Nintendo has announced its plan to use augmented reality tech and mobile devices to bring the Pokemon video game franchise to the real world. It shared a video on September 9, Wednesday on the series' official YouTube channel. Pokemon masters can use their iPhone or Android smartphone for capturing, training, and battling their monsters in real-life locations.
In the video clip people near New York City use their mobile phones to find digital Pokemon creatures, according to CNET. They are peppered throughout the Big Apple in locations such as Times Square.
The GPS-powered game is called Pokemon Go. Players can explore their neighborhoods, towns, or cities to find Pokemon or other people to trade or battle. It is done on handsets.
Pokemon Go Plus is an optional wrist accessory. It alerts gamers when a Pokemon is close by lighting up and buzzing, and includes a button for catching the creature, according to ABC.
The game is scheduled to be released in 2016. However, Nintendo launched a trailer on September 10, Thursday.
Junichi Masuda was the handheld version's director. He is contributing to the new rendition, which is being developed by Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and the former Google team Niantic.
Niantic's John Hanke said that players can catch Pokemon in different places. They include, sidewalks, shopping areas, parks, and countrysides throughout the world.
Pokemon Go is not a regular family video game. Players can also get to enjoy fresh air outdoors and explore strange new places.
The Pokemon franchise was launched in 1996 as an original Game Boy game. Since then it has globally sold 260 million units and expanded to trading cards, toys, comics, and movies.
Here is the official video introducing Pokemon Go: