HISTORY experts warn “moral panic” about new augmented reality craze Pokémon GO is too often misguided when really, a revamp of the 20-year-old game was getting people out and moving.

Cultural sites and monuments across Ballarat are now key Pokéstops and battlegrounds as people search for little anime characters, using their smart phones, in an international treasure hunt. Even Sovereign Hill has reported many Pokémon embedded by game creators about the outdoor museum since the app launched in Australia late last week.

Federation University history and anthropology lecturer David Waldron urged people to calm down concerns following hyped reports of people running into traffic to catch a Pikachu – stories were usually exaggerated by those who did not grasp the phenomenon.

“Moral panic is quite common with these new crazes right through history,” Dr Waldron said.”It goes back to when Milton Bradley first owned the rights to Ouija boards in the 1890s, or people thinking Dungeons and Dragons of the 1980s really involved spells...This one has an interesting angle because it’s virtual reality.”

Sam Huther was immersed in his hunt among beautiful sculptures and picturesque landscape of Ballarat Botanical Gardens’ statuary pavilion on Monday. This was a popular to collect. The long-time Pokémon fan said it was fun to watch the game come to life.

Eyes glued to phones, Pokémon newbies Hayley Smith and Jeffrey Khong were trekking about Lake Wendouree chasing water-based characters. On a university break, Hayley said their journey took her to Julia Gillard’s bust in Prime Minister’s Avenue for the first time where she could read a short spiel on the bronzed likeness.

GUF Games Ballarat proprietor Mark Carter said a call-out drew more than 20 people into cold and rain, hunting Pokémon together up and down Sturt Street on Sunday night. He said the collectible nature of the game and the social aspect, getting people out of their lounge rooms and often working together, were major appeals.

Mr Carter has walked 35 kilometres chasing creatures about Ballarat since late last week.

Police told Fairfax Media  they were anxious about the number of people roaming the streets with their eyes fixated on the augmented reality game. They have urged players to be aware of their surroundings. 

Reports of social media from Charmander chasers have also eluded to extra suspicious residents reporting gamers seem to be lurking as potential thieves. One Facebook user pleaded with residents not to report two girls roaming the streets with backpacks. “We are finding pokemon,” she said.

St Patrick’s College graduate Christopher Kan was Pokemon Trading Card Game World Champion five years ago. Now a first-year law student with Monash University, Mr Kan is planning to attend the next worlds in San Francisco.

He loves the game old-style but was excited to see this new development.

The best advice he can offer?

"You get different Pokémon in different areas so you really want to be aware of all types and what they can do,” Mr Kan said. “Go from there.”