WITH his phone in his hand and a searching gaze in his eye, Antonio Borrillo is living out a childhood fantasy on Pokemon Go.

The Sippy Downs 22-year-old is one of millions of people who have downloaded the augmented reality game and are now wandering neighbourhoods around the world trying to spot the fictitious Pokemon characters through their phones.

“When Pokemon Go came out, it was like my childhood came into reality,” he said.

“When you’re looking around, and you look at your phone, you can see Pokemon. I was always the kid that wished Pokemon was real.”

The security guard and father of one, who has played every incarnation of the Pokemon game since he was five and even has Pokemon tattoos, said it was not uncommon for him to have Pokemon Go on for 12 hours a day in between his daily duties.

“With my daughter, I’m up at 6am. From the moment I wake up, I’m on Pokemon Go. I’ll do some housework and do Pokemon Go. I’m usually on until I go to bed about 10 or 11pm,” he said.

Mr Borrillo, a member of Team Valor on the game, said Pokemon Go, more so than any other version of Pokemon, allowed players to connect with each other by getting people outside and talking.

“It’s like a community thing. When I first started playing Pokemon, there was no wi-fi and you couldn’t connect to anybody. By sixth or seventh generation, you could connect to people in other countries. With Pokemon Go, you can connect with your neighbour,” he said.

Japhia Kievit, 25, of Caloundra, a student who works three jobs, said Pokemon Go had made her and her boyfriend socialise.

“When I had spare time, I’d be sitting on my computer watching Netflix and not really doing anything,” she said.

“Last night, we went to Mooloolaba for four or five hours and it was a really wonderful, fun night because we met a bunch of people and we had so much fun and laughed.”

Miss Kievit said with Pokemon Go as a motivation to go out and a conversation starter, she and her boyfriend had met 50-100 people they might otherwise have never have met.

Uni student and part-time store supervisor Zac Dowling, 22, of Sunrise Beach, said he enjoyed playing Pokemon Go because he was getting out and meeting people.

“Everywhere I go, I see people playing it and I go up and introduce myself. Basically, it connects people.”

Pokemon Go has got Reece Waghorn, a 26-year-old apprentice painter, out and about after work.

“After work, sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to exercise and socialise with friends but with Pokemon Go, it gives you more incentive to get out and exercise and feel better about yourself.”

While the game has the potential to distract people or lead them on to private property, the Queensland Police Service has not gone as far as to issue an official warning but a spokesman said players should be aware of their surroundings and not trespass.

The ACT police issued the following warning:

1. Don’t ever Pokemon Go and drive.

2. Don’t distract your drivers when hunting for Pokemon, especially when you’re a passenger.

3. Stay alert at all times.

4. Be careful and aware of your surroundings, especially at night.

5. Respect others and their properties.