Latest news with #PokémonGo
The Verge
a day ago
- Business
- The Verge
Nintendo's Switch era took Pokémon collecting to the next level
Though the first Nintendo Switch era of Pokémon games was undeniably rocky at times, it brought the series' trading and organization systems into a new level of maturity. It wasn't always easy to complete Pokédexes in remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and new entries like Sword and Shield. But those games helped The Pokémon Company create a more seamless way to move your monsters from one title to another, or swap them with friends. And with the Pokémon franchise about to make its big debut on the Switch 2 with the cross-generation game Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it feels like The Pokémon Company is getting ready to take the trading system to the next level. In the Pokémon games, filling up your Pokédex has always been an exercise in patience, planning, and understanding that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company want you trading with other players rather than trying to catch 'em all on your own. The games' trading mechanics evolved as the series jumped from the Game Boy to new hardware. By Generation IV (the DS games), players could swap monsters remotely over the internet without needing to use wired link cables. And after years of many legendary and mythical pokémon only being obtainable through in-person events, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak used Pokémon 's Generation V to introduce a serial code redemption system that made snagging super-rare monsters infinitely easier. Bringing pokémon you first caught on older titles like the GBA's Pokémon Emerald up to more modern ones like the 3DS's Ultra Sun was still a very tedious process. But with each generation of games, The Pokémon Company was clearly building out a digital system that allowed players to experience their Pokémon adventures as one massive, continuous journey. That project continued in the Switch era with 2018's Let's Go games, 3D remakes of Pokémon Yellow that featured new mechanics inspired by Pokémon Go. It was wild to see Nintendo using a console title to capitalize on the success of a mobile application. But the way the Let's Go games connected with Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Home cloud storage service spoke volumes about Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's vision for the franchise's future. Like the 3DS's Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter companion applications, Pokémon Home gave players an online space to stash their 'mons and a way to move them between games. Home's ability to connect with Bank made it useful for longtime fans looking to keep their favorite monsters with them. But the application was also clearly meant to help newer players — people drawn to the franchise by games like Scarlet / Violet and Legends: Arceus — start building collections that would keep them invested (both emotionally and financially) in the series. By requiring subscriptions, Pokémon Home and the Switch Pokémon games' online features helped Nintendo come into its own as a services company. Since Nintendo Switch Online's launch in 2018, Nintendo has sweetened the deal by gradually adding more of its classic games to the service, along with other features, like a streaming music app. It's been a little frustrating to watch the company choose not to put most of its older pre-DS Pokémon games online. But much like Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's tradition of making it impossible to complete the Pokédex without having access to both versions (e.g., Red / Blue) of the same game, this has felt like a calculated movie on the company's part to keep players thinking about spending more money. Especially with Pokémon Go and the various Switch remakes in the mix, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company built out an ecosystem of modern games that give players a way to catch virtually every single one of the franchise's creatures. And while none of the past Switch games have been focused on cataloging all the pokémon, that feels like something that could change as Pokémon moves to the Switch 2. Like Arceus before it, Legends: Z-A (a Switch game that's also getting a Switch 2 edition) will likely feature a limited selection of 'mons in order to put more focus on new gameplay mechanics and a fresh story. But as the Switch 2 becomes Nintendo's flagship platform, we could and arguably should see the Pokémon series evolve in some surprising ways. Legends: Z-A looks like a significant upgrade from Scarlet / Violet, but the franchise's potential to change more radically feels like something Nintendo has to be thinking about as it prepares for the next generation of mainline (rather than spinoff) games developed specifically for the Switch 2. Something as simple as bringing the classic games to NSO with Pokémon Home compatibility would make buying into the larger ecosystem with its various subscriptions a much more interesting prospect. It would be a huge win for Pokéfans still hanging out on the original Switch, and it would make upgrading to the Switch 2 feel even more like following the franchise into the future.
Calgary Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Interactive experience brings Last of Us Vancouver filming locations to life
Article content With the lights barely out on Season 2 of The Last of Us, fans can hit the streets of Vancouver to feel closer to the hit HBO show. Article content Destination Vancouver has launched Survive Vancouver, a mobile, browser-based augmented reality (AR) experience that takes fans into the apocalyptic world inspired by The Last of Us. Article content Article content Developed in partnership with Victoria-based creative studios One Net Agency and Hololabs, Survive Vancouver guides fans through four downtown Vancouver locations of the show, which is returning to shoot season 3 here later in the summer. Article content Users will visit the landmark Vancouver filming sites The Orpheum Theatre, Chinatown, Gastown, and Harbour Green Park. Included in the experience is exclusive behind-the-scenes content, local guides and interactive storytelling. Article content Article content 'Vancouver has always played a starring role in film and television, and Survive Vancouver offers fans a new way to experience that magic. This initiative brings a new dimension to visiting our city, inviting fans to walk in the footsteps of their favourite characters while exploring our diverse neighbourhoods. We're inviting the world to step into the show and into Vancouver,' said Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver in a statement. Article content Article content Using AR tech powered by Niantic, creators of Pokémon Go, users uncover hidden digital props, unlock code words, and collect clues at each location. Once the clues have been figured out users are given a set of co-ordinates that will lead them to the prize of a limited-edition, hand-illustrated postcard featuring one of the iconic filming locations in its full apocalyptic glory. Article content Article content Article content
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Interactive experience brings Last of Us Vancouver filming locations to life
With the lights barely out on Season 2 of The Last of Us , fans can hit the streets of Vancouver to feel closer to the hit HBO show . Destination Vancouver has launched Survive Vancouver, a mobile, browser-based augmented reality (AR) experience that takes fans into the apocalyptic world inspired by The Last of Us . Developed in partnership with Victoria-based creative studios One Net Agency and Hololabs, Survive Vancouver guides fans through four downtown Vancouver locations of the show, which is returning to shoot season 3 here later in the summer. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Users will visit the landmark Vancouver filming sites The Orpheum Theatre, Chinatown, Gastown, and Harbour Green Park. Included in the experience is exclusive behind-the-scenes content, local guides and interactive storytelling. 'Vancouver has always played a starring role in film and television, and Survive Vancouver offers fans a new way to experience that magic. This initiative brings a new dimension to visiting our city, inviting fans to walk in the footsteps of their favourite characters while exploring our diverse neighbourhoods. We're inviting the world to step into the show and into Vancouver,' said Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver in a statement. Using AR tech powered by Niantic, creators of Pokémon Go, users uncover hidden digital props, unlock code words, and collect clues at each location. Once the clues have been figured out users are given a set of co-ordinates that will lead them to the prize of a limited-edition, hand-illustrated postcard featuring one of the iconic filming locations in its full apocalyptic glory. No app download is required, users can play right in their mobile browser. Fans can also access exclusive episode recaps and filming location insights at .
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Locals gather for Big Birding Weekend at Mosquito Lake
BAZETTA, Ohio (WKBN) — All eyes were to the skies for the Big Birding Weekend at Mosquito Lake. The activity has gained some popularity over the last couple of years. 'The birds have a world that's very big and most people don't know about it,' said Greg Miller, a dedicated birder. In 1998, Miller set out to pursue a record of finding the most bird species in a year. His story, told in a book published in 2004, later turned into a movie called 'The Big Year,' starring Jack Black, who portrayed Miller. 'He really made me feel comfortable in a place that I wouldn't have felt comfortable at all, on a Hollywood set,' Miller said. That's where Miller was a birding consultant. Newton Falls native Ethan Kistler has traveled the world birding. He has even written a book about Ohio's bird species. Kistler says it can be a great activity for the young and old alike. 'I call it like 'Pokémon Go' in real life. Instead of looking at an app looking for Pokémon, you're actually outside looking for real living ones,' Kistler said. For Miller, the connection with nature is what drives him back. 'I call it Windex for the soul, because what really happens as we accumulate negativity — it's like a magnifying glass, and our problems seem very big. But when I go out birding, I become so distracted. It doesn't change my problems, but it changes my perspective,' Miller said. Volunteers with Friends of Mosquito Lake say they just want people to come and enjoy what nature has to offer. 'There's something for everyone to find something,' said Rich Urchek, a volunteer. Rich says there are going to be plenty of events and happenings every weekend and most weekdays throughout the summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Pokémon running out of ideas? Ground-type Charmander leak sparks fan backlash in Gen 10 rumour mill
Charmander fatigue hits the fanbase Live Events Pokémon Gales & Tides or just another 4chan fantasy? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When longtime Pokémon fan Aaron Lucero saw a Ground-type Charmander trending online this weekend, his reaction summed up what much of the fandom was feeling: 'Again? They're doing this again?'Lucero, like thousands of others, stumbled across the latest Generation 10 'leak' making the rounds online. The alleged info drop, which originated from 4chan and gained traction through a repost by the Hidden Power Podcast, outlines ambitious plans for the next mainline game, possibly titled Pokémon Gales & Tides, rumoured for the Nintendo Switch read: 'Pokémon Go' maker nears $3.5 billion deal to sell games unit The leak describes a tropical archipelago setting featuring 16 major islands, 150+ smaller ones, a new battle mechanic called 'Gigaxis,' and three new starter Pokémon: a Fire Goat, Water Octopus, and Grass Snail. But one bizarre detail is dominating conversation more than any of that: a new ground-type regional variant of Pokémon community has always had strong feelings about its mascots, but the idea of giving Charmander yet another region-specific twist, this time as a Ground-type has left fans baffled and, in many cases, frustrated.'I don't care about the rest of it, just please for the love of god stop making a new Charmander every other region,' one fan chimed in: 'Only believing this because a regional variant for the Charizard line sounds exactly in line of what Pokémon would do lmao.'This isn't the first time Charmander and its evolutionary line have stolen the spotlight. Mega Charizard X, Y, and Gigantamax Charizard have all had their day. But for a growing segment of the fanbase, the overexposure is wearing thin, especially when there are over 1,000 other creatures in the Pokémon the frenzy, there's a high chance this entire leak is a fabrication. While 4chan has occasionally been a source of accurate leaks, its track record is sketchy at best. The anonymity of the platform makes it a breeding ground for unverified information, especially when it comes to major game franchises like Poké read: Pokémon GO acquisition: Scopely buys Niantic's gaming division for $3.5 Billion – What it means for players and the future of the game 'If any of this ends up being true, I will livestream myself eating a Pikachu plushie,' one skeptical fan joked, echoing the mood of it's fun to imagine. With Pokémon Legends: Z-A already confirmed as the next official release, anything beyond that is pure speculation. But the growing backlash to Charmander's repeated reinvention is a clear sign: the fanbase wants fresh ideas, not another familiar flame in a new coat of mud.
