A crash course in Pokémon Go

WORLAND – The newest app craze has children and teens walking around Worland following their phone in search of Pokémon.

Pokémon Go is taking over Worland with teens and adults alike playing in Pioneer Square and church on their spare time. The location-based game was officially released on July 6 in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand with plans to be available in other countries around the world soon, according to their website.

The iOS and Android-friendly game created by Niantic uses a phone's GPS location so Worland players can catch Pokémon like Pikachu, Eevee and Ponyta in the Washakie County Courthouse, Worland Healthcare Club and even in front of the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center, places called PokéStops.

The game was an instant success reaching the top of downloading trends, and what's unique about Pokémon Go is the alternative couch potato gaming standard. The game encourages socialization and exercise because you have to move to catch Pokémon as they appear in various unknown places.

Worland Pokémon Go players Johnny Seyfang and Ben Harvey occasionally meet to play Pokémon Go in Pioneer Square as part of Team Incentive. There are three teams in the Pokémon realm (Incentive, Valor and Mystic), though you don't have to be a part of a team to play.

Seyfang said he's been playing Pokémon since he started collecting cards as a child and thinks the game is fun. "Some of my friends who never played Pokémon started playing Pokémon (Go) and are now more into it than me. It's cool."

"The main objective of the game is to walk around," Harvey said, and he added he likes it because he meets people he hasn't met before by playing the game.

How do you play?

All someone needs to play Pokémon Go is a smartphone with Wi-Fi access and a good data plan. Once you have a smartphone, download the app to an iPhone or Android and create an account.

Players have the choice between using an existing Google account to login or create a Pokémon Trainer account. After creating an account, a player will be given the option to customize their trainer.

Seyfang said leaves appear when Pokémon are near, and "the game will auto open your camera, and there will be icons on the screen and you have to throw a (PokéBall) to catch a Pokémon."

"The smaller the circle the more likely you are the catch it," he added.

Other collectable items in the game appear with a blue icon on the map. "If you click on it or swipe your thumb across the screen, you can get a bunch of random items (more PokéBalls, eggs) that are really helpful for the game," Seyfang said.

"When you get to level five, you can get access to the (Pokémon) gyms and play against other people," he added.

Pokémon can level up and evolve to make them more powerful in battles. Collecting candy can be done by collecting more Pokémon.

To create a more social setting, the game gives players an opportunity to collect a lure module, a device to attract Pokémon to an area for 30 minutes that benefits anyone in the lure range.

While the game is new and fun, there are a few drawbacks.

Some of the problems players have encountered are a drained phone battery, the game freezing and not recognizing the Pokémon caught and overloaded servers that won't allow access to the game.

Despite all the complaints, the game is still thriving.

Some of Worland's players think the bugs will work out as the game goes on, but law enforcement officers are worried the game's popularity may lead teens to finding themselves in dangerous situations as reports swirl around of teens being robbed or injured while playing the game.

A press release from the New York Police Department Community Affairs released a statement with safety tips for Pokémon Go players encouraging players to stay aware of their surroundings, play in pairs and not to trespass onto private property to catch Pokémon.

Why is the game so popular?

Some of Pokémon Go's appeal that made it become an overnight phenomenon is the fact that it's free, doesn't take much background knowledge to understand and is relatively easy to play.

"This game is a little more fun to me because you're not just sitting in your house, you have to walk around in participate," Seyfang said.

"One of my favorite things is ... you can use these lures, and everyone else can see it because flower petals will come up ... and kids from around town will start congregating in the area," Harvey said.

Seyfang added he likes the social aspect of using the lure module because people will come to benefit from it and start hanging out when they had no intention of doing so.

Local businesses have picked up on the trend and are engaging the game craze. The Washakie County Library is allowing players to come in and charge their phone, and even made a sign when they found out they were one of Worland's designated PokéStops.

Washakie County Library Director Karen Funk said, "We didn't even know we were one. I don't know much about the game. I'm just learning, but ... we have seen a couple people in the last couple of days and they were stopping in the library ... restocking on things to play the game."

She added, "It's interesting how things are happening. People are going to be able to come in and recharge their phone at the library. It's just another reason to come to the library. Whether you're catching (Pokémon) or getting a book, you're still coming to the library to use it."