Page 4

Back to School Edition 2016

BlueRibbonNews.com

Rockwall residents
gotta catch ‘em
all, and they aren’t
afraid to go outside
to do it. Since the
July 6 release of

the new smartphone game Pokémon GO,
approximately 20 million people in the
U.S. have downloaded and played. What
makes the game so special, aside from
90s nostalgia and unprecedented augmented
reality gaming, is the impact it is having
on communities everywhere.

Pokémon GO uses location services on
a smartphone to pinpoint each player’s
position and movement on a map, just like
a GPS. As players walk around in reality,
their position on the map changes and they
can seek out specific locations or track
down Pokémon monsters to earn in-
game rewards.

These locations, called Pokestops, can
be found in parks, churches, cemeteries,
public artwork, and (if they’re lucky)
businesses. With the increasing number of
players seeking out Pokestops in their free
time, businesses that capitalize on their
virtual location are seeing profits increase.
According to a Fox News report, one New
York pizzeria with a lure module (a beacon
in the game that attracts Pokémon monsters
to a location) saw sales increase by 75
percent. Businesses like Trophy Ranch in
Fort Worth are hosting Pokémon GO bar
crawls with drink specials and lure modules

at each Pokestop along the way. Pokémon
attire is encouraged. Some stores and
restaurants are offering discounts for players
who show their virtual monsters to the
cashier, or rewarding members of specific
Pokémon teams (Red, Blue and Yellow).

Rockwall Economic Development
Corporation Executive Assistant and Office
Manager Suzie Bell said she appreciates
Pokémon GO as a game she and her family
can enjoy together, and as a benefit for
Rockwall businesses.

“My kids are teenagers, and it’s something
we can do together,” Bell said. “I know
they’re safe when they have an adult
with them and we have a great time. The
laughter is non-stop. It gets us outside and
helps me get my steps for my Fitbit. It gets
you to think strategically and to be social
instead of just tweeting or posting selfies.
It is competitive. It has brought back actual
communication and interaction.”
Some frequented Pokémon GO locations
in Rockwall include Pokestops at Culver’s,
Shenaniganz, and The Harbor, a Pokémon
gym at Mellow Mushroom, and countless
locations surrounding the historic
downtown area. Bell said the possibilities
for utilizing the game are endless, but
she has specific suggestions for Rockwall
businesses that want to get in on the
Pokémon action.

“Get a free drink by showing your Pokedex;
free coffee for members of a certain team;

a selfie of a business with the most rare
Pokémon caught there with a hashtag
including the business’ name,” Bell said.
“Animal shelters can use this to their
advantage and find people to walk dogs.
They always need volunteers.”

Bell said for a comprehensive list of
Pokémon GO marketing ideas, business
owners can purchase an eBook at her
website thepurplewild.com.

In addition to being an economic asset, the
game has encouraged people of all ages to
spend more time outside. Rockwall Parks
and Recreation Superintendent Andrew
Ainsworth said Rockwall parks are
seeing an influx of visitors since the
game’s release.

“In my opinion, one of the best parts about
the game is that it’s causing people to
explore parts of their town they’ve never
seen before,” Ainsworth said.

Harry Myers Park has numerous Pokestops,
but one of the best locations for Rockwall
Pokémon players is the smaller Lofland
Park. Tucked away between houses near
Dobbs Elementary and The Londoner, the
park has four Pokestops within a few feet of
each other. Ainsworth said prior to
Pokémon GO, the park wasn’t very well
known. Now it sees hundreds
of visitors per day.

To encourage
more Pokémon
recreation in
Rockwall,
Ainsworth
mapped out
a trail on
playrockwall.
com that spans
1.5 miles
from Lofland
Park to Harry
Myers and hits
10 different
Pokestops and
one gym along
the way.
However,

Ainsworth acknowledged that players
should be careful as they hunt down virtual
objects. There are dangers that accompany
an application that encourages users to
follow their surroundings using a screen.
Already there have been reports of car
accidents and even poisonous snakebites in
situations where players did not pay
close enough attention to the reality of
their surroundings.

Ainsworth said the easiest way to avoid
danger is simply to be responsible.

“When you play the game, you’ve got to
use common sense,” Ainsworth said. “When
you’re (walking) in a high traffic area, turn
off augmented reality. Absolutely don’t
play while you’re driving.”

Ainsworth said he isn’t much of a gamer,
but even he has enjoyed tracking down
Pokémon monsters.

“I’m a big believer in ‘don’t be afraid to
play,’” Ainsworth said. “Most of the things
I’ve learned about the game I read online.
I was nerding out reading this stuff, which
was unique for me.”

Ainsworth said the College Station Parks
and Recreation Department hosted a
Pokémon Go event in one of their parks
with live music and lure modules funded
by the city. He hopes to plan a similar
event in Rockwall.

“It’s pretty low key,” Ainsworth said. “We
could just drop lures in the park from my
account, and then we wouldn’t have to do
anything. It is user-generated creation.”

The moral of the story: whether you’re
a parent, child, business, video game
enthusiast, lover of the outdoors, or even
if you’re simply curious, you just might
enjoy Pokémon GO.

By Julie Anne White, Blue Ribbon News
reporter. Photos by Blue Ribbon News.

BlendS gaming with

reality, boosts business,

brings players outside

BlendS gaming with

reality, boosts business,

brings players outside

G D LIVING

POKEMON