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[blacktout]

The thing is GameFreak is not Nintendo, Nintendo will have their own big game. Breath of the wild 2 or not, November will have the Pokemon game and the Nintendo game like they do on a regular basis.

Yeah, exactly. Every holiday season since the Switch's launch has had multiple major titles targeted at different audiences. (I guess maybe 2020 was the exception, but, you know, COVID.)

It's totally possible that BotW 2 will be delayed but this tells us absolutely nothing.

What's the counter argument here? That Nintendo would have released Gen 9 outside the holiday window if BotW was on schedule? There's absolutely no way that would happen. A huge chunk of the audience for this game is counting on their parents buying it for them as a Christmas gift.

Also, as you said, The Pokemon Company is a semi-independent entity with its own profit targets and it's not going to roll over and settle for a less optimal release date because Nintendo (who only have 1/3 ownership) has other priorities.

If you think Nintendo wouldn't release BotW 2 and Pokemon back to back, then you're basically saying that Nintendo never planned to release BotW 2 during the holidays at all, since Gen 9's release window was almost certainly known when they dated BotW for 2022 at last year's E3, in which case, what part of 2022 do you think they had in mind?

 

[Notabueno]

I'm not a Pokemon fan but how are They destroying it when the popular opinion is that Pokemon legends Arceus is everything the Pokemon games needed.

Franchise work mid-long term. There's a been a huge growth in popularity thanks to nostalgia starting in 2016 with Pokemon Go, UltraSun&Moon, then Let's Go which were amazing remakes, and then the movie and many marketing collaborations.

But eventually it you could start predicting that the golden goose would make it harder to maintain valuation of the franchise, instead, they started milking and taking worse and worse decisions:

Pokemon Go starting tightening their distribution algorithms and devaluating the collection with too many event-limited costumes, they're juicing more revenue out of fewer and fewer player, and if this week-ends Johto even is any indication, the vast majority of player have had enough. The same for Pokemon TCG, merchs and spin-offs, they released way too many collection in a same series, and the schematic is the same, juicing more from fewer and fewer. But there's also the core of the product, it's quality and design, which starting with S&S has been a lots of bad decision (porting the game from 3DS with a completely obsolete game design), no regional dex, gigantamax which is fragmenting the categories instead of new megas, sub-par pokemon design. And of course the mediocre remake and Arceus game further fragmenting the collecting, devaluating the game and design, and that they tried to make-up for with out of hand astroturfing which is a terrible idea on the mid-term. Now there's already a new Pokemon game in a time when the marketing franchise model should be longer-lasting game and focused production, basically GaaS or AAAA games (like BoTW).

 

[nordique]

Yo. I like that fire crocodile one.

Come at me gen 9

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

Sprigatito may be the best and worst Pokémon name ever at the same time.

The starters designs tho, they've run out of ideas completely.
Fuecoco looks like Totodile's pre-evolution.

 

[Belthazar]

The game is fugly, but that was a given with pokémon... Them not being able to design good starters is quite shocking as it was one of the few things they mostly got right with each new gen. Those look like they came straight from a mobile knock-off.

 

[ntropy]

gfx look like a half-hearted attempt at wind waker style

 

[Spaceman292]

I just hope it doesn't evolve into another damn tiger like the last one

Well it's a cat, so it'll probably turn into a fish or a dragon or a bulldozer something.

 

[Myths]

Middle eastern inspired setting? Edit: well, I would have thought so just from a cursory look off the logo.

Looks more Mediterranean crossed between Western Europe (Portugal/Spain) maybe?

 

[Elysion]

Prediction: The fire starter will evolve into some kind of snake. Why? Because this is the only way it fits into the Chinese Zodiac theme, which all fire starters have conformed to since Gen 1. The remaining four Zodiac animals that haven't been used yet are sheep, ox, horse and snake. Since I don't see how a crocodile is in any way connected to the first three, it stands to reason that Fuecoco will evolve into some kind of serpentine creature, which, being a reptile, would at least be somewhat related to crocodiles. It probably looses its limbs too, similar to Snivy's evolution in Gen 5.

 

[Pallas]

Wonder when they started production on this. I know they have multiple teams but it feels a little weird with the release of the pearl/diamond remake late 2021, and then releasing Legends early 2022 and now this late 2022.

Wondering if we can expect more remakes and legend type games(in other regions in ancient times) for now.


I've personally been on the fence, since I still never got the sword/shield games, I stopped playing ages ago after Gold/Silver, was in high school at the time but because of nostalgia I got the yellow remake with Let's go Eevee.

I want to start playing again though.

 

[Lethal01]

I'm not exactly a fan of the style for the character models. Should have stuck to the anime/Sword and Shield style. This time they look like Mii characters a bit:

This sucks, The character art style of sword and shield was like the one thing i never stopped praising, Now the 3d models look like a huge step down form the concept art.

 

[Elysion]

I wish the games would go back to teenage looking protagonists like in some of the earlier generations. The protagonists in this look like they're 8-year-olds, ffs.

I know the games are meant for an universal audience, including children, but that shouldn't mean that we have to play as elementary-schoolers.

 

[FStubbs]

"Gen 8 barely got released"

Would be 3 years by the time this game drops, which falls in line with the overwhelming majority of new gen cycles.

Let's be fair, everything from 2020 forward has been one big blur. A lot of things that happened in 2019 I still call "last year".

 

[Werewolf Jones]

Wonder when they started production on this. I know they have multiple teams but it feels a little weird with the release of the pearl/diamond remake late 2021, and then releasing Legends early 2022 and now this late 2022.

Wondering if we can expect more remakes and legend type games(in other regions in ancient times) for now.


I've personally been on the fence, since I still never got the sword/shield games, I stopped playing ages ago after Gold/Silver, was in high school at the time but because of nostalgia I got the yellow remake with Let's go Eevee.

I want to start playing again though.

D/P remake was outsourced. Gamefreak didn't develop it. I'd assume development started as Sword/Shield was close to being done in 2019.

 

[SteadyEvo]

Didn't a Pokémon just release this month????

 

[Kiddo Cabbusses]

Maybe they'll update the Pokemon models now that they changed the shader?

Oh, who am I kidding...?

 

[YukiOnna]

Didn't a Pokémon just release this month????

They have two production teams. Since BDSP was outsourced, that would mean the other team has been working on Gen 9.

 

[Y0ssarian]

Scarlet/Violet? Must be running out of ideas

 

[Modrot]

Scarlet/Violet? Must be running out of ideas

Better than Black and White.

 

[iHaunter]

GameFreak manages to outdo themselves and take steps backwards.

 

[AetherZX]

Maybe they'll update the Pokemon models now that they changed the shader?

Oh, who am I kidding...?

They've been doing that, stop living under a rock.

 

[R6Rider]

 

[Robb]

Neat, I did not expect this to launch this year already. Nice to see it's taking some inspiration from Legends Arceus, that definitely seems to be the way to go going forward.

I like the look of the new starters, except maybe the fire one. The character models look very generic though compared to Sword/Sheild. Almost looks like those new Switch Sports avatars.

 

[Hoppa]

Looks like they just use a Pokémon generator

Sprigatito

The grass and fire one don't have any design qualities to reflect their typing beside them making one green for grass and the other red for fire I think that's why I didn't like the rabbit in the last batch of starter

I choose duck but will not buy this game.

 

[FearlessBelgian]

Is the game running in 420p or what ?

 

[Kiddo Cabbusses]

They've been doing that, stop living under a rock.

If by rock you mean "Pokemon XD", that still looks better than the last Pokemon gen. So no thank you, I'd rather not accept clear downgrades the way Game Freak has been conditioning it's fans to accept post-Black and White 2.

 

[AetherZX]

If by rock you mean "Pokemon XD", that still looks better than the last Pokemon gen. So no thank you, I'd rather not accept clear downgrades the way Game Freak has been conditioning it's fans to accept post-Black and White 2.

It's okay if you want to keep deluding yourself, just don't pretend you're up to date with current information. Thanks.

 

[Xaero Gravity]

The graphics are below par for the console generation at the time, as usual, but it will sell because Pokémon because is Pokémon. It would be great if every single Pokémon from previous generations would be available in-game without the need to transfer, but we'll see.

Quite the understatement. The amount of shimmering in things like windows, foliage, and shadows is absurdly ugly.

 

[Star-Lord]

Quite the understatement. The amount of shimmering in things like windows, foliage, and shadows is absurdly ugly.

I suppose we ought to be thankful for them not dropping in a load of lens flare and bloom, like Nintendo did with Wind Waker HD. Honestly, we all know the Switch is not a powerhouse, but it's certainly capable of running more than this. I'm not asking for ultra realistic graphics here, just something that isn't an eyesore.

 

[MAtgS]

Is the game running in 420p or what ?

It must be because this game is BLAZIN', dawg!

 

[Star-Lord]

Better than Black and White.

Black/White is better than X/Y.

 

[CuteFaceJay]

why does the open world still look like shit

Was wondering the same thing.

 

[Saber]

Prediction: The fire starter will evolve into some kind of snake. Why? Because this is the only way it fits into the Chinese Zodiac theme, which all fire starters have conformed to since Gen 1. The remaining four Zodiac animals that haven't been used yet are sheep, ox, horse and snake. Since I don't see how a crocodile is in any way connected to the first three, it stands to reason that Fuecoco will evolve into some kind of serpentine creature, which, being a reptile, would at least be somewhat related to crocodiles. It probably looses its limbs too, similar to Snivy's evolution in Gen 5.

He could end being a Naga, since its "snake/serpent" like creature.

 

[AetherZX]

Chinese Zodiac theory has been bogus, only a moron thinks Cyndaquil is remotely a rat or Fennekin somehow meets the criteria for "dog". Not non-specific canine; dog.

Trying to suggest the Pokemon literally named flaming crocodile will inexplicably end up as a snake (along with absolutely no design cues pointing towards it) is sheer copium that a bad theory is finally dead and buried.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

It's okay if you want to keep deluding yourself, just don't pretend you're up to date with current information. Thanks.

Despite XD using the N64 character models for the gen 1/2 Pokemon, XD is a better game than anything post B2/W2. The only one I can't comment on is Arceus. I haven't played it yet.

 

[The Skull]

I'm glad I avoided Arceus and the same with this. Whilst it looked to improve the formula, the lack of technical polish is simply unacceptable for a game that generates hundreds of millions of dollars.

 

[Star-Lord]

Was wondering the same thing.

Game Freak have a tendency to create large, mainly linear worlds, but fail to actually populate them. I'm sorry, but Kanto, for its time, was a fairly large world, yet you only ever really saw a small handful of NPCs in each town. And considering Pokémon are supposed to be everywhere, you rarely saw them out of battle. The entire world just felt empty.

We know the Switch is underpowered compared to PS4 and Xbox One, it's even underpowered compared to PS3 and Xbox 360, but I'm sure they could squeeze enough juice out of it to actually populate the map and make it feel alive. Sw/Sh made a little bit more effort in regards to this bu actually having you see some Pokémon in their natural habitats, but it still felt somewhat desolate.

I hope what we've seen is just an early build, and come October/November (the likely release window) we'll see a rich, dense world that we can actually believe it. I keep dreaming of a world as densely populated as Los Santos in GTA V (but with Pokémon and trainers, obviously) but I think it will only ever be just that; a dream.

 

[Stitch]

Is the game running in 420p or what ?

I actually thought it was supposed to be a 3DS game. Did anyone actually tell Game Freak that they're now making Switch games?

 

[Saber]

Game Freak have a tendency to create large, mainly linear worlds, but fail to actually populate them. I'm sorry, but Kanto, for its time, was a fairly large world, yet you only ever really saw a small handful of NPCs in each town. And considering Pokémon are supposed to be everywhere, you rarely saw them out of battle. The entire world just felt empty.

We know the Switch is underpowered compared to PS4 and Xbox One, it's even underpowered compared to PS3 and Xbox 360, but I'm sure they could squeeze enough juice out of it to actually populate the map and make it feel alive. Sw/Sh made a little bit more effort in regards to this bu actually having you see some Pokémon in their natural habitats, but it still felt somewhat desolate.

I hope what we've seen is just an early build, and come October/November (the likely release window) we'll see a rich, dense world that we can actually believe it. I keep dreaming of a world as densely populated as Los Santos in GTA V (but with Pokémon and trainers, obviously) but I think it will only ever be just that; a dream.

Funny though, that when DQXI launched I was like "wow, just imagine a pokemon game like that". Wish Square Enix could re use those assets and make their own DQ monster game. I still dream one day they bringing back DQ Monster Joker.
As for them we have to come with terms that as long as GF is doing main line games, pokemon will be nothing more than a farming tool of monsters with s stupid new unbalanced gimmick and nothing more. I wish Nanco would do it.

 

[iHaunter]

They've been doing that, stop living under a rock.

They got caught lying and just using sprites from Nintendo DS versions of the games - Pokemon Sword and Shield

GameFreak admits reusing old Pokemon models - Pokemon Sword

For Pokemon Sword on the Nintendo Switch, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "GameFreak admits reusing old Pokemon models" - Page 12.

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

 

[AetherZX]

They got caught lying and just using sprites from Nintendo DS versions of the games - Pokemon Sword and Shield

GameFreak admits reusing old Pokemon models - Pokemon Sword

For Pokemon Sword on the Nintendo Switch, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "GameFreak admits reusing old Pokemon models" - Page 12.

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

And that has what to do with what was being spoken of previously in this thread in regard to updating the models?

Do you...even read?

 

[Fake]

They got caught lying and just using sprites from Nintendo DS versions of the games - Pokemon Sword and Shield

GameFreak admits reusing old Pokemon models - Pokemon Sword

For Pokemon Sword on the Nintendo Switch, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "GameFreak admits reusing old Pokemon models" - Page 12.

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

Don't waste your time with him. Just move on.

 

[AetherZX]

Don't waste your time with him. Just move on.

He wouldn't get very far if he tried since he's researchably wrong off the bat in the first place. That's immediately apparent if you simply played Legends and compared those models to the previous games.

You also have nothing to contribute in this thread again, as you usually do.

 

[deriks]

Disney is about to put a cease and desist on Game Freak

 

[Fbh]

I'm not exactly a fan of the style for the character models. Should have stuck to the anime/Sword and Shield style. This time they look like Mii characters a bit:

Yeah it didn't instantly jump out to me during the trailer, but looking at these screenshots I'm not a fan:

Hopefully you can customize the clothes, right now they look like some random NPC you fight in the first area (that has 2 pidgeys or something). With this art style it also feels like we've gone from playing as kids/teens to playing as kindergartners ....which I don't like either.

(Also the screenshots really highlight how ugly the visuals still area)

 

[theclaw135]

If by rock you mean "Pokemon XD", that still looks better than the last Pokemon gen. So no thank you, I'd rather not accept clear downgrades the way Game Freak has been conditioning it's fans to accept post-Black and White 2.

XY downgraded the Pokemon models compared to Pokedex 3D. On the same system. Two years earlier.

 

[AetherZX]

XY downgraded the Pokemon models compared to Pokedex 3D. On the same system. Two years earlier.

Source?

 

[CuteFaceJay]

I hope what we've seen is just an early build

Didn't they show early builds for the last few games they put out and they ended up looking the same as launch

Arceus looked bad when they showed it off and it still looked the same on launch. Don't expect that to change with these new ones and look a bit less of a Unity Asset flip than Arcus does I guess :|

 

[Isa]

I like the setting, and that house on the hill is pretty, I'd love to live somewhere like that. Nice that its at least releasing soon after announcement as well. While I prefer SMT I'll give it a go, but I know my friend is going to be all over this. For him its comfort food lol.

 

[Shubh_C63]

This will be on the same engine and style as the recent Arceus right ?
Atleast GF did some innovation. now if only the writing can improve from 8th grader level.