Why do so many people get obsessed with Pokémon?

[Moltres Rider]

I see this happening with Pokémon more than anything else. I see LOTS of people obsessed with Pokémon! Most people take their obsession to the internet and make Pokémon accounts or be active on dozens of Pokémon communities. but it seems that Pokémon is the world's biggest obsession. You don't find too many other shows or Animes or games that have so many people obsessed. but I run across people all the time on the internet who are so into Pokémon! not necessarily a bad thing but I am curious on why you guys think that is... Why Pokémon?

MLP:FiM is getting that way too, but I still think Pokémon leads...

 

[moon]

Actually, I think there are fandoms on the internet that are just as "obsessed" and big as pokémon, probably bigger as well. The reason you think you mostly see pokémon fans around could perhaps be that you mostly move around parts of the internet where pokémon people reside?

But if there is some truth to it, it might be that pokémon is such a welcoming franchise. The game have something for kids as well as adults and there are many other aspects and media of pokémon to become a fan of or practice. So you could meet anyone on the street and they might be a pokémon fan on some level, but some other large fandoms might be more obscure or oriented towards other crowds. It's a guess though.

I'm curious as to what answer you would give to these questions, justinrpg :3

 

[Sopheria]

As for obsession, I think people can get obsessed with anything. I draw a fine line between strong interest and obsession. The line is, obsession occurs when it actually becomes detrimental to your social life and responsibilities. Since you can't determine whether or not that's the case over the internet, you can't really assume that someone's interest or fandom is an obsession.

That said, I think the passionate fandom for Pokemon comes from the very nature of Pokemon itself. It's basically an RPG with over 718 playable characters (which is actually infinite when you consider that even two Pokemon of the same species are unique from one another). From a purely technical standpoint, that's a very brilliant concept. And also, throw in the whole collection aspect. It's like how some people love collecting all types of things like bottle caps and comic books. In this case, it's virtual creatures who you can actually train and interact with.

And consider the scope of it. With most video games you can go 100% completion fairly easily. With Pokemon, there's only a handful of people who have ever completed the more recent Pokemon games. That includes completing the Pokedex, getting all the Frontier Medals, and every other sidequest in the game. Basically, you're never done with Pokemon. If you're a completionist (like me), it's the best thing ever made.

I'm sure there's more, but that about sums up my analysis of it...

 

[Pumpkaboo]

I have "phases" with pokemon. Sometimes it's all I can think about, other times I just don't care that much. I think for me personality it's the customization of your team and the interesting designs they have, I end up bonding with my pokemon and that fuels my obsession with it. But another part is that I was really into it when it first came out and it's remained a constant throughout the past 15 years of my life. There's a sort of nostalgic feel to it that keeps me coming back for more. It has an air of innocence and happiness for kids, combined with much darker tones and complicated mechanics to appeal to adults.

Outside of the games it has plenty of media and merchandise, as well as other fans who are just as interested as I am. So it's nothing something that just dies away like I mentioned, it's always there which makes it difficult to "move on" from. Though I'd be lying if I didn't say there haven't been times I felt like quitting pokemon. At this point I think I've become comfortable enough with who I am to accept that I like it and not worry about the perceived reception of others.

 

[Sam89]

I know at least 6 people in my class of about 20 people who love pokemon. That doesn't include me. If 6/20 is the ratio of people who like pokemon, that's a lot of people. I think because it's addictive and if you love it in secret you go to the internet to talk about it, not your friends.

 

[Blueredemption]

I believe it has to do with how pokemon is so deeply rooted into the childhoods of countless people. Just looking back on my memories of the first time playing pokemon makes me want to pick up my ds and play :).though i will admit, its the only game in my opinion that has a grinding aspect that can be fun.

 

[Atomic Pirate]

From my experience, most Pokemon fans I've met aren't that obsessed. Sure, online you'll se more crazed devotion, but they're a vocal minority, and most Pokemon fans are actually well-balanced individuals with lives outside Pokemon.

With me, I don't even play Pokemon every day. I'm purely a gamer, I'm not into the show or the TCG, and couldn't care less about fanfiction or fanart, so I'm a bit of a more casual fan.

Honestly, if someone asked me to describe myself, the fact that I play Pokemon wouldn't really come up. It's just a series of games I like, not part of my personality.

 

[Brendino]

Pokemon is in an interesting situation, as it's one of the few franchises that have been successful for a long period of time across a number of different mediums (TV, movies, games, manga, cards, toys, etc.). The only other franchise off the top of my head that I can really compare it to is The Simpsons, though things like their games and comics aren't as popular as Pokemon's.

When there's so many ways to be introduced to the Pokemon franchise, and so much more to latch on to, it doesn't surprise me that people can become obsessed with it. But much like Adventure said, maybe we notice the obsession of Pokemon much more than other franchises, simply because we're fans of it ourselves, and spend some of our free time on places like PokeCommunity.

 

[Guest123_x1]

From what I've been seeing these past several years, Pokémon isn't anywhere near a big obsession with youngsters everywhere as it was in the late 1990s or early 2000s, when that was all anybody talked about. I remember, being around 10 years old when the Pokémon boom began, my classmates talked about their Pokémon cards and games relentlessly.

 

[King Koop]

There are people on the internet who are obsessed with everything imaginable.