The year 2016 is turning out to be the year of Pokémon, all thanks to the augmented reality game "Pokémon GO" and the record-breaking success of "Pokémon Sun and Moon's" launch. Both platforms have received massive publicity, and Game Freak is not slowing down in making sure fans are engaged nonstop.
Earlier this week, the very first global mission has been announced via the Pokémon Global Link official website. The objective of the mission is for everyone to collect a total of 100 million Pokémon caught in the wild. As per the announcement, if the goal is met, everyone who registers for the event will get 1,000 FC, while participants can still get 100 FC each if the 100-million-mark isn't reached. FC stands for "Festival Coins," a currency which is used in various activities in the Festival Plaza.
In order to participate, a player only needs to create a Game Sync ID via internet in their own games, and then the system generates a unique 16-digit code. This then can be registered on the website for players to participate in the current and future events. But what was going on in Game Freak's mind in creating the global event?
One possible reason is to validate the global success of the game. According to Eurogamer, "Pokémon Sun and Moon" was the biggest UK Launch ever for Nintendo, while Famitsu reports the game has already distributed around 2 million units in Japan alone. Having people register for the event would be a check-and-balance for those figures.
More importantly, every game industry knows that in order to keep players invested, you have to always involve them. The global link creates a venue for Nintendo and Game Freak to create events that defy physical boundaries, creating one worldwide community.
Lastly, it can be a way for players to take advantage of the actual gameplay before even introducing Pokémon from previous generations. The Pokémon Bank update will be done by January, which is a good move as players will have already been accustomed to "Sun and Moon."
The mission ends by Dec. 13, so until then, trainers have a lot of time to keep throwing those Pokéballs.
