Pokémon Go inspires Belgian’s book ‘game’

INSPIRED by the success of Pokémon Go, a Belgian primary school headmaster has developed an online game to search for books instead of cartoon monsters.

It has already attracted tens of thousands of players. While Pokémon Go players use a mobile device’s GPS and camera to track virtual creatures around town, Aveline Gregoire’s version is played through a Facebook group called “Chasseurs de livres ” (“Book hunters”).

Players post pictures – and hints – about where they have hidden a book and others go to hunt them down. Once someone has finished reading a book, they release it back into the wild.

“While I was arranging my library, I realised 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 said.

Though it was only set up a few weeks ago, more than 40 000 people are already signed up to Gregoire’s Facebook group.

The hidden tomes range from books for toddlers through to Stephen King horrors, placed around Belgian towns and countryside, often wrapped in clear plastic to keep off the rain.

The Detournay family from the town of Baudour in southern Belgium said the game was now part of their morning walks.

“My daughter said it’s like hunting for easter eggs, only with books,” Jessica Detournay said.

Gregoire is now contemplating taking the game a step further and creating an app for it. — Reuters