Three Sacred Treasures
Ishihara-san, what do you think Pokémon values?
I wonder… Like the other two just said, I think how interesting the games are—like gameworld details and gameplay logic—are incredibly important. Stunfisk, which came up earlier, became a hit product at Pokémon Centers.20 (laughs) 20. Pokémon Center (real-world): A store specializing in sales of Pokémon goods. Pokémon Centers are operated by The Pokémon Company, and there are currently seven such stores in Japan.
I have to say that normally Stunfisk would be a hard sell on its own. (laughs)
Yes. (laughs) But by making something that draws upon its flatness, like Stunfisk rice crackers, we were like, "This'll work!" You could say that's what's fun about product development. When we made metal charms, we thought that a set of the three Pokémon that the player first chooses from would sell the most, but actually the set with Litwick, Lampent, and Chandelure was the top seller by far.
At the time, you said that production couldn't keep up.
Yeah. I was like, "Huh? Why?!" But store personnel said "Of course it would sell! Litwick is cute and Chandelure is strong!" and I was like, "Oh, is that so?" (laughs) One charm of Pokémon is how people come to like certain Pokémon for all kinds of reasons, like because they're strong or cute. In product development as well, it is important to discover something new and keep on inventing.
Lots of people like Pokémon, but there are few occasions for thinking about why they do, so what you all have to say is interesting.
And one more thing is a new feature called Pokémon Dream Radar21 or people playing on the Nintendo 3DS system. We made download content specific to the Nintendo 3DS system. 21. Pokémon Dream Radar: Downloadable software for the Nintendo 3DS system scheduled for release via the Nintendo eShop starting October 7, 2012 (Sun).
What is Pokémon Dream Radar like?
It's a kind of game in which you use the Nintendo 3DS system's augmented reality22 technology to catch Pokémon that appear to be flying around in the real world. The project began with the question of what Pokémon would look like if they really existed. This may be a simplistic impression, but while the Pokémon are heading from the Nintendo DS system to the world of the Pokémon Global Link, you imagine strange things like, "Maybe they're passing through this world!" (laughs)
(laughs) 22. Augmented reality (AR): Technology for combining virtual data with images of the real world.
And at the exact same time, one of the graphic designers came up with Forme changes for Legendary Pokémon—like Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus—that appear in Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. The designs were great, so I thought, "I wanna get those Pokémon up and flying and catch them!"
Pokémon Dream Radar is downloadable software just for the Nintendo 3DS system. Not only do you get to catch Pokémon in Formes you haven't seen before, but you can then take them into Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2. Some pretty surprising other Pokémon show up that make you think, "Huh?! There are Pokémon like this?!"
Creatures23 had been looking into AR technology, and it was implemented in Pokédex 3D24, so that connected smoothly.
23. Creatures Inc.: In addition to being involved in making Pokémon-related video games and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, this company has also developed such games as Nonono Puzzle Chailien (Game Boy Advance) and Personal Trainer: Walking (Nintendo DS). Founded in 1995.
24. Pokédex 3D: Downloadable software released via the Nintendo eShop in June 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS system. It allows players to view Pokémon that appeared for the first time in Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version from various angles. Pokédex 3D is no longer available for download, but the new Pokédex 3D Pro will be available for purchase from the Nintendo eShop beginning November 8.
That's right. Players on Nintendo 3DS systems can not only enjoy Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, but also download Pokémon Dream Radar, and just about one month later download Pokédex 3D Pro.25 If they play them like the Three Sacred Treasures26, Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 will be more fun.
25. Pokédex 3D Pro: An upgraded version of Pokédex 3D available for download via the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS system starting November 8. Players will be able to view information on all of the Pokémon that have appeared so far, including Pokémon newly added to Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2's Unova Pokédex.
26. Three Sacred Treasures: These items are the imperial regalia of Japan, consisting of a sword, mirror, and jewel that are traditionally presented to the emperor of Japan when he takes the throne.
Indeed, they are like the Three Sacred Treasures! (laughs)
Yeah. You can actually bring rare Pokémon you caught with Pokémon Dream Radar into Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, and with Pokédex 3D Pro, you can easily check info on the Pokémon you encounter as you play the two games.
Come to think of it, it's our first time to try to bring out a new core game just before a movie27 comes out.
Yeah. I'm really nervous! (laughs) 27. Movie: In Japan, the games were released alongside the premiere of Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice, which will air in the United States on Cartoon Network on December 8.
You have them bring Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 to the theater.
Yeah. This time, you begin playing the game in June and then take it to the theater. Of course, we've prepared it so that people who bring Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version as well as those who bring Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 receive the Pokémon at the theater.
These days, working in conjunction with movie theaters is nothing special, but since it was unprecedented, gaining the theaters' approval at first for receiving a Pokémon at the theater was quite difficult.
Yes, it really was. We visited movie theaters one by one to explain. (laughs)
But thanks to you going around to all the theaters, they cooperated. When those involved who were not sure about the idea at the start saw how many people were enjoying it, they changed and said, "Won't you do it next year, too?"
We began by asking, "How many movie theaters are there in Japan?" (laughs)
The end credits for the movie list the names of all the movie theaters, but those who aren't in the know might wonder why the names of movie theaters appear in a movie.
All the theaters that cooperated are listed.
It is unusual for end credits to feature the names of lots of movie theaters. But that, too, is part of the Pokémon movie experience.
That's right.
A lot happened on the way toward making that happen, so we could talk just about cooperating with the movies for over an hour! (laughs) Let's continue to tackle new things with Pokémon. Thank you for today.
Thank you!