Let’s (Pokémon) Go
We’re being constantly reminded about the negative effects of too much screen time and the benefits of getting outside and walking more. But wait a minute, what if there were a way to combine the two? Well there is! So, over the weekend of 26 and 27 August, I did just that…
The path to the Pokémon league
For those who don’t know, that weekend was Pokémon Go Fest 2023: Global which, according to the official website, was ‘the biggest Pokémon Go event of the year’.
Having bought my ticket (I wanted the extra challenges only ticket holders can access) and laced up my walking shoes, I was ready to Go.
Community, I choose you!
Pokémon Go is an online game you can play on your phone and while the main aim is to catch Pokémon in the real world, there’s so much more to it. Along with spinning Pokéstops, Pokégyms and hatching eggs (all of which come with rewards), you can also participate in raids both locally and remotely. As someone who usually plays solo, remote raids haven’t only given me a way to catch otherwise unobtainable Pokémon, they’ve also given the game a real community feel. I might not be playing alongside other players in the real world but when we’re battling together virtually to take down a legendary Pokémon, it really makes me feel part of a team.
Rainbow and the Pokémon master
Another positive aspect of the game is that you’re actively rewarded for walking. The greater the distance, the greater your rewards. So if you want to hatch that 12km egg or get to that local raid spot, you’d better get walking. You’ll likely take in some great sights too.
Over the two days of Go Fest I walked more than 36,000 steps, which according to my phone would burn off 36 hamburgers!! Not bad for someone staring at a screen and catching pixelated monsters.
So even though I didn’t reduce my screen time (in fact I played much more than I usually would), I did get outside, walked a fair distance and caught some envy-inducing Pokémon along the way – one being a rarer than rare shiny Rayquaza!
Pikachu’s goodbye
So next time you’re going for a walk, why not get some rewards along the way? You might even bump into Pikachu if you’re lucky.
