- Japan stay perfect in World Cup qualifying
- Relief as Lebanon evacuees dock in Turkey
- Lebanon says 22 dead in Israeli strikes on central Beirut
- NBA boss Silver sees games back in China 'at some point'
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 22
- Table tennis and Netflix push Ukraine teen into French Open contention
- Civilians flee Gaza's Jabalia in tightening Israeli siege
- Israel strikes central Beirut, killing 18
- At least 10 dead in Florida from tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton
- Warhol's rare 'Queen' collection opens at Dutch museum
- Three-time NBA champion Green retires
- MLB Twins up for sale after 40 years
- S.Sudan floods affect 893,000, over 241,000 displaced: UN
- Solar storm could impact US hurricane recovery efforts: agency
- Windies sweat on injury to 'crucial' Taylor at World Cup
- Lebanon says 11 dead, 48 injured in Israeli strikes on Beirut
- Panama lashes out at EU over tax haven 'outrage'
- Erdogan says Gaza 'shame of humanity', calls for permanent ceasfire
- TD Bank to pay more than $3 bn to US in money-laundering case
- SAfrica prosecutors drop criminal complaint against president
- 'Good opportunity': Nagelsmann upbeat despite Germany's long injury list
- Hurricane whips up bitter US election battle
- Cameroon bans media talk of president's health amid rumours
- NFL MVP Jackson and rookie phenom Daniels set for showdown
- Chad's capital under threat as floodwaters rise
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit central Beirut
- No answers on strike on reporters in Lebanon one year on: watchdog
- Ramharack picks four wickets as Windies beat Bangladesh in Women's T20 World Cup
- France's City of Light switches to climate-resilient power cables
- Djokovic hails Nadal 'legacy' as Alcaraz in 'shock' over retirement
- Obama hits campaign trail for Harris
- Delta eyes Election Day travel pullback as profits climb
- Djokovic tells Nadal: 'Your legacy will live forever'
- Ethel Kennedy, wife of RFK, dead at 96
- Zelensky denies ceasefire with Russia under discussion on trip
- Florida battered by hurricane, floods but spared 'worst-case scenario'
- After long fight for glory, Nadal leaves with a legacy of memories
- Home hopes Zheng and Wang through to last-eight in Wuhan Open
- UN peacekeepers say Israel fired on Lebanon HQ, injuring 2
- UK's William and Kate in first joint public engagement since cancer treatment
- Alcaraz out as top players pay tribute to Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Racing's Farrell 'not thinking' about British and Irish Lions
- Alcaraz, Sinner pay tribute to 'unbelievable' Nadal at Shanghai Masters
- Over 200 women in legal talks with Harrods over Fayed abuse claims
- After K-pop, K-novels? South Korean Nobel win sparks joy, hope at home
- After Nadal exit, Djokovic left to rage against dying of the light
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad's club record
- Zelensky touts 'victory plan' against Russia in Macron talks
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
'Pokemon with Guns' proves a blast
The makers of a video game dismissed as "Pokemon with Guns" when it was announced said Monday the game has proved a hit, with "Palworld" selling more than five million copies in just three days.
The game released Friday on the online Steam platform blends weapon-wielding player avatars with monsters that look eerily similar to those in Nintendo's wildly popular "Pokemon" franchise.
"Most people, myself included, thought this game was going to be a meme," read a review left on Steam by the account of game developer Pirate Software.
"It's actually insanely detailed, extremely well optimized, and compelling as hell."
One player responded by saying they were "blown away" by the game and contending it has potential to become "legendary."
As of now "Palworld" is in early-access mode and still being developed, with the help of feedback from players, Japan-based PocketPair said in describing its new game.
Palworld has sold more than five million copies since its release on Steam, where it is priced at $27, the company said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
- Bows and assault rifles -
The game is home to more than 100 different characters -- called "Pals" -- that players can capture and turn into allies for adventures in the game, according to its creators.
Palworld integrates "elements of battle, monster-capturing, training, and base building," according to the game's description on Steam.
Players can battle with weapons from classic bows and spears to assault rifles and rocket launchers, the description added.
Players have the option of working together in a virtual world setting, working as a team or battling one another, and even stealing items, the game maker explained.
- 'Death threats' -
But some on social media accused PocketPair of copying from Pokemon, posting images of very similar-looking characters and features from the game and the franchise.
"This is a COMPLETE carbon copy," one X user said. "Another copied design, shame on you palworld," commented another.
PocketPair's CEO Takuro Mizobe said the company was "receiving slanderous comments against our artists, and we are seeing tweets that appear to be death threats."
"I would appreciate it if you would refrain from slandering the artists involved in Palworld," he said on X.
Others backed PocketPair.
"Any Pokemon fan angry at this game and demanding it be banned for one reason or another should be blaming Nintendo for missing what has been an untapped market for years now," read another comment on X.
"This is a testament to just how much PC gamers wanted some kind of Pokemon game on PC," the comment continued, referring to personal computers.
Serkan Toto from Tokyo-based consultancy Kantan Games said that the success of the game was an "absolute surprise," including for PocketPair.
"This only happens in gaming every several years," Toto told AFP.
"But would anybody be interested in the game if these characters didn't look like Pokemon? Of course, the answer is most probably no," he added.
J.Williams--AMWN