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Nintendo has a Poké problem

Nintendo has a Poké problem

Pokemon-X-and-Y_2013_01-09-13_001

Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (2013)
Developer: Game Freak
Publishers: Nintendo, The Pok
émon Company

 With the recent success of GTA V,  a sizable chunk of the gaming community has been pacified (for now). So what then does the RPG gamer have to look forward to in the immediate future? Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are certainly stirring up a lot of buzz, but unfortunately not for the right reasons.

It’s a given that in the world of video games information on upcoming titles gets leaked left, right and centre, and more often than not the fallout from these leaks is inconsequential. However, in a game like Pokémon where a major part of the enjoyment lies in the mystery and the discovery, leaked info could potentially hinder the success of the game and ruin the experience for the player. I am of course referring to the recent content leak by Instagram user ‘kosthedin’.

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Kosthedin managed to get a copy of the game over a week before its scheduled release date and proceeded to leak screenshot after screenshot. When Nintendo became aware of this, well…to say it “Rustled their jimmies” would be an understatement. The company flew out a representative to the unnamed store that sold the copy in question, and while the details of this visit are a mystery, the leaked information has since been pulled from kosthedin’s Instagram account (he likely received a cease and desist order), and the copy has been returned to the store. It’s too little too late however, the damage has been done, and as any celebrity that has gotten a carried away with a video camera will tell you, trying to get something off the internet once it’s up is a losing battle. Still, you have to commend the software giant for their prompt response and effective damage control.

 The games will have a simultaneous worldwide release, something which has never been done in any of the previous generations of the franchise. This is to ensure that in this instalment of the series, no players will have an advantage by way of a head start. With this in mind, it’s understandable that Nintendo were angry to learn that someone out there was potentially jeopardizing that effort. Controversy aside, the game is shaping up to be a big success, with sales figures expected to exceed that of Diamond and Pearl versions.

The games will be released for the 3DS on October 12th.

[wpchatai]