Pokemon GO craze sweeps across York Region

Yorkregion.com
July 19, 2016
By Teresa Latchford

York Region has the “gotta catch’em all” fever.

It has been the scene on street corners, public trails and parks across the region: gaggles of people congregated in one area staring at their cellphones. Just like Newmarket’s Justine Stevens and Kyle Cane, they are hunting Pokemon, which they will then train for battle.

“I have loved Pokemon since I was born,” Stevens said, showing three tattoos of Pokemon characters on her chest. “When it popped up on my Facebook page, I thought, ‘This is way too cool to be true.’”

Pokemon GO, a free app that allows players to search the cartoon creatures in real-world locations, capture them in Poke Balls and train them for battle, launched in Canada Sunday, though people had been playing versions obtained through unofficial channels since its launch in the United States earlier this month.

All weekend, there were crowds of trainers gathered at Main Street and Park Avenue in Newmarket stocking up on Poke Balls, collecting Pokemon and increasing their experience levels.

“It was crazy seeing that many people out at those hours all chatting and playing,” Stevens said. “My mom might not like my data bill, but it definitely gets me out and about more.”

However, the app uses less data than one might expect, according to the Wall Street Journal, which found it took about five to 10 megabytes of data per hour of play, compared to 350 megabytes for an hour of high-definition video.

“I think our generation is nostalgic,” Cane said, noting game manufacturer Niantic has capitalized on that. “They targeted the right audience and the technology is available, so it has all come together to become a craze.”

Colton Duvall, who was also collecting the cartoon critters on Main Street, said he has done a 10-kilometre hike already in search of Pokemon and said the app will make him do more cardio outdoors, rather than in the gym.

“There is a social aspect to it, too,” he said, introducing two people he had just met. “It really has turned having a phone into something social.”

People are flocking to the corner of Main and Park because it is a hot spot.

Players are laying lures, a digital marker that attracts more Pokemon to the area, that last for 30 minutes. People are collecting and gaining experience points at the lures.

Players are taking to the streets across the region as social media pages dedicated to Pokemon sightings have popped up. People were reported gathering at sites such as Newmarket Public Library, town halls, downtown Unionville, Vaughan Mills Mall, Milliken Mills Park and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.

Vaughan Fire and Rescue formally requested to have Pokemon GO gyms removed from two of its stations.

The organization submitted the applications to the game's developer Tuesday, Deputy Chief Deryn Rizzi said.

Droves of people have been showing up at these locations to battle at the Pokemon gyms, claim them for their teams and receive free items every five minutes, but it has brought forth safety concerns from the fire department.

“We encourage the public, including Pokemon trainers, to come and visit us, but we have to put safety first,” Rizzi said.

With fire trucks needing to exit quickly, players who are not aware of their surroundings could be injured or worse. The need to clear paths through mobs of people before a truck can exit could also put the lives of others at risk, as it could lengthen response times.

“We are requesting they put the gyms and stops somewhere more suitable, like a community centre,” Rizzi said.

The PokeStops and Pokemon Gyms are determined via cellular data collected by the gaming company.

In popular areas, landmarks are selected to become the location for stops and gyms.

OPP reminds Pokemon trainers that playing the game isn’t an excuse to trespass, even if it is a rare Pokemon that has spawned in someone’s backyard.

The Sharon Temple National Historic Site in East Gwillimbury sees the potential for trespassing and has posted on a York Region Pokemon webpage advising people there is no need to jump the temple site’s fences or scale its gates during non-business hours, as the PokeStop is accessible from the sidewalk and parking lot.

“We haven’t had any occurrences yet, but we just want to protect the site,” temple executive director Veronica Williams said. “Just in case, we will be putting up signs around the perimeter of the site.”

While some sites are concerned about trespassing, others, such as Georgina Pioneer Village, are capitalizing on the opportunity to bring more people to their sites by setting their own lures to attract more Pokemon and, in turn, more trainers.

While York Regional Police hasn’t received any complaints or attended any situations relating to the new game craze, the force reminds players it is an offense to drive while operating a handheld device and to stay alert when searching for Pokemon.

“No game is worth forgetting common sense and compromising on safety,” Const. Laura Nicolle said.