Game Freak Won't Let Pokemon Players Be Bad

Tom Goldman

Crying on the inside.
Aug 17, 2009
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Game Freak Won't Let Pokemon Players Be Bad



Pokemon players might never get a look at what it's like to be on the dishonest Team Rocket.

The premise of the Pokemon [http://www.amazon.com/Pokemon-Black-Version-Nintendo-DS/dp/B004EW2PC6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302536740&sr=8-1] games has always been an uplifting one. Work hard, be honest, and be kind, and you'll rise through the ranks of the Pokemon world to become the very best, like no one... well you know what I mean. But what about the dark side of Pokemon, represented by groups like Team Rocket? What's it like over there? We may never know, according to Game Freak Pokemon director Junichi Masuda.

Masuda was recently asked by Official Nintendo Magazine if Game Freak and Nintendo would ever create a game where players fill the shoes of a Team Rocket member. Masuda basically shot the idea down.

"That's a difficult question to answer," Masuda said. "But when you think about Team Rocket, while they're quite comical, they're still bad guys when they try to steal other trainers' Pokémon."

"Imagine watching football on TV, for example - you want them to play fair," he added. "I want players to play as heroes in videogames, and I want them to play fair."

Team Rocket definitely doesn't fit the "play fair" philosophy of Masuda. The group is known as an organized crime syndicate that abuses Pokemon for their own profit and goals, often stealing them from honest trainers.

Playing as a member of Team Rocket would definitely be a big change for the Pokemon series, but it wouldn't be impossible. If players took on the role of a character that brought the organization down from the inside, it could be a nice change from the typical Pokemon protagonist. This, however, would require quite a bit of innovation on Game Freak's part.

Source: ONM [http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/25452/news/pokmon-why-youll-never-play-as-team-rocket/]

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Onyx Oblivion

Borderlands Addict. Again.
Sep 9, 2008
17,032
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Isn't my use of Full Restores and Revives technically cheating?

The AI gets 1-2 items, and only on major trainer battles, like Gym Leaders.

I'm fine with never playing the villain. Never expected to, honestly.

They could do a radical environmental group, like Magma/Aqua. But one that doesn't mistreat pokemon or steal them. And just has evil, misguided goals.
 

Priest of Lies

New member
Mar 16, 2011
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Being a bad guy would be fun but I dont think 'be the biggest jerk-off ever' would make for a good game. Also I think there would be more trips back to the Pokemon grave yard in Pokemon Yellow.
 

emeraldrafael

New member
Jul 17, 2010
8,589
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Eh? You can still be bad, you jsut need an AR and to use the catch trainer's pokemon code.

Anyway, this isnt a big deal to me. If I wanted to be the bad guy, I'd go play something like Kratos. Besides, if you were team rocket, you'd fail comically everytime.
 

Jonci

New member
Sep 15, 2009
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Meh, save the idea for the long-shot chance of a Pokemon MMO. Players need to have some conflicts after all.
 

Randomspike

Pinball Wizard
Oct 12, 2010
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But it's not very heroic to capture wild animals and force them to fight for your gain.
 

Samechiel

New member
Nov 4, 2009
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The primary Pokemon franchise hasn't changed in 19 games.

Did you honestly expect them to do something cool like letting you be in Team Rocket?
 

windlenot

Archeoastronomist
Mar 27, 2011
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I never thought of the idea of playing Pokemon only to hassle trainers... Well, for bad. Sounds kinda cool though. I'd try it out.
 

ZeZZZZevy

New member
Apr 3, 2011
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I like the idea of taking down an organization from the inside, it would certainly add a little depth into the story of Pokemon. I feel like that wouldn't ever be necessary, considering in just about every game you can just walk into their base and beat up all their pokemon.
 

WrongSprite

Resident Morrowind Fanboy
Aug 10, 2008
4,503
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Couldn't you play as someone like 'N' from the newest games?

Having honest intentions, but being lead by someone secretly evil into doing bad things, but realizing that you were wrong?

Not exactly like that, but it might make it a bit more interesting.
 

mjc0961

YOU'RE a pie chart.
Nov 30, 2009
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Well, good. Who would honestly want to be a part of Team Rocket in a game? Standing around with a Ratatta and a Koffing waiting for some kid with a full team of varied, much better, and higher leveled Pokémon to come around to beat me in a battle and then having to stand there some more until he beats my boss too. No thanks, that sounds like a terrible game. And besides, Team Rocket is the worst villians in any of these games anyway. If I had to pick one of the "teams" from the games to join, Team Rocket is at the very bottom of my list. Yes, even below Team Plasma, the group of hypocrites telling me they want to release Pokémon from their trainers before engaging me in battle. At least Plasma is still doing more than just standing around waiting for me to kick their asses. And so far, none of the other villians have decided that their big evil plan was to take over the radio so they could QQ nationwide about their leader.

So I say kudos to Junichi Masuda for not using a terrible idea. Being on Team Rocket would SUCK.

Onyx Oblivion said:
They could do a radical environmental group, like Magma/Aqua. But one that doesn't mistreat pokemon or steal them. And just has evil, misguided goals.
I don't remember them stealing any Pokémon, but to be fair I haven't played those games in a while (I know they stole other stuff though). And they weren't really evil either, they just had two scoops of misguided to compensate for having no scoops of evil. I'd say they were both just dumb, but when we have Team Rocket to compare them to, they don't really look all that dumb anymore either.
 

GodsAndFishes

New member
Mar 22, 2009
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I wouldn't mind it normally, but its just that each Team Evil offers you the chance to join. If you offer me the chance I want to accept it!!!
 

twm1709

New member
Nov 19, 2009
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innovation? an actual moral choice? this is pokemon we're talking about. You might as well demand ice from the sun.
 

Russano_Greenstripe

New member
Apr 10, 2011
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Tom Goldman said:
. If players took on the role of a character that brought the organization down from the inside, it could be a nice change from the typical Pokemon protagonist.
Hmm, where have I heard that one before...

*coughPokémonColosseumcough*
 

FullMetalZ

New member
Mar 10, 2011
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Samechiel said:
The primary Pokemon franchise hasn't changed in 19 games.
Yeah, I think the key phrase in this article is that it would "require quite a bit of innovation on Game Freak's part."

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the games, but they really haven't shaken much up in terms of gameplay since the inception of the series. Not like they need to though. They'll just keep making insane amounts of money.
 

Baldry

New member
Feb 11, 2009
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What if we are aloud to be in Team Rocket for a bit then realise they're the baddies and get out and become a good guy!
 

KeyMaster45

Gone Gonzo
Jun 16, 2008
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mjc0961 said:
Onyx Oblivion said:
They could do a radical environmental group, like Magma/Aqua. But one that doesn't mistreat pokemon or steal them. And just has evil, misguided goals.
I don't remember them stealing any Pokémon, but to be fair I haven't played those games in a while (I know they stole other stuff though). And they weren't really evil either, they just had two scoops of misguided to compensate for having no scoops of evil. I'd say they were both just dumb, but when we have Team Rocket to compare them to, they don't really look all that dumb anymore either.
They steal Pokemon in the animated series, save for Jessie and James who just kinda suck at their job. Though they never really elaborated what they were stealing them for, I think it was to take over the world.