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© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.The wait is over for Pokemon Go fans in Japan
By Ken Moritsugu TOKYO©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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SenseNotSoCommon
Populace baffled by nonsensical user instructions:
Peter Qinghai
@marcelito, No change in the masses. Remember, a short while ago a H.S. girl was hit by a train...
Disillusioned
The beginning of the end! Let the zombies begin!
CruisinJapan
Uh oh!!! Game on!! Watch out for that tree!!
Thunderbird
OMG I'm in the middle of Nara right now, no Wi-fi, had to use cell phone internet to download it. My first Bulbasaur appeared on the bushes, almost sprained my ankle running for it, surreal
dcog9065
Started playing in the office
Yubaru
I was sitting across from some friends, about an hour ago, having some coffee, and one of them had downloaded the app, installed it, and then busted out laughing, a pokemon was evidently sitting on my knee and bouncing around in rhythm to my movements. Fortunately we didnt have to run into each other.
Haaa Nemui
Just remember... you can play it with the camera covered... it's just not as fun. All the camera does is provide a real world background image.
Gaijindesu
Folks, remember, if you want to capture Pikachu as your first Pokemon, you must walk away from the first set of 3 Pokemons for a total of 4 times. Only then, will Pikachu appear for you to catch. Good luck, have fun, and stay off the roads.
inkochi
Despite fence construction in recent years by JR and others, there are still may unfenced train platforms just waiting for people to fall off.
And if you are worried about that pokemon about to be hit by the train just after it hits you, please remember that pokemon is as virtual as the pokeball that you virtually could throw, so it's not actually going to be hurt, or not as hurt as you actually are going to be.
the_sheriff
Niantic released an augmented reality game a while back called Ingress, which has a large user base in Japan. The Pokemon Go beta has been out for months. Sure, there'll be people fixated on their smartphones but hasn't this always been the case with other apps like FB, LINE, etc.? I don't see what all the whining is about. The game seems like a great way for people to get off their bums and burn some calories.
smithinjapan
Yubaru: ", and then busted out laughing, a pokemon was evidently sitting on my knee and bouncing around in rhythm to my movements"
Sounds pretty amusing, actually, and the source of a lot of potential fun (I mean the game in general, not strictly because it's on your knee), but I sure hope the guy didn't tackle you in an attempt to get it or use it as an excuse to molest you. :)
bones
Zombie apocalypse has reached Japan.
sn00z3
expecting more ambulance siren police siren and accident by next week.
Alphaape
This game reminds me of the Star Trek the Next Generation episode where the crew was being taken over by the introduction of a game that brainwashed them. Sadly, we have no Commander Data or Ensign Wesley Crusher to save us.
Christopher Glen
I predict some accidents at train platforms, as the smartphone zombies (already legion) will become too absorbed in this new game. I hope I'm proved wrong though.
buchailldana
there was a news flash on TV anouncing this!! I guess it is comical for us older folks
Aly Rustom
Heaven help us. This is how the world ends..Not with a bang... Not with a whisper...But with Pokemon.
Thanks so much for that little bit of information that I know I will never have to use.. Now I can rest easy knowing that I'll be able to catch Poka-whatever first.
Now THAT is useful info. People playing this game do need to be reminded that those holograms are not real.
I doubt that even Data or Crusher could save us from this particular apocolypse..
kibousha
Stand waaaay behind the yellow line on train platform guys, I don't want one of these pokidiots bump into you and you fall onto the tracks.
iradickle
I downloaded it this morning because of all the fuss in the office. Seems pretty casual to me. Had the game on and my phone in my pocket it vibrated and said there was a pokemon in the conbini. There it was on top of the bread.
But I can tell that there will be some accidents.
morriconelover
In Denmark, a pokemon go hunter found a real dead body instead. And a woman who normally never locks her door had some unwanted visitors in her apartment due to a pokemon being in her place. Personally i think this wwhole pokemon go thing is stupid, but i guess there has to be stupid stuff from time to time to keep people occupied.
Futaro Gamagori
can't people just ignore it if it's not their cup of tea? i don't understand why people waste their time bashing it. this is how stupid things (or people) get famous.
katsu78
I went and installed it purely as a response to this forum's doom-crying.
Carcharodon
My son and I just had a great time searching our neighbourhood. This is great if you have kids and can get out together.
One problem I saw right away. A gym appears at a nearby blind intersection, a really narrow dangerous spot and last place you would ever want a gym.
Daytime searching in summer -terrible for your phone, worst overheating I ever had on my phone, and the glare of the sun. the Pokemon app is hard enough to see indoors, let alone outdoors. A pretty poor GUI for such a game. Battery killer! take a portable battery charger with you.
drlucifer
Katsu, are you sure it is the doom-crying, something tells me that deep in your Subconscious, that you weren’t aware of, there was the anxiety to try it. No matter what, I won’t try and don’t want to even see it.
CrazyJoe
Congratulations to the creators of Pokemon Go for being able to lead so many human-like lemmings around by the rings in their miniature oxen-like noses!
Monozuki
Wow! Sounds exciting! But I would not play it whatsoever because I'm not so young. I'm just worried about my sons and grandkids getting hooked on Pokemon Go so much that they'd end up in terrible accidents. :‑(
papigiulio
Sjeesh, my instagram and twitter feeds are full with pokemons today. Nintendo's stock just went up another couple of billion heh.
FizzBit
What's gonna happen if Dr. Evil hacks into this?
DaDude
Considering that studying in university here is optional, he will have enough time to catch all Pokémon before entering his company.
Addfwyn
The problem is you can't really ignore it. People block sidewalks/stairs (akin to those who read books or play their handhelds while walking) or are invading private property. If it were something people did at home or just sitting on the train, nobody would care much.
MrBum
Cue the "But there was a Pikachu up your skirt!" excuses from pervs. Kidding aside, it's a pretty clever idea for a game. People should definitely be careful when playing though.
clamenza
Katsu - why would you continue to patronize a forum that makes you so consistently angry and upset?
katsu78
Why do you think this forum makes me consistently angry or upset? I'm enjoying a decent if simple game that I would have never thought to play if not for the folks here showing me the way (not to go).
Eriksgaga
I am a delighted Mum, as I've been playing it with my other son in UK for a week! Can't get on now, but Japan needs a chance now!
clamenza
You are playing a game designed for 9 year-olds??
Vagabond36
Another good reason not to visit McDonald's.
weisse
The servers were taking a hammering earlier on. It is fun to see some suits walking down the street in Tokyo trying to catch some Pokemon. Those bemoaning it's for kids, shut up and stay away from the game and don't click on any Pokemon Go related news.
talaraedokko
Really, we don't need Pokemon Go to find zombies in the streets. My question: how much info do the police / authorities get from the players smartphones / iPhones? If you're a wanted criminal and they know you use a particular phone, aren't you basically giving away your location, or am I being a tad paranoid?
shomp
Some old farts in here will never know the feeling of running in to complete strangers at 2am only to find out they are on the same team. Then you and your new found comrades sit for hours catching pokémons, throwing out lures and help push the local gym to the limit!
Cliffy
I can think of 2 alteration of this. 1- Zombies or aliens invation, 2-give it to adult industry
clamenza
some young farts in here will never know the feeling of running into a woman at 2am....
umbrella
The masses are so easily controlled.
Brian Wheway
for goodness sake get a life people!
Fadamor
Sounds like a bogus story. If you can see a Pokemon in the game - even if it appears to be in a building/apartment - you can try to capture it without having to enter the building/apartment. Getting closer doesn't improve your chances of capturing it.
"Wanted criminals" usually ditch their personal phone in favor of a throw-away. Something tells me they aren't going to be downloading apps of ANY kind if they're hiding from the law.