Pokemon Go sees players unite, shares soar and authorities issue safety warnings

The new game - based on a 20-year-old franchise - has thousands of Australians wandering around cities and suburbs with their eyes glued to their mobile phones.

Australian drivers are offering their services to players of the wildly popular Pokemon Go app. (AAP)

The game was launched in Australia, New Zealand and the US last week ahead of the global release, and has seen Nintendo shares soar 56 per cent.

The augmented reality game has already surpassed Tinder in downloads, according to SimilarWeb, and is set to overtake Twitter shortly.

A new generation has been welcomed into the Pokémon universe through the game, including 6-year-old Isabella Wang, who has been playing the game with her dad.

“Sometimes in the playground, sometimes in my bedroom, and sometimes on my bed, and sometimes in my house, and sometimes on the sofa,” she said.

Michael Wang first found the game through Chinese social media and wanted to share the experience with his daughter.

“I was thinking this game is so funny, and that kids definitely would love it," he said. "I can spend time with her, go out and walk around in the park and try and find something interesting.”

Since downloading the game he says they have been “really crazy about it”, searching for Pokémon around the house and in the local park.

Pokemon Go fans meet to play at iconic Sydney Opera House.

Communities have been created by players, meeting through events publicised on Facebook.

Guy Blomberg and Jess Hodgson created the ‘Pokémon Go Walk’ event in Sydney, initially intended for a few close friends.

“I was amazed when over 5,000 people RSVP’d, and another 13,000 expressed interest,” Mr Hodgson said.

Pokemon Go fans meet at one of the most popular Pokestops in Rhodes.

Although augmented reality has been around for a while, Pokemon Go taps into the “childhood fantasy” of being a Pokémon trainer.

And the game's success can also bee attributed to the already well established Pokemon franchise, explains Guy Blomberg, from Oz Comic-con and PAX Australia.

“This is a brand that's been around for 20 years, so people like me who are a little bit older have this nostalgic factor with it," he said.

"Playing this game now, you can kind of live out the fantasies that I had as a child to go around and be a Pokemon trainer. Also it’s available on phone, so it’s kind of accessible for everyone to go and pick up and play.”

Police have issued warnings to users, urging them to be cautious of hazards when walking and potential crime, such as theft, from other users.