Pokemon Go collectors usually received a safety warning from Niantic every time the App loads the screen. Unfortunately, such words of caution are routinely ignored by a number of players.
Niantic tells it players to be mindful of their environment and to watch where they are going. However, a recent Reddit post told the story of one Pokemon Go collector going to the emergency room after "falling in a ditch". The player apparently suffered a foot injury that will take at least 2 months to heal.
Other players were victimized by armed muggers. In Missouri, almost a dozen young Pokemon Go collectors have fallen prey to these criminals. Fortunately, the local police were able to apprehend the robbers.
Authorities are also concerned of players driving vehicles while collecting their favorite Pokemons. Some motor vehicle regulators have already issued warnings in social media such as Twitter.
Interestingly, many players have trouble keeping up with the Pokemons in the real world, according to Nintendo Life. Pokemon Go is one of the few games that encourage its players to get out of the house. The gaming app in effect has enabled its players get some badly needed exercise.
Playing the game is generally safe as long as the players exercised good judgment and make themselves aware of their surroundings before catching their elusive Pokemons. The game can also be a venue to meet new people, according to the Boston Globe. Another reddit poster told how he got to meet more than two dozen strangers who happened to gather in one particular area with the intent of catching one Pokemon.
Pokemon Go debut in Australia on July 6 and subsequently launched in the United States. It's an augmented reality mobile game where players used their smartphones or tablets to catch Pokemons in actual places called Pokestops. Once the player arrives at the designated location, a Pokemon will appear on the player's screen. Nintendo is the owner of the Pokemon franchise.
