Did the game makers plan to have so many regions?

[Torrential]

A thought occurred to me today. Did the makers of Pokemon plan to make all of these games and regions right off the bat, or were they all created on a whim?

I'm thinking that they only planned to make the first generation, but once they saw the momentum it carried, they went on to Gen 2, then 3. I think after Gen 3 is when they started planning out more regions, and even the G/S remakes.

Do you think they decided how far to go at the onset, or do you think that each new game is created just because the game makers decide to at that moment in time?

[NinjaDeathStrike]

Well I know Satoshi Tajiri (the creator of Pokemon) got the original idea from watching the bugs in his gardens. I've heard that when he did his original artwork he drew many more pokemon than the first 150. So there have clearly been more ideas floating around since the beginning. However, I think you're right Torrential when you said that they didn't plan all of this from the beginning. I'd say after the HUGE success of the first generation they were looking to franchise the series. When Gold and Silver were hits too, they knew they'd be able to keep making more games, and since then, have started planning the next generation right after they release a new game.

[JamesOfJohto]

I agree with Ninja, they probally have to start designing the region fast if they want the next game out fast enough...

[Torrential]

Well, NDS, maybe they did. I mean, as far as the anime....they had Togepi pretty early on in the first gen episodes, and Togepi was technically a Johto Pokemon, right? And then in the Johto episodes, I distinctly remember there being an episode about Kecleon, and Kecleon wasn't introduced in the games until the third gen.

On top of that, at the end of the Hoenn season, Gary was training an Electivire at the end, which eluded to the 4th gen. But by this point they were obviously thinking ahead.

[NinjaDeathStrike]

May 24, 2010 7:25:25 GMT -5 Torrential said:

Well, NDS, maybe they did. I mean, as far as the anime....they had Togepi pretty early on in the first gen episodes, and Togepi was technically a Johto Pokemon, right? And then in the Johto episodes, I distinctly remember there being an episode about Kecleon, and Kecleon wasn't introduced in the games until the third gen.

On top of that, at the end of the Hoenn season, Gary was training an Electivire at the end, which eluded to the 4th gen. But by this point they were obviously thinking ahead.

Like I said, they had tons of other pokemon designs besides the original 150, so it makes sense to use those in the show (can't you see Ho-oh in the very first episode?). I'm sure they wanted it to be a hit, but I still doubt they planned all this from the begging. They may have had some vague ideas, but nothing concrete.

Now I think it's pretty obvious that they're already thinking ahead by the time they release each new generation.

[GeneXJennifer]

The pokemon league in the anime usually has a next gen or two. Tho I only remember Jhoto which was a trainer with a Kecleon and Blazikien. It is a great way to hype up next gen and next gen for anime.

[JamesOfJohto]

Gene havent seen you in a while....

[GeneXJennifer]

I have a thread inside my E4 area explaining why lol.

[TheShiningGyarados]

The only thing I can say is that I hope Poke'mon will never end!

[firecopyX]

Wait Gene is now in the elite 4. MAN I have been gone for a long time.