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These Are the Least Favorite Pokémon
With the fifth generation of Pokémon monsters introduced (in North America) earlier this month, the bestiary is up to nearly 650. That’s a lot of Pokémon, and it figures not every one of them is recognized as much as, say, Charmander, Snivy, Pikachu and, yes, Mudkip. A series of five surveys, four with extremely large…
By Owen Good Published March 26, 2011 -
If Pokémon Aren’t Slaves, Then Why Do You Call Yourselves Masters?
It’s about time somebody thought of the Pokémons. They’re people too! Well, not people…pocket monsters. But when you cut them, they bleed, and…well, no, they don’t do that either. They just faint a lot. Look, just stop capturing these poor creature and enslaving them, OK? It’s not right.
By Luke Plunkett Published March 24, 2011 -
Watch A Hockey Arena Evolve Into A Massive Pokémon Party
Last month, 3000 German Pokémon fans partied in an ice hockey arena in Hamburg. They did this thanks to the efforts of the G-Pro Consult company, who did their part in promoting the new Pokémon Black & White by turning that hockey rink into a party center — and filmed the whole thing so we…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 21, 2011 -
Japan Disaster Coverage Invaded By Rampaging Pokémon
With the recent release of Pokémon Black and White, those mischievous pocket monsters are popping up all over the place, including some places they probably shouldn’t, like all over British free daily newspaper Metro’s coverage of the disaster in Japan. The partial Nintendo takeover of an issue of the free daily Metro might have been…
By Mike Fahey Published March 17, 2011 -
The Death Rumors That Plague Pokémon
During the 1960s, rumors circulated that Beatle Paul McCartney was dead. He wasn’t, and even today, is still very much alive. These days, it’s not just rock stars who are plagued with death rumors, but oddly, those connected to Pokémon. Over the weekend, a rumor surfaced that Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokémon died during…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 14, 2011 -
Pokémon Company Squashes Twitter Rumor of Creator’s Death [Update]
A spokesman for the Pokémon Company said all employees, including Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri, are alive and safe following Thursday’s tremendous earthquake in Japan, specifically rebutting a widespread rumor that Tajiri had died in the disaster. “False. Everyone at the Pokemon Company and Gamefreak is fine,” spokesman J.C. Smith told Kotaku. He said that power…
By Owen Good Published March 13, 2011 -
Just Because He Made Pokémon: Black And White Doesn’t Mean He Caught Them All
Junichi Masuda directed Pokémon: Black and White. And you’d think that would mean he’s caught them all. Nope. “I’ve still got a long way to go,” Masuda told Gamespot. “My adventure is going to continue. I kind of play it a bit slower than other people. I’ve still got a lot of Pokemon to catch.”…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 11, 2011 -
Updating Kills The Joy Of Broken Games
Remember back when broken console games stayed broken? Commenter Don’t forget to bring a towel! does, pining for the pre-update era in today’s Speak-Up on Kotaku. Enough updating. It seems nearly every game I play these days requires lengthy updates every other time I play them. The frequency of being updated is so absurd that…
By Mike Fahey Published March 10, 2011 -
Pokémon Suspect, Cops Arrest You!
Japanese cyber cops are cracking down big time on individuals who are breaking copyright law. And if you break he law, you just might end up on prime time news. Last fall, 27-year-old Makoto Sekiguchi uploaded pictures of unrevealed characters in Pokémon: Black and White to the internet via his mobile phone. The characters were…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 9, 2011 -
One Man’s Endless Love Affair With Pokémon
Today on Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter Komrade Kayce isn’t ashamed to explore his deep and lasting love for everyone’s favorite pocket monsters. So, I just walked into work an hour ago. Store didn’t open till 10, but I was there at 9. I walk around behind the counter, completely empty store, rip into Pokémon Black.…
By Mike Fahey Published March 7, 2011 -
Oh How They Danced, The Starter Pokémon Of Stonehenge
At last night’s Pokémon Black & White premiere party in London the starters batted cleanup for vocal group One Direction, taking the stage to show off the sort of moves no trainer can teach. There’s only so much dancing one can do while stuffed inside a giant Tepig, Oshawott, or Snivy costume, but these three…
By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2011 -
Talented Musicians Choose Pokémon
This past weekend marked fifteen years of Pokémon. Fifteen years! And what better way to say that than with a free album of Pok&eacut;mon chiptunes. As website Tiny Cartridge points out, the album has 28 different arrangements from 24 different artists. Be sure to listen to the Jigglypuff song at the end of the clip.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 3, 2011 -
How To Dress Your DS For Pokémon Black And White Success
Pokémon fans are a proud lot, so when Black and White launch this Sunday, they’ll want to make sure everyone knows they want to be the very best. That’s where Power A’s line of official Pokémon accessories comes in. Power A dropped its entire line of officially licensed Pokémon Black and White accessories on my…
By Mike Fahey Published March 2, 2011 -
How To Cover Your Boobs In Pokeballs
You might have boobs. You might have moobs. And if you do, you probably have bras. So why not cover them in Pokéballs from Pokémon? For those brassiere-wearing folks who love Pocket Monsters, here is a quick tutorial from Selina, the maker of the original Pokébra. We’ve seen the Pokébra before, but we just didn’t…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 25, 2011 -
Japan’s Pokemon DSi Portables Coming To America
Forget for a moment that the 3DS is hitting U.S. retailers in late March. In early March, black and white Pokémon DSi units are coming to the States, each priced at US$179.99. The bundles were released in Japan last year.
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 23, 2011 -
Why Do Pokémon Games Take So Damn Long To Come Out In The West?
Pokémon games are always released in Japan months before they make their way to Western markets. It’s not conspiracy; instead, it’s because developers GameFreak like to make sure Pokémon names truly mean something, regardless of the language used.
By Luke Plunkett Published February 23, 2011 -
The Pokémon Trading Card Game Moves Into Cyberspace
After more than 12 years of success in the real world the Pokémon Trading Card Game goes virtual this April with the Pokémon Trainer Challenge. Finally a way for older fans to play without looking completely creepy. I’m a staunch supporter of trading card games, but I’ve never had a chance to play the Pokémon-flavored…
By Mike Fahey Published February 15, 2011 -
Why They Still Make Pokémon Movies
The easy answer, of course, is that the Pokémon movies still make money. The longer answer is slightly more involved. Since 1998, there has been a new Pocket Monsters anime in Japan every year, like clockwork. And not only are they released each year, but they are always released during the same month: July. There…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 15, 2011 -
The Pokémon Captured At Toy Fair 2011
I found the Pokémon booth at Toy Fair 2011, and in the booth I found Pokémon DS cases, Pokémon card tins, a Pokémon movie, Pokémon toys… Pokémon, Pokémon, Pokémon. I also found some lovely Pokésymmetry. The main push is for Pokémon Black & White, the paired DS games that come out in the U.S. in…
By Stephen Totilo Published February 13, 2011 -
This Pokémon Was Too Controversial To Live
A recent interview in Best Buy’s official @Gamer Magazine reveals that plans for a Pokémon based on the lovable creature above were scrapped after being deemed too controversial. What’s controversial about Dolly the sheep? She’s a clone. Or she was a clone, at least. Dolly the sheep, often referred to as the world’s most famous…
By Mike Fahey Published February 11, 2011