Pokémon Go is a massive cultural phenomenon. If you don’t believe it, just watch the 41-second video above, taken by Woodzys in New York City’s Central Park, showing the madness that broke out when a Vaporeon spawned. Literally hundreds of people descended on the area, moving in a massive crowd, just to catch the elusive Pokémon.
Pokémon Go’s incredible popularity, in one video
In fairness, Vaporeon is pretty awesome:
Still, this is simply not something you typically see with video games.
So why are people so into this game? Essentially, it’s a mix of nostalgia and the game’s ability to tap into a dream fans of the series have had since it first launched. Pokémon Go, a free app for iOS and Android devices, merges real-world and in-game elements — by spawning Pokémon based on where you are and what time it is, tracking with your phone’s GPS and clock. For many people, this has tapped into a fantasy of what it would be like if Pokémon were real and inhabited our world. And that concept alone has carried the game.
For more on Pokémon Go, read Vox’s full explainer. And hat tip to Tech Insider for the video.
Watch: What you need to know about Pokémon Go
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