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This Is What Our Favorite Pokémon Looked Like Before Their Final Designs
I love looking at the early stages of a a creative work I’ve experienced in its finalized form. You get a glimpse of what-almost-was, what-could-have-been, and sometimes the thank-god-that-didn’t-happen. Bulbapedia has a fascinating page on prototype Pokemon and prototype trainers, as well as some Pokemon that just plain never made it into a Pokemon game.…
By Patricia Hernandez Published December 18, 2012 -
The Dorkly Weekly: Pokemon Rusty’s First Big Gym Battle
The saga of Pokemon Rusty continues this week, as our hapless hero fights his first gym battle—about 30 levels too early. I’m not sure which line I am going to steal from this one. “Logic is the rarest candy of them all!” is pretty good, but I’m leaning towards “God Digglett!” For more sick and…
By Mike Fahey Published December 17, 2012 -
Pokémon Designs Aren’t Getting Worse, They May Be Getting Better
Without fail, a new Pokémon generation will bring with it a wave of criticism—the idea that Game Freak has progressively gotten worse at designing new Pokémon. I’ve noticed that folks who are critical of new Pokémon will typically point toward the original 151 Pokémon as examples of amazing, if not the best, Pokémon design. I…
By Patricia Hernandez Published December 17, 2012 -
Batman, Mario Kart and Transformers Peel Out as Japanese Toy Cars
Children (and adults) rejoice! Tomy’s Tomica toy cars are getting a handful of iconic wheels, such as the Batmobile, Optimus Prime, and Mario’s kart. The toy cars race out later this month in Japan, with each costing ¥630 ($7.50). Have a look, courtesy of Kotaku Japan 『バットマン』や『ポケモン』がミニカーに！ トミカ新シリーズ「Dream TOMICA」がリリース [Kotaku Japan]
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Japanese Meme Is an Eyeful
Sponsors make television possible. And in Japan, those sponsors dominate the commercial breaks. During each show, they even get one shout out right before a commercial break, with an announcer saying that the program is brought to you by whatever. Normal enough, right? The ensuing meme is anything but. Welcome to the world of “sponsor…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 13, 2012 -
The Dorkly Weekly: Pokemon Rusty Learns EV Training with a Special Musical Guest
EV Training is a special way to play Pokemon that utilizes math to maximize each of your pocket monster’s statistics. Pokemon Rusty doesn’t get it, even after the amazing Mr. Brentalfloss expertly summarizes it in song. “You’re sucking the fun out.” I’ve never been much of a min-maxer myself, preferring to enjoy my games without…
By Mike Fahey Published December 10, 2012 -
$26 Transforms Your iPhone or iPad Into the Ultimate Official Pokédex
Released last month in Japan, the official iOS Pokédex application is now available in North America and beyond, giving Pokémon fans around the globe access to the ultimate pocket monster compendium. Just don’t expect a kindly tree-named professor to hand it over for free. The official Pokédex app starts fans out with the critters from…
By Mike Fahey Published December 10, 2012 -
Ash Ketchum Hasn’t Owned Very Many Pokémon, Has He?
Maybe I’m being unfair, but compared to the whole Pokedex—which has over 600 Pokémon, at this point—the number of Pokémon Ash has owned over the years seems laughable. Here’s an image that breaks down what Pokémon Ash has caught and when in the show, along with who his (human) companions were at the time. Click…
By Patricia Hernandez Published December 6, 2012 -
This Fan-Made Pokémon Remake Is In 3D. And First-Person.
If you liked Pokémon‘s deep gameplay, rewarding collection system, fun beasties, and memorable soundtrack, but were vehemently opposed to its 2D, top-down perspective, then I have just the project for you. Pokémon 3D is an in-development indie title that recreates Pokémon Gold/Silver with all new first-person 3D graphics. Trippy. Pokémon 3D is the ongoing passion…
By Holden Miller Published December 3, 2012 -
The Dorkly Weekly: Pokemon Rusty Does Not Get Hidden Machines
Hidden Machines are the most useful moves you can teach a Pokemon, but it has to be the right Pokemon. Let’s see if Pokemon Rusty can figure it out. Nope. I don’t know why I expected otherwise. For more sick and twisted video game comedy, follow the link to Dorkly.com
By Mike Fahey Published December 3, 2012 -
Crazy Pokémon Fan Breaks Up Sports Game
Sports games are no strangers to fans running on the field. Sometimes those individuals are drunk. Sometimes they’re just naked—or naked and drunk. Rarely, if ever, are they wearing a Pikachu backpack and truly awful jeans. As pointed out by Yahoo and ESPN, a fan with questionable fashion sense raced on the field early in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 3, 2012 -
Sure, Put Pokémon and The Avengers Together, Nobody is Stopping You
We may never be able to chart the depths of fandom that led us to pictures like this, but scratching our heads at them is only half the fun. The other half is realising the artist is maybe onto something. We’ve seen some messed-up fan fiction in our time, but to be truly bizarre, the…
By Luke Plunkett Published November 28, 2012 -
Pokéball Cosplayer Gives Birth To Pikachu And It’s Only Slightly Creepy
This is how Pikachus are born. Don’t let the pokéballs deceive you. The cosplay idea is cute. In theory. And I don’t want to be mean, but it does sort of creep me out. And I love kids! If anyone knows who is in the picture or where it’s originally from, drop a mention in…
By Tina Amini Published November 26, 2012 -
The Dorkly Weekly: Redditaur I Choose You! Use Memequake!
Today Dorkly asks, “What if the world’s most popular websites were Pokemon?” Ash probably would have had a hard time collecting all of those gym badges with Pornotubeon at his side. If you could carry around any website in a ball in your pocket, bringing it out whenever you pleased to rollick and play a…
By Mike Fahey Published November 26, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Parents, Please Don’t Name Your Kid “Pikachu”
For decades, no, centuries, Japanese parents were happy giving their kids regular Japanese names. Sure, there have been trends, but the latest one is producing some kids with peculiar names—and even worries about bullying. Japanese names are slightly different from English ones. Traditionally, first names were selected based on the number of brush strokes in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 26, 2012 -
Challenge the World’s Best Trainers in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Beginning Monday.
On Monday, Pokémon enthusiasts can challenge the top 12 trainers from this year’s World Championships in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 The trainers and teams will be distributed over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection sometime on Monday, and will bring three-time world champion Ray Rizzo’s stable of Tyranitar, Garchomp, Cresselia, Hydreigon, Rotom, Metagross along with…
By Owen Good Published November 16, 2012 -
There’s an Official Pokemon Pokedex in the Japanese iTunes App Store
The North American iTunes store is chock full of amateur Pocket Monster catalogs, assembling data from the popular Nintendo creature collecting series. They might soon be obsolete, should the official Pokedex for iOS released today in Japan make its way stateside. From what I can gather from the app’s official page, the iOS Pokedex is…
By Mike Fahey Published November 15, 2012 -
The Dorkly Weekly: Snorlax Must Be Weak Against Camrys
The tragically hilarious tale of Pokemon Rusty finally continues this week, as we learn the answer to the age-old question, “Can a human be healed at a Pokemon Center?” If the medical program in Pokemon-rich regions is this efficient, it’s only a matter of time before overpopulation destroys the planet. This is why we can’t…
By Mike Fahey Published November 5, 2012 -
Kotaku East
You Won’t Believe How Shockingly Nerdy This Dating Party Was
Recently, in the city of Kuki, Japan, a speed-dating event was held for otaku (geeks). What made this event unique was that the participants wore masks as they looked for a prospective marriage partner. What better way to fall in love, than with someone with Chimchar on his or her face! In English, the event’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 5, 2012 -
Kotaku East
F**k You, Ugly Pikachu!
Earlier this month, the fifth annual Wenzhou International Animation Festival was held in China. There were cosplayers, anime, and truly frightening Pocket Monster statues. These photos appeared on Taiwanese site CK101, and show how pleased at least one attendee was with the large Pokémon pieces. The statues, which ranged from 2 to 4 meters tall,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published November 5, 2012