Pokemon Go is not just an app for mobile devices. It\’s not just a child\’s game either.
The explosive growth of Pokemon Go is nothing less than a pop culture phenomenon! In fact, in just one week\’s time the app is being used by more people on a daily basis than Twitter. Niantic, who developed the application, has accomplished more in one week than Foursquare was able to accomplish in seven years.
And what\’s truly remarkable about Pokemon Go is not the number of people using it, but how it is affecting lives. Sure, the media loves sensationalism and tends to focus on the bad things that have happened. (People getting hurt, finding a dead body, getting mugged, etc…)
But the positive side-affects are far more pervasive. People are getting out of the house and away from their computer. They are walking. They are socializing with strangers and making new friends. There is a camaraderie that is taking place unline anything I\’ve ever seen.
Nintendo shares skyrocketed 86% the week of release and businesses are discovering ways to bring new customers to their brick and mortar operations simply by placing Pokemon lures. We are just seeing the very beginning of new ways to bring business in with games!
So it\’s in that spirit that I corralled some Denver friends and hit the streets for a Pokemon Go party! We spent several hours downtown hunting Pokemon, engaging with others and having a great time. Here\’s a summary of what took place in Denver.