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Man Quits Job to Play Pokemon Go Full-Time

"I wanted to have an adventure."

243 Comments

The crazy Pokemon Go stories just keep coming. Today's item is news that a 24-year-old man from New Zealand has quit his job to play the monster-catching game full-time.

The man, Tom Currie, told The Guardian that he quit his job in Auckland last week to begin a two-month trip across New Zealand in an attempt to catch 'em all. Literally. His goal is to catch all 151 Pokemon in the game.

No Caption Provided

Currie booked 20 bus trips and has already visited six towns on the South Island. He says he caught Pokemon everywhere he stopped and already has 90 of the game's 151 Pokemon.

"I wanted to have an adventure," Currie said. "I have been working for six years and I was desperate for a break. And Pokemon gave me the chance to live that dream."

On at least one occasion, Currie stayed up until 3 AM on his Poke-hunt. He's also staying in shape, as every day he walks "miles and miles."

Currie is saving money by traveling frugally; he sleeps on friend's couches or in backpacker dorms. Go to The Guardian to get the full story.

Pokemon Go is a huge hit. Released last week, the free-to-play title is now the most popular mobile game in United States history. On the business side, its release has helped Nintendo shares rise 86 percent, boosting the company's market value by $17 billion.

There have also been some scary stories around Pokemon Go. Just this week, a 15-year-old was hit by a car after playing the game, while a man was stabbed while searching for Pokemon. Additionally, two men fell off an oceanside cliff on their hunt for creatures and a man crashed his car into a tree while reportedly playing the game behind the wheel. Also, a Pokemon Go player in New Hampshire found a dead body in a brook while playing the game this week.

For more on Pokemon Go, check out GameSpot's review.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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Maxx_the_Slash

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Edited By Maxx_the_Slash

This guy's going to have a great time once he remembers there are now over 700 Pokemon and Pokemon Go will be updated in the future to systematically add those to the game, and while he's catching all of them, he has no income to own or maintain a home since his dumb ass quit his job to partake in what will eventually prove to be a temporary hobby. Once he catches all of the Pokemon, he'll return home to his life which he essentially ruined over a game.

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Misfitgraves18

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These are the types of people that attend Anti-Trump rallies.

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hbpatton

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Is anyone going to point out that you can't even catch all 151 since the legendary Pokemon such as Mewtwo are event only? On top of that Ditto also hasn't been found anywhere

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BigGamerDude

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I guess you could say

He's GOing to travel New Zealand.

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TheEternalGamer

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Everyone judging this young man should step back a second. He obviously has no responsibilities holding him back from doing whatever he wants. It sounds like you are just salty that you have to work.

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sethschroeder

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@TheEternalGamer: Its fine but a retort is fine than dont come crawling to me when you can't afford to have a place to stay or eat. He has the right to do anything he wants but I think alot of people see a 24 year old doing this an expect them to be very irresponsible. When you read the article you realise this is just a "break" for him. He likely was working some place that does not give vacation or time off so the only option was to outright quit.

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ConsoleHaven

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I won't play the game, but, damn, I should have bought Nintendo Stock!

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Virtuoid

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These are the Millennials folks,

really trying to make a difference.

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sethschroeder

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@virtuoid: Did you read where he had been working for the last 6 years and was taking 2 months off? This is called the 21st century where alot of organisations dont give time off to employees. You never took vacation when you were younger? Just because he will spend it doing Pokemon Go instead of at the beach does not make it better or worse.

You going to harp on the people who backpack Europe for a whole summer? This is about the same.... but cheaper!

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NiteX

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Breaking game news! 20 year old is irresponsible and quits job!

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Kingjames11

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On his resume:

Reason for leaving last job: had to catch them all.

6 • 
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RaveNRolla

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2 months isn't even that long for a break from work. i have two friends who went to Kirgistan for a whole year and another who went to India for 8 months, just traveling. If you saved up the money and you're not worried about finding a new job afterwards i don't see the harm in it. The experience of living in another country may well be worth it. Or you know, Pokemon Go... whatever makes you happy.

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xWinson

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Bit sad, but none of my business I suppose ha!

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Bond_Villain

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LOL

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tanq

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I just can't believe how some of these guys refuse to look at life from another perspective. I'm sorry you guys fucked up, had kids and took out a mortgage. You got trapped. I get it. But just because you can't enjoy life anymore doesn't mean that the people who can are "freeloaders" or "bums".

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KidCitrus

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Having a wife certainly has its benefits though :)

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TacticaI

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@kidcitrus: At 24? God no...just...no.

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Earthen80

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Let him do what he wants to do. He's not harming anyone, he's doing what makes him happy. Good luck to him.

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Relvar

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This game discriminates against the disabled.

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BigGamerDude

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@Relvar: Clearly, you don't watch iDubbbz.

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nedrith

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I think he's doing a good thing. I think some people who are saying bad things about this aren't reading that much into it. The guy worked for 6 years, yes not alot but still it's a decent period of time. He's planning on being out of work for 2 month. He's not going to be sitting around for 2 months playing a game but taking a trip around his country presumably visiting places of interests. Personally I wouldn't mind taking 2 months to travel around my country visiting various places.

He's also young, let him enjoy life. 2 months is only a little over twice the amount of time an average job will give a person for paid vacation. So it's not even a long time.

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KidCitrus

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@nedrith: Shit, I'd like 2 months to just sit on my ass and game out!

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DAOWAce

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This just in: Pokemon Go now blamed for all the world's problems.

Murder? Pokemon Go.

Suicide? Pokemon Go.

Gun control? Pokemon Go.

Global warming? Pokemon Go.

Social collapse? Pokemon Go.

My sanity? Still intact.

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ConsoleHaven

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@DAOWAce: The last one is only temporary I guarantee it.

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RaveNRolla

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@DAOWAce: I KNEW IT!

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Dark_sageX

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Wish the article would have elaborated on what kind of job he was working at, it must have been a really shitty one to make him choose Pokemon over earning a wage.

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xOmniCloudx

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@Dark_sageX: Nope. I know people that made high salaries in the corporate world and walked away from it solely because it made them miserable. They make way less now but are also way happier.

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Meghiddo

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There was a study where they interviewed people on their death beds and asked them for their biggest regrets and what they would change.

Almost every one of them said they wished they had worked less and spent more time doing the things they love.

So I say go for it if Pokémon go is what you love to do.

The people crapping on this guy are just jealous that they do not have the balls to do the things they want to do. Most are too cowardly to even admit they would rather live their life differently, much less actually go out and do it.

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Frank_Castle

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@Meghiddo: I'm not talking about being a workaholic who is obsessed with being at the office or job site all the time. But yeah, this kid is a little puss if he finds it so hard to put in his 40 hours a week like the vast majority of the population...after only 6 years, no less.

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CreepyBurrito

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Wow this guy is pretty spoiled. He's been working for only 6 years and suddenly that warrants a break? There are people who have been working over 20+ years and have never had a break, and cant afford to even retire. Perfect example of a man baby to me.

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Dark_sageX

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@creepyburrito: Has it ever come across your mind that you are being played? I mean really? 20 years and you have no pension? (I assume you don't since you stated you can't afford retirement) mean while your boss is probably earning millions without even lifting a finger, instead of revolting against this obvious unfair wage gap you instead shame others? whats wrong with you?

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CreepyBurrito

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Edited By CreepyBurrito

@Dark_sageX: Lol! Did you even bother to really read what I said? I wasn't speaking about myself (which should be obvious..) I was simply stating the fact that its pretty pathetic to only work for 6 years and then think you deserve a break. There are people who have done far more work and deserve more than they ever get, and this spoiled brat thinks that working so little warrants a huge hiatus? The millennial generation is completely retarded when it comes to work ethic and common sense it seems. They want everything immediately and give up easily if something is challenging, or requires any ammount of time and effort. I'm ashamed to be a part of it. For the record I'm 25 xD

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TacticaI

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@creepyburrito: Stop trying to fit in with the adults. There's absolutely nothing noble about busting your ass 20 years for a company or corporations and being left with nothing to show for it. I feel for that individual's children, assuming they have any. That is piss poor time management and no planning, and since we're talking 20 years (or more), hard times/circumstances really don't count.

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xOmniCloudx

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@creepyburrito: This entire comment s pathetic. Must be American with this mindset like most of the foorum. The rest of the world laughs since America has a horrible working situation for everyday folk yet works them like slaves. Meanwhile the rest of the first world works less, gets more time off AND has way more money than the average American xD. For the record I have taken time off before I was 25 multiple times and still had a lot of money since I worked hard and made a lot to be able to do so. My goal is to be happy, not be rich because money has never made me happy. You fail at life xD

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Virtuoid

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@xOmniCloudx: I dont think you have been to South Korea.

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igorphoenix

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@creepyburrito: agree, but how much effort does he put in Pokemon GO? Let's say he catches them all... and what next?

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RaveNRolla

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@igorphoenix: well that's for him to answer. If he feels hollow after 2 months or thinks he wasted them or if he's much happier afterwards, who can tell? This discussion is more about if you can really pull it to take off time from work to persue something meaningful for yourself, like a trip to another country, or in this case buying 20 powerbanks and take a trip in your own country ;) I think it depends on how good you are at saving money and wether you have the mindset to not earn money for a certain amount of time. I know the latter would make a lot of people way to nervous to ever try it.

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KidCitrus

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@igorphoenix: He's left with a huge void in his soul and either finds God or commits suicide

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