By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

Pokemon GO Brings Gamers Together in Lethbridge

Jul 18, 2016 | 2:33 PM

LETHBRIDGE –The latest gaming craze has hit Lethbridge in a big way.

Upwards of 200 Pokemon GO gamers turned up to the Galt Museum Sunday night, (July 17) for the first meet-up in the city.

Prospective Pokemon trainers were able to officially download the mobile gaming sensation Pokemon GO in Canada as of Sunday afternoon.

The game launched in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan earlier in July.

Local game enthusiasts jumped on the launch yesterday as they set up tents and lawn chairs to lure in Pokemon with three Pokestops at the Galt Museum.

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In the game players capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, known as Pokemon, who appear on device screens as though they were in the real world.

The App makes use of GPS, so players can place lures in different areas, attracting both virtual Pokemon and gamers to that area.

The location-based networking game allows players travel the real world and watch as their avatar moves along the game’s map.

While the main method of catching Pokemon is by walking around and finding them, players can also collect eggs at Pokestops – real world landmarks, such as Galt Garden’s.

The rarest Pokemon hatch from eggs after players complete a 10km walk and the more common creatures hatch from shorter distance walks.

Kevin Liu, Lethbridge Official Pokemon GO Event and Group Organizer, said that players showed up at the Galt Museum to travel in groups working with other gamers.

“I started the Facebook group with a few friends just for fun. I didn’t expect it to explode over a series of three days, but I love the whole community because everyone is so friendly.”

Why is the digital game so popular?

Liu said that game’s success stems from nostalgia.

“The biggest demographic of players is those 18-to-30-years-old. I’ve personally grown up on the Pokemon series, seeing the main character go out and catch Pokemon. I think a lot of people feel that it is a good way to get together as a community under one fan base.”

Liu said that the Pokemon GO group will look to apply for an event permit through the city if the interest in meet-ups increases.

For those that missed the first event, Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens will be hosting two Pokemon movie nights July 20th and 21st.

According to the Garden’s website, coordinators will drop lures on 5 Pokestops at Nikka Yuko.

Entry to each movie is $2 with screenings starting at 8 p.m.