Pokémon Go: Drivers are Go to cash in on Pokémon fans

IT’S the game designed to get people off the lounge to “catch ‘em all”. But some savvy Aussies are already cashing in on Pokémon Go by offering chauffeur services to gamers.

IT’S the wildly popular augmented reality game designed to get people off the lounge in an effort to “catch ‘em all”. But some savvy Aussies are already cashing in on the Pokémon Go mobile game by offering chauffeur services to gamers.

The free to play game burst onto the scene in Australia last week and within hours had topped the App Store’s top grossing charts as millions downloaded it.

Plugged into your phone’s GPS the game generates Pokémon in the world around you (on your phone’s screen) and encourages users to navigate around their surrounding to encounter increasingly more exotic and new Pokémon.

Sydney students Nathan Sammut, 15, Kristopher Meyer, 15, Keenan Forster, 16, Matthew Ling, 15, and Bryan Chang, 15, playing Pokemon Go at Sydney Harbour. Picture: Britta Campion / The Australian.

Campbelltown man Colin Chapman said he initially offered his services to drive Pokémon hunters around for $30 an hour as a joke, not expecting any reply.

“I’m really surprised, I didn’t realise how big this whole thing had gotten, but everyone seems to be into it,” he said.

“It was actually a bit of a joke at first, but I figured if someone wanted to pay me $30 an hour to drive them around while they catch Pokémon, they were welcome to.

“And they do.”

Colin Chapman is offering his services, driving Pokémon catchers around Sydney’s south west for $30 an hour. Picture: Supplied

Mathew Wrightman is a driver and a Pokémon fan who will drive you around while you catch them all. Picture: Supplied

He said that since posting his ad on the Narellan Community Noticeboard on Facebook he had received at least 10 expressions of interest and several firm offers.

“I’m offering my services to be a Pokemon driver. I will drive you around catching pokemon, pokestops, gyms & hot spots. $30 an hour,” he posted.

Newcastle man Mathew Wrightman has also experienced success offering his services to would-be Pokémon champions.

“There are a lot of people ranging in ages from 40 even, just walking their dogs playing Pokemon Go,” he said.

Pokemon Go fans Christian Thorpe and Nikki Schumann. Picture: Evan Morgan

Enterprising Aussies are cashing in on the Pokémon Go experience.

Pokemon Go in action. Picture: Evan Morgan

“It was nice to see people out again rather than being stuck on social media.”

Mr Wrightman, who advertises his services on Gumtree for $30 an hour, will also let his clients charge their phones in his car. For an extra $5 an hour.

The game is aimed at encouraging users to travel around the real world, with real world locations such as parks, murals and monuments serving as “Pokestops” where users can get supplies and experience.

Already stories have emerged of people hunting down Pokémon at their work desks, in hospital rooms and bathrooms. A US woman apparently stumbled onto a dead body while on the hunt for Pokémon and in New Zealand, police were forced to advise users to avoid one Pokestop because it was the club house of the local Hells Angels bikie chapter.