Playing Pokémon GO in Newtown: How Catching 'Em All Helps Local Business

Newtown, CT — Pokémon GO is sweeping the nation from smaller towns like Newtown to the big city of Manhattan. And business owners are taking note.

Pokémon GO, which launched this past week, encourages users to get out and GO "catch 'em all" by using real locations to encourage players to find Pokémon. Rather than playing solo in their bedrooms or basements, players are getting outside and conversing with people at public places about the interactive game.

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How does it work? As you move, your smartphone vibrates to let you know you're near a Pokémon. Players then throw a PokéBall to catch it and add it to their PokéDex. The game uses your phone’s GPS and camera to turn the real world into a gigantic scavenger hunt.

In each town nationwide, developers have added PokéStops— from libraries and churches to public art installations, historical markers and monuments. An in-game item called a “Lure Module” attracts Pokémon to a PokeStop for 30 minutes and they're visible and attainable to everyone nearby.

According to Forbes magazine, businesses are jumping on the PokéWagon and advertising that they're a PokéStop on their Facebook pages, which is a great way to entice players to come into their stores.

Have you downloaded Pokémon GO and found any Pokémon in Newtown? Tell us where in the comments!

Read more about Pokémon GO here.

Images via Pokémon GO app