Thu, Aug 11, 2016 page4

• Facilities issue diverging policies on ‘Pokemon Go’

  LIFE IMITATES GAME: Taipei Zoo issued a welcome to players, but warned them that zookeepers could ‘capture you too’ for trespassing in animal enclosures

  • By Sean Lin / Staff reporter
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  With hit mobile game Pokemon Go having achieved massive popularity since it became available nationally last week, cultural and educational facilities at all government levels have introduced varying policies on the game.

  The Ministry of Education earlier this week said that facilities under its jurisdiction have not introduced punishments for gamers catching Pokemon on their premises.

  Ministry official Lee Yu-chuan (李毓娟) said cellphones are banned in sections of the National Central Library, where ancient and rare books are stored, and at the National Museum of Natural Science, where precious specimens are stored.

  She said that warning signs advising people against using their cellphones while walking would be placed at other facilities under the ministry’s purview, including the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium and the National Taiwan Arts Center, adding that employees at these facilities would ask gamers to mind both their own safety and that of others.

  The National Palace Museum and its southern branch in Chiayi County adopted contrary stances on Pokemon Go.

  The National Palace Museum said that the game is banned at all of its venues, adding that it would send a letter to the game’s developers to remove any game elements located at its venues.

  However, Chiayi County Commissioner Helen Chang (張花冠) touted the National Palace Museum Southern Branch as welcoming people to visit to capture Pokemon.

  Chang made the statement at a news conference with museum officials at the southern branch to promote a movie about the legendary Taiwanese-Japanese Kano baseball team from the Japanese colonial era.

  The National Palace Museum Southern Branch said that, although it has not imposed a ban on the game, gamers should still mind their safety, especially when they are catching Pokemon on a bridge outside the museum.

  Taipei Zoo said that it welcomed “Pokemon trainers.”

  The zoo on Tuesday published on Facebook a map of about 100 “Pokemon gyms” and “Pokestops” on its premises, welcoming the public to visit and catch Pokemon.

  It also posted a “letter” in English and Chinese warning gamers to pay attention to their safety.

  “Do not forget that real animals live in the zoo enclosures... Our zookeepers have the ability to capture you too, so please do not cross into an animal perimeter,” the letter says.

  The Taipei Department of Education said that none of the city’s educational facilities have banned the game, but added that people should ensure their safety while playing.

  The Taipei Department of Culture urged gamers not to capture Pokemon while visiting the Shilin Residence (士林官邸) of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his wife, Soong Mayling (宋美齡).

  People should also refrain from playing the game at the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, which commemorates victims of the 228 Massacre, the department said.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    First person arrested as Danjiang Bridge opens

  • 2

    TSMC shares stumble on report, but losses minor

  • 3

    Navy needs 12 subs for modern fleet: CSBC head

  • 4

    Snake on a train spooks riders on Taipei MRT line

  • 5

    HIMARS to be deployed to islands