Pokemon Go is bringing gaming to the real world like we’ve never seen before. With Pokestops and gyms all over the world, in real locations, it was only a matter of time before someone’s home became a gym.
So what do you do if you have Pokemon trainers trekking to your humble abode to be the very best that no one ever was? If you’re Boon Sheridan, you roll with it.
Image: Twitter
I’m working on a sign for the front, something like “Train well, play with honor, leave as friends” or something equally cornball.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 9, 2016
Woohoo! I met the owner of my gym. Nice guy. pic.twitter.com/uujdC3JYbA
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Boon does raise some serious questions about the gym location, however.
Niantic is only doing triage right now on Gyms & PokéStops. I’m interested to learn about how it will evolve. pic.twitter.com/sr7tBra4IB
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Do I even have rights when it comes to a virtual location imposed on me? Businesses have expectations, but this is my home.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Does having a gym layered on my house enhance or detract from my home’s value?
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
I was half-joking if a gym adds value to a property, but a virtual location could seriously impact quality of life for a spot.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Would your evaluation of a place to live change if you learned there’s a location nearby that attracts random visitors at all hours?
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
He is quick to dismiss any claims of misbehavior by trainers.
A quick follow-up about the whole gym thing: I don’t want anyone to get the impression visitors have trespassed or been jerks.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
He even offers up some ideas for Niantic to implement to make his life a little easier.
Will Niantic eventually offer controls to the locations with a Gym or PokéStop? Could ‘Do Not Disturb’ hours be set? That could be useful.
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
Not everyone is gonna love being a destination in a virtual world. Think we’ll see opt-outs like email lists?
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
But it looks like, for now, Boon has plans to truly embrace the Pokemon Go way of life.
Just had an idea: lights in front of the church that change from Yellow to Blue to Red as gym ownership changes. Wonder if there’s an API?
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016
The most difficult part about all of this, though?
I think the biggest burn about having a Pokémon Go gym located on my house is I’ll never put the time in to ever HOLD the gym!
— Boon Sheridan (@boonerang) July 10, 2016