Catching Pokémon in the Square

Shirad Mohammed, administrator with Pok?mon GO Caribbean, explained that the event is a meet up for people to come together and catch Pok?mon.

They had special competitions scheduled including a karaoke of the cartoon theme song and catching the most of a certain Pok?mon within an hour.

He explained that they have security patrolling the Square, an ambulance available, and generators and charging stations. They also erected team tents for the game’s three teams. He said they expect 600 people to attend the event which runs from 11am-5pm.

Asked about the growing popularity game since it launched in this country on August 3, Mohammed explained that when the original game first came out people wondered how they could become an actual Pok?mon trainer, and now with Pok?mon GO that has become possible.

“It making you live that fantasy as a child,” he said.

He added: “I never thought I would see people on the road running for Pok?mon.” Digicel representative Justine Low said that as sponsor they have provided some of the prizes for the competitions including a DL1 range handset and Digicel IMAX tickets.

She pointed out that there was also a cosplay contest for people dressed like characters from the show or Pok?mon as well as for taking over another team’s gym.

She said there were a lot of sup- pliers for the event including Blue Waters, SM Jaleel, and the new group, Cosplay Association of Trinidad and Tobago, was also in attendance.

There was even Pok?mon GO themed cupcakes available.

Pok?mon GO player Jonathan Joseph, 31 from Woodbrook, attended the event with his friend Andrew Archer, 32 from Westmoorings.

Joseph, a level five player, said that he does not get much time to play the game and came to the event to meet up with other players.

He used to play the game when it first emerged on the Nintendo Gameboy in the mid 90s.

Archer, who is level 15, said he wanted to find some interesting Pok?mon and to also see how many people showed up; he expected there would be a lot.

Sunday Newsday also met a couple of families who came to the event.

Twelve year-old Joshua David and his ten-year-old sister Rebekah came hunting Pok?mon with their parents/drivers.

David is level 13, has 93 Pok?mon and his prized one is Vaporeon, a water type and evolution of the Pok?mon Evee.

Rebekah is a level 4 and complained that her hunting is slowed because she does not have internet at places where she goes.

She has 21 Pok?mon and her prized one is a Pinsir, which is a bug type.

Amanda Samaroo, 25 from Petit Valley and a level 20 player, said they had been finding Pok?mon at the Square including rare ones like Pikachus (the game’s mascot) and Charmanders.

One parent, Lisa Muradali, said she was amazed at how popular the game had become locally.

She praised the organisation of the event, noting the security and ambulance provided.

She said that she feels comfortable and would bring her children again.

As the rains broke yesterday players still continued to hunt for Pok?mon and try to catch ‘em all.