I'll try to retort with some sort of reason, forgive me if I don't make sense. :P I also want to remind you that this is, of course, my opinion but I feel I should respond to you to help promote positive discussion. Here we go.
Why do people buy games in large amounts that actually continue to fall downwards in quality because they know they can get away with it? Also, fans don;t spin that sentence, read it as is. Also, I am getting annoyed how Pokemon keeps going the Digimon route and it keeps being labled as inventive and innovative. Hopefully this game will solve all the above problems with the series (especially effort and this also goes most with the art of the pokemon themselves and the people) although I have been saying that for years.Last-Resort
To start with, I believe the Pokemon games continue to sell in large amounts because although the games may be decreasing in quality for some, for others there are a multitude of reasons to continue with the franchise. Add onto that the number of new fans the series picks up, especially when GameFreak decided to have Black/White focus on 150+ new Pokemon only, allowing new players a much less intimidating game. You don't have 649 Pokemon to remember at the start of the game nor do you have 493; you have 150 some new Pokemon that matter for that first part of the game. For new players or players who haven't played since RBY that is something that I believe is a positive.
I would also disagree that quality is down. I'd argue HeartGold & SoulSilver are the pinnacle for the series so technically that would mean that quality has gone down. But the games are just as good as ever with some changes being made to them. Linearity is very subjective but the game mechanics continue to get deeper (the metagame, anyways) while streamlining a lot of things and yet still appealing to the casual audience. And that's what these games have to do: appeal to both the casual and the hardcore audiences. I played Pokemon when I was 10, kids in elementary school play Pokemon, my gf who isn't a gamer plays Pokemon, my friends in college who are gamers play Pokemon and I play Pokemon. That is such a hard audience to hit and it is very hard to appeal to both audiences the way that GameFreak does with the Pokemon titles. So like I said, I don't believe that it is a decline in quality but a streamlining of features (and linearity in your case) that have turned you and some people away.
Second, I don't completely understand how Pokemon is going the Digimon route. In Pokemon design you mean? Well yes, one of the reasons I liked Zekrom so much was because he reminded me exactly of a Digimon (I'm a fan of Digimon as well :P ) But there is a distinct difference between the two, though I firmly believe if some Pokemon were originally introduced as Digimon or vice-versa, people wouldn't bat an eye or notice.
Aside from that, reviews were solid for Black/White. The games each scored a 7.5 which is a good score but right there in "The Bad" you see: "It's the same Pokemon formula you've seen before." To some people that's bad and others that is a good thing. I'm not looking for a reinvention but a continued formula with tweaks and changes that, sometimes may not be changes that I enjoy but are changes nonetheless. Its an argument that I can see bothering some people, but to be honest it is the way they present their argument of the Pokemon formula not changing that bothers me.
The game used a very BN like Story (meaning it has no idea what it's trying to do) but then takes out any skill (if any) the series required, cut exploration, made the game straight up linear, used terrible 3D models to make up for lack of variety, the cities are designed in a lazy way objectively compared to the others released on the same system, still no real animations in battle, too much filler which makes the plot pointless or the BN ****plot they are trying to use. How can you continue to have more powerful pokemon when we just had God himself be one in Platnium? The Pokemon designs are recolors and copy pasta. The music is actually getting less complicated/less effort, take that as bad or good. Gyms still do not always have only their type in that gym since there is a less focus on diversity in types of pokemon. Lack of item searching, lack of useable off-battle items. Slower Online than D/P/PL. But hey, it's one of the best games in the series. No, how about it's been in decline since the start of this gen. Why do you think they are still adding two the DS games? If they go on the 3DS there's a chance Pokemon could be screwed, not even the casuals brought PKMN Rev. on the Wii. Going the lazy route works, and they know people like you will defend it for no actual reason. The most you can do is continue ti disagree.Last-Resort
Onto the story... I think it's a step in the right direction. Was it perfect? No. It was simple, passable, and I think a nice change of pace to the nearly nonexistant stories in past games. That doesn't mean I dislike what those games did, but adding a story like Black/White did was a good change that can be improved. I'd just argue that if the game wanted to focus on story, it should focus less on the legendaries and more on the relationship between you, the trainer, and your Pokemon in your party or your starter. That would be great if done correctly.
There was quite a bit of skill required. Is it a lot? No. But to some gamers, especially casual gamers, if there was something difficult they would stop playing. An easier game leads to more people being able to finish it which then leads to more people being able to purchase the sequels. If you want more of a challenge there are plenty of ways to do so because the games are so versatile: a Nuzlocke run, don't evolve your Pokemon, choose some of the weaker Pokemon, don't grind, etc. As for exploration, there was quite a bit of exploration at the post-game content. Searching for the Sages, the Weather trio and the Musketeer trio offered quite a bit to do. It was a linear game and there's no denying that. You either don't mind it or you hate it.
3D models are a step in the right direction and I can't really argue about the design of the cities. You look at the Kanto region and those cities are simple and small, even Johto cities are pretty simple aside from Goldenrod. I can't argue on RSE or DPP because I haven't really played those games, I just know that DPP's regions are a pain to get through. Animations take up memory and for 649 Pokemon + alternate forms it has to be difficult to animate every single one; I'm just happy they've animated them how much they have (even if it is all pixelated.) Already touched on story but if you wish to discuss it further just let me know. The god Pokemon you are referring to is still the most powerful I believe, with base stats all at 120 which no other Pokemon has. I think its good that Gyms don't have only their type; forces you to think on your feet plus the games should get away from having uni-type teams and focus on different themes in the future.
Items I don't feel confident commenting on because I don't do too much with them though I wouldn't mind if you elaborated further. Trading has definitely been sped up but I don't compete online so I can't comment on that. And they are putting sequels on because there is a fanbase there, these are direct sequels to two DS games and all the assets are there. I would have liked for a 3DS game but I'm just happy we are getting a sequel this year. And to comment on you seeing not even the casuals bought Pokemon Revolution, I'd say that shows that not all casuals or Pokemon fans are willing to buy anything Pokemon; if its crap then the sales will reflect that (in some cases.)
One more reply:
[QUOTE="metroidfood"]Uhhh, Pokemon has always been casual. That's what makes it so appealing to such a wide audience. If anything, it's gotten more hardcore over the years as Gamefreak added more depth to the battle mechanics.
Last-Resort
Nope, than expalin why the series was declining until the 3DS and how they outnumber the fans in game sales? It was targeted mainly at kids, it was an easy to get into rpg, which now has turned into no effort copy pasta.I'm confused as to why you said "nope" to metroidfood. He said the games were made for casuals and then you go onto say exactly that. The mechanics have gotten more depth to them though, something that is insane when you start to go into it. The games aren't mere copy/paste either. The formula is the same but that doesn't mean its a copy/paste.
Commenting on your other two posts would be redundant. I just want to say, again, the games have always been targeted at casuals and kids. Why was Pokemon so awesome to all of us back in elementary school with the backpacks and the toys and everything else? Pokemon is a series that can hold both fanbases, but sometimes in order to gain more fans there will be choices made that can affect a side. Streamlining may seem like simplifying and putting some Pokemon evolutions in the 60s will seem like making it more difficult. Its a balance that GameFreak has done a good job keeping even.
Sorry for the long post there. I look forward to further discussion, possibly one that is more in-depth on key-points instead of me trying to play catch-up.
is a digimon? then you're obviously a moron
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