Aotea Travel Guide

So as promised for this year, I want to show what I've been working on during 2014.

First up, I don't just do programming for fun in my spare time (for fun?!). I occasionally write things too; I admit I'm not the best creative writer (I think that's a left-brain, right-brain thing), as I base most things I write about on real-life events or places. This project was no exception.

Over seven months (off-and-on, mind) and 12,000 words went into this one! I'm happy with the result I managed to come up with, and technically I can always come back to it later and add more things (more on that in a bit).

At a glance
Platform: PDF
Genre: Travel Brochure
Concept: "What if New Zealand was a Pokémon Region?". This brochure showcases New Zealand landmarks and locations, while giving it a slight Pokémon spin.

About the Project

So it all started in April 2014, when Google Maps released a special April Fool's Day add-on to their mobile app that allowed users to catch 151 Pokémon scattered around the globe. It proved so popular, they extended it's duration to allow users to finish their collection well after the 1st of April. A couple of months later, I found that if you found at least 150, you could reply to a post that Google themselves made on Google+, and later receive an official card certifying you as a "Pokémon Master". I was so gutted that I missed the opportunity to apply for one myself... so that will stay as a memory of something that got away.

But, it got me thinking... Pokémon games have always drawn inspiration from locations around the world as a basis for its regions' geography, right? Most notably, the Kalos region from Pokémon X & Y is based on Northern France; the Unova/Isshu region from Pokémon Black & White versions is based on the New York City metropolitan area. The folks over at Bulbapedia, the Pokémon encyclopaedia, even have an entry chronicling all the similarities. It's an article I enjoy reading often.

So, I thought, New Zealand is a cool country with lots of diverse landscapes (I mean, check out the locations for Lord of the Rings), what if Pokémon existed here? So I started writing about landmarks and locations around New Zealand as if it was a Pokémon region, which I called "Aotea".

Screenshot of the document in drafting stage, based on Christchurch.

I've been around most of the country a lot since childhood, so luckily I could talk about most places from experience, but this project was a great way to learn about my home country too; like the first fruit tree planted in New Zealand in the 19th Century still exists to this day (and still bears fruit), and the meaning behind the Maori translations of some New Zealand town names.

What started as a plan to just get some bullet points on paper, turned into writing little Pokémon back-stories, until it finally become a 60+ page travel guide; which, to an extent, could serve as a real travel guide to New Zealand... although all the town and landmark names have been changed.

Screenshot of the document in drafting stage, based on Wellington.

I'm not much of an artist - I would have loved to have drawings of bird Pokémon flying around the Sky Needle (Sky Tower), or a Charmeleon playing Scrumball (Rugby), but since my Poké-artistic talent is close the zero/minimal level, I ended up replacing those ideas with standard photographs. Not to say it couldn't happen... see below.

Current Status
I realise this very much classifies as a category of "fan-fiction", and as a result, it will have a very limited audience. But, I figured, there'd be no harm in at least sharing my work online as opposed to keeping it for myself. So, enjoy!

Here's the current version of the document:

>>bit.ly/PKMNaotea<<
[Obligatory ORIGINAL CONTENT - DO NOT STEAL notice]

Now, like any unsure-what-qualifies-as-a-corporate-boundary fan, I personally admit that, yes, I did get a physical colour copy printed. And yes, I admit, I did send it to Game Freak in December, for a reason I will henceforth call "inspiration consideration".

Included in the package was a personal letter, in both English and Japanese.

I'm not expecting anything to happen, of course, since game companies have their own plans for future direction (I can only imagine). And there might be something about using their intellectual property without their permission... I hope not. I'm not trying to use your IP maliciously, I swear! I included a copyright disclaimer at the end of the document, but I'm not a Poké-lawyer.

It would be awesome to turn this into a fan game though. I've heard a lot about fan-made Pokémon games being created by a group of programmers in about six months. It would certainly be some more of that "programming experience" I keep reminding myself I need to find.

The document can always be updated. This is to say, if anyone wanted to add in their own story, text, artwork, or anything; I can add it in, no sweat. Luckily the way the above link works is that no matter how many times I change the document's contents, the link should always point to the latest version. Here's hoping, anyway. 

But, if that fails, I'll always have this document, and the thought that this could've been awesome if it was true. :)

Credits

Bulbapedia - The official, unofficial Pokémon compendium, in my personal opinion. A great inspiration, and the best way for me to make sure I got some minor details right.
Bulbagarden Archives - A sister site to Bulbapedia, hosting the image archives... which I kinda, sorta, pulled some if the Pokémon-related imagery from. [Insert Non-profit, Fair-use claim here].
Game Freak - Over 18 years of Pokémon, and counting!