'Pokémon Go' Enthralls Gamers With Augmented Reality

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — If you've seen people outside staring at their phones a little more than usual lately, there's a good chance that's due to Pokémon Go.

"They have this little walk where they're trying to look in front of them, trying to look at the screen at the same time," said North Hollywood resident Kustin Kroger.

The game is like a scavenger hunt that combines real life with animation in a new experience called "augmented reality." Players walk around to local landmarks to find new Pokémon to capture.

Some players, like Bennett Misawa Nguyen, are too young to remember the original game from the '90s.

"It's just fun to play," he said.

Others, like Tommy Oakley of North Hollywood, remember the original.

"Of course I want to participate," he said. "I've been waiting 20 years for this."

The popularity of the game is astounding. Forbes reported the game could surpass Twitter in daily active users on Android devices.

Even the Pokemon theme song is taking over. It was streamed on Spotify more than any other track this weekend.

But it hasn't been all fun and games.

Police in Missouri arrested these men over the weekend for armed robbery. They're accused of using Pokemon go to lure their victims.

And in Virginia, sheriffs posted on Facebook saying they've seen an increase in suspicious activity and trespassing because of the game.

Even the app appears to be aware of the risks, telling gamers to be alert at all times, and aware of their surroundings.

But diehard, lifelong Pokémon fans are undeterred.

"Honestly it's waking up a childhood memory, because I used to spend hours and hours playing Pokemon when I was a little kid," Oakley said.