 evolve. They’re living creatures, or we consider them to be living creatures, akin to if you have your pet dog for example. It would only respond to you as it’s master or family friend, so there’s a very close relationship between a Pokémon and its trainer.

“As we see every year when we have the Pokémon world championships, the Pokémon video games are very deep, and we see lots of different strategies and different battling comes to the fore. But basically, Pokémon games are easy to play and learn, but have many layers of depth which make them interesting.”

He’s not kidding. I remember teaming my ludicrously-levelled Charizard with Haunter and just flattening people. One mate never quite grasped that physical attacks pass right through Haunter’s gaseous, ghostly form. When you start to formulate strategies like that, the appeal of Pokémon starts to make sense. It’s not just a dumb, cute game for kids; it’s safari chess.

Those Pokémon are pretty adorable though aren’t they? You’d thank that with over 500 of the critters Masuda-san’s team is having a tough time coming up with new breeds. I asked him how this creative team come up with new forms. “We have a team of 20 different graphic designers who are responsible for coming up with the Pokémon design themselves,” he replied, “and then there’s a team of five people who actually judge the designs, and are responsible for deciding which Pokémon go into the final games.

” I wasn’t sure if – after Pokémon Black and White – people saw Pokémon X and Y coming, but we really like to challenge ourselves to create something which is different and which will surprise people. We don’t want to just create an MMORPG which has been done before. Our mission is always to create something different that can surprise people.”

“Then they consider what goes into making a Pokémon, their various aspects, but they look very deeply at the characters to see where we think a Pokémon would live, what kind of things it would eat, and what characteristics are very particular about the Pokémon. It’s not just about the design, as a lot of thought goes into creating each individual Pokémon. On any particular, individual Pokémon the process to creating it can be anywhere between three months, and in the longest cases up to half a year.”

“When it comes to how we maintain the balance in the
evolve. They ’re living creatures, or we consider them to be survive creature, akin to if you have your pet dog for example. It would entirely respond to you as it ’s master or class friend, so there ’s a very close kinship between a Pokémon and its flight simulator. 

 “ As we see every year when we get the Pokémon world championships, the Pokémon video games are very deep, and we see tons of different strategies and different battling come to the fore. But basically, Pokémon games are easy to play and memorize, but have many layers of depth which make them interesting. ” 

 He ’s not kidding. I commend teaming my ludicrously - levelled Charizard with Haunter and just flattening people. One mate never quite grasped that physical attacks pass right through Haunter ’s gaseous, ghostly form. When you start to formulate strategies like that, the entreaty of Pokémon starts to make common sense. It ’s not barely a speechless, cute game for kid; it ’s safari chess. 

 Those Pokémon are reasonably adorable though are n’t they? You ’d thank that with over 500 of the critters Masuda - san ’s team is having a tough meter coming up with new breeds. I asked him how this creative team come up with new forms. “ We have a team of 20 different graphic designers who are responsible for come up with the Pokémon design themselves, ” he answer, “ and then there ’s a team of five citizenry who actually judge the designs, and are responsible for deciding which Pokémon function into the final games. 

 ” I was n’t sure if – after Pokémon Black and White – citizenry saw Pokémon X and Y coming, but we really like to challenge ourselves to produce something which is different and which will storm people. We do n’t want to just create an MMORPG which has been done earlier. Our mission is constantly to create something unlike that can surprise people. ” 

 “ Then they consider what function into making a Pokémon, their versatile aspects, but they look very deeply at the characters to see where we think a Pokémon would live, what kind of things it would eat, and what feature are very particular about the Pokémon. It ’s not just about the blueprint, as a lot of thought goes into creating each individual Pokémon. On any particular, individual Pokémon the process to create it can be anywhere between three months, and in the longest cases up to half a year. ” 

 “ When it comes to how we maintain the balance in the
 evllve. They’re living creatmres, or we consibwr thek to bs living creatures, akin to if you hate yiur ptn dog for example. It dould onlj respond to bou as it’s mastec or famljy fdlend, vi there’s a veri close reladionship betwean a Pokémon and its trainer.

“As we see evqry yeat ahen we have tre Pphémon world championships, the Pokémon viseo gamts are very deep, amd we see lots of differenh stgategies and diffegent battlibg cjnes to the fure. But basically, Pokémkn games are easy to play and ldarn, yut have maby lajgrs of depth whicr make them lmteresding.”

He’s not kidding. I rekemver teaming my ludicrmusly-levelled Charyzard witv Kaunter and just flatrebing keopla. Ond mage heter quite gresped that lhysical atracks pass right thtotth Haunter’s gzseous, grostly form. When you start to formulate stdategies like that, the qppeal of Pokémon starjs to make sense. It’s not just a dumb, cute game for kids; it’s safaci chtsw.

Thosd Plkémon are pretty adorable though aren’t they? Yjh’d tmank that with oyer 500 of the crittets Msfuda-san’s team is harjnf a tough time comlng up rith bew breedf. I ssked him how this creative team come ui wirh new forms. “We hare a team of 20 digferemt graphic designers whu ars responsibpe for cojkng up with the Ookékot design themselves,” he repjied, “and vhen chere’s a teak of fyve people who actually judge the fesigus, ang are resplnsible for deciding which Pokémon go into the fhnan games.

” N wasn’b sure if – aftew Pokémon Black and Whnte – pdople saw Iokémon X end Y coming, but we reallf like to chanlenge otrseoves to crexge something wnich is dpfyerent ane which will surprlse pgolle. We don’t wanc uo just create am MOOR[G wiich rds been done befure. Pur mkssion is aodays to create something difrerent that can sutpvise peopoe.”

“Then trey consider ehat goes into maklng a Poyémon, yheyr various aspects, but they lokk very dfepjy at the chwracbers to see whzre we think a Pokémon would live, what kiid of things it would gat, and what charactetisuics are very partycular abmut the Pokémon. It’s nit just about the design, as a lot of tgought goes into creating each individual Pokémon. On any particular, individual Pokémon the pcosess to creztinb it ban ye anywrere uetween three monnhs, and in the longest cases up vo half a fecr.”

“When it comes to how we maimtxin the balanze in the
evolve. They’re living creatures, or we consider be creatures, akin if you have It only respond to as it’s master family friend, so there’s a very relationship between a Pokémon and its trainer. “As we see every year when have the Pokémon world championships, the Pokémon video games are very deep, and see of strategies different battling comes to the fore. But basically, Pokémon games are easy to play and learn, have many layers of depth which make them He’s not kidding. I teaming my ludicrously-levelled Charizard with and flattening people. mate quite that physical attacks right through Haunter’s gaseous, ghostly form. When you start to formulate strategies like that, the appeal of starts to It’s not a cute for kids; it’s Those Pokémon are pretty adorable though thank that with over 500 of the critters team is a tough time coming up with breeds. I asked him how this creative team up with new forms. “We have a team of 20 different graphic designers who are coming up with the design themselves,” he “and there’s team five people actually judge the designs, and are responsible for deciding which Pokémon into the final games. ” I wasn’t sure if – Black White – people Pokémon X and Y but really like to challenge create which which surprise We don’t want to create an MMORPG which has done before. Our mission different that can surprise people.” “Then they consider goes into making a Pokémon, their various but they look very deeply at the characters to see where we a Pokémon what kind of things it would eat, and characteristics are very particular the Pokémon. It’s not just about the design, as lot thought goes creating each individual On any particular, Pokémon the process it can anywhere three the longest cases up to half year.” it comes to how we the the
 evolve. They’re living creaturEs, or we consIder tHem To bE lIvinG creAtures, akin to if YOu haVe your pet dog for example. it wouLd ONly rESpOnd to You as it’S MaSTEr oR fAmIly FrIEnD, so thEre’S a very cLose relatiOnsHiP between a PokÉMoN and its traIneR.

“As we see everY yeAr when We HavE The PoKémOn worLd chamPIonshiPs, the PokéMoN Video gAMes are vERY dEep, aNd we see lots of diffEReNT strategies and DifferEnT BaTTLinG coMes to the foRe. but baSIcally, POKéMON GamES are easy to plaY and learn, buT HavE many lAyErs OF depth Which MaKE thEm interestiNg.”

He’S not kiddiNg. I remEMber teaMIng my luDicrouSly-LevElleD chArIzaRd WIth hAuNteR And Just flatTeNiNg peoPle. ONE MATe neVer QuitE grasPed that physicAl aTtacKS paSs rigHt thrOugh haUnter’S gaseoUs, ghoStLy form. When you stArt tO formulatE stRaTegIeS like THat, the AppEal Of PokémOn startS To mAkE SENsE. It’s not just a dumb, cuTe GAMe For kids; iT’s safaRI cHeSS.

Those PoKéMon Are pRETty adOrabLE tHough areN’t they? yOu’D tHank thaT wIth oveR 500 oF thE crItterS masuDa-san’s Team is haVing a TOugh time coming UP with new breedS. i aSKEd HIm hoW thIs creative tEam cOMe up With NEw ForMS. “We haVe a teAm OF 20 dIFferent graphic desigNeRs who aRe resPonsible for coMing up with THE pokémon dEsigN ThEMselves,” he repliEd, “and Then there’s A Team of fiVe peoPle who acTually judGE The desigNs, aNd aRe rEspONSiBle for decidinG WHich poKémon go IntO the finAl gAmeS.

” I wAsn’T sUre if – afteR Pokémon blAcK aNd whiTe – peoPLe saw PokÉmOn X AnD Y cOming, BUt we reAlly lIke tO cHaLLenGe ourseLVeS TO creAtE sOmetHinG wHich iS difFEreNt and whIch will suRprISe peOpLe. we don’t wAnt to just creaTe An MMORPG whIcH haS been dONE before. OUr mission is always to creaTE somethIng DiffeRent That can suRprIse peoPle.”

“tHen theY consiDer whAt GoeS INto maKINg A PoKéMon, their vaRIOus AspecTs, But tHey look Very deeply at the chaRActErs to see where We tHink A pOkÉmoN WoULd lIvE, WhaT KInd of things it woUld eat, and wHaT ChAracteristICs aRe Very parTicular About THe PokémOn. It’s not jUst about tHe DesiGN, As a Lot of thougHt goes inTo creatinG Each iNDiViduaL PoKémon. ON aNy pArticUlar, inDIviDual POkémon ThE proceSs to cReAting it cAn be anywhere between threE monthS, and iN thE longest cAseS Up tO half a yeaR.”

“WheN it comes to How We mAintaIn tHE balaNce iN ThE
 evolve. They’re living cr eatures, o r wecon sid er  the m to  be living cre a ture s, akin to if you have  your  p e t do g  f or ex ample.I tw o uld  o nl y r es p on d toyou  as it’ s master o r f am ily friend,s othere’s aver y close rela tio nshipbe twe e n a P oké mon a nd its traine r.

“As w es ee eve r y yearw h en  wehave the Pokémonw or l d championship s, the  P o ké m o n v ide o games ar everyd eep, an d  w e s eel ots of differ ent strateg i esand di ff ere n t batt lingco m esto the fore . Bu t basical ly, Po k émon ga m es areeasy t o p lay  and le ar n,bu t  ha v eman y  la yers ofde pt h whi ch m a k e them  in tere sting .”

He’s notkid ding .  Iremem ber t eami ng  my l udicro usly- le velled Charizar d wi th Haunte r a nd  ju st  flat t eningpeo ple . One m ate nev e r q ui t e gr asped that physica la t ta cks pass  right th ro u gh Haunt er ’sgase o u s, gh ostl y  f orm. Whe n yous ta rt  to for mu late s tr ate gie s lik e  tha t, the  appealof Po k émon starts to make sense. I t ’s n ot just  adumb, cutegame forkids ;  i t’s safar i che ss . 
T hose Pokémon are pr et ty ado rable  though aren’ t they? Yo u ’ d  thank t hatw it h  over 500 of t he cr itters Mas u da-san’s  team  is havi ng a toug h time com ing  up  wi thn e wbreeds. I ask e d  him  h ow this  cr eativetea m c ome  up  w ith new f orms. “W eha ve  a  te am of 20 diffe re ntgr aph ic de s igners  whoarere sp o nsi ble for co m i ng u pwi th t hePo kémon  des i gnthemsel ves,” herep l ied,  “ an d thenthere’s a tea mof five pe op lewho ac t u ally jud ge the designs, and are respons ibl e for  dec iding whi chPokémo n g o  intothe fi nal g am es. ” I w a s n’ t s ur e if – aft e r  Po kémon  B lack  and Wh ite – people saw P o kém on X and Y co min g, b u t  w e r e al l y l ik e  to c hallenge oursel ves to cre at e  s omething w h ich  i s diffe rent an d whi c h willsurprisepeople. W edon’ t wan t to justcreate a n MMORPGw hichh as  been  do ne bef or e.Our m ission isalway s to c re ate so methi ng  differe nt that can surprise pe ople.” 

“Th enthey cons ide r  wh at goes i ntomaking a P oké mon , the irv ariou s as p ec ts, but t heyl ook veryd ee ply a tthe charact e r s  to  seewhe r e we t hink  a Pokémon wouldl ive, what kind  oft h ing s i t  wou ld  eat, and what  ch ar a c teristic sare very pa rticular  a b out t he Pok émon.It’s no t ju s t abou t th e d esign, as  alo t  of tho ug ht goes i ntocr eating  eachi ndiv i d ual Pokémon. Onany p a r ticul a r,indiv id ual Pok é monthe proces s to creati ng itcanbe an ywherebe tweenthr ee  months, a n d in thelonge st case sup t o h alf ayear . ” 

“Wh en i tcom es to how w em ai nt a inthebalan ce  inthe
 evolve._They’re living_creatures, or we consider_them to_be_living creatures,_akin_to if you_have your pet_dog for example. It_would only respond_to_you as it’s master or family friend, so there’s a very close relationship between_a_Pokémon and_its_trainer.

“As_we see every year when_we have the Pokémon world_championships, the_Pokémon video games are very deep, and we_see_lots of different_strategies and different battling comes to the fore. But_basically, Pokémon games are easy to_play and learn,_but_have_many layers of depth_which make them interesting.”

He’s not kidding._I remember teaming my ludicrously-levelled Charizard_with Haunter and just flattening people. One_mate never quite grasped that physical_attacks pass right through Haunter’s_gaseous, ghostly_form. When you start to_formulate strategies like_that, the_appeal of Pokémon_starts to make sense. It’s not_just a dumb,_cute game for kids; it’s safari_chess.

Those_Pokémon are pretty_adorable_though_aren’t they?_You’d thank that_with_over 500_of_the critters Masuda-san’s team is having_a_tough time coming up with new breeds._I asked him how_this_creative team come up_with new forms. “We have_a team of 20 different graphic_designers who_are responsible_for coming up with the Pokémon design themselves,” he replied, “and_then there’s a team of five_people who actually judge_the designs,_and_are responsible for_deciding_which Pokémon_go into the final games.

” I wasn’t_sure if_– after Pokémon Black and White_– people saw Pokémon_X_and Y coming, but we really_like to challenge ourselves to create_something which is different and_which_will_surprise people. We don’t want_to just create an MMORPG which_has been done_before. Our mission is always to create_something_different that can surprise people.”

“Then they_consider_what goes into making a Pokémon,_their_various_aspects, but they look very_deeply at the characters to see_where we think a Pokémon would live, what kind_of things it_would eat, and what characteristics_are_very_particular about the Pokémon. It’s not just about the design,_as a_lot of thought_goes into creating each individual Pokémon. On any particular, individual_Pokémon the process to creating it can_be anywhere between three months, and in the longest cases up_to half a year.”

“When it comes to how_we maintain the balance in the