Why are the creators of Pokémon Go teaming up with Nintendo once more?
What do you get when you combine Pokémon Go’s augmented reality (AR) technology with Shigeru Miyamoto’s creativity?
The answer is Pikmin Bloom, a brand-new game from Nintendo and Niantic, the creators of some of the most well-known mobile games.
Pikmin Bloom, like Pokémon Go and Harry Potter Wizards Unite, uses augmented reality (AR) to bring the game to life. AR is a special technology that layers virtual graphics and characters on top of the real world via our smart devices.
The Pikmin games, which feature real-time strategy tactics to solve puzzles, were created by Shigeru Miyamoto, the man behind iconic Nintendo brands such as Mario and The Legend of Zelda. They were created by Shigeru Miyamoto, the guy behind legendary Nintendo franchises such as Mario and The Legend of Zelda, and have been around since 2001.
In Pikmin Bloom, you’ll work with a small alien race, “incubating and nurturing” them with your real-life step count, then planting gorgeous virtual blooms in your real-life location alongside them.
The essence of the game, for me, is that you can actually plant flowers as you go on your daily stroll. By leaving this path of flowers behind you, you’re changing the banal into a more beautiful world.” John Hanke, CEO of Niantic
Because it’s a shared phenomenon, we believe the entire “planet” will become filled with flowers as more people play.
Pikmin was a franchise that was open enough to attempt something new and “not just try to recreate another version of an old Nintendo game,” Hanke says, praising Miyamoto’s innovation.
According to Hanke, AR is a unique game genre because it does not require you to sit in front of your computer or console, and it is also completely non-competitive. It’s a terrific way to get you moving and exercising more, just like Pokémon Go and other augmented reality games.
“There’s a lot of research and studies that go into not only the physiological but also the mental health benefits of walking,” Hanke explains.
