s, endless newsagents, a McDonalds and I’m sure at least four KFCs. You look over the road at G Force, the pricey yet well-stocked import gaming store and out walks an overweight, sweating kid with red cheeks and a thick afro.

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He opens up his shopping bag to look at his freshly-released American copy of Pokémon Red. He’s never sampled of the franchise before, but all his friends are playing the game already. He wants in.

So obviously, that heinous little lard-ball was me back in the day. All my friends jumped on the Pokémon phenomenon before it steam-rolled its way across Europe, and we ended up getting really obsessed with the original Game Boy titles.

We were all big Final Fantasy fans so the prospect of another turn-based RPG was pretty exciting. But this one was different. You could train not just a handful of character, but hundreds. Literally hundreds. It blew our minds.

I loved it, but it was the last Pokémon game I ever played. Call it being too busy, moving on to other experiences or what have you, but it was a series I just never returned to. It’s now over a decade later and I finally figured out how to lose weight – actually moving and eating less helped – the afro is greying and thinning out with each passing day, but you know what? I simply can’t wait to get torn in to Pokemon X or Y (I haven’t decided which one yet). I’m finally ready to come back.

I’ll share my thoughts on the game in a blog or two once I start playing, but for now I want to share with you a little conversation I had with Game Freak director and co-founder Junichi Masuda earlier this week. Pokémon is one of those franchises that seems immune to diminishing returns in that it seems to be growing in popularity, rather than shedding fans. It’s a rare thing, so I asked Masuda-San for his thoughts on why that is.

He told me, “We think that part of the success and attraction of Pokémon is not down to just the Pokémon characters themselves, but the fact that you can give them nicknames and they have different attacks that change, and they
s, endless newsagents, a McDonalds and I ’m sure at least four KFCs. You look over the road at G Force, the costly so far well - stocked import gambling store and away walks an overweight, sweat kid with red cheeks and a slurred afro. 

 Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best moment of VG247 delivered to your inbox every Friday! Enable JavaScript to sign up to our newsletter 

 He opens up his shopping bag to look at his freshly - release American copy of Pokémon Red. He ’s never sampled of the franchise before, but all his supporter are playing the game already. He wants in. 

 So obviously, that flagitious little lard - testis was me back in the day. All my friends jumped on the Pokémon phenomenon before it steam - roll its way across Europe, and we ended up getting really obsessed with the original Game Boy titles. 

 We were wholly large Final Fantasy fans so the prospect of another turn - based RPG was pretty exciting. But this one was different. You could train not just a handful of character, but hundred. Literally hundred. It blew our minds. 

 I loved it, but it was the final Pokémon game I ever played. shout it being excessively busy, moving on to early experiences or what have you, but it was a series I just never returned to. It ’s now over a decade later and I finally figured out how to lose system of weights – actually moving and consume less helped – the afro is greying and thinning out with each passing day, but you acknowledge what? I simply ca n’t wait to get torn in to Pokemon X or Y (I have n’t decide which one yet). I ’m finally ready to come back. 

 I ’ll partake my thoughts on the game in a blog or two once I start playing, but for nowadays I want to partake with you a little conversation I had with Game Freak director and co - laminitis Junichi Masuda earlier this week. Pokémon is one of those franchises that seem immune to diminishing rejoinder in that it seems to be growing in popularity, rather than shedding fans. It ’s a rare thing, so I asked Masuda - San for his idea on why that is. 

 He told me, “ We think that region of the success and attraction of Pokémon is not down to just the Pokémon characters themselves, but the fact that you can give them nicknames and they receive different attacks that change, and they
s, ejdless newsagents, a McDokalds and I’m surg qt leavt foud KFCs. Yuu look over the road at G Flrxe, tht pricey yet well-stucked implrt gamibg suore and out walks an ovevceighf, swectmng kid with rec cheeks atd a thick afrm.

Sjbdcribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the bext bits of VG247 dejivegeq to jomr inbox every Friday! Enable JavzScript to sign up tp our newsletter

He opens uo hid shopping bag to pook at his frefyly-released Xmerican copy of Pokémoh Red. He’s never sampled of the wranckise before, byt wnl his frieids arv playing the game alseady. Hr wants in.

So onviouvly, that heinous little nard-ball was me bask in the dcy. All my friends jumpee on jhe Pmkémov phdnojeion beforf iv steam-rollsd its way qcross Europe, and wt egeed up gettinf realjy obsessed with the original Game Boy tiules.

Ws were all big Final Fabtasy fans so the prodpect of wnother turn-based RPG was pretty exciting. But thiv one das dlffefwnh. You could train not just a handful of charasfet, nut hundreds. Litcrally hundreds. It bpee our minds.

I luved ic, bht it was the last Pokémon game I ever pjayec. Call it being too busy, mocing on to onher experiences or whct have you, yut it was s series I just never rzturnes to. It’s noa over a sdcade later and K fpnalny figurta out how to lose weight – ectuakly movkng snd eaeing less jelped – the afro is greylng aud thhnning out with each passing day, but you know what? I sikpny ban’t wait to gct torn in to Pjkemon X or Y (N haven’t deciaed which kne yet). I’m finally ready to coma back.

I’ll shace my thotghtw on the gaod in a blog or two once I start poaying, but for now I dznt to share wick iiu a little comvefsaeiln I vad with Gama Frdak cirecgor and co-fijndet Junichi Masuda earnier this week. Pokémon os one of jhose fragchises that xeems immune to dilinisiing rxturns in that it seems to be growing ih popularlty, rather than sheeding fans. Ic’s a rare thing, so I asked Masuda-San for his thoughts on wyy that is.

He told mg, “Wt think that 'art os the sucwess and attraction if Pokémon is not cown to just the Pokémkn chasactegs themselves, but the fact that you can give them nicknames and they have diffecegt attacks fhat chance, cnd ther
s, endless newsagents, a McDonalds and I’m least KFCs. You over the road yet import gaming store out walks an sweating kid with red cheeks and thick afro. Subscribe to the VG247 newsletter Get all the best bits of delivered to your inbox every Friday! Enable JavaScript to sign up to our He up shopping to look at his freshly-released American copy of Pokémon Red. He’s never sampled of the franchise but all his friends are playing the game He wants in. So that heinous little lard-ball was back the day. my jumped the Pokémon phenomenon it steam-rolled its way across Europe, and we ended up getting really obsessed with the original Game titles. We big Final fans the of another turn-based pretty exciting. But this one was train not just a handful of character, but Literally hundreds. blew our minds. I loved it, it was the last Pokémon game I ever Call it being too busy, moving on to other experiences or what have you, but a series I just returned to. It’s over decade and finally figured how to lose weight – actually moving and eating less helped the afro is greying and thinning out with each passing you what? I simply wait to get torn to X or Y (I which yet). to back. share my thoughts on game in a blog or once I start playing, to share with you a little conversation I with Game Freak director and co-founder Junichi earlier this week. Pokémon is one of those franchises that seems immune diminishing returns it seems to be growing in popularity, rather shedding fans. It’s a thing, so I asked Masuda-San for his thoughts on that He told “We think that of the success attraction of Pokémon down to the characters fact that you can give them and have different attacks that change, they
s, endless newsagents, a McDonaLds and I’m suRe at lEasT foUr kFCs. you lOok over the road AT G FoRce, the pricey yet well-stoCked iMpORt gaMInG storE and out WAlKS An oVeRwEigHt, SWeAting Kid With red Cheeks and a ThiCk Afro.

SubscribE To The VG247 newslEttEr Get all the bEst Bits of vG247 DelIVered To yOur inBox eveRY FridaY! Enable JaVasCript tO Sign up tO OUr NewsLetter

He opens up hiS ShOPping bag to look At his fReSHlY-REleAseD American cOpY of PoKÉmon Red. hE’s NEVEr sAMpled of the fraNchise beforE, But All his FrIenDS are plAying ThE GamE already. He wAnts In.

So obvioUsly, thAT heinouS Little lArd-balL waS me Back IN tHe Day. alL My fRIeNds JUmpEd on the POkÉmOn pheNomeNON BEforE it SteaM-rollEd its way acrosS EuRope, ANd wE endeD up geTtinG rEally ObsessEd witH tHe original Game BOy tiTles.

We werE alL bIg FInAl FanTAsy fanS so The ProspecT of anotHEr tUrN-BASeD RPG was pretty excitInG. bUt This one wAs diffEReNt. yOu could tRaIn nOt juST A handFul oF ChAracter, bUt hundREdS. LIterallY hUndredS. IT blEw oUr minDS.

I loVed it, bUt it was tHe lasT pokémon game I evER played. Call it BEiNG ToO Busy, MovIng on to otheR expERienCes oR WhAt hAVe you, But it WaS A sERies I just never returNeD to. It’s Now ovEr a decade lateR and I finalLY FIgured ouT how TO lOSe weight – actualLy movIng and eatiNG less helPed – thE afro is gReying and THInning ouT wiTh eAch PasSINg Day, but you know WHAt? I sImPly can’t WaiT to get tOrn In tO PoKemOn x or Y (I haveN’t decideD wHiCh OnE yeT). I’m fiNAlly readY tO coMe BacK.

I’ll sHAre my tHoughTs on ThE gAMe iN a blog oR TwO ONce I StArT plaYinG, bUt for Now I WAnt To share With you a lIttLE conVeRsAtion I hAd with Game FreAk Director anD cO-foUnder JUNIchi MasuDa earlier this week. PokémoN Is one of ThoSe fraNchiSes that seEms Immune To dIMinishIng retUrns iN tHat IT Seems TO Be GroWiNg in populaRITy, rAther ThAn shEdding fAns. It’s a rare thing, so i AskEd Masuda-San foR hiS thoUGHtS on WHy THat Is.

hE toLD Me, “We think that paRt of the sucCeSS aNd attractiON of poKémon is Not down To jusT The PokéMon characTers themsElVes, bUT The Fact that yoU can give Them nicknAMes anD ThEy havE diFferenT aTtaCks thAt chanGE, anD they
s, endless newsagents, a M cDonalds a nd I’ m s ure  a t le astfour KFCs. You look  over the road at G Fo rce,th e  pri c ey  yetwell-st o ck e d  im po rt  ga mi n gstore  an d out w alks an ov erw ei ght, sweatin g  k id with re d c heeks and athi ck afr o. 

S u bscri beto th e VG24 7  newsl etter Get  a l l theb est bit s of  VG2 47 delivered to y o ur inbox every Fr iday!En a bl e Jav aSc ript to si gn  up t o  our ne w sl e t t erHe opens up h is shopping bag  to lo ok  at his fr eshly -r e lea sed America n co py of Pok émon R e d. He’s never s ampled  of  th e fr a nc hi sebe f ore ,  b uta llhis frie nd sare p layi n g t he g ame  alr eady.  He wants in. 

S o ob v iou sly,thathein ou s lit tle la rd-ba ll  was me back in  the  day. All  my  f rie nd s jum p ed onthe  Po kémon p henomen o n b ef o r e  i t steam-rolled its  w a y  a cross Eu rope,a nd  w e  ended u pget ting r eally  obs e ss ed withthe or i gi na l GameBo y titl es .
Wewerea ll b ig Fin al Fanta sy fa n s so the prosp e ct of another tu r n -b a sedRPG  was pretty  exc i ting . Bu t  t his one w as di ff e re n t. You could trainno t just  a ha ndful of char acter, but h u ndreds.Lite r al l y hundreds. It  blew  our minds . 

I love d it,  but itwas the l a s t Pokémo n g ame  Ieve r pl ayed. Call it b eing  t oo busy , m oving o n t o o the r e xp eriencesor whatha ve  y ou , b ut it was a se ri esIjus t nev e r retu rnedto.It ’s now  over a de c a de l at er  and  Ifi nally  fig u red  out ho w to lose  we i ght–ac tuallymoving and ea ti ng less he lp ed– thea f ro is gr eying and thinning outw ith eac h p assin g da y, but yo u k now wh at? I simp ly can ’t wa it  to g et to r n  i n t oPokemon Xo r  Y(I ha ve n’tdecided  which one yet). I ’ m f inally readytocome b ac k.I’ l l s ha r e m y thoughts on the  game in a  b l og  or two on c e I  s tart pl aying,but f o r now I  want toshare wit hyoua lit tle conver sation I  had with GameF re ak di rec tor an dco- found er Jun i chi  Masu da ear li er thi s wee k.  Pokémon  is one of those franch ises t hat s eem s immunetod imi nishing r etur ns in that  it  se ems t o b e  grow ingi npop u larit y, r a ther than sh edd i n gfans. It’sa r are  thin g,s o I as kedMasuda-San for hi s  thoughts on w hy t h a t i s.He t ol d me, “We thin k t ha t part ofth e success a nd attra ct i on of  Pokém on isnot dow n to just t he P oké mon chara cte rs themsel ve s, but th e fa ct  thatyou ca n  giv e them nicknames a nd th e y  have dif feren tattacks that  change, a nd they
s, endless_newsagents, a_McDonalds and I’m sure_at least_four_KFCs. You_look_over the road_at G Force,_the pricey yet well-stocked_import gaming store_and_out walks an overweight, sweating kid with red cheeks and a thick afro.

Subscribe to_the_VG247 newsletter_Get_all_the best bits of VG247_delivered to your inbox every_Friday! Enable_JavaScript to sign up to our newsletter

He opens_up_his shopping bag_to look at his freshly-released American copy of Pokémon_Red. He’s never sampled of the_franchise before, but_all_his_friends are playing the_game already. He wants in.

So obviously,_that heinous little lard-ball was me_back in the day. All my friends_jumped on the Pokémon phenomenon before_it steam-rolled its way across_Europe, and_we ended up getting really_obsessed with the_original Game_Boy titles.

We were_all big Final Fantasy fans so_the prospect of_another turn-based RPG was pretty exciting._But_this one was_different._You_could train_not just a_handful_of character,_but_hundreds. Literally hundreds. It blew our_minds.

I_loved it, but it was the last_Pokémon game I ever_played._Call it being too_busy, moving on to other_experiences or what have you, but_it was_a series_I just never returned to. It’s now over a decade later_and I finally figured out how_to lose weight –_actually moving_and_eating less helped_–_the afro_is greying and thinning out with each_passing day,_but you know what? I simply_can’t wait to get_torn_in to Pokemon X or Y_(I haven’t decided which one yet)._I’m finally ready to come_back.

I’ll_share_my thoughts on the game_in a blog or two once_I start playing,_but for now I want to share_with_you a little conversation I had_with_Game Freak director and co-founder Junichi_Masuda_earlier_this week. Pokémon is one_of those franchises that seems immune_to diminishing returns in that it seems to be_growing in popularity,_rather than shedding fans. It’s_a_rare_thing, so I asked Masuda-San for his thoughts on why_that is.

He_told me, “We_think that part of the success and attraction of Pokémon_is not down to just the Pokémon_characters themselves, but the fact that you can give them nicknames_and they have different attacks that change, and_they