Playhouses, Children, and Pokémon

Last week, a new Pokémon game was released... but not for a Nintendo console. Instead, it's in the form of a mobile application for the likes of modern phone and tablet operating systems. It's called Pokémon Playhouse, and as evidenced from the title, it's geared for children. But then again, when considering Pokémon, a good deal is geared for children. Along with my initial impressions of this app, this becomes a worthwhile topic for discussion... again, as an extension of fantasies and experiences.

Now, I must admit that I haven't actually downloaded and played the game because... I don't have a device for it. Play Store tells me that none of my devices, including my new phone, are compatible with the game, and at this point I cannot and am unable to look for alternative approaches to play. However, from what I garner through screenshots, this game looks like an expanded and glorified version of the Pokémon-Amie found in the sixth-generation games. But I'm also sure that the experience will be different, so I wish to reserve further judgment until I actually check out the game for myself.

In the meantime, there is the topic of Pokémon and children. Children are a part of Pokémon, and there are in fact children Trainers found all over the main series games, in addition to those who start their journeys as they leave this period of time in their lives (including that of the protagonists). And the main series of games is friendly for anyone to play, regardless of its combative nature and certain plot elements that even only adults can fantasize. Plus, the anime is mostly directed to children except for its well-known rocky start; after the anime got over them, it was friendly as friendly can be. As long as these elements continue to be present, it's safe to say that Pokémon will remain child-friendly.

I totally approve that Pokémon can be and is to some extent geared for children. I don't mind that Pokémon has some aspects that look immature; personally, I feel that that is part of its universal appeal. Aside from the series' overall orientation to combat, the world of the series is attractively friendly for the most part, and if it weren't, then children probably shouldn't even be playing the games. But they do, and even the series' starting point is a childhood fantasy itself that children would very much enjoy. If that is not appeal for children, I don't know what is.

I'm not a child anymore, but I was when I started playing the games. But given its two-decade-plus history, Pokémon must have had a number of child fans who started at different points in the series, and will certainly have more as it maintains the friendly-to-young-fans appeal. This certainly becomes a challenge, but with games like Pokémon Playhouse, it's not hard to see that the appeal is recognized and there is an active effort. Now I really want to play the game and feel like a child again.