Topic: Pokemon Black and White

[TJ Spyke]

There is a noticeable improvement over Diamond and Pearl (at least in the non-battle sections), I like it.

[nickmitch]

I like the new screens. I dunno why anyone would be disappointed unless they just weren't expecting it to be a damn Pokemon game. I'm sure we'll get REAL info at E3 or something where they can show off the new games more properly.

[Mop it up]

At least it's actually a three-dimensional world this time.

What they should really do is make the battles in full 3D with animation and everything like the Pokémon Stadium type of games and ditch the static battle scenes. That would make things more interesting.

[rbtr]

I really dig the sprite work in the pokemon games, outside of a few pokemon it's absolutely stellar.  I would like them to keep that, because I found the pokemon stadium games to make all of them look like they were made of plastic.  Unless they drastically change the battle mechanics, I would want the to keep the sprites but actually animate them.

[Mop it up]

That would be ideal, but it would take a lot more effort than 3D models and that's why I wouldn't expect it to happen.

[Stratos]

500+ unique animated sprites would be a pretty big thing.

[Mop it up]

That'd be one reason why I'd want them to greatly reduce the number of Pokémon, because then each individual one could be a lot more unique and interesting.

[Shorty McNostril]

And they might finally be able to say their own name instead of squeaks and grunts. 

I don't see what you find so disappointing in those screens.  And they could definitely make some nice 3D effects with that, especially the town areas.

[nickmitch]

Honestly, I don't think we'll see a Pokemon game with a limited set of Pokemon with real animations, and sounds without good reasoning for why it's like that.  I don't think a complete reboot of the main series would offer enough justification to the wider audience.

[BlackNMild2k1]

At least it's actually a three-dimensional world this time.

Should look good in real 3D then right?

[rbtr]

500+ unique animated sprites would be a pretty big thing.

I really think Pokemon is worth it.  Wario Land Shake it styled sprites, just nice big hand drawn sprites. The series has fantastic artwork, Sugimori is really really great at what he does, and I think these games really deserve an all star treatment.

[Spinnzilla]

Here's my wishlist of stuff I want:

Main game
-Customizable characters. Kind of explains its self. 
-MOAR fire types.  The series doesn't have enough, even though we have a billion water and grass types.
-A region with more gyms.  I'm not really interested in revisiting an older region, but an overall larger world that broke the 8 gym mold would be cool. 
-Elite 4 level choice after you've beaten them for the second time.  Elite 4 is a pretty good way, I find, of leveling pokemon.  So the elite 4 doesn't get left in the dust I think being able to choose la level set for their pokemon would be cool.  Like "40-55", "50-65","60-75" etc ect. 
-2 legendaries at most

Online: (snowball chance in hell of a lot of this happening, because it's online stuff)
-Random online battles! If nintendo is worried about creepies, just let this choice of play go without voice chat.
-have the ability to create tournies.  This **** ain't gonna happen, I know.
-Online double-battle gyms.  Gyms can you can run with your friends online.
-Wins/Losses tracking

[TJ Spyke]

Regarding the more than 8 gyms thing, I am surpised they haven't done this. The cartoon had more than 8 gyms in Kanto. When Ash met that trainer with a Cubone on the way to the Pokemon League (in the episode "Bad to the Bone"), the trainer had 3 badges other than the 8 established in the games. So Nintendo could maybe add in optional gyms.

[Caterkiller]

Here is some actual footage. Anyone understand japanese know what they're saying? I can never get super duper excited for a pokemon game anymore (like these people seem to) until Primeape evolves and/or the sprites start actually moving during the battle.

http://www.n-europe.com/news.php?nid=13992

[TJ Spyke]

Serebii is reporting that it is confirmed that Black and White will be able to trade in some way with the existing DS games. Those who pre-order tickets for the new movie (featuring Celebi) will be able to download special versions of the legendary dogs (a special version of Celebi will be available to everyone who goes see the movie in theatres), when they are transferred to Black or White they will unlock something. I know this is not totally unexpected, but it's nice to get in confirmed.

I wish they still released Pokemon movies in theatres here instead of just releasing them straight to DVD.

[RABicle]

Ian Sane Post

Now while Ian has left the thread, no doubt in disgust at just how terrible the game looks, I would like to remind everyone that for the past 5 years Nintendo has been doing the very opposite of Ian Sane's advice and done very well out of it, even managing to upset Ian Sane himself.

[Pale]

Breaking news! What makes Nintendo the most money always trumps someone's personal opinion!

[Caterkiller]

I do wish it didn't look so similiar to past games. There is an area in HG/SS that looks all 3D like that city there. It just looks like the same old same old. Iwata(I think) said there would be new experiences in this game but seriously the look and layout needs a total revamp. I was really expecting something more in the lines of Pokemon Ranger as far as looks go. Maybe the actual battle system will make me think again, but so far it looks like nothing about it has changed.

I understand more than anyone how the extra abilities, natures, and special physical split change the battle system in a very interesting way. Those type of changes can only excite me for so long, what really needs to change is how the game looks and is animated.

[Pale]

Some people have discussed removing Pokemon to "simplify" the game.  I personally would like to see the designers take another path toward solving that problem; remove the "gotta catch 'em all" goal of the game.

Sacrilege, I know.  Basically, if I were tasked with making a (non MMO) Pokemon game, I would focus the entire adventure around becoming a gym leader.  Force the player to choose the type of gym they want at the outset of the game and thus require that they commit to 1-3 different Pokemon types ONLY.

The main portion of the game would be a somewhat traditional adventure (with twists on the formula) in which the goal is to build a team of 6 Pokemon that fit the theme.  This main adventure would culminate in you defeatign the current gym leader (your mom or dad) and thus taking over the family gym.

After you have taken over the family gym, you then continue to improve your team as well as recruit protege's to be in your gym.  Think of this almost like a tower defense mentality.  Your proteges have to fall under the same Pokemon type rules.

At the end, you would then have an additional "online" mode that would be passive.  Basically, your friends could challenge your gym (with it being computer controlled) to see if they can work their way to the end and defeat you (also computer controlled).  You could then have all sorts of online rankings and statistics based on this.

You could then take it even further in the sim direction for the single player game, and have things like gym tourism and what not.

I think that would be a wonderful sequel.

[TJ Spyke]

That sounds pretty cool.

[Ceric]

I'm of the mind set that it is time to reboot the serious a bit or finely expand it into an MMO.  I'm hoping that Nintendo takes the opportunity to total revamp the engine.  By god Colissuem is still better then most Pokemon games.

[Halbred]

I'd play that game, Mike. Don't think it's gonna happen, but it'd be nice.

I wonder if this game will have all-new Pokemon and none of the existing ones. Instead of taking place in a different country, maybe this game takes place on a different continent. Or in the future, or something. That way, we could go back to the 150 standard. Fewer Pokemon, more sprite opportunities during battles, more reliance on a single team.

I mean, the ability to trade between Pearl/Diamond/Platinum/Heartgold/Soulsilver meant that I just imported the "next highest" time whenever I got to a touch guy in Heartgold. It made the game fundamentally easier.

[nickmitch]

Going from Pale's idea, I think it could work with a few more provisions would need to be made. The exploring part, for one, would need to be fixed in a way so as to not need HMs. It'd be hard to use surf, waterfall and defog with a team of fire types. Secondly, a lot of gyms have Pokemon with moves they wouldn't normally know, so as to give the gym leader an edge. I would hope that they would better the tutoring system so as to give you the sam edge.

All in all, it's a pretty sweet idea.

[Spak-Spang]

I always thought that a Pokemon MMO would be great for those side type games.  Basically, you would start off the game with a character class.

The character class basically describes what your overall goal in the game will be like becoming an overall Pokemon Master.  Becoming a Gym leader.  Becoming a Pokemon Photographer and what not.  Then the game is an open world to explore.  I like your idea for the Gym and realistically it is the only way to do an MMO gym master.  What could also be cool is people could leave their Pokemon at your gym to level up and be used in those simulated battles.  Allowing for Gyms to be more random and for people to have fun seeing or reading about their Pokemon's adventures while they are stored away training.

[BeautifulShy]

Well Serebii has the silhouettes of the 3 starter pokemon. No other details are known about them at this time such as type.