Profits on the Side

There is another game that I play that, by the virtue of its popularity, drives up demand for a particular object. Essentially, the game indirectly allows profits to be gained from that particular object, even if it's small. For all the parties concerned, this seems to be a wonderful thing. It's something that perhaps Pokémon can do as well. And yet, with some considerations, Pokémon may already have allowed this to happen.

It's hard to overlook the Safari Zone event of Pokémon Go in this regard. By the game inviting many players to come and spend several days in a particular location, the players also drive up the demand for things in that area and beyond. The most likely beneficiaries are lodging and food establishments that offer two things that players need most while they're there, as well as those related to travel in their efforts of providing something to get players there. All told, this is a big thing, and I'm sure the establishments are happy to get something out of this event, whether or not they realize it.

And then there is merchandise to be concerned about. Companies who license Pokémon to make official merchandise (such as the freezer bottle from a long way back) are already expected to make something out of their efforts. It's a basic calculation, really - from what they sell, they're expected to pay off the licensing and make a little something for themselves. If they couldn't, they probably wouldn't have done it in the first place. Sure, what they make directly comes from what they sell, but the Pokémon factor indirectly helps in this regard. Pokémon still has an appreciable role in it.

Speaking of merchandise, it's also hard to ignore the undercurrents of doujin and indie ones. They're something persistent given any fandom, especially Eastern(-directed) ones like Pokémon. Those who create such merchandise will surely receive something, but then this may also recirculate to official merchandise, which then feeds creative juices for more unofficial ones, and so on and so forth. So it may not all be a bad thing, as long as it's not large-scale. The profits may just go around and around, indirectly feeding one another.

I'm not an economics major, but much of this is rather logical. Pokémon may beget some great-selling things and some great profits in return, but others may also experience indirect windfall out of that through events, merchandise, and so on. As far as I'm concerned, that's a wonderful thing as well. Everyone may just have their portions out of the pie of profits and may be indirectly entitled for second helpings.

(All this discussion about profits makes me hungry - for real pies. Happy Pi Day! [see below])

One year ago: It's Pi Day!
Two years ago: Pokémon and Puzzle Games