The Wall Street Journal thinks you should play the first mainstream and extremely successful augmented reality game — aka the future. And yes, you have to tear yourself away from your computer/television and get outside to play it. But have no fear; your phone screen will still be there to keep you company.
A very brief guide to playing Pokémon Go:
- Download the game and get it to load. Not as easy as it sounds, since the overload of users caused a number of server issues.
- Create an avatar and catch your first Pokémon. You can choose among the classics: Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.
- Start roaming around, like actually walking and moving, to navigate your avatar. When your phone vibrates and you see a Pokémon on the screen, throw a Poké Ball at its head to capture it. (This also gives you the opportunity to take funny pictures.)
- As you navigate, you will see Poké Stops and Gyms, which tend to be important or iconic places in the area; frankly some are just straight up strange/wrong. You can collect empowering items and experience from both – but you have to be in close range.
- Take your Pokémon to a Poké Gym to battle other Pokémon.
Good luck on your quest. Gotta Catch’em All!
(And if this is all Greek to you, you may just be too old to play.)