Everything you need to know about Pokemon Go

If you witness hordes of adults walking around with their smartphones in hand, seemingly recording video footage - there is no need for concern.

They are more than likely just regressing to their childhood and attempting to capture all 151 Pokémon in the new mobile game called Pokémon Go.

This might sound a little confusing, so let us explain.

What is a Pokémon?

First created as a pair of games for the original Game Boy, Pokémon is now a media franchise including video games, card games, animated television shows and movies.

The concept is based on fictional creatures called Pokémon, which are highly sought-after by humans looking to become Pokémon Trainers.

As a Pokémon Trainer, humans are driven by two main goals.

The first is to collect all of the available Pokémon species found in the fictional world to complete their Pokédex.

Secondly, the aim is to train the most powerful Pokémon they have captured for battle in the Pokémon League against other trainers.

Rattata Pokemon spotted in Invercargill tonight. Photo / Alex Potts

OK, but what exactly is Pokémon Go?

Released on Android and iOS earlier this week, Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game - meaning it combines computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world.

The aim of the game is to give players the chance to complete the two goals of Pokémon Trainers in the real world using their smartphone.

How does the game work?

Essentially, events and objects in Pokémon Go have their own location within the physical world.

Using the GPS on your smartphone, Pokemon Go creates an in-game map, which is reflected by locations in the real world.

This means in order to capture Pokémon, visit PokéStops or Pokémon Gyms, players will actually need to leave their current location and travel to a specific place.

Once the certain location is reached, players look at the world through their phone's display, which combines the viewfinder feed from their camera and an overlay of 3D graphics.