Pokemon

There is a new video game coming out (well really it's a remake of an older game). It's not just any old game though. It's a new Pokemon game. I'm sure you've heard about Pokemon before. It's practically everywhere; from video games and card games to t-shirts and cell phone cases, Pokemon has essentially taken over every form of media there is.

I'm not just going into this subject because of how popular it is but I'm writing this because of how powerful it is and how much it has influenced my life. Now this may seem strange but I'm going to be completely honest with you. Pokemon is super important to me. Sure it's just a game, a brand, a franchise, but of the few people I have said that to, no one has fully understood me.

Pokemon is the reason I got into game design. With its first release in 1996 in Japan, it instantly became a worldwide sensation. It is a fairly simple concept: travel the world with your friends and battle to become the very best like no one ever was. In my opinion it is a beautifully crafted game.

 

The main mechanic of the game is to battle with your pokemon. Pokemon are the creatures that inhabit the world. They have magical powers that are aligned with the elements. Humans have the ability to capture pokemon and raise them to make them stronger. That's where battling comes in. People who own pokemon match up against each other to see who has raised their pokemon the best.

To make your pokemon stronger you need to raise them with love and care. The bond between you and your pokemon is what sets you apart from the average trainer.  

It was only until a few years ago that I really realized how much is actually in this game. There is a ton of math and strategy involved that I finally began to understand. I had a new appreciation for a game I already love so much.

I always wanted pokemon to be real, ever since I was old enough to hold a GameBoy in my hands. It started off with games of pretend. Around 1st and 2nd grade I would talk to my friends about Pokemon during recess (my older cousin had introduced it to me and I just couldn't keep it to myself) and we would take turns pretending to be pokemon and trainers having battles. But my imagination didn't end there. Any time I was in a car I would pretend that I was riding my faithful pokemon to our destination and before I went to sleep at night I would always pretend to tuck my pokemon in first. 

Even though they were just pretend they were there for me when I was alone. Like any kid with imaginary friends, I had conversations with them and fit them into my everyday life how ever I could. Even today my mind wonders to pokemon when I'm not focusing on anything. More often than not, when I'm walking to class or sitting in the dinning hall, I'll pay careful attention to the people around me and take a guess at what pokemon they would have on their team (if they were real that is).

In 2004 Pokemon Colosseum was released in the U.S. I spent so many hours playing this game. It was unlike any other Pokemon game to date. The 3D models of the Pokemon really gave them life! They moved and interacted like never before. This game was so moving to me that I still go back to it every once in a while just to relive those feelings I had as a kid (even if the graphics of the current Pokemon games, X and Y, for the 3DS are superior). 

A lot of parents are reluctant to let their kids get into this game franchise because they believe it to be too violent. Yes these cartoon creatures fight but there is no blood or cuts or bruises or anything like that. If a pokemon is defeated in battle it does not die, it just gets too tired to continue fighting (essentially it passes out until you give it medicine or bring it to a pokemon nurse). I completely understand that it is a parent's decision what a child can and cannot play with (especially when it comes to the controversial topic of video games in the first place) but I believe that this game is less about fighting and more about growth and friendship.

After countless victories in battle, when you have gained your pokemon's trust and friendship, it grows and eventually (in many cases) evolves. The evolution of a pokemon is a special thing. It is when your pokemon takes on its new form, becoming all around stronger. I feel that this change can also be seen in ourselves. When we are put through tough situations we need to fight our way through it (not as literally) and when we come out on the other side we are usually better and stronger as a person. 

I think that if pokemon were real I would finally know exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I know that I would have the dedication to take care of these creatures and help them achieve their full potential. Both of us learning and growing side by side. But really that's just a silly dream of mine.