Game Freak: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Intro: "GAMEFREAK" (as opposed to "GAME FREAK") can be seen in some official artwork, such as Ken Sugimori's artwork of Marina.)
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'''Game Freak, Inc.''' (Japanese: '''株式会社ゲームフリーク''' ''{{wp|Kabushiki gaisha}} Game Freak''), officially stylized as '''GAME FREAK, Inc.''' or less commonly as '''GAMEFREAK, Inc.''', is a Japanese game development company founded on April 26, 1989 by [[Satoshi Tajiri]], [[Ken Sugimori]], and [[Junichi Masuda]], and the main company responsible for the [[Pokémon]] games, most especially the [[core series]].
'''Game Freak, Inc.''' (Japanese: '''株式会社ゲームフリーク''' ''{{wp|Kabushiki gaisha}} Game Freak''), officially stylised as '''GAME FREAK inc.''' or less commonly as '''GAMEFREAK inc.''', is a Japanese game development company founded on April 26, 1989 by [[Satoshi Tajiri]], [[Ken Sugimori]], and [[Junichi Masuda]], and the main company responsible for the [[Pokémon]] games, most especially the [[core series]].


Originally independent, since the release of {{game|Red and Green|s}} in 1996, Game Freak has been a {{wp|Video game developer#Second-party developer|second-party developer}} for [[Nintendo]], developing games exclusively for their hardware while remaining a separate company. The company currently employs a staff of 85 as of April 2013<ref>http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/company/about.html</ref>, while Satoshi Tajiri serves as its current CEO. Its headquarters are on the 22nd floor of the {{wp|Carrot Tower}} in {{wp|Setagaya, Tokyo}}, {{wp|Japan}}.
Originally independent, since the release of {{game|Red and Green|s}} in 1996, Game Freak has been a {{wp|Video game developer#Second-party developer|second-party developer}} for [[Nintendo]], developing games exclusively for their hardware while remaining a separate company. The company currently employs a staff of 81 as of April 2015<ref>[http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/company/about.html 会社概要 | GAME FREAK 株式会社ゲームフリーク オフィシャルサイト]</ref>, while Satoshi Tajiri serves as its current CEO. Its headquarters are on the 22nd floor of the {{wp|Carrot Tower}} in {{wp|Setagaya, Tokyo}}, {{wp|Japan}}.


==History==
==History==
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Though the franchise is currently the second-most successful game franchise in the world (placing shortly behind {{smw|Mario (series)|Mario}}), development of {{game|Red and Green|s}} was incredibly difficult for the team at Game Freak, with the six-year development period and low finances of the company causing many of the staff to leave for other employment. Tajiri himself worked long hours, many of them unpaid, in order to bring Pokémon out, finally releasing them on February 27, 1996. An international success overnight, Game Freak became recognized as one of the best game developers Nintendo had working for them, leading to their second-party status.
Though the franchise is currently the second-most successful game franchise in the world (placing shortly behind {{smw|Mario (series)|Mario}}), development of {{game|Red and Green|s}} was incredibly difficult for the team at Game Freak, with the six-year development period and low finances of the company causing many of the staff to leave for other employment. Tajiri himself worked long hours, many of them unpaid, in order to bring Pokémon out, finally releasing them on February 27, 1996. An international success overnight, Game Freak became recognized as one of the best game developers Nintendo had working for them, leading to their second-party status.


Since Red and Green, Game Freak has developed all core series versions; other games, including the battle arena games and [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] RPGs {{g|Colosseum}} and {{XD}}, have been developed by other Nintendo affiliates and subsidiaries. The [[Game Boy Camera]], more of an add-on to the Game Boy than a game itself, had its image editing software developed by Game Freak as well.
Since Red and Green, Game Freak has developed all core series games; other games, including the battle arena games and [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] RPGs {{g|Colosseum}} and {{XD}}, have been developed by other Nintendo affiliates and subsidiaries. The [[Game Boy Camera]], more of an add-on to the Game Boy than a game itself, had its image editing software developed by Game Freak as well.


===Later non-Pokémon work===
===Later non-Pokémon work===
[[File:HarmoKnight.png|thumb|[[HarmoKnight]], Game Freak's latest non-Pokémon game]]
[[File:HarmoKnight.png|thumb|[[HarmoKnight]], one of Game Freak's latest non-Pokémon titles]]
Though Game Freak has mainly developed the Pokémon series since its 1996 debut, it is responsible for three games released since then that were not Pokémon-related. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDqSZub7Dag Click Medic], a Japan-only medical simulation game for the {{wp|PlayStation}}, plays similarly to Pokémon, though instead of monsters, features a doctor using various vaccines and antibodies to fight against viruses and other maladies inside of a patient's body.
Though Game Freak has mainly developed the Pokémon series since its 1996 debut, it is responsible for four games released since then that were not Pokémon-related. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDqSZub7Dag Click Medic], a Japan-only medical simulation game for the {{wp|PlayStation}}, plays similarly to Pokémon, though instead of monsters, features a doctor using various vaccines and antibodies to fight against viruses and other maladies inside of a patient's body.


Another game, {{wp|Drill Dozer}}, was released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in the interim between the release of {{game|Emerald}} and {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}, featuring a young girl who operates a drilling machine in order to take down enemies in each of the worlds.
Another game, {{wp|Drill Dozer}}, was released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in the interim between the release of {{game|Emerald}} and {{game|Diamond and Pearl|s}}, featuring a young girl who operates a drilling machine in order to take down enemies in each of the worlds.


Game Freak's most recent non-Pokémon game is [[HarmoKnight]], a rhythm-based action game available on the [[Nintendo 3DS]] eShop that was released in North America and Europe on March 28, 2013. The game features several music tracks from the Pokémon series.
Game Freak's most recent non-Pokémon titles are [[HarmoKnight]] (a rhythm-based action game which also features music from the Pokémon games) and Solitiba (a game that mixes {{wp|Patience (game)|solitaire}} and horse racing), which were respectively released for the [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] in Japan on 2012 and 2013 via the {{wp|Nintendo eShop}}. Solitiba was later ported to Android and iOS, making it the first Game Freak game to release on a non-Nintendo system since Click Medic.
 
In March 2015, Game Freak announced Tembo the Badass Elephant, to be published by Sega for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It is to be the first title by Game Freak not released on a Nintendo system since Click Medic. It features the titular elephant fighting against an evil invading army.


==Philosophy==
==Philosophy==
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==Logo screen==
==Logo screen==
{{incomplete|section|X, Y, OR, and AS screens}}
{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background: #{{HP color dark}}; border: 5px solid #{{HP color}}"
{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; text-align:center; background: #{{HP color dark}}; border: 5px solid #{{HP color}}"
|-  
|-  
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|  width="128px" style="background: #{{gold color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo GS.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{gold color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo GS.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{crystal color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo C.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{crystal color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo C.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{ruby color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo RS.png]]
|-  
|-  
|  style="background: #{{green color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|RGBY}}
|  style="background: #{{green color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|RGBY}}
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|  style="background: #{{silver color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|GS}}
|  style="background: #{{silver color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|GS}}
|  style="background: #{{crystal color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|C}}
|  style="background: #{{crystal color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|C}}
|  style="background: #{{sapphire color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|RS}}
|-  
|-  
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{ruby color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo RS.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{firered color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo FRLG.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{firered color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo FRLG.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{emerald color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo E.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{emerald color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo E.png]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{diamond color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo DP.png|200px]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{diamond color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo DP.png|200px]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{platinum color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo Pt.png|200px]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{heartgold color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo HGSS.png|200px]]
|-  
|-  
|  style="background: #{{sapphire color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|RS}}
|  style="background: #{{leafgreen color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|FRLG}}
|  style="background: #{{leafgreen color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|FRLG}}
|  style="background: #{{emerald color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|E}}
|  style="background: #{{emerald color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|E}}
|  style="background: #{{pearl color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|DP}}
|  style="background: #{{pearl color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|DP}}
|  style="background: #{{platinum color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|Pt}}
|  style="background: #{{soulsilver color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|HGSS}}
|-  
|-  
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{platinum color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo Pt.png|200px]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{heartgold color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo HGSS.png|200px]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{black color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo BWB2W2.png|200px]]
|  width="128px" style="background: #{{black color}}; {{roundytop|5px}}" | [[File:Game Freak logo BWB2W2.png|200px]]
|-  
|-  
|  style="background: #{{platinum color dark}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|Pt}}
|  style="background: #{{soulsilver color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|HGSS}}
|  style="background: #{{white 2 color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|BWB2W2}}
|  style="background: #{{white 2 color light}}; {{roundybottom|5px}}" | {{gameabbrev3|BWB2W2}}
|}
|}
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[[de:GAME FREAK inc.]]
[[es:Game Freak]]
[[fr:Game Freak]]
[[fr:Game Freak]]
[[it:Game Freak]]
[[it:Game Freak]]
[[ja:ゲームフリーク]]
[[ja:ゲームフリーク]]
[[pl:Game Freak]]
[[pl:Game Freak]]
[[pt:Game Freak]]
[[zh:Game Freak]]
[[zh:Game Freak]]

Revision as of 12:06, 10 January 2016

Game Freak, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社ゲームフリーク Kabushiki gaisha Game Freak), officially stylised as GAME FREAK inc. or less commonly as GAMEFREAK inc., is a Japanese game development company founded on April 26, 1989 by Satoshi Tajiri, Ken Sugimori, and Junichi Masuda, and the main company responsible for the Pokémon games, most especially the core series.

Originally independent, since the release of Pokémon Red and Green in 1996, Game Freak has been a second-party developer for Nintendo, developing games exclusively for their hardware while remaining a separate company. The company currently employs a staff of 81 as of April 2015[1], while Satoshi Tajiri serves as its current CEO. Its headquarters are on the 22nd floor of the Carrot Tower in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.

History

Early history

Covers for volumes 4, 5, 7, and 8 of Game Freak magazine
Covers for volumes 13, 14, and 16 of Game Freak magazine

Game Freak, at the time unincorporated, originated as a video game magazine in the early 1980's. Run chiefly by Tajiri, with art made by Sugimori, the magazines typically were released at a length of around 28 pages and at a price of ¥300 (roughly US$3). Initially, the magazine was handwritten, but Tajiri later outsourced this to a professional printing company.

In 1989, Tajiri published his first video game, Quinty, which was localized as Mendel Palace for its North American release. In the same year, Game Freak was officially incorporated, and began work on several video games for the two largest players in the industry at the time, Nintendo and Sega. Among these games were licensed titles such as Yoshi and Mario & Wario, as well as original games such as Pulseman and Smart Ball.

Pokémon

Though the idea for what would become the Pokémon games had existed in Tajiri's mind for a while, actual development of the Pokémon idea began as Capsule Monsters in 1990. Tajiri pitched this idea to Nintendo, however, it was rejected, and issues copyrighting the name led Tajiri to change it, first shortening it to CapuMon, then changing it to Pocket Monsters. With further revision of the idea, Tajiri pitched it again to Nintendo, and with the confidence of Shigeru Miyamoto swaying the decision, development was finally greenlighted.

Though the franchise is currently the second-most successful game franchise in the world (placing shortly behind Mario), development of Pokémon Red and Green was incredibly difficult for the team at Game Freak, with the six-year development period and low finances of the company causing many of the staff to leave for other employment. Tajiri himself worked long hours, many of them unpaid, in order to bring Pokémon out, finally releasing them on February 27, 1996. An international success overnight, Game Freak became recognized as one of the best game developers Nintendo had working for them, leading to their second-party status.

Since Red and Green, Game Freak has developed all core series games; other games, including the battle arena games and GameCube RPGs Pokémon Colosseum and XD, have been developed by other Nintendo affiliates and subsidiaries. The Game Boy Camera, more of an add-on to the Game Boy than a game itself, had its image editing software developed by Game Freak as well.

Later non-Pokémon work

HarmoKnight, one of Game Freak's latest non-Pokémon titles

Though Game Freak has mainly developed the Pokémon series since its 1996 debut, it is responsible for four games released since then that were not Pokémon-related. Click Medic, a Japan-only medical simulation game for the PlayStation, plays similarly to Pokémon, though instead of monsters, features a doctor using various vaccines and antibodies to fight against viruses and other maladies inside of a patient's body.

Another game, Drill Dozer, was released for the Game Boy Advance in the interim between the release of Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, featuring a young girl who operates a drilling machine in order to take down enemies in each of the worlds.

Game Freak's most recent non-Pokémon titles are HarmoKnight (a rhythm-based action game which also features music from the Pokémon games) and Solitiba (a game that mixes solitaire and horse racing), which were respectively released for the 3DS in Japan on 2012 and 2013 via the Nintendo eShop. Solitiba was later ported to Android and iOS, making it the first Game Freak game to release on a non-Nintendo system since Click Medic.

In March 2015, Game Freak announced Tembo the Badass Elephant, to be published by Sega for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It is to be the first title by Game Freak not released on a Nintendo system since Click Medic. It features the titular elephant fighting against an evil invading army.

Philosophy

Game Freak's philosophy, as stated on their website, is "To give the people of the world enjoyment, fun and discovery by continuously creating games of superior quality. And to encourage bravery, hope, kindness, dreams and an adventurous spirit." This philosophy is easily seen in the Pokémon games, where the player must fight bravely against the various villainous teams, journeying across their region with their Pokémon by their side.

Key people

In the games

Game Freak employees appear in each of the core series games, with their headquarters on the third floor of the Celadon Condominiums. In the games in which Kanto is not visitable, they appear on vacation, with a group in Lilycove City, staying in the Cove Lily Motel, and a single member staying at the Hotel Grand Lake in Valor Lakefront. The main reason to visit them is to obtain a diploma, awarded after the completion of the Pokédex. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, the sound designer gives the GB Sounds after the player has obtained all 8 Kanto Badges.

Game Freak has its own building in Castelia City in Pokémon Black and White, where a character representing Shigeki Morimoto can be battled after stopping Team Plasma. Game Freak is found on 22F, just like in their real-world office in Carrot Tower. In Black 2 and White 2, aside from Morimoto, another employee which is based on Kouji Nishino can also be fought. Nishino uses a Snorlax as his highest leveled Pokémon, a reference to his nickname カビゴン Kabigon, after which Snorlax is named. In the English versions, he calls himself Snorlax. Both Morimoto and Nishino have the Trainer class GAME FREAK.

Logo screen

050Diglett.png This section is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: X, Y, OR, and AS screens
Game Freak logo RGBY.png Game Freak logo RBY.png Game Freak logo GS.png Game Freak logo C.png
Game Freak logo RS.png Game Freak logo FRLG.png Game Freak logo E.png Game Freak logo DP.png
RS FRLG E
Game Freak logo Pt.png Game Freak logo HGSS.png Game Freak logo BWB2W2.png

Related articles

References

External links


Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Unova Ace TrainerArtistBackersBackpackerBakerBattle GirlBikerBlack BeltChampionClerk
CyclistDancerDepot AgentDoctorElite FourFishermanGAME FREAKGentlemanGym Leader*
HarlequinHikerHooligansHoopsterInfielderJanitorLadyLassLinebackerMaidMotorcyclistMusician
NurseNursery AideParasol LadyPilotPokéfanPKMN BreederPKMN RangerPokémon Trainer*Policeman
PreschoolerPsychicRich BoyRoughneckSchool KidScientistSmasherSocialiteStrikerSubway Boss
SwimmerTeam PlasmaTeam Plasma GruntThe RichesBWTwinsVeteranWaiterWaitressWorkerYoungster
BeautyB2W2Boss TrainerB2W2GuitaristB2W2
Pokéstar Studios only:B2W2
A-list ActorActorActressBig StarCelebrityChic ActressChild StarComedian
Fine ActorMovie StarNew ActressStar ActorSuit ActorUnique StarVeteran Star
Pokémon World Tournament only:B2W2
Junior RepresentativeMaster RepresentativeSenior Representative
World ChampionWorld FinalistWorld Runner-up
Blueberry Academy only:SV
BB League ChampionBB League Elite FourBlueberry Academy Director
DirectorInstructorLeague ClubStudentTop Champion