Game Freak is Recruiting For New Console Game

Oh

Being blunt: with Masuda around that wont happen. He believes in handhelds first and for some reason wants to see the Switch sell before even thinking about it.

Because apparently Pokemon doesnt sell systems.

I'd like to play a proper Pokemon game on Switch. The classic games (Blue, Gold) were my jam when I was a tween, and I'd think the Switch could be a perfect home for Pokemon. Next gen graphics, enormous regions, maybe more interesting plots...

Well, we all knew it would come eventually.

https://youtu.be/XuhgHzuPYiI

I think new Pokémon game will come to Switch.... but... it will be playble only in handheld mode DD

Pokemon stars on switch, imagine the sales of the switch??give people what they really want and that they are..

This will be the first Pokemon title I've purchased in a little under a decade (assuming it's for the Switch). I expect Nintendo will put a modern spin on it like they did with Zelda. It's exciting thinking about the possibilities.

@Koapa That would be the single most idiotic move ever made by a video game company if they did that.

I would love it if this were the case. There are a sum of people who don't buy handhelds anymore (though I would gamble to say it's a small sum, look at the combined 3DS and >new< 3DS sales) so it would be good for people to jump back in to the franchise.

Plus a little extra hardware power never hurt anyone.

Edit: Forgot to mention 2DS. Poor thing.

Everyone thinks it's Pokémon stars.

Why not pokemon z?

Why not both in one larger game?

Anyway, this will sell the switch. A lot.

Are they going to port Pokken?

"Here's a chance to work on the development of a globally popular RPG!" Calling it now. Witcher 3

@Nintendoforlife Game Freak is a company that said they believe it should remain on handhelds, want to see Switch sell first before even thinking about it, and have a habit of dropping most of their good ideas for bad ones when the next game rolls around.

I wouldnt put it last them.

A new Pokémon will obviously come to the Switch, Nintendo are more than aware that it's a system seller as Pokémon pretty much kept Nintendo alive during the GB Color days. The fact that Pokémon Sun & Moon seems to have set itself up to make people used to having buttons instead of a d-pad & is literally stressing the 3DS to it's limits... I can only see it going one way.

@BLP_Software "He believes in handhelds first" and what is the Switch other than a handheld that's also a console? Personally I see it more risky for Gamefreak to stick with the 3DS that will see dwindling support over the next couple of years. Could you see a mainline Pokémon releasing in the next couple of years.... just in time for online support to be dropped for the 3DS?

Edit: Just to counter the "3DS successor" argument... that wouldn't be happening in the next couple of years either. That would potentially hurt Switch sales & the momentum the 3DS has left. I think Nintendo isn't planning a new standalone handheld anytime soon. Pokémon will have to go somewere.

@Roam85 People think "Pokémon Stars" because of a Gamefreak leak that used this name... though it could be a codename for something completely different to Sun & Moon... same way that the Dolphin became the Gamecube & the Revolution became the Wii.

@BLP_Software Oh no now you have me scared, I swear that would kill the switch.

I'd be surprised to see Pokémon Stars/Eclpise over a new generation or reboot or some sort. I've been saying that Red 2 and Blue 2 make a lot of sense due to the ending of Sun and Moon and the fact that nostalgia sells Pokémon so well.

"Pokemon Switch sounds like it could fund NASA" - I rarely quote places like Reddit, but hey.

@DanteSolablood Yeah. I know its form factor and portability makes it a handheld but its also usable exclusively as a home console. And thats what Masuda doesnt like. He believes in the taking it out and sharing stuff which is fair and all but...online play is a thing.

The mans an idiot, basically. He did make XY after all.

@wiggleronacid That's what I was thinking about the end of Sun & Moon, they seemed to place a lot of emphasis on Kanto & the protagonists heading to Kanto sometime in the future. What would be a better start to Pokémon on the Switch... Pokémon Redish & Blueish.

@BLP_Software I see what you mean, though you "can" take the Switch out & share it even though it can be used exclusively as a console. Hopefully Masuda will look at Pokémon as the property to push people into that. My real issue though, is what else can Gamefreak do? The likelihood of us getting a new standalone handheld before sometime in the 2020s is pretty low. If Gamefreak stay on the 3DS they'll need to cut back on what they can expect to get out of it... plus again, the 3DS is going to be winding down in the next 2/3 years time. If it takes more than a year to get another Pokémon game out, how many units can it ship in it's lifetime?

The job sounds as if they are recruiting for a new Pokémon game as opposed to a port, which is what Pokémon Stars is likely to be (if it is in fact a Sun/Moon port for the Switch).

It is very likely that if there is a port/sequel/third version in the works that it will be released during the holiday period.

All aboard the Pokémon Hype Train! CHOO! CHOOO!!

@Roam85 : If they port Pokken, I hope they release a 2-player pack with two cartridges in the case, considering that both players will need their own screen/console (the over-the-shoulder perspective wouldn't lend itself well to split screen IMO).

Don't see why we would expect an announcement at E3, hasn't Game freak made an announcement in Feb or March the past 4 or 5 years? Maybe longer.

I think it's going to be a 3DS game(s), maybe Diamond and Pearl remasters, otherwise if it's on Switch why not announce it already? I think they'll have some Pokémon game on 3DS this holiday, probably just waiting for Switch to settle in a bit with MK8D hype before derailing it.

I doubt we will see any mainline Pokémon game announced anytime soon for Switch (but I'd LOVE to be proven wrong!).

I think if there is any announcement - it will likely be a Pokken Fighter port - or a new Stadium game. I just can't see them releasing a follow up to Sun and Moon so soon - especially when they are still releasing items for them.

Edit: soooo Namco was the one working on Pokken so I realise now it's probably not that - otherwise Namco would probably be hiring people? Pokémon Snap 2 anyone? 😬

Sounds like a new 3DS game to be fair as they are looking for 3DCG person

Come to me, my Pokemon~

Its gonna be great having all my favourite game franchises on one singular console. Disgaea, Pokemon, Kirby, Smash, Bayonetta, Splatoon... But the wait is seriously killing me.

@sillygostly there is split screen, multi console and online options. Playing on one console is not the only option.

And from what Ive played of Pokken -roughly only about 1/3 of the combat is played over the shoulder. The rest appeared to be pretty standard fare. Not ideal for split screen, but not a deal breaker that some people think..

@OzHuski : The Wii U version has split-screen? I had no idea. If so, then I certainly hope that they port it to the Switch asap.

@Bunkerneath 3DCG. Probably refers to 3D models. Since they ask for WiiU/Vita levels of experience...says it all really.

@sillygostly no it doesn't - what I was trying to say is that it's not that big a deal if it does or doesn't use split screen - as there would be other options for Switch owners to use.

Whether Game Freak wants to bring Pokémon proper to the Switch or not, I think Nintendo should (will?) do everything in its power ($$$) to make it happen. It couldn't be any more perfect a move to generate a surge of Switch interest from all the new Pokémon players arisen by Go and Sun and Moon and transition a good deal of 3DS players as well to Switch.

As far as being not-mobile that's silly. It's both. If the producers want it on a platform that people can take to each other and play on the go... Switch fits the bill just fine. In fact, it could be an impetus for many who'd normally keep it planted in the dock to try and take it out.

Hope it happens. Not sure these job notices mean anything though.

@BLP_Software I don't think Masuda or GF as a whole would oppose to the idea of main games on Switch. The 3DS is sooo outdated by now. And since Nintendo isn't releasing a new handheld any time soon, it's only logical. And Ishihara seems to be on board too. It's gonna happen, and this news just puts more weight to speculation. Switch provides the portability Pokémon fans want, that's all that matters. It may not be the next game, but if not this year, then surely the next generation.

Good to hear.
But newer Pokemon needs some Twist to make it fresh and innovative. First...
1. No more level tied. Pokemon's parameter can be upgraded by collecting some Ability Points, like Modern RPG.
2. Instead of being Max 999, How about 9,999 or even 99,999 as Max HP and Max Damage ? Imagine the Pain of some Legendary Pokemon Super Attack. Ouch...!
3. Open World style with colorful World to be explored. Kids sure loves to explore so big world that you can find hidden treasures, climbing on mountain or tall buildings, swimming in the sea, jumping around, rolling around, etc.
4. Full Dynamic Camera Angle. Sayonara Fixed Camera Angle.
5. Option to play Pokemon Battle like Pokken Style. Imagine Mewtwo vs Xerneas on Pokken fighting style from proper Pokemon games.
6. Some mini games with some rewards, so we will not bored from same Pokemon battles over and over again.
7. Abilities maintained. No more forgetting abilities, instead we can collect all abilities and set the abilities before Battle. Maximum 10 Abilities to be used on Battle.
8. Full Customazation Boy or Girl character from Head to Toe, Fashions, Hairstyles, Skin Tone, Voices and Custom Clothes.
9. Shops that sells Sets of User Interface design. Bored with same U/I on lower screen on NDS / 3DS Pokemon games ? This shop will solve your problem.
10. Easier way to get older Pokemon, so no need to play older Pokemon games to get some specific Pokemons, no need Pokemon Bank anymore. But Pokemon Bank should be still available.

@BLP_Software Masuda says a lot of things that don't stick. After Black and White I recall him saying that Pokémon would never use 3D models in the main games, and look how that turned out.

And besides, he can say all he wants that he doesn't want the main series games on Switch but when Nintendo finally stops producing the 3DS someday and doesn't release a true 3DS successor (and I highly doubt they will), do you honestly think GameFreak will just abandon the main series games forever instead of releasing them on Switch?

One look at Sun and Moon barely chugging away on the tired old 3DS and it's easy to see that GameFreak has pushed the system to its limits. If they want future iterations to grow and expand, they're going to need some more hardware grunt.

TLDR version: Nintendo will eventually stop supporting the 3DS and when that happens, there will be nowhere else for Pokémon to go but Switch.

Tembo The Bassass Elephant Switch

This job description doesn't sound like it will be for Pokémon Stars. This sounds like it will be for a brand new Pokémon game developed specifically for Nintendo Switch in mind, as opposed to being the 3rd version of a previous game like what Pokémon Stars is rumored to be. Gamefreak has already built HD assets for Pokémon Sun/Moon; those assets will likely be used for Pokémon Stars as opposed to brand new assets like what is being suggested in this job listing.

What should be obvious is that mainline Pokémon games will be on the Nintendo Switch. Too much evidence has pointed to that being the case, whether it be Eurogamer's original Pokémon Stars rumor, to people finding unused HD assets in Pokémon Sun/Moon, to this job listing.

@Roam85 Or even a new Pokémon game for that matter. The ad doesn't specify when the release of said game will be. Could be they're starting work on a new one and it won't come out for another year or two.

This is gonna be extremely funny for me when it turns out to be a spinoff game.

They need to do this. I've heard countless people tell me that they'll buy a Switch once Pokémon comes to it. If they get a Pokémon game out this year, I definitely think that Nintendo might be able to reach that 16 million goal by next year like they're hoping.

@thesilverbrick
Not only that, but I think the main reason they put main series on handheld is because it has such a huge social element. Trading and battling Pokemon is a huge part of it and only possible if we can bring our systems (handhelds) together.

As a home console that can go anywhere, Switch is the first home console to erase that hurdle. So I think it may be "i only like a system that can do the social part" more than "i only like handheld".

Obviously its Pokemon, and IF it happens for Switch, it'll be huge. I really hope they make the graphics way better for Switch. Hopefully we'll know something official soon.

Still don't think it's a main series game, and this might actually be evidence to support that.
To be taking on new employees like this makes me think they might be splitting their developers into two main teams, with the new hirings being needed to fill in the gaps in each that result from this... and two main teams would indicate two separate routes of development... one would obviously be the main series Pokemon games, while the other would likely be for spin-offs (which have typically been handled by other studios in the past).

@Anti-Matter

Seriously??? What are you; stupid, trolling, or four years old?

U expect every Pokémon to duke it out like in pokken? By far the most laughable idea you said. Have u played pokken? There is extreme depth to the fighting and how each character moves that couldn't be made on a scale of 804 'mons or whatever we are at now.

99,999 hp? Numbers are just numbers dude....doing 400 damage on a mon with 400hp is no crazier than doing 99,999 damage on a mon with 99,999 hp.

The only thing that's a good idea is the free roam camera lol.

Oh, my giddy aunt!

I see this as being a new start for the Pokemon team. Similar to how the Zelda team is split up into 2 parts. 1 team that works on the handheld zeldas, and 1 team that works on the console zeldas. So we could see 1 pokemon team working on the handheld/mobile pokemon titles, while a newly formed team will work on pokemon titles for the switch and beyond.

So long as it isn't handheld only I'm in.

@BLP_Software

The Switch is a handheld console first and foremost, with possibility to dock and play on TV.

And since Nintendo is going all in with the Switch. If they tell Gamefreak to make a Pokemon game for the Switch, then they will make a Pokemon game for the Switch.

Nintendo own's 2/3 of the Pokemon IP and has a majority share in Gamefreak.
So blunt said! If Nintendo tells Gamefreak to Dance. They Dance.
If Nintendo tells Gamefreak to jump! They say: "How high ?"

Get it?

@BLP_Software The Switch is a handheld you can dock to your TV, not the opposite.

@Maxsk8g Calm the heck down, please. Anti-Matter's bad English is not his fault, and you don't have the right to call him stupid because you think his ideas are weird (which I have to agree with you on).

Anti-Matter's comment with better English:

"Good to hear, but the newer Pokémon games need a twist to make them more fresh and innovative.
1: No more level-tied evolutions. Pokémon can evolve by collecting some Ability Points, like "modern" RPGs.
2. Instead of the Pokémon's health and damage limit being 999, how about 9,999 or even 99,999? Imagine the pain of some Legendary Pokémon's Super Attacks. Ouch!
3. The world is open and colorful. Kids sure love to explore worlds so big that they can find hidden treasures, climb on mountains or tall buildings, swim in the sea, jump around, roll around etc.
4. Full Dynamic Camera Angle. Sayonara, Fixed Camera Angle.
5. An option to battle with Pokémon Pokken Style. Imagine a battle with Mewtwo vs Xerneas with that style in a main series game.
6. Some mini games with some rewards, so we won't be bored from the same Pokémon battles over and over again.
7. Keep our abilities. No more forgetting abilities, we can collect all abilities instead and set the abilities before battle. You Pokémon can only have 10 abilities in the same battle.
8. Full customization of every part of your character, from head to toe. Different fashions, hairstyles, skin tones, voices and customized clothes.
9. Shops that sell sets of new game interface designs. Bored with the same design on the lower screen of the Pokémon games on the NDS and the 3DS? This shop will solve your problem.
10. An easier way to get Pokémon from different generations, so you won't have to play old games to get specific monsters. No need for Pokémon Bank anymore, but it should still be available."

@Jeronan Yeah, I get it. I was simply stating how I found it unlikely due to what Masuda has said in the past.

And Nintendo owns 1/3 of Pokémon. Namely 1/3 of The Pokémon Company. The other two thirds are Creatures Inc and Game freak. The IP is down to what The Pokémon Company wants, and Masuda, being the head of Game Freak, ha a lot of swing in that decision.

But yes, if Nintendo pulls hard enough it can happen. I'm not stating its my opinion it wont happen, but that from past comments its not likely to happen without major pull.

@ruhiosan as well, Thanks for getting on my case about it.

@rjejr If they're staffing up now for a Switch Pokemon the return on that would be years away. We might get another 3DS iteration before Pokemon HD is a thing. But who cares, as long as they're working on it, it'll happen and it'll make switch sales skyrocket.

Maybe the new recruits can teach Game Freak how to code.

If they are just starting work on this, then we probably wont see it for at least a couple of years. Great news though if it comes to Switch!

@Maxsk8g
Sorry for bothering you.
My idea about Pokken fighting style was just Optional. It's up to Gamefreaks still use same Old Fashioned Turn Based style or not.
Sorry for my poor English.
I'm not a native speaker.
Check my profile.

They make other games besides Pokémon. There's no guarantee this is Pokémon related. Why do people always make assumptions?

If a proper main series Pokemon game doesn't come to Switch, even if it's just an HD version of the last 3DS main series Pokemon games, then these guys are actually idiots imo—both Nintendo and GameFreak. Sure, there might not be a huge install base, but surely this is one sure fire way to give it the best chance of ever actually have such an install base in the long run. And getting as many Switches into customer's hands as humanly possible has got to be worth the investment. Also, I expect a main series Pokemon game on Switch would easily sell enough copies to turn a profit in the long run. Pokemon Stars running in glorious 720p/1080p and a solid 60fps should be a no-brainer for Switch imo—the system would fly off the shelves.

@G-Boy massive respect 👍🏻

@Maxsk8g @Anti-Matter i actually also thought of that. A main game with pokken style fighting. It can be possible, it just takes a lot of time. Though if they do that they only have to do it one time and evolve from it and will again make it a unique game. What bothers me now sometimes, also in sun and moon is that you put a pokemon to sleep, you attack it and then still manages to dodge it. After more then 15 years of playing(excl white/2 and black/2) it kinda becomes tiresome. Besides that, it would be nice to have more influence on what a pokemon does in battle especially when it comes to dodging.

Hopefully they do go the Zelda route - OPEN WORLD POKEMON WOULD BE AMAZING!

@G-Boy are you kidding?! Have any of you even played pokken its way deep as a fighting game and is still getting figured out. It has a small roster which means a balanced roster. If there were 804 mons it would just be a nightmare that wouldn't be polished and balanced. Even smash which has 50+?characters your generally seeing only 20 of them being played heavily and you can narrow that number down even more. Yeah it would be cool if Pokémon could do this and do it right and balanced but there's just not a shot in hell. It makes me believe you guys havnt even played pokken. Sounds like u guys just want a mystery dungeon game or something. Sorry to come off harsh but yeah those expectations are unreal.

@Maxsk8g Why would I be kidding, and what in the world are you talking about? I said that I thought Anti-Matter's opinions were weird and didn't agree with him, so I mostly have the same opinion as you. The Pokémon games in the main series are the best, I've never even tried Pokkén Tournament or the Mystery Dungeon games. I don't think they look rather fun either.

I was just defending him because you called him "stupid".

@BLP_Software Nintendo fully owns Creatures Inc.

@Jeronan Oh, do they? This whole ownership of Pokémon thing is very hard to pin down due to it all being privately traded.

Of course Pokemon will come to Switch. Not sure about Stars or any other Gen 7 game though. Gen 8 will definitely be on Switch though.

If Stars is on Switch don't expect it to look like anything other than Sun/Moon in HD (which doesn't look bad by any means). Gen 8 is when an actual graphical upgrade will come, but if you're expecting some BotW type overhaul you're going to be disappointed.

My biggest fear with Pokemon on Switch is that people will expect it to look like a console game rather than an HD handheld game, and will be disappointed when it's the latter and not the former.

Screw Pokemon Stars. Give me Pokemon Stadium 3!

I'm still not expecting a hypothetical third game for Sun and Moon to appear on the Switch. The pokemon company have never been keen on putting their games on a home console. Plus, they're slow at moving to the next system, such as releasing Black 2 and White 2 on DS after the 3DS was released.

I'm expecting the Stars rumour to either be debunked or for it to be completely different to what people are expecting.

@crimsontadpoles Just to correct an error, The Pokémon Company has brought several Pokémon games to home consoles such as Colosseum,Gale of Darkness & Pokémon Rumble etc... the problem is that The Pokémon Company doesn't make the main series Pokémon titles, that's Gamefreak.

Gamefreak: Owners of the Pokémon IP & make main series Pokémon games.

The Pokémon Company: A third party put together by Nintendo, Creatures & Gamefreak that make spin-off titles & run the TCG (badly). They have nothing to do with the main games.

Sorry for asking this but what else does Gamefreak develop besides pokemon games?

@DanteSolablood Pokemon and Pokemon character names are trademark of Nintendo. Here's a link to the legal information: http://www.pokemon.com/us/legal/

@NEStalgia "But who cares, as long as they're working on it, it'll happen and it'll make switch sales skyrocket."

While I do tend to agree with that sentiment, at the same time how many games was that same sentence typed for Wii U? MK8, SSB, Zelda. AC, then we got amiibo Festival.

Switch will probably sell more in Japan in 4 years than Wii U sold globally, but the consumer is a fickle thing, so who knows?

@DanteSolablood Nintendo owns the trademarks, the three companies together have the copyrights. Here's and excerpt from The Pokemon
Company wiki page..."Since 2001, nearly all licensed Pokémon products have "©Pokémon" in the copyright acknowledgments with the usual three of "©Nintendo", "©GAME FREAK inc." and "©Creatures Inc." Despite this, Nintendo is the sole owner of the Pokémon trademark.[7] The video games, Pokémon Trading Card Game and licensed toys are still being made by third- and second-party companies such as Tomy."

@Amsterdamsters Nintendo own the trademark for Pokémon but the copyright is owned by Creatures, Nintendo and Gamefreak. These three companies all put together The Pokémon Company to handle marketing & licensing.

If you were trying to correct my statement that Gamefreak own the IP... they technically do, it's just co-ownership. A trademark is different to the IP.

Edit: I caught this quickly & was retyping at the same time you were.. though not sure what you were correcting as my original post was still correct. I was also reading the Wiki.

@rjejr True, but Pokemon is still the only franchise in existence that truly pushes hardware in massive quantity. MK8, DID push the WiiU, it's just that it was the only thing that did. And everyone dreaming that Smash would was just dreaming.....Smash is far from a system seller, fighting games and general are just tiny niches this side of 1994. It's a "big" franchise, but not the system seller that mainline Mario, Pokemon, and MK are.

But of them all, only Pokemon just instantly pushes sales. Personally I don't understand why. I love Pokemon, of course, but I don't understand the magic-system-seller appeal it has versus plenty of other games. But it does!

@NEStalgia @rjejr For me Pokémon is a system seller, I love the game & it will make up my mind whether or not to pick a system up. I'm sitting on the Switch for now but a main series Pokémon would make me take the plunge. Link is fine... but I've managed to ignore him since the SNES.

I'm not a fan of GTA, Mass Effect or any of these FPS nonsense games, I'm into tactical, strategy and RPG style games.. Pokémon happens to be my favourite of the bunch.

@DanteSolablood Yes and since Nintendo fully owns Creatures Inc. Nintendo owns a 2/3 majority share of the IP.
Nintendo also has a majority ( 52% ) share in Gamefreak.

So bottom line. In the end, Nintendo is calling the shots.

@Jeronan So... I was still correct anyway? Good.

@DanteSolablood Yeah, I really just meant I don't know why Pokemon specifically seems to have that magic "now the system sells out everywhere" kind of effect versus, any quantity of other series like Mario, Zelda, Fire Emblem, DK, whatever, etc. Not that it's not a great series, but so are those others, so I don't understand how it's almost "the only game that matters in the whole industry" when a new one comes up.

Not that I don't love it, I sure do, but I'd as easily buy hardware for it as a bunch of other games, too.

Technically Mass Effect is an RPG....or at least originally was until EA got their hands on it and turned it into...whatever the heck Andromeda turned into. I used to love that series.... I haven't even preordered this one... RPG and adventure games are my staples (with a weakness for platformers too.)

@Jeronan @Amsterdamsters My main point was that The Pokémon Company itself don't make mainline Pokémon games. Even if Nintendo owns a majority of the IP, it would still be an unlikey(and unwise) move for Nintendo to push through a mainline game by a studio other than Gamefreak.

I don't remember saying Nintendo didn't call the shots, even if there wasn't a large Nintendo ownership I doubt Gamefreak could have brought Pokémon to another platform considering the Pokémon Company arrangement.

@NEStalgia To be fair, I don't have a lot of money & I've fallen out of love with consoles in general. I think there are a lot of players who only come out of the woodwork for certain titles... Pokémon being one of those draws.

As for Mass Effect, it's always seemed a bit too much like an FPS which completely turns me off. That's one of the problems I've had with Square Enix for a while now (off-topic, here we go!), they stopped making turn based RPGs for some unknown reason and started making their games into action-adventures/FPSs... then act surprised the turn-based games they made their reputation on are popular (see Bravely Default).

@DanteSolablood Yeah, that all makes sense. Just not sure why Pokemon has such an uneven share of that group. I'm guessing it has to do with the timing it launched and the popularity of the GameBoy. Just a perfect storm for perfect brand loyalty (mixed with consistent quality.)

Mass Effect, like Deus Ex, were a modernized attempt at mixing the popular shooter genre with the RPG genre (hybrid genres were all the rage in the late 90's, early '00's.) The original ME was a fairly weird but lovable attempt at it. It was still more RPG than shooter, and it could still freeze time (with a character ability) to play the action as a semi-turn based thing. That was published by Microsoft for OG XBox and then PC (and eventually the trilogy on all platforms except WiiU!) Deus Ex did the hybridization much much more smoothly though. But both were supposed to be a big adventure RPG mixed with real-time action. Not a bad thing. What Me BECAME, however....that's another matter. Deus Ex (the first) predates Squeenix by a long shot though.

I think there was a thinking for a time that turn-based was just a limitation of old technology, and making it real-time was just evolution. BD, Setsuna, etc are showing they're rethinking that. Sad to hear that FF7 remake will be real-time. It was ok FFXV was because it was always supposed to be, along-side the turn-based XIII as XIII Vs...making it turn-based would have turned off a lot of people.

(Side-rant: I still can't like Bravely Default too much. The world and characters are great, but everything about the combat system just feels wrong and excessively grindy to me. Some people love the FF4 jobs.....to me it's a chore having to level up each job individually </rant>)

Pokemon, Atlus, and Monolith keep my RPG library pretty happy though, even with Squeenix's on/off quality. I've been leaning more and more toward Atlus as the perfect RPG company though.

@DanteSolablood @NEStalgia My concern is that we don't know GF is working on a mainstream Pokémon game, it could be Tembo the BA Elephant 2. Or it could be a Pokémon offshoot. Raise your hand if you thought AC would be a board game or Metroid Prime FF would be a soccer simulator? Anyone?

And then even if it is a mainstream Pokémon game, are parents spending $300 on a non-clam shell portable? I know Pokémon games sell consoles, but what's the most expensive console that it's sold, $200? Sure, Japan will buy them all, but Japan is still a smaller market than the US. If Pokémon launches alongside a $200 Switchboy then yeah, it will sell, no worries.

And here's the problem with the price, it's a lot, and its a hybrid. Each of my kids got a DS for about $100 when they were very young and a 3DS after the price cut gor $80 a few years later. I got a PS3, Wii U and a PS4 during that time. Each console served it's purpose well. This Christmas we get a Switch for Mario, but we aren't buying 3 so my kids can each have their own for Pokemon. And they don't each have $340 to buy their own Switch and the game. So they'll each get their own copy of Pokemon, but then fight over the console with me who wants to play Mario, Zelda and Pokemon 4 if we're lucky.

So yes, for many people Pokemon will make them buy a Switch, but it's going to be a problem for some families to lay out $600 or $900 for 2 or 3 consoles. I don't think "Pokemon sells consoles" means the same thing for a $180 handheld as a $300 hybrid.

@OzHuski Gamefreak, generally speaking, doesn't make any spin off anymore, so if they are hiring probably is for a mainline game.

@rjejr The listing specifically says "RPG", so...I'm not aware of many other RPGs made by GameFreak, and even if it's a "spinoff" it would be a spinoff in name only as it's a Pokemon RPG. The other two games had genre confusion. This is specifically an RPG. Maybe it's an ARPG like Rumble though, that would still be an RPG I suppose. Not to mention Masuda early on pretty much revealed Switch development back in the NX era before backtracking and playing "we'll wait and see" with it.

But, silly rjejr, it's not a non-clam shell portable. It's a home console that you can take with you It's all in how you sell it! It's sold a $250 console, $300 is a bit much, but if it's also a home console, AND it's a console you can take with you, AND it's the only place the new Pokemon is...well there you are. Also we're talking 2 (or more) years from now that it would release if they're staffing now. Plenty of time for a legit (not emergency but planned) price drop (or cheaper portable-only) model to release. The XL variant of 3DS was out within that time. We're no doubt getting another 3DS pokemon before development on an HD pokemon is done. They don't do low launch-install base platforms with Pokemon.

As for sharing the console. What if Pokemon moved to WiiU? The problem would have been even worse. They've been adamant about being handheld. Nintendo and GameFreak would like you to buy each of your kids a Switch. But they also no doubt know every kid doesn't get their own home console at aconsole pricing. But 3DS was $250 at launch. Then $200 and still sold. The late-adopters will get theirs cheaper later. But considering the 2Ds exists almost exclusively to sell kids Pokemon on a cheap machine, SwitchBoy will almost certainly exist, but it might not be what you think it will be. It will be a cheap console to play Pokemon on. But I wonder if it will feature a 5" 480p resistive touch screen instead of a 6.2" 720p capacitive? And no dock, of course. But it would still play Pokemon just fine, while, like 2DS, letting you know you're doing it on inferior hardware.

And before saying "you can't play HD games on an SD screen!" remember Vita Remote Play is a thing. And some people even use it. And this would STILL play better without the horrible input lag and 20FPS-max video.

@rjejr As @OzHuski just stated, the vast majority of spin-off games are not made by Gamefreak, including the Mystery Dungeon titles who were developed by Spike Chunsoft.

It certainly could be the case that Gamefreak may be working on a completely separate game but I think the odds are in our favour with only four of their last 12 games being non-main series Pokémon games. Temba & Harmoknight could technically both have monsters though (not RPGS)!

Well, I'm not a family, I'm a single guy on a low paid job & managed to shell out for a 3DS when it was £200 ($250 at the time) under the pretense Pokémon and Animal Crossing were around the corner (A:C turned out to be false marketing). I'd also say the VAST majority of my Pokémon experience has been on a non-clamshell system... why is this suddenly a thing? Do people not by phones now you can't get clamshells?

Well now, a Pokémon game (A game everybody knows, globally popular RPG, monster designs and game freak, what else can it be?) would seriously tempt me to buy a Switch, but still only once the first revised version of the Switch is out though (We're talking Nintendo here, there will be a revised, improved version of the Switch :3 )

Main series Pokemon on Switch would be amazing. Still hoping to see a Pokken port (with all the new characters and stages) as well as a new Mystery Dungeon for Switch.

@Frank90 yeah, I had already updated my post to say that. Could be anyone's guess at this point as to what it is.

@Anti-Matter Please don't apologize to rude people, you've done nothing wrong. And just like everyone else you have the "right" to say anything you like, considering English is not your first language your doing very well.

I can certainly see Pokémon coming to the Switch so as long as Game Freak get enough time to get used to the new hardware... Like Pokémon X/Y was good as a first game for 3DS but felt slow to navigate through and the frame rate would often drop. That said, I see a new generation being started in the Switch, and the possibly 3rd version would likely remain on N3DS for the time being.

Wasn't Stars supposed to be coming this year? This listing would be way too late for that.

I could see it being for gen 8 though, I mean these games don't just pop into existence, they have to be worked on for a number of years.

I think Pokemon Stars has gone the way of Pokemon Z.
There'll be a gen 4 remake this year then new gen next year I hope.

Just imagine, a Pokemon game with the visualt Style of Guilty Gear Xrd ! That would be marvelous. It would totally looks as if you play in the anime.

@G-Boy sorry people are so soft. How bout if I re worded it... I think it's stupid to get such expectations for an already great game that is already potentially going to make a huge leap foreword onto console... asking any more than a full console mainline game with insane demands to the number formula that is already fine as is, and pokken style mechanics but with a full roster is just impossible and not bright and you are setting yourself up for being let down with something that just can't happen.
That's the nicest way I can put it.

You admit to not playing pokken. But what about smash? Do u really not understand what I mean by a balanced roster, or where did u you get confused when you said "what are you talking about?" Nvm... y'all are salty at me for being a little harsh

@G-Boy oh and pokken is very fun if you like fighting games at all and the fact it's Pokémon and the 3D field view makes it even better, we just need the empoleon, darkrai, scizor, and croagunk dlc update...

I Don't really like mystery dungeon though and ive played every Pokémon mainline game and stadium 1/2, colleseum, xd gale, even one or two of the pinball games.

@Anti-Matter sorry for coming off harsh, and your English is great. But those expectations were unreal.

Here are some absurd titles for future generations of pokemon.
Mars/Venus/Earth
Yin/Yang/Zen
Angels/Demons/Spirits

@Stumpynuts
Wow, Demon sounds creepy for a Kids games.
Planetary Pokemons ?
Pokemon Mercury/Venus/Earth/Mars/
Jupiter/Saturn/Uranus/Neptune/
Pluto XD

@Maxsk8g I only defended him because you called him stupid. I don't agree with Anti-Matter on anything that he said, and I know what you mean by a balanced roster.

@G-Boy touché. Fair enough..

@BLP_Software
Sorry, but it seems like you're just fear mongering. The Switch will get a mainline Pokemon game. The system is selling fine, there's absolutely no reason to believe this won't be happening eventually.

I bet it's a Pocket Jockey port with rideable pokemon

Pokemon Rainbow confirmed! The first one to include every region so far! One can dream at least lol.

@BLP_Software Will max priced Switch games of Pkmn really sell the console to parents among others? (based on the fact the Nintendo price for the 3DS releases were all the highest 3DS game price: 45€)

Of course, it doesn't change the obviousness of a pkmn made for switch.

Switch will get pokemon, and while there could be some ports, later it will get it's own.

@NEStalgia "you can't play HD games on an SD screen!"

Well that's not something I woudl ever say, downsampling isn't a problem, and I do think SwitchBoy will be a thing. Dont' know what they'll call it, 2DSwitch doesn't exactly work either, but a 5" 480' screen sounds abotu right. Though they coudl just go w/ a 720p 5" screen as well, plenty of 4 1/2" phones have 72-p screens (I think). The savings will be in built in Joycon and no TV out. SwitchGo also works, except PSPgo was such an utter failure.

I agree w/ you on help wanted ads now being for games 18 months out, which means what about this year? Will Gamefreak have a game this holiday? If it's on 3DS, and Pokemon games sell hardware, that hurts Switch hardware at Christmas, even w/ Mario, XC2 and even SSB4 Complete.

3 months until E3, hopefully Ninteod realizes that's too long and drops a Ntinedo Direct on us, they don't even need to announce any new games, just date Skyrim, FIFA, Mario, ARMS and Spaltoon 2. Maybe the Zelda DLC for this summer. Keep the hype going.

@DanteSolablood I'm not a fan of GTA, Mass Effect or any of these FPS nonsense games, I'm into tactical,

I'm not into any of those, or Pokemon, so none of those will make me buy a Switch, only Mario, Pikmin and XC2 will, but I realize it's not about 1 or 2 people, its about what large numbers of consumers both want and are willing to buy. And while Pokemon is a huge handheld system seller I'm still not sure it sells a $300 console to 10's of millions of people, which is what Ntinedo needs after the poor sales of the Wii U. It certainly would help Switch sales more than having Pokemon on 3DS would help Switch sales though, but that's kind of stating the obvious.

@DanteSolablood "non-clamshell system... why is this suddenly a thing?"

Maybe it's less about the design, more about the price. I doubt Ninteod has a problem selling a $79 2DS w/o a clam shell. It did have a big problem trying to sell the 3DS at $249, which is why it cut the price to $169 mere months later. And the XL has always been $199, for the entirety of it's 5 year life. Parents spend $300 on a phone for their kids, but kids need phones. Psychologically speaking in our time they do. (My kids have a $100 and $30 smartphone, they work just fine.) $300 for a dedicated gaming console, thats' so dedicated it doesn't even have Netflix or a web browser, I think that's a much harder sell. Clam-shell wouldn't make it any cheaper, but it may make it seem more resistant to damage. Switch's tablet design, w/ removable, and therefore loseable, Joycon, is an accident waiting to happen. A $300 accident.

@NEStalgia "it'll happen and it'll make switch sales skyrocket."

Was there really ever any doubt it would happen? I guess some people thought 3DS was going to be replaced by a 4DS, but the majority felt Switch all the way. SwitchGo, SwitchBoy, SwitchMini, but no 4DS.

I used to wonder about "Switch for kids" not having TV out b/c it wouldn't fit in the dock, but now thanks to this article - which nearly everybody clearly focused on the wrong thing, it's not about scratching, it's about hiding a big ugly dock - they can sell SwitchMini dockless but allow TV out for those w/ a dock. They just can't market it that way for legal reasons.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/03/video_how_to_completely_avoid_scratching_your_nintendo_switchs_screen_when_docking

I'm still nto compeltley sold on Switch sales skyrocketing outside of Japan. Vita is doing fine in Japan, they'll buy a Switch. PS4 crushed Wii U and is keeping X1 down as well. Switch should do better, but nothing is a given. Zelda is a game of all time candidate, hasn't helped Wii U any now has it? Could be too late for Switch by the time Pokemon shows up to "save it", if it needs saving.

@rjejr It's about product positioning. They wouldn't drop the 720p screen because it's absolutely essential to hit the target price, they'd drop to so you're very aware you're buying the inferior model, not the real one. Every single time you play it. The same reason you get all the PS4Pro logos all over your PS4 stuff. To remind you constantly you're behind the times for not having upgraded yet.

They won't be dating Skyrim and the like until E3 (and Skyrim will be dated at Bethesda's "unofficial" conference at the Nokia/Microsoft Theatre the Sunday before E3.) But I think we'll get an Arms direct at absolute minimum as it's a new IP launch. And since we're getting a Treehouse for Splatoon Testfire tomorrow, I'm sure we'll be getting something for proper Splatoon launches, and maybe a few info facts on other announcements in there.

Pokemon. I'm SURE there's one more 3DS pokemon. Why not? It's popular, has a huge install base of the target audience, Gamefreak ALWAYS launches a game on the outgoing hardware befoer the new one ramps up, though I don't think we're getting a 2017 Pokemon. Still, there's money to be had on 3DS before they dump it....they won't mind if it defers Switch sales until later. Especially since as you said, Switch's pricepoint isn't geared at kids and Nintendo is aware of that (3DS is the kids system remember.)

"Parents spend $300 on a phone for their kids, but kids need phones. Psychologically speaking in our time they do. (My kids have a $100 and $30 smartphone, they work just fine.)"

Seriously? In my day you got a quarter and a "go find a pay phone." It's not like flea-bitten dudes in "ice cream trucks" weren't around back then either.

"m still nto compeltley sold on Switch sales skyrocketing outside of Japan. Vita is doing fine in Japan, they'll buy a Switch. PS4 crushed Wii U and is keeping X1 down as well. Switch should do better, but nothing is a given. Zelda is a game of all time candidate, hasn't helped Wii U any now has it? "

Zelda is a Switch game. WiiU owners, all hundred of us, know it was a WiiU game. To everyone else in the world it is a Switch game that's also released for the old Wii thing. Nintendo marketed it that way very intentionally as well. I don't know that Switch will top PS4 sales (I don't know that it won't, either), as PS4 is doing very well, but Switch is gunning for 3DS's market PLUS some of the Wii & PS4 market. Not aiming to beat Playstation at its own game.

I don't know where the weird "there's only #1" mentality came from with this business. Success doesn't mean being #1 in hardware sales. Heck, X1 is considered more "successful" than WiiU based on hardware install base, but WiiU actually made money and X1 is still losing money..... We have a very different meaning of "success" in the gaming community than investors seem to have

WiiU failed because it didn't make ENOUGH (and came narrowly close to not making any) money, and was a dead end that was never going to. A "successful" Switch is one that makes money, preferably tons of money selling software early and often to system buyers.

@NEStalgia "They wouldn't drop the 720p screen because it's absolutely essential to hit the target price, they'd drop to so you're very aware you're buying the inferior model, not the real one."

Don't $199 3DS XL and $79 2DS have the same screen resolutions? There goes that argument.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/nintendo-2ds-vs-3ds-vs-3ds-xl

There are plenty of ways to show Switch Mini is "inferior" yet still have 720p so devs can leave it alone. 5" screen is the easy one. No TV out. No Joycon, just built in controls like the GBA. I don't see why they would go to the effort of finding a worse resolution screen to promote inferiority.

"Skyrim will be dated at Bethesda's "unofficial" conference"

Why? It's not like they are announcing a new game, the Skyrim remake came out last year, it's just a port of a port, no need to waste time on that as a conference, they'll probably just tweet out the release date a week before E3.

"I don't think we're getting a 2017 Pokemon"

Really? None at all? Not even Diamond & Pearly remasters? Or Mystery Dungeon? Or Ranger? When was the last time that happened, ever? I don't even play Pokemon but I can't imagine a holiday season w/o a Pokemon game that's marketed every day for 6th straight months. What would all of those CoraCora tv shows and magazines in Japan cover w/o a Pokemon game? Japan's GDP would probably fall. I guess they could just do a S&M port on Switch, maybe "Eclipse" or "Stars" like the rumours said. Wouldn't be a completely new game but there just has to be something. There has to be.

@rjejr Same screen resolutions because you can't divide by zero Seriously, though, he 2DS doesn't have the 3D display. It has the inferior 2D display and reminds you of that both in feature-set and the logo that stares you in the face.

Devs wouldn't have to do anything special for the low res display, and it could even run underclocked to have the longer battery life. But yeah, I could just as easily see a 5" no, 4.5"...smaller than 3DSXL....5-6.2 isn't enough differentiator. 4.6" is. Even 4.8. You have to pick it up and feel it's very tiny (and it needs to accommodate the portable-only crowd who felt XL was too big. You remember all the people complaining about not wanting the N3DSXL and how terrible Nintendo was for not sending the N3DS in the West, right?) But otherwise, the joycons, no TV out, etc might do it too. I could see them going either way.

Skyrim:
It's just a prediction but that's Bethesda's show and they do all their DLC and iOS exclusive minigame and whatever nonsense announcements their, and their new show is a big thing for them. I think they'll hold the announcement for their show, and it's certainly their prerogative to do so. They love dedicating half a show to new DLC or platform launches for Skyrim and Fallout 3. And they'll need something to fill the 40 minutes the Dishonored 2 guy is hopefully not babbling on this year

Maybe they'll just tweet a date, but for all the things Bethesda gets wrong, they seem to treat corporate relationships as important. Not sure they want to do a non-showing for their first ever engagement with Nintendo if it goes well, they'd want to build on it, etc. And they, like Nintendo, don't treat old ports as old ports but as long-tail sales "Classics" type releases. NoA actively courted Bethesda for this game, and getting even a recorded video from Todd for the Tokyo event wasn't a small feat. I think they're going to play it straight as an important release. If they don't do it at their own show they'll be doing it at Nintendo's show/Digital Event/whatever. But their own show comes first so it would be odd not giving it a shout out.

Pokemon: I wasn't counting spinoffs, just GameFreak mainline games and remakes. Mystery/Ranger/Rumble/whatever who knows. I just meant nothing from GameFreak. They just did Sun/Moon, and haven't announced anything else, and are staffing for Switch, it doesn't seem like they're up to a launch in the next 8-10 months. I imagine a Diamond/Pearl remaster or such at some point, and probably for 3DS. I just don't see much buzz from GF on anything for now.

@rjejr I would disagree with the reason Nintendo had problems selling the 3DS at it's original price... I put this down to poor marketing & a lack big names in the launch window. I believe the 3DS' biggest named launch titles were Pilot Wings and a SF4 remake.

However, in regards to the selling power of Pokémon and whether a clamshell design is inherently desirable, that's personal taste & as you said, it's not about the 1 or 2 people. I will say however that the majority audience for Pokémon has been aging & it's not necessarily parents that will be making purchasing decisions for most Pokémon buyers.

@NEStalgia "I just don't see much buzz from GF on anything for now."

I know, that was my point. I think if they had something coming on Switch they would have announced it by now, but I think Ntineod asked them to wait until after the Switch launch sold out. Guess I won't believe it until E3. So many holiday games. I suppose a Switch port of Pokken is the most likely, and the most boring, and nearly redundant after ARMS. I'm still waiting for Pokepark 3, all Pokemon unlocked w/ amiibo.

Skyrim on Switch is a HUGE deal, but since we've known about it since 2016 I didn't see the release date as big enough news for E3. Maybe at E3 in an ND. I hope there's an NDE this year, Treehouse is too long and unscripted for me, I want my 45 minutes of game trailers. I'd prefer an ND next month to have the date, and the FIFA date, and ARMS and Splatoon 2 dates, they can talk abut how great Skyrim will be on Switch at E3.

@DanteSolablood "Pokémon has been aging & it's not necessarily parents that will be making purchasing decisions for most Pokémon buyers."

Not for most, but enough that I think it matters. Nintnedo needs a cheaper portable for kids, as I think $300 is too much for multiple Switch in a family w/ multiple kids. We have three 3DS, but I can't see us having three $300 Switch. We don't need 3 docks for starters. 1 $300 system this year, holiday 2017, for holiday 2018 and Pokemon Stars there needs to be a $200 Switch option, maybe just no dock or Grip, call it a handheld. And by 2019 there should be a $150 Mini Switch to replace the 2DS so kids can put it in their pocket when the next Gen Pokemon releases.

I can't see them selling 60 million Switch if $300 is the only option, like $300 was the only Wii U option for 3 years. They need to treat Switch more like the "3DS family", less like the Wii U ugly stepchild they hid away.

@rjejr "I can't see them selling 60 million Switch if $300 is the only option, like $300 was the only Wii U option for 3 years."

I think this may possibly be an unfair comparison as the Wii U would likely have seen much larger prices cuts & a few hardware revisions if it hadn't failed as badly as it had - most consoles do see price drops within the first couple of years, which would align reasonably well with the launch of any game starting/restarting development now.

I do not disagree with you that a dockless Switch would be appealing as it would certainly be my option... though again I doubt Nintendo would do this prior to the usual hardware iteration cycle unless the Switch does suffer from poor sales in the short to medium term. Why reduce potential revenue if you're not certain it will increase sales?

I would say you could get your family to share... but that simply shows my ignorance on this particular as I'm only an uncle as of yet.

@rjejr Which is funny considering the NL grumblings of "not nearly enough games for the first year", meanwhile holiday is stacked with tons.

it may be old news, but this is the Bethesda that denied Skyrim was even coming after the October trailer just so Todd could pretend it's a huge surprise in an official reveal at the presentation. Bethesda's about as nuts as Nintendo when it comes to re-beating old drums Fair chance they'll have a segment with a date and a sizzle reel about how amazing this is for TES. If not, they'll certainly have a special spot in the Nintendo Event. If they're in the "lets play coy and say we can't say if it's the remastered edition" mode, their official policy is to treat it as new info.

Personally I love Treehouse AND the Events, but I like treehouse more as they actually show you in depth the things you just got a glimpse of in the Event. Bought a lot of games I was unsure of based on Treehouse, including Snipperclips. I do think there will be a direct in the next month or two for kart/arms. Too little is known about arms for a major new IP coming up in a month or two.

@NEStalgia "I do think there will be a direct in the next month or two for kart/arms."

Spent an hour discussing Switch w/ my kid this morning and they really do need a ND in mid-April. They need to explain the pay-to-play online and the chat app before MK8D releases. And there are no games in May, so they need to start dating some stuff, or at least talking more about ARMS, FIFA, SKyrim and Splatoon 2.

@G-Boy my bad