[DRAFT] Gotta Catch 'Em All!

[Kaboomlandia]

[description] After the release of the hyper-popular GPS-powered mobile app Maxemon Go, there have been dozens of pedestrian and vehicle incidents caused by people looking at their phones rather than the sidewalk. Your Public Safety and Traffic advisors have gathered to help you decide the right course of action.

[validity] Must have at least some scientific advancement

[option] "Since the release of this app, we've had a 300% increase in muggings, pedestrians being hit by cars, and trespassing as people try to find Maxemon everywhere out on a street!" cries your Minister of Blowing Things Out Of Proportion. "Three people have even attempted to break into Fort Rocks just to get at the Zoogard inside! We must ban this game, @@LEADER@@, for the good of our people and our national security!"
[effect] special classes are offered on hacking into Maxemon Go after it was banned.

[option] "Banning it would be too extreme, but we should focus on what we can do," mentions James Gordon, a local police chief. "We can fine those who trespass or jaywalk while trying to find Maxemon. That way, people might actually focus on putting one foot in front of the other rather than catching that Magicarp." With that, he jumps through your window to stop some bystander from stepping straight onto the @@CAPITAL@@ Expressway while watching their phone.
[effect] Maxemon trainers are fined if they even step off the sidewalk while playing.

[option] "You know, it's just a harmless game," pleads Tash Ketchup, an avid Maxemon trainer, who is dressed up in fan wear. "If the government instead promoted this game, it could really be popular in @@NAME@@. Hey, isn't that a Squirtel on your desk?" he says as he pulled out his phone.
[efect] @@NAME@@'s promotion of Maxemon Go is super effective.

Both names in option 2 and 3 are intentional:

- James Gordon is the Gotham police chief
- Tash Ketchup = Ash Ketchum

All three Pokemon names are intentional:

- Zoogard = Zygarde
- Magicarp = Magikarp
- Squirtel = Squirtle

[Outer Sparta]

Where's Pikachu? You gotta have him be in the issue as "Maxichu!"

[Trotterdam]

[validity] Must have at least some scientific advancement

I'd just say "must have not banned computers or video games".

Palm-sized touchpad computers with built-in wi-fi and GPS are a little more hi-tech than basic computers, but I don't know exactly how much it would take in NationStates terms and I wouldn't worry about it too much. Plus, so long as they're legal to own, they can be imported. Mobile phones are widespread in third-world countries.

"Three people have even attempted to break into Fort Rocks just to get at the Zoogard inside!"

...But Zygarde isn't a Rock-type!?

...Oh well, even the makers of the anime get confused between Rock and Ground.

Still, I'd try to be more creative, and make a Maxemon that sounds like it has a reason to be in whatever locale it is. Like something with a name that suggests gold or wealth in the Fort Knox knock-off.

[option] "Banning it would be too extreme, but we should focus on what we can do," mentions James Gordon, a local police chief. "We can fine those who trespass or jaywalk while trying to find Maxemon."

The problem with that approach is that jaywalking (and possibly trespassing, if you only briefly break into somewhere to catch a Maxemon while the property owner is away) is too common and too short-lived to be able to reliably catch everyone who does it. Especially when there is an active incentive for people to do it anytime they think the police isn't watching.

It's like trying to solve drunk driving by banning drunk people from crashing their cars.

Something like ubiquitous surveillance cameras might help to track these jaywalkers, but even then it's impossible to be constantly watching every single camera feed across the nation 24/7, so many cases would still slip under the police's noses. Without surveillance cameras, I don't think you have a chance.

EDIT: Wait, you can also know where these people are because they're carrying a GPS device. Require all GPS-capable mobile phones to log their travel and report it to the police, so police computers can sift through the data for people going where they're not supposed to be... and use it to help solve other crimes while they're at it. Privacy, who needs that?

"That way, people might actually focus on putting one foot in front of the other rather than catching that Magicarp."

While this might be a humorous reference for people familiar enough with Pokemon to know that Magikarp is not even particularly valuable, I would definitely not use a Maxemon name that differs from the Pokemon it parodies in only one letter, which is pronounced the same and which is the actual etymology of that Pokemon.

Plus, fish Pokemon would be found in water and not on roads unless you live in Venice.

[option] "You know, it's just a harmless game," pleads Tash Ketchup, an avid Maxemon trainer, who is dressed up in fan wear. "If the government instead promoted this game, it could really be popular in @@NAME@@."

Promote for... what? Encouraging people to get more exercise? Stimulating the mobile phone industry? Teenagers enlisting in the military just to get at Maxemon that are only found on restricted bases? What does the nation expect to gain from having more people play this game?

"Hey, isn't that a Squirtel on your desk?"

Funny. It's only a tiny change in spelling (again, pronounced the same - this could have been a difference betwen British and American English), but it immediately makes me picture a squirrel instead of a turtle. If you add it, I would suggest adding some explicit squirrel trait, like climbing a tree or hoarding a nut, to make it clear that this is a Pokemon parody rather than simply the same thing typed by a dyslexic.

he says as he pulled out his phone.

Should be "pulls", present tense.

All three Pokemon names are intentional:

- Zoogard = Zygarde
- Magicarp = Magikarp
- Squirtel = Squirtle

Thanks, I guessed all of these correctly before seeing this But like I said above, they're too obvious. Be more creative.

Where's Pikachu? You gotta have him be in the issue as "Maxichu!"

He's already in the previous Maxemon issue as Barrychu, so it's not necessary to use him again. Given how many Pokemon there are, I would suggest not reusing Maxemon names unless there is a context where traits of the critter beyond its name are relevant (or at least mentioned for humor).

On that note, if one of the mainline Maxemon games is ever mentioned, it should be Maxemon Violet. But then, this issue is about Go.

[Australian rePublic]

This issue needs a contribution from a cabbie (taxi driver). In real life, Pokemon Go is increasing their business and the business of Uber (or Fuber, as it is called in NationStates, as determined by issue 479, @@LEADER@@, put on a yellow light
/shameless self promotion of my only accepted issue to date
But still, you still should add the taxi option

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Copied from the Writers Block:

Broadly, be aware that a request for an issue from a game moderator isn't the same thing as a request from an editor, so don't consider the initial suggestion to be directly requested by the editing team.

I'm not saying you should abandon this draft, but I do feel strongly that it a "Pokemon issue" is too narrow and too easily obsolete. As per suggestions below, perhaps reframe things to make it reference PoGo, but not make the issue about PoGo.

Note that Luna Amore has also agreed with the below sentiment. Other editors may have a different stance.

Lots of enthusiasm from people here, but I have some worries on the concept in general:

Yes, its topical. But its almost too topical. PokeGo only came out in the last few days, right? Who's going to say anyone will care about it at all in 3 months time, let alone 3 years time?

Pokemon has been around much longer of course, but issues have to be able to stand the test of time, and issues about short-term crazes generally aren't going to manage that...

...though of course, I did just edit an issue about Flash Mobs, which is so damn 2003 it hurts... but at least I knew that this was a notable thing that is probably here to stay. PokemonGo, on the other hand? Meh, I barely care about it now, let alone in a year's time.

On the other hand, a broader issue about people not being aware of their environment because of their media devices could touch on fuddy duddy traditionalists saying that people don't talk any more, safety officers talking about car accidents and muggings, or whatever. Meanwhile Pokemon Go could be referenced in some satirical way, maybe with a teenager pointing out that he wouldn't even have left the house if he hadn't been playing the game, and that its about enhancing reality, not replacing reality.

That sort of topic might date better, as for at least a few decades to come there's going to be grumbling old people talking about how kids eyes are glued to screens.

Meh, I barely care about it now, let alone in a year's time.

And that's why you are unfit to be a true Pokemon Master. *nods*

I agree though. Any issue on the subject needs to focus on a problem that will still be relevant. AR games like this will likely still be relevant and have with the same issues as PoGo in the years to come. Try not to make it too Pokemon dependant. The issue needs to be center stage. The references are just set dressing.

[Kaboomlandia]

I'll be taking these suggestions into account.

[Trotterdam]

The main point as now written is mobile games that reward you for your real-life location/activities rather than for things done "inside the game world". Pokemon Go is the most famous example, but I'm sure a bunch of rip-offs are on the way. It's a logical consequence of common game devices these days having built-in GPS, motion sensors, and cameras. (You damn youngsters, back in my day...)