How Pokémon Was Almost Transformed into a Gritty Baseball RPG!

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Summary

  • An interview with former Nintendo of America marketing boss Gail Tilden reveals that Pokemon’s Western release was almost very different.
  • The American division had considered giving the game a more “gritty” aesthetic, even considering changing it to a baseball RPG.
  • Pokemon’s initial success in Japan dissuaded the developer from changing the game, with Pokemon becoming a worldwide sensation.

The original Western release of the Pokemon games might have appeared drastically different upon their debut, as suggested by a former Nintendo of America executive in an interview. In just under thirty years, the Pokemon phenomenon has exploded into a global sensation, starting with the release of Pokemon Red and Green in Japan. From its video games, anime adaptations, to the widespread appeal of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, the franchise has enjoyed immense success. However, fresh insights reveal that an early concept for Pokemon could have significantly altered the franchise’s current form.

The Pokemon universe has ventured into numerous unique concepts across various games, including the main series and spinoffs. This franchise has dabbled in various genres, resulting in titles like the racing game Pokemon Dash and strategy games such as Pokemon Conquest, while still maintaining its classic monster-catching gameplay. Additionally, it has introduced more relaxed, lifestyle-oriented games, like Pokemon Sleep, a sleep tracker app with a Pokemon theme. A recent interview suggests that the initial Western release of Pokemon might have featured an entirely different concept.

Pokemon was Almost A Baseball RPG in the West

According to an interview with Gail Tilden, former marketing boss at Nintendo of America, the company had pondered a significant alteration for one of their franchises due to its predominantly Japanese themes. They contemplated making the game’s appearance grittier and even considered transforming the main characters from beloved creatures to a baseball league. However, Tilden mentioned that these changes were promptly abandoned as Pokemon gained immense popularity in Japan.

Although transforming Pokemon into a baseball RPG might seem unusual, it was somewhat unexpected given that the franchise made its debut fairly late during the Game Boy’s initial lifespan. The original release of Pokemon Red and Blue in the West occurred nine years after the Game Boy’s launch. Despite this, Pokemon‘s incredible popularity even managed to boost sales of the Game Boy again, with global sales of the first-generation games exceeding 31 million copies. The trading card game associated with it has also become one of the most famous and acclaimed TCGs globally.

The initial triumph of Pokemon established it as a lasting icon in popular culture, continuing to thrive almost 30 years after its initial release. The latest installments of the main-series games have experienced sales that surpassed even their early fame, with over 25 million copies of Scarlet and Violet being sold by September 2024. Additionally, the franchise has garnered attention due to its anime adaptation, as Pokemon Horizons concluded Ash Ketchum’s prolonged role as the anime’s central character after more than two decades. Initially, Nintendo of America may have harbored doubts about Pokemon, but its success certainly speaks volumes.

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2025-03-09 20:31