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Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2016 16:35:17 GMT -4
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Raghda Al Anbari (MS4)
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Post by Raghda Al Anbari (MS4) on Jul 12, 2016 22:00:30 GMT -4
Lets start with the game history, the idea for the game was conceived in 2013 by Pokémon Company with T.N. of Google Maps. The decision to create the Go Plus rather than create a smart watch app was to increase uptake among players for whom a smart watch is prohibitively expensive.
On March 2016, Niantic announced a Japan-exclusive beta test would begin later that month, allowing players to assist in refining the game before its full release. The beta test was later expanded to other countries. On April 7, it was announced that the beta test would expand to Australia and New Zealand. Then, on May 16, the signups for the field test were opened to the United States. The test came to an end on June 30.
The game was released in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand on July 6, 2016.
Within hours of release, the game has become the fastest game to top the App Store, and what that really mean? People are on social media most of their time.
There are two paths for this game. It may have a positive effect on some people; especially those with depressed mood or those with social anxiety by letting them interesting in something new and bring them in contact with other people without their desire. It also may let them go out of their homes, do some walking and exercise besides getting some fresh air and sunlight. But is that really what will be beneficial to them, I don’t know!!
But let be more realistic, people with depression or anxiety or any other mental illness will not engage in doing physical activities, they may do play the game but from their chairs….
Again, as everything in our life, it may have a negative effect too. Like making people busy with something has no advantage, they will make inaccuracies in their works, because they are busy with a game on their phones, its right that we may need to take brief breaks throughout the work day but it can end up eating more time than we planned.
Safety concerns and data security are among the most alarms. Beside that people may drive while using their phones and this is one of the scariest things happening now, everyday we are losing a lot of people because traffic accidents, and most of those accidents are due to drivers being busy! Mostly with their phones.
Now you can see people of all ages, from elementary school to old age, walking across fields, turning in circles, wandering around like robots, and standing pointlessly in front of churches and homes—all gazing at their phones and regularly swiping upward to capture those little aliens.
Along with the game’s quick recognition, there are strange stories—like a teenager stumbled upon a dead body in a river while playing Pokémon Go and other stories about physical injuries while playing the game. People should watch their steps.
We need people to be more open and socialize, this game will keep them far away from each other in some means, and people are already spending all of their time with phones!! Video games…etc.
And of course I am not sure how this new game will end!! But again, I believe, it will be just a while till something new is popular next.
Also, it may have hidden purposes that we don’t know yet!! And again, it will take a couple of weeks and then everybody will forget about it, mostly because of the human nature!! Everything is boring after a little use!!
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Post by Heather Le on Jul 12, 2016 23:14:50 GMT -4
As my parents have always taught me, too much of something can be bad for you. Personally, I think the Pokemon Go is a great use of technology that is able to get people out of the house. I was at Piedmont Park on the weekend and there was a group of teens talking about how they were at Little Five Point for 3 hours walking around in the afternoon trying to capture a Pokemon. They proceeded to say that although they didn't capture what they were after they had a good time, learned and tried something new and they met new people with similar interest other than Pokemon. Again, this was in moderation (maybe 3 hours is a bit much for others, but how is that any different from hiking for 3 hours?) now if this group of teens were wandering around for 3 hours in the middle of the night I am sure my opinion would be different. In any case, I firmly believe that everything in moderation is key.
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Post by Ali Alizadeh (MS4) on Jul 13, 2016 0:19:57 GMT -4
Setting aside the many facets of the game, that are for better or worse, the article mandates a focus on its effects of those with mental health issues. It largely focuses on two aspects, the physical/social activity gained from having to go “out and about” to catch Pokemon. As well as the sense of satisfaction or enjoyment garnered from advancing in the game. In theory, both could be very significant in the application as and adjunct in behavioral health treatment plans. However, in practice, the complexity between mental health illnesses alone call for a careful scientific study to properly draw any conclusions. Studies which require a great deal of time and money, both of which are rare commodities, so we may never have a conclusive answer. As well, the nature of our relationship with video games is a dynamic one. Case in point was a young man I had been assisting in the treatment of in my inpatient rotation. He would become violent after losing a close match on Destiny, an online shooter game, destroying his apartment and hurting himself in the process. Stopping him from playing the game for me was not the solution, in fact, I rather felt the opposite. The game was providing him with an emotional outlet or at the least some level of monetary entertainment. The key, as in this case with Pokemon GO, is the use of other adjunct therapies (CBT, meds, etc.). Behavioral health treatment plans are after all most effective when multi-factorial.
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Adaku Taylor (PA-S)
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Post by Adaku Taylor (PA-S) on Jul 13, 2016 10:27:16 GMT -4
I have never been a fan of video game, because I grew up with three older brothers and cousins who would hog up the television and play video games for 12 hours straight. Since then I detested video-games, and viewed those who played it as lazy. This article is interesting in that it mentions ways that this game can be beneficial to mental health patients. I did some research and have learned that Pokemon GO is a video game that promotes travel between the real world and virtual world. It uses real-world locations such as New York, Paris, and areas in Japan to encourage players to get on their feet and step outside to find and catch a wild Pokemon, while exploring your local cities. As you encounter a Pokemon, your smartphone vibrates and you can “catch it” by pointing your phone. I can see how this can support mental health, by providing those who have GAD, social anxiety, or schizoid personalities a way to participate with their real world surroundings, while feeling safe in their virtual world. But as all video games, people can form dependence and addictive habits if they continuously rely on it to cope. So I would also encourage strict monitoring and continued counseling for mental health patients who play this game.
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Post by Jose Lobo on Jul 13, 2016 14:13:11 GMT -4
Personally, I would say that I'm a gamer and have always loved video games. While growing up, I loved playing the Pokemon games and watching the tv show. I personally believe games can and have proven to help many people with medical problems. I personally wrote a paper one time back in highschool on a study of how video games can help kids control their asthma. In addition, games early on can teach problem solving skills, and many games even require players to read countless number of texts. Which was proven that kids who play more games earlier on tend to expand their vocabulary just as well or almost equivalent to those kids who read many books. Now, I wouldn't be surprised if Pokemon Go has already helped some people with GAD, agoraphobia, or other such mental illnesses. In addition, it promotes exercise by walking around trying to find many Pokemon. With just exercise alone, people can feel good about themselves, and possibly improve mental illness such as mild forms of depression. Regardless, Pokemon Go is just a game. Whether it helps with mental illnesses or not, the game is meant to be played and have fun with.
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Post by Hassan Haji- MS3 on Jul 13, 2016 19:09:56 GMT -4
This is an augmented realty game App in which you walk around randomly without proper planning and luck of awareness of your surrounding capturing the realty Pokémon in the real world. It’s not the only new virtual technologies that researchers are looking into to improve psychological issues (treating depression, anxiety and PTSD). There are always pros and cons to the virtual realty of Pokémon: Personally I think it is helpful for the following reason.
1. It provides a positive vibe and energy with rewards to the players by making the individual to get out from the house and walk around the neighborhood to socialize. It also activates the mind to experience a positive reward as a cognitive therapy for individual that limits there time by staying at home all the time.
2. For those who are suffering from social anxiety that are socially withdrawn can be a trigger tool to sensitizes and approach others who are playing the game. However, the interaction with others can make you fit in the Pokémon circle without realization of prior social awkwardness.
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Post by Jamila Pham (MS3) on Jul 13, 2016 19:57:24 GMT -4
The game Pokemon Go has just been released for about a week but it has gained immediate attention in society. It has gained a lot of bad public media such as causing accidents on the road, to getting robbed and stabbed by being in the wrong places looking for Pokemon. What a lot of people don’t realize is, this game has a lot of potential benefit. It has gotten a lot of people off of their couch and leaving their houses. I believe that this game can help with the problem of obesity that the US has been facing. Pokemon go encourages people to walk and get exercise; exercise alone can help with mood. At the moment, I feel like it’s too soon to say that Pokemon Go can help with mental health; but I do feel that the game along with medication usage can help fight mental issues such as depression and anxiety. Continued research should be performed to further the theory that this game can be a potential help for patients with mental issues.
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Gabrielle Givens (MS3)
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Post by Gabrielle Givens (MS3) on Jul 14, 2016 10:24:12 GMT -4
It’s hard to believe how quickly this game has risen to the top. Just one week into it’s release, and it’s hard not to find someone talking about the game in one way or another. I believe Pokemon Go is a great game to get people up and walking around that may not normally do so. Too many video games rely on the player just sitting in front of a TV screen, computer monitor, etc., and while these games may be mentally stimulating there is no physical activity required during play. I think it might be a little too early to tell if it’s the game helping with people’s mental health or just the exercise and getting out of their houses. Either way it’s a great way for people to get moving, and if it helps someone who is struggling with depression, agoraphobia, etc. well I think that’s a pretty great bonus.
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Post by David Vu on Jul 14, 2016 12:17:27 GMT -4
Pokemon has been a popular franchise for for over a decade now. The makers of the game, Niantic wanted to create a game that connected people and have people get out of their homes and comfort zones. Pokemon Go is a game that has definitely got people moving. Its okay if its just a fad.
Pokemon Go is a stepping stone in the right direction as far as making people more interactive with each other and more mobile. It gives people another opportunity for an outlet. Games should be interactive and involve more community. Setting aside the unclear philosophy with the developers and what they are going to do with all this data, Pokemon Go is a go for me.
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Post by Keval Patel on Jul 14, 2016 14:34:31 GMT -4
While there are plenty of mobile games that have a social factor, non are quite like Pokemon Go. Pokemon Go forces its users to get out of the house and move around the neighborhood. It provides a form of exercise that many people find difficult to squeeze into their daily schedule. Some of the benefits of exercise includes, reduction in risk of developing diabetes, developing HTN, reduction in blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure, and decreased feelings of depression and anxiety. Patients with diabetes and hypertension have noted diminished severity of their illness with reduction in medication with simply walking.
With the prominent roles of smartphone in our lives we find it difficult to look up and converse with people. With the release of Pokemon Go more people are discussing the game, and the interesting Pokemon they have encountered on their adventures. Discussing the game can provide a topic of discussion to those who may be suffering from social anxiety disorders.
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Post by Jennifer Ugbede on Jul 14, 2016 14:40:39 GMT -4
Studies show that video games can teach skills that are repeated in the real world as long as its kept in proper balances. Video game usage should be monitored to make sure people especially children learn good habits and well-rounded individuals both physically and mentally.
Poke mon Go can help with improving the mental and physical health of players suffering from depression and social anxiety. Poke mon Go probably help a lot of people who have depression for example rather than laying in bed all day poke man users are getting up and going outside and enjoying themselves. Pokemon Go does this by encouraging people to go outside take a walk, talk to others and explore the world around them.
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Post by Sarah Weber MS3 on Jul 14, 2016 15:46:54 GMT -4
Exercise and exposure to sunlight have both been shown to positively impact symptoms of depression. While pokemon go likely doesn't require high intensity exercise, it does keep some people outside for extended periods of time, and especially in the summer during long daylight hours, this sun exposure could benefit some patients with depression. Motivating patients with depression to exercise is a major challenge, the game seems to be addressing this issue effectively. However, it remains to be seen whether this will be a sustained effect, or whether interest in playing the game will wane over time, especially during the fall and winter when the weather is less pleasant and motivation to get outside becomes even more of a struggle. The internet is currently awash in articles praising the game's effect on mental illness and anecdotes from people saying that it has helped them personally (just google pokemon go mental health). The game may provide an avenue for patients suffering from social anxiety to leave their comfort zones and perhaps interact with others playing the game. The risks of playing the game seem relatively low, aside from the malicious intent of a few people using it as bait for robberies, and the potential to spend large amounts of money, which notably does not seem to be happening as much with this game as it does with others. Given the risks and potential benefits, it is probably fairly harmless and may even produce some benefit, though this may be time limited.
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Post by Fenil Patel on Jul 14, 2016 16:43:17 GMT -4
I want to start with letting everyone know that I knew just a little about this recent pokemon game until i googled it up and found millions of article and realized people are genuinely crazy about it. pokemon is a very well known franchisee for more than a decade. When i was in middle school and high school i had seen a lot of my friends going home right after the school to catch the pokemon cartoon. I never understood that even until today.
I feel any games are great way of keeping the mind active and busy. Pokemon Go is a stepping stone in the right direction as far as making people more interactive with each other and more mobile. It gives people another opportunity for an outlet. Games should be interactive and involve more community. It has gotten a lot of people off of their couch and leaving their houses. I believe that this game can help with the problem of obesity that the US has been facing. Pokemon go encourages people to walk and get exercise; exercise alone can help with mood. I am not sure about how helpful it would be to the patient with already mental health condition. However, I feel like people who don’t have mental health condition currently are at good hands and might never have to suffer from mental illness if they are active even with this Pokemon Go game.
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Post by Loretta O Akpala on Jul 14, 2016 17:24:48 GMT -4
According to recent articles published online, the Pokemon Go game has helped provide some relief to some individuals suffering from Anxiety and Depression. It is believed that the game unintentionally pushes these individuals to be more active(exercise) by walking around and it also encourages them to interact more with other game players and individuals in the society as a whole.
Prior to the game, some depressed patients found it hard to get out and exercise. The thought of it alone was daunting to these patients. Also, other apps which are known to tract the moods of such patients have not been as successful as the Pokemon Go game in getting patients to be more active. The reason for this lack of success maybe because some patients tend to not follow through with the task of tracking their moods with the mood-app.
Exercise has been proven to help provide some relief in patients who suffer from depression (and anxiety) by releasing feel good endorphins. Exercise also helps to increase the overall quality of life in these patients who are depressed (or have social anxiety). A game such as Pokemon Go that gets people exercising by walking and being more active as well as interact with people in the society around them. As a result i of the opinion that the Pokemon Go game is welcomed because of it's unintentional benef and relief it provides to patients with Mental Health challenges and Depression.
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