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A mobile version of ‘Pokémon Rumble’ is coming to iOS and Android
Yet another Pokémon game is coming to smartphones. Pokémon Rumble Rush appeared in Australia's Google Play store today, and according to EuroGamer, it's "coming soon" for iOS and Android.
Mystery patent points to new device from The Pokemon Company
A patent recently filed by Nintendo, Ambrella and The Pokemon Company suggests that a new gadget is in the works, but details beyond that are scant. According to the filing, the device would be an "information processing apparatus" with wireless communication capabilities and the ability to read NFC and RFID chips (like those found in Nintendo's Amiibo figures), along with the integrated circuit chips most commonly seen in credit cards. The mystery device was invented by Norio Matsumura, director at Ambrella and a frequent collaborator on Pokemon games. Matsumura's involvement, along with the patent filing which lists The Pokemon Company as one of three assignees indicates that the device will have some link to Nintendo's intensely popular monster catching franchise, though here again details are sorely lacking. While NeoGAF commenters have concluded that this patent is some kind of Pokemon gaming system, the patent filing does not offer enough information to support that idea. It could just as easily be a real-world Pokedex analogue or something completely unrelated to diminutive Japanese monsters. Only time will tell what Nintendo has in store, but while we wait, we invite you to leave your ideas on what this gadget might be in the comments below. Best response wins nothing, but your parents will be proud. [Image: Nintendo]
Pokemon Rumble U review: Toy fair to middling
As odd as it sounds, Pokémon Rumble U doesn't feature a single Pokémon. Instead, the Pikachus and Charizards you encounter are sentient toys equipped with the attacks and elemental affinities of their namesakes. They each look largely as you'd expect, but this toy-based quirk lends itself well to Nintendo's overall strategy for the game, which involves releasing a series of action figures which can be used as playable characters in Pokémon Rumble U. From a corporate, money-making perspective, this seems like a brilliant, almost nefarious scheme to part parents from their paychecks. Unfortunately, the potential of marrying the addiction of Pokémon with the appeal of physical toys loses much of its appeal in the face of overly simplistic gameplay - even for a Pokémon spin-off.
Four-player Pokemon fighting on Japanese WiiWare June 16
While we were off doing whatever, Nintendo announced a new Pokémon game for WiiWare in Japan. Melee! Pokémon Scramble is developed by the same company (Ambrella) as My Pokémon Ranch, but is combat-based instead of standing-around-based. In fact, it may be the most actiony Pokémon game yet!The player controls a remote-controlled robot Pokémon, building strength by fighting Pokémon in the wild, in anticipation of a big tournament. Gameplay is real-time, like a Zelda or Ys-type action RPG. And, of course, four players can face off in the game's Battle Royale arena mode. Melee! Pokémon Scramble will be out in Japan on June 16. No release dates have been announced outside of Japan, but Nintendo won't deprive the rest of the world of its biggest brand.[Via Nintendo Life]
A reason to play My Pokemon Ranch a second time
Japanese Poké-enthusiasts will have a pleasant surprise next time they load up My Pokémon Ranch. No, the game won't suddenly be enjoyable or worthwhile or anything -- don't be silly -- but they will be able to enjoy full compatibility with Pokémon Platinum on the DS, and observe Giratina (in its Another Forme, as seen above) and Shaymin (in its Sky Forme, as seen here), or at least some very angular representations of Giratina and Shaymin.The cap of 1,000 pocket beasties has also been raised to 1,500, and GAME Watch has the first screens of the update -- click through our gallery and take a look. %Gallery-36180%
My Pokemon Ranch to update for Platinum compatibility
If you happen to have a Japanese Wii and a copy of Pokémon Platinum on the DS, you may have discovered that My Pokémon Ranch does not interface with the new continuation of Diamond and Pearl. Pretty short-sighted of Nintendo, or Game Freak or Ambrella! We wouldn't expect Platinum to be that different.In any case, Nintendo has announced via the official Pokémon site that an update for the WiiWare Pokémon storage device/game is forthcoming sometime this year, to allow connection between the game and Platinum. Also according to the Pokémon site, there is no issue with connecting Platinum to Pokémon Battle Revolution.[Via Inside-Games]
Bury The Shovelware: Pokemon Dash
Nintendo's big E3 press conference has come and gone. While the mainstream media outlets will praise titles such as Wii Music and Wii Sports Resort, the hardcore gamer has reason to feel underwhelmed. Whenever the Big N fails to please its base, one might wonder how the seemingly impervious Nintendo could fail to deliver on expectations. However, like all that is human, the house Miyamoto built is not without its blemishes. When "mistake" and "Nintendo" are mentioned in the same sentence, those who aren't hurling bricks at the heretic are known to immediately think of the Virtual Boy. Nonetheless, Nintendo has had its fair share of publishing misfires involving some of its biggest licenses. Often, the company will allow its intellectual properties to be used in games developed by second or even third parties. Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Metroid have all had titles outsourced. Like a mother bear protecting her cubs, Nintendo tends to insist on quality development. They will publish these games themselves in part to assure the consumer that the title is worthy of its featured IP (otherwise, things can get ugly). Nintendo is a business, however, and businesses need to make money. And what's one of the quickest ways to turn a profit? That's right: slap a well-known franchise onto a subpar piece of shovelware. The exemplar piece can be found in Pokémon Dash, a disastrous "scratch-your-DS-into-submission" racer.
VC Friday: Bubbles and Pokemans
It's a double WiiWare update for Europe and Australia this week as the fresh-faced download service once again blots out new old games. There is a pattern emerging here -- WiiWare one week, Virtual Console the next, and so forth -- but we're not yet sure if it's a deliberate trend or just a coincidence. Either way, it's pretty plain now that Virtual Console stuff is going to become less regular. Up for grabs this week: My Pokémon Ranch -- WiiWare -- 1000 Wii Points Pop -- WiiWare -- 700 Wii Points Videos after the break!%Gallery-22676%
