A pair of scientists working in Antarctica managed to add their remote research station as a location in Pokémon Go.
The duo discovered that they both played the game after each individually attempted to add the continent's most isolated research base as a PokéStop in the game.
speaking to The independentAustralian scientists Raimon Hennessy, 29, and Pete Rizzo, 60, explained how they managed to get the attention of Pokémon Go maker Niantic via Reddit, which then helped add the Davis Research Station to the game.
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“There's not a lot of downtime here in Antarctica, we have weekends off, but we still have things to do on the weekends,” Hennessy said. “I enjoy going for walks and capturing landscapes with my camera, but I also enjoy playing other games on my computer when I have time.”
Hennessy had been asked by his partner to send Pokémon Go postcards from the base, but he soon discovered that there were no PokéStops nearby.
“My partner had asked a question [about getting the base added] on the official Reddit page, I was even more surprised when I found out that our doctor, Rizzo, had also requested a PokéStop!
The pair are part of a small contingent of 28 scientists working at the Davis Research Station, which has recently been involved in monitoring atmospheric temperatures, ultraviolet radiation and ozone levels, as well as ground-based bird research. Antarctic navies.
“As a communications technician here at the station, my job is to keep expeditioners in touch with their friends and family back home,” Hennessy explained. “We have a 20Mb satellite connection back to Australia that keeps us in touch at all times.”
The link also allows Hennessy and Rizzo to play Pokémon Go, although only when they are connected to Wi-Fi in one of the base buildings.
“The PokéStops and the gym are within the station boundaries, however, we have 2G without data so we are limited to going to different buildings that may have Wi-Fi,” Rizzo said.
“One stop is next to our house, which has a giant living room with a dining room underneath and a small bar, pool table and ping pong.
“Raimon works in the yellow operations building, so he has the opportunity to go between the two stops almost every day. However, the gym is a little more challenging. It is further away and in the 'Pineapple' building due to its color and shape. It is a former meteorology building and now a music studio.”
For the rest of us, Pokémon Go is gearing up for this year's summer Go Fest events, which will introduce Necrozma and likely add the Pokémon fusion concept.
