Pokémon Go invades Copperas Cove
Fri, 2016-07-15 05:00
News Staff
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
At one point as many as 30 people gathered at the Copperas Cove Public Library parking lot on Wednesday evening, as well as in the parking lot behind the old city hall on Main St. They gathered in clusters, talked and stared at their phones.
They’re among the millions who have embraced the app-driven game Pokémon Go, based on the popular Pokémon card game of the 1990s. Pokémon Go released about a week ago from Niantio.
People chatted, talking about other locations, gave game tips, and occasionally exclaiming as they looked at their phones when another Pokémon popped onto the screen.
The library’s location is significant to game players because it consists of three “PokéStops,” which include the library, old city hall, and the side lawn of the library, which in the game is labeled as the library “pavilion.”
The game uses GPS to guide players to real-life places like the PokéStops. Players at that location gather Poké balls and game tools like incense and potions.
The City of Copperas Cove’s Facebook page shared a meme showing the Pokémon characters in the library, inviting players to come in, use the free wifi, catch their characters, and check out some books and movies while there.
Other prime locations in the area are Pokémon Gyms, including Game Xchange in Cove Terrace Shopping Center, where players can go physically to “battle” on their phone with other characters’ Pokémon. Churches throughout Copperas Cove are Poké-Stops.
Also in the evenings, cars are lined up at Copperas Cove City Park while gamers walk throughout the area with their phones.
The game which has moved gamers out of their homes and into their communities has caused issues in some cities like Killeen, with their police department issuing a cautionary press release.
“Our department received an increase of suspicious person calls due to unknown people going into yards without permission and suspicious vehicle calls because people are driving slowly through neighborhoods,” the department’s public affairs office announced in a Wednesday press release.
Sgt. Martin Ruiz with the Copperas Cove Police Department said at this time the department hasn’t planned on a press release on this.
“We have not received calls about this going on in the area. Speaking with patrol, there have been just one instance that there was someone on someone’s property, but we aren’t sure if had to do with the game,” he said.
In Copperas Cove, Waffle Cone became an official PokéStop and will occasionally create PokeLures to get players—and potential customers—to come in.
“Hey Pokémon Trainers! We are a PokéStop on Pokémon Go. So when you need more pokéballs or items, stop by and grab something sweet, as well! (Oh and we also have Free WiFi)” the shop announced via social media.
Waffle Cone’s owner, John Hayes, said having his shop as a PokéStop has been tremendous advertising since they began several days ago.
“This is crazy; I’ve got three kids waiting outside my door for me to open up,” he said. “We’ve had people coming in that didn’t even know we existed.”
On Thursday morning, he was putting the finishing touches on laminated table tents with Pokémon games on them as well.
Business owners in other communities, like Hillsboro, are also capitalizing on the latest game craze. The city’s Main Street manager, Chris Moore, and his wife and son created “The Definitive Pokemon Go Guide to Hillsboro.”