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Fighting for Team Mystic in Pokémon Go: A Tale of a Quiet New Jersey Town

by Neal Ronaghan - July 8, 2016, 12:04 pm EDT
Total comments: 6

A night of Pokémon Go that involved new friends, cop cars, and victory.

“This will last two weeks,” I told my friend Billy as he downloaded Pokémon Go, the new mobile game from Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Niantic Labs. “It’ll be the best two weeks of gaming in years, but Pokémon Go will last just that.”

Two weeks was more than I lasted with Ingress, Niantic Labs’ first game, which bears a striking similarity to their new Poké-venture. Two weeks was about how I lasted with Miitomo. And how long I’ve lasted, at the most, with every mobile game I’ve ever played. I expected the same out of Pokémon Go, but after three days of catching Pokémon, capturing gyms, and exploring, I have a sinking suspicion that my affair with this game might last far longer.

I dabbled with the app for the first day or so, keeping it open while walking around, catching Pidgey and Rattata as they appeared. By the end of the first official night of release, I captured a few gyms. Most importantly, I held onto the gym I can see from my house: the local library a few blocks away.

At around 9 p.m. on Thursday, disaster struck. “Red took the library,” Billy texted me. With that, we set out to reclaim the local gym for Team Mystic (aka Blue). Meeting at the library, we easily outclassed the gym leader. Unfortunately, as is regular with the early Pokémon Go experience, technical issues wouldn’t let us seal the deal. Soon, a figure holding a phone emerged from a bush by the library and asked: “Are you guys Mystic, too?”

With our newfound friend, we eventually slayed the technical issues and took over the library. After our victory, we got invited to a closed Facebook group consisting of Team Mystic supporters in New Jersey (Editor’s Note: let me know if you want in, True Blue Jersey readers). There, we learned of a bounty of Scyther at a nearby park.

After that, we turned our sights to the community center, where only one lone Mystic Pokémon sat. On our walk there, the gym changed from Blue to Yellow. We had company. Emerging from the parking lot of the community center was a full sedan. I tried to hide behind a bush, but Billy wasn’t quick enough. “Give up!” one of the passengers yelled. “This is ours now!”

Undeterred, we beat up their Oddish and took back the gym, leaving a trio of Pokémon there to protect it. As we walked away, they returned and parked their car in the middle of the driveway that led to the community center. Within seconds, a cop pulled into the driveway after them. Billy and I quickened our pace. “The cops will probably come to us next,” Billy said.

“Whatever,” I retorted. “Those guys have to explain it first.”

On our way to the next gym at a church, we passed by several Pokéstops to refuel our collection of Poké Balls and Potions. We turned around to check the community center gym: Yellow did not take us down. We remained victorious. At the church, we saw a guy walking his dog. Billy wrote him off as just walking his dog. I pointed out his phone was out. This dude was either friend or foe.

Fortunately, he was a friend and he just added a Pokémon to support the church. We exchanged pleasantries, spoke kindly of Team Mystic’s patron saint Blanche, and carried on. Our final goal for the night was to reclaim a gym at a statue at the other side of town that Red took earlier in the day.

On our walk down the main street in town, we saw another car of two (also on Blue) stopping at each Pokéstop. We also passed by several others walking down the quiet street at 11 p.m., excitedly tapping on their phones to catch Pokémon. We retook the gym at the statue, supported another one at a beach, and called it a night.

As we returned to our homes close to midnight, we went to sleep content, knowing full well that we painted the town blue and Team Mystic had won the day.

Talkback

DandichuJuly 08, 2016

I'm in fairfield in essex county and i'd love an invite! :D


Evolution is our Revolution! Team Mystic yea!

victorschJuly 09, 2016

I have a bunch of Blues in my area and we'd love to join as well.

bardon420July 11, 2016

Strongest Team Mystic player in Middlesex County so far would love to be added to dis group with my 1800 Vaporeon

Zippy222July 12, 2016

I'm in Camden county Pennsauken mystic and I want in

eblacioJuly 13, 2016

I'm in Bergen county.  Around me, the majority are red and yellow so I need some blue trainers to support the gyms I take over.  For that purpose I would like to enter the facebook group.  Thanks.

Will PM all of you shortly!

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