The evolution of a great game series...

This one is just for you Mike!

And so as the release date for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver starts coming into view I’m going to dedicate a blog to this epic game series.

Way back in 1996 Nintendo decided to create a game which was based on insect collecting, a hobby which the creator Satoshi Tajiri had as a child. This idea obviously evolved and became a game about collecting imaginative creatures rather than collecting insects.

Pokémon (or Pocket Monsters) is a game where the player becomes a Pokémon trainer, going on a journey to collect and train all the Pokémon they can find. Along the way they have to beat a selection of strong opponents who are gym trainers and after beating these trainers the Pokémon trainer can fight a group of elite trainers to gain the title of Pokémon master.
Technically the story of the game ends there but you can continue and fight people online, trade Pokémon and more recently compete in competitions.

Originally the game was released back in 1996 as two versions Pokémon Red and Green. Since these two proved popular an enhanced Blue version was released and this was then later reprogrammed with Red to become the international release versions in 1998. After these versions were release another version, Pokémon Yellow was released. This version had slightly enhanced graphics but the biggest change was in the plot. Rather than being the exact same game they changed the characters and certain scenes to try and mimic the anime which was fast becoming more popular than the games at the time. These games were classed as first generation only having the first generation of Pokémon in them (the first 151)

The second generation was released in 2000 as Pokémon Gold and Silver. These games took the new Pokémon total to 251, adding 100 new ones into the mix. These games made use of a time system in which the game kept track of time, turning the game to day or night depending on the time that was set, this effected Pokémon and certain events. The graphics were also better than the previous game having more range of colour in them. An enhanced version of the games called Pokémon Crystal was released later.

In 2003 the third generation was released. Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire was released bringing with it 135 new Pokémon to the mix. As popular as the games were they were criticised for leaving out certain features like the day-and-night system which was in the previous game. Again an enhanced version of these titles were released called Pokémon Emerald.
After the release of Ruby and Sapphire remakes of the original games were released. These were named Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. The game boasted better graphics but again was criticised for simplicity like Ruby and Sapphire.

The fourth generation debuted in 2006 called Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. These were for Nintendo DS. An additional 107 Pokémon were added to the mix bringing the total up to 493. These games were a lot more complex than their predecessors, boasting touch screen technology and a lot better graphics. A more enhanced version called Pokémon Platinum was released.
In 2009 Nintendo announced remakes of Gold and Silver for the Nintendo DS. They were released in September in Japan and are to be released later this month everywhere else. They also announced earlier this year that a new game was in development and it is to be the fifth generation.

In Japan and throughout a lot of the world Pokémon is a popular franchise spawning not just games but anime, manga, card games and toys. The anime is just as popular as the games these days, running for as long as the games have. It has been running for 12 seasons now, spanning over different generations of Pokémon and regions. There are also 12 films to go along with the anime and a thirteenth set for release in the summer.
Though Pokémon might not suit everyone’s taste you have to admit it’s had a good run and it will probably continue until a new even more ingenious game with weirder creatures is released but until then remember, gotta catch ‘em all!