Virtual Reality (VR) and Pokémon

Sometimes, when I discuss "virtual" and "reality" together with Pokémon, I'm referring to the fact that the conceived reality of the world of Pokémon is one that exists within a realm that is electronically mediated. In popular usage, however, "virtual reality" (VR) also refers to a technology that allows people to fully experience a completely conceived realm through electronic means. Recently, it has become more accessible through certain devices or even a smartphone if properly set up, and even a popular game of the past has embraced this technology of the future. As for Pokémon itself embracing this technology, that may be a bit more complex.

Nintendo, as a copyright holder for Pokémon, had attempted to deal with VR before. A system had been created called Virtual Boy - certainly, a takeoff from Game Boy - and it was to deliver VR technology almost in the same way as today. In a way, it was years ahead of its time... or rather behind, as it's grayscale and low resolution, much like the Game Boy. The system miserably failed in the market, also in part due to its incomplete and rushed nature. Most importantly, it came only a year or two before Pokémon was first released in Japan and years before its worldwide popularity. Therefore, it was (not so much) a good thing that Pokémon "missed this boat" that Nintendo itself created.

In a way, however, the 3D legacy of the Virtual Boy lived in what would then be the 3D of the 3DS, and that became a minor success along with the overall success of the console itself. Even so, it's still a point-and-counterpoint thing, as my earlier posts on this topic (may) have indicated. On one hand, the way the 3D is for the 3DS, it's not something to write home about. On the other hand, it was also an immersive thing that some games, including Pokémon games, made use of. With this in mind, it may be considered that in a way Pokémon has made use of VR in the sense that it made use of the 3D visualization capabilities of the 3DS. Yet it could also be called "virtual" VR the way that it is implemented.

As for actual VR efforts in the sense as it is implemented today, there is an actual established effort called Pokémon VR that attempts to implement VR for Pokémon through sideloading on a particularly famous VR headset. I don't have said VR headset to vouch for myself, but the effort may be considered to be noble if it weren't for a couple of things. The headset, for one, is a proprietary product of a certain company whose control lies in another company whose reputation for privacy has not been too great. For two, as a result of the above, it becomes an unofficial product, given the stance of Nintendo on third parties. If a real and official Pokémon VR is to be developed, Nintendo has got to be in on it as well.

VR today is an advancing thing, and if the past is of any indication, the seeds of it had been sown with past technologies. It would take a few steps in the advancement of current technologies to be able to make it even more relevant today, particularly in the case of Pokémon as something that is popularly enjoyed all over. It would also have to necessarily involve Nintendo, but that's a given with Pokémon regardless. Whatever the case may be, VR may be the next logical step to take for Pokémon as it itself represents a "virtual" world with its own "reality" that would possibly receive quite many benefits if it were to somehow make use of VR technologies efficiently to bring a new method of enjoyment to its loyal and devoted fans.

One year ago: Sword and Shield Uptake

Two years ago: Much Ado About Figures

Three years ago: The Rainbow Feather of Ho-Oh