Pokémon GO may have started to wane already, but in Belgium, the craze has been reignited with a twist that bookworms will absolutely love.
Out to catch 'em all, the Belgians aren't looking for Pokémon. Instead, they're keeping an eye out for books, and it's proven to be an exciting experience, as the new online game is garnering tens of thousands of players. Currently, there are more than 40,000 people who are getting in on the action, even though it only started a few weeks ago.
The person behind it is a local primary school headmaster Aveline Gregoire.
As everyone may know by now, Pokémon GO is an app that uses the GPS and location of a smartphone or other similar devices to track progress and discover the creatures out in the wild. Meanwhile, the book hunting version uses a Facebook group called "Chasseurs de livres" or "book hunters" to work.
As for how it's played, people post pictures and hints about the whereabouts of the books they've hidden so that other fellow members of the group can find them. After a player finishes reading a book, they will "release" it and repeat the process for the others' benefit. The books are typically wrapped in plastic to prevent damage, especially from the rain.
Obviously, the online game is inspired by Pokémon GO, but it's partly because of a lack of space too.
"While I was arranging my library, I realized I didn't have enough space for all my books. Having played [Pokémon GO] with my kids, I had the idea of releasing the books into nature," Gregoire tells Reuters.
According to the report, the books range from toddler stories to works of Stephen King, and they are usually placed around towns and the countryside in Belgium.
That's not the final product that Gregoire has in mind too, saying that there will possibly be an app in the future. That means it'll become even more accessible than it is now, but whether or not it'll catch on in other countries is still unclear.
In short, if this gets off the ground beyond Belgium, players across the world might start looking for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and many others instead of a Pikachu or a Charmander.
What do you think of this nifty Pokémon GO-ish game? Feel free to pay a visit to our comments section below and let us know what's on your mind.
