Pokémon game series director Junicihi Masuda is quizzed on the future of the top-selling series...

Since the beginning of the Pokémon franchise, Pokéfans have clamoured for a console version of the game with a truly huge online world, full of other trainers to battle. And here at N-Europe, not only would we sell our own mothers for a Pokémon MMO (massively multiplayer online game), we'd also probably chuck in our Dads, siblings and any nearby cousins as well.

Unfortunately, Nintendo still seem reluctant to go down this path - one which undoubtedly would create The Best Selling Game Ever, seeing as how - over thirteen years on from the series beginning in Japan - the series' newest title Platinum sold a million copies in two days on its release in Japan.

Series director Junicihi Masuda had the following to say on the subject:

"At this point, we're not thinking of going in that direction. Trading is a core concept of Pokémon. So when you're trading, you meet with a friend and decide which one you want and which one they want. I would like to emphasize real-world communication. You don't see each other online."

Which surely contradicts the online trading available in the latest DS versions of the games? The series has long progressed from a couple of GameBoys connected by a Game Link Cable, and is the one Nintendo franchise truly crying out for an online world. We just hope it won't take another thirteen years.