Mobile / Pokémon

Pokémate: that time Square Enix made a Pokémon mobile app

While watching a video on Enix and looking them up on Wikipedia, I noticed that Enix had made some Pokémon merch. But when I dug deeper, I found something else: a Square Enix-developed app called Pokémate.

Pokémate was a Pokémon-themed app for the NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i series of mobile phones. Released on 5th June 2006, Pokémate involved taking care of Pokémon, talking to friends, and catching Pokémon. The app was freemium, with inital game play being free and a monthly subscription needed for more Poké Balls and other related items.

Given the fact that the app was made for NTT DoCoMo FOMA 900i phones, it was only available in Japan and sadly only lasted 18 months, discontinuing in January 2008. Having seen the gameplay, I wonder if any part of Pokémate inspired Niantic when they made Pokémon GO as they share a lot of general similarities.

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