Nintendo: handheld consoles remain focus for Pokémon RPGs
X and Y legendary duo named, and other tidbits.
Nintendo's Pokémon developer Game Freak remains focused on handheld games, rather than a home console version of its smash hit series.
The franchise will continue on 3DS this October with Pokémon X and Y, and it is with portable consoles that Game Freak's interest lies.
"Traditionally Game Freak has always loved the game to be on a portable device because of the communication, trading, and the experience of taking this adventure with you," J.C. Smith, Pokémon Company International exec explained to Game Informer.
"That's why they've always prioritised a portable version of the game first. They've always liked what you can do in the real world with that... It comes down to what the creators want to do. Every time I've heard them talk about it, it's been about the portable experience."
Since the Pokémon X and Y announcement yesterday, a number of new tidbits have surfaced. The names of the eponymous X and Y legendary Pokémon, briefly glimpsed at the end of yesterday's trailer, are Xerneas and Yveltal.
Nintendo has told us these are to be pronounced "ZURR-ne-us" and "ee-VELL-tawl", in case you were wondering.
New information from The Pokémon Company in Japan (via Gematsu and Game Jouhou) clarifies the number of new Pokémon in X and Y will number at least 50, enough to take the total amount of critters across the whole series north of 700.
"People around the world will be able to simultaneously experience 'Real Play'," a statement from the company's president Tsunekazu Ishihara revealed. "The game uses an innovative communication system that makes it feel as if you are playing with other players around the world."
It sounds like this refers to online play, but the wording that it feels "as if" you were playing online could suggest areas of the game populated by offline 3DS friends, similar to the Nintendo Land plaza on Wii U.
