While we await Nintendo's first formal foray into smart device gaming this year, it's worth remembering that the Nintendo-owned but independently operating Pokémon Company has been doing a roaring trade in apps of various kinds for multiple years. It's now released another app on Google Play, though it's not without its critics among fans.
Pokémon Jukebox arrived in Japan earlier this year but has now also rolled out in the West. It's a free download and offers three free tracks per day, with the selection rotating every 24 hours. Below is some blurb from the official website on what this music app offers.
To add your own extra touch to the music you're listening to, you can play sound effects over the songs! Tap the buttons displayed on the screen to play preset sound effects along to the music. Pokémon Jukebox also comes with a loop feature, letting you loop songs as many times as you want. Put the music on an endless loop just as you would hear it in your Pokémon adventures.
In addition to the music available at no charge every day, you can also purchase music via Pokémon Jukebox's in-app Shop. You can look up the songs by title as well as by theme, such as battle songs, or by mood, such as exciting or relaxing songs. And you can purchase any of the currently streaming songs if you want to listen to them in the future whenever you want. You'll also be able to purchase medleys that let you listen to songs mixed together in one long collection.
You can also use the tagging feature to add original tags to your collection of Pokémon music.
There are, it must be said, a number of negative reviews on the Google Play product page. Some are struggling to run the app - though they've side-loaded their phones - but a number are also complaining about pricing, with single tracks costing $0.99 in the US. It should be said that full soundtrack albums for the Pokémon series can be bought on iTunes, arguably offering far better value. Other reviews are perfectly happy with the free app, though, praising it for providing a nostalgia kick and those three different freebie tracks every day.
Are you tempted to download this onto your Android gadget of choice?
[source pokemon.com]
Comments 59
Everyone knows the best Pokemon Jukebox track is Double Trouble. Viridian City also legit.
Wait, this isn't about that Pokemon Jukebox?
Why was Pokkén Tournament Wii U not announced at E3?
Is my money not good enough for you, Pokémon Company??
@BLPs it just has a history of selling better on handheld.
@bro2dragons it's an arcade game only right now and I don't know about where you live, but in my neck of the woods, almost every arcade has closed down so there'd be almost no profit to bring such a thing over right now.
@BLPs I disagree. Both pokemon stadiums where fun as heck. The colloseum games where third party spin offs but I will agree that the revolution game is trash. I'm perfectly fine with it on handheld. I don't think being on console would add to its unique charm. Granted, it wouldn't take anything away, but me thinks Gamefreak is a handheld developer company only, though I'm none too sure. Just speculation.
If they released a beautifully cel-shaded HD Pokemon game to look like the anime (like DBZ on the other consoles, which looks AWESOME!!), I would SO buy it!! But as always, they won't put their heart into it. Speaking of heart, Drill Dozer should be on the Wii U VC. Just sayin...
@tsukipon None of those were main series. Pokemon is single player unless you live in heavily populated areas with friends who actually like the series. Therefore for fans like me, a console game would only improve the series. Not to mention you wouldn't lose out on trading with other friends over Wi-Fi.
@MrPuzzlez Ugh, no. Keep anything anime related away from my better plotted, more serious toned game series.
@BlatantlyHeroic I don't watch the anime, but if its plot is actually worse than the games, I can only imagine how hideous it should be.
@BlatantlyHeroic you can trade over wi-fi in the handheld versions, I'm not sure what you mean. I know the games weren't main series but look how long it took the games to come from 2D pixels to full 3D animation-from Gamefreak. Like I mentioned above, I think they are more accustomed to handheld games. A console version would.be nice, but I'm perfectly fine with handheld cuz I can play wherever I go.
@bro2dragons Because it's an arcade game.
This still confuses me......DOES NINTENDO OWN POKEMON?!?!
@BLPs the Pokemon Company is not developing any games for these consoles. That would be Nintendo. That's just Game Freak, and a Sega published game. They made 5 games for 3DS previously.
Why not ios? That's unfair!
@BLPs if you are talking about Tembo the Bassass elephant, those consoles can keep it because the game looks lame and cheap like some type of phone game. It isn't even close to what I would ever want for console when it comes to pokemon.
Just like Nintendo the pokemon company does not like money. Or pokemon snap.
@BLPs it's not a game, it's a glorified music player.
@Artwark Game Freak own Pokemon.
Nintendo are majority shareholder of Gamefreak (I believe they own 54% of Gamefreak's shares.)
Effectively making Pokemon Nintendo property.
But Game Freak are a 2nd party, so they're owned by Nintendo, but operate separately, much like RARE was during the N64 years.
Only on Google Play? Google Play is malware. I will not be downloading this app.
I think that's the first time I've seen them use the 'Gotta Catch 'Em All' slogan for years. Or perhaps I just don't pay enough attention anymore.
I am curious to know how well these apps do compared to the 3DS games.
@bro2dragons It hasn't even released in arcades in Japan yet. Too soon for a console announcement. Not sure that console will be the Wii U though. Could make for a nice NX launch title.
Eh, I don't need the app. I'll just find 30 minute extended soundtracks of the music I want to hear on youtube for free.
This is just one of those, "let's do it because we can" type projects.
@Jenraux Actually, Nintendo has shares in Gamefreak but Nintendo owns 1/3rd of the IP, Gamefreak owns a third and the Pokemon Company owns the other 3rd. Nintendo is the parent company of The Nintendo company meaning they own the majority of the shares and because Nintendo owns a 3rd and a large part of the shares of the Pokemon IP. they basically get to say what happens to it. It is a complicated IP ownership.
Gamefreak is also not really a second party company as they are developing games for the PS4, PC and Xbox One while not developing the game for Nintendo at all and have developed for the Playstation in the past.
@bro2dragons Not even out in the arcades yet. Gotta give the gamers a reason to go the arcades (Even if its just the Japan ones) and the promise of a console version coming would kill that.
My god, what does it take to please these god-damn fans?
@Angelic_Lapras_King There's arcades in the US too. I went to one to play Mario Kart GP DX
This is basically worthless. A glorified music player limited to in-app purchases - just getting the music from iTunes (can't believe I'm actually suggesting that, urgh) will save anyone a lot of time.
@Jason723 There are, so we'll see if we see the game outside of Japanese arcades...
Just another app with a captial CR.
I'd rather listen to the free music that Goldenrod City offers every day.
Since E3 announcements,I see more, more Apathy than Enjoy, but well...
About the topic, I'll give it a try, as I mentioned, I like the music and well; Meloetta should be set to the image, XD
@Jenraux no, I think Nintendo owns all the copy rights, and they own 1/3rd of game freak, game freak owns 1/3rd, and creatures inc is the 3rd owner of a 1/3rd
@ZenTurtle no its not, what planet are you from?
When I heard that first song I thought it was the FF7 battle theme. But then I remembered all midi music sounds like the FF7 battle theme to me. Man that FF7 remake is going to be awesome.
On topic, I do like the front end, maybe I'll let my kid get it. No purchases though, not gonna happen.
@ZenTurtle what makes you say the Play Store is malware?
Anyways, I tried giving the app a shot but it wouldn't even open. I got an "E-000" error and it closed immediately. This was on an OPO running an OS based off of Android 5.0.2. Anyone else having problems with 5.0.2?
Its so "easy" to use.
1) Download app
2) Hunt around for free tracks
3) Get sent to Pokemon website FAQs that don't say how to get free tracks
4) Restart app
5) Find free tracks
6) Attempt to download music
7) App dies
8) Repeat 4-7
9) Delete App.
@Sgt_Ludby I read that you get that error if you're a root user.
Yeah, this app is a waste of time; you can only play the song using the app (better off buying the songs on iTunes).
@Retr_acro Yeah, I saw that too. I tried this app that supposedly hides that you have root access but it didn't work on my first try and I'm not interested enough in the Pokemon app to debug any further =P
@BLPs Okay this is how it works.
BUT Nintendo does NOT own Gamefreak, Gamefreak can go develop any game outside the pokemon brand for any other company. They do make some games of course.
People say Nintendo owns 54% of gamefreak, but I don't buy it, that elephant game would be an a Nintendo system only, so Nintendo doesn't own the mojority of gamefreak for that to happen.
Since Nintendo has been planning to branch out to Mobile and PC for a long time now (but never told us there were) I'm not surprised Nintendo allowed pokemon related games/content to make their way to PC and Mobile
It's a pretty complicated scenario what with Nintendo, Creatures Inc, The Pokemon Company and Gamefreak owning some of it. I'd love for the info to put online and set in stone, but good luck finding that stone.
Ever heard of the fully free jukebox called "Youtube"?!
Nuff said!
Nintendo doesn't own any financial stake in Game Freak. It owns shares in The Pokemon Company and Creatures to maintain control of the Pokemon brand.
Sounds like a nifty app, but it needs to be on iOS too
@bro2dragons Because you can't announce a console port of an arcade game before the arcade game is released, otherwise, arcades won't buy the arcade machine.
@EllenJMiller Yo, it's all about the evolution of the Pokemon
The training, attaining, n' bein part of the phenomenon
B a Poke Master icon...Ha! Team Rocket will B long gone.
But first U gotta know about the different types
Grass, Fire, Ground, Flame, Electric,Water, Rock, Flying, Ice, Normal, Bug,
Ghost, Fighting & Dragon...
Don't forget about Psychic!
Still have 2BA Master CD in my car.
@Sgt_Ludby @Uberchu
Google Play is malware because you cannot uninstall it (without root permission, which stupidly voids the warranty), and it sends private information off to Google such as what apps a user has installed, with or without their permission, and allows Google to install and uninstall apps remotely.
Doesn't even sound worth the effort of searching for it on Google Play.
@ZenTurtle Yeah, I can understand the frustration in being unable to uninstall it. What would you use as an alternate? The Amazon app store? I've never heard of Google remotely installing or uninstalling apps, though. I really don't think they can just do that willy nilly... Maybe if you're upgrading your OS, the OS you're upgrading to may have some new apps, but I really don't see it being possible for Google to just (un)install an app over the air like that. Even though I have my doubts, I'm hesitant to say it's not technologically possible because you can use ADB (a debugging mode) over a network and that will allow you to install and uninstall apps, among many other things.
@Sgt_Ludby
On Android, pre-installed apps, such as the Google Apps and other things the manufacturer or mobile network installs (like the Galaxy Apps store on Samsung devices) usually cannot be uninstalled. If you use ADB from a PC, the device says 'permission denied'. It is extremely frustrating. You can 'disable' the apps in settings, so that they supposedly don't run, but they still take up storage space, which is really bad for devices with less than 16GB of storage.
Google can, and do remotely uninstall apps. For example, if an app is found to be malicious, they sometimes remove it. That is good for users, but it shows they can do it as they please. There are plenty of privacy issues with Google, and the Play store is no different. For me, I use F-Droid for apps. It's full of free and open-source apps, so it is most secure. I tried the Amazon app store but it needs an Amazon account with a real address. There is no problem with using Google Play if people want to, but there should be an effort to publish apps outside of it, at the very minimum by releasing the .APK file to install it wherever.
@Jenraux
Actually, Game Freak is a private company, so Nintendo most certainly doesn't own majority share. They've actually developed several games on non-Nintendo hardware, such as Pulseman, which they wouldn't have been able to do if Nintendo owned them. I haveno clue where people are getting the idea they do, much less specifically 1/3 of the shares. Anybody mind sharing their source?
As for why they only make Pokemon on handhelds, they see Pokemon as a handheld series. Its their series, and without knowing what sort of deal they and Nintendo have going, all that can really be said is they see no need to upset the order of things. Its possibly they have exclusive rights over main series or something though.
@Zombie_Barioth Seems I was wrong. On GameFAQ's the majority of people said Nintendo owned Game Freak with a 54% share.
The only things I could find out, is that Nintendo own a minority share in Creatures Inc.
Nintendo own 32% of the Pokemon Company, but they also own the Pokemon trademark and logos. So overall Nintendo have the most force behind them, seeing as they own 32% of the Pokemon Company, own part of one of the other 2 companies involved in Pokemon, and own the trademark rights to the Pokemon logo and Pokemon branding.
"Your device is not supported". Well, so far for that.
@AshFoxX Definitely my favourite out of the 3 Pokemon albums 4kids made. I do have a soft spot for the Pokemon Christmas Bash album though.
@bro2dragons It's because it's not out in arcades yet. For them to announce the home console port before it's in arcades would anger the arcade owners. It's how Bandai Namco do things
@Jenraux Not quite. Nintendo, Game Freak and Creatures co-own Pokémon. Nintendo owns the Pokémon trademarks. Nintendo don't own Game Freak.
@Sgt_Ludby #38 Missing No. Lives on!
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this looks ok but I dont think il bother with it honstly... my phone kills its Battry fast enuff as it is.. stupid thing..
@BLPs 1. GameFreak seems to struggle with 3D graphics (others makes spinoff games, like Ambrella). 2. Pokemon were thought for portable devices (at least the core series) 3. This - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/06/tablets_stole_the_wii_us_thunder_laments_shigeru_miyamoto#comment3063674
Edit: and I prefer such apps being on mobiles than on a gaming system.
@BLPs I agree with the good ideas. There were many of them in the past. Some however did 'survived' and even evolved, like berries for example.
This is also what I meant by 3D graphic. I didn't elaborate. All 3D pokemon models (which look most of the time beautiful in the game) were made by Creatures. The overworld, I belive, was made by GF. Which isn't that amazing and honestly, we are thinking of the possibility that they just modified DS engine for it (instead of doing a brand new one that would fully use the capacity of 3DS). To summarize: we have high poly models done by Creatures that were used by GF (who couldn't optimalize them well) and decent average to uninspired ugly overworld done all by GF.
Personally I prefer apparence of sprites and battle animations in gen 4 over gen 5 but I get your point and I can sympathise with that. However, I belive both, 6 and 5, generations use similar way to showcase status aliments and low HP. Pokemon moves slowly, closes eyes etc. I would like to see a sleep animation however. I think the maximum of offense moves of a pokemon is 4 (3 being the mean (physical, special and status)) (also, I'm not sure if Mega Rayquaza got 5th animation), which in my opinion is enough for about 720 3D models. But not all pokemon use the "4 slots" of movements. I think there were few Pokemon that got as little as just 1 offensive animation.
That said, I wish GF the best. Maybe someday they will get everything right Pokemon games.
@Jenraux
Yeah, I saw that too. Like I said, I have no clue where people are getting that, I assume people just assume they own Game Freak since they've been exclusive to Nintendo for so long. Its a similar situation to Insomniac I guess.
@BLPs
That would be because X&Y are literally their very first 3D games. The only thing they've done for the other 3D games was provide the formulas for the game mechanics. They were basically learning on the fly while figuring out how to transition the series into 3D. That's quite a bit of work for a company that's actually smaller than Atlus.
@KTT
That's true, however, there's only so much you can learn from observation alone. Its no substitute for actual experience, which Game Freak doesn't have. I think at most they helped with voices and character models for the stadium games, although I'm not sure.
That's likely whole reason the games feel like they're on modified DS engines, Game Freak is still figuring out what does and doesn't work for the series. Notice the change in camera perspective between X&Y and ORAS for example.
I think they did a good job all things considered, the only grip I have is them not delaying X&Y to fix the frame-rate, and not catching the Luminos gltich. They seem to be getting better at it, so I would expect 7th gen to be clear of any growing pains.
@ZenTurtle Where did you get that idea? The Play store is as safe as the Apple app store, and probably better. I've downloaded hundreds of stuff from the play store, and I have AVG scan all my downloads, and I've never found anything.
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