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Mobile is helping The Pokémon Company make tons of money
It's not every year that a mobile game becomes a genuine global phenomenon -- but as I'm sure you all noticed, that's exactly what Pokémon Go was. For a good few months, Nintendo and Niantic transformed most of the world into wandering cellphone zombies, and now, The Pokémon Company is reaping the benefits. In the previous fiscal year, the house of Pikachu found itself in a bit of a slump, turning over a middling profit of just $5.6 million dollars. Now, a report spotted by analyst Serkan Toto reveals that this financial year The Pokémon Company's profits exceeded $143.3 million -- more than 26 times what it made the previous year.
Pokémon Company caught almost 6,000 'Sun' and 'Moon' cheaters
Cheating in online games is awful because it creates an uneven playing field against those who do play by the rules and those who do not. The Pokémon Company (TPC) noticed some irregularities in Pokémon Sun and Moon online matches and has laid the law down for 5,954 folks using modified save files, according to a translated post from the Company.
You can now transfer your old Pokémon to 'Sun' and 'Moon'
In a move sure to please long-time Pokémon fans, players can now transfer old Pocket Monsters to the latest games in the series, Pokémon Sun and Moon. Updating Pokémon Bank (Nintendo's subscription-based Pokémon cloud-storage service) gamers are now able to easily send their favourite 'mon from X and Y straight to Sun and Moon. For the uninitiated, this service offers a cloud storage box that can store up to 3000 different Pokémon online. You can even transfer 'mon to different generations of Pokémon games -- all for just $4.99 a year. In a bid to lure in fans of the original games, this update also allows one-way Pokédex transfers from 3DS versions of Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow via the included Poké Transporter app. With gamers previously unable to move monsters from their Game Boy games into the DS era, this means that fans of the original 150 can finally get to see their untouched old-school teams in 3D. As the series battles have changed dramatically over the years, once transferred, older Pokémon will gain new hidden stats that help keep them competitive. For players who still have previous generations of Pokédexes to relocate, Nintendo has provided the handy transfer guide below.
The best games of 2016
The year is nearly over, and I don't think I'm alone in saying that I'm ready to leave behind the dark, twisted fantasy that is 2016. No matter your political persuasion, social status or country of residence, you'll have felt disquieted by events at some point this year. The sheer scale of 2016's failings allows for such blanket statements. Natural disasters, mass shootings and political events have left me buffeted by wave after wave of anxiety. Because of this never-ending cycle of unease, video games have been more important to me this year. Of course, they're always a form of escapism, but in 2016 they've had to function as a kind of digital cocoon. Gaming has been a place to retreat. A moment of respite. Whether passing the minutes on a mindless clicker or puzzle game, losing myself for hours in grand strategies and sport sims or taking a long weekend to head out on a fantastic adventure, gaming has helped me. A lot. Perhaps that's why I've been reacting to game delays with all the composure of a YouTube commenter. And, God, the delays have come thick and fast.
Pokémon Bank update gives you a multi-game Pokédex
We've known since the game was announced that players would eventually be able to transfer Pokémon from older titles to the upcoming Sun and Moon, which will be released on November 18th. The only way to do so is through the cloud-based Pokémon Bank 3DS app, which will get an update in January 2017 allowing you to port your old monsters into the new game. To sweeten the deal and better connect the franchise, they're including something else when you connect to the app: A Pokédex that tracks all the Pokémon you've caught across every 3DS game in the series.
Wear a vibrating bracelet while playing 'Pokémon Sun' and 'Moon'
Pokémon Go isn't the only adorable-monster-hunting game to get a physical accessory -- Pokémon Sun and Moon will connect to the Z-Ring, a peripheral that lights up, vibrates and makes noises whenever players use special Z-Moves in the games. Z-Moves are new to the series; they're strong attacks that can only be used once per battle. A Z-Move unleashes the full combined power of the trainer and the Pokémon, and it's activated when the trainer has a Z-Ring (in-game) and Z-Crystals. If the trainer's crystals are the same type as the battling Pokémon's, then together they can use a Z-Move.
'Pokémon Sun and Moon' will offer four-player battle royales
There's more to Pokémon Sun and Moon than a new region and monsters. Nintendo has revealed during its E3 live stream that the game will also introduce a four-player battle mode called 'Battle Royal.' Each trainer selects their preferred Pokémon and then enters the ring at the same time. On your turn, you can choose to target any of the three creatures in front of you -- this opens up new strategies as you focus on particular opponents and form uneasy alliances. Our only concern is the wait times -- four trainers mean it could be a while before you can select another attack.
'Pokémon Sun' and 'Moon' arrive on the 3DS November 18th
Earlier this year, Nintendo vaguely revealed that Pokémon Sun and Moon would hit its 3DS during the holiday season. But thankfully for die-hard fans of the franchise, we now have an exact release date. The new Pokémon titles are set to arrive November 18th in North America, while those of you in the UK will catch them a few days later, on November 23rd. As part of today's announcement, Pokémon also introduced Rowlet, Litten and Popplio, the three adorable characters that'll help you get started on your adventure. Seriously, they're so cute.
Should Pokémon move to consoles?
Today marks the 20th Anniversary of Pokémon's Japanese debut. To celebrate, Nintendo announced the next generation (VII, for those keeping count) of the RPG, Sun and Moon, and the reaction from Engadget's staff has been mixed. Let's start things off with the trailer, just because it's great: Now, while the Pokémon fans among us will obviously all play the game, some were and are hoping for more from the series. Two, in particular, have spent the past 48 hours arguing over one question: should Pokémon move beyond Nintendo's handhelds and onto the company's fully fledged console?
'Pokémon Sun' and 'Moon' hit the Nintendo 3DS this holiday
Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon are indeed real games and they're heading to Nintendo's 3DS this holiday season worldwide. Nintendo's announcement was short and sweet, but we know the games will feature nine language options with the addition of both simplified and traditional Chinese. In other juicy Pokémon news, the classic installments Red Version, Blue Version and Yellow Version will all be available to download in the Nintendo eShop tomorrow, February 27th. These games will also take advantage of the Pokémon Bank, allowing players to transfer their Pokémon to the Sun and Moon games once those launch.
Pokémon 'Sun' and 'Moon' should debut on February 26th
The Pokémon video game series is turning 20 this week, and Nintendo is determined to mark the occasion with a bang. It's hosting a Pokémon Direct on February 26th where it will be "celebrating" the anniversary... and, presumably, announcing some new games. The company isn't saying anything about what's coming, but Nerdleaks has unearthed recently-filed trademarks for both Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon -- it doesn't take much to connect the dots and realize that these are the games Nintendo is most likely to show during its live stream. We wouldn't rule out some surprises, but it sounds like you'll once again have a reason to catch Pikachu and crew.
