16 Jul Pokémon Go – a way to connect with young adults

Pokémon Go is a virtual reality game that brings Pokémon into the real world. As you walk around Pokémon appear, and you can catch them. Real world landmarks become PokéStops that you can ‘check in’ to and collect items, and Gyms that you can battle and take over with your team.

This is a perfect way to connect with your older grandchildren who played the card game version of this game back in the 1990’s. If you are a tech savvy, you can join in the fun and compete with your grandchild. For those of us who are not tech oriented, we can still participate in all the excitement by taking your grandchildren on adventures to find PokéStops and Gyms. Catching Pokémon is another challenge that can be shared as you drive or walk your grand around town.

Here are a few tips and tricks that will have you competing or helping your grand.

Don’t ignore the professor and walk away without catching a starter five times Pikachu appears. When signing up for a new Pokémon Go account and choose your player character, you’ll be asked by the Professor to catch a Pokémon – and this is where you usually get the chance to catch the classic starter Pokémon Charmander, Squirtle or Bulbasaur.

Instead, walk away from them (in real life), and continue to walk away from them until your phone vibrates. The three classic stater Pokémon will appear again. Walk away again, and repeat that 3 to 5 more times and Pikachu should appear – allowing you to capture him as your starter Pokémon.

If you want to be a hero when your grand’s game is not advancing the way they would like, place the phone on top of an old record player and let it spin around if they want to hatch those rare 10km eggs without walking. Maybe not the real way to do this but a 10km walk may be tough on some of the younger players, and this is quite genius.

You must hold down the Pokeball to catch a Pokemon. You need to ‘flick’ the ball at the Pokémon, but holding it down makes the target circle grow and decrease. When it’s at it’s smallest it’s easier to catch. Pokémon with orange and red circles are harder to catch.

Catching Pokémon is a great way to join in the fun that is sweeping the generation. I am not techy but do find it exciting to be the driver as we search our area for the colourful characters.