Fan-made Pokemon MMORPG 'coming soon'

Anyone that tries to make a game based on Nintendo's IP gets shut down, quick sticks — but PokeMMO believes it's worth another shot.

What if Pokémon was an MMORPG? It's something fans have often wished for, but such a property isn't likely to come from official channels. PokeMMO wants it so badly, it's willing to flout Nintendo's lawyers to get it done.

The PokeMMO website reads, "We aren't the first to do this; many have tried, many have failed. We have a plan, sort of. But we intend to stay around for a long time and bring you the best MMO ever, we have nothing better to do."

Available for PC, the game is currently in alpha and allows players to journey cooperatively or pit their monsters against each other in the sort of PvP we've only been able to dream of. To play it, you'll need an illegal rom of Pokémon Fire Red for the Game Boy Advance (which PokeMMO will not provide, seeing as it's illegal). The game is also compatible with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver roms.

Given that there seems to be no legal way to play the game, it will be curious to see how long the game can stay afloat.

You can take a look at the gameplay below, or head to the PokeMMO website to find out more for yourself.