It’s no secret that Nintendo owns the Pokemon franchise, but do they own the characters? We’ve asked a variety of experts about the truth of this claim. Here’s what we learned.
Origins
The Origins of Pokemon are the tales behind the creatures. They tell the origins of some of the most popular species of Pokemon. It includes information about the cultural and zoological origins of the creatures, and details the evolution of these animals.
Satoshi Tajiri, the creator of Pokemon, is a Japanese video game designer. He is responsible for the creation of the game’s concept and for its development.
Unlike other games, the Pokemon franchise grew into a global business with millions of dollars in merchandise sold around the world. It has made more money than any other media franchise in history.
In fact, it has sold more than $118.5 billion in total revenue worldwide. At the time of writing, more than 800 different Pokemon exist.
These Pokémon are known for their iconic characters. From Pikachu to Krabby, each one has an enduring appeal. Their names are often influenced by shrubs and other natural elements.
While the Pokemon universe is primarily based on the fictional world of Kanto, there are several Pokemon whose names have roots in real-world myths and cultures. Among these are the Yokai, a series of strange comic creatures native to Japan.
These creatures have been documented in illustrated encyclopedias and playing cards. A famous Yokai is the “sentient umbrella”, which is characterized by a long red tongue. Another is the Golem, a mythological artificial human.
Other creatures include Nidorinos, a pair of long-legged, long-necked birds. Unlike Doduo, Nidorinos have a distinct head and face.
Another type of Pokemon is the Metapod. It resembles a pod.
Several of the Pokemon are based on Yokai, supernatural entities. Others include the Arcanine, which is a doglike creature.
Some of the earliest ideas for Pokemon came from the creator’s own childhood love of collecting insects. One idea was for a game where players could trade collectibles.
Creatures
Unlike other Nintendo franchises, the Pokemon series is driven by several companies. They are responsible for developing, distributing, and marketing the franchise. In fact, you can purchase licensing rights to use the name and trademarks of some of the characters in the franchise.
Among the companies involved are Creatures, Game Freak, and Nintendo. Each company has a small amount of ownership in the other two. The three together control about one-third of the entire franchise, making it difficult to determine who is actually in charge.
It has been rumored that Nintendo could have produced Pokemon animations in-house, but this would have slowed down development. Instead, Nintendo decided to work with the three companies in order to get the best quality game.
Creatures is the third of the companies involved in the Pokemon franchise. Their role is to create 3D models and packaging for the series, as well as the Pokemon Trading Card Game.
Previously, Creatures was known as Ape Inc. After Ape Inc was purchased by Nintendo, Creatures was born. Originally, it was the distributor of the franchise in Japan.
The original incarnation of Creatures was founded in 1995. Its head was Tsunekazu Ishihara. He went on to become the CEO of The Pokemon Company.
Until recently, the Game Freak website featured a list of the company’s partners. This included Creatures, which had previously been listed as the “main client.” But, it is obvious that the change is intended. Despite the changes, Creatures is still involved in the Pokemon franchise and is the primary creator of the recently released Sword and Shield on the Nintendo Switch.
One of the most important functions of Creatures is its contribution to the Pokemon Trading Card Game, which has been a huge hit in Japan. However, the company has also had a hand in the main series Pokemon games, as well as the Nintendo Wii PokePark series.
Game Freaks
Game Freak is a Japanese video game development studio that has worked with Nintendo and other gaming companies on numerous projects. Most of their work has been on the Pokemon series. However, they have also created original games such as Mario & Wario and Pulseman.
Since its founding in 1989, Game Freak has produced more than 30 games. It has also made many side projects.
One of the games they have released recently is the 2D action/puzzle hybrid, Pocket Card Jockey. It was released on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in 2013, and later ported to Android and iOS. In North America, it was released in 2016. A new trademark has been filed in Japan for a possible remaster.
The company is now focusing on a new classic style RPG for the Nintendo Switch. Their philosophy is to provide fun and enjoyment for their fans.
They have also developed other games such as GIGA WRECKER, Tembo the Badass Elephant, and HarmoKnight. These are part of their GEAR Project. This program encourages developers to create ideas during quiet periods.
Currently, they are developing a Pokemon RPG for the Switch. As of March, the company employs 169 people. There are several different teams working on different projects.
Satoshi Tajiri is the founder of Game Freak, Inc. He has worked on many Pokemon titles since the gameboy days. During the development of these games, he did not receive a salary. But he lived off his father’s income.
Currently, the company is in search of a new manager. Junichi Masuda left the company. Meanwhile, Satoru Iwata was appointed company president in 2002.
Though they have a lot of experience and have been successful, they do not have the best games.
Niantic
Pokemon Go is a game that uses augmented reality to make you hunt for iconic animated characters in real world locations. The game has been downloaded over 100 million times and is a global success. It’s now one of the top-rated apps on Android and iOS.
Niantic, a software development company spun out of Google, designed the game and partnered with Nintendo. The team also worked on the popular mobile game Ingress.
When Niantic became independent, John Hanke, who had led the company’s Geo division, became its CEO. He remained in that role even after the company split from Google.
Although Google invested in Niantic during its first round of funding, it hasn’t publicly acknowledged that it has any involvement. But a spokesperson for the company declined to comment on the topic.
However, the company has made several acquisitions to expand its user base. This includes an investment in DigiLens, a company developing holographic waveguide displays.
Niantic is also known for its social features. In March 2015, Niantic announced the launch of Field Trip, a location-based notification service. During the same month, the company shared a sneak peek of its new Niantic Real World Platform.
Niantic has also secured investment from venture capital firms and angel investors. In October 2015, the company received $30 million in Series A funding from Nintendo and Google. As part of the deal, the companies committed to investing $20 million in the game, with $10 million set aside for milestones.
Since its launch in July, Pokemon Go has seen a significant increase in its use of augmented reality technology. Its estimated revenue figures are more than $2 million per day.
Pokemon Go is also a popular form of advertisement. Advertisers pay Niantic $0.50 for each visit. Players earn coins over time and purchase items to improve their walking experience.
Other ways Nintendo contributes to the franchise
Mario has become a global icon, and Nintendo has contributed to the franchise in many ways. The mascot is one of the most popular video game characters of all time, and the Mario series has been licensed to television, anime, comics, theme parks and feature films.
Mario is Nintendo’s flagship franchise. He is a colourful, anthropomorphic character, and has been ported to multiple platforms. In addition to being featured in many video games, he has been featured in several comic books and animated cartoons.
Mario’s first game, Mario Bros., sold over 40 million copies worldwide. The game was released in 1985 for the NES. It also helped Nintendo gain international recognition.
Following its success, Nintendo released Super Mario Bros. and Mario’s Bombay Away, two of the most popular Mario titles. Several of the Mario games were educational. These were designed to teach a variety of skills.
During the 1980s, Nintendo’s Game & Watch series was a popular line of single-game handhelds. The series had 18 games, including Mario Bros., Cement Factory, Donkey Kong, and Super Mario World. Some of the titles had enhanced graphics and gameplay, and Mario and Luigi had new powers.
The Game & Watch series was a success, and Nintendo released more than 60 titles over the course of nine years. The games remained popular until the release of the PlayStation and Xbox.
Since its founding, Nintendo has produced numerous consoles and accessories, as well as a wide array of software. The company also has multiple subsidiaries around the world.
Founded in 1889, Nintendo is headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It has a subsidiary in Melbourne, Australia.
The company has received a number of awards, including the Emmy Award for Technology and Engineering. It has also been awarded the British Academy Games Award.