{"id":944,"date":"2017-02-06T07:05:37","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T07:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tallahasseefamilymagazine.com\/wordpress\/?p=944"},"modified":"2017-01-30T20:40:25","modified_gmt":"2017-01-30T20:40:25","slug":"go-out-and-play","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tallahasseefamilymagazine.com\/wordpress\/2017\/02\/06\/go-out-and-play\/","title":{"rendered":"GO Out and Play"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Sarah S\u00f6rne<\/p>\n

Pok\u00e9mon GO went live in mid-July of 2016, and no one could have anticipated how it would alter initial expectations that were made when its creator, Niantec Labs, debuted their commercial for the free mobile game during the SuperBowl. As you likely know by now, it took the world by storm, breaking initial download records and its own servers with the heavy capacity of users attempting to sign on.<\/p>\n

I myself was introduced to Pok\u00e9mon 20 years ago. The \u201cpocket-sized\u201d monster hunting game complimented the original GameBoy format\u2014as I was able to catch and train Pok\u00e9mon by traversing a rich digital world. Then, as now, you were encouraged to catch all of the Pok\u00e9mon to complete Professor Oak\u2019s (not so hunky as he is now) \u201cPokedex,\u201d an index of all the mysterious creatures who could be collected and trained in order to evolve into st ronger forms. Just as Ash Ketcham in the TV series could not evolve Pikachu into his stronger form, I was reluctant to evolve my Ivysaur to its next evolution as a bigger, badder Venusaur. If all of this is Greek to you, hang with me a little longer. The game got so popular itself that it evolved into the aforementioned TV show, a trading card game (does anyone remember the push to find the elusive Charizard anywhere other than on the fledgling pages of eBay?) and many more expansions to
\nthe original game all with the same simple mantra\u2014\u201cGotta catch \u2018em all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fast forward to my early-thirties and I would not have imagined I would be picking up the Pokeballs again. Seeing the commercials left me thinking this was a game for the kids and a way for Nintendo to introduce these characters to a new generation, just in time for Pok\u00e9mon\u2019s 20th anniversary. Just as many when the game was first announced, I downloaded the free app to check it out\u2014and was instantly hooked.<\/p>\n

It started with a simple account set up and character creation, and soon I was able to view my avatar on a map of my own neighborhood. A quick spin around and I identified two of the game\u2019s mechanics outside of catching virtual monsters\u2014a gym and a Pokestop. The Pokestops are real-world locations (usually historical markers, unique signs and other places of interest) you can visit to pick up items to help you succeed on your journey. The gyms are places where you can fight your Pok\u00e9mon against other players and get the prestige of being placed in the gym for all to see\u2014and to collect coins. The real magic of this game is the geo-caching aspect that uses your device\u2019s GPS to navigate the real world as if it is the virtual world, turning a simple walk at a park or a greenway into a fun journey where, yes, you can catch Pidgeys, Ratattas, Clefairys and, if you are lucky, even rarer varieties of Pok\u00e9mon. With the app open, you can walk around until you reach points of interest or until your phone vibrates indicating that a Pok\u00e9mon has been found in your vicinity. Even simple walks with my dog in the mornings and evenings have now become grand adventures where I can hope to stumble upon an elusive Dratini. Even more, playing the game has encouraged me to get out in the community and learn more about the history and art Tallahassee has to offer around every corner. One of the more poignant Pokestops is one near the bus station telling the story of a young man who boarded a Greyhound after a tearful goodbye to his parents, and he would never return home from the war.<\/p>\n

Trips to Cascades Park and Lake Ella yield many players of all ages (often amusingly) walking around with smartphones in hand. I cannot fault them though as I have joined the shuffling hordes in order to gain bonuses for walking certain distances\u2014in an effort to hatch eggs, one of the newer and more unique aspects of the game, and one that keeps me going! I have averaged walking 50 kilometers a month with the game open since its debut, and I have definitely been much more motivated to go on walks outside of the mandatory ones needed for my dog. Though some may describe these groups as \u201czombie-like,\u201d new players to the game will discover that there is a great bit of camaraderie in asking others how to accomplish certain goals or for tips on how to improve their skills\u2014especially since you will have to mostly rely on intuition while learning how to play.<\/p>\n

If you have not yet had the opportunity to try out the game, or tried unsuccessfully to log on and play during its launch, I encourage you to give it a try now that the hype has (somewhat) died down. It\u2019s fun for individuals, couples and families alike and can provide hours of healthy, outdoor fun exploring your own neighborhood or other parts of town.<\/p>\n

Here are just some of the recommended Pok\u00e9mon hunting spots around town. \u201cSpawn\u201d points for specific types of Pok\u00e9mon change frequently, so GO out and see what you can find, and check back to favorite spots to see what\u2019s new:<\/p>\n