For observers, Pokémon Go players could themselves be considered a form of entertainment. Determined Pokémon hunters, armed with their smartphones trying to track down a Pikachu or Scyther in the augmented reality game, walking into stop signs, trees, parked cars and even, in one case, falling into a pond, will be sure to provide a few laughs, once they emerge unscathed.
Less amusing was the report of someone running a major road to catch the animated creatures, or the figure uncovered by a Qualtrics survey that said 85 per cent of people had admitted playing Pokémon Go while driving.
The figures are based on a US survey. While Pokémon Go isn’t officially available here in Ireland yet, some of the findings could easily be applied here. For example, 15 per cent of players – or trainers, as they are known – are putting in four hours or more of play a day.
About one in five people said they would rather play the game than have sex, with women (44 per cent) more likely to give that answer than men.
But it’s not all bad news. More than 40 per cent of people playing the game said they had lost weight since its launch just over a week ago, an average of just over three pounds per player.
A key element of Pokémon Go is getting out there to find the elusive creatures, forcing you to get out and go places, which means putting in a lot of time pounding the pavement. According to Qualtrics, the average trainer admitted to spending two hours a day more outside than they did before the game was launched.
Of course, there is always the potential to take things too far. Take New Zealander Tom Currie, who has quit his job to travel around the country for two months and be a full-time Pokémon hunter.
It would be easy to dismiss Pokémon Go as just another fad, of relatively little importance to the wider world. But consider the implications. The Qualtrics survey found that almost a third of players said they had visited a shop they had never set foot in before because of the game. Or the 15 per cent who said they’ve been introduced to a new restaurant by Pokémon Go.
And rather than being something simply for kids, it’s a nostalgia trip for older players who grew up with Pikachu and Squirtle, and now have money to spend. If businesses can tap into that, maybe with the help of a lure or two, that would be something worth shouting about.
