When considering Palworld, the immediate association many people make is "Pokemon with guns." This shorthand became popular when the game first gained widespread attention, largely due to the intriguing juxtaposition of familiar elements from the Pokemon franchise with the unexpected addition of firearms. Even media outlets, including IGN, frequently used this phrase to quickly convey the game's concept to a broad audience, which likely played a role in its viral rise.
However, according to John 'Bucky' Buckley, Pocketpair's communications director and publishing manager, this label was never the intended takeaway for Palworld. During a talk at the Game Developers Conference, Buckley expressed that the team at Pocketpair isn't particularly fond of the moniker. He recounted how Palworld was first revealed to the public in June 2021 at Indie Live Expo in Japan, where it received a positive reception. Yet, soon after, Western media branded it as a blend of a well-known franchise and guns, a label that has persisted despite efforts to move away from it.
In a subsequent interview, Buckley elaborated that Pokemon was not a part of the initial pitch for Palworld. Instead, the game drew inspiration from ARK: Survival Evolved, with the team aiming to create a game that emphasized automation and unique creature personalities. The developers, many of whom were fans of ARK, wanted to expand on the ideas they loved from that game and their previous title, Craftopia.
Buckley acknowledged that the "Pokemon with guns" label did contribute significantly to Palworld's success. He mentioned humorous anecdotes, like New Blood Interactive's Dave Oshry trademarking 'Pokemonwithguns.com', which added to the buzz. However, Buckley expressed frustration that some people believe this phrase accurately describes the game without having played it. He emphasized that Palworld is not at all like playing Pokemon with guns and encouraged players to try it out before forming an opinion.
Interestingly, Buckley does not see Pokemon as a direct competitor to Palworld, citing minimal audience overlap and instead drawing parallels with ARK. He also downplayed the notion of competition in the gaming industry as a whole, suggesting that the concept is often exaggerated for marketing purposes. He pointed out that the timing of game releases is a more significant factor than direct competition.
If Buckley could have chosen a different tagline for Palworld, he humorously suggested, "Palworld: It's Kind of Like ARK if ARK Met Factorio and Happy Tree Friends." He admitted, however, that this doesn't quite have the same catchy appeal as "Pokemon with guns."
In our extended conversation, Buckley also touched on topics like the potential for Palworld to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 and the company's stance on acquisition, offering a deeper look into Pocketpair's future plans.
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