The Pokémon Firm’s chief artistic fellow, Junichi Masuda, has mentioned the upcoming PokePark Kanto theme park, and mentioned it was developed as a response to the isolation folks felt through the pandemic.
The PokePark Kanto will open subsequent yr as a part of Yomiuriland, a theme park in Japan. Two giant sections of the park have been transformed into the primary everlasting out of doors Pokémon attraction. Within the early 2000s, The Pokémon Firm hosted a travelling theme park attraction; nevertheless, it was brief lived.
Talking as a part of a brand new interview, Masuda has mentioned that he wished to create one thing that incentivised folks to go exterior.
“As a creator, ever since I used to be making the primary recreation, I’ve at all times thought it was vital to have folks talk by Pokémon,” mentioned Masuda. “I used to be aware of the thought of individuals assembly one another, buying and selling Pokémon, and making associates.
“Nonetheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it troublesome for folks to fulfill, and Pokémon occasions have been largely canceled for a time. In instances like these, I wished to create a spot the place everybody might collect at any time.
“I wished an area the place folks and Pokémon might take pleasure in themselves collectively. After I thought of giving again to the followers who’ve beloved Pokémon for the previous 30 years, I assumed, ‘It might be enjoyable if there was a spot the place you would meet Pokémon anytime.’”
Masuda went on to inform Yomiuri that the park will characteristic a Pokémon Heart, a PokéMart and a Pokémon Health club. It’s unclear what features these buildings can have within the park, nevertheless it’s doubtless the Pokémon Heart might be a retail area, as is the case throughout Japan.
“This time, we’ve intentionally separated ourselves from the digital world and centered on the thought of a world the place Pokémon exist and having the ability to contact them. In Pokémon GO, if you maintain your smartphone over the display, it seems to be like Pokémon are in the true world.
“However if you attain out your hand, they’re not there. With the ability to really see Pokémon and contact them is one thing we’ve by no means executed earlier than, so we wished to tackle the problem.”
Based on Masuda, over 600 Pokémon will characteristic within the park. Whereas not clarified within the interview, this quantity doubtless refers back to the complete variety of Pokémon, not species, because the Kanto area solely options 151 species of Pokémon.
