Pokemon titles have sparked the interest in video games for generations now, and it's not uncommon for many players to consider Pokemon as a very important milestone of their childhood. This seems to be the case for the young Bryson Kliemann, an eight-year-old boy from Lebanon, Virginia, who decided to sell his collection of rare Pokemon cards to help his parents pay for the treatment of a rare condition his puppy was diagnosed with. The little dog, Bruce, was taken to the vet when he started to look sick, and that's when it was diagnosed with a rare and severe disease for dogs called Parvo, the treatment of which costs $700.
Bryson's gesture was a selfless act, especially considering how dear his Pokemon cards were to him, but he did it nonetheless in order to help his family and, more importantly, his four-legged friend heal. This story is made even more wholesome because Bryson's mother issued a GoFundMe, and the gaming community gathered online and donated a total of over $5,000 to the Kliemanns. Not only that but, the Pokemon Company, once it heard what Bryson had done, decided to send the boy several Pokemon cards to refill his collection with valuable pieces. Truly a happy ending for everyone, showing how an act of kindness can spark that of others as well.
Bryson Kliemann's Story, Pokemon GO, Empathy and Affection
This story matters, as it highlights just how much of an impact Pokemon games, be it Pokemon cards or the beloved video games of the series, can have on young people. These games are as much about fighting opponents as they are about the sacred and beautiful bond between trainers and their friendly critters. Pokemon can teach empathy because players have to care for them, help them when they are injured, giving them medicine to cure their ailments, and they can take them to Pokemon Centers to make sure they are alright.
It's very likely that Bryson's selfless gesture was one that came naturally to him, maybe because of his disposition, maybe because of the values he was taught, or maybe because Pokemon are so important to him. A puppy is not too dissimilar from the critters in the series, and when children are in charge of taking care of their pets it may become critical to them to make sure their friends are always safe and fine. Pokemon, in the games, can grow fond of their trainer and learn new moves or change the way they approach combat because of this, which is a perfect comparison for what happens with humans and animals.
Several studies were conducted over the past few years to demonstrate the fact that Pokemon GO could affect the way players demonstrate empathy, among other things, but there was never a clearly positive response in those regards. This doesn't mean that Pokemon games don't have an impact on the players' empathy, but rather that the chosen game is one more focused on individual gains than its mainline counterparts from the Pokemon series.
However, some of these studies demonstrated how PokemonGO's artificial reality setting could feel nostalgic to some, or boost a pre-existing sense of care for nature. Both traits increased affection on the players' part towards the critters found in the game. What this means is that people can evolve alongside their beloved Pokemon while playing the games, and the fact that even fictional bonds and characters are worth pursuing or caring for. That's exactly what Bryson's story shows.
PokemonBrilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl release November 19, 2021, on Switch.