. They have also read about the positive benefits, especially the exercise they are getting.
“It’s the exercise,” said Warner Ferguson, a paramedic, who hunts the characters with his wife, Jessica, who is a registered nurse. “I’ve been out of the house more the past week than I’ve been out in at least four years.”
Jessica started the Facebook page after she would randomly run into people playing the game.
The page, Warner said, gives group members pertinent information, especially about the setting of lures, a function of the game which will attract the Pokemon to the user’s location.
Using the group Facebook page let’s players know someone they are familiar with is setting the lure and not a stranger, the players said.
On Thursday they met at the Roanoke Canal Museum, which is considered one of at least 50 Poke Stops in Roanoke Rapids. In all, there are at least 200 Poke Stops in Halifax County, players said.
A Poke Stop is a place where players are guaranteed to collect more Pokemon as well as gain items to assist them in their adventure.
Michael Park, one of the players and a sales consultant at Verizon, likes the social aspect of the game. “Because of this game, I’ve made friends. It’s helped bring all kinds of people together.”
“You see people walking around doing it, it makes it more infectious,” said Marshall Carter.
James Bell is a longtime gamer who has often been criticized or made fun of, especially for his love of Pokemon, which started as a comics series in Japan, became a videogame and then an iconic cartoon show.
He shrugs off the criticism. “I never get in trouble,” he said. “I’m a nerd but I never get into trouble.”

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The group which hunts for Pokemon under the local Facebook page does so with some common sense rules, which include don’t play and drive, stay in well-lit areas and stay out of back alleys.
“We do group things,” Jessica said. “I won’t go by myself. It’s kind of common sense, don’t do it and drive. We get someone who doesn’t play to drive us around.”
Park also takes precautions, like keeping a power charger in his backpack, snacks, water and a flashlight.
“I don’t think we’ve had any complaints,” Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Chuck Hasty said. “I’d just advise them be careful, don’t go on private property if not authorized to. Don’t be so concentrated on your phone that you’re not aware of what’s going around you.”
Park said his group heeds no trespassing signs. “If there is a sign that says don’t go in there, we don’t. It’s common sense. If you want to get arrested for a digital game then you have to get your priorities in order.”
Park finds the game as his motivation for exercise. “I wanted to exercise, wanted to do more but I wasn’t motivated. I haven’t turned on the Xbox because I’ve been out looking for Pokemon.”
The local players believe the game, since it involves going out in the community, could be a way for businesses and organizations like county tourism and Historic Halifax, to get more exposure.
Jessica envisions Historic Halifax using the game as a way to give tours for players. Law enforcement could use it as a way to promote safety, she said.
Park says businesses could use it as a promotion tool by offering free lures or giving discounts to players who drop by.
Warner noted the game is not about sticking your face in a phone. The app has alerts to let players know when a Pokemon is nearby.
“Be open minded,” Park said. “What is there to hate? There’s no animosity between these groups of players. How can you hate something that is positive?”
For Jessica, her reply to the critics is simple and goes back to the exercise benefit. “How much do you walk when you watch TV? How much do you walk when you post negative comments on Facebook?”

Read 6529 times Last modified on Saturday, 16 July 2016 06:26