Pokémon GO developer Niantic has released a new video which tells the story of Tommy, a fan of the game who has enjoyed dramatic health improvements as a result of playing regularly.
A student at the University of Greenwich in the UK, Tommy recalls how he felt "isolated" as a child, not having many friends. He remembers seeing a photograph of himself and not recognising the person he had become, realising that he had put on so much weight that he no longer felt comfortable in himself and needed to change.
For Tommy, the change he needed came in the form of Pokémon GO. What started as an excuse to go on a 20-minute walk soon became a tool for completely changing his lifestyle for the better; he's managed to lose more than 10 stone (140lbs / 63.5kg) thanks to the regular exercise the game provides and has made lasting friendships within his local Pokémon GO community. It all sounds heartwarmingly familiar.
You can watch the video for yourself below.
Comments 14
Wow. Nice to see videogames helping people to change their lives, even if the videogame is a mobile title.
More than 10 stones = over 60 kilos. That’s good!
Awesome story. Finding something fun, that's also exercise is an incredible thing. A gift.
Good for the guy, he has changed his life.
Pokemon Go gets me out walking a lot more than I would be otherwise, but it's clearly done much more for this guy.
Good for him I say!
This game is an awesome idea, using google map to make people walk regularly and stay healthy. The guy who got this idea deserves a medal.
for those of us on the other side of the pond, 10 stone = 140 lbs. they should probably put some conversions in the title, 10 stone means nothing to me but 140 lbs is like “zomg wow!”
congrats on the weight loss Tommy! seriously amazing!
There. That's why it was game of the decade.
Ring Fit Adventure is becoming a life changer for me. What an amazing game! Makes me work up a sweat every single time.
Good on you. Inspiring indeed 😁
Wait is that dude crying man I feel so proud of his story now My heart is just happy from seeing this.
I used to have strong opinions about such apps, as people walk around constantly staring at their smartphones, but over time I got to realise that many of these people weren't even walking around before, probably. I moved out of the city and into a forest, and have an immense culture shock whenever I go to the city for anything, but the hordes of pokémon go-ers are no longer part of what annoys me. I'm happy for the ones that got out, and met and bonded with others because of it. I know what it feels like to be overweight, suddenly finding the motivation to get fit again, and experiencing the improvement physically and mentally. Nowadays I start my days with ring fit adventure, before going on walks with and cooking for my adopted family of neglected and discarded, hard-to-handle animals. My team of "pokémons" that don't fit in a pocket, or a human society.
I tried meeting people playing "Wizards Unite". I am so lonely 😭
So they call money “pounds”
and weight “stone”
What are rocks called over there, “cash”?
Cultural differences are funny!
I imagine a sentence going like this:
“some Stoney bloke hit me with a bag a cash while I was chewing some chips and biscuits and made off with me pounds!”
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