Boss1708
Pokémon Master
- Joined
- May 9, 2015
- Messages
- 3,628
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It is in Game Freak's best interest to release 3-year generations that consist of initial versions taking place in a new region, and remakes/sequels involving an old region. Extending a generation via a third version simply means a lower number of units sold per year.
Black 2 and White 2, the games that everyone seems to believe revolutionized Gamefreak's strategy and made 3rd versions redundant, didn't actually sell that much better than if they had been a 3rd version. Emerald shifted about 6 million, Platinum seven and a half. BW2 shifted barely 8 and a half. If you take into account that sales of 3rd versions have been steadily rising (unlike generational debut main game sales, which have been falling since DP) we may predict that "Grey" version would have sold roughly what BW2 did. Of course we can never know, but it is an accurate prediction following the pattern. It's not as if BW2 being a sequel suddenly pulled in the same numbers as the paired generational debuts.
Also, Pokemon Yellow sold better than FRLG and HGSS respectively, meaning 3rd versions have not always been less of a financial pull than remakes. Of course you could argue early installment popularity, which would be fair enough. But you could also argue that doing something quirky and fun with the 3rd version makes it a better seller.
On this note, what if GF want to do something unusual and tie in the hypothetical "Z" version game to the anime? It makes a strange kind of sense; we are being shown Zygarde in all its forme-changing glory in the anime before the games, not to mention Ashninja. And as we keep being told, Masuda really wants to surprise us. Many people have been speculating about a Yellow remake...what if we got it in spirit, if not in form? Finally another game which mirrors the anime, not the other way around? I guess it would be a fun and original way to end our time in Kalos, if nothing else!
Do you remember I suggested this a while ago? iirc you said you would love it but find it unlikely.