Monster of a game

Pokemon GO's augmented reality fuels latest gaming craze, but not without issues, dangers

Jeremy Barnes, Larenzo Pickens and David Peters share and compare their stats and achievements in the widely popular new Pokemon GO game.
Jeremy Barnes, Larenzo Pickens and David Peters share and compare their stats and achievements in the widely popular new Pokemon GO game.

Pokemon - the video and trading card game which first became popular in the late 1990s - has made a comeback with a smartphone app.

Pokemon GO hit the U.S. last week, along with Japan, New Zealand and Australia, and it has since exploded in popularity.

Many Jefferson City residents have gotten into the craze, playing on their phone and in groups.

The game takes players into an augmented reality - a connection between the real and virtual worlds. Once players create their Pokemon trainers, they are on a quest to catch Pokemon, monsters resembling birds, rats, cats, dogs, fish and bugs.

Pokemon GO uses global positioning software (GPS) and Google Maps to track players' movements. Unlike typical video games, Pokemon GO makes players get outdoors and move. Players must walk to find and catch Pokemon. They also have to walk certain distances - two, five and 10 kilometers - in order to hatch Pokemon from eggs.

"It's great seeing so many people out and about who normally wouldn't be out and about," said Justin Cremeans, 29, of Jefferson City. "Even myself, I spent more time walking outside than I have in quite a while, so it's good that it's getting people out and active."

The game has raised safety concerns after players in the St. Louis suburb of O'Fallon were recently the targets of robbers. Teenagers hid near popular stopping points and ambushed players.

Sgt. Jason Payne with the Jefferson City Police Department said he's not aware of officers responding to any Pokemon GO-related crimes. He cautions players not to go into unfamiliar places.

William Millard, 23, of Jefferson City, said he hasn't heard of any safety issues, but he is worried about people playing Pokemon GO while driving.

"If you're planning on going Pokemon hunting and driving a lot, I would highly suggest to bring a partner," he said.

Outside the Capitol is one of the most - if not the most - popular spots for players to congregate, sometimes until the early morning hours. There are many Pokestops, places where players can collect items like Pokeballs, around the building. Pokestops are associated with businesses, churches, parks and other landmarks in the city.

"It took the city by storm for sure," said Seth Steenbergen, 22, of Jefferson City. "The second I found out it launched on the (Apple) AppStore I about punched through my desk trying to hit the download button."

His enthusiasm for the game is rooted in nostalgia and the desire to relive his first Pokemon game.

"Mine was Pokemon Red, and starting the adventure in that game almost 20 years ago was amazing but now, thanks to augmented reality, we can almost act like that the Pokemon are a part of our world, mostly," Steenbergen said. 

"I believe that's the majority of the popularity for sure, especially since the Pokemon fan base is one of the largest in the world."

Millard also credits the game's vast use to millennials, the largest living generation in the U.S.

"It just brings back the child in everyone," he said.

As a child, Justin Cremeans, 29, of Jefferson City, owned the original Game Boy, which launched in the U.S. in July 1989. He was gifted his first Pokemon game, Pokemon Blue. For Cremeans and many other Millennials, the game is all about nostalgia.

"This is giving everyone the chance to go on their own Pokemon journey and go out and catch Pokemon," he said.

Though the game seems to be dominated by millennials in Jefferson City, young children and adults in their 50s and 60s have also been seen playing Pokemon GO.

Cremeans said he's noticed that players are courteous to one another and they maintain a friendly rivalry on online sites between the three teams: Team Valor (red), Team Mystic (blue) and Team Instinct (yellow).

"I'm impressed how this one game can bring everybody together in the community," Cremeans said. "You've got younger people, older people, people of different races (playing). Everyone is just working together.

"It's great to see how it brings everyone together."