Pokemon GO In the Parks?

[disneysteve]

Bored at Disney? Why do you keep going back?

Bored probably isn't the right word. Satisfied might be better. We often go for 2 weeks and we are not commando planners. We don't schedule every minute of every day. We leave tomorrow and we have zero ADRs and exactly 2 FPs booked. The rest of the trip will be free form. I know from experience that at some point, we'll all feel we've covered everything in the parks that we wanted to see and do. When that happens, there's always a bit of "What do you want to do now? - I don't know. What do you want to do?" We enjoy exploring offsite stuff (we stay offsite) so we've done Bok Tower, KSC, zip lining, downtown Kissimmee, I-drive, etc. With this game, we now have one more activity to participate in when we've covered everything we set out to cover. We currently have APs so we're not burning a day on passes if we stroll through the parks purely to play the game. Not saying we'll do that but I can see it being an option.

On another note, I don't really get the climbing over fences or standing in the middle of the street issue. DD has not had to get that close to things for the game to work. She's been a good distance away and had it register just fine.

 

[disneysteve]

I think the app is much better national news than other stories this summer.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I get lawsuits and liability. But to just use that as the reason to put down the game is naive.

Just because your neighbor has a tv and you need one, you know better than to get his. You go to the store.

I don't even get this argument. If the game developers place these things there (assuming that's how it works -- I happily know very little about this), that is on them. Simple.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think the app is much better national news than other stories this summer.

Not a high bar. And doesn't absolve the game developers IF they are placing any of these things in unsafe locations -- again... assuming that's how this works.

 

[Koz]

The only thing that will potentially bother me is 10 geniuses with their phones pulled out as you go through POC, pointing them here and there, as you try and enjoy a nice dark right.

Pretty much the same irk as flash photography, but worse, as the screen will remain illuminated.

 

[SureAsLiz]

I did not read entire thread a couple pages so someone may has said this, I don't get it , people are at a Disney park and wasting time playing a game on there phone. I like games too but I think there's a really good chance I can find something better to entertain myself while at a park.

It has been mentioned. And it's also been mentioned that parks are enjoyed differently by different people.
I enjoy going to Magic Kingdom, settling into the rocking chairs in Liberty Square or Tom Sawyers Island, and reading for a few hours. If that's how I choose to entertain myself, then that's my choice.

Currently, the choice just happens involves meeting up with friends, catching Pokemon, and maybe catching a ride or show in between.

I am BIG on personal responsibility! However, if game designers are "placing" these things as detailed below, I can certainly imagine liability on their parts:

The game designers aren't placing anything. Stops are determined (likely by an algorithm of some sort) using a combination of Google Maps, Ingress portals, and a National landmark database. If one of those is not properly updated, then a portal may appear in an area that is no longer accessible, but may have been at one point.

 

[MariMama]

It never went away. Pokemon came out in 1996. Millions of kids have played pokemon since 1996. Including ds22 born in 1996 to dd14 born in 2001. Like the old baseball cards, many early pokemon cards are valuable. You made an investment with your $50!

The app is just a new version of the game series.

Much like Harry Potter phenomenon, the kids who grew up with it still love it and are now playing the app at 20 + And beyond. Heck, at college visit tours we saw college kids in common areas playing the card games.

?? My son was born in Jan of 1997 and is 19. How can your son that was born a year earlier be 2+ years older?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The game designers aren't placing anything. Stops are determined (likely by an algorithm of some sort) using a combination of Google Maps, Ingress portals, and a National landmark database. If one of those is not properly updated, then a portal may appear in an area that is no longer accessible, but may have been at one point.

Same difference. They ARE placing them via their programming. They are responsible. I figured they weren't placing each one by hand, but using data sources and algorithms. It's still on them.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't even get this argument. If the game developers place these things there (assuming that's how it works -- I happily know very little about this), that is on them. Simple.

I think part of the problem is that the infrastructure of this game isn't actually new. The developers had a similar game a couple of years ago called Ingress (I think that was it). All of the landmarks in this game are the same as the ones from that game so many of them may be outdated. Someone mentioned the hat at DHS being a stop in the game even though it no longer exists. I heard a story of a church being a stop except that church has since become a private home so the owner has all of these people coming by to play the game, not realizing it's no longer a church until they get to the property. One stop near us was a post office, except it's not anymore. It's a restaurant now. I'm sure there are places in the game that are fenced off that might not have been fenced off 2 years ago.

Fortunately, you don't actually need to go into any of these places to play the game. Just driving by outside is close enough so it really isn't an issue anyway.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Fortunately, you don't actually need to go into any of these places to play the game. Just driving by outside is close enough so it really isn't an issue anyway.

If that turns out to be the case, great! I can still imagine a location that due to out of date info is genuinely unsafe. And that will be on them. Certainly with this legal system!

 

[Southernmiss]

?? My son was born in Jan of 1997 and is 19. How can your son that was born a year earlier be 2+ years older?

Oops ds was born in 1994. Pokemon came out 1996. Off to work. Replies to other posts must wait.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Same difference. They ARE placing them via their programming. They are responsible. I figured they weren't placing each one by hand, but using data sources and algorithms. It's still on them.

By this logic, is it on Google if maps send you to a road that has been closed down? Or is restricted in some way? They just updated the roadways on World Center Drive and Google doesn't even recognize a route to Hollywood Studios using Buena Vista Drive - if someone uses that map for information and for whatever reason something goes wrong, is Google responsible for giving them bad information or the user responsible for trusting the information to be correct?

The developers have used a combination of seemingly reliable sources, maybe the onus is actually on the sources.

Also, the Terms and Conditions have a Safe Play clause

During game play, please be aware of your surroundings and play safely. You agree that your use of the App and play of this game is at your own risk...You also agree not to use the App to violate any applicable law, rule, or regulation (including but not limited to the laws of trespass...

By playing the game, users agree not to trespass. The liability is on the user if they choose to do so

 

[disneysteve]

If that turns out to be the case, great! I can still imagine a location that due to out of date info is genuinely unsafe. And that will be on them. Certainly with this legal system!

If someone ignores warning signs, climbs a fence, whatever, I'd say that's on them, not the game makers. If the local zoo has a Pokemon show up in the tiger enclosure and some moron climbs in, is that the game maker's fault?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Truth is that I am really not concerned about this. I have much more important things to think about than this game and who's at fault if an outdated source directs someone to an unsafe location, and they don't employ common sense and avoid.

If that person ends up being a child and somehting tragic happens, it may well mean the end of the game even if no liability attaches.

Regardless, if people have their phones out to find these things in dark rides, or en masse are walking into me while they stare at this game in WDW, I won't be happy. Here's hoping it's not that bad!!

 

[Koz]

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

View attachment 181655

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

If someone ignores warning signs, climbs a fence, whatever, I'd say that's on them, not the game makers. If the local zoo has a Pokemon show up in the tiger enclosure and some moron climbs in, is that the game maker's fault?

Would said "moron" climb into the enclosure if NOT playing the game? Doubtful. I see potential lawsuits. There are news reports all over the internet of car accidents, etc. What if a person (or moron) trespasses onto a private property while playing and is injured? You guessed it...that "moron" could sue you!

ETA: http://www.wftv.com/news/local/pokemon-go-players-trespassing-while-playing-game/397963638

 

[SureAsLiz]

Would said "moron" climb into the enclosure if NOT playing the game? Doubtful

People have been climbing into animal enclosures since long before last week when this game came out

 

[PlutosUnDr8d]

I'm pretty sure there would be a riot if they somehow got Niantic to black out the parks, especially now that everyone knows it works there.
The characters can handle snapchat filters pretty well, I don't think pokemon will pose a threat

Agreed--aside from the fact that my son bought his Charizard hat AT Epcot (albeit in Japan), and they sell other Pokémon items there, too. All the CMs loved his hat--even the bus drivers! FINALLY got his PokémonGO account up and running, all set for his tenth birthday at EPCOT. Glad to hear Mexico is a stop! Why am I so excited about this???

 

[PlutosUnDr8d]

I can't login - RALPHIE!!!

It took me DAYS--finally got through today!