The news front for Pokémon GO has been desert dry since the trailer announcement in September of last year. A few tidbits have surfaced here and there, thoroughly dissected by /r/pokemongo/.  On 2/2/16, it was announced that John Hanke would be speaking at the GDC conference, potentially giving us some new information about the game.

However that glimmer of light was snuffed out earlier today when an article from game informer let us know the Niantic GDC conference had been cancelled. This can be confirmed on the GDC conference website.

"We have decided to forego our GDC talk on Pokémon GO in order to focus on getting the product ready for beta test and launch," says Niantic CEO John Hanke. "As much as we hate to disappoint those in the industry attending GDC, we feel our time and energy right now are best spent on making sure every aspect of the product is where we want it to be."

After getting over the initial rage of the prolonged information drought, I was able to take a step back and appreciate the fact that they would rather put in more man hours towards preparing the game vs just talking about it at a conference.

Pokémon GO Field Testing In Japan

Just when we thought news for Pokémon GO was over today, Niantic hits us out of the blue with this post on Google+:

Google translate to English:

Pokémon Go is a Notice of . We will start a field test at the end of this month in Japan . Please access the http://pokemongo.nianticlabs.com for details .

If you access the above page from a country outside Japan you receive the message: “This site is not available in your country. Please stay tuned for more information at Niantic Blog. Thank you for your interest in Pokémon GO. — The Pokémon GO Development Team”. If you are access the page from Japan, you get the “Pokémon GO official field test Registration” page! This page starts with the trailer from 9/15, a registration button, and the following dialog (Google translate to English):

Please lend your power.

Thank you for your interest in Pokémon GO. Pokémon GO is a mobile game of the iPhone and Android, which is scheduled for release in 2016, Niantic with the cooperation of The Pokémon Company, is Inc has developed.

Pokémon GO is a realistic world game to progress by moving players actually go out. Because the thing that a lot of you play on the stage of the world, when many of the people who played at the same time, whether or not the various functions to move properly, whether play in a variety of regions and location, is that you must make sure before publishing, We have a lot.

For this reason, everyone in I am in actually playing the app in development, improve the quality of the game, we want closer step by step to complete. Using your smartphone, try is actually playing in your area, do not offer cooperation in the field test.

Since the app is still developing, or there is a limit to the function, there may be a place that may or may not work properly. Upon was also our understanding such a place, along with the development of supporters who can cooperate, we believe that if Ikere to grow to more good work.

If Keru can join immediately, read the following notes, please register from the registration button.

Niantic Inc. - Working with The Pokémon Company

About field test]

Field test is intended to be carried out in the official version published a test version app limited to part of the user application before the release of the purpose to improve the features and game balance.

● implementation period
Late scheduled to begin in March 2016
Field implementation period of the test, it is subject to change without notice.

● entry requirements
- If you're in Japan, and for those who have an Android device or iOS device.
· Android is a version 4.3 or higher, iOS will target the iPhone 5 or later.
※ There is no guarantee that to successfully operate in all of the terminal.
※ For technical reasons, we will be greatly limited the number of recruitment for the iOS version.

● Notes
• To your application, you'll need to agree to the privacy policy.

Field application of the test, there is a case where I am be closed without notice.

And participation in the test, if necessary on the development, your terminal, based on such as this to your experience with the realistic world of the game, we will sequentially guide you through methods such as lottery or invitation. In the case of many applicants, it does not necessarily mean that you can participate in the person of all, please understand in advance. To those who are elected, we will send you a notification email with the participation such as methods and precautions to field test.

- For technical reasons, to signup, you will need a Gmail or Google account.

- By reason of input mistake etc. of your registration our e-mail address, if it is not able to receive the prize notification e-mail from us, also, I have been treated by mistake on your own as a case or junk e-mail that had been deleted the e-mail such as the case was, you can not re-issue of the winning notification e-mail in any case. Or when you get your application in which e-mail address can be received correctly, please be sure to confirm.

Field test implementation period accounts and data that has been created during the you can not take over at the start of the official service. In addition, during the implementation period, it is scheduled to reset a few degrees data is carried out. Please note.

Field there is no compensation and benefits due to participate in the test. Through your participation, thank you towards the join us who can think itself is reward that your app will be better.

- Winning the buying and selling of the rights of development supporters, transfer, acquisition or use of account loans, and the act of borrowing, etc., it will refuse regardless of the paid and unpaid.

· In order to deliver the joy and surprise to more people in the official version, the contents of the application under development, it will be considered as confidential information of the only participants.

· Upon field participation in the test, any accident during game play, such as trouble, for any damage, etc., Niantic assumes no responsibility. We pay attention to safety, please participate in the test.

TL;DR

• Beta testers will help shape the future development of the game via testing and player feedback.
• Japan testers only to start.
• Scheduled to start late March 2016.
• Android users given preference and iOS invited will be greatly limited.
• Possible NDA.

When clicking the registration link, you are given the following fields:

• E-mail address (Gmail or Google account only):
• Smart phone type:
• Ingress of user name ( if you have – optional):
• Ingress level of ( optional):

Though optional, it makes me very happy to see them asking for Ingress information! This could mean that preference will be given to high level Ingress agents. I’d say now is the time to grind out those levels and for Pokémon players that haven’t checked out Ingress yet, what are you waiting for?! Come join this awesome experience.

Closing / Fev Games Pokémon GO Pokédex?

Fev Games is excited to dive into this new adventure with all of you and welcome everyone from the both the Ingress and Pokémon communities. During the information drought, we put some foundation work into a Pokédex specifically aimed towards Pokémon GO! Currently we’re listing the first 151 pokémon only and individual pages containing very basic information about each pokémon. We’ve also made sure that these pages are mobile friendly since we imagine this tool will be utilized the most while outside playing the game. We plan to add, update, and delete fields as new information becomes available. As more beta testing goes on, we also plan to tease the idea of heat maps for spawn locations. Check out what we have so far and let us know in the comments if you have any suggestions. Until next time!

Pokédex