Pokemon Go takes over North Sydney lunchbreaks

GAMERS are on the hunt for Pokemon in North Sydney but are left disappointed by the zubats crowding up their screens.

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BETWEEN them they’ve caught almost 1500 Pokemon.

Cindy Tan and Elle Xue are spending their commutes, lunch breaks and evenings catching the cartoon creatures across the city.

And among their friends they are the high achievers of the game of the moment: Pokemon Go.

“For Cindy and I we started on the first day. We are kind of doing better than a lot of people that started later,” Ms Xue said.

“Because of that if we stop playing it for one day we might fall behind our peers. Everyone’s really competitive. You want to do well.

“My mum asked me ‘So what do you get out of this?’ I’m like, self satisfaction.”

Elle and Cindy playing Pokemon Go in North Sydney. Picture: Jess Husband.

Dozens of people gather to play in front of the Opera House Picture: AFP PHOTO/William West

It’s been just over a week since Pokemon Go was unleashed into millions of smartphones and in that time it’s transformed public spaces across the city into hunting grounds.

North Sydney is a tech business hotspot and there are several office workers using their downtime to chase Pokemon through the streets.

But the suburb hasn’t reached the popularity of Rhodes or Circular Quay with the gamers for one simple reason.

“It’s filled with zubats,” said Ms Tan.

The winged creatures are extremely common in the game and players are keen to snatch the most exclusive and rare specimens. These are only found in certain places where all the stars align.

“North Sydney is better in terms of having a lot of PokeStops, it’s not great in terms of finding rare Pokemons, which is what we always want to find,” added Ms Xue.

Players out searching for Pokemon in Rhodes at night. Picture: Bill Hearne

A screenshot of the game in Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Frances Mao

The friends work together in digital marketing with MediaCom in North Sydney and are using Pokemon Go as an excuse to catch up with their pals.

Users have to walk around looking into their screens to play but they explained that despite appearances it’s an extremely sociable game.

“It sounds a bit anti-social because you are buried in your phone but it’s become quite social,” said Ms Tan.

“When you go to places like Rhodes people don’t go by themselves, they go with their friends.”

Tamra Foy and Finn Melville playing Pokemon Go at Hyde Park. Picture: Richard Dobson

Pokemon Go is extremely popular among nineties babies who grew up with the original Game Boy version.

The friends explained that playing the game is like a dream come true and there is also a “nostalgic” factor.

“For a lot of people it’s like something we wanted to be when we were kids and we are actually it now because of the game,” Ms Xue said.

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