They’re in search of mythical creatures known as Pokémon.

If you were born before 1984 you can be forgiven for not knowing what a Pokémon is. 

In summary, Pokémon is a world where ‘trainers’ traverse the countryside looking for these creatures, also known as Pokémon. Confusing isn’t it, once you get past the names it’s quite easy. The Pokémon battle and the defeated creature can be captured by its oppositions Pokéballs - a little white and red ball that you can slip easily into your pocket.

The franchise spans two decades, starting in Japan in 1995 with the release of two hand-held games, Pokémon Red and Green for Gameboy.

‘Poké-mania’ quickly spread across the globe, along with its cult came the TV series, which quickly captured the imagination of the youth, today are people in their 20s and 30s.

The Pokémon Media Company's original idea spawned a number of movies, trading cards, musicals and comics, not to mention six generations of games and over 750 individual Pokémon.

Today, this fad has come into the 21st century as Pokémon Go, based on the original games Red and Blue. It is the newest augmented reality game, or app, from Niantic. Using a phones GPS, camera abilities and clock to decipher which Pokémon will appear where and when, on the game map.

The game has already been widely credited for drawing fans of all ages together in a quest to catch ‘em all.

The free downloadable game for Android and IOS, requires the user to venture out into the real world and use their phone to find and capture Pokémon.    

Since the release just over a week ago, the game has had some criticism - mostly locational. 

A Facebook post from a Darwin Police Station, requested players of the game not to enter the Station to catch Pokémon. The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, said that players playing the game in the museum "dishonors Holocaust victims". There have been reports of other incidents where users were lured to a remote Pokéstop location and robbed at gunpoint.

Closer to home, one Pokémon stop has popped on on the grave of Hamilton Hume in Yass. 

The game has also sparked a ‘be safe’ campaign, reminding users not play Pokémon Go while driving and to be vigilant and wary of their surroundings whilst playing.  

While Yass Police are yet to receive reports of any Pokemon Go-related incidents, a spokeswoman said people needed to be mindful of their surroundings.

"When pedestrians, or budding Pokemon trainers, are looking at nothing but their mobile phone in a busy street, that puts them at risk," she said.

"Players should also, under no circumstances, be using the app whilst driving.”

Local player, Kirstin Goode, has been playing the game for a week now and is already on her way to being a Pokémon master in training.

“I usually hate exercise, but since we have been playing Pokémon Go my partner and my kids all go out together looking for Pokémon,” she said.  

“It gets us out of the house and walking around. It’s fun for the whole family.”

Despite the criticism of the game being antisocial, Kirstin’s experience has been completely opposite. 

“If anything it’s getting you out and meeting new people, it’s an excellent conversation starter,” she continued

“I’m at level 11 but my partner is at level 21, so I’m trying to catch up to him - I’m not sure whether I can.” 

Pokéstops have been placed on local landmarks on the in game map, which the user travels to in the real world to find items of value and extra Pokéballs to use in game or find eggs to hatch a Pokémon out of as they walk. 

Different Pokémon live in different areas of the world; for example, water-type Pokémon are generally found near water, and Grass and Bug type Pokémon can be found near parks and playgrounds.

Pokémon has garnered a legion of fans over the last two decades, and the games have left the dream of an alternate reality in their imaginations - quietly waiting. 

What if Pokémon were real and people could catch them and train them in real-life? This game is the closest.

The Tribune would like to wish all the Pokémon Trainers out there good luck and to help become the Ultimate Pokémon Master, we have devised a small map of known Pokéstops and Gyms in the Yass area. 

Have fun and stay safe.