Latest news with #Automaton
Metro
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Pikachu was originally going to have 'huge breasts' like the movie Cats
The world's most famous pokémon could've looked very different if Nintendo of America had their way, following a bizarre revelation form the original creator. It might be one of the biggest merchandising brands in the world today but when Pokémon was first being released no one had a clue it would be so popular. Or at least that was true in Japan, but by the time the initial Game Boy games made it to the US they were already two and a half years old (it'd be another year beyond that before they got to Europe). To be fair, they were difficult titles to localise, with all the different names and puns, but it wasn't just that which Nintendo of America intended to change. According to a newly surfaced interview with Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, the American marketeers wanted to make changes to how some of the pokémon looked and that included… giving Pikachu 'huge breasts'. The interview was originally from close to the launch of Pokémon Gold and Silver, so around 1999, and according to a translation by Automaton, Ishihara's initial discussions with Nintendo of America were not what he expected: 'When I first showed Pokémon to them, they told me it was too cute. The staff at Nintendo of America then suggested their own designs for the characters – I won't show those illustrations to anyone as long as I live.' Nintendo of America, particularly in that period, are notorious for trying to make Nintendo characters look edgier than their original Japanese designs, most obviously Kirby, who is always scowling and angry on US box art but not anywhere else. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Ishihara implies that major redesigns were suggested for a number of characters: 'They kind of looked like the characters from the Cats musical. So, for example, Pikachu was changed into a character shaped like a kind of a tabby cat with huge breasts.' We'll let that sink in for a moment, while you thank your lucky stars that Ishihara refuses to release the pics. Automaton notes that there's some uncertainty over the translation, and that Ishihara could've meant pecs, as in Pikachu would've been some kind of roided out nightmare monster. But his subsequent comments, when asked whether Pikachu would've looked like 'girls who do Pikachu cosplays' implies that Nintendo of America did in fact want to give Pikachu breasts. 'Yes, exactly, they presented that kind of design to us for real. I thought it was interesting, in a sense of appreciating such cultural differences. However, I didn't want to compete in the [overseas] market with that kind of thing.' More Trending It's worth noting that Pokémon didn't introduce genders and breeding for all creatures until Gold and Silver and the only gendered pokémon in the original Pokémon games were Nidoran♂ and Nidoran♀. So why Nintendo of America was trying to turn Pikachu into a sexy lady is a mystery on several levels. It's not clear when these conversations were taking place, but the Pokémon anime started in April 1997, at which point it would've been very clear that Pikachu did not look like anyone out of Cats. Pikachu does have an unusual history though, as in the original game he was of no particular significance. It's only the anime that chose him to be the companion of protagonist Ash, thereby making him the most famous pokémon of all. The original Japanese illustrations for him, and the other original generation of pokémon, are quite different to how they've looked in every subsequent game. Although apparently Nintendo of America wanted that difference to be even more pronounced… Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Time Flies review – the life and death of a bluebottle MORE: Another new Switch 2 game leaks ahead of Nintendo Direct reveal MORE: Battlefield 6 release date, open beta, and trailer all leak ahead of reveal
Express Tribune
20-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Pokémon Sleep boosts Japan's average sleep by 32 Minutes in two years
Pokémon Sleep is making a measurable difference to sleep habits in Japan, with users gaining an additional 32 minutes of rest each night since the app's launch two years ago. During Pokémon Sleep's second anniversary event in Tokyo on July 16, The Pokémon Company shared that Japanese users now average seven hours and ten minutes of sleep per night, up from six hours and 38 minutes the previous year. The data, reported by Automaton, highlights the app's positive effect. However, Japan still ranks last in average sleep among seven tracked regions, including Germany, the UK, France, Canada, the US, and Italy. Sleep deprivation has been a persistent issue in Japan, where adults typically sleep just over six hours per night, falling short of recommended levels for maintaining good health. A government-backed study cited by The Japan Times found that while most workers recognise the need for at least six hours of sleep, only half achieve that consistently. Pokémon Sleep encourages healthier routines by rewarding users with in-game Pokémon based on their sleep duration and consistency. Players are categorised into 'Dozing,' 'Snoozing,' or 'Slumbering' based on their rest patterns, receiving rewards for meeting recommended targets. Since its launch in July 2023, Pokémon Sleep has become the most downloaded gamified sleep app, achieving a Guinness World Record in June 2025 with over 14.9 million downloads.
Express Tribune
15-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Pokémon TCG shop robbed of $94,000 by manager of nearby TCG shop
A Pokemon Trading Card Game shop in Japan was robbed of approximately $94,000 by the manager of another trading card shop located a few blocks away, according to a police report. The incident occurred on July 9 2025, with Japanese police arresting a 35-year-old man on suspicion of robbery. Automaton first reported that the manager, who also sells Pokemon and One Piece cards, was accused of stealing 123 items, including cash and Pokemon cards, from the shop. Reports also stated that the shop owner was threatened with a knife during the incident. The suspect was not acting alone, with authorities confirming he was the third person arrested in connection with the case. Two accomplices had been previously detained by police. The shop owner posted about the incident on social media, sharing the suspect's identity and calling for any others involved in the robbery to surrender. The post stated, 'Those still involved should surrender immediately. Thinking you won't get caught is impossible. We will absolutely catch everyone. We welcome any information, no matter how small.' Pokemon cards continue to hold significant market value within the collector community, which has led to various theft cases in recent years.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nintendo reportedly asks Switch 2 owners what they think about its controversial game-key cards, and yeah, I don't think it'll be lacking in replies as players rally to "keep telling them how big b******t" they are
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Nintendo's new game-key cards that have come to the Switch 2 are controversial to say the least. Confusingly, they're physical cards that are inserted into the console, but they only contain a permission that allows you to then download a game. The company has reportedly sent out a questionnaire in Japan asking gamers to tell it how they feel about the new commodity, and people aren't holding back. An Automaton article (written in Japanese and translated via Google) has been posted to Reddit, and it states that the survey is asking Nintendo users for their honest feedback on the key cards – even if they have complaints. The survey reportedly asks questions about the experience of using the new key cards, such as how satisfied players are with them and if they've experienced any inconveniences or concerns when using them. I can't read Japanese, and I don't trust Twitter's Grok translations, but there are plenty of English comments on Reddit to comb through – we may not have the survey in the West, but people are still keen to share their opinions. Nintendo is conducting a questionnaire about the "key card" of Nintendo Switch 2. Seeking honest opinions, including dissatisfaction in Japan from r/NSCollectors "Just keep telling them how big bullshit key cards are," reads the top comment. "It'd be awesome if something came of this, key cards ain't it and I can only hope Japan tells Nintendo that en masse with this survey," replies another dissatisfied customer. I can understand the frustration. For a while now, physical game boxes have sometimes come with digital download codes rather than actual game discs, and I hate it. This feels like an extension of that. A benefit of digital games used to be how easy they were to download. But now, with game-key cards, you need the physical item to install the software, as well as play it once it's been downloaded. So, you may as well just have a regular cartridge. For now, check out all the best Switch 2 games you can play – will you get them physical, digital, or the secret third thing, game-key card?
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It looked normal at first, but Helldivers 2's new Major Order snuck in a big surprise: "Hulks can jump! I repeat, HULK CAN JUMP NOW!"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If you've not fought Heldivers 2's Automatons in a while, then I'm afraid I've got some terrible news for you. They've just launched a surprise attack and the Hulks can fly now. This is not a drill. The newest Major Order is all about tackling the "large-scale, coordinated Automaton offensive" that has "launched without warning." We may have repelled the Illuminate invasion and saved Super Earth, but our enemies are still numerous. A video posted to the official Helldivers 2 Twitter account shows a Hulk propelling itself skyward before levelling its flamethrower at the brave camera operator. I hoped it was a false alarm, but players on Reddit actually began reporting these new threats hours before the video went up. "Hulks can jump! I repeat, HULK CAN JUMP NOW!" writes one terrified, I mean valiant, Helldiver. Their video shows a Hulk leaping an impressive distance, closing the gap between them very quickly. It's almost like it was showing off to the Helldiver (who was using a jetpack) that it had one too. Hulks can jump! I repeat, HULK CAN JUMP NOW! from r/Helldivers Hulks were never slow, despite their size, and this newfound mobility just makes them even more deadly. "This is 100% real, I just checked it myself in game," one person corroborates. "The Jet Brigade got sick of people mocking it and decided to bring out the fuck you 2000," adds another. The Jet Brigade is an Automaton faction that sports jetpacks for advanced aerial maneuvers, but they've never managed to equip a Hulk with one – until now. "Bots went full Titanfall on us," writes a Redditor with exceptionally good taste, if I do say so myself. So, if you've been on shore leave since doing your tour of Super Earth, get ready to suit up and drop in, Helldiver, you're needed on the frontlines. Or, you could go AWOL and check out our list of the best online games you can play with your friends instead. You will be branded a traitor, though.
