Games + Learning + Society Conference Proceedings

The Pokémon franchise is one of the largest in history and subsequently the focus of multiple fields of academic study. In digital gaming, Pokémon game titles have also been the subject of much scrutiny. In this research, the mainline Pokémon titles (not including spin-offs such as Pokémon Go!) provide as case study for understanding the flexibility and changing understandings and engagement of play in contemporary digital game play. This study focuses on a small region outside of a major Canadian city anonymously entitled “The District”, featuring a historical automotive and industrial sector, characterized by primarily suburban, but also rural and urban geographical characteristics. The research investigates historical perceptions of playing Pokémon and exposes some forms of inequality within the District in terms of lingering digital divides, corporate control, and attitudes towards play. This paper investigates how these persistence issues impact adult Pokémon play and forms of resistance to these problems.