‘Gotta catch ‘em all’

By Erika Norton
Newton — Groups of people with their heads down and their eyes glued to their phones can be seen walking down streets, lurking through parks and even traipsing through cemeteries, all on the hunt for Pokémon.
These are of course virtual Pokémon, found as part of the new Pokémon Go game, a free app available on iOS and Android devices that places virtual creatures in the real world based on GPS location and landmarks. Players can travel to "Poke-stops" to load up on a selection of random items such as Pokeballs, eggs and potions, and there are virtual gyms where players can congregate to virtually battle opponents.
“Ever since I started playing, it's like the dream thing to go out and catch real Pokémon,” joked Pearse Algiere, 17, who was playing Pokémon Go with his two friends Matthew St-Denis, 17, and Eric Paez, 17, at Lewis Park in Warwick, N.Y.
St-Dennis and Paez both said the competition aspect also factors into the game’s appeal - wanting to “catch ‘em all’ and ‘be the best’ - like the Pokémon theme song lyrics describe.
In Goshen, N.Y. on Tuesday afternoon, groups of people could be seen travelling around downtown with their phones out. Daniel Bowman, 22, was playing while waiting for his mother who works in town.
“It’s something to do,” Bowman said, “I’m not bored and there’s plenty of other people playing and walking and interacting, and I think that’s cool.”
Bowman said that while liking Pokémon when he was young plays a part in liking Pokémon Go, he’s also interested in augmented reality technology, and this game is a step in that direction.

Be careful while Pokehunting

But while the game has become a fun summer activity for many, the Department of Motor Vehicle has a warning for anyone planning to play Pokemon Go and drive.
“This new, all-consuming Pokémon Go craze has caught the entire country by surprise and as such we are concerned about the consequences playing this game can have on public safety,” said New York DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “What is meant to be a fun game can have tragic real-world consequences if you’re playing it while driving or crossing the street. Simply put, catching virtual creatures to get to the next level is not worth risking your life or the lives of others.”

Helping local businesses

Some local businesses have benefited from the game, like Tuscan Cafe in Warwick. The cafe is even running a promotion, according to cafe employee Kerri Sebastian: If a customer catches a Pokémon at the cafe and posts it to the cafe’s Facebook page while dining, the customer gets 10 percent off their order.
“It’s not bum rushes of people, but I’ve had a couple of people, like today we had two or three people already who came in to do that and they do catch Pokémon on the counter or something,” Sebastian said. “I’m waiting for there to be one in the coffee because that would be cool.”

Where to find them

According to Facebook groups, good places to find Pokémon in Sussex County include Mountain Creek, downtown Franklin, downtown Newton, along Munsonhurst Road towards Ogdensburg, Lockwood Cemetery, numerous Walmart stores, and college campus such as Centenary College and Sussex County Community College.
Pokestops tend to be stationed at important cultural spots, such as statues and public buildings, something the Warwick Historical Society has noticed. Four of the society’s properties, The A.W. Buckbee Center, The Old School Baptist Meeting House, The 1810 House, and Lewis Park, are Pokestops.
“The Warwick Historical Society is proud to be a part of the World Wide phenomenon known as Pokémon,” the society wrote in a statement, “and hopes that when you go to one of these PokeStops that you take some time to learn about the historical site you’re visiting.”
In Sussex County, Pokestops include Newton square with upwards of eight pokéstops and a gym, Belle's Mansion restaurant in Stanhope, the Stanhope Post Office, the Stanhope Presbyterian Church and the Blue Lion statue on Route 206 North between RFW Auto and NJ Discount Tires.
For places not lucky enough to have a Pokestop or gym nearby, the game’s developers are allowing businesses and organizations to submit a request to be considered for becoming a gym or Pokestop at: http://bit.ly/29O8qaV. Some businesses are planning to try to drop “Lure Modules,” which lure Pokémon to Pokestops, during special events to attract players.
Sitting at the Lewis Park Pokestop, when asked whether Pokémon Go had gotten them out of the house more, all three of the Warwick high schoolers said “yea, definitely.”