It’s a reasonable question. Why should we take time to learn and play “Pokemon Go,” particularly if we weren’t raised on the Pokemon culture?
First, it’s a phenomenon that has reportedly grown more popular than Twitter, surpassing the daily users of not only that social media site but also rivaling Facebook and Snapchat.
Second, it’s going to revolutionize how we approach the integration of digital into our physical lives. Perhaps for the first time the masses have a tangible understanding of how they can use technology to interact with the real world. While playing the game, they are finding local sculpture and artwork, new restaurants and local history by getting off the couch and into the real world – smartphone and open app in hand.
Third, major brands already are building campaigns around “Pokemon Go,” meaning they’ll be ready for the next iteration of this combination of real and virtual life. T-Mobile is offering free data services around the game; there are rumors of a major fast food corporation using it for data mining; and companies across the nation are using it to increase local sales by drawing customers in.
Some companies have found themselves ill-equipped to accommodate the surprising success of the game, taking legal steps to protect themselves from liability. Don’t be those people. Embrace the opportunity, and join in the socialization that is occurring (not to mention exercise – after all, the app literally forces you to walk to uncover the elements of the game).
Our own Food Channel, for example, discovered the 35-foot polished stainless steel fork outside our Chesterfield Village offices is a “Pokestop” – essentially a refueling station for the Poke Balls needed to capture Pokemon. That is drawing people to the fork daily, so we’ve created the #worldslargestfork hashtag and will aggregate the photos into our own content, giving people a chance to be part of the food site they found along the way.
Bottom line is that the game is creating a new hybrid of being unplugged, where you can no longer be criticized for looking at your phone because you are out in the world.
So, go Pokemon. You have plenty of reasons to figure it out.
The first southwest Missouri location of EarthWise Pet, a national chain of pet supply stores, opened; Grey Oak Investments LLC relocated; and Hot Bowl by Everyday Thai LLC got its start.
