SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2016 TECHNOLOGY

That big pub crawl downtown? It’s just ‘Pokemon Go’ fans

SAN FRANCISCO: If you thought it was will participate, the first big test should run out into the middle of the street,” ment in San Francisco, since she expect- Hansen said he’s hoping for a positive bad dodging phone-fixated “Pokemon come this weekend. More than 900 peo- said Grace Gatpandan, public informa- ed “maybe 50 people.” She’s still contact- vibe during the crawl, which two of his Go” players on the sidewalk, just wait: ple have signaled their intentions on tion officer for the San Francisco police ing bars to let them know about the constituents are organizing. Legions of tipsy people could soon be Facebook to attend a “Pokemon Go” pub department. Another 3,500 people event. The response hasn’t surprised “There’s been this real anxiety around chasing cartoon monsters from one tav- crawl in Cincinnati yesterday, while 800 clicked a Facebook button to attend a Karen North, a psychologist and the country in the last couple of weeks. I ern to the next in a series of pub crawls have said they’ll turn out in Pittsburgh. similar event in Brooklyn on July 23, University of Southern California profes- think we need things that bring the com- planned for cities across the US. The mon- “We have a lot of customers who are into while 1,200 said they’d turn out the same sor who studies social media. “People are munity together,” Hansen said, referring sters are invisible unless you’re playing the it. Our entire staff plays it,” said Jeff night in St Petersburg, Florida. social animals, and they’re always look- to recent racial and political tensions. He addictive smartphone game that’s swept Smith, a manager at the 16-Bit Bar and ing for something new and exciting to said the event offers the promise of “a lit- the US and a few other nations so far. The Arcade, the first stop on yesterday’s Dratini, please, very dry do,” North said. “This is much more fun tle bit of harmless fun, especially if you same can’t be said for the hundreds, and “Pokemon Go” stroll through Cincinnati’s In the week since the game’s release, than just going to a pub crawl, because it make sure you don’t walk into the street in some cases thousands, of pub crawlers Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Almost “Pokemon Go” fans have flocked to gives everybody a common activity and while chasing Pokemon.” New Yorker who have RSVP’d on Facebook for these 6,000 people have RSVP’d on Facebook parks, piers and other public spots in something to talk about.” Justin Carlino voiced a simpler goal. “Most impromptu events. Organizers in San to participate in a Pokemon pub crawl in search of creatures with names like kids who grew up with Pokemon are peo- Francisco, Brooklyn and other cities are San Francisco on Wednesday night, Pikachu, Dratini and Jigglypuff. One Getting jigglypuff with it ple our age now,” said Carlino, 24, who encouraging people to dress in costumes organized by 21-year-old Sara Witsch, small park in Sydney, Australia has drawn About 1,700 people have RSVP’d on decided to organize a Brooklyn event and form teams to compete in capturing who says she’s still devising the route. crowds of 1,000 or more players - spark- Facebook for a July 23 Pokemon pub with his friend, Michael Ackermann, 26, the virtual Pokemon critters. Police say they’re unsure how many ing complaints from nearby residents crawl in Sacramento. Despite reports after a recent night spent imbibing and people to expect, but appear to be tak- about noise and trash, according to that players have been injured and oth- playing the game. “They love Pokemon Starting small, getting bigger ing the prospect in stride. “Obviously we news reports Witsch said she’s been sur- ers robbed after becoming distracted by and they love drinking, so this is a perfect While it isn’t clear how many people expect them to obey traffic laws and not prised by the response to her announce- the game, City Councilman Steve combination of both.”—AP Obama administration seeks to ease data sharing with foreign govts ‘The current situation is unsustainable’ WASHINGTON: The Obama administra- tion on Friday released a legislative pro- posal intended to provide foreign gov- ernments with a streamlined process for asking US tech companies to share email data and conduct wiretaps for criminal investigations. The framework comes one day after a federal appeals court said the US government could not compel Microsoft to turn over customer emails stored on servers outside the United States. The proposal would require the US SOUTH KOREA: In this photo, two South Koreans play the Pokemon Go game with Congress to change decades-old elec- their mobile phones in Sokcho, South Korea.—AP tronic communications law. It would also require the consent of any foreign Possible glitch sends ‘Pokemon government because it is designed to be reciprocal. The United Kingdom is the Go’ players to S Korean city first country the United States is seeking to enter into such a bilateral agreement SEOUL: The seaside South Korean city of Niantic immediately responded to emails with. A technology industry group said Sokcho is enjoying a surge of visitors who seeking comment Thursday. Whatever the it was encouraged by the US-British are wandering the streets at all hours as reason, South Korean “Pokemon Go” play- talks. they look at their smartphones. Why? It ers have been going to great lengths to “A strengthened legal framework appears to be the only place in the country take advantage. It was after midnight when must value privacy and human rights where “Pokemon Go” players can chase the college student Han Kyeol and three while ensuring law enforcement can do mobile game’s virtual monsters. Local friends drove out of Seoul, and 4 am when its important work,” Reform Government restaurants, hotels and businesses are try- they arrived at a Sokcho beach. Surveillance, an industry group that rep- ing to capitalize on the sudden craze by lur- “As soon as we got out of the car, four of resents major tech firms, said in a state- ing tourists with photos of Pikachu and us turned on our smartphones and began ment. Some privacy advocates have other monsters in their backyard and playing ‘Pokemon Go’,” the 24-year-old said been skeptical of adopting such bilater- promising free gifts to the Pokemon “train- by phone from Seoul. “It was very dark but al agreements due to concerns other ers.” The mayor pledged to increase free what was amazing was that there were a countries do not possess sufficient judi- Wi-Fi hotspots and battery-charging sta- lot of men roaming around the beaches cial oversight for warrant use. tions, and travel agencies have launched with smartphones in their hands at 4 am” Current agreements used to allow Pokemon-themed tour packages to Han hadn’t visited Sokcho in more than a law enforcement access to data stored Sokcho. Hotels in the east coast city near decade, and hadn’t considered a return trip overseas are known as mutual legal the North Korean border reportedly saw a before “Pokemon Go” came around. He assistance treaties, or MLATs. But MLATs, surge in reservations. The mobile game has enjoyed his overnight trip so much that he become a blockbuster hit in the US within plans to return with his girlfriend. “We went which involve making a formal diplo- less than a week of its launch, but it has not to a 24-hour raw fish place, saw the sun rise matic request for data and having been officially launched in South Korea. and stopped by the main tourist attrac- authorities in the host country obtain a Even if there is an official launch, South tions,” he said. warrant on behalf of the requesting Korean users might never fully experience Lee Jung-hwan, a 26-year-old video pro- country, are considered overly cumber- “Pokemon Go.” ducer, has been traveling to Sokcho and some by law enforcement officials who Niantic Inc, a San Francisco spinoff of other towns in Gangwon province to find say the process often takes several Google parent Alphabet Inc overlays cute and capture monsters since Wednesday. months. Female doctors, scientists, Nintendo characters onto the physical When he finds Pokestop, a key location “The current situation is unsustain- world based on Google Maps. South where trainers can find items such as eggs able,” Assistant Attorney General Peter Korea’s government restricts Google Maps that can hatch into a full monster, he shares Kadzik wrote to Vice President Joe welders among 11 emojis service for security reasons. Gamers have to the location on the Facebook group for Biden, who also holds the title of presi- find spots in the real world to capture and “Pokemon Go” players in South Korea. “I dent of the US Senate, in a letter pro- MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: Female profes- where.” Among the new emoji characters is a sionals will soon be better represented in emoji doctor, a scientist, a farmer and a welder. The train Psyduck, Meowth and other virtual met people who took a day off to come to posing the new framework. “If foreign form. Google says Thursday that the Unicode characters are available in male forms as well monsters. The monsters’ appearance in Sokcho, people who worked in the morn- governments cannot access data they Sokcho was attributed to map glitches. ing and left their job in the afternoon and Consortium, which controls emoji standards, has and can be customized for skin tone. Google’s need for legitimate law enforcement, agreed to add 11 new emojis in response to original proposal said females - and those under Niantic divides the world into six groups in people who took a vacation,” he said by including terrorism investigations, they Google’s proposal in May to create a set of emo- 30 in particular - are the most frequent users of its map and by the way Niantic organizes phone from Sokcho. may also enact laws requiring compa- jis “with a goal of highlighting the diversity of emojis. The new emojis could be available on the region, Sokcho and its neighboring The city of 80,000 is a popular summer nies to store data in their territory,” women’s careers and empowering girls every- smartphones before the end of the year.—AP area bordering North Korea were classified destination for mountain hikers and beach- Kadzik said.—Reuters as Northern Hemisphere. goers. Local businesses are keen on adding “Pokemon Go” players who call the place Facebook group “Pallet Town,” the hometown of Pokemon’s “Maybe it’s a hole,” said Leonardo main protagonist. The city had four times YongUk Kim, a Seoul-based developer at more hotel-room bookings Tuesday and In nod to ‘Lights Out’ YouTube Realm. “Maybe they just left it thinking that Wednesday than it did on those days the no one would play (the game) in North previous week, the Yonhap news agency Korea but somehow Sokcho was included reported, citing Interpark Tour, a hotel origins, taps for scary promos there accidentally.” Neither Google nor booking website.—AP LOS ANGELES: David F Sandberg’s feature- BlackBoxTV’s Tony E Valenzuela, AntoSharp way we’ve never done before.” According to length directorial debut, “Lights Out,” is set to (UK), La Cosa Cine (Argentina), Luisito the companies, no money changed hands in bow next week-and Warner Bros. is using his Communica (Mexico), Brothers Riedell, the deal, and it wasn’t predicated on Warner Classic Nintendo Entertainment YouTube-to-big screen success story to mar- Miracles of Modern Science, Kenzie Nimmo Bros buying advertising on the site for the System returning to stores ket the horror film. The studio pacted with and 5 Second Films. The directive was to play film. YouTube’s interest in the project was to YouTube to invite eight up-and-coming cre- off the theme of “What are you afraid promote the resources it provides at YouTube REDMOND, Washington: If you have fond Nintendo says it’s bringing back the ators to shoot scary short films at YouTube of?”Related ‘Annabelle 2’ Draws ‘Lights Out’ Spaces and give some of its best homegrown memories of battling King Koopa or tossing wildly popular system that launched in the Space New York, on new sets inspired by the Director David Sandberg. talent a crack at creating something new-and barrels as Donkey Kong, you can relive 1980s so those who grew up with it can “Lights Out” movie. The videos are slated to As part of paying back to the YouTube not necessarily in their wheelhouse. “We want them this fall. Nintendo is leaping into the pass gaming memories onto the next gen- go live Friday, one week ahead of the July 22 community, Sandberg and Losten met with our creators to engage with these intellectual nostalgia market by bringing back the clas- eration. The device looks almost exactly like debut of “Lights Out,” a New Line Cinema the group and other aspiring filmmakers at properties, to test new formats, stretch their sic Nintendo Entertainment System. The the original NES, but smaller. It will be able presentation distributed by Warner Bros. The YouTube Space NY to provide guidance on narrative legs and experiment in different NES Classic edition comes complete with to be hooked up directly to high-definition shorts will appear on the individual creator their projects. Their main advice: don’t give up ways,” said Chris D’Angelo, director of pro- 30 built-in games, including all three “Super TVs. The system goes on sale on Nov 11. channels, as well as the YouTube Space chan- on your projects. “I told them, ‘Keep making gramming for YouTube Spaces. Mario Bros.,” “Donkey Kong,” “The Legend of Redmond, Washington-based Nintendo of nel, the official Warner Bros. YouTube channel stuff and putting it out there.’ You have no One of the YouTubers who participated Zelda,” and “Punch-Out.” America says it will retail for $59.99.—AP and promoted through social media plat- idea what will resonate with people. You keep was Kenzie Nimmo, who runs her channel forms. learning every time you create,” he said. mostly about music and songwriting with her “It’s a Cinderella story born at YouTube,” “Something I’ve struggled with is, halfway husband, Harris Heller. The Salt Lake City, said Blair Rich, president of worldwide mar- through, I want to quit - because I think it’s Utah-based couple got involved in the project keting for Warner Bros. “So it seemed like the shit. That was true for the ‘Lights Out’ feature, through Fullscreen, their multichannel net- most natural place to promote the movie was but you have to power through and finish it.” work partner. Nimmo said the “Lights Out” with YouTube.” In 2013, for a short-film com- The movie centers on Rebecca (Teresa opportunity fit into a video she was already petition, Sandberg posted the 2 minute, 41 Palmer), who grew up never really sure of thinking about making in response to fans second “Lights Out” short starring his wife, what was and wasn’t real when the lights who had been asking about how to overcome Lotta Losten, on YouTube, which he shot in went out-and now her little brother, Martin fears. “Chasing your dreams is a scary thing,” their apartment in Gothenburg, Sweden, on (Gabriel Bateman), is experiencing the same she said. “Something can be scary because of sets built from Ikea. It went viral, and eventu- kinds of unexplained and terrifying events. At social anxieties-that’s the angle I took.” ally caught the attention of Lawrence Grey, YouTube Space NY, the Internet video compa- Sandberg directed “Lights Out” from a who brought it to WB and attached James ny created two sets in the style of “Lights Out,” screenplay by Eric Heisserer. James Wan, Wan (“The Conjuring”) as producer. Sandberg one for Rebecca’s bedroom (below) and one Lawrence Grey and Heisserer served as pro- is now in the middle of directing “Annabelle 2” for the house’s basement, in collaboration ducers, with Walter Hamada, Dave Neustadter for the studio. with Warner Bros and Sandberg. and Richard Brener as executive producers. The film stars Teresa Palmer (“Triple 9,” “Warm Lights out Creative young people Bodies”), Gabriel Bateman (“Annabelle”), Billy The eight YouTubers who created shorts for “It was so inspiring to fill a sound stage at Burke (the “Twilight” franchise), Alexander TOKYO: In this file photo, shoppers walk under the logo of Nintendo and Super Mario the “Lights Out” campaign, produced over YouTube with all these creative young peo- DiPersia (“Forever”) and Maria Bello characters at an electronics store in Tokyo.—AP two weeks earlier this summer, are: ple,” said Rich. “It’s interactive marketing in a (“Prisoners”).—Reuters