Seven ways to practice good Pokémon Go etiquette

Pokémon Go is finally out in the Philippines! Mere hours from its release, trainers have already been patrolling malls and walking back and forth to catch ‘em all. Besides people having fun, players who relied on “different” means have already been camping in gyms with Pokémon above CP 2000. As enjoyable as Pokémon Go is, you can have a particularly bad time if you’re not careful on how you play. Here are some tips on how you should play so you don’t annoy other people and have a bad Pokémon Go experience.

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Don’t Go and drive. It goes without saying—don’t play Pokémon Go while you’re behind the wheel. Not only can you get a ticket from an MMDA officer, you can get into a horrible accident. Reserve Pokémon catching to the non-driving world. If you absolutely and positively have to catch that Charizard, stop over at a designated parking spot or get your passengers to catch it for you. Catching a Gastly isn’t worth it if you become a Gastly yourself.

Respect private property. Playing Pokémon Go is fun, but getting caught trespassing is not. Take care of where you go on your Pokémon-hunting trips. Private property is different from public property. There’s no reason to trespass on someone else’s property while hunting. If that area has a Pokéstop or a Pokémon you’re looking for, just going within radius is enough to put you within range of accessing it.

Trainer or stalker? It’s a common sight to see fellow trainers in public places. Trainers can spot fellow trainers from a mile away. But for those who don’t partake in the ritual of catching them all, Pokémon Go trainers can send the wrong message. Here’s a creepy image: imagine someone standing awkwardly in the middle of a path with his/her phone pointed at you. To a trainer, this person is probably catching a Squirtle. To the uninformed, this person is a stalker that likes taking pictures of strangers. AR mode can be fun but turning it off can result in a better experience. You don’t need your camera to have a good time.

No phones, no Pokémon Go. Pokémon Go abides by the societal rules as your smartphones. Essentially, wherever phones are socially unacceptable, Pokémon Go is, too. It’s in bad taste to whip out your Poké Balls out in a dark theater or in a church.

Mind the other trainers. Pokémon Go might be an augmented reality game, but it doesn’t eliminate other people. Watch where you’re going and mind the people you’re with. If you’re playing alone, don’t blindly run into walls and pay attention. You don’t want your phone to be stolen. If you’re with friends or family, avoid getting sucked into the world of Pokémon . Don’t forget to talk to them. Better yet, get them into the Pokémon craze, too!

Pikachu’s shocking monthly bills. Smart and Globe have been offering trainers a free week of Pokémon Go. After this period, though, your data usage can quickly pile up if you’re not careful. Thankfully, Pokémon Go isn’t a data hog as much as it is a battery gobbler. The game consumes only a few MBs if rationed correctly. If you’re not mindful, though, your monthly bill can balloon to Snorlax-like proportions. Be sure to keep your data usage in check before heading out for Pokémon Go walks.

Pokémon hates cheaters. No one likes a lawbreaker. With GPS hacks, several Pokémon Go players are already miles ahead of proper players, barring the way for healthy gym competitions across the Metro. As tempting as it is to get ahead of the curve, you’re not making it fun for everyone else to play. Niantic also bans cheaters so don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Pokémon Go was created so everyone can have fun together. As long as everyone plays fair, everyone will have fun. You’re not just playing by Pokémon rules; you’re also playing by the rules of the world. Happy catching!