Whether it’s lumbering up a giant hill to catch up with Pikachu, or trekking several blocks just to nab Magnemite, “Pokeman Go” players are getting some exercise. Indeed, the wildly popular new mobile game “Pokémon Go” is having an unintended side effect for some users: It’s making them more physically active. And experts say this is an encouraging trend in a type of technology that has historically kept people confined to their chairs. In the game, which launched in North America on July 6, users walk around (in the real world) and try to find and capture (virtual) Pokémon characters. The app uses your device’s camera, so that when you look at your phone, you see a Pokémon character superimposed over a real-world object, a feature known as augmented reality. Different types of Pokémon appear in different locations, so players need to explore the world around them to catch different characters.
‘Pokémon Go’ Catches High Praise From Health Experts
