Recent Pokemon news includes a survey that found that the game has already generated $250 million in revenue, and a report that the Pentagon isn’t keen on the game being played at its facilities.
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This isn’t the first time that Niantic’s app has been in hot water with the US Defense Department. Patrick Evans, quoted at CNN.com, said there is no ban on the game itself for Pentagon personnel, but the apps needed to play it are not approved for government-issued devices.
When news broke that Iran had chose to ban Pokemon GO over ‘security concerns, ‘ many gamers found the decision to be an extreme one. After all, there’s a gym at the center of the Pentagon’s courtyard.
“I can confirm it”, said Director of the Defense Press Office Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, who briefed reporters alongside Trowbridge. Using their mobile phones, players walk around until virtual Pokemon appear onto their screens. The augmented reality mobile game – in which players try to capture Pokemon characters that suddenly appear on their mobile device screens – was released July 6 in the US and later in the month in most other countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany.
Other smaller military bases have also commented on the risk Pokemon GO provides to trainers, including those who work on stations.
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There have also been privacy concerns with players being required to register personal information in order to sign up and download the game.
