A global phenomenon, Pokémon GO is everywhere on social media, traditional media and… on the streets.
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The beauty of the game is that, despite being online, people have to travel to the real world to catch Pokémon, battle in arenas, etc. From then on, people start to gather near important points and, by force of circumstance, to interact.
The phenomeno MOARNial describes isn’t a unique experience; this type of testimony can be found all over the internet. Having been involved in Facebook groups for a long time, I’ve never seen so many groups created at the same time. Here’s the Hub‘s example.
When we talk about getting outside, we’re often talking about physical exercise:
I walk 1 to 2 hours a day just for my commute, so it’s nothing new for me, but more and more of my friends are starting to incorporate a minimum 1-hour walk into their morning or evening routines to play Pokémon GO. This in itself is a social revolution if it lasts.
I say if it lasts because I wonder if the game will survive the initial enthusiasm and curiosity. I remind you that at one time, almost everyone had a Tamagotchi.
Let’s hope this isn’t just a bubble that will burst in 6 months.
In the financial sector, Nintendo’s stock has exploded in the last 48 hours, increasing its valuation by 7,7 millard USD. I was convinced Pokémon GO was going to explode; I should have thought about buying shares.
Here’s another example of an unintended social consequence that could have greater repercussions than we think: Pokémon Go Is Secretly Teaching Americans the Metric System
Despite the fact that I’m convinced they’ll reset the accounts upon official release, I’d love to conduct a participatory social experiment while the phenomenon is still emerging..
