Pokémon is Sort of, Not Really, Coming to iPhone

I’ve got good news and a lot of bad news for you. The good news is that a fully licensed Pokémon game called Pokémon Say Tap? will be coming to both iOS and Android devices this summer. That’s all for good news, and it’s all downhill from here.

The bad news is that Nintendo, who own about a third of the Pokémon franchise, maintain that they have no plans on ever bringing a full-fledged Pokémon game to a third-party mobile device. Or any game, for that matter. The worst news is that it’s not even a full-fledged Pokémon game. Yes, there are monsters which are pocket-sized involved, but the forthcoming game is based around card and rhythm-matching mechanics. Perhaps its best that this game isn’t likely to see release out side of Japan.

Interestingly, Nintendo’s continued abhorrence of mobile gaming comes despite a 5% stock bump at the news of a mobile Pokémon game. If money won’t shift Nintendo, then nothing will.

(image and story via MobileCrunch, Engadget)