'Pokemon Snap' Players Can Print In-Game Pictures as Stickers or Photos

By Brendan Menapace

The first “Pokemon Snap” video game came out in 1999 for Nintendo 64. More than two decades later, Nintendo is releasing an updated version of the beloved photography game on the Nintendo Switch, and giving players a way to display their work from in the game in real life.

When the game comes out on April 30, “New Pokemon Snap” players in Japan will be able to actually print their in-game photos onto stickers or full-sized photo prints by visiting Lawson convenience stores.

4月30日（金）から『New ポケモンスナップ』 × ローソンプリントがスタート！
全国のローソンで、『New ポケモンスナップ』で撮影した写真を印刷することができるよ。
キミだけの1枚をプリントしよう！
くわしくはこちら！https://t.co/Y3ZqRaXQtU #Newポケモンスナップ pic.twitter.com/IV7a11BEhF

— ポケモン公式 (@Pokemon_cojp) April 9, 2021

As ComicBook.com wrote, however, the process is a little complicated.

Players need to transfer their New Pokemon Snap game data to a smart device or PC and then access a special New Pokemon Snap page on Lawson's website. Once they've picked out their photos, the website gives players a number that they can take to a physical Lawson location and use to print the photos as either stickers or as a full-sized photo.

This is actually an updated, albeit more complicated, version of what Nintendo did back in 1999. Original “Pokemon Snap” players could go to a “Pokemon Snap Station” kiosk in select Blockbuster stores (remember those?), and print their in-game photos onto stickers. There was also a whole promotional contest with it, where players could win an Australian vacation or other Pokemon prizes.

It’s complicated, sure, but with that challenge comes a keepsake that they’ll want to hold onto, especially after going through all of the trouble. And it creates something of an experiential element while combining some customized printed products.

That DIY-ethos is sort of like rapper Machine Gun Kelly’s new merchandise bundle that comes with a whole screen printing kit, so fans can decorate a pair of pants (and then whatever garments they want) with an assortment of logos in a variety of colors.

All together, it’s a smart way to integrate printing and tactile promotional items into something wholly digital.