America Has to “Catch ‘Em All,” Again!

A Clinton is in the running for the White House. A new Harry Potter book is being awaited with baited breath, and people around the world are obsessed with catching Pokémon. No, you’ve not traveled magically back in time to 2000. However, history seems to be repeating itself a lot lately. Call it nostalgia if you like, but some things never change, including the drive that tells some players “Gotta catch ’em all!”

You may be a little fuzzy on just how this whole Pokémon thing began, but you can be assured that it started the way all good crazes do: with its own primetime series. Pokemon had already gathered a huge fanbase with the release of the 1996 Gamboy games, but the craze really took off when it first graced television in 1998. The show originally followed the story of ten-year-old Ash as he strove for his dream of becoming the greatest Pokémon master. Ash was accompanied by his friends Misty and Brock and his faithful companion Pikachu. The gang travelled all across the world, meeting friends and foes, and took viewers along for Ash’s advancement through the Pokemon League. This, of course, led to a long running animated series and several movies.

Back in the day, players could only get a dose of realism through watching the vibrant television show, but this quickly was not enough. Pokémon cards were suddenly in the hands of all of those who dared themselves to be trainers. Players could battle their friends and collect cards to create a deadly deck of the mystical creatures. Over the years, even the magic of this would wear off and, while the series always maintained a large fanbase, the Pokémon fever would seemingly fade into pop culture oblivion.

Time marched on. People got smart phones, and then social media took the world by storm. Creators took their moment to strike. Suddenly, there was a game where players could relive their childhood dreams and catch Pokémon in real life. Pokémon Go was born! Reports suggest that the game has been downloaded more than 30 million times around the world.

In the Pokémon Go app, players can travel around their hometown and catch Pokémon in the physical world. The app utilizes the mobile device’s gps, with populated areas around a player’s hometown being filled with Pokèstops where they can stock up on supplies before heading out after the creatures. Candies can be found to evolve Pokémon into stronger forms that will help players win in gym battles and stake their claim on their hometown site.

It seems nearly everyone is getting in on the Pokémon action, especially local businesses. Carson-Newman recently held a “Capture the Gym” Challenge where they invited trainers on campus to compete to see who could capture the most Pokémon. Players had a chance to win a free iPad mini for their hard work. Local businesses have made a point to make themselves known in the Pokémon Go world, becoming valuable Pokèstops for players. The game is not only a change for economic advancement, but also physical advancement, as players must be physically active to capture Pokémon.

Although, it’s not all fun and games. Pokémon Go is sometimes being used in an underhanded way resulting in thefts. For the easily distracted, the game can be a danger firsthand as a hazard while driving or walking around. Reports indicate that some players have even found deceased bodies while roaming around on the game. Nighttime play should also be limited to familiar streets and neighborhoods. As with texting, or talking on the phone while driving, playing Pokémon Go while driving is not in any way advised. Players should be smart and think of their own safety in their quest to Catch ‘Em All!