Singapore attractions get into Pokemon Go spirit, for good or bad

SINGAPORE — While some commercial buildings have capitalised on the Pokemon Go craze to lure patrons, others have had to manage an unwanted surge in visitors, with a few doing so by putting up gentle, lighthearted notices on their Facebook pages.

Launched in Singapore five days ago, the popular game involves players searching for and capturing cartoon characters from the Pokemon franchise on their mobile devices. The characters are shown in real-world settings.

“Pokestops” and lures are scattered across various locations, allowing players to get free in-game items at the former, while the latter attracts Pokemon to the location — as well as the players hoping to catch them.

The Muslim Converts’ Association of Singapore, which has one Pokestop at its compound in Joo Chiat, posted an advisory on Facebook on Sunday to remind players “to maintain our building cleanliness and sanctity while you are here … (and) to reduce noise as we do have classes and other religious activities going on throughout the day”.

On Tuesday, it quipped that “walking around 80km to catch Pokemon, doesn’t qualify you to ‘Jama’ your Zohor into Asar” — referring to prayers being shortened or combined. The association said new visitors to the compound have observed their guidelines, and were largely respectful and non-disruptive.

At the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery near Bishan, an increase in visitors — mainly attributed to players — was noticed. However, the monastery’s staff said the numbers “have not been overwhelming”.

The monastery is home to a number of Pokestops, as well as a PokemonGO gym, a place where Pokemon battle each other. In a Facebook advisory posted on Monday, it said: “Do practise mindfulness and be considerate when you are on a PokeHunt to avoid disrupting classes and religious activities which might be going on.”

At the National Gallery Singapore, signs were put up telling visitors that “unpleasant and uncooperative” Pokemon Go trainers would be removed from its premises. But the gallery added on its Instagram feed: “Do remember to tag us if you caught any Pokemon Go at our gallery.”

On National Day, it launched a giveaway of its All-Access Exhibition Passes to the first 100 players who showed their screenshots of Pokemon captured at the gallery.

“Hopefully, the visitors enter the Gallery as Pokemon Go players and leave as art lovers,” said a spokesperson, adding that it has seen “a healthy redemption of these passes from Pokemon Go players”.

The spokesperson said that, so far, visiting players have been maintaining a comfortable distance from the other visitors and the artworks displayed. “In fact, their presence has livened up the atmosphere within the Gallery, and all visitors and players are enjoying themselves,” she added.

The commercial properties that have caught onto the Pokemon craze since it launched here include shopping malls owned by Capitaland and City Development Limited. On National Day, City Square Mall in Farrer Park, developed by City Development Limited, released a series of lure modules across six locations within the mall. Some parks such as the Chinese Gardens and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, and housing estates have also drawn large groups of players.

When TODAY visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park yesterday evening, pockets of players — most of them young — were seen around the area, which is known for sightings of rare Pokemon.

Not every park-goer was amused — some TODAY spoke to said some players had been obstructing the way and colliding into them. One park-goer, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tang, said he has had players collide into him while he was walking his dog. “It’s like they are walking blindly … and not aware of their surroundings. It is very dangerous,” he added.

A Facebook user named Jantzen Lee complained of the litter, such as bottles and cigarette butts, left behind by players hunting down Pokemon at Hougang Avenue 10. “Please be considerate ... You wouldn’t like it if you are a resident who (has to) wake up to a mess (in) your neighbourhood every morning,” Mr Lee said.

Homemaker Rachel Oh, on the other hand, did not mind the players’ presence in the parks. “It’s good … to be out once in a while … (and it’s) definitely better than being cooped up at home all day and having no exercise,” she added.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said it is aware of the increased number of park visitors as a result of the presence of Pokestops in its parks.

“Our advice to members of the public is to be aware of their personal safety, and to practise proper etiquette and courtesy while playing Pokemon Go, and to avoid damaging plants and park facilities,” said NParks’ Covering assistant chief executive officer (Park Management and Lifestyle Cluster) Chia Seng Jiang.