Well this one is certainly different! In a rather unexpected move, Niantic has announced a special contest to be held on social media. The prize? Why, having your character featured in the game as an NPC!
Starting today and ending on January 11, players are able to post to Twitter using specific criteria in order to be considered for this role. Players must include the following in their tweet:
- A screenshot of their in-game avatar that includes their name and outfit
- A list of three Pokemon that would be on their team for PvP battles. These Pokemon must originate from Kanto (Pokedex #1-151) and cannot be Legendary or Mythical
- The hashtag #PokemonGOTourContest
The contest rules state that this is not a game of chance. Niantic will actually be reviewing the entries and choosing a character based on their not-yet-disclosed criteria.
The player(s) chosen for this will be featured in a not-yet-disclosed fashion during the upcoming Kanto Tour. Our assumption is that they will be fightable in a manner similar to how we can fight Team Rocket currently given the requirement of choosing a team, but time will tell!
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Trainers,
If you’ve ever played one of the main series Pokémon games, you know how exciting it can be to see another Trainer on your journey. There’s nothing quite like testing your own Pokémon against someone else’s, and it’s always fun to see how each Trainer expresses themself with their team! Today, we’re thrilled to announce that you’ll soon be able to have that experience in Pokémon GO—and you might just become one of the new Trainer characters in the game!
Event-exclusive Trainer characters will be appearing on the map during Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto
During the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event, you’ll see Trainer characters on the in-game map. You’ll be able to find and battle these Trainer characters regardless of whether you have a ticket for the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event. There will even be special Timed Research that rewards you for battling these Trainers! We hope encountering these Trainers on your Pokémon journey and engaging them in battle will help recreate the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green gameplay experiences.
Who will these Trainers be, exactly? Well, one of them could be you!
How to become a featured Trainer character during Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto
We’ll be holding a competition to decide which Trainers will appear as in-game characters during the event. To enter, simply post your entry on Twitter by Monday, January 11, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. PST (GMT −8) and include the following elements.
1. A screenshot of your Trainer profile that includes your Trainer name and shows off your avatar’s outfit. 2. A list of three Pokémon that would make up your team. These Pokémon must be among those originally discovered in the Kanto region and cannot include Ditto, or any Legendary or Mythical Pokémon. 3. The hashtag #PokemonGOTourContest.
We will be judging your entries based on the following criteria.
- Creativity of avatar outfit
- General theme
- Pokémon team composition
Try giving yourself a theme, like a cool and dynamic Electric-type Trainer or a fluid and powerful Water-type Trainer. Maybe you want to show off that you’re on Team Instinct, Team Mystic, or Team Valor? The possibilities are endless—this is your chance to make your mark on Pokémon GO, so have fun with your Trainer character’s design!
We look forward to your entries! Let’s GO!
No purchase necessary. This contest is open to all Trainers at or above the age of majority in their country, if eligible, at the time of entry. Be sure to read the full contest rules here.
Please be aware of your surroundings and follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. Upcoming events are subject to change. Be sure to follow us on social media, opt in to receiving push notifications, and subscribe to our emails to stay updated. For the latest on in-game events and feature updates, be sure to check this help center article.
