Pokemon Go has become a genuine cultural phenomenon here in the States in the matter of just a few days.
If you are not already one of the 20 million-plus users, all you have to do is look outside your window to witness the revolution. If you live in a relatively urban area, you are bound to see someone wandering aimlessly with their nose buried in their phone. Chances are, they are trying to catch some Pokemon.
The game is also being heralded for its positive effects on players, such as increasing their exercise habits and their sociability. However, it has led to its share of negative consequences as well.
In any event, it does not appear the game is going away any time soon, and for countries where the game is not yet available, their citizens cannot wait to start capturing their very own Pokemon.
Brazil, the host nation for next month’s Olympic Games, just so happens to be one of the countries waiting for the fad to enter its borders. And the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, where the events will be taking place, is imploring the game’s creators, Nintendo, to expedite the process in time for the start of the Games.
He posted this to his Facebook page on Wednesday.
The message in English, according to Facebook’s translation tool: “Hello, Nintendo! 23 days to go to the Olympics Rio 2016. The whole world is coming here. Come too!”
Mayor Paes is assuredly hoping the game will help bring in even more tourists, and generally boost the conversation surrounding the Olympics even more. However, a shotgun wedding between Pokemon Go and Rio has the potential to go extremely poorly. There are already reports of robbers using the game to track and lure their victims in the U.S., and this is in a nation with a paid police force. One can only imagine how poorly this would go in Rio where tourists are greeted by this warning at the airport.
Paes might want Rio citizens and tourists to have the chance to catch Pokemon at the Olympics, but it might be in everyone’s best interests if the game’s Brazil release was delayed just a bit further.
[Facebook]