Video poking fun at Pokemon Go problems goes viral

A Toronto-based production company is poking fun at the recent Pokemon Go craze hitting the city.

A video by Noodle Boys titled “Pokemon Go Problems” shows one man’s struggle with spatial awareness as he searches the city for Pokemon. The video has been viewed over 200,000 times on Facebook in less than 24 hours.

In the video, the gamer crashes into a number of obstacles around the city including garbage cans, glass doors and building pillars before he begins taking over local businesses in search for elusive and rare pocket monsters.

“I basically totally committed to walking into every object that we could,” Mark Correia, a member of the Noodle Boys who stars in the video, explained.

The danger quickly evolves from a simple bruises to possibly life-threatening injuries when he’s shown walking on the subway tracks at Union Station and crossing the intersection of Yonge and Dundas on a red light. All while remaining completely oblivious.

The video ends with an Eaton Centre security guard finally intervening.

“I like the last shot on the escalator at the Eaton Centre,” Correia explained. “I have security come over and tell me if I don’t stop playing the game I’m going to be kicked out of the building.”

Correia said since the video was posted he’s had his share of people voicing objections to the extent of the situations he put himself in.

“To me, the things that we did – let’s say blocking traffic – I really had to not shy away if I wanted to make the point,” he explained. “We walk into traffic anyway right now without realizing, we’re so in our phones.”

“For things like the TTC … I’ll keep the mystery going but it’s so unclear whether we shot that when no trains were operating,” he continued. “We’re not jumping into Union Station on the tracks while the mad rush is happening.”

The video may be meant to be satire but the TTC isn’t laughing.

“What that video depicted was an incredibly dangerous stunt. It is something that the TTC is taking very seriously,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said.

“The subway track is a dangerous place. There’s 600 volts of electricity that run through that third rail. Union Station is on a curve, so as trains come in an operator wouldn’t see anybody on the track until the last minute. So, it literally put his life at risk to make this video.”

The safety of Pokemon Go players has become a hot topic since the game’s release. Last week police forces across Canada warned of the risks involved in playing augmented reality games as reports mounted of people getting injured or landing in trouble as they played the wildly popular game.

In Quebec City, police said two officers suffered minor injuries when a car they observed driving strangely reversed into their cruiser in a parking lot.

“The driver said ‘I’m sorry, I was playing Pokemon Go,”said Const. Nancy Roussel, who said police are calling on players to be aware of their surroundings.

“Be careful, watch out, even if you are in a car, on your feet or on a bicycle, be careful and watch where you’re going, please.”

---

 

Related Links
Police across Canada warn of risks involved with playing Pokemon Go
New Zealand man quits job to become full-time Pokémon hunter
Look up, premier tells Pokemon GO players
Trending: How Pokemon Go reignited my love for Toronto

---

 

Every time the Pokemon Go app is opened, a warning from game maker Niantic pops up, telling players to be aware of their surroundings. Players must also agree to fine print saying they cannot enter private property without permission.

There’s also a disclaimer that says Niantic is not liable for any property damage, injuries or deaths that result while playing.

But despite the warnings, some people playing the game have wandered into private yards, driveways, cemeteries and, in one U.S. case, even an off-limits police parking lot in search of the app’s cartoon monsters.

Some police forces have also been employing the hashtag “DontCatchAndDrive” as players roam community streets.

“Please do not look for Pokemon while driving. If you’ve gotta catch ’em all, do so safely. #DontCatchAndDrive,” tweeted Edmonton police.

Winnipeg police and Manitoba RCMP sent out similar missives, urging players to be responsible.

In Ontario, provincial police have put out a short video on Twitter in response to the “potential risk and harm” they are seeing related to the game.

“People are getting injured, people in the U.S. are having their cellphones stolen when they show up at given locations where Pokemon are supposed to be in hiding,” said Sgt. Dave Rektor.

Don’t let Augmented Reality Apps Interfere With Reality! Safety First! pic.twitter.com/Ef4HLnw7q2

— OPP West (@OPP_WR) July 13, 2016