Pokemon Go Fanatics Score Two COVID-19 Fines

July 15, 2020

*cough*, you’ll have to excuse us while we venture away from our typical news articles where we cover news on all the latest games because most of our staff here at Rocket Chainsaw are from Melbourne, Australia, a city stuck in COVID-19 lockdown after a second, larger wave has swept over much of it, and so we had a bit of a laugh when in this morning’s briefing from the Premier and the Deputy Police Commissioner we learnt that two Pokemon Go fanatics just couldn’t help but capture some gyms and search for rare Pokemon during a global pandemic.

The pair were driving around playing the game, so they were technically social distancing themselves from others, but unfortunately Pokemon Go is not on the list of four things that Victorians can do under Stage 3 lockdown restrictions.

A couple of mates out in the car travelling around playing Pokemon doesn’t fit the reasons to leave, and those males were issued with infringement notices,” said Deputy Commissioner Nugent during this morning’s press conference.

Furthermore, on the Official Pokemon Go website there are a list of safety tips for how to play the game, and one dot point says:

  • To make sure you and those around you are safe, do not play Pokémon GO while riding a bike, driving a vehicle, operating heavy machinery, or doing anything else that requires your full attention.

A breach of the COVID-19 lockdown laws will fetch you a $1652 penalty notice, meaning these two loyal Pokemon Go fanatics will now have to find $3304 between them.

To put that into perspective, here’s some fancy loot you can buy for $3304:

Seven Nintendo Switch consoles

Pokemon Go Fanatics

20 copies of Pokemon Sword and 20 copies of Pokemon Shield (and a bonus copy of your choice!)

Pokemon GO Fanatics Samsung

A Samsung 65″ Q60T QLED TV

Both Premium Next-Generation Consoles

Really, the list goes on for all the better ways these two Pokemon Go fanatics could have splashed that cash, but if you play stupid games then you win stupid prizes.