Pokémon Go players don't have to worry about data costs in Olds, for free Internet is available at community-owned Wi-Fi access points.
O-NET is a community-owned Internet, TV and phone services provider responsible for giving Olds free Wi-Fi in public areas.
“Pokémon was the big thing when I was in grade 1 and 2,” said Carson Statham, a technical support representative for O-NET and a Pokémon Go player. “Just the name Pokémon brings people together.”
Pokémon Go is an augmented reality video game. Specifically, it is a phone app that allows players to find and capture virtual creatures, called Pokémon, within the real world.
“It's a new approach to gaming that no one has really dealt with,” Statham said.
Players mainly catch these Pokémon by physically wandering around, but you can also attract Pokémon to your area using either incense or lure modules that can be purchased through the app.
Pokéstops are physical places where you can go to collect items such as Poké balls, which allow you to collect more Pokémon. Statham said there are at least 50 Pokéstops within Olds.
Centennial Park, the Olds College campus and the constructed wetlands at Old College are the three biggest hotspots for finding Pokémon Go characters. All of these areas have extensive Wi-Fi coverage.
It is possible to lose your connection while wandering through Olds, so the best way to hunt Pokémon is by using a lure module in areas with stronger Wi-Fi, such as Uptowne Olds and along Highway 27 west.
Pokémon Go has raised some controversy due to instances of players getting mugged, hit by cars and trespassing on private property.
Statham said people shouldn't play Pokémon Go while they are driving and to be extra careful when playing it late at night, though he said the game was not very dangerous overall.
“Safety issues can pop up for anything,” Statham said. “The game is pretty safe as far as playing it goes.”
The Technology Committee of the Olds Institute first began developing an open access telecommunications network in 2004, and construction began on it in 2011.
The network is now in place for the entire community to use.
