The pitifully weak Pokémon has been showing up in some embarrassing places, including one that shows a preference for a rival company’s video games.
Despite being based on a Japanese franchise and designed by an American software developer, Pokémon GO, the first mobile game in Nintendo’s beloved monster rearing series, launched first in Australia and New Zealand. While the rest of the world is finally just getting or still waiting for its turn to play the augmented-reality title, lucky gamers in the two southern-hemisphere countries are already living the dream of searching for Pocket Monsters in the real world.
While it’s not yet known just how many of the hundreds of pre-existing Pokémon will show up in Pokémon GO, we do know that the fish-like Magikarp has made the cut. The creature occupies a unique position in the series, in that while trainers patient enough to nurture it into its evolved form will be rewarded with a powerful ally, in its normal form, Magikarp is so weak as to be practically useless.
Because of this, Pokemon GO players can’t help but laugh at some of the less-than-dignified places they’ve been finding Magikarp specimens.
▼ Some say eating a beast gives you its power, but Magikarp hardly has any power to give.
dad was cooking fish tonight and my phone buzzed and pic.twitter.com/4WbeF45d6z
— ✦ rhonnie ✦ 🔜 melbnova #248 !! (@ryonello) July 6, 2016
▼ Cleanup on Aisle 4!
▼ Wait a second, does Nintendo know Magikarp is browsing the PlayStation corner of this game shop?
▼ Well, it is a water-type Pokémon, after all.
▼ Having a conference room that’s also a Pokémon habitat is a surefire way to make sure employees show up for meetings.
▼ Magikarp? More like Magikrotch.
This feels a bit weird, however I obviously want to catch a Magicarp #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/RQZaT4HjPD
— Joel Jarman (@joeljarman) July 6, 2016
But remember, as amazing as it is to see Magikarp appear against actual backdrops, Pokémon GO is still a video game. The Pokémon that show up on your screen aren’t really there, so there’s no need to actually reach out and grab the physical environment to catch your quarry.
Source: Yurukuyaru via Jin
Follow Casey on Twitter, where all this talk of Magikarp has him feeling nostalgic for Baseball Star’s SNK Crushers, that Shining Force gopher, and other video game characters that suddenly spike in power.

Pokémon Magikarp Jump Game Launches for iOS, Android Devices
How to hatch your Pokémon GO eggs without taking a single step
Pokémon Go players discover unusual gym locations around Japan
Pokémon finally comes to iPhone and Android as the augmented reality game Pokémon GO 【Video】
Starbucks branch gives blended ice welcome to Pokémon GO players with cool Pokémon Frappuccinos
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town
Nagoya’s dark-red miso has continued to capture tastebuds for generations
New Japanese menstrual product seeks to help women spot unidentified iron deficiencies
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
Survey finds more than 70 percent of Japanese children have an online friend
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Wild gacha capsule toy machine is one of the most unusual finds in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Should the 2020 (now 2021) Tokyo Olympics be cancelled? Japanese citizens are divided
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
New Pokémon mobile game, Pokémon Sleep, promises to turn sleeping into entertainment【Video】
Volunteers being sought for field test of Pokémon Go mobile game
Here’s how the awesome new Pokémon GO mobile game will look on your smartphone
Kyoto temple becomes Pokémon Go gym in Japan, provides special phone chargers for players
Insane Japanese Twitter user does the unthinkable: beats Pokémon Sun/Moon only using Magikarp
Creators of Pokémon Go apologise for game’s late arrival in video address to players in Japan
Mini stampedes in Tokyo’s Ueno Park as it becomes a nest for rare Pokémon GO character【Video】
Updates on Nintendo’s revolutionary Pokémon Go: Gyms, teams, location-specific Pokémon and more
Pokémon GO players in Japan discover strange new hybrid species of monsters in the game
Pokémon Go released in Japan? We spot a rare “Glasses Pikachu” at Tokyo’s Nintendo headquarters
Exercise-hating Pokémon GO player discovers another way to find and hatch Pokémon without walking
The Magikarp kiss — Japanese woman explains why the Pokémon-like smooch is so terrible
Leave a Reply