Mr-Paul

Urgh, I really don't like what the update has done to this game. It feels more broken. Pokémon animations carry on once the ball has hit it and opened. Common Pokémon are harder to catch and run away way too often, leaving very little sense of achievement. Before, you'd go for a walk, and sure, you may not have caught loads of Pokémon, but at least you got a haul of Pidgey. Now, that's even a struggle. That's not even getting onto the lack of radar. Before I could enjoy this just wandering around, catching whatever I came across. It now feels less fun. One thing hasn't changed though. Zubats are still a bloody pain in the arse.

Don't get me wrong, as I said in my post I like that they're adding new things. I think they're just maybe adding too many new things for this new generation. It's always been a bit more gradual in terms of change over the series before, and maybe in some ways distracting from the core mechanics too much with things like Z moves. And of course, I'm not saying throw it all away and go back to the exact mechanics of the originals - just reflecting on my nostalgia for them, and how they were so simple compare to today's editions, yet still so brilliant.

I think it's looking good and I like that they're trying new things to avoid the series going stale, but I can't help but feel that they're introducing way too many new gimmicks/game mechanics at once with all these Z moves, Alola forms, totem pokémon, on top of all the mega evolution, abilities, natures, IVs, etc etc. Part of me just wishes things were as simple as in Red/Blue/Yellow again!

Sorry, I kinda assumed you were because I know you're a fan of the Mario series! My mistake. Still, I really encourage you give the Banjo games a go if you can. Brilliant games, I really don't think they feel dated despite being from the 90s.

Ronnie, I think you are doing games like Banjo Kazooie, Yooka Laylee etc. an injustice by comparing them to the 3D Mario. It's a completely different sort of game - if anything more like a Zelda with more platforming than a "pure" platformer. They're action-adventure games. I really don't see what you think is 'basic' about the gameplay. And anyway, this is a toybox for early backers to have a little preview of what it's like at this stage, purely as a reward. Judging the game on a test arena isn't really fair. I'm really looking forward to it.

Yep. It's changed. Don't like it Why change the catching? Everyone was enjoying it the way it was! Now you have to waste even more balls on the crappy Pokémon you're just farming for candy. OK if you live in the city like me where there's loads of Pokéstops, but this could seriously ruin the game for many people.

What size screen do we reckon then? Six inches? Seven?

You need to stop clinging onto things that were said over a year ago. Plans change, and Nintendo aren't necessarily going to give everything away in their public statements. If it is just one console, handheld and home console in one, they weren't lying about it being a home console.

I think you guys are in denial. Eurogamer have strong form when it comes to hardware rumours. They had a lot of the details on the PS4 Neo, too. Publishing a rumour that there will be a female Link (did Eurogamer do that?) and having the confidence to give details about the console and a whole article on what it's powered by are on completely different levels. It's clear we don't know everything about the console. There are gaps to be filled in. But this is a strong indication of the direction that Nintendo are going in. In terms of my impressions, I'm personally not sure about the detachable controllers aspect of it, would prefer to have a proper controller for playing on the TV, it really depends on the form factor of the device.

How a couple of hours can change things

Agreed. I just think with the change in chip/architecture/whatever, if it isn't backwards compatible at all with Wii U/3DS, that'll mean it's not compatible with download titles either like VC. I don't download them anyway except on rare occasions but I hope for those who do they either have them all available on launch, or if they're being drip fed, if you've bought it on the Wii U or 3DS you can download for free on the new console when it's available.

The report mentions no backwards compatibility. Are we going to see the Virtual Console start from scratch AGAIN?

If Eurogamer are right, Nintendo are effectively dropping out of the home console market and going handheld only. The only difference being you can play it on the telly too, which is no revolutionary idea, we had the Super Game Boy for SNES and Game Boy Player for Gamecube. If these rumours are true, it'll be as powerful as the Wii U at most. So give up any hope of third parties supporting it.

It really doesn't matter as long they announce it well themselves. Stuff about the latest iPhones is leaked all year round, yet their official announcements/press conferences are the most covered tech events in the world. Sure, it's a shame. But the longer they wait to announce, the higher the chance of leaks as naturally, the closer you get to launch, more and more people will have inside info, and things will always get out.

Just back from my Pokéwalk, yep, too many Drowzee here in London! Something tells me the developers must be a fan of him! That or the fact they wanted a range of different types available, and there aren't many psychics, so they made Drowzee the common one. It's them, Pidgey, Spearow and Rattata. When I was down visiting my parents just outside Southampton, there were still loads of Pidgey and Rattata, still quite a few Drowzee, but considerably more Weedle. Just had a mass cull of excess pokémon to get candy ready to do a mass evolve when I get around to using a lucky egg! Found the best spot near me for Pokéstops though. Look at all the lures outside Emirates Stadium! And yep, why are Zubats such a pain in the arse to catch?

Thank you all for the birthday wishes and the great pics! Thank you to @Ashley for coming up with a new birthday thread title! Went down to my parents' house in Southampton for the day, walked 5 miles with my mum in the morning catching Pokémon, including a trip to the pub, then walked another 5 in the afternoon catching more 'mon with some friends! Then went out for a meal with the family in the evening, went to the best burger place in Southampton. Had never been there before, it was amazing. Standard burger size is 11 ounces. The Rockstone, if anyone's passing by the area. Insane amount of beers/ciders/spirits too. Nomnomnom. I'm so glad to see this video in here! My best friend who passed away last year always sent me this on my birthday, so it's great to see it even if it isn't from him! Looking forward to seeing some of you guys at the meet in a few weeks!

It's acceptable to drink on the street when it's this hot! Take it with you!

It really feels like Vardy was the only plan. That didn't work out, so we're left scrambling to find players. It's really not helped by the fact we'll likely be missing half our first choice starting lineup on the first day of the season.

It's a bit of a mix for me. I don't mind public speaking at all. I get a little nervous beforehand if I'm being marked, like making a presentation for school/uni, otherwise, generally fine. And I feel I'm very outgoing/confident in person/one to one situations - definitely an extrovert, and I have no shame in who I am. However, I have less confidence in making the first approach towards people - one of the reasons why I've been single for ages! I'll also avoid making phone calls if I can. Once I'm on the phone to someone, absolutely fine, but I always choose not to if I can. I know it's a problem that I need to get over. I love meeting new people but it's that initial contact that's a problem with me. Fear of rejection? I've worked from home for pretty much the last year, which means my work life is a bit lacking on social front - meaning I need to really push myself out there to meet new people/friends/potential lovers. Slight sidetrack, but I guess another related thing is whether you prefer to do things with others/on your own. I love being with others, but will happily go off on my own if there's something I want to do. Hence why I go to the cinema alone - I want to see films, I'm not going to let other people not wanting to stop me from doing it.

The Go wristband thingy is back on the Nintendo UK store - GO GO GO!

You know you get them by spinning pokéstops, right? I got a Charmander in my first egg! Luckily I chose Squirtle as my starter

It's likely to get more kids playing Pokémon. But it isn't going to get the vast majority of adults who are playing Go to buy a 3DS. Go is playing on the nostalgia of the original gen, that you can do it while walking out and about, and that it's become a massive craze. Sure, it will have some goodwill effect towards Sun & Moon, but not so much that it'll be as big a craze as Pokémon Go is.

It's likely to get more kids playing Pokémon. But it isn't going to get the vast majority of adults who are playing Go to buy a 3DS. Go is playing on the nostalgia of the original gen, that you can do it while walking out and about, and that it's become a massive craze. Sure, it will have some goodwill effect towards Sun & Moon, but not so much that it'll be as big a craze as Pokémon Go is.

Oh, I wasn't saying it will defo be of that structure again! I guess itinerary was giving an impression of it being planned, where there things around the main Hyde Park bit were only really arranged in the week leading up to it. Was just giving an idea of what we got up to last year and that it was a lot of fun

Oh, I wasn't saying it will defo be of that structure again! I guess itinerary was giving an impression of it being planned, where there things around the main Hyde Park bit were only really arranged in the week leading up to it. Was just giving an idea of what we got up to last year and that it was a lot of fun