SeaWorld, Busch Gardens promote Pokemon Go events

July 14, 2016, 9:09 PM · SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa are jumping on the Pokemon Go bandwagon by throwing Lure-a-Thons at their parks this Saturday.

The parks promise to have 50 lure modules activated in each park during the event. If you're new to this, the lures help attract Pokemon, animated characters which users of the augmented reality Pokemon Go app can then try to catch. Pokemon Go has become a national phenomenon since its launch earlier this week, dominating the app download charts and sending thousands of fans out roaming around neighborhoods, parks, commercial districts, and theme parks looking for the popular animated creatures, which they can train and fight against other users' Pokemon.

The lure event runs from 11am-2pm at SeaWorld and from 10am-3pm at Busch Gardens. At SeaWorld, pass members also can get exclusive Pokestop access from 8-9am, and at Busch Gardens, pass members will get access to additional lure modules in the Egypt land of the park, as well as extended ride time on Cobra's Curse, from 8:30-9:30am.

If you're just getting started, SeaWorld's offering some trainer tips for playing Pokemon Go in the park, on its blog.

Seeing theme parks promote the use of the Pokemon Go app in their parks is fascinating, for as we've pointed out, the Universal theme parks had cut a deal with Nintendo for the theme parks rights to its characters, which reports at the time said included Pokemon. Granted, Pokemon Go has been developed so that it can be played anywhere, without restrictions at non-Universal parks or anywhere else. But does this mean that if Disney creates a Marvel augmented reality app, it finally can get a Marvel-themed "attraction" inside the Walt Disney World theme parks? And promote it, the way that SeaWorld is promoting these parties?

Who knows? But with cemeteries, memorials, and other sensitive locations pleading with visitors not to play on their property, one has to wonder if app developers will be enacting geographic restrictions in the game at some point in the future.

But until that happens, play away!

Update: The Orange County Register just republished my original Pokemon Go article, in case you haven't seen it.

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