Just prior to the release of Pokémon X & Y, it was confirmed that a new game starring Pikachu had gone into development; that's hardly surprising news, as The Pokémon Company has never been afraid of spinning off the main series to keep keen fans busy.
The "top secret" game has now made a brief appearance courtesy of Japanese TV network NHK; as spotted by Siliconera, the channel broadcast a teaser for upcoming programme Professional — Style of Work, which will apparently show behind the scenes of development on the game.
The video below shows a brief glimpse of this game, with Pikachu being viewed with a magnifying glass on a development 3DS screen, and then there's a rather peculiar snippet of facial motion-capture being applied to the iconic character — presumably part of the "playfulness" that's apparently integral to the project. The full show airs in Japan on 28th October, so presumably more footage will emerge on that date.
[source siliconera.com, via nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 40
It's Pikaman!
I had no idea that motion capture could be used for Pokemon; how amazing.
Day 23: Through weeks of genetic analysis and failed concepts, finally we've successfully created a Mega Pikachu. There is still work to be done, but this at least proves the concept that Mega Evolution can be applied to all species of Pokémon. Mega Pikachu has been moved to Containment Unit #486 for further experimentation.
Day 35: Mega Pikachu's strength is growing stronger by the day. Our analysis is showing fascinating results: there lies within potentially limitless power. Already we have had to move our creation to a more secure area. Behavioural analysis shows Mega Pikachu is becoming more aggressive, staff have been advised to avoid approaching it.
Day 42: Mega Pikachu is becoming difficult for the handlers to deal with. This is the third time we have had to chemically sedate it. Our executives fear we may have to terminate the experiment if the situation does not cool down. The test subject has been moved to our strongest vaults.
Day 52: It is out of control. Sedation is ineffective and our attempts to terminate have thus far failed with several casualties reported. It is still deep within the facility but it is now only a matter of time before it reaches the surface. Here we will make our last stand. It must be stopped.
[diary ends]
Umm...
That image will haunt my dreams......Thanks NL, its not like i wanted sleep tonite!
I see what you did there.....
.gif needed
0:23.
What have they done?
IT'S A TRAP!!!
Well, good thing they're spending time on this rather than a full-fledged 3D Pokemon console RPG, huh?
Am I the only one sick and tired of Pika-flipping-chu? I certainly won't be getting this game.
Delightfully creepy pikachu, meh heh heh heh heh.
@citizenerased Nintendo has said repeatedly that the main series Pokemon games will always be on handhelds.
Shudder.
I'll say now what I said when Thatcher died, it's a trick, get an axe...
ugh more spin offs trying to be worked on and why arent they trying to work on pkm snap2 instead??
I'm just bury my head back in the ground and pretend I didn't see that horror show.
They should be working on Pokepark 3 on the Wii U instead. W/ 800 purchasable NFC Pokemon toys. I think the Nintendo World Store already has $5 toys of most Pokemon anyway, might as well throw in a microchip. And the last couple of times we were there they had a few consoles set up w/ Pokepark playing. Which seems like a waste to me but every console was taken.
On 2nd thought, not 800 Pokemon toys, just the basics, and you have to evolve them in game. Or buy a DLC code
i wont be able to sleep tonight...
@Raylax Awesome story!
Awwwwwwwww, he looks so cute, I wound't mind having that Pikachu on my team, he can even travel outside of his Pokeball.
And he'll be even cuter as a Raichu.
@Raylax wins the thread.
I'll keep an eye on this project. Or will it keep an eye on me?
BTW, I just got an invitation to go to a Battle Island that just appeared in the sea. Pretty cool, eh?
If this requires a front facing camera, they should make it for WiiU as well.
What is doing Jackie Chan at the end of the video?
...I'm not sure what to think about this.
I was seriously hoping this to be Gamefreak's first RPG open-world based off of the whole pokemon, all ala Super Mario Galaxy, finally putting much more emphasis on the Yellow pokemon mascot while still strengthening & giving the Wii U more thought. I guess not :'''(
@DarkNinja9 Now that's an idea I could get behind. No game in history has been crying for a sequel louder or longer than Pokemon Snap. Could you imagine a massive sequel on Wii U with 718 species in it?
What? They turn Pikachu into something scarier than my avatar.
@thesilverbrick The Wii U gamepad just screams to be used like a camera in that way. Been one of those behind the idea of Pokémon Snap 2 for a long time.
Dang, NoUsernameHere beat me to the mandatory "KILL IT WITH FIRE" comment. lol
But yes, creepy Pikachu is creepy. And he's visual proof of why they need to be working on Snap 2 instead.
I think I'm the only one that legitimately thinks that this is kinda cool XD
I'm certain the tech will work in the end...but they should've picked another animation snippet. This is some weird editing if you ask me.
@rjejr I've long felt they have way Pokemon should probably do NFC is by selling various Pokeballs (Net, Dive, Great, etc... with stickers?) to hold teams of 6 (5 + 1 legendary) and grant them small, specific boosts related to the type of ball (similar to an item shared by the team). These are for storing a team, adventuring, battling, bringing it to a friend's, etc... Team faints, it's game over.
Meanwhile, legendary figurines would be sold separately and individually. There is a plentiful stock of existing legendaries to fill several production lines of NFC toys. Also they are mostly iconic, or notably obscure, as well as seemingly rare, making them the ideal candidates for such a venture.
The other option would be starters, but since the figures themselves are static while evolution is key to the concept of starter Pokemon, there seems to too much incongruity between the toys and their respective virtual representations. (Alternatively legendaries generally cannot evolve).
As for the game (for Wii U, presumably), take your pick: Stadium-style battles and competitions/mini games, full-on console RPG, action-oriented adventure that mimics the cartoon show...
Either way, the idea here is to allow people to seamlessly transfer and carry a team from X/Y without uploading and wading through an entire roster. (Additionally, the restrictive format lends weight to these decisions.)
Subsequently, the legendaries offer the ability to collect a large variety of neat figurines while also allowing the ability to obtain otherwise rare legendaries. Unique (egg) moves, color variations, held items, etc. are all in play.
Would be Nintendo be resorting to hawking legendaries? Sure, but they already are on a smaller scale and this would be infinitely better than micro transactions, regular DLC, and the like.
Lol, I thought the 3D model next to Pikachu looked even weirder!
he only looks creepy because of the angle of the picture. He's probably still adorable as ever
What has science done.
@rjejr
You have kids who love Pokémon. You should not be the one suggesting this. You should be preaching of the unspeakable horrors a game like that would do to parents' wallets worldwide.
I would, but I don't have kids so I am not entitled to do it.
When I first saw that Pikachu derp face, I was like "Whoa."
My Guess
PIKACHU SNAP
Pokemon snap (2) with more features
By the things I saw in the vid I say it can be used in a Snap game!!!
I Hope.
Looks like I'm sleeping with the lights on..
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