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How To Play Pokémon Go
Even if you’re able to battle through the server problems plaguing Pokémon Go, you might be struck with another: the game doesn’t explain how anything works! There’s not a single tutorial sequence in Pokémon Go outside of a short series of tips, with players expected to pick up everything on the fly. It’s an odd…
By Patrick Klepek Published July 8, 2016 -
The Strange History Of The Word ‘Pokemon’
Turns out, Pokémon didn’t start with Nintendo and Game Freak. Or at least, the word didn’t. This piece originally appeared 5/22/15. Pokémon, as you likely know, is short for Pocket Monsters. The global sensation has captured the hearts, minds, and other organs—all of which presumably say their own names and evolve into better organs—for two…
By Nathan Grayson Published July 8, 2016 -
Pokémon Go’s Launch Has Been Terrible [Update]
Playing Pokémon Go this week has proven to be pretty difficult thanks to a wide array of issues plaguing the augmented reality game. Things got to an iffy start right from the get-go, given the lack of clarity from developer Niantic as to when the game would actually launch across various regions. Players were left…
By Patricia Hernandez Published July 8, 2016 -
Pokémon Go Is Sending Lots of Players To Church
The first thing I noticed after initially booting up Pokémon Go was that 70% of the landmarks near me were churches. Considering that I’m not a religious person, this has proven to be kiiiind of awkward. I am not alone in feeling this way. Actually, a lot of Pokémon Go players are being directed to…
By Patricia Hernandez Published July 7, 2016 -
Pokémon GO Is Now Out In The US
Americans, your long and torturous wait is over. Pokemon Go is now out on both iTunes and the Google Play Store. Don’t spend all your money at once That means the game is now out in America, Australia and New Zealand. Everywhere else? Nintendo says “The mobile game is also coming soon to Canada, Europe,…
By Luke Plunkett Published July 6, 2016 -
Pokémon Go Players Love Catching Monsters On Their Toilets
Pokémon Go is a game that dares you to go outside and explore the world, and yet some of the most popular screenshots of the app in use is people literally pooping while capturing Pokémon. This should be no surprise: people love using their phones while in the bathroom. But in this particular case, playing…
By Patricia Hernandez Published July 6, 2016 -
Pokémon GO Players Are Saying the Game Kills Battery Life
In what should surprise no one, Pokémon GO seems to drain phones. Pokémon GO has been rolled out in Australia and New Zealand (check out these microtransactions). The game sounds fun, but one common comment seems to be that the game uses a whole bunch of battery life. Website CyberShack notes that the game’s heavy…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 6, 2016 -
It’s A Good Weekend To Watch People Play Pokémon
The 2016 U.S. Pokémon National Championships are going down this weekend, bringing the best Trading Card Game, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and Pokken Tournament players to Columbus, Ohio to determine which of the country’s best players will be heading to San Francisco in August for the big show. The Pokémon Company has set up…
By Mike Fahey Published July 2, 2016 -
The Things We Discovered While Playing Pokémon Go
Exploration has always been at the heart of the Pokémon series. A young person strikes out on a monster-collecting adventure, learning about the world around them along the way. My brief time with Pokémon Go felt like that, albeit on a slightly smaller scale. I may not be a young person anymore, but I still…
By Mike Fahey Published June 30, 2016 -
Kotaku EastThose Goofy Leaked Pokémon Are Real
Overnight, footage of some silly-looking characters from the upcoming Pokémon: Sun and Moon leaked online. No way they could be real. Turns out, they were. Clips of each new Pocket Monster appeared on YouTube sporting what looked like Russian game board ratings. Considering how there are always fakes and seeing how these designs looked questionable,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2016 -
Kotaku EastAsh From Pokémon Isn’t Teaching Subway Manners In Taiwan
Of course Ash is not. But this Taipei Metro announcement certainly looks like he is. The announcement gives tips on good manners while riding the subway as well as safety. Say, is that Sakura from Street Fighter? And Kyo Kusanagi from The King of Fighters? The announcement debuted a few years back, but it’s still…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 20, 2016 -
Kotaku East
Japan Is Getting New Pokémon 3DS XLs
Just in time for Pokémon Sun and Moon, here are two upcoming 3DS XL units for Japan. Whaddaya think? The yellow portable features Pikachu, while the black one features new Legendaries Lunala and Solgaleo. According to Nintendo, each portable is 20,304 yen (US$191) and do not come bundled with Sun and Moon. Both will be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2016 -
Fans Think The Newest Pokémon Totally Looks Like Donald Trump
Meet the newest Pokémon, Yungoos. The internet thinks he looks kiiiind of familiar. Earlier today, Nintendo debuted footage of a new normal-type weasel monster who will be available in Pokémon Sun and Moon This is what he looks like normally: See the yellow fur on the top of his head? That’s what Pokémon fans are…
By Patricia Hernandez Published June 14, 2016 -
Pokémon Sun and Moon Footage Shows Three New Monsters, Battles, and More
Nintendo’s Treehouse livestream event this year kicked off with new Pokémon Sun and Moon gameplay, and so far, it’s looking great. First off, we have Yungoos, a normal-type monster: And also Pikapek, a normal/flying woodpecker: And Grubbin, a bug-type: Encounters are also slightly different now, as Sun and Moon actually warn you with darkened screen…
By Patricia Hernandez Published June 14, 2016 -
Watch Zygarde Achieve Its Final Form In Pokémon Sun and Moon
The digital snake-thing that made its debut in Pokémon X and Y was just the tip of the five-form Zygarde, and while we’ve seen the doglike 10 percent form and Digimon-ish complete forms in side games and the anime, we’ve yet to see them in a proper Pokémon game. Now we have. Zygarde starts life…
By Mike Fahey Published June 11, 2016 -
Here’s That Mystery Sun and Moon Pokémon, Revealed
Remember how last month fans spotted an unannounced monster hidden in the Pokémon Sun and Moon trailers? Welp, turns out it wasn’t a fake-out. Meet Iwanko, drawn here by Tumblr artist kokoro. This rendition is based on the recent Japanese magazine, CoroCoro, which actually includes two new ‘mon. According to Serebii, Iwanko is a rock-type…
By Patricia Hernandez Published June 10, 2016 -
Kotaku East
Out Of 720 Pokémon, Pikachu Wasn’t Voted Number One
In a general election between all 720 Pokémon in Japan, the winners were announced tonight in Tokyo. Greninja came in first, while Pikachu didn’t even crack the top three. According to Oricon Style, a total of 562,386 votes were cast, with Greninja garnering 36,235 of them, making this Pocket Monster the election’s most popular choice.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 7, 2016 -
Kotaku East
The Enduring Legacy Of Pikachu’s Butt
As far as Pokémon rears go, Pikachu has one of the most beloved butts around. While there has been a line of Pocket Monster butt merch that feature other tushes, more than any other character’s, Pikachu’s rear has garnered the most interest in Japan, with fans continuing to point out how “adorable” it is. The…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 6, 2016 -
People Are Thirsty For Pokémon Sun and Moon’s Hot New Professor
Move over, Professor Sycamore. There’s a new daddy in town. (NSFW warning!) As many of you know, every Pokémon game comes with a Pokémon expert who guides you on your journey to catch ‘em all. In the first generation of games/anime, we had good ‘ol professor Oak: For a while, this was more or less…
By Patricia Hernandez Published June 2, 2016 -
Nintendo Changes E3 Plans, Will Show More Than Zelda
Today Nintendo announced that they plan to talk about more than just the new Zelda at E3 later this month. Don’t get your hopes up: there’s still no press conference or Nintendo Direct planned. But at least they’ll show off some other games. During a livestream on Tuesday June 14 and Wednesday June 15, Nintendo’s…
By Jason Schreier Published June 2, 2016