Tech Blog

[#1]

The last time we saw a proper entry in the Pokémon video game series was back in 2006 with the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl in Japan (2007 for North America) for the Nintendo DS.  It has been a long wait Pokéfans but rest assured that a brand new generation of Pokémon games are heading our way soon.

The Pokémon series works in generations, with a new main entry releasing approximately every 3-4 years.  The very first generation was Pokémon Red and Blue (Game Boy - 1996), followed by Pokémon Gold and Silver (Game Boy Color - 2000), Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (Game Boy Advanced - 2003), and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (Nintendo DS - 2006).  Here we are now in the fifth generation with the announcement of Pokémon Black and White for the Nintendo DS.

Note that it's coming out on the Nintendo DS and not the recently announced new hardware coming out during Nintendo's current fiscal year, which runs from April 2010 - March 2011, the Nintendo 3DS .  Given how popular the Pokémon series is, and how much of a system seller it is, I'm surprised Nintendo isn't using this opportunity to bring the franchise to its latest hardware creation.

The Pokémon Company made the official announcement on January 29, 2010 that it is currently developing an all-new Pokémon series.

In recent years there have been a steady flow of Pokémon games such as HeartGold & SoulSilver , or the Ranger games, but these have either been remakes or spin-off installments.

A week after the announcement, a teaser silhouette was shown on a popular Japanese variety show called Pokémon Sunday, which would turn out to be the first new Pokémon reveal, Zoroark .  This fifth-generation Pokémon is the evolution of Zorua.  It's a dark type Pokémon and resembles a bipedal monster fox.

Scans of Zoroark, along with the first screens of the game environment eventually found their way to Japan's CoroCoro Magazine.  The images depict a battle scene between new Pokémon Zoroark and Zorua, as well as the first glimpse at a new town, new dungeon, and a revamped Pokémon Center.  It's evident from the screens that while the new games won't be landing on the Nintendo 3DS, they feature an improved visual style from previous Pokémon games, including the use of a new 3D graphics engine.

Scan of Zoroark

Environmental images

The new Pokémon games are expected to come out in Japan this fall.  Given the heavy use of dialogue we usually have to wait a while for them to be translated, which likely means they'll hit North American shores some time in 2011.  As a recent example, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver came out in Japan on September 2009 and was later released in North America six months later in March 2010.

Last month a very brief gameplay video of Pokémon Black and White was shown on Pokémon Sunday, which has a Pokémon Trainer moving through a rotating cityscape.  Just look at the fresh 3D feel of the game, I say it's a welcome change for a franchise that graphically hasn't change much in a long time.  Here's the video:

Pokémon Sunday sure must love teasing new Black and White information because not too long after the video footage was shown, more silhouettes were shown, this time depicting the three starter Pokémon that will be selectable at the beginning of the games.  The black outline images can be seen here .  At least we can reasonably guess that they'll be a Grass, Fire and Water type Pokémon.

Perhaps not content with having low-quality scans found in CoroCoro Magazine, the Pokémon Company eventually released the images, along with a few new ones publically on April 14, 2010.  Here's your first look at Pokémon Black and White:

That's all we know for now.  Check back for more updates as they roll in!

[#2]

Keep us posted.  This is exciting (at least for me!)

[#3]

Glad to read your post, thanks.

[#4]

You're welcome Chris and Pokemon Birthday!  I'll be following this game closely, and will update when more information rolls in.

[#5]

it looks like their doing the same thing they did on with emerald. which was pushing the limits on the last hardware installment before the new hardware comes out