Pokemon coming to iOS and Android devices

Pokemon: Say Tap? BW is a rhythm game where you must "tap on Pokemon trading cards to the beat of a song from the anime." Most notably, it will be free. Oh, and on non-Nintendo devices.

Andrew Yoon

July 5, 2011 5:00 PM

Nintendo announced a new Pokemon game recently. According to GamesRadar, Pokemon: Say Tap? BW is a rhythm game where you must "tap on Pokemon trading cards to the beat of a song from the anime." Most notably, it will be free.

Oh wait, that's not the notable part. Pokemon: Say? BW will not only be free, it will be free to download on iOS and Android devices. This is the first time Nintendo has officially supported a smart phone.

The announcement incites all sorts of questions. Firstly, why? Does this mean we can expect more Nintendo content on non-Nintendo platforms in the future? Why not announce the game as a free eShop or DSiWare download?

Pokemon: Say Tap BW will be available in Japan this summer.

Andrew Yoon

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

Filed Under

From The Chatty

Refresh Go To Thread

Shacknews

 reply
July 5, 2011 5:00 PM

Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Pokemon coming to iOS and Android devices.

Pokemon: Say Tap? BW is a rhythm game where you must "tap on Pokemon trading cards to the beat of a song from the anime." Most notably, it will be free. Oh, and on non-Nintendo devices.
- InfernoAblaze
  
   reply
  July 5, 2011 5:49 PM
  
  ...Pointless, who even wants that? "Supply and demand" so what am I missing "Supply without demand"?
- jplayer01
  
   reply
  July 5, 2011 6:01 PM
  
  What the ... just give us a real Pokemon game and you'll sell a million copies. What is this crap?
  - socom8271
    
     reply
    July 5, 2011 6:05 PM
    
    I was like "Yes! Pokemon for Android!" Then I saw it was a tap song weird game. I'll get it for free if it'll convince them to make a real game. :P
- Videosta
  
   reply
  July 5, 2011 6:09 PM
  
  Seems like a test-bed for a possible IOS/Nintendo future. I'm sure they can just put this low budget title out to see what kind of strength the Pokemon brand has on
  - Videosta
    
     reply
    July 5, 2011 6:10 PM
    
    Phones.
  - Terrahawk104
    
     reply
    July 5, 2011 8:36 PM
    
    If they release the full Pokemon titles on iOS they'll make a ton of guaranteed money, and it won't really be putting it on a competing platform. Well, not a traditional competitor anyway, I don't think Nintendo would see any issue with it as it wouldn't be like sticking Pokemon on the PSP.
- daggot
  
   reply
  July 5, 2011 8:41 PM
  
  This doesn't make a lot of sense. Nintendo stated, off-handed, that Apple is a kind of competitor since they're monkeying with N's portable space. Why would they support that by releasing anything on a competing platform?
  
  Unless they're working some kind of gateway angle: parents play iPad with their kids, so N puts an Pokeman app out there to bait them to buy the 3DS version? That's a reach at best.
  - daggot
    
     reply
    July 5, 2011 8:42 PM
    
    hmmm... now, what IF Wii U had some kind of interoperability with various tablet OSes? That might make more sense on why develop an app on iOS and Android. Wonder if there are licensing headache with that kind of idea.
  - riptyde
    
     reply
    July 5, 2011 8:52 PM
    
    My company works with it's competitors all the time. Supporting some of the things they do well can help maintain visibility for (and drive customers to) the things we do well.
  - chickdigger802
    
     reply
    July 5, 2011 8:54 PM
    
    well technically pokemon company ain't nintendo. So it's pretty much unofficial official game.
    
    makes sense? =P
  - formkatze
    
     reply
    July 6, 2011 2:55 AM
    
    I don't think it's a reach. To me, it makes sense that a company would launch a free app on a competing platform to build brand awareness.
- aasyranth
  
   reply
  July 6, 2011 8:49 AM
  
  Sounds like an advergame to me. Wouldn't be so weird to see it on phones, if that's the case.