Few things are better known to the generations born since the nineties than the pokemon video games. Yes, there are other franchises that have had a great impact on a cinematographic level, but few have penetrated the digital entertainment culture as much as this Japanese saga.
Each new invention that is part of the imagination of this brand can become a true freakand that’s what’s already starting to happen with ‘Hispalis: NODO Project‘, the new game designed for fans of the franchise that two young people from Seville have developed: the comedian Pablo Diaz and the illustrator Onofre Wayne.
It is a project non-profit that is born, like others similar, outside the Nintendo umbrellathe Japanese video game company that owns the Pokémon franchise.
Each of the stories told in the official video games take place in different fictional regions of this universe. It is precisely this detail that has served as inspiration for this game, whose main attraction is its setting: the city of Sevilla.
“On top of the game”
The existence of a ‘demo‘ of this game – a modified version that serves as a test for the public – was announced in September of this year.
After a few months of news dripping through their social networks, last Thursday Díaz and Wayne announced at an event at the Four Cats Room are release date: he December 20 of 2024.
“It was very cool, there was a great atmosphere, the room was full and people were into the game“, says Pablo Díaz in conversation with EL ESPAÑOL from Seville.
“Se They knew the names of all the Pokémon that we had announced, and almost all the merchadising that we put up for sale,” he recalls. In addition, there they gave some details of the ‘demo’, such as the different districts that can be visited” or “what phase it is in” of development.
The different informational advances of the game did not prevent that room from breathing the Andalusian and Sevillian roots of this project and those who hope to try it.
Thus, a user of the social network X, who attended the event, published a video of the moment in which the anthem of Andalusia.
A real pass the presentation of @pokemonhispalis 👌🏻👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/38EpRowjMy
— Samuel Sanchez (@SamuSanchezSss) October 10, 2024
Get the Curro
In the new region of Hispalis, Díaz points out, there will not only be buildings or recognizable streets of the city. Also the NPCs (non-playable characters) and the famous Pokémon will be inspired by Seville.
“There will be many recognizable ones, such as Sergio Ramos, Juan Ignacio Zoido, María del Monte or Lopera” he explains. “There are a few that we have already shown, but there will be many more.” The player will also find some “custom items” in their adventure.
As for the different new Pokémon, there will be something for everyone. From some of brother inspiration, to the undisputed protagonist of the project: Currothe mascot of the Expo 1992.
In Hispalis we can control Curro, the flagship Pokémon of the ‘demo’
“It’s like our Pikachu. The great incentive and objective of the ‘demo’, which will be three or four playable hours, will be get Curro“Details Díaz. “It was the first one we announced, and the player will have to overcome different subplots to achieve it.”
Regarding the different advances that still remain to be known, its co-creator has already set a date for the next event for fans, it will be “October 21“.
Just an amateur
Pablo Díaz is an actor, comedian and now, in his free time, he learns to develop video games. Always from a “totally amateur” position, he says.
“Both I and One have been big fans of Pokémon since we were little, we have loved it, we have grown up with the saga“. And this “was a idea what It occurs to me to do it in the year 2020 genuinely.”
It was not “premeditated”, although he acknowledges that now they do put a lot of effort into “communication” to promote it.
In fact, Díaz still spends most of his time working in a communications office, from which he earns a living. so it was during the Covid-19 pandemic when he started learning to develop video games.
Something he knows how to do through “a specific program,” and he points out that “there are other professionals in the field who know how to handle it much better than me.”
Juan y Medio is the transcript of the famous Professor Oak in Hispalis
You have not yet received any offers for work on other projectsbut he believes that, “at the work level”, it is his companion One who “may have more possibilities after launching this game,” he assures.
“CAs an illustrator he is a phenomenal artist and I’m sure that he will receive more orders than he already receives,” he predicts.
“In my case,” he says, laughing, “it’s going to be more complicated to professionalize it.”
Non-profit
Díaz makes it clear from the beginning that they do not develop this game to make money. Both the ‘demo’ when it is published, as well as the final game, “can always be played totally free and open through the internet,” he says.
🐛🪱🦋🕯️✝️ WE PRESENT TO YOU THE BROTHERS BUGS ✝️🕯️🦋🪱🐛
Are they molan? 😁 pic.twitter.com/o8R5GaoBrY
— Hispalis: NODO Project (Fangame) (@pokemonhispalis) October 7, 2024
They are aware that “Nintendo has a reputation for being a company that is very jealous of its patents.“. And, although so far they have not had any problems, “we are being very careful,” he says. “In the media we are already putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that this is non-profit.”
Following this same philosophy they have changed the title of the game, which has been renamed simply ‘Hispalis: NODO Project‘. Nothing is wasted in this ambitious idea when it comes to giving a new nod to the city of Seville.
