Pokémon

[OCH]

On 23/05/2022 at 15:58, Maf said:

One more time like this c’mon, c’mon, c’mon. Call it nostalgia or whatever but Pokemon never looked better than the original Ken Sugimori style 

I like it. It gives a stylised, almost Okami-like vibe.

 

Meanwhile, some custom Gameboys:

 

Spoiler

The Gengar one looks great!😎

[OCH]

I don't know why, but I didn't think there were this many?

 

[HandsomeDead]

I don't think there is.  Are some of those fanart?  I didn't realise any had been added since Sylveon, the Fairy type.

 

 

[OCH]

19 minutes ago, HandsomeDead said:

Are some of those fanart? 

🤷‍♂️ I thought this was a legit Eevee chart?

[Maf]

Yeah, they’re fake. The Steel and Ghost ones aren’t bad designs, though 

[OCH]

Something about this mash-up just works, I think? (Maybe uncross "Jengar's" eyes a bit)

[OCH]

Massive Pokéball in Metro City Shanghai

[OCH]

12 Pokémon Evolutions That Didn't Make The Cut

 

Quote

Originally meant as stage 1 of the Meowth family, Kōnya was created for Gen 1, but ended up getting cut. Then Kōnya was later planned for inclusion in Gen 2, but got cut again. Kōnya was first revealed when Gold & Silver's 1997 demo leaked in 2018. This early build of G&S showed that Kōnya would have evolved into Meowth at level 14, and that just like its evolutions, was Normal type. Kōnya could translate to either 'Baby Meow' or 'Coin Meow.'"

First revealed by Game Freak developers in a 2018 Japanese newspaper interview, Gorochu was planned for Gen 1 as Raichu's evolution, but was cut due to a lack of cartridge space. Gorochu's true appearance is still unknown -- the art seen above is speculative & based on Game Freak's description. In an interview with Gamespot, Junichi Masuda was asked if Gorochu might return to the series someday.

Masuda: '...I would say the chances are low.'

Gorochu's return would also be complicated by the fact that Pichu was added in Gen 2 — giving the family its third stage."

Lead Pokemon designer Ken Sugimori revealed in a recently-translated 2011 interview that Litwick originally had a Flame pre-evolution... but it got cut during Black & White's development. According to Ken Sugimori, the Litwick family originally consisted of a flame, a candle, and a lamp. But ultimately, the early flame stage was thrown out, and a chandelier was added to the end of the evolutionary line in order to maintain the family's three-stage concept.

Although Ken Sugimori revealed this lost Pokemon's existence, he never provided its official artwork. The artwork for this Lost Pokemon featured here is speculative, and based on Sugimori's explanation of how the Litwick family was created."

First revealed when Gen 1 beta assets leaked in 2018, Guardia was created during Gen 1's development as the final stage of the Cubone family... but ended up getting cut. The artwork and name used here are speculative, in use until more info surfaces."

First revealed when Gold & Silver's 1997 demo leaked in 2018, Hināzu was a dual-type Normal & Flying baby Pokemon that evolved into Doduo at level 16. Modeled after a bird's nest, Hināzu was probably scrapped due to his confusing number of heads compared to Doduo and Dodrio (3 to 2 to 3).

Another reason he was likely cut was because G&S's 1997 demo has too many baby Pokemon --17, which was later whittled down to just 7."

First revealed when Gen 1 beta assets leaked in February 2019, this Pokemon was the original evolution of Wartortle -- in Gen 1's beta, Blastoise was unrelated. 1990 concept art shows Blastoise was created by Ken Sugimori, and was one of the earliest Pokemon ever created. However, Squirtle & Wartortle were created much later by Atsuko Nishida -- the female designer who also created Pikachu, Bulbasaur & Charmander."

Gyopin was originally created for Gen 1, but was cut due to lack of cartridge space. Gyopin returned in G&S's 1997 demo, but ended up getting cut from Gen 2 as well. Gyopin was first discovered when Gold & Silver's 1997 demo leaked in 2018. This early build of Gen 2 revealed that Gyopin would have evolved into Goldeen at level 16, and that just like its evolutions, was pure Water type. In Japanese, Gyopin means "Lively Goldfish."

First revealed when Gold & Silver's 1997 demo leaked in 2018, Plux was originally planned to evolve from Pinsir at level 42. He appeared just after Scizor in the demo Pokedex -- the two were likely meant as rivals. This lost Pokemon's original Japanese name was "Purakkusu," which translates into English as "Plucks." For simplicity's sake, here I've been referring to him by his English fan-name "Plux." But like all lost 1997 Pokemon, Game Freak never gave him an official English name.

Just like Pinsir, Plux was a pure Bug-type Pokemon. Interestingly, Heracross did NOT appear in Gold & Silver's 1997 demo. So it's likely that Plux's design was reworked, and ultimately became Heracross in Gold & Silver's 1999 release version."

First revealed when Gen 1 beta assets leaked in Feb 2019, this turtle was Blastoise's original pre-evolution -- created before Blastoise was merged with the Squirtle family."

First revealed when Gen 1 beta assets leaked in Feb 2019, this Pokemon was originally planned as the Zubat family's first stage -- but he got scrapped before release. In a 2018 Yomiuri interview, several Game Freak developers said that Gen 1 suffered from a lack of cartridge space. In order to free up space, a number of 3 stage families were cut down to just 2 stages. This is likely the point at which Zubat's pre-evolution got cut."

First revealed when Gold & Silver's 1997 demo leaked in 2018, Tsubomitto was Grass/Poison and evolved from Weepinbell via Poison Stone... but Tsubomitto and Poison Stones both ended up getting cut. Just like Gloom and Bellossom, Weepinbell was also also planned to receive a new branch evolution in Gen 2. They were even next to each other in the demo Pokedex. Of the demo's 8 new branch evolutions, only one other was cut -- beta Leafeon, who got brought back in Gen 4.

Gold & Silver's internal data contains lots of unused floors for Sprout Tower, revealing it was originally created to be 9 stories tall, instead of just 3. Some fans believe Tsubomitto & the Poison Stone were once destined for a prominent role in this 9 story Sprout Tower."

First revealed when Gen 1 beta assets leaked in Feb 2019, this Pokemon was originally created as the middle stage between Psyduck and Golduck -- but he ended up getting cut. In a 2018 interview, several Game Freak developers said Gen 1 suffered from a lack of cartridge space. As a result, they ended up having to cut several 3 stage families down to just 2 stages. This is likely the stage of development where Psyduck's middle stage got cut.

The artwork & name "Weirduck" used here are speculative, in use until more info is uncovered."

 

[OCH]

 

[OCH]

[Maryokutai]

They've also recently announced this show:

 

 

I'm very much not part of the intended target demographic, but it's nice to see something Pokémon related being handled with care an passion.

 

[OCH]

[OCH]

[OCH]

London is getting a Pokémon Center later this year

 

Quote

A pop-up Pokémon Center is coming to London later this year, where you can channel your inner trainer, prepare to take on gym leaders and hang out with lots of cuddly Pokémon.

The Pokémon Center will open for four days in April, coinciding with the Pokémon Europe International Championships taking place at ExCeL London from April 4-7. The store will be open at the venue from 10am to 8pm every day except Sunday, when it will close at 4pm.

You don’t have to have a ticket to the championships to gain access to the shop, but you will need a reservation – the Pokémon shop is expected to be very popular. Details about how to make a reservation will be released closer to the event, and you can find all the latest information online here. 

From Eevee to Bulbasaur, the pop-up store promises to have Pokémon favourites as well as some exciting exclusive merch. In the past, exclusives included a Beefeater Pikachu and Roserade in 2022, and a besuited and bowler-hatted Pikachu in 2019. Bowler hat Pikachu was so popular that shoppers had to be limited in how many they could buy. The Pokémon Company has warned that 2024 purchases may be limited too, to ‘make products available to as many customers as possible’.

 

[Maf]

We talked about this some time ago but man these modern Pokémon cards are sick

 

[OCH]

If only the games had effects like that...

[Maf]

Totally agree. If there was one Nintendo game I wish could be on a next gen console with all the cutting edge stuff it would be Pokemon