Has 'Pokemon Go' Made Us Healthier?

For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few weeks, there has been a reinvention of one of the most iconic games of recent times. Pokémon. It's been difficult to avoid the furore that this new game has created. Some people wonder what on Earth all the fuss is about. Well...

In the mid 1990's, Pokémon hit our shops, first with playing cards followed by the video game on the Gameboy. It was a massive hit in the UK, with schoolchildren batting on the playgrounds of schools across the country. The basic objective of the game was to catch creatures to battle for you as you make your way up the Pokémon hierarchy. Since the introduction of the game, a lot of versions have come out but popularity waned. A decade later, the game had almost vanished. Until now.

'Pokémon Go' is the latest instalment from creators Nitanic; a smartphone app that allows you to catch Pokémon from places you know yourself. That church at the end of your road? You can catch Pokémon in there. The local park? Swimming in Pokémon. Town centre? You can catch a Pikachu in Costa. Millions of people have downloaded this game, increasing company shares ten fold in the process, but unlike most video games, can we argue that this one is contributing to a healthier world?

As a Pokémon trainer, you can catch creatures in real life locations

to fight for you against other trainers.

The game was officially released in the UK today, although many had already downloaded it via other routes. In the original game, it was all on a small handheld screen. You didn't have to leave your sofa. In this one, you cannot do well in the game unless you physically leave your house. This means people young and old are walking more miles than they ever have done, with the sole objective of catching rare Pokémon. The modern world has evolved from a culture of British Bulldog and playing any game outside in the sun, to one that is strapped exclusively to their smartphones.

But Pokémon Go has managed to merge the two.

The game rewards you by gaining eggs from public places, (parks, retail parks, churches etc.) and you can only hatch them by walking a certain amount. All the hallmarks of the original game, (battles, trades etc.) are still there, along with the more popular original characters, providing the perfect level of nostalgia to the game.

By far the most remarkable thing however, is the impact on our health. Nitanic have managed, deliberately or not, to get people outside and exercising. The impact on our physical health will be huge, especially if the game can develop and move with the impending demands that will come. The impact on people's mental health is considerable as well, with many people reporting that the game has forced them to get outside and exercise; a proven method in easing the symptoms of mental illness. The game is on the verge of making a major breakthrough in systemically improving health, with players walking miles and miles to win. Even my friend admitted to walking a longer route to our training session simply to try and find more Pokémon.

However. It's not all good news for the app. There have been some horror stories, including a young boy finding a dead body in Wyoming, USA after going on the hunt for Pokémon. Another man, who's house had been converted from a church a few years ago, found people infiltrating his back garden as the GPS signals on player's phones still recognised his house as a public place. There have also been reports of criminals luring people into dangerous situations using the game.

But all in all, the affect on the world has been monumental and it's done it in a matter of weeks. There has never been an app that merges the modern world of video gaming with the old-fashioned "get outside" attitude. Whether it was on purpose or not, a game from the 1990's has revolutionised a world that was on the verge of a major health crisis.

And you can't help but stand up and applaud that.