| Danial Norjidi |
POKEMON. Have you caught them all? If not, you can finally start, because Pokemon GO is now live in Brunei.
Initially released in selected countries early last month, the free-to-play location-based augmented reality game has become a global phenomenon, with millions of users already online, and it has now made its way to Asia, including Brunei on iOS and Android.
The announcement of Pokemon’s GO’s highly anticipated arrival in this part of the world was announced yesterday by the game’s developers, Niantic, on the game’s official Facebook page.
“Trainers in 15 new countries and regions across Asia and Oceania can now officially download Pokemon Go from the Play Store or App Store. Discover Pokemon in the world around you,” reads the Facebook post.
The countries and regions include: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Soloman Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
In the game, players create an avatar which moves through the in-game map as players move within their real world surroundings. While walking around, players will encounter Pokemon (Pocket Monsters) which they can then attempt to capture using in-game items called Poke Balls.
Real-world geographical locations and landmarks also have significance in the game, with certain locations used as PokeStops, which provide players with useful in-game items, and Pokemon Gyms, which serve as in-game battle locations.
A Pokemon fan plays Pokemon GO on a phone. One of the most anticipated mobile games, Pokemon GO, is finally live in Brunei Darussalam. – DEAN KASSIM
Following its launch in Asia yesterday, Brunei has seen a multitude of users take up the challenge of catching all the Pokemon they can.
Speaking to the Sunday Bulletin yesterday, local Pokemon GO users shared their delight at finally being able to use the app, though at the same time urged people to be careful and mindful of their surroundings while using it.
One such local player named Azi said, “It’s exciting to know that we are able to participate in this worldwide phenomenon.”
“It’s definitely a lovable game, because it’s so exciting to see people get so enthusiastic over a brand that was established 20 years ago,” she said.
She advised, however, that like with any mobile application, people shouldn’t be using it while driving. “Just as the Pokemon disclaimer says, be wary of your surroundings and please be careful.”
Khairul, another local player, said, “The wait was worth it. At first I thought that the hype died, but that moment when you stumble upon a rare Pokemon, you get so excited and feel like a kid again.”
“I’m loving it, but I feel that people should remember to be respectful at landmarks that are Pokestops,” he said, before adding, “be safe, and be responsible while playing.”
Hariz, who works in ICT, shared, “I was really hyped about Pokemon Go being released on the second day of Hari Raya, but was pretty sad to find out that Brunei didn’t have any Pokemon Go servers.”
“I was really happy when I found out that it was finally up in Brunei. I was worried we would never get to play it.”
“So far the game is awesome. It’s not perfect, but it’s an all new experience for both old and new Pokemon fans. I’m happy to see malls like Times Square filled with people walking around playing Pokemon Go with their phones.”
“I like how it’s actually helping people get out of the house more, but it can be quite distracting, so I advise other players to keep aware of their surroundings while using the app,” he added.
Another local player to share his thoughts was Najib, who said, “Pokemon GO is fun and it takes you out to places you’ve never been, and gets you out of the house – a little Kenali Negara Kitani (KNK) in Brunei.”
Sports enthusiast Yamin also commented, saying, “It’s great. Me being a sportsman myself, this makes my jogs and hikes more interesting.”
Diyanah also plays Pokemon GO, and she said, “I’ve never been to the places that Pokemon GO has let me find. It’s a breath of fresh air.”
One more player, Marin, shared, “I’ve met a lot of people who are playing it outdoors at places like parks. I saw three-four groups. It’s like a safari.”
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