Gotta catch ‘em all

Is capturing that Pikachu really worth it?

A new phenomenon has taken hold of the country — “Pokemon Go.” It’s a game that has captured the attention of all ages, from those in elementary school to those in their 60s.

But, it has had some unintended consequences.

“Pokemon, who’d have ever thought it was going to be dangerous?” said Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus. “And, of course, you have people walk out, step off the curb off the sidewalk in front of cars and get struck and killed.”

The police chief has become aware of the new game because his 17-year-old son plays it.

Augmented reality

What exactly is “Pokemon Go?”

“Pokemon Go” is defined as a free-to-play, location-based, augmented reality game developed by Niantic for iOS and Android devices.

People play the game on their mobile phones and use the device’s GPS and camera to capture, battle and train virtual creatures, which are called Pokemon, that appear on the screen as if they were in the same real-world location as the player.

There have been organized gatherings at the Pappajohn Sculpture Park in Des Moines for people to play “Pokemon Go.”

Nuisance

However, “Pokemon Go” has become a nuisance in some areas.

There have been complaints about people playing it at the Holocaust Museum and national war memorials in Washington, D.C.

In Wyoming, a teenage girl found a dead body while she was searching the woods for a water-type “Pokemon.”

In Osceola

Duffus said he has seen people out playing the game during odd hours in Osceola, but fortunately, officers haven’t seen any major incidents or injuries.

Duffus warned the public to be aware of their own safety and not walk into busy streets without looking at traffic.

He also cautioned city parks have hours that need to be followed and people shouldn’t trespass on private property.

“We’ve watched with interest some of the news stories that come out,” Duffus said. “Fortunately, for us, they’re in larger cities. We’ve all been like the rest of the world and shook our heads.”

While driving

Area law enforcement have also warned people about using their cell phones and driving.

Osceola Fire Department’s Facebook page has issued a warning to remind people not to chase Pokemon and drive.

If a person plays “Pokemon Go” while driving, it can lead to the many dangers of distracted driving. This is also a good reminder that it’s illegal to text while driving.

According to Duffus, distracted driving is a major factor for the increase in vehicle fatalities this year.

All types of law enforcement have discouraged people from playing “Pokemon Go” while they are behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle.

“You’re probably not stopped (by law enforcement) because you’re playing ‘Pokemon Go,’” Duffus said. “You’re stopped because you’ve committed some sort of an infraction. Obviously, you could be cited, but it would only be related to Pokemon. It’s not because you’re playing Pokemon.”

If a person is focusing on capturing a Pokemon, it could lead to a rear-end vehicle collision or striking something or somebody.

In Auburn, New York, a driver crashed his car into a tree because he became distracted while playing “Pokemon Go.”

New way to game

“Pokemon Go” has completely revitalized mixing the virtual gaming world with the real world, and it’s not going away anytime soon. There is a chance it could revolutionize other gaming apps.

“As long as it’s not Grand Theft Auto (Go), or something like that,” Duffus said with a hint of humor.

If Pokemon players must capture the little digital monsters, they should always remember to be smart, safe and aware of their surroundings.

“You see people walking all the time with their face in their phone,” Duffus said. “I don’t know whether they’re playing Pokemon or texting or emailing or Snapchatting or watching a video or one of a million other things that I’m probably not aware of. You certainly need to be aware of where you are and know that you’re in a dangerous area if you’re out next to the road. It’s wild. I’ve never seen anything like it.”