He quit his job to play Pokemon GO and now has a better job offer
Almost every other day there's a news of something crazy or wacky related to Pokemon Go, which reflects just how ridiculously popular the game has become.
From people hurting themselves while playing the game to the game becoming more downloaded than Tinder, one would have thought nothing would be surprising anymore. And then we heard the story of the guy who quit his job to play the game.
And that's not all, 24-year-old Tom Currie of New Zealand, who caught 90 Pokemon during the week after he quit his job, now has an offer from an American firm to become a Pokemon Go coach.
In a chat with Express, the man who signs his name as 'Pokemon Trainer Tom' discusses the incredible past two weeks of his life, his love for Pokemon and the game that has changed his life.
When did you first begin to watch the TV show?
I watched the first season of the show when it first hit the screens here in New Zealand, I'm not sure how old I was but I remember being about 8 or 9 and having Pokémon toys so it has definitely been a part of my life for a while now!
Have you also bought Pokemon merchandise? Could you specify some of the products?
I had toys when I was a child and bought a couple of the Nintendo games. I currently have a team Instinct shirt which I was given by a radio station here in NZ.
What job did you quit before taking up Pokemon Go full time?
I was a barista and bartender at a busy Auckland restaurant and café.
Did you have to work really hard to get the rare Pokemon? How did you catch Dragonair (a rare Pokemon)?
Yes! I have been hunting for some of the ones that have been sighted since it came out and have had some luck but not as much as I'd like! It's just about being aware and in the right place at the right time! I caught Dragonair at a park in Christchurch, she showed up on my nearby map so I asked some approaching trainers if they had seen her and they let me know she was hiding by a big tree by the lake there! The other Pokémon players are always super helpful and friendly!
Tell me about the job of a Pokemon coach that has been offered to you. What does it involve? Will you take it up?
A gaming company in the US has offered me a job to be a professional Pokémon Go coach, which would entail me doing Skype calls with players from all over the world who wish to get tips from me and get ahead. I have a huge collection of knowledge on the game now and have been helping all the Trainers I come across! I will be reviewing all of my offers shortly, for now, I am just enjoying getting out and catching as many Pokémon as I can!
Are there any crazy incidents which you can think of that happened when you were hunting Pokemon?
I have ended up in some pretty special places through playing, I have friends who have been giving me tours of their towns and cities, taking me up mountains, to beaches and lakes and all these other wonderful places that let me see New Zealand in the winter time, which let me tell you is awesomely beautiful!
How did your parents, peers and friends react when you quit the job?
My family and friends have all been really supportive of me. Most of my friends play the game so it has been cool to see them and go hunting together! My mum says that I have always been an independent kid who follows my dreams, she is happy if her son is happy, and I am!
The game hasn't yet been launched in India, but many are already playing it! Any advice for the gamers?
Please please stay safe and alert while playing this game. Do not ever drive a motor vehicle whilst playing and if you are hunting late at night take a friend for company and safety. The next most important tip is to have fun on your own adventure in the game! My Facebook and Instagram will be updated with other tips I'd like to share with you all and of course, personal coaching may soon be available!
What is it about the game that has made it so popular?
It taps into a generation full of nostalgia for the Pokémon franchise! Pokémon has been successful for 20 years, people love the little critters and all of the anime and games that have come out over two decades. The game concept is also just fantastic, it is the first game where you really have to leave the house and hunt Pokémon, making people feel like a real Pokémon Master. That's something millions of us have dreamt of since we were kids!