'Pokemon' News: What's In Store For Fans As Franchise Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary
The year 2016 marks the 20th year since the first Pokemon games were released for the GameBoy in Japan. As this is a major milestone for the franchise, its developers and publishers such as Game Freak, the Pokemon Company and Nintendo have a lot planned for the 20th anniversary celebration, according to a report in iDigitalTimes.
The report also rounded up all the franchise-related projects for the year.
The first on the list is a repackaged "Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow" or Pokemon RBY for the mobile console Nintendo 3DS. "Pokemon RBY" was the first game that was released and it is fitting that a repackaged version of the game is being released again. According to the report, while the game is reportedly listed in Amazon, it will be available starting February 27. The game will bring back the original 151 Pokemon to the 3DS.
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In Japan, a special edition Nintendo 2DS is also being released with the game pre-installed, which is a first, even for Japan.
Japan is also lucky to see a reprint of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, the release of which is yet to be announced, according to the report. The trading card game starter pack contains all of the first set of Pokemon trading cards, consisting of 60 cards, and it will be available for 1,300 yen or $10.80. A manual and a Pokemon TCG coin are also include in the starter pack.
On the Nintendo Wii U, a special "Pokken Tournament" is being developed and will be released in Japan in March. North America is reported to be getting the Wii U game by spring 2016. Unlike the usual Pokemon game, this game combines favorite Pokemon and the gameplay of Tekken, the classic fighting game. In "Pokken Tournament," gamers can choose which Pokemon to fight with.
In mobile gaming, this year brings with it one of the most-anticipated mobile games ever, "Pokemon Go." This augmented reality game is set to change the way people play mobile games as it requires players to look for Pokemon in the real world, capture them, and trade them.
A "Pokemon" movie is also in the works which will be released in Japan in July, according to the report. The North America release has not been announced. This particular movie is said to feature Volcanion, who was earlier discovered when "Pokemon X" and "Pokemon Y" were released in 2013. The movie will also feature another new Pokemon, Zygarde. Both Pokemon were revealed in the December issue of CoroCoro magazine.
Nintendo has yet to release a new Pokemon game for the 3DS as the last release was in 2014. Rumor has it that this game is the unannounced "Pokemon Z" game, which is said to feature the mysterious Zygarde.
