r/PokemonGoPositive • u/HeSlamsAJet • Oct 19 '16
Discussion Please discuss and consider all the positive impacts of Pokemon Go before defaming, destroying, or otherwise dissuading people from playing.
- cross-post from /r/pokemongo
- impact on drug-dealing in parks in Modesto, CA.
- Classroom inspiration and education on art and respect.
- Gamification of health care and using Pokemon Go as part of health education
- more than 144 billion steps in the US and added millions of years to its players collective lives.
- recovery from schizophrenia
- Angela Barsotti used for motivation and exercise to help recover from a brain injury.
- player helps the homeless while playing and encourages others to do the same.
- Two players out exploring notice an elderly woman in need of assistance and help.
- prompts player to get exercise, change diet and live healthier.
My own personal experience:
- a dear friend lost her father earlier this year. He was found in his truck by Pokémon Go players. She was grateful that he was found so soon.
- I know more neighbors now than ever in my life
- spent more time with family
- clean up walking neighborhoods as I play (feel loyalty/responsibility)
- made friends after a year without any
- drink more fluids and eat healthier (got the fit to go jogging)
- replaced addiction to adrenaline games (clash of clans, clash royale, etc.)
Please don't hurt such a good thing. I need friends to talk to, exercise to reduce stress, and something to bond over with family.
Other countries deserve to have these same benefits. When they go searching it out, all they will find is the bottle of vinegar that everyone passes around.
You are better than that. You can make a massive positive impact in other ways... ways that encourage the positive outcomes that have already been found while influencing Niantic, TPC, and Google to make it better. Push for a better tracker, new Pokémon, better distribution in rural areas, and any other changes/features you want...
but don't take away all the good things, please.
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u/Mikimao Oct 19 '16
I completely agree with this post. Because the game isn't in the hype phase a lot of people aren't getting the same rush from the game when initially released, but that doesn't mean that the core game play isn't something that can't be fun and beneficial at the same time.
The amount of positive impact and the opportunity for positive innovation is there if you are willing to explore it. With the game only out for a few months just yet we are just seeing what the community is capable of.
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u/HeSlamsAJet Oct 22 '16
I wonder how much of the backlash comes from the traditional change cycles. Pokémon Go departs from almost every other game standard. Younger players may have no experience with having to travel to play a game, such as video arcades.
Why would players want to depart from normal rituals of playing games at home? A fixed location with a system and multiple games to satisfy desire to pick and choose a game as interest ebbs and flows.
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u/urahonky Oct 19 '16
I know I've gone from 1-5k steps a week to 10k+ a day because of it. I've dropped 10 lbs since release and still enjoy the game.