Childhood revisited

Pokémon Go has allowed me to revisit my childhood this week, and probably for many weeks, maybe months, to come.

It was released as an app this month for iOS and Android devices, allowing players to capture virtual Pokémon that appear to show up in the real world using GPS and camera capabilities. So, it appears as if the Pokémon are in the real world — in your apartment, your yard, downtown. Childhood dreams literally come to life. Players are also able to train and battle Pokémon.

To my dismay, my phone was not quite up to speed to download the app. I considered upgrading to a new phone just to play the game. However, I was able to download it on a tablet. And so it began …

I have become encompassed in the world of Pokémon for the last few days. I feel as if I am Ash Ketchum, the main character of the anime and manga series, running around town catching Pokémon wherever I can — even if my avatar looks nothing like him.

It has allowed fantasy to somewhat become reality, and for free no less. Of course, there are in-app purchases and whatnot, such as additional Poké Balls, but I have yet to delve into any of those options.

I don’t imagine I will anytime in the near future, but I guess it depends on how deep the addiction takes me.

I’ve worked at the Independent Record for a little over four months now and I had never asked for the wifi password, until yesterday. Why? Well, it never really mattered to me much. That is, until Pokémon Go. I had to walk around the office, at least for a second, to see if there were any Pokémon around. There weren’t. But god, it was exciting to see if there were.

I’m not sure if anything has made me quite as happy as Pokémon Go has recently. Maybe that’s sad, or maybe it just feels nice to feel like a child again.

I began watching the anime and reading the manga series sometime during my preteen years, and now I can finally experience an interactive augmented reality-based Pokémon game. Dreams really do come true.

Now, I’ve gotta catch ‘em all!