If you've never hunted for an Eeve in downtown Guelph, chased a Rattata in Riverside Park or searched for a Jolteon in The Arboretum, then this story might not make any sense at all.
Although only released less than a week ago and technically not yet released in Canada, Pokemon Go is the latest craze in gaming and it's hit Guelph in a big way.
It's being described as an "augmented reality" game where people download an app to their phone then use GPS to wander around various locations in the city to seek out virtual Pokemon characters that show up on their phone screen.
You capture the characters by throwing a virtual ball at them, earning higher levels, and bonus stardust and pokecoins along the way. There are also highly coveted Pokemon "gyms" found around town to take over.
"I see so many people playing it. It's crazy," said 13-year-old Cade Meloche as he wandered up Wyndham Street with his buddies Jacob Downer and Max Coleman, phones held high out front of their faces, looking for virtual creatures.
"The first day we went out I was by myself and a lot of people wondered what I was doing. Now everyone is playing it," Meloche said.
Go by Riverside Park on a nice night and check out how many people you see wandering with their phones held about shoulder high out in front of them.
And not just pre-teens or teens. Lots of people in their 20s and 30s.
"I was into Pokemon as a kid, so it's kind of fun for me," said Jason Squire, 25, as he wandered around Riverside Park with a friend.
"It's harmless. It's fun. It's free," Park said.
The MacLean family was out together at Riverside also, sharing dad Jim's phone as he, his wife and two young children went for a walk.
"I'm not into it that much but it's just a fun way to get everyone out for a walk," he said. "It makes it a bit more interesting for the kids."
Originally released by creators Niantic July 6 in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, Pokemon Go has since been released in several European countries.
You can't get the app through traditional means in Canada yet. But thousands are using back-door downloads found on the Internet.
Meloche uses an account of a friend living in Australia.
If nothing else, it's a video game-type activity that makes people more active.
"The appeal for me is that I get to go outside," said Coleman.
"My parents are happy because it gets me outside the house," Meloche said in agreement.
A Guelph Pokemon Go sub-thread on Reddit lists Riverside Park, The Arboretum, the University of Guelph campus and even Woodlawn Cemetery as good Pokemon hunting grounds.
Meloche was asked where the strangest place he's ever found one.
"In my shower," he said.
There are criticisms.
Server crashes "happen a lot" said Downer, and the distracting nature of the game can lead to dangerous situations in public. There was a publicized case in the United States of someone driving into a tree while playing.
Others have expressed concerns that the Pokemon Go craze could be used to lure people into compromising locations.
Meloche said the search can also lead you onto private property.
"You have to watch that. Sometimes they are on people's front steps," he said.
Plus the game can eat your data plan and battery life like a hungry Magikarp.
"Pokemon GO requires your phone to be constantly checking and transmitting your location via GPS. And the very nature of the game — namely, the impetus to get outdoors and keep moving — means that more often than not, you’ll be using a cellular connection rather than a Wi-Fi connection," wrote Alex Abad-Santos on the pop culture news site Vox.com.
Whether it's a passing fad or the next step in gaming, only time will tell.
The game might not be quite as popular once the weather turns colder. And what about when school is in?
"The teachers will probably be playing," said Coleman
