Pokémon Masters developer apologizes for disappointing players

Pokémon Masters developer Yu Sasaki apologized yesterday for not meeting the "expectations of our community" with the Pokémon mobile game, he said in a message to players.

The notice detailed the common player complaints and talked about how the company will respond to them. The main four priorities for the development team are the game's lack of content and good rewards, the difficulty and design, and a lack of usability. While they state that the lack of appealing rewards can be fixed quickly, the other parts of the game will take more time.

"Our original plan was to have players progressing through the main story while at the same time tackling co-op battles and EX Challenges throughout September and October," Sasaki wrote. "That said, we understand players have quickly progressed through all available content and feel dissatisfied with the current offerings."

One of the things that the developer want to address is that the game's meta quickly became focused on running only very specific Sync Pairs rather than using a wide variety of characters to beat levels. The developer also noted that it has been paying close attention to feedback through both official channels and through player communities like Reddit.

Since its release, Pokémon Masters has been under fire by fans. The game hardly rewards any of the premium currency needed to recruit units, even in comparison to other gacha-based games. Its clunky design always felt slow and underdeveloped. The autoplay feature paled in comparison to autoplay in other games.

The exact details about how Sasaki and the rest of the developers plan on improving the game were not specified, but it's nice to hear that they're working on it.

Pokemon Masters Update Gives Out Free Gems For A Limited Time

DeNA has rolled out a new update for Pokemon Masters. Patch 1.2.1 is out now and finally resolves some issues that have been affecting the game the past few weeks. To make up for this delay, the developer is also giving out free Gems to all players for a limited time.

"As compensation for recent issues in Pokemon Masters, 1,000 Gems have been sent to all players," the official Pokemon Masters Twitter account announced. To claim your Gems, you'll need to log into the game before November 7 at 7:59 AM PT / 10:59 AM ET.

The issue in question involved a discrepancy in Power values. Specifically, the Power value of certain moves used during battle would be lower than they were supposed to be, affecting the game's balance. With this update, the correct Power value will be taken into account in battles.

Pokemon Masters launched on iOS and Android devices on August 28, and the game is off to a strong start. According to mobile analytics company Sensor Tower, Masters made more than $26 million during its first week of availability. The only other Pokemon mobile game to earn more within that time frame was Pokemon Go, although that game had the disadvantage of launching in fewer territories.

Pokemon Masters is set in an island region called Pasio, where famous trainers have gathered for the Pokemon Masters League competition. If you're just getting started in the game, be sure check out our roundup of everything you need to know about Pokemon Masters. We've also broken down what Scout Points are and how to get them, as well as how to evolve and Mega Evolve Pokemon in the game.

Pokémon Masters Just Had The Strongest Launch Month For A Mobile Pokémon Game Since GO

The latest mobile effort from The Pokémon Company, Pokémon Masters, has had an impressive opening month on the market, becoming the best-performing title in its debut month since the behemoth that was - and still is - Pokémon GO.

According to data gathered by Sensor Tower, the game has generated an estimated $33.3 million in player spending since it burst onto the scene at the end of August. That places it significantly ahead of the totals achieved by games like Pokémon Quest and Pokémon Duel, but the chart below does little to show off its success when it has to compete with GO.

Sensor Tower reports that Japanese players have spent the most of that $33.3 million, making up roughly 58% of that figure in total (around $19.3 million). As you might expect, players in the United States are second in the ranking, spending around 19% (or $6.3 million) of the total. The total spending during the game's first week on sale averaged at around $3.5 million per day. That'd be nice, wouldn't it?

Have you been playing Pokémon Masters over the last few weeks? What do you think of it? You can read our full review right here if you're interested in learning more.

Pokémon Masters Launches Co-Op Rally Event With Special Rewards

Pokémon Masters is holding a special Co-Op Battle Rally event starting today.

Players who participate in the event, meaning they login to play the game during its availability, will be able to get special rewards.

Officially, the co-op battle rally began yesterday evening at 11PM PST. But, for those who haven't logged in since then this is your first chance at getting in on the action.

Pokémon Masters Co-Op Battle Rally lasts for ten days

The battle rally is underway. If you've already had a chance to login and play today then you have a head start. If you haven't been able to play yet though, don't stress too much.

The co-op battle rally event will last for an entire ten days. So you have plenty of time to login and check it out throughout this week and next week. Officially the event will end on October 16 at 10:59PM PST.

The main idea for the rally is to introduce co-op battle missions for players. Meaning you can team up with other players to battle other trainers and their sync pairs.

Completing co-op missions nets you rewards

During these missions, all players will need to do is complete one co-op battle. Should you be able to finish one of these missions, you'll get a reward.

As for what the rewards are, they'll be in-game items that can be used to train your sync pairs. These will be useful in helping you make your sync pairs more powerful.

And, in addition to that you can help the Pokémon that are part of them learn more abilities. As part of the event DeNA and The Pokémon Company are also increasing the amount of times you can replay supercourses.

Supercourses afford you things like more coins and other materials. These can be used for strengthening sync pairs as well.

One thing for players to keep in mind is that Missions and events, both of which play into the Co-Op Battle Rally, are only available after certain points in the game. To access events and missions you will need to complete at least chapter 2 within the main story part of the game.

The good thing is this doesn't take long. Getting through chapter 2 should takes less than an hour to an hour and a half. Since the event only lasts until the 16th of this month, you will definitely want to play past this section of the game sooner than later.

This way you can access the event content as soon as possible.

What We Are Playing Today: Pokémon Masters

Remember all those Pokémon games you used to play on your Nintendo Game Boy like Fire Red, Leaf Green, Ruby and Sapphire? The fun continues with DeNA's new Pokémon Masters.

As the player, you start off with Pikachu as your companion, and from there you create your designated team, made of familiar faces like Brock, Misty and new characters who compete in the Pokémon Masters League by collecting five badges.

The game is full of nostalgia for older players as you battle Pokémon Masters on an artificial island called Pasio to become champion. It is also exciting for those who are not familiar with previous Pokémon installments, as the battling system relies on strategic thinking and choosing your elements correctly.

Players need to upgrade their relationships with their Pokémon by fighting in order to complete later stages.

The more levels you complete, however, the tougher it gets to evolve your relationships, and the need to spend real money on the application increases. As players leave feedback on these shortcomings, I am certain further updates will incorporate better features to flesh out the gaming experience.

NYCC ’19: Ash Ketchum voice actress Veronca Taylor answers POKÉMON fan questions

On Friday, October 4 at New York Comic Con, fans were treated to a Q&A with Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash Ketchum and May in the Pokémon anime for more than eight seasons. The Q&A panel was to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series.

It was clear that people in the audience were very excited about this panel and had a lot of insightful and unique fan questions. Luckily, Taylor was also on their level as far as excitement, and she also brought her daughter with her. This was rather sweet, since she was pregnant with her daughter when she was doing the voice acting for the first season of Pokémon, and the two had an endearing relationship.

While there were many fan questions, there were a few highlights that are of particular interest. With Detective Pikachu released this year, and the continued popularity of Pokémon Go, Pokémon is still going strong since it first debuted in the US (in 1998).

Taylor was asked if she knew who Ash’s father was since this has still not been revealed in the series. She said, “I have no idea, honestly… But part of Ash not knowing who his dad is propels him. Part of who he is, is not knowing.” She also noted that the journey is about Ash finding his family, and how Pokémon fans are like his family in a way.

Next, she was asked one of the most important questions of all: what her favorite Pokémon is. Her answer will definitely please many fans, as it was Pikachu. She talked about how she spent so much time with Pikachu and how her daughter was born during the series, so she sees her daughter as her own Pikachu in a way.

Giphy.

Another fan wanted to know if she thought that Pokémon would be as a popular as it has been. She said, “No, no one anticipated it to last for 20 years… Ultimately, the story is real. It has real emotions. Being out on the road with friends is universal.”

One fan asked another pertinent question: What is her favorite episode?

Taylor replied, “The first episode is my favorite. It’s the most real… It makes me want to cry every time because of how real and wonderful Ash is.”

While many people might not realize that Pokémon fandom also has shipping and ship wars, there is a contingent of fans interested in this. One fan wanted to get Taylor’s take on Ash’s love life and who she thinks he would be with, Serena or Misty. Her answer was definitely a great one: “Ash, as a 10 year-old, is not a good person as a boyfriend for anyone at all. He only thinks about himself, his next meal, and winning a badge. He wouldn’t remember her birthday.”

While her answers to all of the questions were insightful and engaging, and it’s clear she loves the character of Ash, one of the best answers she gave was in a response to a fan who asked about what it means to be a Pokémon master.

Taylor responded with a rather thought-provoking and inspiring answer for all fans of the series: “All of us, no matter how old we are, we are on a path. We’re trainers constantly learning, trying out best, picking up people to help us along… Ash winning Pokémon league is not enough; he has to set a goal and continue on. It’s about trying to be the best, and you can’t be the best alone. No one is a Pokémon master but that’s a good thing. It’s all about improving our community and the world.”

Related

Pokemon's Original Ash Ketchum Answers 8 Big Fan Questions About the Series

It's been over two decades since the Pokemon animated series debuted in Japan and was syndicated around the world, notably making a splash in the United States. Ash's adventures with Pikachu, Brock and Misty left such an indelible impact on our pop culture that it became global news when Ash finally became a Pokemon League Champion earlier this year.Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash Ketchum in the English dub for its first eight seasons, held a panel at New York Comic Con where she answered fans' biggest questions for an hour -- many of which have remained a mystery on the series for its 22 years of existence. Read below for her best (and funniest) answers to these age-old Pokemon questions. 1. Why Is Ash Still 10-Years-Old? "If you're never home for your birthday, does it really exist? I'm not sure," Taylor said to laughter from the audience. "Honestly, I don't care that he's still 10. I love it. I think he represents the 10-year-old inside all of us, which is that endless possibility. When you're 10, you can be anything you want to be, you can do anything you want, you don't have any chores, you barely have homework -- he doesn't have any -- but I think that it's good that he stays 10, because he doesn't have all the weird stuff, he doesn't have to fall in love -- he's 10. He can just concentrate on himself and what he wants to do. ... I think it's good that he stays the same, but that's my reason, and I don't know why they decided."2. Was There Romantic Tension Between Ash and Misty?

Every Pikachu Plushie in Tokyo's Mega Pokemon Center

Taylor was quick to clarify that there wasn't any chance of a romance between Ash and Misty, Ash and Sabrina or Ash and any other character in Pokemon because, as established in the answer above, he is still 10 years old in the world of the show.

"I feel like Ash as a 10-year-old is not a good person as a boyfriend for anyone at all, because he just thinks about himself and his next meal. ... I don't think he'd remember his girlfriend's birthday, to hold open a door for her, or to do anything kind other than on his terms," said Taylor. Of Misty, she answered wryly, "Misty, they were really good friends and maybe someday when they are 22."

3. How Old Is Brock? Despite his deep voice in the American anime dub, Taylor set the record straight that Brock was only supposed to be 14 in the anime.4. Where Is Ash's Dad? Ash's mother is a big presence in the anime, but the audience is never introduced to his father or given an explanation about where he is, though there have been some answers from outside the anime. (This has led to some interesting fan theories about Ash's mother and Professor Oak.) To the big Ash's dad question, Taylor answered, "We don't know. No idea. I think he probably is still alive, and perhaps he's on his journey to find himself." She also clarified that she doesn't think Ash is adopted and thinks his mother is his birth mother.5. What Was Her Reaction to Ash Winning the Pokemon League? "I think it was really amazing," said Taylor. "What I loved moreso was because I had seen the news on the Twitter, I loved reading the comments. So many people, this outpouring of love and emotion, for this character we've loved and supported all these years. And to just hear, 'Oh, if Ash can do it, I can too,' and, 'Hey, he made it!' and it was so amazing and it was such a testimony to this community that we have grown, and that to me is an extraordinary thing. And so I now hope he can set another moment we all can get behind. I hope that he inspires us all to keep going, as apparently he has. But my gosh has it been exciting, and it has been in the papers about a cartoon kid achieving a goal."6. What Actually Is a Pokemon Master? While Ash has aspired to be a Pokemon Master for years, one fan wanted clarity on what a Pokemon Master is defined as. Taylor had a very abstract answer.

"I believe a Pokemon Master is a level of spirituality," she said. "The thing about it is it's a level you need to attain because all of us, no matter what we do, no matter how old we are, our job choices, anything, we are all on a path. We are trainers. We are comfortably learning and trying our best, picking up people on the way, helping them along while we set goals and try to achieve them, so ultimately, Pokemon Master would be that moment right before you die.

"I think you're talking about Ash winning the Pokemon League, which is an awesome thing, but there is no way that he can go, 'I did that! I'll go out to Professor Oak's and run with the Tauros.' I think he sets another goal and then continues on, because ultimately, we are trying to be our best, and you can't be your best alone and you can't be your best by sittin g there and thinking you know everything and not ever learning to love learning. It's a level of attainment that we're all going for. I'd like to say, 'Hey, you're a Pokemon Master!' but you're really not yet. Nobody is, and that's a good thing."

7. What Are the Hardest Moments to Voice? Reflecting back on her eight seasons on the show, Taylor shared the two hardest scenes she had to play: "There's a lot of heavy emotional stuff that happens that I certainly am sad. Like, when Butterfree is set free, or we didn't know Brock and Misty were leaving. That we found out when we all got to the studio on our pages, so that was really sad."8. Is She Excited for the Remake of Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back? A remake of Pokemon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back, titled Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution, was released in Japan earlier this year. (Read IGN's review of Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution here, or watch our video review above.) It retells the story with an animation makeover, but IGN's reviewer Miranda Sanchez called the remake mediocre, writing, "Pokemon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution's animation is nice, but doesn't fix the original movie's biggest problems."

Taylor is similarly not thrilled about the new movie, though for different reasons. "What I can honestly say is I don't understand why they're going back and kind of revising everything," she answered to a fan who asked her about the movie. "I'm not a fan of revisionist history anywhere, and so I'm not really sure why they're going back and switching things around. In that sense, I'm not excited for it. I wish they would just come up with more stories."

She continued, "What I really loved abo ut the time when I was working on Pokemon is I thought the shows were funny. There was some great humor to it. Obviously you're changing it from the original Japanese and adapting it ... but there was some great jokes and it was just something that everybody could watch, not so violent. I hope that for all the future Pokemon things that it's something that we can all watch together, that it's funny, that it's something that you can watch as an adult and also as a kid and get something totally different out of it, but that everybody has fun. I don't know that if they change it it will still be the most jolly as it has been."

What is your favorite Pokemon anime episode? Let us know in the comments! Terri Schwartz is Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz.