There are certain games that I dream of on a daily basis. As you can probably guess, a Pokemon MMO is one of them.
Pokemon X and Y was a step in the right direction for Nintendo’s popular franchise. The new graphics, animations, and improved multiplayer system were all much needed changes in order to keep the franchise somewhat fresh. However, there is a large group of players who just want something more. Every generation we find ourselves selecting our starter, catching an assortment of wild Pokemon, and roaming from gym to gym. We do this until we’ve completed a region, and for those of us who fail to participate in the competitive gaming community, our adventure abruptly ends there.
Players loved Pokemon X and Y, but still want something more.
But what is it that causes us to want a Pokemon MMO so badly? Is it the social functions? Most of us would probably agree that being able to join and play in our friend’s world would be a nice option. Fortunately, that’s an addition we will likely see Nintendo implement in future versions of the handheld series we’ve grown to love.
Our want for a Pokemon MMO rests in content updates and presentation. Many of us would agree there’s one big fault with Pokemon games and that’s that they end. Other than that, we’re perfectly fine with them. An ongoing, consistently updated title would give trainers the reason they need to trade, battle, and collect for an extended period of time.
Up until recently, there was no incentive to “catch them all,” other than for bragging rights or that little certificate we got for the effort. Listen, catching all the Pokemon on any of these games takes a great deal of time and energy. Why have games distanced themselves from the idea that proper hard work equals rewards? Of course, the Pokemon titles are primarily marketed toward younger children therefore Nintendo is careful in the challenges they’ve implemented into the game. Unfortunately, there are many of us (such as myself) who grew up with the Pokemon brand and would love to see a proper challenge presented for older gamers: a system that has increased risk vs. reward, intelligent AI, and otherwise more side content for us to explore and discover.
Also in question is the presentation that Nintendo has used for years and years. If Nintendo decided to create a Pokemon MMO, would we be happy with the current random battle/turn based combat as we know it today? Or, would we want a world glowing with life where Pokemon, wild and domestic alike, could be found scurrying about in the wild in real-time? Imagine exploring a large cave only to see the glowing eyes of a Pokemon tucked safely in the back, or crossing an expansive field and catching a glimpse of a legendary bird flying overhead. The chat would explode in interest as trainers would think of every way imaginable to get there/succeed.
Would there be issues with the system mentioned above? Certainly. Small zones would be crowded and dozens of trainers would be casting their Pokeballs like a legion of longbowmen at larger, more desired prizes. Nintendo would have to think of a way to fix this. Between instancing certain zones and creating a large, sprawling world, it could be done.
Financially, the possibility of an MMO is a long shot. Nintendo makes a ton of money from their handhelds and Pokemon is part of the essential glue that holds it all together. However, I do know this: I would pay $15 a month all year for an MMO whereas I currently pay only $40 in that same span of time. Yes, Nintendo would lose out on some loyal fans who would refuse to pay the monthly fee, but I would probably send them $15 and part of a finger for every month of play time; I’m sure I’m not alone.
With that being said, I feel like the future possibility of a Pokemon MMO is slim to none. I do, however, find solace in the fact that the handhelds tend to be taking steps in the right direction as far as social interaction is concerned. Also, it doesn’t hurt to dream does it?