Pokémon Go has been one of the few positives of an otherwise grim July. Perhaps because of its status as the rare untainted beacon of joy, the smartphone game has pervaded popular culture, from the design of a neighborhood lemonade stand to the floor of the Republican Nation Convention. The game’s scope is so broad, spanning so many subcultures, that it’s become difficult to visualize.
A long, ongoing collection of the best Pokémon Go stories
We find that it helps to see these stories alongside one another, to better appreciate just how strange this game and its moments really are. What follows is an ongoing catalogue of Pokémon Go stories, curated by topic. As the game continues to receive updates from its developer, Niantic Labs, and expand to additional regions, we will keep this list current.
Perhaps we’ll look back at this collection of stories as a historical documentation of the rise and fall of this generation’s pet rock. Or maybe we’ll be updating this list for months or years or decades, finding it quaint that in the year 2016 someone sold a Pokémon Go account for a measly Benjamin Franklin.
Entrepreneurs:
US news:
”NYPD investigating whether cops played Pokémon Go on-duty” via NY Daily News
”Pokémon Go players form stampede to catch rare Pokémon” via Polygon
”Pokémon Go nudes are a thing now” via Kotaku
Global news:
”Watch this guy catch pokémon on the Nürburgring” via Kotaku
Inventions:
The Poké-Han: a rigid plastic necklace that holds an iPhone in front of your face
Poké Glo: an illuminated button to make players visible at night
Pokédrone: a drone that lets you play Pokémon Go without leaving your seat
The pokéball aimer: a 3D-printable smartphone case that improves pokéball accuracy
The pokédex case: a custom smartphone case that doubles as a battery pack
Pokévision: a map tool for finding the location of pokémon
Politics:
Herman Cain: the pokémon movie fans calls for Pokémon Go players to be safe
Hillary Clinton: the presidential candidate plans a campaign even at a Pokémon Go gym
John Kirby: the US State Department spokesman calls out a reporter playing Pokémon Go
Republican National Convention: The Guardian and Bustle cover gym battles and fandom at the event
Michael Che: the SNL star presents the GOP parody, Trumpemon
The Donald: a Pokémon Go player puts a Magikarp at the White House as political commentary
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