Pokemon Go is all the rage. The augmented reality game has taken off around the world with people tracking down “Poke Stops” and collecting Pokemon characters on their smartphones. But it has come with some undesired, even dangerous side effects.

Combining a video game with a real-world scavenger hunt, the objective is to get out and collect digital Pokemon characters and icons “hidden” in spots all over the world. And players are getting out there – thousands of them! We’ve even seen it here firsthand at Slater Vecchio – a busy street corner just outside our office has been one of the stops with people lined up on the sidewalks trying to zap characters.

While the app has become more popular than Twitter or Tinder, there are reports of some dangers with the game. Many players have become so focused on getting points and tracking down characters that they’ve actually hurt themselves in the process.

Some reports have shown people walking into busy intersections trying to snap a character, others tripping and falling because they were too focused on the games and even some stranger incidents. Players finding dead bodies or being lured into being robbed are just a few events alleged to have happened because of the game. In BC, there have been reports of players wandering into places they shouldn’t be – like the Richmond office of the RCMP. Fortunately, the game does have a built-in speed limit to prevent players from driving while playing.

But it does open up some questions about our use of technology and draws parallels to other distracted activities like texting or viewing social media. Games are fun, but if you still have to play by the rules of the real world. That means focusing on your environment, paying attention to traffic and pedestrians, and being mindful to not enter private property or restricted areas. The Vancouver Police Department agrees with us on these points – they’ve even issued a statement on Pokemon Go. Like in sports, safety is the first rule, and as more games like Pokemon Go merge the digital and real worlds, it will become even more important to play it safe.

For more information

• Pokémon Go unofficially hits the streets of Vancouver, Global News
• People are walking into trees, twisting ankles and falling in holes while playing Pokemon Go, National Post
• Danger, I choose you: Pokémon Go game sparks real-life safety concerns, CTV Vancouver
• Pokemon Go brings augmented reality to the mainstream, CBC News