A new experience that goes beyond the game! "Pokemon GO" YouTuber Yuri Kitayama talks about "Pokemon" | Famitsu App for smartphone game information

Travel the world through "Pokemon GO"

Are you all enjoying the latest features of the location-based game "Pokemon GO", which celebrated its 3rd anniversary this year, "Buddy and Adventure Mode" and "Group Photo Mode"?

In 2019, various functions will be implemented, including GO snapshots. It has entertained trainers around the world through many events.

YouTuber that distributes such daily information and activities is also appearing one after another. An increasing number of people are learning about the current state of "Pokemon GO" through videos.

Therefore, in this article, freelance writer Fukatsuan hits Yuri Kitayama of Yuri Games, one of the YouTubers who mainly distribute "Pokemon GO". From the encounter with "Pokemon GO" to the impressive experience, interaction with fans and future prospects, we will deliver an unstoppable talk to any of the two Pokemon lovers.

■ Yuri Games https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLONYvLH7pQ9rNlS5QOMrPA

--How did you come across "Pokemon GO"?

Yuri Kitayama (hereinafter referred to as Yuri) I have played from Game Boy's "Pokemon Red" to "Gold". After that, when I became an adult, I once left the game, but it resumed with the release of "Pokemon GO". With this as a trigger, I started playing games again, and recently I've been gradually promoting "Pokemon Her Sword Shield".

――Do you remember the first partner you chose for "Red"?

It was Yuri Bulbasaur. I have strong memories of that time, and I chose Bulbasaur without hesitation in "Pokemon GO". She was so impressed with her appearance in front of her that she was addicted to the momentum.

--What was the turning point when you decided to focus on YouTuber?

Yuri I've always loved manufacturing. Prior to YouTube, she was involved in music, radio personalities, and much more. She was able to fulfill her strong desire to do something like this on YouTube in her experience. Also, the fans who could appreciate it gathered. I feel that "now" is the match between what I want to do and what everyone wants.

▲ There are many works that convey the fun and honest feelings that are happening now, rather than the core strategy system. Many viewers will be pushed back by such videos, saying, "Let's go out for a while."

――What do you keep in mind when shooting and editing?

Yuri I think my video is a pop category in terms of taste. I choose a place that I haven't visited yet, a place that I'm mainly interested in, and I'm on location, but the people who watch it feel like they're traveling to the same place through the video, or that area. I always want you to be interested in.

――I have contributed many articles using the mission function of "Ingress", which is the basis of "Pokemon GO" as well as "Pokemon GO", but like Yuri, the challenge is to convey the charm of the area. thinking about.

Yuri That's right, this is the theme of "Pokemon GO", and I feel that it is a big attraction of games that use location information.

――What was the most impressive place you've been to?

Yuri Hmm, I'm worried! The first is Chicago's “GO Fest”. I couldn't speak English at all, and at first I could only say "Oh my ger" and "Yes no". Even so, the overseas YouTubers who handle "Pokemon GO" that I met locally kindly treated me. "I want to hear Yuri's story," he offered me a Google translation of my smartphone. That experience made me interested not only in the area and country where they live, but also in what kind of environment they are working as trainers.

――Recently, you also take English lessons, haven't you?

Yuri Actually, I'm going to lessons today as well. There are a lot of homework in the bag. I can't forget the girls who gave me this opportunity and the Chicago event that made the encounter.

▲ A scene from the Safari Zone held in Singapore in April 2019. We look back on the time when we were impressed by the enthusiasm of the trainers who participated in the event and the charm of Chicago, Singapore and other parts of the world.

Yuri The second is Tokyo. For me, who started from a rural area, the number of trainers and pocket stops is overwhelming and surprising. From the time of its release, it was talked about Odaiba and Kinshicho as an expedition, but when I actually visited it, it was beyond my imagination. Now that I've come to Tokyo and I'm familiar with such a scene, I'm playing while biting into the feeling that "this is not the norm".

――When you hear Nagoya, it seems to be lively in a local city.

Yuri In Nagoya, Tsurumai Park is a very famous spot and I used to use it as my home, but even if there are many pocket stops, there is no so-called "rare sauce". After that, it is difficult for trainers to gather in raid battles. After all it is different from Tokyo.

――It's no good if you miss the first match.

Yuri That's right, it's important to form a community that supports it, but that's also difficult, isn't it? Thirdly, I have a big feeling for her birthplace, Gujo Hachiman in Gifu prefecture. Looking at the roof next door from the second floor of my parents' house, it looks like there are wild mankeys and chimchars, but a high school student who called out when I returned home the other day said, "'Pokemon GO' is popular at school now." I say. As a result, I was surprised to hear that the commuting from the nearest station to high school was changed from a bus to a walk.

▲ Students and adult trainers form a LINE group and share the raid time, which is difficult for people to gather in the past, and everyone helps each other. Looking back on those days, I was happy to know such exchanges in my hometown.

――Speaking of Yuri, I have the impression that you love Froslass. What is the reason?

Yuri This also has a lot to do with Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture. Bon festival dance is famous in this area, and it is normal to dance somewhere in the town every day during August. There is even a "all-night dance" that lasts for four days from 7 pm to 5 am. Also, in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, there is a building that looks just like a snorunt (gassho-zukuri, which is also a World Heritage Site), and I love Yukimenoko, which has both images from the keywords of Bon Odori Yukata and Shirakawa-go.

▲ A building in Shirakawa-go that looks just like a snorunt. Yuri-san wants you to find out the answer as soon as you search.

――How about the latest function "Buddy and Adventure Mode"?

Yuri It's a wonderful feature, isn't it? Until it was implemented, I was wondering if I could only raise or stroke "Kinomi". It's amazing, it comes with you, and if it's a small Pokemon, you can look up at it. I want to see the behavior of various Pokemon, and I'm wondering which one to use as my partner.

――The group photo mode is likely to be a catalyst for a new community, isn't it?

Yuri Not only can she show off her favorite Poke-chan to everyone, but she also triggers a conversation saying, "I'm doing this kind of gesture." This is a bit of a leap, but if you can share several Pokemon at the same time ...

-You can battle using AR + !!

Yuri Yes, I think that will come true !! A battlefield was set up at the event venue in Chicago, where trainers gathered and had a Pokemon battle. Looking back, I wonder if it's a hint of something.

――That's what you expect from next year's big event.

Yuri The scene of PV released in the early days of the release may finally be realized. Well, various delusions will swell, and if it is implemented, it will become a "unique Pokemon".

▲ This is a scene to report the experience at Maizuru Park, which was released in July 2016. An experience like the PV released at that time may come true. Yuri says that "Pokemon GO" has evolved by the time you feel such a response.

--What is the best "Pokemon GO" event this year?

Yuri Hmm, it's difficult !! I'm indecisive. I was worried because I couldn't choose the food ... What to do, so are “GO snapshots” and “PvP”. What, what !? No, wait, don't worry too much !!

――By the way, my first appearance this year is Sakaki. It was the moment when I realized that "Pokemon GO", which had the impression that it was a derivative title of "Pokemon", created a deep relationship with the appearance of the existence of Sakaki as well as the team rocket.

Yuri Ah !! The response of executives and Sakaki, who cannot win with a single line, has something similar to the conventional "Pokemon", and it seems like a dream that they got into this real world. Well, the GO Fest, where I was able to follow that experience first, may have been the best event for me. I was really surprised by the team rocket that had photobombed right after the event. Also, the appearance of Team Rocket created the fun of helping new battles and shadow Pokemon and deepening ties with the play that was mainly "catching and raising".

――This triggered the familiarity at the head family, and gym leaders were placed in various places. For example, a water-type gym leader appears in Hokkaido and collects gym badges like Satoshi and others. Since the team rocket has come out, this is the next time, and the expected value is rising.

Yuri If that comes true, we will expand GO labs in various places in the future. If you use it as a base for gym leaders and defeat it, you will get a real badge. If you collect all kinds, you can challenge the champion league ... Oh, your dreams will spread. In addition to regional Pokemon, regional gym battles. Good, that's good, I'll definitely go if it's there !!

――I can't stop talking because my dreams have expanded too much, but finally, please set your goals for next year!

Yuri The other day, I had the opportunity to meet Hatsuda-san, a senior YouTuber who handles "Pokemon GO" like me, and the number of registrants exceeded 100,000. I was shown the shield. Currently, the number of registered users is 60,000, and it is still in the future, but I would like to aim for 100,000 while keeping in mind the videos that everyone can enjoy and play with. Also, taking advantage of my experience as a trainer in Tokyo, I'm looking for something that I can give back to the region. For example, it's the same with exchanges through off-campus meetings, and I would like to shoot in areas I haven't visited yet !!

▲ Fans know, Yuri loves Ultraman. She was completely derailed at the end of the interview, but if you're interested, check out the video she talks about her feelings.

PN Fukatsuan * Click here for Fukatsuan's Twitter