So, I started a thread that initially started as a collab (with someone who doesn't want to be named), but fell through, called "A Walkman in Kanto." It was about Pokemon on the Playstation. However, it was pointed out to me that this wouldn't quite work, as Pokemon was a game made specifically for the Game Boy cable feature. That person (Sabot Cat, I think was the name) said that the Game Gear was a better fit. So, I will re-write that thread with that idea in mind.
1990: Satoshi Tajiri, of the nascent game company Game Freak, who are currently making Yoshi for the NES, and the Gameboy, presents a concept called Capsule Monsters to Nintendo. The concept, based off Tajiri's experiences growing up capturing insects and making them battle, has players travel around, capturing little monsters, and having them battle. It would be an RPG. The executives do not quite understand the concept. Tajiri, frustrated, nevertheless tries again. The portable Sega Game Gear is released in Japan. It boasts a full color screen, a library which includes Mega System updates, and as technologically superior to its competitors.
1991: The Game Gear is released in the United States. One of the accessories is a cable, similar to that of a Gameboy.
1994: On July 22nd, Pulseman for the Sega Mega Drive is released. After once again failing to sway Nintendo officials on the Capsule Monsters concept, Tajiri decides approach Sega, given their new working relationship. He knows that Sega has its own handheld console, with its own cable similar to the Gameboy. The executives at Sega are intrigued, but dislike the name. They convince Tajiri to change it to Pocket Monsters. Otherwise, they give him complete creative control. They feel it might become a hit, but even if it isn't, the sales of the Game Gear, which are far below the Game Boy's, indicate that its days are numbered. Still, they hold off on plans to release another handheld, until Pocket Monsters is done with production. Development on "Pocket Monsters" begins.
Pocket Monsters goes through several revisions, as in OTL. Plans for a female character are still scrapped, and the number of Pokemon is reduced from 200 to 151, due to them rushing the game. However, the game is also far more colorful and the graphics are superior, resembling a Gen III game more than OTL's game. If there is a sequel, than they will add all those elements that were taken out.
The Sega Saturn is released.
1996: Pocket Monsters Red and Green is released on February 22nd on the Sega Game Gear. It is such a massive success, that sales of the dying Game Gear skyrocket, just so that people could play Pokemon. Sega is convinced to not release a portable Genesis, as they had planned, but release a sequel console, as they had planned to cancel production of the console that year. Similarly, plans begin for an American release. Satoshi Tajiri is initially reluctant, believing that Ken Sugimori's designs will be ruined due to the cultural differences between Japan and America (mainly Japan's cuteness vs. America's hardcore). However, Sega convinces them that the designs will not be changed, and Game Freak could handle localization. Game Freak decides to upgrade some of the game's features that they didn't get to fix in the original release. Hiro Nakamura (as IOTL) leads the small localization team, organized by Game Freak. They shift slowly through Pokemon and give them names suitable for international audiences. It will be released on Sega new handheld console.
1997: OLM (Oriental, Light and Magic) releases the first episode of the Pokemon anime. It has Takeshi Shudo, a screenwriter known in the anime business as headwriter. The anime is picked up for localization by 4-Kids entertainment. Meanwhile, the Sega Game Gear 2 (basically the same console, only more powerful, and more add-ons, as well as compatible with Genesis games, due to time restraints) is announced for release in 1999.. Game Freak contemplates on whether to make a separate version of the Red and Blue game where the player has Pikachu as a starter. They decide not to go with after the announcement of the Game Gear 2, instead, they decide to go the drawing board and form ideas for the sequel game, which would be completed for the launch of the Game Gear 2.Denno Usenshi Porygon is stopped from being aired on the initial air date, December 16 1997 due to concerns over scenes where there are bright strobe flashing. Kids are confused, but in order to make up for it, OLM makes a clip show called Pocket Monsters Encore and airs it on New Years Eve 1997. The re-edited episode soon airs on January 9, 1998.
1998
okemon Red and Blue is released in America on September 28, 1998 on the Game Gear 2. The game is sold fast throughout the country due to many kids watching the anime and the advertising campaign being generally successful. Sales of Game Gear 2 in America also skyrocket.
Around the same time, the anime begins airing on September 8, 1998, localized by 4-Kids.
Pokemon: The First Movie is released on July 21st in Japan.
The Sega Dreamcast is released in December, replacing the Sega Saturn. It's release title is Sonic Adventure.
Game Freak begins development on what would be Pokemon: Gold and Silver in time for the release of the Game Gear 2.
1999: Game Freak announces that the next game will be developed exclusively for the Game Gear 2 as a launch title. The game is halfway finished by the unveiling of the Game Gear 2 , and what was finished of the game is used as a demonstration of the Game Gear 2's new capabilities.
Pokemon: the First movie is released on November 12th, in the US. It is a box office hit, despite mixed reaction from critics, who feels, whilst Mewtwo is a fascinating villain, the movies feels more like a large marketing for the franchise. The next movie soon enters development as a result of the hit film.
First release photos of Pokemon Gold and Silver are released in early 1999. It portrays the new home town, the new region of Johto, examples of the new Pokemon, and the new feature of a female player. Release is anticipated in November.
Pokemon Stadium for the Dreamcast is released on April 30th. On that note, the Dreamcast is released in the US on September 9th (part of the marketing is the 9-9-99 release date). It is a slightly better quality version of the OTL game with more minigames, connectivity with the internet, and more detail on the sprites.
The second movie in the Pokemon franchise, Pokemon: The Prophecy, is released to Japanese theaters on July 17, 1999
2000:
Pokemon Stadium for the Dreamcast is released in the US on February 29th.
In January, Game Freak announces that the second game is finished and is going to be packaged with the first batch of Game Gear 2 consoles. In March 5, the Game Gear 2 begins to sell throughout Japan. The new game, called Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver (Pokemon Gold and Silver) improves and adds things that weren't found in the first game, such as the unused Pokemon for Red and Blue that was recycled for the Gold and Silver game, it is the first game to feature a female protagonist and the game has improved graphics and draw distance. It is even more critically acclaimed than its predecessor. To everyone's surprise, however, the game is much darker and edgier than its predecessor, causing CERO (Japanese game rating system) and ESRB to rate the game a B and T respectively.
The Game Gear 2 sells well in Japan, primarily due to Gold and Silver. However, it is not selling well enough to save Sega from declining. The disappointing sales of the Dreamcast are also contributing.
Pokemon Stadium is released
Pokemon: The Prophecy is released on July 21, 2000 in America. the movie didn't have a good critical reception as the first one, with Pokemon: The Prophecy gaining a 38% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Pokemon: The Movie's 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is still a box office hit, although it is declining.
Meanwhile, The third movie, Pokemon: Masters of Illusion is released on July 8, 2000 in Japan. Whilst retrospectively seen one of the best movies, at the time, it once again receives a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the declining box office begins to fuel speculation that the movies will no longer be released in theaters.
In December, Pokemon Crystal is released on the Game Gear 2, one of the last titles on the console, in Japan. combining elements of both Gold and Silver, such as both Ho-oh and Lugia, as well as new features, such as Suicune as the focus of the plot, as well as a variety of new Pokeballs to choose from. To help promote the game, an event is declared where several special copies of the game are released with the GS Ball, which allows for Celebi to appear, and allowing you to capture it. An anime arc is also announced with a focus on the GS Ball. It sells well, though is not received as well as Gold and Silver. Meanwhile, concept sketches begin for a new Pokemon game. This time, deciding to distance itself from previous installments and revamp the franchise. Pokemon Stadium is also released on the Dreamcast
2001:
Sega announces that it is discontinuing both the Dreamcast and the Game Gear 2, and is tranisitioning to third party publication.
Pokemon Stadium 2 is released in March in the US. It will be one of the last Dreamcast titles released
Pokemon: Revelation Ho-oh is released in theaters on July 7,2001 in Japan. (With Celebi being part of the GS arc in the Anime, Takeshi Shudo uses Ho-oh in this installment.)
With the Game Gear 2 ceasing production at the end of the year, the new Pokemon games under development look to be dead. However, Nintendo, seizing the opportunity, approaches Game Freak with the possibility of bringing Pokemon to their new handheld the Gameboy Advance. Not wanting their work to go to waste, they agree, and an announcement is made that Gamefreak, Sega and Nintendo will bring the new Pokemon games to the Gameboy Advance in July.
In October, the Game Gear 2 ceases production.
In December, the Dreamcast ceases production. Also, concept art for the new Pokemon game is leaked, building hype. The release date is scheduled for November of next year.
2002
okemon: Revelation Ho-oh is released in theaters on October 21, 2002 in the US. The movie, about Ash and friends trying to stop a bounty hunter from capturing the elusive Ho-oh, with Ash finally seeing Ho-oh in its full glory, receives scathing reviews from Critics (28% on Rotten Tomatoes), and the decision is made to no longer release the movies in theaters in the US (they will still receive a theatrical release in Japan). Also, it is announced that Ash will be leaving the series, and a new protagonist, based of the one in the upcoming Ruby and Sapphire, will replace him.This will come into effect as soon as the Johto arc ends.
On Novemer 14th, 2002, before the release of Ruby and Sapphire, Ash is featured in his final episode (at least centering around him). After his victory in the Johto League, he decides to train more, particularly in the Tohjo falls. The next episode introduces us to Brendan, based off the main character in Ruby and Sapphire. He, and his new friend May (and later Max, May's brother) travel around Hoenn, battling Gyms to get into the Hoenn League, and battling Team Magma and Aqua all the while. Like the games, it would come to have mixed reaction for years to come.
On November 21, 2002, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire are released for the Gameboy Advance. It is very different from different installments, featuring a new region and new pokemon. There was also new features, such abilities and Pokemon Contests. It also had a much darker and more epic story, featuring the destruction of some of Hoenn's cities at the hands of Groundon or Kyogre, and even the death of one of the villains in the game. It was received positively, but has since polarized fans.
I think I'll end it there. After this, the course of events will largely be the same as in OTL with some minor differences (i.e. Pikachu and others not in the Smash Bros series, but in the Sega crossovers, the Anime featuring a new character every series, etc.) If you want to hear more, just tell me.
1990: Satoshi Tajiri, of the nascent game company Game Freak, who are currently making Yoshi for the NES, and the Gameboy, presents a concept called Capsule Monsters to Nintendo. The concept, based off Tajiri's experiences growing up capturing insects and making them battle, has players travel around, capturing little monsters, and having them battle. It would be an RPG. The executives do not quite understand the concept. Tajiri, frustrated, nevertheless tries again. The portable Sega Game Gear is released in Japan. It boasts a full color screen, a library which includes Mega System updates, and as technologically superior to its competitors.
1991: The Game Gear is released in the United States. One of the accessories is a cable, similar to that of a Gameboy.
1994: On July 22nd, Pulseman for the Sega Mega Drive is released. After once again failing to sway Nintendo officials on the Capsule Monsters concept, Tajiri decides approach Sega, given their new working relationship. He knows that Sega has its own handheld console, with its own cable similar to the Gameboy. The executives at Sega are intrigued, but dislike the name. They convince Tajiri to change it to Pocket Monsters. Otherwise, they give him complete creative control. They feel it might become a hit, but even if it isn't, the sales of the Game Gear, which are far below the Game Boy's, indicate that its days are numbered. Still, they hold off on plans to release another handheld, until Pocket Monsters is done with production. Development on "Pocket Monsters" begins.
Pocket Monsters goes through several revisions, as in OTL. Plans for a female character are still scrapped, and the number of Pokemon is reduced from 200 to 151, due to them rushing the game. However, the game is also far more colorful and the graphics are superior, resembling a Gen III game more than OTL's game. If there is a sequel, than they will add all those elements that were taken out.
The Sega Saturn is released.
1996: Pocket Monsters Red and Green is released on February 22nd on the Sega Game Gear. It is such a massive success, that sales of the dying Game Gear skyrocket, just so that people could play Pokemon. Sega is convinced to not release a portable Genesis, as they had planned, but release a sequel console, as they had planned to cancel production of the console that year. Similarly, plans begin for an American release. Satoshi Tajiri is initially reluctant, believing that Ken Sugimori's designs will be ruined due to the cultural differences between Japan and America (mainly Japan's cuteness vs. America's hardcore). However, Sega convinces them that the designs will not be changed, and Game Freak could handle localization. Game Freak decides to upgrade some of the game's features that they didn't get to fix in the original release. Hiro Nakamura (as IOTL) leads the small localization team, organized by Game Freak. They shift slowly through Pokemon and give them names suitable for international audiences. It will be released on Sega new handheld console.
1997: OLM (Oriental, Light and Magic) releases the first episode of the Pokemon anime. It has Takeshi Shudo, a screenwriter known in the anime business as headwriter. The anime is picked up for localization by 4-Kids entertainment. Meanwhile, the Sega Game Gear 2 (basically the same console, only more powerful, and more add-ons, as well as compatible with Genesis games, due to time restraints) is announced for release in 1999.. Game Freak contemplates on whether to make a separate version of the Red and Blue game where the player has Pikachu as a starter. They decide not to go with after the announcement of the Game Gear 2, instead, they decide to go the drawing board and form ideas for the sequel game, which would be completed for the launch of the Game Gear 2.Denno Usenshi Porygon is stopped from being aired on the initial air date, December 16 1997 due to concerns over scenes where there are bright strobe flashing. Kids are confused, but in order to make up for it, OLM makes a clip show called Pocket Monsters Encore and airs it on New Years Eve 1997. The re-edited episode soon airs on January 9, 1998.
1998
Around the same time, the anime begins airing on September 8, 1998, localized by 4-Kids.
Pokemon: The First Movie is released on July 21st in Japan.
The Sega Dreamcast is released in December, replacing the Sega Saturn. It's release title is Sonic Adventure.
Game Freak begins development on what would be Pokemon: Gold and Silver in time for the release of the Game Gear 2.
1999: Game Freak announces that the next game will be developed exclusively for the Game Gear 2 as a launch title. The game is halfway finished by the unveiling of the Game Gear 2 , and what was finished of the game is used as a demonstration of the Game Gear 2's new capabilities.
Pokemon: the First movie is released on November 12th, in the US. It is a box office hit, despite mixed reaction from critics, who feels, whilst Mewtwo is a fascinating villain, the movies feels more like a large marketing for the franchise. The next movie soon enters development as a result of the hit film.
First release photos of Pokemon Gold and Silver are released in early 1999. It portrays the new home town, the new region of Johto, examples of the new Pokemon, and the new feature of a female player. Release is anticipated in November.
Pokemon Stadium for the Dreamcast is released on April 30th. On that note, the Dreamcast is released in the US on September 9th (part of the marketing is the 9-9-99 release date). It is a slightly better quality version of the OTL game with more minigames, connectivity with the internet, and more detail on the sprites.
The second movie in the Pokemon franchise, Pokemon: The Prophecy, is released to Japanese theaters on July 17, 1999
2000:
Pokemon Stadium for the Dreamcast is released in the US on February 29th.
In January, Game Freak announces that the second game is finished and is going to be packaged with the first batch of Game Gear 2 consoles. In March 5, the Game Gear 2 begins to sell throughout Japan. The new game, called Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver (Pokemon Gold and Silver) improves and adds things that weren't found in the first game, such as the unused Pokemon for Red and Blue that was recycled for the Gold and Silver game, it is the first game to feature a female protagonist and the game has improved graphics and draw distance. It is even more critically acclaimed than its predecessor. To everyone's surprise, however, the game is much darker and edgier than its predecessor, causing CERO (Japanese game rating system) and ESRB to rate the game a B and T respectively.
The Game Gear 2 sells well in Japan, primarily due to Gold and Silver. However, it is not selling well enough to save Sega from declining. The disappointing sales of the Dreamcast are also contributing.
Pokemon Stadium is released
Pokemon: The Prophecy is released on July 21, 2000 in America. the movie didn't have a good critical reception as the first one, with Pokemon: The Prophecy gaining a 38% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to Pokemon: The Movie's 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is still a box office hit, although it is declining.
Meanwhile, The third movie, Pokemon: Masters of Illusion is released on July 8, 2000 in Japan. Whilst retrospectively seen one of the best movies, at the time, it once again receives a 40% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the declining box office begins to fuel speculation that the movies will no longer be released in theaters.
In December, Pokemon Crystal is released on the Game Gear 2, one of the last titles on the console, in Japan. combining elements of both Gold and Silver, such as both Ho-oh and Lugia, as well as new features, such as Suicune as the focus of the plot, as well as a variety of new Pokeballs to choose from. To help promote the game, an event is declared where several special copies of the game are released with the GS Ball, which allows for Celebi to appear, and allowing you to capture it. An anime arc is also announced with a focus on the GS Ball. It sells well, though is not received as well as Gold and Silver. Meanwhile, concept sketches begin for a new Pokemon game. This time, deciding to distance itself from previous installments and revamp the franchise. Pokemon Stadium is also released on the Dreamcast
2001:
Sega announces that it is discontinuing both the Dreamcast and the Game Gear 2, and is tranisitioning to third party publication.
Pokemon Stadium 2 is released in March in the US. It will be one of the last Dreamcast titles released
Pokemon: Revelation Ho-oh is released in theaters on July 7,2001 in Japan. (With Celebi being part of the GS arc in the Anime, Takeshi Shudo uses Ho-oh in this installment.)
With the Game Gear 2 ceasing production at the end of the year, the new Pokemon games under development look to be dead. However, Nintendo, seizing the opportunity, approaches Game Freak with the possibility of bringing Pokemon to their new handheld the Gameboy Advance. Not wanting their work to go to waste, they agree, and an announcement is made that Gamefreak, Sega and Nintendo will bring the new Pokemon games to the Gameboy Advance in July.
In October, the Game Gear 2 ceases production.
In December, the Dreamcast ceases production. Also, concept art for the new Pokemon game is leaked, building hype. The release date is scheduled for November of next year.
2002
On Novemer 14th, 2002, before the release of Ruby and Sapphire, Ash is featured in his final episode (at least centering around him). After his victory in the Johto League, he decides to train more, particularly in the Tohjo falls. The next episode introduces us to Brendan, based off the main character in Ruby and Sapphire. He, and his new friend May (and later Max, May's brother) travel around Hoenn, battling Gyms to get into the Hoenn League, and battling Team Magma and Aqua all the while. Like the games, it would come to have mixed reaction for years to come.
On November 21, 2002, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire are released for the Gameboy Advance. It is very different from different installments, featuring a new region and new pokemon. There was also new features, such abilities and Pokemon Contests. It also had a much darker and more epic story, featuring the destruction of some of Hoenn's cities at the hands of Groundon or Kyogre, and even the death of one of the villains in the game. It was received positively, but has since polarized fans.
I think I'll end it there. After this, the course of events will largely be the same as in OTL with some minor differences (i.e. Pikachu and others not in the Smash Bros series, but in the Sega crossovers, the Anime featuring a new character every series, etc.) If you want to hear more, just tell me.
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