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Pokemon Go ‘Catch ‘Em All’ event draws hundreds, young and old, to Maymont

Posted at 1:07 AM, Jul 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-29 01:08:45-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Pokemon Go "Catch 'Em All at Maymont" event Thursday evening was the latest evidence of the runaway success of this cultural sensation.

The vast garden and wildlife center offered up its 35 PokeStops and PokeGyms, along with promised lures so players could make lots of interesting and unusual captures, all for $10 a person, $5 for children.

The initial 300 reservations were snapped up. So were the additional 200, despite the heat and humidity.

Lots of children and parents, along with many 20-somethings showed up for the event.

GPS and cyber technology has enabled people to virtually live their favorite video game.

Some might be tempted to mock these players wandering the land, gazing at their phones as they search and capture these pocket monsters.

But players CBS 6 spoke with noted how much more healthy the game is than regular video games because of the extensive exercise required. Parks and other places of beauty are favorite hiding places for the little creatures.

So it's a bit like the skateboarding and Frisbee fads in the '60s, its making people exercise.

One player estimated he lost 15 pounds in the past couple of weeks.

Another said it's a great way to learn new areas.

Yes, it can be an addiction, some said.

And it's likely just a glimpse of the cyber worlds we'll soon create for ourselves to live in.

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