The University has become a hotspot for people in search of Pokemon following the recent release of “Pokemon Go.”
“It’s kind of amazing how this brings many people together,” said rising fourth-year Engineering student Duane Armell.
The popular app developed by Niantic was released July 6 and is now “the biggest mobile game in U.S. history,” according to an analysis of peak daily active users by Survey Monkey.
Players use a map and GPS in the app to find and capture “wild” Pokemon and also locate gyms and Pokestops, where they battle other players’ Pokemon and can find pokeballs essential for catching more Pokemon, respectively.
Armell created a Facebook group July 11 entitled “Pokemon Go: The Official UVA/Charlottesville Page” and a little over a week later, the group already has over 500 members.
Around 10:30pm July 18, dozens of people could be seen roaming the Lawn in search of Pokemon.
“I caught a Pidgey!” someone shouted. “There’s a Charmander over here!”
Participants were taking part in a second “Luring of the Lawn,” in which Armell and other students placed “lures” on nearby Pokestops to attract more Pokemon to the area.
“There are probably locals running around here and not just U.Va. students,” Armell said while looking out at the Lawn from the steps of Old Cabell Hall. “People get very enthusiastic about this even though there’s only been two [organized] events.”
Armell said the Facebook group is intended to connect University students and Charlottesville community members, and has been well-received.
At the first “Luring of the Lawn,” students brought music and lights to create a festive vibe, Armell said.
During the second luring, one student was walking around passing out colorful freeze pops .
Third-year College student Christopher Samuel and two of his friends were walking around the south end of the Lawn during the recent luring.
“I got an invite from my friend to come through to the Luring of the Lawn and I’m trying to be a Pokemon master so I’m going to come catch all these pokemon,” Samuel said.
Samuel — whose favorite Pokemon is a Jolteon he named “Static Shock” — had some advice to share for Pokemon trainers in search of Pokemon on Grounds.
“The Lawn’s only good for Charmanders,” Samuel said. “If you go [near the Aquatic and Fitness Center] you’ll find every single fighting [type] Pokemon.”
University alumna and Charlottesville resident Ronda Chollock was also on the Lawn, but didn’t realize she was there for an organized “Luring of the Lawn.”
“I noticed there were a bunch of lures on,” Chollock said with a laugh. “But that’s been the case a lot of evenings. It’s just kind of fun to see everyone out.”
Chollock said she thinks the warm weather has made it enjoyable to get outside and play the game.
“I usually have some game I’m playing and obviously this is the one at the moment,” Chollock said. “It’s good timing — it’s summer time — I don’t know what this would have been like if [the app] had dropped in the winter.”
Like most people visiting the Lawn, Chollock has been taking advantage of the Pokestops, which are usually placed near historic landmarks, works of art, public buildings and places of worship.
“I was visiting my family this weekend in rural Pennsylvania and there’s some Pokemon but … the [Poke]stops are few and far between so you run out of balls and it’s harder to play there,” Chollock said.
The University area is home to over 30 Pokestops, offering Pokemon trainers plenty of chances to stock up on Pokeballs and “catch em’ all.”
University officials have also taken notice of the trend.
On July 21, Virginia Athletics will be opening Scott Stadium up to the public from 6p.m. until 8p.m. for “Pokemon Go” players to explore the stadium and catch Pokemon.
“Many Pokémon currently inhabit Scott Stadium as fans will have access to all seating areas, concourses and the playing field,” a release said. “Please note that fans will not have access to the suite level or Bryant Hall.”
For trainers on Grounds, this may only be just the beginning.
“Once the actual semester starts, we kind of want to take it up a notch,” Armell said. “People have already started talking about a Pokemon Go-type [of] CIO.”
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