Sheikah

So they make a mobile game and it becomes the highest grossing app in pretty much every region. Pokemon Go more than doubles the value of Nintendo and they didn't really even make it. Pokemon Go alone makes them more valuable than Sony. All this, and 'it doesn't change Nintendo's strategy at all'. That is pretty extraordinary, don't you think? If I started making money like that by doing something, do you not think that just maybe I'd focus on doing that more, and less of my normal day job? Do you not remember how when Kinect started doing gangbusters that whole companies such as Rare became Kinect developers for a time? How they packaged that in with the next console and afflicted everyone with it? Do you not remember how when the Wii did gangbusters, such was its success, Nintendo made a direct console sequel, based heavily around the previous one (especially in terms of gimmicks and power)? Do you not remember Konami and Sega - they started making money from mobile. What happened to them? My point is, we have all too often seen something that is successful cause companies to redirect their focus. Yah? Well for one, that was before they started adding trillions of yen to their company value. Second, Nintendo are well known for their smelly chat. Past classics include 'online is the air they breathe'. Oh right, cool. Which board meeting did you hear this in? Maybe what you say is right and they carry on for the rest of time making dedicated hardware and comprehensive Pokemon Games (which I find unlikely as handhelds seem like a dwindling breed). But we have heard from Niantic that many more features are pegged for Go. Secondly, the game has been mined; and it turns out it's WAY more complicated than people first have it credit for. The groundwork is done to allow this game to be fleshed out. Maybe it will never have a single player adventure pegged to it but that's not the be all and end all. No, it's not really a guess. Pokemon go is making serious amounts of money - not only did it more than double the value of Nintendo and make them valued higher than Sony, it is estimated to be making 1.6 million dollars a day (way more than that now as it is out in more countries) on iOS devices alone. It is estimated it made 14 million dollars in the first 6 days of release, when it was available only in Australia, New Zealand and North America. It is making money like never before. Yes - if by different you mean that Go players includes both casuals and hardcore Pokemon players while original Pokemon does not. I suppose the question is, why pursue far less profitable ventures? Maybe they will, but maybe they won't. It's just that making so much money could make some heads turn. And it would be stupid to not recognise that for some, they are getting their Pokemon fix from this game and may now not see the need to invest in a 3DS to play more Pokemon. It's not about the audiences. It's about profitability. I'm sure Konami had a somewhat different audience that was buying MGS5 compared to playing their pachinko machines and mobile games. That doesn't matter though - some companies focus on where the money is and stop doing the other things. On another note, I expect Sun/Moon will sell a lot of copies (probably more than the previous main game) as more 3DS units are out there than there were when the last game was released. Maybe Go will have sparked some people to get it - time will tell. But I think it will be interesting, particularly if Animal Crossing mobile takes off too, to see what impact the mobile division of Nintendo's games has on the future of their dedicated handheld games.

Actually, you said it would have a push on hardware (3DS), nothing to do with people buying software on consoles they already own. I said I can't see it having a major effect on people who don't already have a 3DS but like Pokemon Go, because ultimately they are very different games. The counter to your claim is also invisible - how many will now not buy a 3DS for the next Pokemon games because they are getting some essence of a Pokemon fix on mobile? It's a difficult argument to prove either way tbh. Also regarding the software point you made - I believe Red/Blue/Yellow have also been on sale, and these Pokemon are the ones that feature in Go. This discussion is pointless anyway because it focuses on the very short term effects of Go on handheld games - we know the next Pokemon games are coming to 3DS as that's what they were made for. What now - now that money is clearly just oozing out of Go? I find it odd that some people are literally falling over themselves to exclaim how great this is for handheld Pokemon. I just think...really? If anything, I can see the popularity of this causing a shift in Nintendo's focus. Why spend all that time making games for dedicated hardware when there is SO much more money to be made in mobile? I could see this having a long-term detrimental effect on the Pokemon handheld series, quite the opposite of what some people here think.

Given AR is switched off in Pokemon Go by anyone who remotely knows what they are doing, I don't think AR is a major factor to Go's success really.

Yeah they are total bandits. With the rave reviews they got and the money they have made they should have employed people to help them. They haven't, their reputation is ruined, and I will likely not buy another of their games within the first year of release as a result. Pretty disgusted with these guys tbh.

If by "don't expect it to have Western values" you mean "don't expect people to be allowed to say what they want without maybe going missing" then yes...yes, I expect every nation on Earth to start having these particular Western values.

Pestneb is right about this - you don't know for sure who has benefited, just that the government was making sure plenty of their athletes tested clean over many years. In situations like this they really do need to put their foot down by outright banning them from the next event. No doubt many athletes that could go to the Olympics now are still benefiting from what they took, so it seems pretty wrong to me if they can still attend. A cooldown and a long period of intense scrutiny is what Russia really needs.

I think nothing less than a total ban of Russia at the next Olympics would be sufficient...for the scandal to have been actually orchestrated by the government is ludicrous. Russia needs to be shamed for such a shocking practice and although harsh on those that were clean, those athletes would start looking towards their country and its so often dubious practices.

That feeling when you see a gym battle taking place, you are nearby, and you see it go neutral. Then you slap a Pokemon on it when it goes neutral. Trolol.

Just saw an article on BBC news in which they cite your site @Serebii to tell people which egg types hatch into which Pokemon. Pretty cool!

Omanyte can do mud shot as a quick attack: Unfortunately my Dratini has the moves already listed.

I don't think you being beaten up would make for a very funny photo.

I don't think you being beaten up would make for a very funny photo.

Nope, but I think this week is very likely.

Nope, but I think this week is very likely.

4) Jailbreak your phone. Caught a 600 CP Slowbro today, a Vulpix and a second Dratini. Good stuff.

4) Jailbreak your phone. Caught a 600 CP Slowbro today, a Vulpix and a second Dratini. Good stuff.

I think the effect will be so small as to not really matter. Just very different games...on paper, handheld consoles are a very hard sell now. So expensive and handhelds are not already in your pocket. If anything I can see Go becoming more feature-rich as it is such a phenomenal success; and as a result, actually having a negative effect on the main series (Nintendo shift their interested to mobile).

I think the effect will be so small as to not really matter. Just very different games...on paper, handheld consoles are a very hard sell now. So expensive and handhelds are not already in your pocket. If anything I can see Go becoming more feature-rich as it is such a phenomenal success; and as a result, actually having a negative effect on the main series (Nintendo shift their interested to mobile).

I think this is a gross misunderstanding of the situation. These people aren't going to go buy a 150-200 quid or whatever 3DS and a 30 quid or so game, after playing this free to play game. These people play these games because of the platform they are on; the experience you get with Go is also VERY different to the one on 3DS (a major reason Go is working is because of the real-world location tie in). Everyone has a phone in their pocket, ergo it is convenient. Most of these Go players aren't going to put up with the inconvenience and expense of a handheld console. It also matters little to Nintendo either way as there is clearly FAR more to be made with mobile; convincing people to get a 3DS and game is probably not their main concern right now!

I think this is a gross misunderstanding of the situation. These people aren't going to go buy a 150-200 quid or whatever 3DS and a 30 quid or so game, after playing this free to play game. These people play these games because of the platform they are on; the experience you get with Go is also VERY different to the one on 3DS (a major reason Go is working is because of the real-world location tie in). Everyone has a phone in their pocket, ergo it is convenient. Most of these Go players aren't going to put up with the inconvenience and expense of a handheld console. It also matters little to Nintendo either way as there is clearly FAR more to be made with mobile; convincing people to get a 3DS and game is probably not their main concern right now!

A great time for gaming. Nintendo have managed to turn the stale Pokemon series into something interesting to the masses again.

A great time for gaming. Nintendo have managed to turn the stale Pokemon series into something interesting to the masses again.

@Eddage I found out your Pokemon needs to be full health to go in the gym. So heal any Pokemon that did the fighting then add them in.

@Eddage I found out your Pokemon needs to be full health to go in the gym. So heal any Pokemon that did the fighting then add them in.

Yeah it seems that way, bit of a weird feature. I need to see whether using more than one Pokemon in a gym fight means that none of them can be left or not. I agree on the CP thing - the defending Pokemon seems to have a big advantage. Best bet is to keep dodging, then when you get a full blue segment, click and hold to do your main move.