Pokemon “No” at SC State House as pokestops disappear

South Carolina’s State House has gone from Pokemon Go to Pokemon No.

Users of the popular Pokemon Go virtual reality game were upset to learn the game's "pokestops" appear to have been removed from the grounds of the SC State House, forcing players to hunt Pikachu and Jigglypuff somewhere else.

The State House had gained a reputation as a Pokemon hot spot after the game launched earlier this month. As late as last Saturday, a “Pokemon Go Walk” around the State House was organized on Facebook.

Lindsay Haile said she found several pokestops at the State House while playing there Thursday night.

“Then today, my friend’s brother came busting in saying all the pokestops were gone,” Haile said.

She went there herself to check it out, around a dozen pokestops she had previously found at the State House were gone, along with a gym where players competed against each other.

James Posey Jr., who works near the State House and would often walk around there at lunch playing the game, said Friday he was unable to find any pokestops except for one near the Women of the Confederacy memorial on the south side of the grounds. He was disappointed that someone had apparently had them all removed, since the pokestops had become a popular spot to congregate.

“It’s rare to have people from so many different races and cultures coming together without alcohol being involved,” he said.

On Friday, both the S.C. Department of Administration and the Department of Public Safety said their agencies had not requested the game’s developer, Naintic, have the pokestops removed. An email requesting comment from the game developer had not been answered.

Haile said other pokestops in the downtown area are still where they were before, and Pokemon could still be located at the State House. But without the pokestops – where players can load up on pokeballs and set “lures” to attract the digital creatures – the State House may no longer be the hangout for players it once was.

“It’s very irritating if somebody was bothered by it,” she said. “If it brings people to your State House, just let it happen.”

This story was originally published July 29, 2016 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Pokemon “No” at SC State House as pokestops disappear."