Ahri's unqualified thoughts #56

Easy to consume content: 1 quote, 1 tweet/storm and 1 article/video.

In today's edition, we feature a tweet showcasing some incredible Pokémon x Junji Ito, and an article about Pokémon’s strategy and future. Yes, a full Pokémon edition, if you prefer.

1 quote

“I’m constantly amazed by how easily we love ourselves above all others, yet we put more stock in the opinions of others than in our own estimation of self…. How much credence we give to the opinions our peers have of us and how little to our very own” Marcus Aurelius

1 tweet/storm

The excellent “VideoArtGame” account on Twitter posted some artwork of Pokémon drawn by Junji Ito. This was for Halloween 2014, and they named the event “Kowapoke” (Kowai = scary + Pokémon).

1 article/video

In this lengthy interview, The Pokémon Company’s president, Tsunekazu Ishihara discusses with Asia Nikkei the brand, its history, and how they're using technology to stay ahead of the curve and expand its unique leading position in the market. While I highly encourage you to read the interview, here is a TLDR of the topics they delved into:

Global Reach: Pokemon is a globally recognized game series, with major events like the Pokemon World Championships in Yokohama (latest edition) and the Pokemon Sleep app. (Note how he seamlessly segued into the latest updates in his answer.)

Brand Perception: The transition to a global brand, moving away from its "made in Japan" image.

Technology Integration: From early game enhancements to potential uses of generative AI, Pokemon consistently incorporates evolving technologies.

Note: If I were him, I might have avoided this topic, as most Pokemon game releases aren't lauded for their technology but for other elements. Yes, Pokemon Go and Sleep are "different," but still. But I'm not him, so there you go.

Business Philosophy: Profits are reinvested into the Pokemon franchise, reflecting a commitment to enrich both the virtual and real worlds through Pokemon.

Note: This is reminiscent of Nintendo’s philosophy, which, as a reminder, owns a part of TPC.

Fan-Centric Approach: Events like the Pokemon World Championships are often free, underscoring the company's focus on community and long-term fan engagement over immediate monetization.

Note: playing the long game is often a much better strategy :).