For years, parents have tried to get their kids to turn off their video systems and spend more time outside.

Now, thanks to smartphones, the games are actually the ones encouraging kids to get outside.And kids are heeding the call, along with their parents and many other people who wouldn't qualify as traditional "gamers.""I haven't been walking around downtown since I got my license," 22-year-old Shawn Walck said. "Driving yes, walking no."A new, augmented reality version of the game Pokémon requires potential Pokémon trainers to explore their neighborhoods on foot searching for the little monsters."Pokémon Go" brings back a world that has been a big hit with kids and teenagers since the mid-90s - originally as a video game, but also as a popular TV show and card game.The most impressive thing about Pokémon Go, developed by Nintendo and Niantic, is that people are putting in miles walking around town to play the game."This actually gets people out of the house," gamer Craig Barry of Lehighton said. "I saw a group of 20-30 kids out last night. It's keeping them off the couch, out of the house."In less than a week, Pokémon Go shot to the top-downloaded app on both Android and Apple smartphones. The momentum caused Nintendo's stock to jump by 25 percent on Monday alone - the largest such increase for the company in 30 years.The game uses the GPS and camera on the Apple or Android smartphone. Players then go on a scavenger hunt using a digital map of their surrounding area to find Pokémon and other prizes.Instead of exploring a virtual world, the prizes are located at real-life landmarks. In Lehighton, that includes Zion United Church of Christ and the Col. Jacob Weiss Park.On Monday, gamers could be seen walking around the park looking for Pokémon.Lehighton resident Johnette Walck was out with her 8-year-old son Dylan and 17-year-old Becky and friend Tyler Hunsicker - and all of them had the game.They were walking a route around Lehighton that allows them to hit the maximum number of "Pokestops," - as the landmarks are called. That includes churches on Third Street."We're a Pokémon family, but we also like the scavenger hunt part of it," Johnette Walck said.Shawn Walck, who is from Franklin Township and happens to be related to Johnette, was also downtown - but didn't know his family was there.He said that there's a lot of camaraderie among people playing the game.Players will help others by attracting Pokémon to a Pokestop, increasing players' odds.Right now the game is less about competing head-to-head against other players and more about building up your own score."It's crazy how many people who didn't know each other became friends because of a simple app," he said.Games like Pokémon Go still have some unanswered questions about security and risks.In Missouri, armed robbers reportedly used the game to find victims.Barry said that he is cognizant of his surroundings when he's playing himself.He said he has concerns for his 5-year-old daughter and wouldn't let her play the game alone. But he said kids should be OK if their parents provide some guidance."Just be a little cautious. Tag with them for a little bit," he said. "Watch out who's around them and what's going on."Shawn Walck said he thinks it's going to be great for kids getting exercise."There was something on social media, it said, 'Michele Obama took eight years to get kids outside, it took Pokémon 24 hours,' " he said.