There are a lot more young people wandering the streets of Akron and elsewhere with their eyes fixed on their phones in search of the adorable virtual critters known as Pokémon.
But you won’t be spotting a Pikachu — the electric yellow mascot of the franchise — in your front yard. That is, not without your phone.
Pokémon Go, the newest video game in the groundbreaking series first released in 1996, launched last week on Apple and Android phones and rapidly became the most-downloaded app on both platforms.
The free app, known as an “augmented reality” game, uses GPS to place critters on real-world maps at random.
Players — called Pokémon trainers — must travel to those locations, often on foot or by bike, to attempt to collect the creatures. And they must move quickly because the Pokémon who spawn disappear after a little while.
Once encountered, a phone’s camera shows the player’s real-world location, with the monsters appearing on the screen as if they’re really there.
On the University of Akron campus Monday, dozens of students walking between summer courses were in search of the creatures.
“It’s pretty crazy to see how many people are out hunting Pokémon,” said Leanne Novak, 18, of Alliance.
Novak and her boyfriend, Chad Sage, 21, of Sebring, walked the campus together and took a seat in some shade to catch nearby monsters.
The game encourages players to travel. Certain Pokémon can only be found in particular habitats, and Pokémon eggs hatch into the creatures after a player walks a certain distance.
There are even special places to visit in cities called “Pokéstops,” where players can collect items to help in their adventures, and “Gyms,” where players can pit their Pokémon against each other.
The university’s Polsky Building is one such Gym, while downtown landmarks like Lock 3 Park, Canal Park stadium and even the Beacon Journal building stand as Pokéstops.
Near Lock 3 on Monday, Jon DeAmicis, 24, said he played all weekend.
He went to Columbus for a sporting event and ended up spending an evening hunting Pokémon with friends — and they weren’t alone.
“There was just a cult of people wandering the OSU campus,” he said.
DeAmicis, a UA student who collected Pokémon trading cards while growing up, said he was surprised so many people are playing.
“It’s a movement,” he joked.
The game has even prompted some attractions and public officials to encourage visitors to look for the critters or take precautions.
Home to more than 300 animals, the Akron Zoo tweeted that it is home to Pokémon characters too.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol posted to Twitter urging players to keep their eyes on the road while they drive.
And over the weekend, as many as 50 Pokémon hunters in Medina’s Historic Square searched for the creatures at midnight.
Pokémon Go is not without its horror stories.
A Wyoming woman in search of aquatic Pokémon critters found a man’s dead body floating in a river, and armed robbers in Missouri lured lone players to isolated locations to rob them. Some have warned the game might incentivize players to load up the app while driving or even to trespass on private property in search of Pokémon.
“It’s not surprising,” said 22-year-old Alexandra Abel, another UA student. “Someone’s got to ruin everything.”
Luckily, Akron police have received no calls regarding Pokémon Go players.
For Abel, the game is more of a bonding experience and an incentive for her to be active.
“The other day, I intended to just go to the Pokéstop down the street, but I just kept on walking,” she said. “Before I knew it, I’d walked a mile and a half.”
Abel’s friend, Shannon Petersen, 23, agreed.
“Michelle Obama has been trying to get people outside for years,” she said. “Pokémon did it in a day.”
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ngfalcon.