https://www.scmp.com/rss/500846/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Danny Mok Danny Mok A man snatched two Pokemon trading cards valued at about HK$28,000 (US$3,600) from a consignment shop in Hong Kong. The tenant of the shop at Sino Centre in Mong Kok reported the theft on Wednesday after reviewing security footage and discovering the man had taken the cards on April 5 before fleeing the scene. Police have classified the case as shop theft. The Mong Kok district criminal investigation team is handling the case. No arrests have been made so far. Officers are searching for a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350221/hong-kong-police-hunt-man-behind-theft-2-pokemon-cards-worth-hk28000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350221/hong-kong-police-hunt-man-behind-theft-2-pokemon-cards-worth-hk28000?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:56:52 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have launched a search for a man who posed as a customer and snatched two Pokemon trading cards worth HK$250,000 (US$31,917) from a shop in Tsim Sha Tsui. The force said the man entered Light TCG, a ground-floor shop on Granville Road, on Thursday and asked to view two rare Pokemon collector cards, priced at HK$130,000 and HK$120,000 respectively. When the shop assistant handed them over, the man grabbed them and bolted. He fled towards Chatham Road South and disappeared, police... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349542/police-hunting-man-who-stole-2-pokemon-cards-worth-hk250000-store?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349542/police-hunting-man-who-stole-2-pokemon-cards-worth-hk250000-store?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:28:01 +0000 dpa dpa In Pokemon Pokopia, the development studios Game Freak and Omega Force show how the Pokemon phenomenon can be applied to Nintendo’s tried-and-tested gameplay formula from the Animal Crossing series. The result is a sugary-sweet treat for anyone who has wanted a cosy life-simulation game in the Pokemon franchise, enriched with a surprisingly sophisticated building system and a slightly melancholic story. In the game, you step into the role of a Ditto. This Pokemon has the ability to transform its... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347985/pokemon-pokopia-nintendo-switch-nuanced-love-letter-entire-genre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3347985/pokemon-pokopia-nintendo-switch-nuanced-love-letter-entire-genre?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak This year’s Pokemon Day, which falls on February 27, also marks the 30th anniversary of the internationally known and loved multimedia franchise. Helmed by the determined and compassionate Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum and his loyal but stubborn “pocket monster” partner Pikachu, this Japanese IP has spawned a huge range of anime series, films, video games and merchandise. The now multibillion-dollar franchise began life as a role-playing video game series created by Satoshi Tajiri for the Game Boy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344721/how-pokemon-took-over-world-beloved-franchise-turns-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3344721/how-pokemon-took-over-world-beloved-franchise-turns-30?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:15:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse An extremely rare Pokemon card owned by American YouTuber Logan Paul has sold for US$16,492,000, smashing the record for the most expensive trading card sold at an auction. The supposedly unique PSA 10-graded Pikachu Illustrator was originally bought by Paul in another record-breaking sale in 2021 for US$5.28 million. This time it was bought by AJ Scaramucci, son of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, according to Guinness World Records, whose representatives verified... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343795/unique-pokemon-card-sells-us165-million-smashing-world-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3343795/unique-pokemon-card-sells-us165-million-smashing-world-record?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 04:40:55 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A 33-year-old Hong Kong man fell victim to theft when a prospective buyer he met online snatched 19 valuable Pokemon trading cards worth HK$200,000 (US$26,000) and fled without payment at a railway station. The case unfolded at about 3pm on Tuesday at Lam Tin station, where the seller arranged the deal with the suspect he met online interested in his collection. According to police, the seller handed over the cards to a young man standing outside the gates when he asked to check them, but the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338965/19-pokemon-cards-worth-hk200000-snatched-hong-kong-seller-during-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3338965/19-pokemon-cards-worth-hk200000-snatched-hong-kong-seller-during-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:21:38 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A collector has offered Malaysia’s growing trading-card community a chance to own a piece of Pokemon “history,” putting part of his rare trove up for sale for 1.87 million ringgit (US$441,993) with an alternative deal: he is willing to trade it for a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S plus additional cash. Damiral Imran listed his collection on social media, where he described it as “history, rarity and legacy in one vault”. According to screenshots from Shiny, a global card-valuation tracker, Damiral’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3330013/malaysian-pokemon-collector-seeks-us441993-or-porsche-rare-card-trove?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3330013/malaysian-pokemon-collector-seeks-us441993-or-porsche-rare-card-trove?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 04:28:44 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Japan’s wildly popular Pokémon franchise distanced itself on Friday from a recent viral US government video that linked the brand’s “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” slogan to Washington’s immigration crackdown. The US Department of Homeland Security posted a clip on social media this week that showed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid. The clip showed armed police and border patrol officers handcuffing what it portrayed as illegal immigrants, with Pokémon’s famous English-language theme... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327037/japans-pokemon-slams-us-immigration-video-using-gotta-catch-em-all-slogan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327037/japans-pokemon-slams-us-immigration-video-using-gotta-catch-em-all-slogan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 12:20:07 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen At the end of a corridor in a nondescript industrial building in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, stands a unit with a big illuminated sign beside the door. Inside, hundreds of trading cards, mostly from the Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering game series, are displayed neatly on shelves on one side of the room. The cards are sealed in transparent cases, with price tags ranging from around HK$90 (US$11.50) to more than HK$6,000. Near the display, two Pokemon card game enthusiasts battle it out. Sunny Ma,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3311467/hong-kong-pokemon-card-revival-sees-adults-collecting-nostalgia-competition-and-cash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3311467/hong-kong-pokemon-card-revival-sees-adults-collecting-nostalgia-competition-and-cash?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 23:45:07 +0000 With over 60 million downloads and an estimated US$180 million in revenue since late October, a new Pokémon mobile game app is enjoying worldwide success as the latest incarnation of the hit Nintendo-owned franchise. Released on October 30, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is a virtual version of the collectible card game that has captivated schoolyards since the late 1990s. Developed by The Pokémon Company, a Nintendo subsidiary, it combines opening “boosters” – the equivalent of sealed card... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3291537/pokemon-tcg-pocket-earns-us180-million-6-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3291537/pokemon-tcg-pocket-earns-us180-million-6-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:45:07 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Thousands of Pokemon enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in Hong Kong for a two-day event in which players of the popular mobile game can participate in quests to catch virtual creatures at local landmarks. Gamers descended on Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday morning for the inaugural “Pokemon Go City Safari” event, an extension of the augmented reality mobile game. The event featured six themed areas: Sha Tin, Kowloon City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Island, Cheung Chau and Ngong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289833/thousands-flock-hong-kong-two-day-pokemon-go-city-safari-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3289833/thousands-flock-hong-kong-two-day-pokemon-go-city-safari-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Dec 2024 14:56:03 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Without Pokemon Go, 16-year-old Cheng Yip-kai might never have met 75-year-old Lai Ching-lung, a renowned liver expert in Hong Kong and fellow enthusiast of the augmented reality mobile game. The Form Six student, who plays under the username Yekai0904, is the first Hongkonger to be crowned Pokemon Go world champion, attributing his win in August to Lai’s financial backing that allowed him and his team to get an initial taste of international competition last year. The pair met for the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3283971/pikachu-pals-how-hong-kongs-teen-pokemon-go-star-teamed-75-year-old-doctor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3283971/pikachu-pals-how-hong-kongs-teen-pokemon-go-star-teamed-75-year-old-doctor?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Oct 2024 03:00:17 +0000 Teenager Cheng Yip-kai will not be parading through the streets on an open-top bus like Hong Kong’s Olympic medal winners, but he is the city’s latest champion. The 16-year-old won the Pokemon Go world championships in Honolulu last weekend, defeating his Dutch opponent 3-1 and claiming the US$20,000 prize. Cheng, better known to fans as Yekai0904, came top among 208 finalists from all over the world in a tournament that also featured three other Pokemon games. The championships, running for 20... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3275541/pokemon-win-opens-door-hong-kong-esports-glory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3275541/pokemon-win-opens-door-hong-kong-esports-glory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2024 22:30:10 +0000 A 75-year-old liver expert has been hailed as a key contributor to the success of a Hong Kong teenager who this week became the city’s first world champion at Pokemon Go. Sam Cheung Lok-hang, who managed the team of Hong Kong representatives at the Pokemon World Championships, said on Thursday that Dr Lai Ching-lung had helped them financially last year and offered much-needed encouragement when they were repeatedly snubbed while seeking sponsorships. “I was criticised, teased and ignored every... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3275531/hong-kong-liver-expert-75-hailed-key-player-teens-pokemon-world-championship-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3275531/hong-kong-liver-expert-75-hailed-key-player-teens-pokemon-world-championship-triumph?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:41:35 +0000 Hong Kong police have raided a Pokemon card shop allegedly used as a front for storing drugs, arresting a man and seizing HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) of suspected crystal meth. The force said on Tuesday that the 400 sq ft upstairs shop in Hung Hom had attracted Pokemon enthusiasts, including teenagers and children, who visited the store frequently and even took part in card games. Inspector Liong Chun-hin of the narcotics bureau said investigations indicated that the seized drugs were not... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3275171/hong-kong-police-raid-pokemon-card-shop-used-drug-front-seize-hk10-million-ice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3275171/hong-kong-police-raid-pokemon-card-shop-used-drug-front-seize-hk10-million-ice?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:06:20 +0000 Fendi is heading into the Year of the Dragon strong with a Lunar New Year collection that promises to be instantly legendary as fashion staples such as the famous Baguette bag meet beloved characters from the Japanese anime Pokémon. Artistic directors Silvia Venturini Fendi and Kim Jones find a new muse in the “godfather of streetwear” Hiroshi Fujiwara and The Pokémon Company for this latest collaboration in the “Friends of Fendi” line-up. The fun and funky Fendi x FRGMT x Pokémon collection... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3247011/fendis-chinese-new-year-collection-year-dragon-2024-fendi-x-frgmt-x-pokemon-collaboration-features?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3247011/fendis-chinese-new-year-collection-year-dragon-2024-fendi-x-frgmt-x-pokemon-collaboration-features?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jan 2024 07:00:22 +0000 A 22-year-old man was arrested in Singapore after local police found him with around 500 stolen Pokemon cards. Police said the man, who was not named, is suspected of pilfering the cards from four stores across the city state in May. He was caught on May 9 after he returned to one of the stores. “The man was found in possession of an opened box of Pokemon cards that did not belong to him,” the Singapore Police Force said in a Facebook post on Monday. The other Pokemon cards were stolen on May... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3230471/singapore-police-arrest-serial-pokeman-card-thief-who-stole-500-collectibles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3230471/singapore-police-arrest-serial-pokeman-card-thief-who-stole-500-collectibles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Aug 2023 06:02:15 +0000 For past generations of Japanese parents contemplating a name for their newborn, the rule was largely to play it safe. This is, after all, the country where the proverb “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down” is a truism in business, school, society and every other facet of life. A study of trends in children’s names has revealed, however, that parents are increasingly looking to give their offspring unique, individualistic names. And that gradual shift from long-standing convention may be... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3193817/nike-pikachu-and-devil-why-japanese-parents-shunning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3193817/nike-pikachu-and-devil-why-japanese-parents-shunning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Sep 2022 04:30:11 +0000 So we want to go to Bangkok, do we? To tuck into some of the delicious street food the Thai capital is renowned for, no doubt. According to research by online travel company Expedia.com.hk, searches in Hong Kong for flights to Bangkok shot up by 1,040 per cent in the 24 hours following the announcement by the Hong Kong government of the slightly relaxed, 3+4 quarantine arrangement for arrivals (three days in a hotel and four days self-monitoring at home). However, those who do head to the city... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3189209/bangkoks-street-food-vendors-are-disappearing-those?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/travel/article/3189209/bangkoks-street-food-vendors-are-disappearing-those?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Aug 2022 00:45:21 +0000 Anthony Jimenez hadn’t thought much about his Pokemon cards since middle school, when girls had suddenly seemed more interesting. But with time on his hands during the coronavirus pandemic, Jimenez dug out his old collection and found that the cards were in pristine condition, a fact that would change his life and financial outlook. “When I found my old Pokemon cards, it was like, ‘Oh my God, these are skyrocketing in value. I should try to sell some of them,’” Jimenez says. “So we decided, just... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3147012/dig-out-your-old-pokemon-cards-they-could-be-worth-lot-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3147012/dig-out-your-old-pokemon-cards-they-could-be-worth-lot-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Aug 2021 20:15:14 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS China’s Pokémon fans are getting a treat from Razer. The gaming tech company is launching a new pair of Pikachu-themed wireless earbuds. And as a nice touch, the charging case comes in the form of a Poké Ball. At 849 yuan (US$120), it would probably be unfair to expect these to be the best wireless earbuds money can buy. Razer says the earbuds last three hours on a single charge or, when combined with the charging case, 15 hours overall. They also don’t... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3079814/razers-new-pikachu-earbuds-are-unleashed-poke-ball-charging-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3079814/razers-new-pikachu-earbuds-are-unleashed-poke-ball-charging-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2020 07:09:42 +0000 China’s Pokémon fans are getting a treat from Razer. The gaming tech company is launching a new pair of Pikachu-themed wireless earbuds. And as a nice touch, the charging case comes in the form of a Poké Ball. At 849 yuan (US$120), it would probably be unfair to expect these to be the best wireless earbuds money can buy. Razer says the earbuds last three hours on a single charge or, when combined with the charging case, 15 hours overall. They also don’t have active noise cancellation like... https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/razers-new-pikachu-earbuds-are-unleashed-poke-ball-charging-case/article/3079755?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/razers-new-pikachu-earbuds-are-unleashed-poke-ball-charging-case/article/3079755?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2020 07:09:40 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS What would you do if I handed you four toilet rolls? Probably not what this man in China did.  Li Qingyi painted League of Legends characters -- all 148 of them -- on what he said was 50 meters (about 55 yards) of toilet paper. This video, which compresses the three-day process into eight minutes, shows you all four rolls in their entire glory.  MOBA explained: One of the most popular genres in esports is making a push on mobile This wasn’t the first... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3064665/artist-draws-league-legends-and-pokemon-toilet-rolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3064665/artist-draws-league-legends-and-pokemon-toilet-rolls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:10:24 +0000 What would you do if I handed you four toilet rolls? Probably not what this man in China did.  Li Qingyi painted League of Legends characters -- all 148 of them -- on what he said was 50 meters (about 55 yards) of toilet paper. This video, which compresses the three-day process into eight minutes, shows you all four rolls in their entire glory.    This wasn’t the first time that Li got creative on toilet paper. He also drew all the Avengers who appeared in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, from Iron... https://www.scmp.com/games/artist-draws-league-legends-and-pokemon-toilet-rolls/article/3064640?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/games/artist-draws-league-legends-and-pokemon-toilet-rolls/article/3064640?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:10:22 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Sonic the Hedgehog topped the international box office again in its second weekend, but Chinese cinephiles aren’t likely to be able to see it anytime soon. Paramount Pictures announced today that the film is canceling its February 28 release in the country because of the coronavirus outbreak that still has most cinemas shut down. But the company said that it will still bring the movie to the big screen “at an appropriate time.” Video game movies such as... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3052112/sonic-hedgehog-cancels-china-release-due-coronavirus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3052112/sonic-hedgehog-cancels-china-release-due-coronavirus?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Feb 2020 09:25:44 +0000 Sonic the Hedgehog topped the international box office again in its second weekend, but Chinese cinephiles aren’t likely to be able to see it anytime soon. Paramount Pictures announced today that the film is canceling its February 28 release in the country because of the coronavirus outbreak that still has most cinemas shut down. But the company said that it will still bring the movie to the big screen “at an appropriate time.” Video game movies such as Warcraft and Detective Pikachu have done... https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/sonic-hedgehog-cancels-china-release-due-coronavirus/article/3052097?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/sonic-hedgehog-cancels-china-release-due-coronavirus/article/3052097?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Feb 2020 09:25:43 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS While China’s general public is gaming a lot more recently as the novel coronavirus keeps people at home, esports professionals who have to play in public arenas are seeing league games and tournaments being postponed and canceled. Tencent said that esports leagues for PUBG, League of Legends, CrossFire and CrossFire Mobile have decided that games scheduled in February are postponed, citing public health threats. Overwatch League also announced that... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3048454/coronavirus-fears-lead-pubg-and-overwatch-leagues-reschedule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3048454/coronavirus-fears-lead-pubg-and-overwatch-leagues-reschedule?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:48:46 +0000 While China’s general public is gaming a lot more recently as the novel coronavirus keeps people at home, esports professionals who have to play in public arenas are seeing league games and tournaments being postponed and canceled. Tencent said that esports leagues for PUBG, League of Legends, CrossFire and CrossFire Mobile have decided that games scheduled in February are postponed, citing public health threats. Overwatch League also announced that matches in China are canceled through at least... https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/coronavirus-fears-lead-pubg-and-overwatch-leagues-reschedule-china-games/article/3048427?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/coronavirus-fears-lead-pubg-and-overwatch-leagues-reschedule-china-games/article/3048427?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jan 2020 10:48:44 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It looks like the latest Harry Potter game could come to China first. A pre-order link is circulating on Chinese social media for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a mobile game from NetEase. Magic Awakened is a card game with role-playing elements, according to a press release from Warner Bros and NetEase. They’re jointly developing the game, which will be launched under the brand of Portkey Games -- a Harry Potter-focused gaming label that was responsible... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3035526/theres-new-harry-potter-game-coming-netease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/news-bites/article/3035526/theres-new-harry-potter-game-coming-netease?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Oct 2019 09:42:38 +0000 It looks like the latest Harry Potter game could come to China first. A preorder link is circulating on Chinese social media for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a mobile game from NetEase. Magic Awakened is a card game with role-playing elements, according to a press release from Warner Bros and NetEase. They’re jointly developing the game, which will be launched under the brand of Portkey Games -- a Harry Potter-focused gaming label that was responsible for Wizards Unite, built on the same... https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/theres-new-harry-potter-game-coming-netease/article/3035509?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/china-tech-city/theres-new-harry-potter-game-coming-netease/article/3035509?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Oct 2019 07:33:53 +0000 Update: Niantic denies that the image in question is intended as a tease for an imminent Chinese release of Pokémon GO. We've updated the story below with their response. Pokémon GO fans are busy catching a new wave of creatures just released into the game. The fifth generation of Pokémon, first introduced in the Black & White games, are said to be from the “Unova” region -- an area loosely based on New York City. But the promotional image released with the game’s launch doesn’t show New York.... https://www.scmp.com/games/pokemon-go-image-hinting-china-release/article/3027796?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/games/pokemon-go-image-hinting-china-release/article/3027796?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Sep 2019 02:00:10 +0000 What were you doing 22 years ago? A lot can change in a couple of years, let alone a couple of decades. In one case, one kid finally achieved the dream he’s been working towards since 1997. Yup: Ash Ketchum is finally a Pokémon League Champion. After years of failure, the hero of the long-running Pokémon animated series won the Alola League last week, and fans around the world are celebrating with him. “22 years, seven tournaments, and no giving up,” said one commenter on Weibo. “He did it.... https://www.scmp.com/culture/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it/article/3027647?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it/article/3027647?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Sep 2019 15:03:45 +0000 What were you doing 22 years ago? A lot can change in a couple of years, let alone a couple of decades. In one case, one kid finally achieved the dream he’s been working towards since 1997. Yup: Ash Ketchum is finally a Pokémon League Champion. After years of failure, the hero of the long-running Pokémon animated series won the Alola League last week, and fans around the world are celebrating with him. “22 years, seven tournaments, and no giving up,” said one commenter on Weibo. “He did it.... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3096353/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3096353/ash-finally-pokemon-league-champion-and-china-loves-it?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Sep 2019 15:03:00 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Tencent’s TiMi Studio made one of the hottest games in China, but it hasn’t had much luck in the rest of the world. Now it’s making a bet on Pokémon to help change that. TiMi is the studio that brought the world Arena of Valor, the international version of the Chinese blockbuster multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Honor of Kings. The game didn’t take off elsewhere the way it did in China, though. So the studio is now trying something different,... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029498/can-pokemon-help-tencent-crack-west?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029498/can-pokemon-help-tencent-crack-west?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:30:42 +0000 Tencent’s TiMi Studio made one of the hottest games in China, but it hasn’t had much luck in the rest of the world. Now it’s making a bet on Pokémon to help change that. TiMi is the studio that brought the world Arena of Valor, the international version of the Chinese blockbuster multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Honor of Kings. The game didn’t take off elsewhere the way it did in China, though. So the studio is now trying something different, teaming up with The Pokémon Company to... https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/can-pokemon-help-tencent-crack-west/article/3019743?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/can-pokemon-help-tencent-crack-west/article/3019743?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Jul 2019 15:30:42 +0000 Guess who’s making a Pokémon game? Tencent’s Timi Studio. The studio behind Arena of Valor and Call of Duty Mobile has just signed a contract with The Pokémon Company to co-develop a new game.   No further details have been released, so we still don’t know what the game is or when it’ll be released, but it’s an exciting development for the huge Pokémon franchise to finally make a splash in China. It’s clear that The Pokémon Company has been eyeing up China for a while now, with varying degrees... https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/theres-new-pokemon-game-being-made-chinas-tencent/article/3019626?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/big-guns/theres-new-pokemon-game-being-made-chinas-tencent/article/3019626?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2019 12:57:37 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Guess who’s making a Pokémon game? Tencent’s Timi Studio. The studio behind Arena of Valor and Call of Duty Mobile has just signed a contract with The Pokémon Company to co-develop a new game. Arena of Valor, China’s mobile League of Legends, is aiming to be the world’s go-to mobile esport No further details have been released, so we still don’t know what the game is or when it’ll be released, but it’s an exciting development for the huge Pokémon... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029494/theres-new-pokemon-game-being-made-chinas-tencent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3029494/theres-new-pokemon-game-being-made-chinas-tencent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Jul 2019 12:57:37 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS A new game called Let’s Go Pokémon Mobile has Pokémon fans buzzing with excitement online. There’s only one problem: It has nothing to do with Nintendo. Though this knockoff game was developed in China and has been available to download since last December, it wasn’t widely known in its country of origin. Chinese gamers only took note when Western Pokémon fans recently discovered it. Commenters online have been quick to praise the knockoff for having... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029486/chinese-pokemon-knockoff-beautiful-because-almost-everything-copied?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029486/chinese-pokemon-knockoff-beautiful-because-almost-everything-copied?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2019 10:41:43 +0000 A new game called Let’s Go Pokémon Mobile has Pokémon fans buzzing with excitement online. There’s only one problem: It has nothing to do with Nintendo. Though this knockoff game was developed in China and has been available to download since last December, it wasn’t widely known in its country of origin. Chinese gamers only took note when Western Pokémon fans recently discovered it. Commenters online have been quick to praise the knockoff for having lush animations in its fight scenes. This... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/chinese-pokemon-knockoff-beautiful-because-almost-everything-copied/article/3018942?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/chinese-pokemon-knockoff-beautiful-because-almost-everything-copied/article/3018942?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Jul 2019 10:41:43 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Protests are a serious matter, but black-clad citizens who rallied on the streets of Hong Kong the past two Sundays have found creative ways to take a stance with some humor. People were angry about a refusal from the city’s leader to kill a bill that would allow (among other things) Beijing to extradite fugitives in Hong Kong to mainland China. Authorities said the proposed law, now suspended indefinitely, was designed to plug loopholes. But it... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029422/avengers-pokemon-and-game-thrones-how-hong-kong-masses-harness-pop?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029422/avengers-pokemon-and-game-thrones-how-hong-kong-masses-harness-pop?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jun 2019 11:49:55 +0000 Protests are a serious matter, but black-clad citizens who rallied on the streets of Hong Kong the past two Sundays have found creative ways to take a stance with some humor. People were angry about a refusal from the city’s leader to kill a bill that would allow (among other things) Beijing to extradite fugitives in Hong Kong to mainland China. Authorities said the proposed law, now suspended indefinitely, was designed to plug loopholes. But it triggered fears that political dissidents might be... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/avengers-and-game-thrones-how-hong-kong-masses-harness-pop-culture-and-memes-protest/article/3014886?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/avengers-and-game-thrones-how-hong-kong-masses-harness-pop-culture-and-memes-protest/article/3014886?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Jun 2019 11:49:55 +0000 This week, in one of the largest protests Hong Kong has seen in years, an unlikely pop culture icon was spotted among the crowd. Pikachu was there at the march, as people held up signs and carried plushies of the famous yellow Pokémon.   A protester with a Pikachu doll. The secretary for security, John Lee Ka Chiu (hence Pi-Ka-Chiu), is pushing for the controversial Hong Kong extradition law. pic.twitter.com/yMwhB6snu9 — Mary Hui (@maryhui) June 9, 2019   Hundreds of thousands gathered on Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/culture/hong-kong-protests-why-pikachu-was-march/article/3014191?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/hong-kong-protests-why-pikachu-was-march/article/3014191?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:09:57 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Is the curse of the bad video game movie over? The Detective Pikachu film is... quite decent! Yeah, it's a kid's film, so don't expect a super-deep plot here. But it somehow manages to take Pokémon -- fantastical cartoon creatures -- and put them naturally into the real world. Whatever you think of the plot or the characters, that in itself is one hell of an achievement. But maybe the bigger achievement is making a video game film that isn't abjectly... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029374/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3029374/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2019 12:03:37 +0000 Is the curse of the bad video game movie over? The Detective Pikachu film is... quite decent! Yeah, it's a kid's film, so don't expect a super-deep plot here. But it somehow manages to take Pokémon -- fantastical cartoon creatures -- and put them naturally into the real world. Whatever you think of the plot or the characters, that in itself is one hell of an achievement. But maybe the bigger achievement is making a video game film that isn't abjectly terrible. We ran down some of our "favorites"... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new-podcast/article/3011651?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/did-detective-pikachu-kill-curse-gaming-movies-find-out-our-new-podcast/article/3011651?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 May 2019 12:03:37 +0000 Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a hit in China. The live-action movie starring Ryan Reynolds as the voice of a furry Pikachu has scored more than $48 million in the Chinese box office so far, according to box office tracker Ent Group. With the success has come a flood of Pikachu knockoff toys from sellers who are more than eager to cash in on the Pokémon’s iconic image. Internet users in China have been unearthing the worst Pikachu merch they can find and publishing them on Weibo, China’s Twitter,... https://www.scmp.com/culture/detective-pikachu-knockoffs-china/article/3010363?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/detective-pikachu-knockoffs-china/article/3010363?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 May 2019 12:08:56 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a hit in China. The live-action movie covering the adventures of the yellow fluffball scored 282 million yuan (about US$41 million) at the Chinese box office over the weekend. But it looks like some companies were a little too eager to cash in on Pikachu’s iconic image. Internet users in China have been unearthing the worst Pikachu merch they could find and publishing them on microblogging platform Weibo under the hashtag... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029346/these-pikachu-knockoffs-china-will-haunt-your-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/culture/article/3029346/these-pikachu-knockoffs-china-will-haunt-your-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 May 2019 13:08:40 +0000 Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a hit in China. The live-action movie covering the adventures of the yellow fluffball scored 282 million yuan (about US$41 million) at the Chinese box office over the weekend. But it looks like some companies were a little too eager to cash in on Pikachu’s iconic image. Internet users in China have been unearthing the worst Pikachu merch they could find and publishing them on microblogging platform Weibo under the hashtag “Which factory made this Pikachu?”   Frankly,... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/these-pikachu-knockoffs-china-will-haunt-your-dreams/article/3009991?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/these-pikachu-knockoffs-china-will-haunt-your-dreams/article/3009991?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 May 2019 13:08:40 +0000