It鈥檚 a virtual invasion. Gamers who normally don鈥檛 leave their couches have been venturing into the great outdoors en masse over the past couple of weeks in search of Pok茅mon Go characters.
Apparently some of them aren鈥檛 used to being outside, because they keep walking into traffic and other dangerous places.
It is such a problem, in fact, that the Richmond RCMP put out a release last week warning players to watch where they are going.
Among their concerns: 鈥淧otentially serious or fatal injuries when players are not mindful of their surroundings 鈥� this can include walking into ditches, off docks, falling off structures or walking into other pedestrians, cyclists, traffic.鈥�
In the U.S., a pair of gamers did fall off a cliff in San Diego county playing the popular game. Elsewhere, a young girl was struck when she walked in front of a vehicle in pursuit of one of the Pok茅mon characters. All were injured but survived.
For most players, however, it鈥檚 all in good fun and it involves getting out in the fresh air. That鈥檚 a good thing.
It turns out the field behind my house is among the places these virtual characters have taken to hiding. Recently I heard a ruckus outside on the trail. Some kids were making a racket and I heard one boy say, 鈥淭here鈥檚 Pikachu.鈥�
A neighbor yelled at them to get out of there. The group of tweens screamed, 鈥淧ok茅mon Go,鈥� and then ran for their lives. One fell behind when, presumably lost in the screen of his smartphone, he tripped over some roots.
Normally, I wouldn鈥檛 have a clue what the heck they were yelling about, but this time, I had actually researched the subject and discovered what it is that has millions of people roaming the continent鈥檚 streets, parks and trails.
They鈥檙e hunting for characters that were popular 20 years ago 鈥� only today, they鈥檙e doing it in virtual reality.
Sadly, like most things, someone has already figured out how to take advantage of the game to others鈥� disadvantage. The game requires users to allow access to their location and phone apps, as it lets gamers play along with others around the world. That means strangers now have access to where some children are.
Vancouver police have already asked people to use caution when responding to Craigslist ads offering to drive people around to find Pok茅mon characters.
I can鈥檛 decide if this game is the final example of just how lame the virtual world has made humans, or if it is, in fact, a good thing because it is getting people outside (gasp) and exercising.
Then again, isn鈥檛 it just a gamers鈥� form of geocaching?
I don鈥檛 know how I鈥檓 supposed to relate anymore. Can鈥檛 kids just ride a bike or climb a tree?
Based on the game鈥檚 popularity, it鈥檚 beginning to look more and more like a case of,鈥淚f you can鈥檛 beat 鈥榚m 鈥︹��
Maybe I鈥檒l jump on the Pok茅mon bandwagon, and walk around town with my head down, staring at my phone as I search for Pikachu.
If you see me before I see you, please remember to honk.
