By DINA ARÉVALO
Port Isabel-South Padre Press
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
Whether you’re into mobile gaming or not, you might have started noticing a strange pattern emerging within the last week. Tangles of tourists have been crowding around some of the best local hangout spots throughout the area.
Now, it’s summer, the height of the tourist season, so it’s not so strange to see people pausing for a photo in the gaping maw of the great white shark at Jaws, or beside the blue marlin that’s across the street. The sight of numerous cars parked at the base of the Causeway is a normal one, as well.
Nor is it strange to see people looking up in awe at the Lighthouse in Port Isabel. Yet, even though the restaurants nearby do brisk business in the evenings, it’s a little more strange to see tourists lingering around our lighthouse at 10 o’clock at night or later. Stranger still is to see that many of these tourists aren’t gazing at the lighthouse, or the Padre Ballí statue or the ferocious shark at all. If you pay closer attention, you’ll notice many of them have their eyes turned to their smartphones.
So, what exactly is going on?
If you’re a fan of gaming, you already know. Pokémon Go has taken over! Tourists throughout the region are exploring the Laguna Madre not just to see our unique landmarks, but to search out rare Pokémon characters.
I have to admit, I’ve jumped on the bandwagon, as well. Normally, I’m not that kind of person, but I’m glad this is one emerging trend I’ve joined. Why? Because it’s gotten me on my feet and exploring the towns. I may not be a tourist, but even I am finding new points of interest. And the best part is the people.
Walking around my neighborhood last week looking for a few Pokémon I suspected were in the area, I came across a woman leading a gaggle of kids clutching their phones. We laughed as we passed each other. They were on the hunt, too.
“Any good Pokémon over that way?” I asked them.
“Yeah! A bunch!” one boy replied enthusiastically.
And so it has gone almost every day. While out and about, I’ve met dozens of people playing the game.
Now, while some might offer the criticism that the game is for children and adults should put away childish things, I would offer wholehearted disagreement. There’s a difference between something being childish and something being childlike. One is a mark of immaturity, the other is the mark of being able to experience a sense of wonder.
I’ve seen 8-year-olds and 50-year-olds playing the game. I’ve seen people playing by themselves, in pairs and in groups. I’ve seen dedicated gamers who own multiple game consoles enjoying the game just as much as those who consider themselves people who “don’t play video games.”
It’s rare to see something offer such a broad appeal to so many different kinds of people. And everyone is outside, walking, exercising and having fun. That’s nothing short of amazing, to me.
Do you play Pokémon Go? Let us know online at www.portisabelsouthpadre.com. Meanwhile, I’m off to try to capture a Polliwhirl.Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.