Pokemon Go Increases Social Interaction?

Like millions of others who have been sucked into this whole Pokemon Go craze, I too have had the opportunity to experience the thrill of being a Pokemon trainer and catching those little creatures myself. But as I wander aimlessly around my home trying to look for Pokestops, I thought of something quite substantial. 

Video games have generally been known to contribute to a generation (or two) of sedentary children who would rather engage in first person shooting games or watch their favourite movie than go outside and play ball hockey. Although there have been a few video games that have encouraged active living, the vast majority requires the gamer to sit still and watch the screen. So when I wandered around my neighbourhood on one fine Sunday evening with my Pokemon Go on the phone screen, I was astonished to see dozens of young adults walking around. Most were centred around a community park that on a regular day saw the odd dog walker and children playing by the bronze sculpture. Granted, they were looking at their phone screens to see if any Pokemon would show up, but its a good first step nonetheless. The game, even in its infancy at the time of writing, has achieved the following benefits from an urban planning perspective:

• The game has forced the player to leave the house and walk around the neighbourhood and extend beyond that to the city. Without leaving the house you can't really go far with the game because you will run out of Pokeballs to catch wild Pokemons. Furthermore, your ability to battle is non-existent if you don't walk to a nearby gym.
• The game has allowed players to visit Pokestops, which are real life landmarks such as public art, historic buildings, gathering places, and memorial sites. For better or for worse, it has educated players on little tidbits of their city. 
• The game has allowed opportunities for complete strangers to interact with one another. Since everyone is playing the same game, people are comparing notes, tips and tricks, and showing off the Pokemon with the highest combat power or hit points. Over time, friendships emerge out of these social interactions. 
• The game, because it has forced so many people to leave the house and go for a walk, enforces the idea of "eyes on the street" where in certain areas there are so many people, that surveillance has increased safety and security. 

Whether these benefits have outweighed any costs as broadcasted over the media recently, time will tell whether this game will have any lasting effects on the population as a whole. Fad it might be now, so we might as well enjoy the sudden liveliness it has created in our communities.