Last week, the producers of Pokémon Go announced the US launch of the augmented reality game in beta version or, better said, in field testing. It officially started yesterday; Australian, Japanese, and New Zealand players were the first ones able to enroll in the program.

Niantic opened up the Pokémon Go testing signups yesterday with invitations for beta testers. The company offered some information about the mechanics of the game: there will be “more than a hundred” Pokémon gizmos that players will have to discover and catch.

When a Pokémon is nearby, the players’ phone will buzz. Pokémon Go wristbands will be available for purchasing. The wristbands will light up and buzz when the little creature is around.

The tiny gizmos are caught with the phone’s touch screen. When the Pokémon is nearby, with the help of the touch screen users will overtake them in a Poke Ball.

These Poke Balls, or other items the user might need, are found at the “PokeStops.” Although a specific list of the exact locations was not provided, these PokeStops will be placed in the real world public spaces like “art installations, historical markers, and monuments.”

In battle terms, players will struggle to gain control of a Gym by using the creatures they’ve caught. By swiping to the left or the right on the screen and by attacking the defenders, Pokémon Go players will fight to diminish the Gym’s Prestige.

When the Gym’s Prestige has reached zero, the defending team has lost control and the victors will be assigned to defend the Gym. To increase the Prestige and the level, Pokémon Go players can train their Pokémon with other supporting ones.

Once the level of Prestige goes higher, the defending players can dispense more Pokémon to guard it. Teams of friends can also be created to battle together and conquer powerful Gyms faster.

The augmented reality Pokémon Go game is set to launch fully this year for Android and iOS. It will be free, but in-game purchasing will be available to buy PokeCoins. PokeCoins is the game’s currency that’s used to access items and power-ups.

Rumors say the game will launch in full by the end of this summer.

Image source: YouTube