Gaming apps, mugging and bad case of bruised Pokéballs

Back in the 1970s, cockney actor Mike Reid’s catchphrase on children’s TV was “Runaround – GO!!!” For the benefit of American readers... oh look, it’s too difficult to explain. However I would love to hear him shout “Pokémon – GO!!!” if only to alleviate the relentless publicity over what counts as children’s entertainment …

[magickmark]

New Balls Please

Well I hope you are keeping your Pokéballs nice and safe you definitely don't want anyone playing with them in a dark ally!

[tiggity]

Re: New Balls Please

I've had my Bulbosaur in many a dark confined space, tendency to get Drowzee afterwards has been only drawback

[Anonymous C0ward]

Re: New Balls Please

Did she like to be Machoked?

[Efros]

The whole thing

just completely confuses me. I like computer games, I play them occasionally but I'm not an obsessive person about anything so the behaviour of seemingly normal people with these "games" just completely bamboozles me. It's like the purchasing of virtual items for real money in games... why??? Don't get it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The whole thing

*shrugs* getting hundreds of hours of game play out of a f2p game it's worth buying stuff to customise or buff your characters.

People pay subscriptions and purchase all kinds of things nowadays you could go the only difference between buying a new dress in Archage and buying a game in Steam or a song on Amazon Prime is that... you can't pirate the dress.

[Efros]

Re: The whole thing

Buying the game on steam I get, and indeed have done, but forking out $100 for a Battleship in World of Warships for example is beyond me.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The whole thing

There's a $100 battleship? Most is £54 includes a fair amount of ingame cash, so suppose almost $100, I grinded up to tier 4 destroyers ships and that took 30ish hours (not intense and not just the destroyer) so I can imagine going up to tier 7, world of warships was good...

But I wasn't that interested in it.Probably played it for 60 or so hours spent a tenner on it. Better then most of the triple A games, but if a person buys the ship and plays with it a lot then meh. Whatever.

Like warframe too, I play it a lot, bought a bunch of platinum when it was 75% off as grinding components is boring and I wanted sexy looking warframes NOW.

At least with these games you can buy exactly what you want, what I hate is "loot boxes" where you pay to get random shit... that feels like a slot machine to me.

Biggest issue with virtual purchases is that when the server goes your tatt goes, so get the fun out of it before hand.

So all the wonderful dresses I had for my girls in Rusty Hearts are gone T_T oh well. I loved that game and got hundreds upon hundreds of hours in it (Not as much as I have in EU4 mind)

But you also have to compare it to the old subscription model, I must of spent £100s on sub games I'd subbed too, forgot about and then realised "darn I payed £30 for that and only played it for a month" I mean if you actually played WoW or Eve since they came out you've probably spent like a grand in subscriptions.

But as with many things it's a "thing" and people do it, and in a lot of cases ingame items is a better model than monthly subs. Especially for online games. But still... loot crates - don't like them.

[DropBear]

Re: The whole thing

Buying the game on steam I get, and indeed have done, but forking out $100 for a Battleship in World of Warships for example is beyond me.

Better never set foot on any Star Citizen related website then - they have lots of people buying imaginary starships worth thousands of dollars each (look up the Idris...) in a game that doesn't even exist...

[Chris King]

Re: The whole thing

Nuts to the Idris, some folks have bought entire fleets !

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: The whole thing

but forking out $100 for a Battleship in World of Warships for example is beyond me

Well, gov't is forking out hundreds of your dollars for an F-35 that doesn't even really exist on your behalf, and you won't even be able to sit in its cockpit, ever.

So, where is the better deal?

[MonkeyCee]

Re: The whole thing

Because you don't understand how people can spend money on a hobby that boggles anyone who doesn't engage in that hobby?

There are many examples of things that people spend small fortunes on, that I think are an utter waste of money (and time)*. But I'm not going to win any argument with them because there are different priorities. Same way for things I own that are an insane** or ego pumping purchase for most of the population.

The principle in f2p games is that ~80% of the players never spend a dime on the game, and often enjoy a perverse pride in it. ~15% spend roughly the same as you'd make from selling it at a conventional price, and ~5% spend serious money on it. As long as you're happy with which group you're in, and you don't get too annoyed at the p2w aspect then they are often better games than subscription or purchase models. You also get an option to spend time or money in leveling up, which exists even if the game doesn't explicitly allow it. Had more than one freelance gig which consisted of being paid $30 an hour to grind a clients WoW character.

* I worked out that my Dad spent roughly $150 per round of golf he played, based on his membership rates, and various other bits. This is ignoring buying clubs, balls, travel or time costs. Paintballers spending ~$5000 on a new marker, hobby photographers with ~$10k worth of kit etc.

** Chefs knives, which where worth it when I was spending ~80 hours a week cooking. A $200 knife saves time, effort and is safer than a $20 one. But for home use you've probably got better uses for the extra $180 :)

[h4rm0ny]

Re: The whole thing

>>"Because you don't understand how people can spend money on a hobby that boggles anyone who doesn't engage in that hobby?"

That's not what the OP said nor what they were getting at. Playing a game - understandable for a variety of reasons, surprise, challenge, humour, story, whatever. Paying money to do so, therefore likewise understandable. What was questioned was where someone pays real money for achievements. You can earn coins or equipment etc. in game but many games will also let you buy those things with real world currencies. That short-circuits the entire process and is basically just a way to fire the synapse in your brain that says "achievement".

Such a game model (often the game itself is free) is basically providing the minimum necessary to define success for the player (I've got X weapon, I own 20 pigs, etc.) and then getting people to pay money to get that success without doing the necessary playing / developing the relevant skill level.

And THAT is what is wrong with it. If the achievement is detached from any entertainment the game itself delivers in getting it, then it is utterly arbitrary. You're paying someone real money to have a message on screen saying "you have 20 pigs". Or again, whatever you collect in that game.

If a purchasable extra to a game delivers additional "game", like a DLC expansion pack for a role-playing game, then that makes sense - it's essentially gradiating the price of the game according to how much you play. But paying to avoid having to play - that's deeply flawed and basically just manipulation of the brain's reward modelling.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The whole thing

Consenting adults, as long as they are not hurting any one else, who are we to judge?

Sitting in the office typing to list, listening to a couple of colleagues talk about football - not my thing, though wish they would bloody shut up!

[MJI]

Re: The whole thing

We have 1 or 2 football fans here. But

4 car enthusiasts

3 modellers

2 model railway fans

3 parents with children at home

1 Frozen & Disney fan

1 Brewer

2 avid games (both like same game, but different consoles)

1 boxing fan

4 film fans

Out of a small team, quite a range of subjects.

[Novex]

Re: The whole thing

No Bronies, then?

[MJI]

Re: The whole thing

Bronie

I HATE you.

That is so disturbing, grown men dressed up as toy horses.

No thank <diety of choicw>, only possible is a Frozen fan and loves Eurodisney.

[Matt 4]

"What next, middle-aged men rocking to the Naruto theme tune?"

Never been to an anime con - but anyway I hate Naruto but the theme tune is pretty good in that Sum-41 90s buffy watching kind of way.

Never actually seen the PV for it, am amused.

[Anonymous Coward]

Only just getting into manga etc, so not familiar with that.

It has to be better than grown men that are into "My Little Pony" doesn't it?

[Known Hero]

Ill go let my kid know there is an age limit !

Care to let me know the cutoff date for him please.

[Teiwaz]

"It has to be better than grown men that are into "My Little Pony" doesn't it?"

- Try 'my little pony' on deviant art with mature filters off.

[Prst. V.Jeltz]

although I've never bought in game content its not "beyond me" .

If you'd buy a game for £30 why wouldnt you spend £30 in a free game? it might make it as good as a £30 retail game.

Also where do you draw the line.

Was Doom a free game with extra paid content?

Or a retail game with a free level1 demo?

[illiad]

EWWW.. only if you are into 'furries'...

[Potemkine]

'Naruto' had many decent soundtracks IMNSHO

[Crisp]

I've got a lot of fond memories of playing Pokemon Leafgreen with my son.

Where's the harm in a little playtime?

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: I've got a lot of fond memories of playing Pokemon Leafgreen with my son.

No harm in the play time until the game mechanic specifically involves running out into the road.

Board games tend to not encourage that. Football has a field we play on. Hopscotch with crayons? Some parents might confiscate to dissuade kids from drawing the game in the middle of the road.

Same here, the possibility of problems is so high, I'm amazed some form or safety/change to the mechanic was not made.

[T-Unit]

Re: I've got a lot of fond memories of playing Pokemon Leafgreen with my son.

This is exactly the ignorance that is being proliferated by the media. You can catch a pokemon if it is within about 15 feet of you. You never need to go into the middle of a road, or a railway line, or someone's private property to catch them. There is nothing wrong with the game mechanics.

Also, the game literally warns you to "Remember to be alert at all times. Stay aware of your surroundings" every time you load it up. People who are putting themselves in danger are idiots blaming something else for their own stupidity.

[Tabor]

I don't get the whole Pokemon thing. I've going on smartphone assisted hikes with the kids from a couple of years now. Geocaching, for which I happily pay (10 euro every three months or something). Except for the AR, how is Pokemon GO different ?

Maybe I'm now officially an Old Fart.

[MJI]

Nor do I?

They just seem to be collecting cuddly toys.

['s water music]

I don't get the whole Pokemon thing. I've going on smartphone assisted hikes with the kids from a couple of years now. Geocaching, for which I happily pay (10 euro every three months or something). Except for the AR, how is Pokemon GO different ?

It isn't. I don't get how you could get one and not the other. Each to their own. I enjoy plenty of dull and pointless activities.

[Tabor]

I stand corrected, my post wasn't clear. What I meant was : I don't get the hype, since similar things have existed for quite a while now. Nowadays you spot players quite often, and it's all over the media (well, at least the ones I read/watch). Is it the brand name ? Is it the AR ? Is it the game aspect ?

I don't have any issues with it (to each his or her own and all that, and I like the fact that it takes people outdoors), but I don't "get" why it's such a big thing.

[mr.K]

It is random

It seems kind of random, but it also is common with "new" ideas that become very popular. Facebook was not the first social media platform, World of Warcraft was not the first MMO game, iPhone not the first smart phone etc etc. These ideas come, hang around for a while, and suddenly one iteration that does not seem to be particularly different from the last iteration gains momentum and becomes the "first" for most people.

[werdsmith]

Teens that were previously stuck in bedrooms glued to screens, are now out and about getting fresh air, sunshine* and exercise. It's a blessing!

* occasionally in the UK.

[John 110]

Purple Hair?

I take it you were too young to notice the curvy ladies in full-body string vests then? (or hunky gents, if that's what floats...wait it was a submarine, wasn't it!)

[Dr_N]

Re: Purple Hair?

Gabrielle Drake.

'nuff said.

[Teiwaz]

Re: Purple Hair?

Ooh, UFO - I assumed it was a wig, part of the uniform for Moonbase female officers, not dyed hair.

dum, dum, dum da-da,dum......

When it comes to anime, coloured hair on females is expected, from Lum (Urusei Yatsura) to Ryoko (Tenchi Muyo) to Nyaruko (Haiyore Nyaruko-san). Never cared for Pokemon...I did like Battle of the Planets as a kid.

Game scores in the office I don't get, but at least not as damaging as some in office scoring that goes on.

[MJI]

Re: Purple Hair?

Anti static wigs

[james 68]

I don't usually go for conspiracy theories, but this really does seem like a perfect way to get data from mobile phones and email without needing a warrant. The terms and conditions, the access it demands to your phone/email and the fact that the company who released it have CIA ties.... well it just seems very suspect to me when looked at all together.

Have a shufti at this er' link. http://blackbag.gawker.com/pokemon-go-is-a-government-surveillance-psyop-conspirac-1783461240

[Destroy All Monsters]

Based ony our e-mail contents, we have determined that the nearest Pokestop is in this undisclosed "special rendition" CIA site. Just go down this flight of stairs!

[Teiwaz]

"Based ony our e-mail contents, we have determined that the nearest Pokestop is in this undisclosed "special rendition" CIA site. Just go down this flight of stairs!"

- All they need now is to get an 'is' version of Pokemon-Go out there 'gotta 'get' all the infidels'?

[Anonymous Coward]

Snarkymon

Old men shaking fists at clouds

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Snarkymon

It happens all the time in my office?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's wrong with cartoons?

Sometimes they are better than the "grown-up" sitcoms! They don't rely on crude or vulgar humour to get a laugh. Often they have references that only adults can get, with lines such as "Nuke it from orbit" for example.

Not all cartoons mind you, some are right crap.

Did try hunting Pokemon at work - the app kept closing down, made my iPhone4 get rather warm. Found one on the desk in the workshop, but couldn't flick my balls at him, Mrs AC rang so felt like my ear was melting so uninstalled it.

Little green bastard is still in the workshop,,,,,

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

From the Alistair bio at the bottom of the page and what I recall from previous comments, I think he watches slightly danker animays.

[Alistair Dabbs]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

Indeed. I wrote the sleeve notes for 40 "classic" anime titles republished by Manga Entertainment. It meant I had to watch Urotsukidoji a few more times...

[Teiwaz]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

" It meant I had to watch Urotsukidoji a few more times..."

Or at least Manga Entertainments butchered version of it (and it's not the only one they 'Mangaled'). Still good though, and the tabloid hue and cry over 'cartoons with sex' was priceless.

[Dave Bell]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

I once quoted Miyamato Musashi on that movie, and some of the other things that Manga Entertainment did. It comes across as a story told with a blunt instrument.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

Anime you say?

Coups and rumors of coups

Sadly, dubbed anime always sounds like someone has hired either college undergrads barely able to read their lines let alone impersonate the screen character or else the voice actors of The Simpsons. Then they massacre the musical theme by cranking up the volume of background voice announcements that are just meant to set the general mood. Artless america pig disgusting, only able to comprehend explodo/superhero shit.

[Teiwaz]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

"Sadly, dubbed anime always sounds like someone has hired either college undergrads barely able to read their lines let alone impersonate the screen character or else the voice actors of The Simpsons. Then they massacre the musical theme by cranking up the volume of background voice announcements that are just meant to set the general mood. Artless america pig disgusting, only able to comprehend explodo/superhero shit."

- Manga Entertainment almost exclusively went after the young teen male market at the time (early 90's), which explains most of their catalogue. Best dubbed anime I've ever seen up to the recent Ghibli DVD releases was Catgirl Nuku Nuku (can't recall the publisher, no longer have the VHS), where one of the girls had a Birmingham accent in lieu of Osakan dialect.

[Dr_N]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

"It meant I had to watch Urotsukidoji a few more times..."

This explains many, many things ...

[MJI]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

Cartoons

Output of Studio Ghibli

Pixar

GITSAC

Sorry I do like cartoons and I am in my 50s

[Graham Lockley]

Re: What's wrong with cartoons?

>They don't rely on crude or vulgar humour to get a laugh

I take it you've never watched Duckman then

[Oliver Mayes]

Pretty poor research here

"Well, you get what you pay for – which here in the UK so far has meant paying nothing at all, since impatient players are sideloading dodgy Android installers for free."

The official game is free. No-one pays anything unless they choose to make in-app purchases.

"The cynic in me suspects the supposed negative publicity generated by such stories will simply heighten the demand for the legal version of the game when it reaches these shores"

It was released officially yesterday.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Pretty poor research here

"Free" but with game restrictions and drip fed rewards perfectly tuned to make kids (or grown ups) feel they *need* to buy the "boosters". Thus side loading with "infinite boosters" is a really big draw.

The difference between a f2p game, a p2w game, a coin paid arcade and a casino is very, very slim.

[Franco]

I'm not much of a gamer, but recently I've been playing Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and have just got Doom. More of a nostalgia thing than anything else, I played the orginals in the 90s.

What I find odd is that people in the office saw me with the Doom DVD and some offered comments along the line of my being a nerd, gamer, weirdo, potential axe murderer etc then proceeded to spend their lunch hours lining up bottles of soda or catapulting anthropomorphic birds at thieving pigs and failed to see the irony.

[MJI]

Strange

Wlf and Doom I know about those, but what is this bottle thing and this pig thing?

I work near 2 pubs, does that count?

[toxicdragon]

Re: Strange

The pig thing is angry birds, my little nephew is obsessed. As for the bottles I don't know but there used to be "shooting alleys" that used either BBs in a plastic box or lasers that you shot at tin cans to make them fly off a shelf.

[MJI]

Re: Strange

Don't know anything about Angry birds as my mobile gaming device of choice has plenty of decent games.

Done tin can shooting with air rifle when a teenager.

[Sir Runcible Spoon]

"What I find odd is that people in the office saw me with the Doom DVD and some offered comments along the line of my being a nerd, gamer, weirdo, potential axe murderer etc"

This is something I find really odd. I used to be quite an avid gamer (wife was a gaming widow up until my late 20's I suppose) and people use to look down on me for it.

Those self-same people are not only spending loads of time on games on their phones, but they are spending crazy money. There are people out there who have spent more money on in-game purchases than I have on a water-cooled gaming system!!

Fucking hypocrites.

[MJI]

I like games

I play about 2 - 2.5 hours a day.

No more so I do not get burnt out.

But when I am slobbed out on the settee trying to find Libertalia, or rid the solar system of the Darkness, my wife knows where I am.

She even knows who Xur is

[Anonymous Coward]

Well I would comment on this...

...but I'm too busy playing games in the office! :)

[You aint sin me, roit]

Re: Well I would comment on this...

Was it Candy Crush scores on the office whiteboard, or el Reg down votes?

[MJI]

Re: Well I would comment on this...

Playing games in office?

Don't think I would get away with a DS4 in my hands

[Dave Bell]

Journalism?

I am a little disappointed by this.

First, Pokémon GO is now available in the UK, and it is free. Yes, you can make in-app purchases which effectively buy you success, but nobody is forcing you.

Second, the location database is based on that from Ingress, which means the locations have been tested. And since the only places you can fight are the Gym locations, I am a bit doubtful about the stories of muggings. It looks as though game locations are visible from about 500m away, and you get a picture and a name for the place.

Third, the permissions problem seems only to have occurred with the iOS version. I have seen no sign of it with the Android version.

Niantic may have been a bit careless about some things, repeating a few misjudgements they made with the Ingress game. Last year they used a Nazi death camp as a location, but quickly dropped it andapologised. They seem to have done it again, with a different museum. I reckon that should have been avoidable, but the locations where in a far away land of which we know nothing.

I am not sure of its merits as a game. It seems to have the same effect as Ingress, getting people out and walking, but it's aimed at the different market. The original Pokémon was popular in its time, and this well be triggering pleasant memories for some.

I need an excuse to get some exercise. It seems to work OK for that, but I can see how Ingress may suit me better, and a completely different game-story might suit you.

You're getting too many hard facts wrong, and using those errors to support what amounts to saying the game isn't to your taste.

So what?

[rmason]

Re: Journalism?

@Dave Bell

While he may have used the wrong word ("battle") he's correct. There have been muggings.

According to a colleague here who plays it there are things called "lures" which mean that the location the lure is dropped/placed "attracts" pokemon to be caught.

So your smart phone/tablet seeking crims are dropping lures (which all players of the game can see) then sitting back and waiting for the horde of mindless phone-followers to turn up at all times of the day and night, then relieving them of their smartphones/cash/whatever

Drop lure-thingy in a nice secluded spot

Wait

rob

Profit.

The flip side of this is that several enterprising businesses have dropped lures in or just outside their premises, similarly to relieve users of some cash, but via legal means. My local comicbook/model/game store has done exactly this.

[Oliver Mayes]

Re: Journalism?

"Drop lure-thingy in a nice secluded spot"

The lures can only be deployed at an existing Pokestop. You can't just drop one anywhere.

[Alistair Dabbs]

Re: Journalism?

It's not journalism, it's a weekly column in which I talk bollocks in order to provoke readers into commenting. It seems to be working.

[Huw D]

Re: Journalism?

Well done that man. Keep it up.

[magickmark]

Re: Journalism?

Long may your bollocks be online! err figuratively speaking of course!!!

[Patrician]

Re: Journalism?

....."in which I talk bollocks"......

And long may you do so sir!

[Doctor_Wibble]

Re: Journalism?

> to provoke readers into commenting. It seems to be working.

Oh no it isn't!

[Sir Runcible Spoon]

Re: Journalism?

" it's a weekly column in which I talk bollocks"

You got that right! :p

[Dave Bell]

Re: Journalism?

If you want to look like an ill-informed idiot, you'll get the comments you deserve

[NotBob]

Re: Journalism?

Notice how the troll feels secure in its natural habitat. If we use bait, we can see it peeking out from under the bridge.

What a beauty...

[h4rm0ny]

Re: Journalism?

>>"it's a weekly column in which I talk bollocks in order to provoke readers into commenting. It seems to be working."

If the aim is to provoke people into commenting, why did we have to lose Lewis Page? :(

[Leeroy]

Re: Journalism?

I 'discovered' a few of those portals / pokestops.

Ingress and Pokemon Go are getting people off their arse and doing stuff, got to be a good thing. Ingress players are usually in their mid twenties to thirties and educated (it's a lot more complicated than Pokemon and requires advance planning and teamwork). Also most ingress players have groups that know where they are and look out for eachother, have regular social events / piss ups etc. I have never met such a diverse selection of people, some of who I now call friends.

[allthecoolshortnamesweretaken]

"mindless trust" and "the unquestioning evangelical hosannas constantly being sung at the altar of gamification" go well together, I think.

Ah, what the smeg. T -01:10:00 until pub o'clock and counting.

Have a nice weekend, everybody!

[Anonymous Coward]

What next, middle-aged men rocking to the Naruto theme tune?

Millennials will grow old too, and embarrass their kids by dancing badly to the music of their youth.

[Dan 55]

Call that music?

[hooch]

Runaround - GO??

Surely you meant Runaround - NOW! Or, more like Runaround - NAAAAAAAAOW!

[Sir Runcible Spoon]

Re: Runaround - GO??

I always thought it was "G..G...G...G....G.....Go!"

[noboard]

Runaround now

Is what he actually said.

[Efros]

Re: Runaround now

Yep around 3:40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rL6B7k5M-I

[PleebSmasher]

^ sees above comments about accuracy

I have the distinct feeling that the author will be drinking at work today.

[Hans Neeson-Bumpsadese]

I went for a walk in a local country park last night and was surprised at how many teenagers there were there. They were all gawping at their phones, as teenagers are wont to do. It took me a little while to realise that they were Pokomoning (if that is the correct verb).

As pointless an exercise as playing Pokomon might seem, I'm pleased to see the youth of today outside, getting what could be classed as exercise, rather than hanging around the bus station sniffing glue or whatever.

[Efros]

I think Pokemoning will become Urban Dictionary material. Ah apparently it already is

"Pokemoning (also spelled "Pokémoning") is the act of dating multiple partners (or having multiple friends) in order to collect all the desired traits that's very likely to not exist in one single individual. Named so because you "Gotta Catch 'Em All.""

[Hans Neeson-Bumpsadese]

If you go around dating multiple partners, chances are you will catch quite a lot.

[404]

Strikes me of enhanced reality...

...and that's fucking Brilliant! I hope whomever the individual or team is gets lasciviously compensated for the whole damn idea. (zero sarcasm, 98% Admiration). Next step is a Google Glass kind of connection where the game feed is interlaced within your current visual reality with RL obstacles. Imagine a scene with a line of two hundred people waiting for that play 'Hamilton' in NYC, tuxes and tail, where four out of fifty people wearing ordinary-looking glasses suddenly react to a pokemon, Master Chief, Angry Bird, etc. Totally insane, but brilliant.

The 2% is Oh Shit. Mounting evidence from the beginning of this tech/game, is demonstrating that once again, some/most humans are stupid, and are in an intense competition to earn a Darwin Award. I admit to being interested in playing PokemonGO!, but am equally interested in remaining a control in my family's experimentation/fascination with the game - mind you, there are two Samsung Note3's currently rubberbanded to blades of the ceiling fan in the front room, spinning constantly. Yeah, it's like that - in my family's best interest to be the designated driver/mover/breadwinner atm.

Reminds me of the 'Futurama' episode with Mom's EyePhone - crashing spaceships and all. Enhanced Reality... pretty badass if your current reality is physically safe.

[W4YBO]

Holier than thou...

I was happily rolling my eyes at all the Pokemon faddism when I realized I pay about ten dollars per month to WGT (virtual golf) for golf balls that I can't hold in my hand, and that I lose more frequently than real golf balls. Doh!

[Sir Runcible Spoon]

Re: Holier than thou...

Ah, I just watch the video's you can cut off after 2 secs to get my dosh for balls - ooh err :)

[Timo]

P-Go is like a cheap tour of the homeless camps

I started playing P-Go yesterday, just to see what the hype is all about. I will tell you that in my area the Pokestops are mostly at places where the homeless and vagrant types like to hang out. They're generally harmless but unstable psychologically and will get twitchy if they think people are watching them or moving in on their reserved bench.

So when a bunch of bored people with expensive tastes in phones start milling around the homeless camps this could go either way - it could push the vagrants to loiter somewhere else in effect cleaning up the park benches, or there is going to be mugging and violence against the naive who are baited into marching right into the situation in search of Pokemon.

[MJI]

Re: P-Go is like a cheap tour of the homeless camps

I thought it was sex shops.

However some cafes were refusing players entry unless they bought a drink

[Teiwaz]

Re: P-Go is like a cheap tour of the homeless camps

Seems like a missed opportunity to increase outdoor activity in the countryside, could have offered a deal to Britains parks and National Trust properties to get more people visiting over the summer.

[Domino]

Saw quite a few players in the local park when walking the dog today. After briefly considering getting one of those doggy pikachu costumes to mess with them, I decided to get out of the rain while wondering how many water ingress faults this game is going to provoke.

[Teiwaz]

"doggy pikachu costumes to mess with them,"

I was thinking, it's a good job computer graphics have improved, I recall death on Gauntlet on the speccy used to sort of resemble male genitalia...No idea if it's that relevant, but at least doggy pikachu is better than a dodgy pikachu...

[MJI]

One of my teenagers annoyed

That his phone is too old to run it.

[MJI]

Does taking a piccie of my dog count?

Oh look what I caught!

[Fallbarrow]

What - you can play games on a smartphone? And what is a "Pokemon"

[Destroy All Monsters]

It's like a gerbil, only w/o the Richard Gere part.

[Anonymous Coward]

shutterstock_238128856_phone_theft.jpg

Maybe that's not the best clickbait stock photo to use when it's next to the article, "It's not our fault we don't hire black people, says Facebook."

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: shutterstock_238128856_phone_theft.jpg

Yeah, because they should not hire "black" people, they should hire "good" people.

If hiring black people means you get mugged on the job, your HR department either is not very good or has drunk the "affirmative action" cool aid.

[JavaJester]

Golem Searches for Pokémon

Must find Pokémon... The Precious Needs more Pokémon... Pokémon Go is our master now...

[illiad]

UFO Girls... :) :)

it wasnt the hair, but the skintight outfits on sexy bodies.... hur hur

[Lloyd]

Maybe I misheard Mr Reid

But I always assumed he shouted "Runaround..... NOW!"

[nextenso]

Can Nintendo by sued for a death of player of Pokemon - for debate

I raise debate on this topic because I believe it will happen sooner of later.

In certain circumstances of a death of a player of Pokémon where the game has caused the player to be in harm's way and die, or cause another to die, could Nintendo be sued for manslaughter or second degree homicide ??

The usual defence of a gaming platform is that it is just that, a platform provided for players to use as they wish and for which the platform provider claims no responsibility for the way a person uses it, or as in social media platforms, comments/images posted.

But, in Nintendo's case and in the way I understand the game is coded, that defence falls away because Nintendo themselves provide the geo-positioning data that lures players into locations that Nintendo have good reason to know to be hazardous and/or cause hazard to people Nintendo sends there.

Nintendo wilfully and knowingly distribute that geo-positioning data to the game players. They have no excuse for not knowing of potential hazard as they can easily verify exactly where the position is that they send out. Some positions are clearly chosen because of their specific location.

So, if as an obvious example a Pokémon position is near a cliff's edge, and the player falls off the cliff to their death, I cannot see Nintendo being able to defend a charge of manslaughter (as it is called in the UK). That example is easy to determine, there will be many others such as in the middle of a road, as now often happens, which could also be actionable.

Nintendo could have a difficult defence saying it is up to the player to use the game responsibly because they know full well of the addictive and compulsive nature of the game, and their coding builds on that compulsion to use the game and where many players walk along looking intently at their phone looking for a character, oblivious to all else around them.

Nintendo knows their game causes this, so they wilfully engage in that aspect of the game to attract more players, and thus incur liability for what happens.

This liability could also extend to Pokémon player events that cause suffering or substantial loss.

Regards Jonathan

[Yugguy]

Naaaah!

Memory is hazy as I am quite old, but I don't remember it being "Runaround - Go"

It was:

"RANARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHND! NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOW!