It's all go

It's all go

Pokemon are taking over the world, and Thailand is not immune. Life talked to some of the game's players -- young and old -- about its allure

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
It's all go
Pokemon Go players at Siam Square. Photo: M2F

Ever since its release on August 6, Pokemon Go has taken Thailand by storm, prompting hordes of enthusiastic players of all ages and genders to take to the streets in search of these virtual critters. It has also come with news of accidents (or near-accidents), a national security debate (seriously?), a ban threat (already denied) and academic seminars on the impact of the game on society.

Grom, a 56-year-old player.

Using GPS-tracking technology, players, or "trainers", must capture a lot of little monsters at locations superimposed on the real world. Players (those who walk around the streets looking at their phones) must search for "Poke Stops", which are scattered throughout the game's Google Maps-powered virtual world. Once the player approaches one of these spots, they may acquire in-game items such as "lures" or "Poke Balls" (used to capture Pokemon), or they may encounter a randomly generated Pokemon, which they may capture and train in order to battle other players at special locations called "Gyms", also superimposed in real-world landmarks such as temples, mosques and buildings.

An innovative game that encourages people to go out, or a social nuisance that engenders trespassing and disturbance? No matter which side of the argument you are on, there is no denying the social impact that Pokemon Go has had on Thailand in the short time it has been available. To gauge Thai people's opinions and feelings towards the game, Life recently spoke to a variety of different Pokemon Go players of various ages and backgrounds.

Training new trainers

Take a stroll down the U-Dormitory complex on Chula 42, and you're bound to see entire classes of students from the nearby Satit Chula middle-school sitting around the dormitory's modest garden, which -- while close to a fair amount of Poke Stops -- is also the location of a Gym.

"We always gather around here after school to defend the Gym," said a 14-year-old 8th grader, who asked to remain anonymous. Sitting with the student was a group of almost a dozen of his friends with smartphones in their hands, bickering and boasting to each other about the day's haul of virtual critters.

"It's just another way for us to hang out with each other after school," added a second student, who said that -- contrary to what many people seem to believe -- most of his classmates who play Pokemon Go were never actually fans of the comic franchise (which was first released in 1996, before he was even born). Instead, their interest in the 2016 AR game stemmed mostly from the overwhelming social media attention the game received, coupled with the pressure of seeing their classmates play together after school and on weekends.

"You're hanging out with your friends, going to different places together to achieve a common objective. That's probably the best aspect of the game," he said.

However, the young aren't the only ones pulled in by Pokemon Go's allure. Security Guard Pol, 30, who works at the Voice TV headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, is also among those pulled into the world of Pokemon for the very first time.

"I saw a lot of the employees playing the game, so I got curious and asked them about it," he explained, saying he initially downloaded the game just to see what it was all about, only to get hooked himself.

"My job doesn't actually let me get up and walk around too much, but there's a Poke Stop right near the office, so it's not really a problem," said Pol, who also said that the employees regularly use lure items and such at the office.

Samroeng Chotipibulsup and his tuk-tuk.

"Since I downloaded the game on Sunday [Aug 7], I've caught more than 100 Pokemon so far between my days at the office and on my walks home," said Pol.

"It makes my walks home more enjoyable, as I sort of have something to look forward to along the way."

As much as he enjoys the game, however, Pol would also like to implore fellow trainers to be sympathetic to security guards like him and avoid getting into places they shouldn't be in.

"I'd be pretty annoyed if I had to deal with people trying to get into the building's Poke Stop without permission. There are plenty of Stops around the road, please be considerate of other people's property when you are playing this game."

First-generation 'trainers'

Contrary to popular belief, most of the people who are considered to be serious Pokemon Go players aren't young kids, but adults who have grown up with the Pokemon videogames and cartoons, according to Eiad, 31, a freelance artist working from his home near Ratchawat Market.

"I've spent at least 600 baht of real money on the game," said Eiad. Most of that money is spent buying "lure modules", items that can be placed on Poke Stops in order to attract Pokemon for 30 minutes.

"We can just hang out and talk or drink while the Pokemon just come to us."

Eiad is also a staunch defender of the Gym near his home, on the Pichai road intersection. For the freelance artist, defending his Gym from challengers while having his afternoon coffee has become a common routine for him, as players from surrounding areas often pass by the intersection, which has a healthy amount of Poke Stops nearby.

"Poke Stops refresh themselves pretty regularly, so if you are lucky enough to have a lot of Stops readily available, then you can just go through and collect all the items a dozen times an hour, while others have to spend money on in-game items to achieve the same result in the same time."

Nontouch Promsri, 28, a freelance filmmaker, commonly gets together with his friends to visit places where Poke Stops are easily found, which most often happens to be around places with high foot-traffic.

"The more people that visit an area, the more 'lures' are placed," he said, with examples being places like the Siam Square area, Chatuchak Market, CentralPlaza Lardprao or even Suvarnabhumi airport.

"The airport is particularly bountiful when it comes to 'lures'. A lot of bored tourists waiting for their flights I guess."

Poke Stops aren't clustered exclusively around Bangkok, however. In Yala, along the Southern Border, Asama told Life that she plays the game just fine, despite the constant news of unrest in the region.

"It's actually all normal here. We're all playing Pokemon Go like everyone else does. Not like we've ever been careful or scared to begin with."

You're never too old to start an adventure

"This game is going to change the world!," said Grom, a 56-year-old TV advertisements producer whose enthusiasm for the game would put younger trainers everywhere to shame.

"The way the game makes you actually travel to places before using your phone to find and capture the Pokemon; it's such a brilliant way to simulate the experience of the cartoons. I've never imagined games being like this."

Grom, who plays the game with his grown daughters, says that the game has now dominated most of their conversations, which has allowed him to spend even more time with his family.

"We're always sending each other pictures of the Pokemon we find through Line."

Much like Grom, Kai, 51, is a parent introduced to Pokemon Go by her adult daughter, and now sees the game as a way in which she can spend time with her daughter.

"I'm always excited when I find a new Pokemon. It's like finding a coin on the street. You just feel like you're such a lucky person."

Much like coins on the street, however, Kai believes the joy of finding Pokemon comes from that little surprise that accompanies a random encounter. To actively go out and drive around exclusively to find Pokemon can be excessive and, in some cases, dangerous.

"Instead of just driving around just trying to find Pokemon along the way, I think its better if you decide on a specific place like a park, and just feel happy to find Pokemon there."

Another parent with a slightly different perspective, however, is 59-year-old tuk-tuk driver Samroeng Chotipibulsup, who believes that it is always better for parents to drive their children around than it is for their children to do it themselves.

"It's dangerous to drive and play, so I'm always happy to drive my sons and their friends around whenever they want to play," said Samroeng, who is also known for offering on-demand rides for Pokemon Go players in the Samut Prakan area. There are no extra charges involved with the service; Samroeng says he charges his passengers based on the real distance they travel, as he is doing this mostly to give children a safe way to travel to and from Poke Stops.

"I only do it on the weekends, when children don't have school, so they won't skip classes to play the game."

Samroeng also reminded parents to be open-minded about the game, and try to turn the game into a family activity they can do with their children instead. This way, they can keep their children from entering dangerous or forbidden areas, while also spending quality time together.

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