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Pokemon Go explained

Pokemon Go at the Ponoka Jubilee Library and understanding how it works.

Pokémon Go has come to the library and I decided to do my own search as I really have no idea what all the hype is all about. Unfortunately, I was only more confused the more I read. So, what the heck is Pokémon Go?

Pokémon was originally a hand-held game back in the ‘90s that has now evolved in the ever-changing world of technology to a virtual reality game. Pokémon Go is a new mobile game that blends the game world with the real world using augmented reality (the real world augmented/supplemented by computer-generated sensory input). Pokémon Go is an app that can be downloaded to your phone or android and used to collect “Pocket Monster” or Pokémon that can be trained to become stronger and used to win battles.

Pokémon Go is based around Pokémon fundamentals of finding, catching, evolving, training and battling Pokémon. Pokémon Go uses a GPS (Global Positioning System that provides location and time information anywhere on or near the Earth) and Google maps to locate Pokémon creatures and capture them.

Players explore an accurate map of their local surroundings to catch over 100 different Pokémon that can be found in all sorts of places. It’s all very simple. You go to a Pokéstop to retrieve Pokéballs (and eggs that hatch into Pokémon) to then later capture a Pokémon creature. Once you capture a Pokémon creature you can train them to become stronger and use them to win battles.

My brain still has a hard time wrapping my head around it all but here at the library we have a much simpler version for kids. Emma, our summer reading coordinator has ‘captured’ some Pokémon creatures and trapped them in the children’s section of our library. There is a list of all of these trapped creatures for kids to search and discover. This has been a great success for kids and our hope is that while they are searching for Nidorina or Meow that they will also notice the ‘real’ world around them and discover books they want to read. Pokémon creatures are only in the children’s section and no books need to be moved to find them.

Back in the real world, The Summer Reading Program wind-up party is on Thursday, Aug. 18. Please note the time change for this day as kids ages five to eight will come from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and ages nine to 12 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

We will be having our free family movie, The Good Dinosaur on Friday, Aug. 19th at 2 p.m. The Good Dinosaur is a 3D computer-animated comedy adventure film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Please bring any pillows or blankets you want with you to make the floor more comfortable and we will supply the popcorn.