The fever over Yokai Watch might have caused some to wonder if Japan still gets excited by Pokémon. The answer to that is rather simple: Yes, it does.
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Over the weekend, pre-orders began for Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire. The longest line was at the Pokémon Center in Tokyo, which had a three-hour wait. That’s a pretty long wait.
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Picture: shibtkaz This was apparently taken at 11:40am the day pre-orders kicked off.
Besides the 3DS game pre-orders, there were also plush toys, like the Whimsicott Substitute plushie, going back on sale the same day, so that also might have drawn some customers as well.
There were reports of the Whimsicott Substitute plushie selling out in thirty minutes at, for example, the Pokemon Center in Nagoya.
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As mentioned above, there were long lines in Tokyo — but there were also long lines at other Pokémon Centres across Japan.
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Nintendo 3DS games Pokémon Omega Ruby and Pokémon Alpha Sapphire go on sale in late November worldwide.
Comments
7 responses to “Don’t Worry, Japan Still Loves Pokémon”
This is just bizarre
HEY 😀
I’ve been to that first pokemon center 😀 😀 got my special INKAY from there 😀
wasnt that crowded but goddamn i was amazed at just how many people were there on a weekday in the middle of the day, LOVED IT!!!!
Those waiting areas look incredibly depressing. Needs some colour.
I was about to say that.
It also doesn’t help that you could take a few of the same photos and put the title, “Lines of Japanese citizens mourn recent tragedy” Seeing as most of their gazes are pointed towards the floor (or phones).
That, coupled with the fact that a few of them have their mouths covered, you could assume the title would be, “Pokemon fans line up despite recent anthrax threat”
Yeah i have to aggree 🙂 I have been to the Pokemon Centre in NYC and it looks a lot more Vibrant.
I think most of the line just snakes around a generic shopping centre. The actual Pokemon Centre itself looks pretty awesome.
Despite how much passion Western gamers claim to have, they’d never line up for over 3 hours wait to just make a freakin’ pre-order.
Would say that it’s insane but Pokemon is that loved in Japan. just imagine the lines & the store camping when the full games are announced.
I, on the other hand, am glad for the lazy approach Aussies have as well as ordering online (which I might do to save on overall cost).