Pokemon Go users gravitate in Sydney’s south west for riches

It’s the game that has captivated generations — Pokemon Go. And they’re all gravitating in south west Sydney for the riches in Pokemon Go.

Jarrod Douglas, 20, from Holsworthy hasn’t put his phone down since Pokemon Go was released last Wednesday. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

• Pokemon Go changed my life
• Rhodes residents spooked by Pokemon Go gamers
• Pokemon Go fever sweeps the south west

It’s the game that has captivated numerous generations. There are the hardcore Pokemon fans in their 20s and 30s who grew up watching Pokemon on the idiot box.

Then there are those hugging either side of the age group, determined to be a Pokemon master in their own right. The older generation (Baby Boomers) don’t seem to get the reason for the captivation.

Pokemon Go has only been released in a handful of countries, Australia is one of them and on July 6, it changed many people’s lives.

With public spaces the prime location to collect wild Pokemon and visit PokeStops, Bigge Park and the train station is now a local hub for gamers.

The clock tower in Bigge Park is a regular hang out. Pokemon Go users said more comfortable seating around it would be awesome. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

Wandering the Liverpool park, you notice more people seated around the clock tower and more aimlessly wandering across the grass on the hunt for that elusive creature.

A guilty smile to another mobile phone user indicates they too are on the Pokemon Go journey. A little embarrassed but secretly pleased with themselves.

It has cleverly got gamers off the couch and on the hunt in their neighbourhood and abroad.

Catching a Pinsir with Liverpool train station in the background.

A Goldeen hangs out at the old train station.

The game uses real roads, parks, monuments, schools, gyms, churches and AusPost buildings as obvious locations for players to gather.

There are 129 different creatures to collect, some a little harder than others. Then you have the chance to power up and evolve your Pokemon and battle in virtual gyms.

No matter what the aim, Jarrod Douglas, 20, from Holsworthy is hooked.

He knew the game was coming and downloaded it the day it came out. He hasn’t put his phone down since.

There are plenty of wild Pokemon to catch around the streets of Liverpool. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

To combat the battery power on his phone being drained, he’s purchased portable power as a back up on his daily ventures.

He was spotted walking through Bigge Park on Thursday with his phone in hand.

“I’d just dropped my sister off at work and saw the amount of PokeStops around Bigge Park,” he said.

“I did a 10km walk the other day to collect Pokemon and when I was at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday night there were hundreds of people playing.

“I went to an ice rink and was able to capture ice-type Pokemon.”

A Liverpool Hospital staff member was spotted in the park. On her break, she was collecting and capturing.

Even with the work going on in Macquarie Mall, you can still catch wild Pokemon. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

“Everyone at work is playing it — there are so many stops here in the park. After work with a friend the other night, we found ourselves walking into the TAFE grounds just to capture a Pokemon,” she said.

“It’s funny that social media makes us reclusive, but this game has everyone doing the opposite. There are families out here in the park all the time and it makes you talk to other people.”

Her tip was to head to Rhodes — another hot spot for PokeStops.

The WOW Festival at Casula Powerhouse is on this week. They have a few PokeStops on site and shared it with their Instagram audience.

Pokemon Go 101

● As you walk the virtual world, your avatar moves with your phone’s GPS

● There are more than 100 Pokemon to capture

● You throw PokeBalls to capture them

● They all start out wild. You have to earn Stardust and candy to “evolve” and “power up” your Pokemon

● Once you’re ready, head to a gym to battle others

● Visit PokeStops to collect incense, potion, razz berry and more. These items can be used to lure wild Pokemon to PokeStops and make it easier to capture them, especially the harder creatures

● When you’ve got a Pokemon on screen, wait for the green, yellow or red circle to be at its smallest to throw the Pokeball

● It is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality game, available on iOS and Android devices

● It was developed by Niantic and published by The Pokemon Company