4. Getting Close with Pokémon

Under development

By the way, what does the “Amie” in Pokémon-Amie mean?

“Amie” means “friend” in French.

You enjoy getting friendly with your Pokémon.

Yes. And as shown before, if you play Pokémon-Amie, you get really close with your Pokémon. But after all they are Pokémon, so some don’t have facial expressions, or they react slowly.

For example, how do you handle a Pokémon like Snorlax who’s always sleeping?

Times like that, you do this (gesturing as if striking the screen with the stylus) with all you’ve got. You wake them up! (laughs)

(laughs)

Each Pokémon has its own unique features and traits, so we incorporated a lot with regard to that into the game.

Unique for each and every Pokémon?

Yes. We made it so the reactions are different for all the Pokémon.

Wow! That’s surprising! (laughs)

(laughs)

I suppose if your favourite Pokémon wasn’t distinctive when others were, it would be disappointing.

Yes. And everyone has their own feelings about what their favourite Pokémon are like, right? So we did our best to make them respond to that kind of affection.

A single Pokémon game has always possessed considerable volume, but it’s like a whole new game has been added!

I suppose! (laughs)

However, Pokémon-Amie isn’t a completely separate feature. It connects to the main game, correct?

Yes. For example, if you’re someone who prefers lavishing affection on your Pokémon as opposed to battles, and you bathe them in all your love, then it’ll pay off in battle too.

If your Pokémon aren’t great in battles but you play with them a lot, before you know it, they may be stronger in battle.

Yes. I touched on this earlier, but when you get close to your Pokémon, you’ll get better at dodging your opponents’ attacks and at hitting your opponents’ weak points when you attack, so battles get really fun.

I get the impression that you couldn’t have pulled off Pokémon X and Pokémon Y without pouring in an immense amount of energy. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the games are received around the world after release.

It’s as if everyone in the staff worked really hard putting all their efforts in reflecting what each of them feel is the epitomical Pokémon world, and their work has been combined into a single, grand Pokémon world. I hope everyone enjoys it.

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are games that we poured all our emotions into while they were being made as we focused on their release on October 12th. And, finally, that day is almost here. And I think you can say that the Mega Evolution that we touched on earlier portrays everything that’s new and old, so I really would like everyone to try to experience Mega Evolution for themselves.

Thank you for your time today.

It was a pleasure!