Pokémon GO! The New Craze Reaches Belize

There is a craze that has taken over the world; it is “Pokémon Go.” All over, fans have become addicted to the gaming phenomenon which is played through a mobile app. Belize is no exception, and on the streets, highways, parks, roundabouts and just about everywhere, you are likely to spot fans wandering around and catching fake animals. The Pokémon Go app has been released by Nintendo and has ascended as the number one mobile game. In the City on Thursday night, the B.T.L. Park was buzzing as Pokémon Go captivated the hearts of many. Here is Andre Marsden with a report on the craze.

Andre Marsden, reporting

In the mid to late 90’s the Pokémon Company, a consortium between three Japanese Video game and entertainment companies, introduced Pokémon to the world.

The original pair of video games designed for the Nintendo Gameboy quickly earned fans among young players and spawned into an entertainment empire with video game sequels, trading cards, merchandise, and even a series of feature length animated films.  At its peak, Pokémon became a fixture in the cultural makeup of a generation worldwide.

Alexander King, Pokémon Go Player

“I’ve owned every single main series game.  I’m a pretty huge Pokémon fan.  I’ve watched quite a few of the seasons of the anime. “

John Grimshaw, Pokémon Go Player

“My first video game I ever played when I was six years old was actually Pokémon Crystal.  Best Pokémon game ever.”

Michael Roe, Pokémon Go Player

“I played every game of Pokémon except the newest ones and this one so far.  So I’ll definitely get it.”

20 years later the worldwide phenomenon has returned to take over the world once again.  Its latest reincarnation, Pokémon Go, was officially launched last week for Android and IOS.

Daniel Vasquez

Daniel Vasquez, Pokémon Go Player

“The game was already popular before on the Game boy.

Now that it’s arrived on the I-Phone platform and the Android platform

it’s just convenient now to play the game.”

Samuel Sabido, Pokémon Go Player

Samuel Sabido

“I’ve been playing Pokémon since I think…since I was probably seven or 8 years old.  So it’s been like a long time thing – through high school…through sixth form. So Pokémon go just came out and, y’know, we were really excited about it before hand.”

It’s already causing quite a stir worldwide, as was the case when a crowd descended on New York’s central park recently.

Look at this!  There’s a Vaporeon that spawned right there so everyone’s running. Though the game has only been fully released in certain territories, the interactive map is already active for those clever enough to find and install the game.

Michael Roe

“Essentially from what I understand random Pokémon can pop up at any point.  You have to have your GPS and data on your phone and Pokémon will appear randomly, that you can go and catch.”

Alexander King

“A Poké-stop is a unique location in the Pokémon go map…And you can also place these things called lures which will attract Pokémon for half an hour”

Samuel Sabido

“Memorial Park has two destinations in the game that you collet items from and you can set another item there it attracts more Pokémon.  The Gazebo in the back and the stage are the two main locations and they’re close together.  It’s the most practical location in the city to catch Pokémon.”

This new spin on an old phenomenon is just that: a high tech means for a generation of people to do what many generations have done before them.

Daniel Vasquez

“Also it’s just like meeting new people, making new friends.”

Michael Roe

“The only type of thing that a Game like this can do is to create a sense of community.  Where people come together like tonight.”

And the only other thing you need to know is…

Samuel Sabido

“Team Mystic is the Greatest!”