Game Informer: special Game Freak coverage
Game Informer recently had the opportunity to visit Game Freak in Tokyo, and they’re having a massive 12-page article about it in the latest issue of the magazine. They had the opportunity to talk about them about the full history of the series, but also what’s next for Pokémon on the Nintendo Switch.
Here’s everything you can expect from them:
We also traveled to Japan to visit Game Freak, the creators of Pokémon, to get the full history of the series and talk about what’s in store for the future on Switch. We explored deeper into Game Freak’s studio than any western outlet has ever been allowed and were able to not only see where Pokémon is made, but where its creators hold their meetings, eat lunch, and even create the series’ iconic soundtrack. In the issue you will find 12 pages of content covering the studio’s history and read development stories for every core Pokémon RPG it has created. And during the first half of the month we will have additional written features and video interviews with Game Freak co-founder, producer, director, and composer, Junichi Masuda, and Sun and Moon’s director, Shigeru Ohmori.
Here’s a trailer for that coverage:
On this page, we’re going to list two things:
- the actual features for the minor ones
- links to our own posts covering the major ones
Feature #1 – Video interview about the Nintendo Switch
The first feature is a video interview with Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori, about the Pokémon game announced for the Nintendo Switch. As expected, it doesn’t reveal anything at all about the game, just some extremely vague things about the Nintendo Switch and all.
Feature #2 – Game Freak’s Origins And Its Pre-Pokémon Games
Game Freak was founded back in 1989, way before the first Pokémon game was even released. Naturally, they didn’t spend 7 full years working on the first Pokémon game: in fact, by the time Pokémon Red and Green were released, Game Freak had already released almost 10 games! So, what was Game Freak during the first years, how did the company even came to be, and what were their pre-Pokémon games like?
To find out, check out the second feature by clicking here!
Feature #3 – Here’s How Game Freak Designs Pokémon Creatures
The design of the various Pokémon is definitely one of the most important aspects of the development of each game. But how do Game Freak even design Pokémon? Has that process changed ever since the first Pokémon game? Is there any hard rule when it comes to designing Pokémon?
To find out, check out the third feature by clicking here!
Feature #4 – Video interview about story in Pokémon game, and whether Pokémon could go full open-world
In the second part of their video interview with Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori, Game Informer asked about story in Pokémon game (and more precisely the more prominent role they’ve played in recent entries), but also whether Game Freak would ever make a fully open-world Pokémon game like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Feature #5 – Our In-Depth Tour Of Pokémon Developer Game Freak’s Studio
Feature #6: Why Ruby And Sapphire Were The Most Challenging Pokémon To Make
In this feature, Junichi Masuda talks about Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, and how stressful an experience it was for him. At that time, there were people claiming the Pokémon “fad” was over, and there was this strong desire at Game Freak to prove those people wrong… and they ultimately did! Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire were the most challenging Pokémon games to make, but it certainly wasn’t because of any technical issues.
Click here to check out this feature!
Feature #7: Game Freak’s Directors Share Their Favorite Pokémon Spin-Offs
In this feature, Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori talk about their favourite Pokémon spin-off… can you guess which one? Click here to find out for yourself!
Feature #8: An Exclusive Look At Pokémon’s Early Design Documents
In this video feature, we get a look at some early design documents for Pokémon games:
Source: Game Informer
