Pokémon Go is a location-based augmented reality game. In plain English, this means the game runs on your smartphone or tablet, and by knowing where you are through the devices' mapping software, it delivers an experience to you that mimics the real world.

When you use the Pokémon Go map, you see a stylized map of your actual surroundings. It looks like one of those classic Nintendo video games of the 90's. Here's a shot of my Pokémon Go map, from where I sit as I write this:

You don't see my house (or the pink couch that I'm laying on, as I write this), but you do see my avatar standing next to an accurate depiction of the actual street I live on, in rural Québec. The game knows exactly where I am in the real world, because I've allowed the game to know my location coordinates through my iPhone (hence the term "location based gaming").

When you see real people wandering around in a zombie-like state, slightly oblivious to the hazards around them, it's because they are looking down at their screens, following around their avatar as he/she wanders through this virtual map. In this sense, "augmented reality" takes the form of an animated map with you guiding a character on your smartphone screen.

Where Pokémon Go gets really interesting is when a Pokémon character (these little adorable and collectible creatures from the Pokémon animation and gaming franchise) shows up in your vicinity.

When this happens, you see your real world through your phone screen (looking through your camera), and one of these animated creatures sits there in front of you, teasing you to capture it (I say "it" because I'm not sure about the reproductive capacities or genders of Pokemons).

Here is an example of a Pokémon in my minivan, that my son was quite excited to photograph, while on a recent road trip:

Once you are within close proximity to a Pokémon, you can capture it by throwing Pokéballs at it. You can buy Pokéballs, or find them at PokéStops (more on that in the final section of this guide). This might all sound confusing, but once the app is in hand, the game does a great job of guiding the user (even if he's an under-caffeinated 43 year old dad like me).

If you hit the Pokémon before it runs away, you can add it to your collection. Here is a pic of my 8 year old son's collection:

Pokémons each have their own power, which can be boosted through the course of the adventure. We won't get into that detail in this basic intro guide. It's best to try for yourself by downloading the app for free at the Appstore or through Google Play, depending on your device.

READ PART 2: The Pros and Cons of Pokémon Go