Invasion of the Pocket Monsters |
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For Nintendo, the biggest and baddest driver of sales in Japan is not their mustachioed mascot, but an unassuming monster collecting game for Game Boy. Pocket Monsters, created by Nintendo and licensed out to Tomy, is breaking all records and is generating a massive following overseas. PPM has lightly explored the two portable entries, but few imagined it capable of overtaking the public's imagination. With either Red or Green version, players guide a child on their quest to compile an electronic encyclopedia of all known Pocket Monsters. Collect them in the wilderness, then train them to maturity, besting other collectors along the way. Monsters learn new and stronger attacks as they grow, often specific to a particular monster type, which is vital in conquering powerful gym leaders located in each main village. Like any other RPG, monsters carry unique physical attributes, including offensive and defensive abilities. Measuring these stats is important in strategizing against worthy challengers on your quest. The highlight feature in Pocket Monsters, or Pokemon for shorthand, is the ability for players to hook up Game Boy units via a link cable to swap or battle monsters with a friend. This unlocked the doors to a world of social interaction for young, Japanese games players usually unseen outside of arcades. It is a key idea promoted by Mr. Yamauchi at the SpaceWorld event in November, and represents, to Nintendo, relationship-building as the future of gaming. |
Children in Japan Go Nuts For Pocket Monsters! |
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Japan's most popular Pocket Monster is an odd, little creature that looks like a cross between a rabbit and a bottle of squeeze cheese. Its name is Pikachu, and it ranks far above any other monster in popularity rankings per a leading Japanese Nintendo magazine. This yellow rodent, presumably the unofficial mascot for the series, is plastered across the most coveted merchandise to the chagrin of parents. From puzzles and stickers to pencil cases and board games, Pikachu and Co. have totally taken over toy shops and department stores across Japan. Tomy recently released an interactive, actual-size Pikachu doll that speaks its name as its cheeks flash red. Just place it in the palm of your hand and hear a perky "Pikachu!" as adorable as anything. That's right, even Pocket Monsters is beholden to the Tickle-Me-Elmo curse! Commiserations to parents ahead of the all-but-inevitable holiday rush. Now, it is no secret that the Nintendo 64 is failing to meet sales expectations in Japan, despite its enormous success in North America. So then, what is Nintendo's big plan to revitalize sales? A slew of exclusive RPGs and fighting games to match Sony's entourage? No, silly! Why, it is Pikachu, of course! Pikachu Genki Dechu is a Tamagotchi-like simulation starring the little beastie himself. It will come bundled with a nifty microphone imaginatively dubbed the "voice recognition unit" that plugs right into the controller port. Then activate it to shout keywords at the screen for Pikachu to react accordingly based on your words and the tone of your voice. Call it cute and it will blush and act shy. Be rude to it, and it will sulk and run away. Players will have an assortment of tasks to accomplish, only met by effectively training Pikachu to follow exact directions. The full release is planned for later this autumn in Japan. |
Pikachu Takes Center Stage! Fellow Monsters Kamekkusu and Lizadon Also Popular! |
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Two additional Nintendo 64 Pokemon titles are in development as well. The dry and desperate N64 market will surely be well saturated by these lovable monsters. Pokemon Snap will take players through a safari park, in which the main objective will be to photograph monsters in their natural habitat. Then, Pokemon Stadium, set for release on the 64DD disk drive this June, is being designed to download monster collections from Red and Green and battle them in 3-D, polygonal form. Up to four players can face off against one another on-screen. Of all the games shown off in the series to this point, Stadium is the most exciting in our view. Thus far, this series is limited exclusively to release within Japan. However, if Mr. Yamauchi's insistence on Nintendo's bold new direction is any indication, it will only be a matter of time before us Americans begin spotting Pikachu on store shelves. |
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