More Than a Game

A group of people walk through a park. Heads are down, eyes are fixed on their phones and their fingers are tapping their screens. A passerby spots them and asks, “Are you guys hunting?”

Technically, we were catching Pokémon, not hunting them, but the sight of Pokémon GO players on the move is a familiar one. On Oct. 24, Fargo’s Team Rocket gathered at Island Park for a Dynamax Azelf Caravan, coordinating battles against a powerful Pokémon through a series of scheduled meetups.

Pokémon GO debuted in the U.S. on July 6, 2016. Fargo’s Team Rocket leaders began playing that summer and established the group’s Facebook page on June 23, 2017. Today, the group has about 2,500 members and uses Discord to coordinate activities, with 100 or more active users daily.

The group organizes meetups at parks, nearby shopping centers such as West Acres and locations throughout Fargo-Moorhead. In warmer weather, players gather outdoors, while winter activities often involve driving between PokéStops and gyms. Discord helps community leaders plan routes, coordinate battle times and share advice about Pokémon.

At Island Park, eight players initially gathered, with more joining as the caravan continued. Some chatted with friends or family, while others stood quietly playing on their phones. A few discussed upcoming events and whether the next meetup should take place indoors or outdoors depending on the weather.

The group’s size changes with each event. During this caravan, around 18 people participated at various points while I was there. Other events can draw 50 or more players.

Coordination matters because Dynamax battles and other raids require teamwork. For Dynamax battles, players join groups of up to four, each bringing three Pokémon. Everyone follows the start times scheduled by Fargo’s Team Rocket so participants can battle together.

During the scheduled battles, my sibling and I experienced both victories and defeats. Sometimes our Pokémon were knocked out before we could win. Other times, we defeated the Azelf and tried to catch them. I caught three Azelf, while my sibling caught one. We eventually left after running out of Max Particles, the resource needed to participate in these battles.

Not sure what an Azelf is? Clueless about Max Particles? That is not a problem in Fargo's Team Rocket. Fargo’s Team Rocket is a community that welcomes players regardless of how much you know about the game or how strong your Pokémon are. At events, there are players with well-built teams ready to go and others who have recently started and have questions about getting more resources. Players share strategies, trade Pokémon and make connections at their own pace.

As an autistic player, I appreciate having the option to participate socially without feeling obligated to talk. People arrive with friends or family, and others come alone. Some players socialize throughout an event, though others may quietly play alongside the crowd. With this community, players join together and work toward the same goals while still being able to choose how much we interact.

For NDSU students interested in meeting local players, consider joining Fargo’s Team Rocket on Halloween. The Chandelure Super Mega Raid Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, from 2 to 5 p.m. The group’s meetup plans and location for the event have not yet been finalized, but organizers expect to announce details through Discord.

Let’s catch ’em all!