Current Events > Pokemon seems to be at a critical but unfortunate crossroads.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Centered on Sword/Shield.

If Sword/Shield performs well financially, then it may further make Game Freak not give the Pokemon games their all going forward, since they will sale regardless and Game Freak has been very frugal in regards to hiring more staff to work on them. Even beyond the lack of support for old Pokemon, Sword/Shield still looks very substandard for a 2019 Switch title, particularly with its battle animations, draw distance, and environments. Note that this is the same console that delivered Super Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild, and Xenoblade 2. Even its "rival" Yo-Kai Watch 4 looks better. Sword/Shield has no excuse.

If disappointed fans vote with their wallet and Sword/Shield is a financial flop (which it won't be), then TPCI will take this as proof that players aren't interested in the main series or console games anymore, and will go full-ham into mobile games. Notice how all console-based spinoffs have essentially been cancelled; it's all been mobile games ever since TPCI saw the immense success that Pokemon GO was. Even Pokemon Quest, which was a Switch title, was also released on mobile, and the Switch port of Pokken does not appear to be getting any more DLC. And then there's the fact that Game Freak doesn't even prioritize the development of Pokemon games anymore, and focuses more on its Gear Project to create all new game, perhaps to break away from Pokemon due to them possibly losing influence over the IP.

Seems like whatever direction the series goes in, it will suffer regardless.
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It will sell tons of copies because people dont care if Pokemon games are good. They just buy them every year no matter what
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If disappointed fans vote with their wallet and Sword/Shield is a financial flop (which it won't be), then TPCI will take this as proof that players aren't interested in the main series or console games anymore, and will go full-ham into mobile games.

This is highly unlikely. It would take a few generations of failure before they give Pokmon a rest. You dont give up your best selling franchise because it had one flop. You try to fix what went wrong and if it still does badly you start to question if people are tired of it

And even then the game wont flop. Worst case scenario is that it does well, but does poorly for Pokmon numbers.
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But Pokemon games have always been super simple graphically.
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Pokemon still rocks.
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Kavatar posted...

But Pokemon games have always been super simple graphically.

Not really an excuse. It can be simple while not obviously cutting corners.
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It looks like the next game of a handheld series. Which it is. People keep being silly and comparing it to console games.

Raikuro posted...

It looks like the next game of a handheld series. Which it is. People keep being silly and comparing it to console games.

Because the Switch is a console.
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Raikuro posted...

It looks like the next game of a handheld series. Which it is. People keep being silly and comparing it to console games.

It's the Switch. Stop making excuses.
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Even for a handheld game this looks terrible, so that excuse doesnt work either way.
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Feline_Heart posted...

It will sell tons of copies because people dont care if Pokemon games are good. They just buy them every year no matter what

this, there are millions more casual fans that will get whatever pokemon than there are angry internet users
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Honestly the simplistic animations bother me more than the idea of cutting a few hundred Pokemon.

I'm still planning on getting the game unless it gets bad reviews.
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Sales will be bolstered by the psychos who feel the need to buy the double-pack

That'll make up for the people who decide to skip this gen
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Wetterdew posted...

Honestly the simplistic animations bother me more than the idea of cutting a few hundred Pokemon.

Yes, especially since Masuda cited the alleged quality of the animations as a reason for the Pokemon cut.

And I'm like, "What quality? They look the same as what we've been getting on the 3DS games."
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Honestly it's time for a complete and total reboot of the franchise with no backwards compatibility possible.

Make up some bullshit like a Pokeverse where you travel to an alternate Kanto where the dex is a completely new 151 pokemon. Featuring some new types, actually cutting some existing types, creating a new weakness / resistance tree.

The only pokemon you get to take with you is Pikachu and there's no Thunderstone in the new Kanto so Pikachu is literally the new universe's Pokemon #151 and you can't evolve him.
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Tyranthraxus posted...

Honestly it's time for a complete and total reboot of the franchise with no backwards compatibility possible.

Make up some bullshit like a Pokeverse where you travel to an alternate Kanto where the dex is a completely new 151 pokemon. Featuring some new types, actually cutting some existing types, creating a new weakness / resistance tree.

The only pokemon you get to take with you is Pikachu and there's no Thunderstone in the new Kanto so Pikachu is literally the new universe's Pokemon #151 and you can't evolve him.

Just have Arceus snap his fingers and reset the universe the way that youre talking about it
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I cant even begin to imagine what a bunch of you fucking whiners would have thought of Pokemon when it came out.

"Only 150 Pokemon? Fuck you Game Freak!"
"No Pokemon animations? Screw you Game Freak!"

2D Mario games havent really evolved in terms of gameplay or much in looks in 30 years. Nobody is gonna give them shit.
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I cant even begin to imagine what a bunch of you fucking whiners would have thought of Pokemon when it came out.

"Only 150 Pokemon? Fuck you Game Freak!"
"No Pokemon animations? Screw you Game Freak!"

2D Mario games havent really evolved in terms of gameplay or much in looks in 30 years. Nobody is gonna give them shit.

This is what missing the point looks like.
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I cant even begin to imagine what a bunch of you fucking whiners would have thought of Pokemon when it came out.

"Only 150 Pokemon? Fuck you Game Freak!"
"No Pokemon animations? Screw you Game Freak!"

2D Mario games havent really evolved in terms of gameplay or much in looks in 30 years. Nobody is gonna give them shit.

Hardware limitations on the Game Boy prevented more than the 151 we got. You expect the series to evolve along with the hardware that it's being released on, but Sword/Shield barely look better than the 3DS outings.

Also, people give the New Super Mario Bros. series crap for how samey they are all the time.
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dave_is_slick posted...

This is what missing the point looks like.

More just super weak bait. Not worth a response.
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Its possible that if the Sword and Shield review terribly it might wake these people up. Make them understand that were not putting up with half assed games anymore.

But its more than likely never going to happen. Ya know the reviews are going to be glowing and its going to sell like gangbusters

Give it another 20 years and we might see innovation from this series.
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As someone who hasn't really played since Gen 3, I might buy this one and lol at the haters. It looks good to me.
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151 was a lot of Pokemon back then. Especially amazing for the gameboy with nothing to compare it to. Red/Blue were built basically on magic and duct tape. There's a lot more expectation nowadays.

Explain to me why the game looking better than it ever has before is a bad thing.

Does it look as good as you want it to? That is a personal opinion. Also, (IMO) it matters far more how a game plays versus how it looks. Pokemon GSC is often considered the best Pokemon game ever, despite later games improving the look of the Pokemon.

Let's Go has amazing looking Pokemon, the game sucked.
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I'm on the "they know they can make the laziest open world game ever and it will still sell like hotcakes, because pokemon" camp.
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Feline_Heart posted...

Tyranthraxus posted...

Honestly it's time for a complete and total reboot of the franchise with no backwards compatibility possible.

Make up some bullshit like a Pokeverse where you travel to an alternate Kanto where the dex is a completely new 151 pokemon. Featuring some new types, actually cutting some existing types, creating a new weakness / resistance tree.

The only pokemon you get to take with you is Pikachu and there's no Thunderstone in the new Kanto so Pikachu is literally the new universe's Pokemon #151 and you can't evolve him.

Just have Arceus snap his fingers and reset the universe the way that youre talking about it

Pretty sure Arceus already snapped considering half the pokemon are gone from SS
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Are people really that upset that they wont be able to have a living dex in the game (at launch)?
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SRR Capdown posted...

Are people really that upset that they wont be able to have a living dex in the game (at launch)?

Extremely.

Feline_Heart posted...

It will sell tons of copies because people dont care if Pokemon games are good. They just buy them every year no matter what

For the most part this. Only hardcore gamers and fans of the games care a lot about the omission of most of the old Pokemon on release. The casuals will get the game regardless and result in more than enough sales for this gen to be a success.
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I just assume all the previous Pokemon generations will be added in a patch a few months after launch.
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No one hates Pokemon more than Pokemon fans
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I just assume all the previous Pokemon generations will be added in a patch a few months after launch.

No, Masuda has said omitting pokemon is a design choice and that each game going forward will be made with that idea. There are no plans to patch them in.
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EndOfDiscOne posted...

No one hates GameFreak more than Pokemon fans

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CM_Ponch posted...

Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I just assume all the previous Pokemon generations will be added in a patch a few months after launch.

No, Masuda has said omitting pokemon is a design choice and that each game going forward will be made with that idea. There are no plans to patch them in.

Probably for awhile, but I honestly cannot believe they would say "Screw it" to the business of competitive Pokemon gameplay.
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Probably for awhile, but I honestly cannot believe they would say "Screw it" to the business of competitive Pokemon gameplay.

Then you're not listening, because that's exactly what they've been saying this entire fucking time.
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Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

CM_Ponch posted...

Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I just assume all the previous Pokemon generations will be added in a patch a few months after launch.

No, Masuda has said omitting pokemon is a design choice and that each game going forward will be made with that idea. There are no plans to patch them in.

Probably for awhile, but I honestly cannot believe they would say "Screw it" to the business of competitive Pokemon gameplay.

His entire "reason" for this is competitive balance. Stop making excuses without doing research
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Hell, they've all but implicitly said that they just don't want to work on Pokemon anymore. And bad decisions like this can just help them justify killing the franchise.
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Pokemon passed that point ever since Heart Gold. But that doesn't matter because the masses will always buy it and take gold in mental gymnastics defending it no matter how objectively shitty it is

I'll probably buy it because I do want a switch and its the first time I'll be able to buy a new pokemon game since the GBA for that reason
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Balrog0 posted...

I'll probably buy it because I do want a switch and its the first time I'll be able to buy a new pokemon game since the GBA for that reason

There's so many other reasons to buy a switch. Why you gotta ruin your switch experience

HerpToTheDerp posted...

Balrog0 posted...

I'll probably buy it because I do want a switch and its the first time I'll be able to buy a new pokemon game since the GBA for that reason

There's so many other reasons to buy a switch. Why you gotta ruin your switch experience

it's not the reason I want a switch, its just something Ill probably get when I do end up getting a switch
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@Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Explain to me why the game looking better than it ever has before is a bad thing.

Does it look as good as you want it to? That is a personal opinion.

It doesn't look that much better than the 3DS games, and while I'm not expecting something as drastic as the worlds of BotW or Xenoblade 2, a bit more effort for an actual console title would be expected. Especially since Masuda himself cited animations as one of the reasons for the Pokedex cut, but the animations we've seen so far are extremely subpar for a console game.

Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Pokemon GSC is often considered the best Pokemon game ever, despite later games improving the look of the Pokemon.

That seems to mainly be the opinion of people who dropped the series soon after. Most fans agree that the peak of the series was somewhere between Gen 4 and Gen 5, due to the myriad of content that was in those games. Hell, even Emerald is looked back at very fondly due to the major improvements and additions it made to the original Ruby/Sapphire (and most if not all of which were dropped in the 3DS remakes).

@SRR Capdown posted...

Are people really that upset that they wont be able to have a living dex in the game (at launch)?

Yes, though not so much the Living Dex as it is not being able to use Pokemon they're invested themselves in for a long time, because of several issues.

1. As I said, the cut was explained as a "quality over quantity" thing, especially in regards to animations. But the animations are still 3DS-tier. Dynamax was also named as another reason, and the Dynamax concept has been very polarizing so far.

2. Game Freak has officially stated that this new path in regards to the Pokedex cut is their policy going forward, so there's little to no hope of the rest of the Pokemon being patched in post-release.

3. Bank and later Home were advertised as ways to keep your Pokemon with you in all future games. Now, they've gone back on that, because there's now no guarantee that your Pokemon will be able to be withdrawn in the new game. Plus, once you transfer a Pokemon from bank to Home, they can't be put back into Bank, meaning they cannot be used in the Gen 7 games again and will be stuck there until there's a game where they're present in its National Dex.

4. Tying to the above, there are several Pokemon who have only been present in the National Dex of whatever generation that they debuted in and none afterwards. It's very possible that you will be paying the subscription fee to keep your Pokemon tied up in Home for years, maybe even a decade or more, until finally there's a game they're available in, only to lose them again in the next generation of games.

@EndOfDiscOne posted...

No one hates Pokemon more than Pokemon fans

I don't hate Pokemon. I just don't think the series is reaching its full potential under the care of Game Freak.
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BLAKUboy posted...

Hell, they've all but implicitly said that they just don't want to work on Pokemon anymore. And bad decisions like this can just help them justify killing the franchise.

Yeah, particularly with their prioritization on Gear Project over Pokemon. Apparently, they even ask new applicants what ideas they would make that could be just as or more popular than Pokemon.
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I wish they'd make a Pokemon Go that wasn't terrible. The concept of a RL pokemon catching game was cool as balls. It's too bad Niantec dropped the ball on it.
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