[SATIRE] “Pokémon Go” Announced as First Computer Virus Capable of Spreading to Human Host

(Original Post: July 11, 2016)

Bulbasaur Cubone

As downloads of popular game application, “Pokémon Go” continue to skyrocket with more and more users immersing themselves in the augmented reality cell phone game by the day, Intel Security Group, makers of the popular “McAfee” line of anti-virus solutions, announced today that based upon their studies of smartphone memory, battery, and data use, as well as a suspiciously high number of real world money transactions initiated by the program, “Pokémon Go” will be re-classified as “malware/virus” by the next updates to their computer and mobile device software.

In addition, Intel Security Group has sent an open letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asking that immediate action be taken to identify “Pokémon Go” as a Class A contagion capable of effecting human beings in the same way as their smartphones.

“While we are not as proficient in diagnosing infection in human beings as we are in computers and mobile devices, the signs are all there.” reads Intel Security Group’s open letter, “The normal functions of a human being effected by Pokémon Go are rapidly and increasing superseded by the demands of the Pokémon Go virus, henceforth referred to as ‘Niantic’s Disease’. An effected human begins to forego normal social interactions and activities while dedicating exponentially growing amounts of time, attention, energy, financial resources, and conveyance to increase the ‘level’ of the virus within their body, the human gradually beginning to lose the ability to differentiate between the real world and that of Pokémon Go, claiming to see imaginary creatures all around them at home, work, and school that unaffected friends and family can clearly attest are not really there, and finding themselves drawn to reclusive churches, statues, parks, landmarks, and restaurants at all hours of the day, these locations having been identified by McAfee security software experts as habitats which supply the essential ‘Items’ fed upon by Niantic’s Disease in order to sustain itself. This is clearly not normal human behavior, and most closely resembles a form of parasitic infection.”

While some have shot back at Intel Security Group’s conclusions, calling them “unfounded”, “unrealistic”, and, in some cases, “discriminatory against Pokénthusiasts.”, major pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer has taken up Intel Security Group’s call to arms, saying their biochemical researchers have also come to the same conclusion, but are currently in development of a medication that has proven in early tests to reverse the devastating effects of Niantic’s Disease on the human body and mind.

“The name of the medication is ‘Rocketeem’.” Pfizer spokesman James Jessen announced Friday during an open press conference at a restaurant Pokéstop in New York City with a lure model attached. “Once it officially earns FDA approval, it can be purchased from any local pharmacy or the Google Play Store. It will likely be covered under most traditional health care plans, but can also be bought without a prescription either in cash or in Pokécoins.”

“There is a catch, however.” Mr. Jessen explained, after plugging his almost dead cell phone into a nearby power outlet to recharge. “‘Rocketeem’ can only sever one’s affliction by Niantic’s Disease completely if, after taking a dose of ‘Rocketeem’, the user then rids themselves of all further poisonous connection to the Pokémon Go contagion by freely trading all of their Pokémon and items to another Pokémon Go User, once that option is available, and then deleting the Pokémon Go app from their phone. To this end, Pfizer is setting up their own Pokémon Go account, user name HailGiovanni, that you will be able to donate your collection of Pokémon and items to.”

Mr. Jessen paused for a second to spin the photo circle at his Pokéstop before continuing.

“We sincerely hope this will make the recovery process a little easier for the victims of Niantic’s Disease.”

[SATIRE] Fallout Universe Medical Solutions, LLC

(Original Post: June 11, 2016)

The following is an unpaid joke advertisement from Fallout Universe Medical Solutions, LLC. The opinions expressed in this fake advertisement for a fake product will not make sense, and thus most likely do not reflect the opinion of myself or the “Eye of Zatara”:

Things went well for me as a hot-headed youth in the mean streets of the Capitol Wasteland, but as I started getting older, I started to notice the way I dealt with things was changing. Conflicts I was once interested in having, I would start to back away from. Bullies I previously would stand up to, I found myself trying to negotiate with or just avoid. It was like something was missing from who I used to be – like a fire had gone out inside me – and I couldn’t quite get back to the way I used to be.

That’s why I went to my local doctor, and he told me I may have an actual medical condition called “Wastelander Unnecessary Savior Syndrome” or “WUSS”. My doctor told me that my good karma was getting in the way of being the scary Raider warlord I had been in my prime, but he had a solution. That’s when my doctor told me about Psycho.

Psycho is a once daily medication created and tested by American scientists during the Battle of Anchorage to boost combat ability in power-armored soldiers. Psycho has been proven in studies to increase aggressive, territorial behavior in men, women, and Ghouls by suppressing the natural inhibitors used by the brain to repress regressive, animalistic tendencies. 90 out of 100 participants with WUSS examined by the Brotherhood of Steel showed significantly decreased karma within seconds or minutes of being prescribed Psycho, and, of those 90 participants, almost 85% showed a complete remission of WUSS symptoms with continued prescription use.

Side effects of Psycho may include violence, memory loss, shaking, seizures, destruction of property, guilt, forceful ejection from civilized society or imprisonment, and intentional or unintentional injury to nearby Scribes said by the prescribant to have “a stupid look on their face that really makes me mad”.

If you think you might have WUSS symptoms, ask your doctor today if Psycho might be right for you!

Psycho is a trademark of absolutely no one, as it does not currently exist. Opinions expressed in the above parody of an advertisement have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not certified to diagnose, treat, or in any way affect medical conditions in the real world, only in the fictional Fallout Universe. If you feel you may have symptoms of Wasteland Unnecessary Savior Syndrome, please consult your doctor in addition to a trained clinical psychologist or close personal friend who can pray for you.

This news article from the future is brought to you by “Rob Co.” Rob Co. – “Don’t make us flip the crazy switch on your cleaning robot. We’ll do it. We’re jerks.”