Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 coming this fall – will use 3DS’s camera to locate Pokemon outside of game

In a prepared statement to the press, Nintendo has announced that Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 are coming this year, and they’re just four months away. The official dates? October 7th in the US and October 12th for Europe. While this is exciting news,  what’s more interesting is that the release highlights how the 3DS’s camera will be used to augment in-game discoveries of Pokemon.

Here’s some selected information from the release:

“Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 bring players back to the Unova region two years after the events of Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version. There are many new areas to discover in the region, and exciting changes to previously visited places for players to explore. One new area is Virbank City, where players will be able to visit Pokéstar Studios and star in their own movie with their favorite Pokémon. The movie a player creates premieres at the in-game theater, where the audience gives it a rating. Movies are rated based on script choices and battle move sequence, and players can even create sequels to existing movies. There are many movie genres to choose from, including romantic comedy and horror.

Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 will also give fans of the original games a chance to catch up with some familiar friends. In this game, Cheren and Bianca return two years after the events of Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, and a lot has changed. Bianca is now the assistant to Professor Juniper, helping her with Pokémon research. Cheren is now a Gym Leader and a teacher at a school in Aspertia City – the starting location for this adventure.

In Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, players will also be able to catch some of the Pokémon from outside the Unova region, such as Eevee, Riolu, Tyranitar, Arcanine and Mareep, right from the start of the game. If they are playing on Nintendo 3DS, players can transfer Pokémon they have caught with Pokémon Dream Radar into their Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 games (visible in 2D only). Pokémon Dream Radar lets players use several different features of the Nintendo 3DS system, including the Nintendo 3DS camera, motion control and augmented-reality technology, to discover and catch Pokémon. The game includes hard-to-find Pokémon such as the new Therian Formes of Legendary Pokémon Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus.”

Interestingly, the suggestion that we’ll be able to use the 3DS’s camera to locate Pokemon suggests that we’ll be using the camera to see the Pokemon in our own world, meaning that you’ll be scanning the world around you to locate Pokemon. This sounds like an awesome idea, and I can’t wait to see what Pokemon are uncovered when you scan trash cans. Or random people on the sidewalk.

In all seriousness, the peripheral maneuverability that this offers means that Nintendo has furthered its ambition to expand integration between its products and how we use them apart from gaming. It’s a move that promises incredible dividends for the company with very little possible negative feedback.