The recently released “Pokemon Go” app has many Oxford and Addison residents on a mission to “catch ‘em all.”

Following the app’s July 6 release via Nintendo Co. and Niantic Inc., residents have been taking to the town in search of rare Pokemon to capture.

Pokemon, first released as a game for the original Gameboy in 1996, is centered on fictional creatures called Pokemon, which humans, known as Pokemon Trainers, catch and train to battle each other for sport. The franchise now spans video games, trading card games, animated television shows and movies, comic books, and toys.

Pokemon Go is a free-to-play smartphone game that blends the real and digital worlds, tasking players with exploring their neighborhoods to find creatures and treasure for in-game use

The game works by using the phone’s GPS for the user’s real-world location. It then uses augmented reality to allow players to find and capture Pokemon on their screen.

Shane Moore, a student at Oxford High School, who sat on a bench with friends as they hunted for Pokemon, said he’s enjoyed the virtual reality aspect of the game.

“The concept of walking around to find new stuff has been pretty cool,” Moore said. “I like how when you interact with the real world, it interacts with the game.”

The app also turns certain landmarks and businesses into “Pokestops,” spots which allow players to collect items in the game.

Current Pokestops throughout Oxford Township include the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum, located on 1 N. Washington St., the Oxford Clock Tower, located in downtown Oxford, the Oddfellows Coat of Arms historic sign at the Oxford Tap, located at 36 S. Washington St., and the Oxford Free Methodist Church, located on 790 S. Lapeer Rd.

Also on the list of local Pokestops is the book mural located outside the Addison Township Public Library, located at 1440 N. Rochester Road in Lakeville.

According to Addison Township Library Director Jaema Berman, she has seen several people hunting for Pokemon outside the building.

“I think it’s a cultural phenomenon. I think it really clicks with people’s imaginations,” she said. “These characters are in books, in movies, in anime and it brings more people out to use our resources. I really think that it does a service for the community in a really magical way. I’m all for it, as long as people are using it safely.”

Pokestop locations were determined using data from Niantic’s 2012 game called “Ingress.”

The game has encouraged players to leave their homes and explore the world around them in search of Pokemon, Pokestops, and Pokemon Gyms, where players can battle each other in the game.

“I like that it’s making people get up and actually walk around and (be) active for once,” said 20-year-old Oxford resident Emily Ellis, as she searched for Pokemon with several friends in downtown Oxford.

Ellis added that playing the game creates a feeling of nostalgia for her generation since they grew up watching Pokemon and collecting the trading cards. “I’ve been a fan (of Pokemon) for a very long time . . . since my childhood pretty much,” she added.

Oxford High School student Adam Zyrowski said he’s enjoyed a sense of community with others while playing Pokemon Go.

“I just think it’s cool when you see a bunch of other people and you already know before you ask them that they’re playing (the game)… You get to meet new people that way,” said Zyrowski as he sat in Centennial Park playing the game with his friends.

The game’s overwhelming popularity has come with some drawbacks.

Like most extremely popular game launches, some players have experienced connectivity issues, as well as errors, when attempting to capture Pokemon or enjoy other game features.

“It freezes sometimes and it glitches,” said Shayla Padilla, of Oxford. “I’ve lost like 20 Pokemon that way.”

Despite the occasional issues, Padilla said she has enjoyed playing the game as a means to reconnect with her childhood.

“I liked them as a little kid. I never played the game so I didn’t know much about it, but now I like it even more as an adult. It’s been really fun,” said Padilla, who’s now 23.