The game has been out only a week, but it looks like “Pokemon Go” (which I play religiously) has already jumped the shark.
Time of death: 3:51 p.m. ET, July 14 2016.
That’s when The Hill published an article about Hillary Clinton’s campaign announcing an event to be held at a Pokestop. Pokestops are places within the game that users can “visit” (by clicking on them in the game’s augmented reality map) that give out useful game items. Players can also attach a “lure” to the Pokestop to, obviously, lure pokemon in order to catch them.
The Clinton campaign tried to show that they were hip and “with it” by using the popular game to attract supporters.
“Join us as we go to the Pokestop in Madison Park and put up a lure module, get free pokemon, & battle each other while you register voters and learn more about Sec. Hillary Clinton!!! Kids welcome!” the event, which appears on the candidate’s campaign website, states.
No, just no.
Whoever set up the event (there’s no indication Clinton will actually be there), doesn’t appear to actually play the game. So let’s go step by step.
“The Pokestop in Madison Park”
So far, so good. This appears to be a real thing.
“Put up a lure module”
Yes, that is the correct terminology for an item you “attach” to a Pokestop to attract Pokemon.
“Get free Pokemon”
This is where they lose it. You don’t have to pay for Pokemon in this game. You don’t even have to pay for the game.
“Battle each other”
That’s not how the game works. You don’t just walk up to people and battle them. I give them half credit for this because, if there is a Pokegym in the location, then technically you do battle each other for control of the gym. It doesn’t involve two people throwing attacks at each other, however; it involves one player (or multiple players) battling a single pokemon that is controlled by a computer, not its trainer.
Even if Clinton herself isn’t involved in this event, at her own event in Anandale, Va., the presumptive Democratic nominee told a crowd: “I don’t know who created ‘Pokemon Go’ but I’m trying to figure out how we get them to ‘Pokemon’ go to the polls!!”
No. Just, no.
We knew campaigns would try to use this popular game to gain favor with the youth, but seriously, guys, do some research before you attempt to connect using popular culture.
Ashe Schow is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
