is this the unannounced Wii game that the IGN NVC podcast mentioned?

It better not be since we already knew about it from the retailer conference thread.

I just looked at some pics of this game, and all I have to say is, is this as close to a 3D Pokemon RPG Adventure as we are going to get or is Nintendo gonna keep avoiding the obvious next step for the franchise?

According to Destructoid this is going to be another Pokemon minigame collection of sorts, with perhaps a bit of Pokemon Snap.  Good to know Nintendo listens to its fans, because no one wants a 3D Pokemon RPG.  Another minigame collection as well to add to the handful on the system.

maybe you don't want a 3D Pokemon RPG, but people have been calling out for it for years.
It doesn't have to be a MMO style RPG, even if the series seems perfect for that style of play, but a 3D zelda-ish Pokemon RPG is has been asked for since the late N64 early GC days.

unless of course you are being sarcastic.

Because honestly, I've never even played a pokemon game before in my life, but I would buy a full 3D Pokemon RPG.

I was being sarcastic.  :-\  I've had it with Nintendo's utter laziness with the Pokemon franchise.  I'm fine with there being alternative interpretations of the franchise, but I can't believe we're on our 3rd 3D console now without an actual Pokemon RPG.  I know they're afraid that they'd actually have to put substantive effort into such a game, but c'mon there's no excuse now.

Yeah, I agree it seems strange that there has never been a Pokémon RPG game on a console.
But this actually sounds interesting...

I think it's because Pokemon is supposed to be a social game where you're encouraged to trade with others and that just doesn't work well with home console games.

How would we know?  Nintendo's never tried it, and they have their beloved Friend Code system already in place for something like this.  If they couldn't manage a "social" environment with the system they put in place with the Wii, they only have themselves to blame for implementing such a lousy online service.

Mario Kart Wii and Animal Crossing prove that console games can be social games as well.

In fact, the AC model could work well as a compromise between what many people want (an MMO-type Pokemon game) and what Nintendo is willing to give (severe limitations in online interactions). Implement the FC restrictions and allow people who exchange FCs to talk and play together. You could go visit each others worlds and limit it to a few people at a time. Not that hard and not that threatening.