A few weeks ago, with the launch of Pokémon GO, the Internet was instantly broken as millions worldwide took to social media to document their experiences about the joys of catching Pokémon in the real world. Pokémon GO is an augmented reality game that allows users (especially those born in the 90s) to bring one of their beloved childhood games to life. And while at first, we in Guyana could not access the full features of the game, a few updates have since allowed it to trickle into our homeland. And now it has become the newest pastime for local Pokémon lovers, young and old.
Some may scoff at the apparent silliness of the game, which seemingly transforms its players into zombie-like slaves to their smart-phones. But, rest assured, the fad has been known to consume the time of even the biggest of critics, with just a press of the ‘download’ button.

THE BASICS
And while the detailed “how to” of the game may take too much time to explain, the basics are as follows: Your phone uses GPS tracking to locate Pokémon near your location.
There are also ‘Poké-Stops’, in the form of monuments, where you can recharge your supplies and catch more Pokémon, while ‘Landmarks’ are gyms where you can train your Pokémon by challenging the designated gym leaders.
Sounds confusing? It really isn’t, once you get the hang of it. But the most remarkable thing about the game is the changes in socialising that it has brought to its users.
Here in Guyana, whereas locations like the 1763 Monument and the Umana Yana are oftentimes sacred spots only utilised on special occasions, a drive by at peak hours in the afternoons or the evening would reveal a bevy of young people congregated outside, or otherwise parked in their cars. And they’re all doing one thing: Catching Pokémon.

A REMARKABLE SIGHT
It’s quite a remarkable sight to see just how engaged so many people have become by this game. Moreover, it speaks to the genius of the Pokémon parent company, Niantic, to not only find an innovative way of making millions, but to also get people out of their houses, or away from their computer screens, by reinventing a classic franchise through augmented reality.
It can also be seen as a means of exercise. Well, if you decide to not just sit at a Poké-Stop waiting for them to come to you, that is.
With no tracking method, there’s really no way of knowing if you’re close to your next catch or not. All that you’re told is that they’re “nearby”; so, walking around is the best way to try to catch one otherwise. Moreover, every egg that you incubate requires that you walk five kilometers (three miles) to hatch it.
Of course, there are some dangers in the game, as people have been known to be victims of robberies and accidents while on the hunt for Pokémon (mostly outside of Guyana, but the pontential dangers still remain). And for that reason, the makers have installed warnings to pay attention to one’s surroundings.
Nevertheless, one thing is clear: Pokémon GO is here to stay, at least until the locals “catch em all”.