Hoyerswerda's Pokémon battle culminates in a physical assault.
In the world of Pokémon, age doesn't stop the adrenaline rush. An argument within a virtual arcade in Hoyerswerda, Germany, between two middle-aged men, resulted in a physical confrontation. The authorities have now initiated an investigation into charges of assault and threatening conduct.
Following a battle in a computer-animated Pokémon arena, the two men found themselves in an altercation. The 52-year-old had apparently claimed and occupied the domain, prompting the displeasure of the 50-year-old player. This legal conflict began to escalate into physical altercations, with one man besting the other in the virtual game.
On Sunday, both parties reported the incident to the police, who have now accused the 52-year-old of assault, and the 50-year-old of threatening behavior. The owing of the arena remained unresolved, as the police considered these "Pokémon activities" as a matter of civil law.
Developed by Nintendo, Pokémon is renowned for collecting and training imaginary creatures. The game's counterpart, Pokémon Go, motivates users to traverse the physical world with their smartphones, capturing Pokémon characters hidden in the environment. The release of the game in 2016 incited a global fanbase, as over a billion downloads have been recorded since its inception. With an estimated annual revenue of one billion dollars, it has significantly contributed to the gaming industry. The term "Pokémon" translates to "Pocketmonsters," alluding to the concept of pocket-sized monsters.
Read also:
- Floods: water levels remain critical in many places
- Snow chaos further restricts Bavaria
- Continuous operation in the flood areas
- Flood situation remains tense in many places
The international Pokémon community was surprised by the incident in Saxony, Germany. The local police are currently dealing with charges of assault and threatening behavior following a disagreement between two Pokémon players.
Despite being a digitally-focused game, the physical altercation highlighted the competitive nature of Pokémon, even on an international level.
Source: www.ntv.de
