Below is a "coded" box containing all of the months-old information that once comprised this post. From now on, let's focus on far more specific ideas so that we can organize and categorize such. Eventually, we may build a "5th Gen Speculation" encyclopedia, from which we can draw inspiration, and check off all that 'comes true' when the 5th Generation of Pokemon is actually released. Now to start us off, I'll list a few specific categories:
I. Pokémon:
- New species
- Pokédex structure
- Behavior
II. World Setting:
- Age
- Geography
- Civilization
III. Systematic Changes:
- Gym League/Elite Four
- Attributes/Types
- Moves
- Real-time environmental changes
IV. Lore:
- Storyline
- History
- Conceptual elements (Land/Sea/Air, Space/Time/Darkness, etc.)
Code:
[B][SIZE="2"]
Welcome! This thread is about the mere speculation and desires for the 5th Generation of Pokémon - how it could and should be different - including:[/SIZE][/B]
[list][*]An overview of the new overworld
[*]Real-time Pokémon lifestyles and battling
[*]New Type System
[*]Pokémon Creation
[*]Ideas for new Pokémon
[*]Legendary Overhaul
[*]Further Speculation[/list]
[SIZE="2"][B]So, without further adieu - let's get started![/B][/SIZE]
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/Overview.png[/IMG]
We have played through four different worlds of Pokémon - each containing new and old Pokémon, towns, gyms, etc, etc. But, can this formula really hold strong? As we play through the same repetitive nature of the games, we grow tired of them, because all-in-all, they're the same, give or take the obvious differences that don't hold the game subject to being "different".
I propose the idea to either:
[list=A][*]Merge the four worlds of: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh into [U]one[/U] huge overworld for complete adventuring and exploration - collecting all of the Pokémon without purchasing multiple games, taking on all of the gyms across all four regions, and toppling the Elite Four Leagues across the nation, rising to power above all else. Or....
[*]Create an entirely new world, much larger than any we have seen before that also encompasses all of the Pokémon, but is designed differently - either retaining the system of "gyms" or not.[/list]
The world should nevertheless, be a fully functioning world, with trainers not just stationed in their areas like they have always been (really, who stands on a pathway or swims in the water for all eternity?). Trainers should be completely functioning people just as you are, who if you do not see them move, at least "transport" to locations within their regional proximity (i.e. move from one city to another, but may move back to their original location, so perhaps even a cyclical-routine may take place over x amount of days). This would further exemplify the degree of realism and real-time lifestyles in the world.
Now, in all of the games, we have always played with a pre-designed character. In the 5th Generation, we should be able to design our own characters - altering their gender, age, height, weight, eye/hair color, clothing, etc, etc. This would personalize the game tenfold and would prevent an older player from being forced to play as a ten-year-old.
As for how one adventures around the world - well the world should be relatively designed so that you much follow certain routes and what not, but they should be expanded so that you do not feel as if you are following a path, bordered by non-passable walls such as trees. You should feel as if you are in an environment that looks inviting to explore, not just to stroll on through. There should be nooks and crannies in the rock, tall and short patches in the grass, thick and thin trees to walk around. The world should indefinitely be very explorable, so catching Pokémon would feel entirely different, and include a bit of environmental strategy.
One last thing to note: both the 1st and 3rd Generations were parallel, while the 2nd and 4th were parallel. If a 5th is made, it should not be parallel to either of the past four, but rather take place in a time after all four; in an "alternate Pokémon reality" altogether, where none of the events that occurred in the four generations ever happened; or simply be all four fused together so the player gets to experience all of it.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/Real-TimePokemon.png[/IMG]
Tired of randomly encountering Pokémon? Then this is for you. Pokémon should be able to be spotted in the wild so you can decide whether or not you would like to catch it. It would add strategy to adventuring rather than running around a patch of grass just waiting for a certain Pokémon to show up. Pokemon would still live in their respective environments, but you may very well see one adventure off for whatever reason. Pokémon should run on a non-linear schedule, consisting of their basic habits with what they do in the wild - which includes interaction with other Pokémon. Different Pokémon will of course act differently. Some will live a carefree life, bouncing around the wilderness, befriending other carefree Pokémon, while others will be ruthless, attacking Pokémon weaker than themselves.
This concept is directly related to how [U]you[/U] play the game. While you are out adventuring around, you may or may not stumble on to Pokémon in the wild, and even if you do, you would not have to encounter it. How you play no longer is written by hidden dice rolls, but rather by how [U]you[/U] want to play. Pokémon will respond to you as a trainer - some will attack you, others will not. In the past games, all Pokémon would attack you - even those that you would not think would ever want to do so. Now, however, Pokémon may flee from you after detection, may attack you, or may act passively, not caring whether or not you are there.
The idea of Pokemon attacking the player is obviously territorial, where the Pokémon feels that its space is being invaded by one who does not "belong" there. Not only does this apply to the trainer, but so does it to other Pokémon. This idea now introduces a new health system - not just for your Pokémon, but for you also. In order to "Black out", you need not lose all of your Pokémon in battle, but rather have your own health depleted. [U]YOU[/U] will be revived along with your Pokémon at a nearby Pokécenter, where you can continue your quest from there.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/NewTypeSystem.png[/IMG]
In order to further expand the world of the Pokémon themselves, I propose a new type-system. We are all aware of the many types that Pokémon may possess: Grass, Fire, Water, Electric, etc, etc. However, it has come to the point where this system has been overused too much, and Pokémon individuality is only expressed through their appearance rather than their type (this is semi-true). If the games continue to grow like they have been, we will end up with absurd Pokémon that may be Fire/Ice types, alluding to the developers' lack of innovation, imagination, and the repetition and burnout of ideas as every idea has been used up.
My new type-system retains all of the known Pokémon types, but adds a new element -- "Temperature". The temperature of Pokémon determine where they live, how they react in different environments, how they interact with other Pokémon, and of course - adds a twist to the weaknesses, strengths, and resistances in battle to other types.
For example, a Rock-Type Pokémon who has a high Temperature may be especially resistant to Fire-Type attacks, and may also possess some Fire-Type attributes, like resistance to Ice, Steel, Grass, and Bug, while its weakness to ground and water would go up even more (only slightly would it be affected in these ways).
There should be three levels of Temperature - high, neutral, and low. Below, I will list which Types are related to each level of Temperature:
[CENTER][IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/PokemonTemperatureTypeTable.png[/IMG][/CENTER]
Basically, the types listed in the above Temperature Table are what Temperature they are most commonly affiliated with, however there are exceptions to most of the types (obvious ones would be cold-water Pokémon, or warm-grassland Pokémon). Now, within each type, Pokémon may be of any Temperature (since a lot of Pokémon are dual-types). Now, the Temperature would apply 65% to its first type and 35% to its second type.
So a Pokémon that is Psychic/Ice and had a High Temperature would be normal-Psychic (no alterations), but the Ice would be 35% HT (High Temperature) closer to Psychic than Ice, which would essentially begin to neutralize that Type, further changing its weaknesses, strengths, and resistances. The Ice type's weakness to Fire, Rock, and Fighting would decrease, but its weakness to Steel would increase. However, because it is closer to being NT (Neutral Temperature), its strength against Dragon, Flying, Grass, and Ground would decrease. In other words, the further a type is from another on the table, the more potent its weaknesses, strengths, and resistances are. Essentially, the secondary types want to be isoelectronic with its primary type. High Temperatures are regulated at 100 degrees, Neutral at 50, and Low at 0. In the example, the Ice type rose 35%, so it would be 35 degrees closer to Neutral, 15 from being Neutral and 65 from being High.
[U]COLORATION-TYPE RELATION[/U]
The coloration of Pokémon needs to be diversified as part of this overhaul in making the game feel and play differently. I'm sure we're all tired of seeing the same Pokémon over and over and over again (with an incredibly small chance of finding an alternate-colored one). I think that Pokémon should have many varieties as to how they appear. This may be evident in:[list][*]A slight difference in hue
[*]Different patterns on their bodies besides the default
[*]Extended, retracted, or otherwise altered features like seen in the male/female differences amongst Pokémon in the 4th Generation.
[*]Slight new features such as horns, etc.[/list]
This way, Pokémon would never be the same, but wouldn't appear entirely different under normal conditions. However, there are certain circumstances where a Pokémon may appear very different than its common counterpart(s). Firstly, individual Pokémon within the same species may [rarely] appear to be aligned with a type unnatural to them. For instance, a Charmander may possess purple/green spots on its back, or may be slightly purple/green in hue - indicating that its not just a Fire-type, but a Fire/Poison type. The Poison type may not be very prominent as a secondary type, and may only exist as about 15% of the Charmander's makeup, while the other 85% is made up of Fire. Still, it would have about 15% weakness to all Types that are strong against Poison. Rarely does this happen in nature, but by breeding Pokémon, they may acquire traits that would almost never be seen in the wild. Of course in battle, you may not be able to tell what mysteries are behind the Pokémon's type, so that is why trying different attacks to see what it is and isn't weak against would aid you in your on-the-spot research; catching it would be a sure way of discovering its statistics also. Generally, any Pokémon of the "Neutral Temperature" can live in environments of High, Neutral, or Low Temperatures, but rarely could one of High live in Low, and vice versa.
Now that I have covered Temperatures and color-variation, it's time that I bring the two together. Very rarely, you may find a Pokémon who is a "pure", or in other words, is of the purest form of its primary type. These occurrences are specific to the Pokémon's original type-combination and how isoelectronic its second type is with the first. One example would be Haunter, a Ghost/Poison Pokémon. If its Poison type were 100% isoelectronic with its Ghost type, then, it would no longer be Poison, but a pure Ghost. A "pure" Pokémon is one whose primary type is their only type, but is essentially doubled (as if it was Ghost/Ghost). These Pokémon's strengths, resistances, and weaknesses are all doubled, causing for a very different strategic approach, as it would be essentially more powerful than any other of its type against those weak to it, but in turn it would be far weaker to those strong against it. The color variation of these Pokémon are always very different. With the Haunter example, it would not longer be purple, but perhaps a hazy light blue, or pure black. These Pokémon are not as rare as shiny Pokémon, but are still considerably hard to find.
[COLOR="DarkOrange"]*NEW*[/COLOR] Now, sometimes Pokemon may go through a complete transformation - both through types and appearances. Here is how an "Ice Charizard" may come to being. A Charizard would have to lose its Flying type in exchange for a Water type, which would essentially make it a "Steam Dragon" Pokemon. In order to lose its Flying type, it would have to evolve from a Charmeleon and during the evolution its wings do not fully develop, or instead develop into fin-like appendages. Also, this would make the Charizard a Fire-only type, so in order to acquire Water as the second type, it would have to live in a warm, aquatic environment - building up a high enough resistance to water that it actually adopts the type altogether (the warm environment being so that the Charizard is still comfortable). From there, its Fire-type would have to slowly decrease - becoming isoelectronic with its Water type (this is similar to the "Pure" Pokemon theory, where the secondary type becomes isoelectronic with the primary type, but instead, this is reversed), while simultaneously, its Water type would have to slowly decrease, becoming Ice over time. In order for this to happen, the Charizard may have to live in a very cold environment for its main Fire type to actually change. The Fire - in conjunction with Charizard being a "Dragon" Pokemon, would actually transform into the Dragon type, as Dragon is of the neutral-temperature. By this point, the Water Type would have "frozen", becoming Ice. So, the once Fire/Flying Charizard is now a Dragon/Ice Charizard. So instead of Charizard being a High/Neutral Pokemon, it has now become a Neutral/Low Pokemon (the inverse temperature). Here is a visual representation of how this would work out:
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/IceCharizardevolution.png[/IMG]
How this part of the system could work would be that many extra sprites be created for many species of Pokemon so that you [I]may[/I] find alternates like the Ice Charizard in the wild (this also suggests that starter families become wild Pokemon which further suggests a change to the starter Pokemon system). However, a Dragon/Ice Charmander or Charmeleon could also be found in the wild. The first method as to how they could exist would be that the Fire/Water Charizard or Dragon/Ice Charizard had to have laid an egg which then hatched into this new type of Charmander. Another way that a Fire/Water Charmeleon could exist would be if the Charmander lived in a warm aquatic environment (such as a beach) and when it evolves into a Charmeleon, it develops the same alterations that the Charizard in the first example went through. Furthermore, if that Charmeleon relocated to a very cold aquatic environment (such as an iceberg), then when it evolves into a Charizard, then it may acquire the same changes that the Charizard in the aforementioned example did when it evolved into the Dragon/Ice Charizard. Here is a visual representation:
[CENTER][IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/IceCharizardevolution2.png[/IMG][/CENTER]
I know many of you may be questioning, "Now, wouldn't this add a ridiculous amount of Pokemon to the Pokedex?" The answer is, "no". In the above diagrams, I have introduced subspecies (mutants if you will) of members of the Charizard family. These subspecies however, will not tack on numbers to the Pokedex, rather adding data to their common counterpart's entry number in the 'dex. For instance, if you encounter the Fire/Water and Dragon/Ice Charizard at any point, they will be added as "subspecies" to the Charizard page in the Pokedex.
[U]CHANGING YOUR OWN POKEMON[/U] - An idea by [B][URL="http://www.smashboards.com/member.php?u=109569"]FirusTheHedgehog[/URL][/B]
Now, what I have explained above references wild Pokemon for the most part -- so how would you obtain these subspecies in your own custody - or in other words, how could you transform your own Pokemon into these 'mutants'? There would be an "Altering Daycare" (name pending) where you may drop of your Pokemon. Within the daycare, there would be numerous areas of exploration - all relative to the different Pokemon types. During the time of stay that your Pokemon takes in each of these type-environments, it may begin to build up attributes relative to those types - including a slight change in appearance itself. However, this will not work in every environment, as your Pokemon's makeup restricts them to certain environments.
Also, you have to regularly visit the Pokemon and interact with it, as these environments may begin to change its Temperature. Temperature is directly related to different emotions, so the Pokemon will change emotionally. Keeping in contact with it on a regular basis will help to maintain good terms with the Pokemon. However, if you do not visit the Pokemon, it may become hostile towards you, and if worst comes to worst, you may have to battle your own Pokemon to recapture it. The fee for dropping your Pokemon off depends on how long you keep them in the facilities, and how much they change. The cost overall will be substantially higher than the normal daycare.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/PokemonCreation.png[/IMG]
[b]NOTE:[/b] [I]This is not something that I necessarily want to see. It is a subject that is brought up often and I have merely devised a plan as to how it could potentially work. Read if interested, if not, skip ahead.[/I]
Yes, I know most of you are saying, "what?" as you read the title of this section, but bear with me - it probably won't happen, but I have devised an explanation as to how it could.
Pokémon creation would be a very, very expensive task to do - and would require the collection of certain "ingredients" to do so. Pokémon creation would occur in some kind of Pokémon Creation Facility/Laboratory. Firstly, you would need to obtain a "Base Pokémon DNA Strand". Essentially, with this item only, you could create a Normal-type Pokémon with a limited palette. The creation process would consist of the "genetic material addition" and the "form design", with the latter being the actual drawing of the Pokémon. It would be drawn using a pixel-shader board and a color palette (similar to designing a t-shirt in Animal Crossing) with about 100x100 pixel dimensions.
Other genetic materials that you can add would be "Type Genes" such as "Electric Gene", or "Rock Gene". You may only add two Type-Genes (of course), and may designate which is the primary and which is the secondary. You may also add "Evolution Genes" to designate how many stages in the family of your new species there are. You may add "Stage 2 Gene", "Stage 3 Gene" or "Baby Gene". You cannot have both a Baby and a Stage 3 Gene in the DNA makeup, for that would be four stages. You must also add 15 TMs that are relative to the Pokémon's types, along with choosing a basic attack and stat-effecting move (i.e. scratch, tackle, pound, growl, leer, tail whip, etc). The 15 TMs that you add will automatically be given levels at which your Pokémon will learn them (for all stages; some TM's will only be obtainable at certain stages).
When designing the Pokémon, you are at first given a base, "normal" palette, consisting of watered down colors (nothing vibrant or very well saturated). However, depending on what Type Genes you insert, you will unlock extra palettes (a Fire Gene will unlock a palette with reds, oranges, yellows and the like, while a Water Gene would unlock a range of blues, aquas, and maybe some coral-colors).
When all steps have been completed, you must pay the cost of development (there is a fee for each Type Gene, Evolution Gene, and TM that you insert). After paying the total cost, you must return a few days (or a week) later to pick up your Pokémon. It will be at level 1 with the base attack and stat-effecting moves that you designated during the creation process.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/NewPokemon.png[/IMG]
What new Pokémon could await us in the 5th Generation? Personally, I do not think any new Pokémon are necessary, as my system expands the Pokémon that we already have tenfold. However, judging by the inclusion of evolved forms of 1st Generation Pokémon in the 4th Generation, I would guess that more additions to families that we are familiar with would appear (either normal evolutions, pre-evolutions, or sub-evolutions, such as the Tyrogue-Hitmonchan/Hitmonlee/Hitmontop family). Also, we can definitely expect to see some new legendaries as the number of them have been increasing as the generations grow in number.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/LegendaryOverhaul.png[/IMG]
If the Legendary Pokémon do not feel so "Legendary" to you, then we have something dire in common. The level of importance in the history behind the Legendary Pokémon has grown over the generations, where in R/S/E, the main Legendaries are tied directly to the Earth, Sea, and Sky, while in D/P, the main Legendaries are tied directly to Time and Space. Now, these Pokémon seem to be of too high a calibur to simply be caught in a Pokéball by a ten-year old and used to do his bidding whenever, wherever. Of all the trainers in the Pokémon world, why is it that a ten-year old is the one to catch the almighty Legendaries? Also, the Legendary Pokémon are much to static - in that they really do not do anything special throughout the game. Yes, they are given very deep and interesting histories, but what they are said to do in these 'legends' is completely non-evident in how they act when [U]you[/U] confront them.
Groudon, Kyogre, and Rayquaza have been alive for thousands of years, and Dialga and Palkia since the beginning of existence - so why is it that they are just now being "captured" in a ball by some kid? Seriously, it does not make any sense to me whatsoever. Mewtwo was created in a laboratory and upon awakening, killed those that created him, and burned the laboratory completely. Yet, in the game, he sits at the bottom of a cave, and battles your Pokémon, not you. He could easily kill you, as he does not want to belong to anyone whatsoever. The "Legendary" Pokémon in no way match up to their backgrounds.
Now, for how the Legendaries act in the 5th Generation. They should really live up to their names, acting as they do in the stories that depict them. If a Legendary does not wish to be captured, then they need to do something dire about it. In fact, capturing a Legendary should require much more than fighting it with a Pokémon of yours and throwing a Pokéball/Masterball at it. In fact, the Masterball needs to be omitted outright, as it provides a cheap way to capture any Pokémon in the game.
[IMG]http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn257/spirethree/Speculation.png[/IMG]
To further speculate on other aspects of the 5th Generation, I would like to start off with simply how it should be titled. Firstly, I see this as being one game, rather than two separate games, if you guys have been under that impression through this read. I also see it being made for the Wii rather than the DS. As far as the name of the game, I think that it should not carry on the color/metal/jewel consistency of version titling, but rather be something much simpler. Perhaps even, it could be named "Pokémon". No game has been titled this before, and it would eliminate the differentiation between different versions, rather bringing all of them together in one game.
[SIZE="2"][B]On a closing note, I thank you all for taking the time to read my ideas for the 5th Generation of Pokémon. Happy hunting fellow Pokémon trainers.[/B][/SIZE]
I did not post my ideas so people could suck up to me, but for critiquing purposes. The Pokemon Creation Method was merely implemented not because I necessarily strive for it, but rather for discussion purposes. I did state that it would most likely not happen, but I merely wanted to devise an explanation as to how it could work (because it is a question that many have asked about).
)
) But I do have some comments, so I'll just comment on each section like this...
It's late here, and I can't write too much, but one thing that really stood out to me was your comparison to the Metroid games. The older games were all sidescrollers, but then Metroid turned 180 degrees with a "make it or break it" game - Metroid Prime. People didn't know what to think at first, as it was an entirely different type of game, but... it revived the series tenfold, revitalizing it with fresh, new gameplay, far updated graphics, and extreme characterization of Samus, the environments, and all of the denizens of those worlds. It was an extremely intelligent move to take for the series.![Terywj [태리]](/data/avatars/l/71/71007.jpg?1555906021){kind=avatar}
