Pokemon Why?

[NinjaDeathSlap]

*stands ready to repel the angry mob of terrible pun justice*

Anyway, I don't really understand why Pokemon has remained such a popular icon of gamer culture over the 15 or so years since the first game(s); and before anyone rolls their eyes, no, this isn't going to be another one of those insufferable 'Why does everyone like [game] when I don't. You should all stop being so stupid grrrr!' threads. It's not even that I don't like Pokemon, I just stopped caring about it a very, very long time ago, but apparently, especially in light of all the praise Pokemon X and Y seem to be getting, a lot of other gamers didn't, and I'm genuinely curious as to what it is about the franchise that continues to hold the attention of so many gamers even as they mature and their tastes naturally change in so many other respects. Why, an entire childhood and adolescence later, do we all still love Pokemon so much (and if your a gamer who likes Pokemon but wasn't in the target demographic at the time the phenomenon first started, what was it that reeled you in)?

As far as I can see (of course meaning no offence to fans of the games), I see nothing in them that isn't done better somewhere else. The aesthetic is cute, but so are a lot of games that don't have slightly sinister cock-fighting undertones. The mechanics are fairly simplistic, which I recognise was part of the appeal when we were all still new to the thing. However, when there are other games out there that do the same thing much deeper, why has that continued to be a selling point to its now adult following. Even when I was a kid, the gimmick of releasing two games at once struck me as kind of cheap, forcing you to fork out twice if you want to experience 100% of the developer's creativity; and, although I did watch it, I was never really captivated by the anime. However, before it sounds too much like I'm tearing into the thing that you like for no reason, I acknowledge that there must be something I'm missing, and so I invite you to sell it to me.

Why is Pokemon still worth my time and money? Also, are these new instalments worth the added expense of finally biting the bullet and buying a 3DS so I can play them?

 

[Dragonbums]

Anyway, I don't really understand why Pokemon has remained such a popular icon of gamer culture over the 15 or so years since the first game(s); and before anyone rolls their eyes, no, this isn't going to be another one of those insufferable 'Why does everyone like [game] when I don't. You should all stop being so stupid grrrr!' threads. It's not even that I don't like Pokemon, I just stopped caring about it a very, very long time ago, but apparently, especially in light of all the praise Pokemon X and Y seem to be getting, a lot of other gamers didn't, and I'm genuinely curious as to what it is about the franchise that continues to hold the attention of so many gamers even as they mature and their tastes naturally change in so many other respects.

Just because people mature, doesn't mean they should or have to grow out of "kiddie" games. That right there should tell you that perhaps there is a lot more to Pokemon than what you see on the surface. It's amazing isn't it? That a video game can hit so many different demographics and still manage to hold on to a good portion of it's fanbase. You might as well ask why Animal Crossing is so widely appealing to so many people.

Why, an entire childhood and adolescence later, do we all still love Pokemon so much

Because for many they still found a way to make things exciting to jump right back into.

I see nothing in them that isn't done better somewhere else.

Just like how there are a million games that can do CoD and WoW better and yet for some reason, none of those games even came close to so much as presenting themselves as competition to those franchises.

The aesthetic is cute, but so are a lot of games that don't have slightly sinister cock-fighting undertones.

I know the cock fighting thing is sort of a joke among fans, but really now. The games and the show have explained time and time again that Pokemon battles are simply light hearted competition. Even the Pokemon in the new X and Y games would state that they are excited or antsy for some action. The ones that treat it as cockfighting are often deemed as the villains.

The mechanics are fairly simplistic, which I recognise was part of the appeal when we were all still new to the thing. However, when there are other games out there that do the same thing much deeper, why has that continued to be a selling point to its now adult following.

Have you taken one step into the Pokemon metagame before? I guarantee you that it is far more complicated than you think.

There is a reason why a lot of people here and elsewhere don't understand/or want to take the time to do EV/IV training.

Even when I was a kid, the gimmick of releasing two games at once struck me as kind of cheap, forcing you to fork out twice if you want to experience 100% of the developer's creativity;

It doesn't force you to buy two games. It creates an incentive to simply find a person with an opposing version of the game and trade whatever exclusives it has with your friend. And as of X and Y, you don't even have to see the person in physical form anymore to do that. Just a quick request on a forum post, an exchange of friendcodes and you got your exclusives.
If you want to buy the other version of the game that is all on you and your impatience. Not Gamefreak's attempt to rake in the money.

I was never really captivated by the anime.

Neither are a lot of people after they became pre teens.

there must be something I'm missing, and so I invite you to sell it to me.

Or perhaps you don't like the game, or the fact that it's still wildly popular after 13 some years since it's release. You already listed a bunch of reason why you don't like it or care for it so what good would it do for anyone to try to convince you otherwise? The only thing I can say is get someone to let you test run it and form your own opinion.

Why is Pokemon still worth my time and money? Also, are these new instalments worth the added expense of finally biting the bullet and buying a 3DS so I can play them?

The 3DS library is strong enough already without Pokemon anyway. I bought my 3DS for the upcoming release months ago, but I also got the opportunity to play a wealth of other games that really caught my fancy.

If you don't feel that the game is worth your money than don't buy it. Also considering how it's implied you haven't played the games for a long time you are essentially paying money for a game that has a lot of familiarity but a lot of changes as well along with 400+ new monsters to catch up to.

 

[Juste Goose]

Well, to get the borderline insulting "simplistic" argument out of the way, Pokemon's really good at the whole "easy to learn, hard to master" thing. It's simple enough that a eight-year-old could become the league champ, but there's enough depth for it to get REALLY competitive. EV training, breeding, natures, abilities, held items, choosing your four moves... and of course, picking a team of six from a pool of near 700. There's a LOT of depth involved. You can't just jack a Charizard up to level 100 and expect to win against serious competitive players.

Now then...

Honestly, pokemon is just special to some people. It was the first RPG I ever played, and one of the few that I actually enjoy. I've grown up with pokemon, it's always been a part of my life. I played Blue in first grade, Silver in fourth, Sapphire in middle school, Diamond in high school, White after graduation, and now X in college. Some of my best friendships started with "Who's your favorite pokemon?" I remember arguing with kids on the playground whether or not Mew was really under the truck. Getting on my dad's dial-up connection to look up info on the Pokegods. Swearing for the first time ever when a friend beat me in a battle. Playing for almost three solid days sitting in the moving truck as my family moved cross-country. Introducing my little sister by giving her my old games, and letting her win against me. It's one of those things I just can't explain. It's the same thing as lifetime football fans or uber comic-book geeks. Unless you have those special memories, it's just not going to be the same to you.

I like it because I do, it's as simple as that.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

Well, I used to think just like you. Prior to Y I played only Red as a kid and I loved it. After that I was kinda confused why Pokemon was still being popular. Hell, graphics are mostly the same, gameplay is mostly the same, the only thing they add is new Pokemon and new regions. I used to think like that until X and Y. But something in Y picked my interest enough for me to buy 2DS... and now I'm back to being a kid. Honestly, there is just something to the Pokemon games. There is something to picking your starter and then sticking with it and in some way caring about it. There is this childlike wonder and sensation whenever you find and catch a new Pokemon. Hell! I screamed in surprise when my Flabebe evolved 2 days ago! She is new Pokemon and there was no information on the internet about her evolution! It was awesome!

 

[shrekfan246]

She is new Pokemon and there was no information on the internet about her evolution! It was awesome!

You know what, you raise a good point. I think part of the reason I was so jaded about Black/White may have just been because I inundated myself with information about them before I played them. Granted, I still don't really care for most of the designs from that Gen (Volcarona was cool, and Zorua/Zoroark are awesome), but the few I've seen of X/Y do look a bit more appealing and going into it with that unsullied child-like sense of wonder might spark the same sort of nostalgic glee that HeartGold and SoulSilver did.

Still dunno if I'd be able to justify the price, though, with Sonic Lost World and Batman: Arkham Origins right around the corner...

 

[Miss G.]

Fortunately, I've a set of go-to responses ready for OPs like this as they're so similar I can copy/paste them with few, if any, adjustments to my original post.

*stands ready to repel the angry mob of terrible pun justice*

Anyway, I don't really understand why Pokemon has remained such a popular icon of gamer culture over the 15 or so years since the first game(s); and before anyone rolls their eyes, no, this isn't going to be another one of those insufferable 'Why does everyone like [game] when I don't. You should all stop being so stupid grrrr!' threads. It's not even that I don't like Pokemon, I just stopped caring about it a very, very long time ago, but apparently, especially in light of all the praise Pokemon X and Y seem to be getting, a lot of other gamers didn't, and I'm genuinely curious as to what it is about the franchise that continues to hold the attention of so many gamers even as they mature and their tastes naturally change in so many other respects. Why, an entire childhood and adolescence later, do we all still love Pokemon so much (and if your a gamer who likes Pokemon but wasn't in the target demographic at the time the phenomenon first started, what was it that reeled you in)?

You're confused that fans of a series are hyped for the next entries in their favorite series? Since you asked (even though 12 was still in the target demographic), for me, it's the game (Gold version) that got me into gaming, it was and still is a bonding experience between my brother, sister and I, some of the best life-long friends I've ever had were met through love of the games and everything they inspire, and I enjoy playing it. Also, last time I checked, "rated E" means its for everyone, not kid's only, and there's the competitive battling meta game for veterans and newcomers to keep themselves more than occupied with. (More on that last bit in the response after this.)

As far as I can see (of course meaning no offence to fans of the games), I see nothing in them that isn't done better somewhere else. The aesthetic is cute, but so are a lot of games that don't have slightly sinister cock-fighting undertones. The mechanics are fairly simplistic, which I recognise was part of the appeal when we were all still new to the thing. However, when there are other games out there that do the same thing much deeper, why has that continued to be a selling point to its now adult following.

(cont.)
Your mons gain effort values (EVs), which aren't shown and so must be meticulously tracked (they've made it much easier for newbies and veterans alike to visibly track them in X & Y with Super & Core training) added to their stats with every pokemon you beat, thus there is character customization of your monsters depending on which EVs you want them to gain in any stat you want to tweak and what natures they have since those dictate positive, negative & neutral gains in stats. e.g. I want to boost my team to be able to tank Special attacks so I battle against, say Tentacools, because they give EVs in that stat. Properly done, you'll a see massive difference between EV trained pokemon vs mons trained by people who just did whatever during their play through. Then there are moves, natures, passive abilities, strategic breeding, Pokerus, EV training items, Vitamins, Berries etc that play very heavily in the meta game than during the main story, where a match can be won or lost because of one point in stat differences between mons that are EV trained to their utmost potential.

TL;DR; The game mechanics in this series are the definition of simple to get, hard to master. Watching experienced battlers as they try to out-predict each other's sets and strategies hardly differs from watching chess masters at play. You don't need anywhere near as much strategy or focused EV training in the main game as you would in the meta against other players and yeah, the formula has basically remained the same at its heart, but the games are by no means stagnant and that continues to draw us older players in.

Even when I was a kid, the gimmick of releasing two games at once struck me as kind of cheap, forcing you to fork out twice if you want to experience 100% of the developer's creativity

As Dragonbums has said, the point is to link up/trade with friends/people who have the opposite version. You can just get the one version you like and get all your trades from others (including the huge trading thread here on the escapist), a feat made much easier with the implementation of trading across the globe via wifi in addition to locally in recent years. Trades are even more efficient on X & Y with the in-game P.S.S. system. Or you can be like me and get all the versions because you could and/or dabble in online trading on the side. Unless you're under duress, you don't have to take either of those actions and you can ignore the series on the whole.

and, although I did watch it, I was never really captivated by the anime.

I didn't have cable growing up in my country, thus I've seen very little of the show. Any of the older episodes I look up online now are quite new to me and are only of interest if their synopsis says they feature a pokemon that I like in the games, like episodes with Tyson's Meowth-in-Boots, otherwise I don't bother.

However, before it sounds too much like I'm tearing into the thing that you like for no reason, I acknowledge that there must be something I'm missing, and so I invite you to sell it to me.
Why is Pokemon still worth my time and money?

Anyone can ask that about any games/genres they don't get. I don't get shooters, 1st person POV of any kind, or MMOs, but obviously if I don't enjoy them, asking a bunch of strangers, especially fans, isn't gonna help anything since my mind's already made up and they're just not to my tastes.

Also, are these new instalments worth the added expense of finally biting the bullet and buying a 3DS so I can play them?

Watch one of the many Poketubers on youtube, TheJWittz and Marriland in particular as they're more informative and the latter has http://www.marriland.com/pokemon-xy as well, for a little and see if anything tickles your fancy if you're serious about picking up a copy. You can just get the much cheaper 2DS to play them as 3D isn't really used for more than a cutscene or 2 in these games anyway.

 

[Someone Depressing]

Pokemon introduced me to more complex RPGs are a kid. So in a way, it's got a place in my heart.

A place that I want it to get the fuck out of. But yeah, the fact that adults will openly praise these games in public is a bit... meh? That, and the series hasn't changed at all since day #1. There's no point to it; it's really just an entry-level simplistic role playing game with complicated crap going on behind it.

 

[Something Amyss]

(and if your a gamer who likes Pokemon but wasn't in the target demographic at the time the phenomenon first started, what was it that reeled you in)?

My a gamer who was a Pokémon player of 18 when Red and Blue dropped in the US. They're fun little light RPGs which can be played in short bursts and I liked the variety of 150 (and more!) party members.

Why is Pokemon still worth my time and money?

Maybe it's not. What do you want out of them?

 

[Megalodon]

Since I fell out of following pokemon religiously (between Gold/Silver and Crystal), there have been two times when I've come down with the urge to play pokemon again. The first time a few years ago with FireRed and Emerald, then over the summer with HeartGold (wild Steelix made me stupidly happy), Black and Black 2. Both times I've had a right blast, doing a decent job of recapturing the feeling of being 9 again, muddling my way through the first game I properly played, pokemon Red. So I'll be picking up X or Y (whichever on has the megacharizard that isn't blue) in a few weeks, once I've got round to finishing Black 2.

So to answer the question, a mix of nostalgia and the games being pretty good at what they do. That's why it's worth my time and money.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

I was 18 when Red and Blue came out, so definitively not target audience. I just decided to try it, because, hey, I like cute things. And as an RPG it's very deep. And now, many years later, I'm feeling the same excitement playing Y as I felt playing Red. There's a lot to discover, new Pokemon, moves and abilities to play with, and the whole thing in 3D, something that fans were asking for for a long time.

I wouldn't get them (game and 3DS) if I felt anything like you, though. Seems you got tired of it, and that's understandable.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I always thought the dual releases were also a cheap maneuver.

It's also just the same game over and over again, with more Pokemon in each of them and some tweaking bullshit. Now you can breed! Now you can difference between night and day! Now you can become friends! Etc. Stuff that may or may not be nifty, but nobody asked for it or needed it.

It's easy and halfway through tends to become really, really boring. As other people have said, you can make it even more complicated if you want... just because. You'll win the game either way.

So I guess the appeal is that it's easy, addictive and time-consuming, with endless shit to tweak around because it's an RPG. My main problem is that character customization doesn't feel very RPG-y, since it doesn't affect gameplay at all.

 

[BQE]

I've been a fan of several games that continue to release titles that have changed only slightly to moderately.

Dynasty Warriors
Armored Core
Call of Duty
Battlefield
Disgaea
Pokemon
etc.

Apart from the shooters, the rest of the games provide a unique experience that isn't quite rivaled or recreating by any other game. Pokemon is obvious; Armored Core is mecha combat with high customization; Dynasty Warriors is the infamous three kingdoms 3rd person action; and Disgaea is a go-to tactics game.

All of these are pretty rare breeds, and I'm always glad to see them get updates and even go so far as to purchase them on sight.

 

[TehCookie]

Nostalgia, isn't it the main reason adults love Nintendo? Like all Nintendo games, Pokemon has solid gameplay, while you know other games that are a better version, I can't think of any. SMT is the closest I got but it doesn't have the same capturing or evolving feeling or the happy tone.

As an adult I don't like the duel releases, but as a kid I loved finding people on the playground to trade with and how the games brought people together.

Though it doesn't sound like Pokemon is worth your time or money. It's okay to not like something. The new installments are nice because they add little things to the game, but if you expect a core overhaul you are going to be disappointed. It's still grinding pokemon and battling gyms, the extras give you something to do in between to break it up.

 

[norashepard]

I think it has lasted so long for two reasons.

One, it has many layers of complexity that a lot of different people can enjoy, as well as several ways to find fun in the games. I don't know about anyone else, but most of my playtime in White/2 was spent putting on shows. But basically, it appeals to a ton of people for a wide variety of reasons.

Two, though there are a lot of us who played Red/Blue/Yellow way back in the day who still play, I'm willing to be that there are also a ton of new players who are getting into it. Thus there is a constantly growing player base, so the games keep coming.

Plus, and this is just my opinion, Pokemon just kind of feels like a big part of the cultural identity of kids from the 90s. Everyone knows about it and everyone had fun with it when they were little, so of course this easy, fun, and most importantly, consistent piece of nostalgia is great. All of our Saturday morning cartoons may have been cancelled or changed in bad ways, but Pokemon remains the same.

 

[ex275w]

I would say Pokemon is the ultimate multiplayer game. The point of the game is to build up Pokemon and trade them or battle with them with your friends. A lot of the mechanics Game Freak have implemented are obviously geared towards this, for example Pokemon that evolve only when traded or the event Pokemon like Mew. There are always bonuses for finding and interacting with other Pokemon players, for example, increasing the chance of getting shiny Pokemon when breeding with foreign Pokemon.

Gameplay wise it's a pretty cool version of rock-paper-scissor and with 700+ Pokemon it's hard not to find 6 for you to journey with. The collection aspect and production values are always done extremely well and are compelling for all audiences. Game Freak is always trying to improve the game in all aspects, visual and in a mechanical sense and I respect them for that.

Of course, someone will tell me: "The franchise has never changed."

 

[WraithGadra]

Nostalgia, isn't it the main reason adults love Nintendo? ...

That and fairly consistent quality.

To the OP, are you really looking to get into Pokemon? If not, what's wrong with just ignoring it? It's not like you have to get, play, or even think about a game just because it's popular.

Pokemon introduced me to more complex RPGs are a kid. So in a way, it's got a place in my heart.

A place that I want it to get the fuck out of. But yeah, the fact that adults will openly praise these games in public is a bit... meh? That, and the series hasn't changed at all since day #1. There's no point to it; it's really just an entry-level simplistic role playing game with complicated crap going on behind it.

Any long-standing series can be described simply enough as to be labeled 'pointless', what's the rationale behind throwing it at Pokemon?

 

[deathbydeath]

Interesting debate here. I've never been a fan because I was cheaply raised and didn't do much gaming until 2010 when I discovered Steam and could support it myself. Then, when I tried to play Pokemon it was boring as fuck because it was all of the things I hated about JRPGs with none of the things I liked. Add to that the fact that Pokemon are interchangeable, have no distinguishing mechanics (the levelling doesn't help, either), and are essentially an overly complicated game of rock-paper-scissors then I'll stick to something like Urban Rivals, which is courteous enough to be more original and was specifically designed to waste less, rather than more of my time (and money).

 

[The White Hunter]

Yes pokemon is incredibly simple.

That's why my good pal Tizzy got curb stomped by me the other day despite our levels matgching and teams being similar.

It''ss an RPG with as much depth as you want it to have, with an excellent and thriving competitive multiplayer scene that gets regular updates and continually changes as time goes on.

 

[elvor0]

As far as I can see (of course meaning no offence to fans of the games), I see nothing in them that isn't done better somewhere else. The aesthetic is cute, but so are a lot of games that don't have slightly sinister cock-fighting undertones. The mechanics are fairly simplistic,

The mechanics are actually deceptively deep. On the surface, yeah it's rock paper scissors, which is great, casual players and children can just storm the story mode and have a load of fun. However for multiplayer. being able to choose from 700 pokes, breeding, cross breeding species, held items, EV training, IV perfection, natures, abilites, Hidden Power on its own is complex as it is, pokemon synergies, your 4 moves, all add up to a massive amount of complexity.

Just quickly browsing Smogon.com will give you a general idea of how much variety and strategy there is to the series. If you can get over the whole stigma generated from the 90s, it's one of the best Turn Based RPGs in town.

 

[The_Echo]

The mechanics are fairly simplistic, which I recognise was part of the appeal when we were all still new to the thing.

Clearly you haven't seen the competitive Pokémon scene. It's... not quite that simple.

Even when I was a kid, the gimmick of releasing two games at once struck me as kind of cheap, forcing you to fork out twice if you want to experience 100% of the developer's creativity;

The separate versions incentivize trading. This is also why certain 'mon only evolve through trade, and why traded Pokémon get EXP boosts. Now with the online functionality, it's even easier to find a trading partner.

Pokémon has always been about building its community to some extent. And that may be why its community is still so vibrant 15 years later.

Why is Pokemon still worth my time and money? Also, are these new instalments worth the added expense of finally biting the bullet and buying a 3DS so I can play them?

Long story short, some fans stay fans. There are plenty of genwunners out there who won't touch anything that isn't Red, Blue or Yellow.

Long story long: Each new generation adds some kind of new thing. There is of course the new region and new Pokémon. But in Gen II we got Kanto as a New Game + of sorts, in Gen III they introduced Contests and the Battle Frontier. Gen IV had... digging? Gen IV kind of sucked.

And Gen V managed to bring back the freshness of Gen I by keeping previous Pokémon locked away in the end game, as well as finally putting a focus on storytelling. Now X and Y have accomplished feeling fresh and new by giving us a big region with lots of Pokémon, the new Mega Digivolutions and, again, a more plot-focused main game.

But the lasting appeal? The thing that keeps us coming back? ... Well, I dunno. Some of us like exploring the new regions. Some of us really do want to catch them all. Some are absorbed in the meta-game and want to keep up-to-date in competition, others might do it solely out of fanboyism.

There isn't just one single reason why people love Pokémon. It's bigger than that.