Pokemon X and Y Announced. Iwata Talks Localization and Communication Within Pokemon Games

Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. Or Pokemon X and Y, if you prefer, were just been announced. Set to appear on the Nintendo 3DS, these 2 games will feature new starters and will be released simultaneously across all regions in October 2013.

Nintendo global president Satoru Iwata announced the 2 Pokemon games through a 10-minute Nintendo Direct across all Nintendo sites around the world.

In these 10 minutes, Iwata-san also looked back at the very history of Pokemon. The trip down memory lane focused down on two issues that he saw within the Pokemon games - localization and communication - or playing together, if you prefer.

Communication

Iwata demonstrated how communication between Pokemon games, across all generations, have evolved through the years. Because Pokemon games always come in two versions with a slightly different Pokemon species in each, communication between these versions are necessary to complete all the Pokemon in the game. This was first made possible by the link cable of the Gameboy, the Wireless Adapter  for the Gameboy Advance and ultimately through WiFi in the Nintendo DS. 

With 2 generations, 1 remake and 1 sequel released in the Nintendo DS, the console greatly expanded the gameplay of Pokemon. Iwata noted that the WiFi connection finally allowed everyone to play Pokemon with virtually anyone in the world, removing the need for one to be with someone in one room or place.

Localization

In Iwata's look back in the history of Pokemon, another common theme is the delay in localization. When Pokemon was first released in 1996, it took them 2 years to released it in America which greatly resulted to the delay of Pokemon Gold and Silver in Japan, the 2nd generation games in the series. When the latter 2 games were finally released, Pokemon has become a global phenomenon but still it took at least a year for them to localize the next generation of Pokemon games - Ruby and Sapphire outside Japan - them being released in 2002 in Japan and in 2003 in the US.   

Iwata said they have overcome the challenged of localization that's why the next Pokemon games - Pokemon X and Y will be released simulatenously around the world on October, 2013.


Hat tip to Mr. Daan Koopman for the video of the entire Nintendo Direct