Safety tips for Pokemon Go players to be shared at Hantsport meeting

When Paul Morton's son walked into a tree branch while playing Pokemon Go recently, the West Hants, N.S., councillor decided it was time to organize an information session for players in Hantsport so they can learn to play more safely.

Son's run-in with tree branch encourages dad to organize information session

Nina Corfu CBC News Posted: Aug 03, 2016 10:47 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 3, 2016

Paul Morton said session organizers will explain how players can set up their phones to vibrate when they encounter a Pokemon Go character so that they don't have to stare at their phones all the time. (Paul Morton)

When Paul Morton's son walked into a tree branch while playing Pokemon Go recently, the West Hants, N.S., councillor decided it was time to organize an information session for players in Hantsport so they can learn to play more efficiently and safely.

The meeting is scheduled to take place Wednesday at 6:30p.m. at the William Hall V.C. Memorial on Main Street in Hantsport, and will be facilitated by Nicole and and Andrew Turpin, organizers of a free games night in the area.

Topics at the information session geared primarily towards new players will include using the app efficiently and safely, along withtips for playing the game well.

Morton told CBC's Information Morninghis 12-year-old son asked him to download the mobile phone game for him two weeks ago, and "he's been going ever since."

He wants to play as "soon as he gets up in the morning before I go to work," Morton said, and "soon as I come home through the door at night."

Preventing injuries

Pokemon Go is a mobile phone game that rewards players for finding virtual characters in real-world locations.

Players use the GPS systems on their phone to find the characters, and the phone's camera and augmented reality make the characters appear on screen.

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Since the free game launched July 6, some players have injured themselves or been distracted while driving. Morton said his son also had a close call when he ran into a tree branch recently.

Luckily "he didn't hit his eyes, so he was fine."

Quality time

There are ways to play the game more safely, he said. "You don't have to trespass, you don't have to walk with your phone in your face all the time."

For example, Morton said session organizers will explain how players can set up their phones to vibrate when they encounter a Pokemon Go character so that they don't have to stare at their phones all the time.

Overall, he said the game has allowed him to spend lots of quality time with his son and get some exercise.

"He's walked 20 kilometres in the last week playing the game, and before that he wouldn't walk 20 kilometres the whole summer."