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In answer to the question of the thread, definitely not, they are still growing the brand and making loads of money. But I kind of commiserate with the theme of the thread.
I have felt that for a long time they have stopped producing some of the little extras they had for so long, and really only focus their efforts on anything that has the direct impact of increasing revenue. Of course, some should argue this is how any company should operate. Also you can argue that even the little extras I'm referring to created goodwill with fans (well duh) and was extra advertising, so it really wasn't any different and that now they have developed new ways to advertise while trying to connect with an ever-changing demographic.
At least from my perspective, I respected the artist in some of the older writers/designers, who went the extra mile to add little things that gave life to the games/anime/etc. Some examples of things tend to be missing now include sitting in chairs, looking in trash cans, reading posters/pictures on the wall, watching tv programs in the games, having a lot more to do in post game, etc. In the anime side, it is extra side episodes, Pikachu shorts, animated versions of other games (sometimes whole episode worth), etc. Are these things really worth that much? Not really. Did they exist just out of love? Probably not, they were part of making a game feel complete that is deemed no longer necessary, they were advertisement that they feel now isn't worth the effort, etc.
Like most, when I was younger I was more naive, I knew less about business at the time, and really felt a lot was being done for the love of the subject, when truly it had a strong advertising effect (as can obviously be seen from my passion for the subject), so the nostalgia I feel for the franchise (which is in no way limited to Gen 1-2) was developed from this and is part of why I have played every Pokemon game, watched every anime episode (even though I despise it now), etc. Point being, their branding/advertising worked then, and the way they have changed it probably works now, it just isn't as designed towards "us".
It is sometimes sad to remember that something most of us love so much only exists to make money, but it really does, and it does a damn good job of it.
I have felt that for a long time they have stopped producing some of the little extras they had for so long, and really only focus their efforts on anything that has the direct impact of increasing revenue. Of course, some should argue this is how any company should operate. Also you can argue that even the little extras I'm referring to created goodwill with fans (well duh) and was extra advertising, so it really wasn't any different and that now they have developed new ways to advertise while trying to connect with an ever-changing demographic.
At least from my perspective, I respected the artist in some of the older writers/designers, who went the extra mile to add little things that gave life to the games/anime/etc. Some examples of things tend to be missing now include sitting in chairs, looking in trash cans, reading posters/pictures on the wall, watching tv programs in the games, having a lot more to do in post game, etc. In the anime side, it is extra side episodes, Pikachu shorts, animated versions of other games (sometimes whole episode worth), etc. Are these things really worth that much? Not really. Did they exist just out of love? Probably not, they were part of making a game feel complete that is deemed no longer necessary, they were advertisement that they feel now isn't worth the effort, etc.
Like most, when I was younger I was more naive, I knew less about business at the time, and really felt a lot was being done for the love of the subject, when truly it had a strong advertising effect (as can obviously be seen from my passion for the subject), so the nostalgia I feel for the franchise (which is in no way limited to Gen 1-2) was developed from this and is part of why I have played every Pokemon game, watched every anime episode (even though I despise it now), etc. Point being, their branding/advertising worked then, and the way they have changed it probably works now, it just isn't as designed towards "us".
It is sometimes sad to remember that something most of us love so much only exists to make money, but it really does, and it does a damn good job of it.
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