Has Pokemon declined?

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    [PokeCommunity.com] Has Pokemon declined?


    » The Decline of Pokemon

    - Since the original generation of Pokemon, there have been 4 Generations and 498 new Pokemon.

    - A lot of fans tend to appreciate Generation 1, due to the nostalgic feeling it brings, and tend to disapprove of other generations, for various reasons.


    Questions

    So, do you think Pokemon has decline since its original conception with the Kanto Region and the first 151 Pokemon?

    If so, how?

    Alternatively, do you think it started declining after Gen I, or at a later point?

     
    Nope, not in the least. You know that I'm a huge fan of Gen V myself, and I would like to amend one of your statements:

    "A lot of fans tend to appreciate Generation 1", imo should be "A lot of the original fans tend to appreciate Generation 1". There are plenty of kids out there that are around the age where they're starting to like Pokemon, and what did they start with? HG/SS or B/W. In the same way that kids a few years ago started with Gen 3. They don't have the luxury of nostalgia goggles; when they play Red or Blue sometime in the future, they won't have the idea of "this is good because it's so old and brings back memories!", they'll just see it as another retro game that's only fun because it's retro, not because it's objectively better than the newer ones.

    I can't speak for the anime, but the games for me slowed down slightly in Gen IV, then picked back up this generation. I honestly believe that anyone who claims that the first games were "better" objectively needs to learn the definition of objective; nearly everything about the new games is better objectively than the old ones. The only leg that people usually have to stand on in the "Pokemon declined nostalgianostalgianostalgia" argument is their dislike of the designs; which, while valid, doesn't really speak to a decline in Pokemon considering so many people still play and still love the designs. Their opinion on designs of Pokemon doesn't dictate whether it's actually gone downhill.
     
    I don' think Pokemon declined since Gen I because there are people who prefer the new Pokemon to the older ones. There are also people who didn't start with Gen I, and started with the later gens, as Toujours mentioned.
     
    If it declined would it still be going strong pumping out games 15 years after. Would they have expanded the gaming series to numbers of Spin Offs if the original Spin Offs didn't garner success or moderate success? I kind of doubt that. Then they expand too all matters of merchandise, so if they are such a lucrative company then I only see it getting stronger and stronger. Is it as popular in America as Generation I probably not, but it is still pretty strong. I mean we have Movie 14 actually airring in theaters that hasn't happened in years. The anime is still one of the highest rated shows in Japan for cartoons. Black and White was some of the top selling for the DS system irrc. So a decline is hardly what is going on, at least statically speaking.

    The original concept of 8 badges, champs, evil syndicates, starters is still intact as the core, now they are just expanding upon all that every generation. Some people may complain about designs of the pokemon, but I can't exactly say I am fond of designs from earlier Generations either. Imo every generation has it's hits and misses. People complain that the basic concept is stale and that they can play any generation and it's the same expect with older pokemon, well the basic concept is what made the game what it is, pokemon makes pokemon what they are without new ones it wouldn't be the same and imo the franchise would be in decline if they stayed with the old.
     
    Has Pokemon declined? Not at all, in fact it feels like it's gotten better over time, it's just changing to keep up with the times.
     
    To be honest, Pokemon didn't really decline. Everyone had a place to start, and they all didn't start at the first generation. Some of those who adore Gen I might not have equal appreciation for the newer games and thus, their interest in the Pokemon franchise declines.

    For example, I had no interest with Pokemon whatsoever until Gen III, which was the first generation I had experienced. I played the older ones but didn't get as much excitement as I did with Gen III. Might be because I'm used to the more "advanced" features of Gen III and the older generations didn't meet my expectation. Gen IV made me sort of stray from Pokemon since it really isn't that good in my honest opinion but Gen V came and made me all hyper again. :3

    Long story short; no Pokemon did not decline. If something did decline in the first place that would be those who love the older generations so much that they can't let go of them for a while and try the newer ones.
     
    There are also people who didn't start with Gen I, and started with the later gens, as Toujours mentioned.

    Extreme example. Yeah it wouldn't have declined but I tell you the older Pokémon were better than the new ones. IMO nope, just that I don't know Unova much it has not.
     
    I started with Gen I and I appreciate it for what it was back then, but I really like all of the new features of each progressive Generation. Since I started playing Pokemon again (this year, really x.x), I've played Gen I, II, III, IV, and V this year and I have to say that the features have progressively gotten better. Sure, I like certain things about each Gen perhaps over others (like HG/SS's pokes following you around and etc)... but yeah, it's not declining at all!
     
    Everyone has his/her own opinion about the new and old generations. I like the advances in game mechanics and in-game technologies and graphics.
    Sometimes this kind of thing is appreciated, sometimes not.

    For instance, Firered and Leafgreen are still my absolute least favourite Pokémon games. I like Red and Blue much better, simply because I think they portrayed Kanto better and, at the time I played them, offered no disappointment whatsoever (since they introduced me to the series).
    On the other hand, I liked Heartgold even more than I liked Gold. I think the combination of Generation IV Pokémon/features and the regions of Johto and Kanto was an amazing combination to experience.
    I can't say that I really liked Generation III but I think they're always making improvements, and yeah sometimes they take a step back but the games aren't worse, just different.

    Umm, I got lost there, but I think my point is that I like all the generations and they all appeal to different people. xD

    EDIT: To all the supernostalgia Generation I fans (of which I am sometimes one), your perception of the games will always be more critical of new features because everything that's new and up-to-date is a step away from the original that introduced us to this world. I'm not saying that's bad, I'm just saying don't expect to be pleased with new games because they're not going to try to make the games "more like Red and Blue".
     
    I personally think Pokemon hasn't declined as much as its quality has fluctuated over time. Gen I was good, Gen II improved on that, but R/S took a huge nosedive. FR/LG bounced back considerably, only to have Emerald hit a low point. Gen IV proved to be my favorite games to date, then Gen V was another letdown. It's all a combination of what Pokemon are introduced, the design of the region and characters, and what new features are included or, in the case of B/W, left out inexplicably (I'm looking at you, Vs. Seeker.) I just can't find a steady pattern of decline for that, but at the same time, there's no clear pattern of improvement or even maintaining the same level of quality. It is largely dependent on the ideas of the programmers and what ones are used, and not based on the passage of time.
     
    If it declined would it still be going strong pumping out games 15 years after.
    I'll point out the likes of Sonic games have had a good while of what is considered a decline by many fans and they're still making more games, to be pedantic. =p

    But... it depends by what you mean as decline. Decline for yourself, or in general and in what aspects? Games only or anime? And so forth.

    In terms of still selling games and all though, the main thing Game Freak is concerned with, it hasn't declined in the grand scheme of things. Doesn't mean it can't be better (because it most certainly can!), but it's not falling apart, certainly.
     
    My first game ever was Gen II, but right now Sinnoh's kinda my favorite (don't ask me why, and stay away sinnoh haters!), so to me it isn't really declining. And when you said some people will still like Gen I more than the other Gens, well indeed, there are t hose kinda people BUT as you know, time passes and some NEW kids in a 'ripe age' like 7-8? Would be interested in Pokemon, and why would they try Gen I?

    They'll see Black & White and go like "OH MY GOD NEW GAME!" and, yes, logically, they'll get Gen V.

    My guess is, as long as there are new children in the world, Pokemon won't decline for next few years.
     
    I say rather than declining, it stagnating over the year. The quality doesn't really decreased, but it doesn't do anything revolutionary in the franchise either over these year.
     
    While it's hard to say whether or not Pokémon has declined, the franchise certainly is not the mega-craze it was from 1998-2001. I remember early on (through 1999 or so), that was all many people talked about.
    As a side note, there hasn't been a full theatrical release of any Pokémon movie in the US since Pokémon 3: The Movie back in 2001. (The next two were on limited release, and the upcoming US release of the 14th will be even more limited than the 4th and 5th-for two days only in 300 theaters mostly in major metropolitan areas.)
     
    I believe that the Pokemon quality and originality there pumping out is declined a little. But overall there not. If they were they woulld be losing lots of money, but I doubt that will happened for a while. Pokemon franchise is tooo successful.
     
    Honestly I think the Pokemon has become more popular now. At my high school, ALL the asians (80% of the school) love Pokemon. You can tell they don't really play it but like it because it's a "trend". Pokemon, imo, has become more of a trend than appreciated for its game.

    But I think the original fans do like Gen I more than any other Generations. I am an original fan, playing it since I could remember, but I love all the generations because I love the game itself. As long as it stays as a good game, i will continue to play it.

    But during the middle of the game series the popularity did begin to drop. I think once the 3rd generation came out, it declined. But by the middle of the 4th Generation it began to get it's popularity again. I love Pokemon and I think I always will. It's no doubt the best game ever.
     
    But during the middle of the game series the popularity did begin to drop. I think once the 3rd generation came out, it declined. But by the middle of the 4th Generation it began to get it's popularity again. I love Pokemon and I think I always will. It's no doubt the best game ever.

    IMO, 3rd Generation have changed things too radically. Not everybody can appreciate that scale of change. Although in reality the 3rd generation have revolutionized many things that still used even now. But since then Pokemon just keep stagnating and become even more conservative.

    And no. What I'm talking is not the pokemon design since I'm think that Pokemon will change every generation and it is something that can't be judged as declining by your own personal opnion. The gameplay features, is what I'm talking about.
     
    So, do you think Pokemon has decline since its original conception with the Kanto Region and the first 151 Pokemon?
    Nope

    If so, how?

    Alternatively, do you think it started declining after Gen I, or at a later point?
    I honestly dont think that Pokemon has declined (in my eyes) its just the people i hung out with grew out of it and I haven't yet and not planning to


    :t354:TG
     
    If Pokémon were to be declining, then all of the Pokémon forums like this one would be dying, if they aren't already dead in the first place.

    So far, I don't believe that such a thing would happen anytime soon...
     
    I don't think it's really on a decline, per say, but the hype has worn off. It's no longer the fad it was at one point, and it's got some years behind it. Since Pokemon has kind of stuck to the same game genre(s), same anime tricks, and merch, it's left with the old diehards, the people who have a niche filled, and the newcomers. It's hard to keep up a fad, especially when the company hasn't done anything to blow the minds of more than just the people who are already fans.
     
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