Three and a half weeks after downloading Pokemon Go, a Toronto man claims to be the cityâs first bona fide PokeMaster, catching all 142 Pokemon currently available in Canada.
And, on top of earning those bragging rights, Roberto Vazquez says he lost 25 lbs in the process.
âOnce I went on the scale and saw it, I was in shock,â Vazquez, a professional photographer, told ŰÎŰ´ŤĂ˝ Channel on Thursday. âBecause initially youâre playing the game, youâre running around, youâre walking a lot, you donât really notice that youâre being very active.â
His quest to catch âem all began on July 8th and took him across Toronto to areas heâd never seen before. He made new friends, hatched plenty of eggs and reached level 24 in the game. All while clocking more than 266 kilometres on the app.
Vazquez said his motivation was rooted in nostalgia.
âI just started because as a child I watched the show with my friends, played the games, and it definitely brought back good memories,â he said.
Since its July release, Pokemon Go has become a global phenomenon with more than 100 million downloads worldwide. The augmented reality game has made headlines for breathing new life into the 20-year-old Japanese franchise, causing a major boom (and bust) to Nintendo Co.âs stocks, and triggering a series of player-related mishaps. Two men in California playing the game, and other players have quit their jobs, and slapped with .
Asked about the notorious misadventures, Vazquez said itâs important to heed the gameâs warning and stay aware of your surroundings as you play.
âAt the end of the day, itâs still a game and youâre in real life,â he said. âYou want to make sure youâre being safe with others in the area.â
And aside from weight loss, the professional photographer says the game has been an eye-opening experience for his job.
âFor my line of work itâs amazing because I get to see new locations and utilize it for my own work,â he said.
His next mission, he says, is to catch the elusive Farfetchâd, a normal- and flying-type Pokemon that resembles a duck and is currently only available in Asia.
His gameplay may also be given a second wind if Niantic, the company behind Pokemon Go, decides to release its legendary Pokemon â a development the companyâs founder recently alluded to at San Diego Comic Con.
Vazquez isnât the first player to report health benefits from playing Pokemon Go. A British player he lost 28 lbs. playing the game, and a University of British Columbia professor has said the game could provide for people with depression or social anxiety.