Pokémon Gold and Silver beta: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:1997_GS_01.gif|left]] | [[Image:1997_GS_01.gif|left]] | ||
The color scheme was not as varied as the one provided by the Game Boy Color; this town was also ultimately either changed into Azalea Town (Perhaps with the Bellsprout Tower at left) or removed altogether. | The color scheme was not as varied as the one provided by the Game Boy Color; this town was also ultimately either changed into Azalea Town (Perhaps with the Bellsprout Tower at left) or removed altogether. | ||
<br clear="both" /> | <br clear="both" /> | ||
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What is probably an early design for the Radio Tower is in the right-hand side of the screen. | What is probably an early design for the Radio Tower is in the right-hand side of the screen. | ||
<br clear="both" /> | <br clear="both" /> | ||
Early game screenshots of Pokemon Gold and Silver generally didnt look all that much different from Red, Blue and Green at this point. The pictures clearly show the games engine being in a developed but early stage still. The lack of battle images would seem to indicate that a battle system had not been implemented yet. | |||
=1998: Pokémon Gold & Silver Announced= | =1998: Pokémon Gold & Silver Announced= | ||
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=1999 - New information= | =1999 - New information= | ||
<gallery> | |||
Image:1999-GS_beta_title_screen.jpg | |||
Image:1999_trailer_titlescr.png | |||
</gallery> | |||
Following nearly a year without press releases, the Nintendo site was updated with new information on Pokémon Gold and Silver. It gave information on the revised release date (June 1999) and stated that it was to be compatable with the as-yet-unreleased Game Boy Color. | Following nearly a year without press releases, the Nintendo site was updated with new information on Pokémon Gold and Silver. It gave information on the revised release date (June 1999) and stated that it was to be compatable with the as-yet-unreleased Game Boy Color. | ||
[[Image:1999_gold-logo.gif|center]] | [[Image:1999_gold-logo.gif|center]] | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
The battle screens are very similar to the final ones; however, the absence of gender notation is apparent. Pokémon gender was a previously announced, and the display of gender was likely added later as a convenience to players. | The battle screens are very similar to the final ones; however, the absence of gender notation is apparent. Pokémon gender was a previously announced feature, and the display of gender was likely added later as a convenience to players. | ||
The attack stats window, which in the final version tells you the remaining and total PP of each attack and its type was not fully completed at this point in development. | |||
The attack stats window, which in the final version tells you the remaining and total PP of each attack and its type | |||
[[Image:1999 trailer battle2.png|frame|center|Ah! A wild Togepi appeared!]] | |||
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A screen cap from a video of Gold and Silvers battle mode has the player battling a wild Togepi. Something that was impossible to do in the final without cheating. Though it could be a posiblity that Togepi was enabled as a wild character just for show. | |||
[[Image:1999 shot yado2.gif|frame|left|Now investigating this newly discovered Pokémon.]] | [[Image:1999 shot yado2.gif|frame|left|Now investigating this newly discovered Pokémon.]] | ||
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[[Image:1999-unk ign1.jpg|thumb]] [[Image:1999-unk_ign2.jpg|thumb]] | |||
Image:1999 | |||
Image:1999 | |||
The first screenshot may be an early version Route 45 & 46, Blackthorn City to New Bark Town. Screenshot two clearly shows the National Park, slightly differing from the final product in both graphics and placement of items. For example, the decorative borders are larger and arranged differently, a trash can in the top left, normally next to two benches, is missing and the people around the scene are differently placed as well. | |||
=Present Day: Beta Leftovers and Early Characters= | |||
Since Pokemon Gold and Silver was released, other things have been uncovered that reveal interesting details about the games development. The final games have full beta maps of every single Jhoto town remaining in it's ROM. All of which are significantly different from their final counterparts. One peticular beta map found in the ROM seems to be detailing that of the Safari Zone, which didnt make it into the final game itself. | |||
Images have also since been found of various early ideas for the new Pokemon. Including early prototypes of Quilfish, Chikarita and Marill. | |||
=References= | =References= | ||
Revision as of 12:55, 21 March 2006
Pokémon Gold and Silver (Japanese: ポケットモンスター 金・銀 Pocket Monsters Gold and Silver) were the first Generation II games to be released — November 21, 1999 in Japan and October 11, 2000 in the US. However, they had been in development for at least 2 years before then.
1997: First Mention of Pocket Monsters 2 Gold & Silver
In 1997, Nintendo put the first details and screenshots of their next Pocket Monsters game online. It was initially named "Pocket Monsters 2 Gold & Silver", and was developed for GameBoy and Super GameBoy and was planned for release at the end of the same year.
One of the main points posted was the addition of a skateboard as a secondary transportation method besides the bicycle from the previous games. It was said that the skateboard would allow the player to go to unusual places. Also mentioned in the releases were the integrated RTC (Real Time Clock), additional evolutions for Red/Green/Blue Pokémon, breeding and Pokémon eggs, 100 new Pokémon boosting the total amount to 251, new technical and hidden machines, new attacks, and better in-battle graphics. The game's communication abilities were also improved, adding trading and fighting between each version and backwards compatibility with R/G/B.
First Media Release Pictures
The initial logo of Pokémon 2, differing significantly from the final design.
Four early release Pokémon. From left to right: Donfan (Donphan), Denryuu (Ampharos), Yadoking (Slowking) and Houou (Ho-oh).
First Screenshots
The color scheme was not as varied as the one provided by the Game Boy Color; this town was also ultimately either changed into Azalea Town (Perhaps with the Bellsprout Tower at left) or removed altogether.
This screenshot displays an area which, with little modification, made it into the game's final cut. Replace the water with trees and fences and open a path to the right, and a simplified version of Route 35 and the National Park's southern entrance materialize.
What is probably an early design for the Radio Tower is in the right-hand side of the screen.
Early game screenshots of Pokemon Gold and Silver generally didnt look all that much different from Red, Blue and Green at this point. The pictures clearly show the games engine being in a developed but early stage still. The lack of battle images would seem to indicate that a battle system had not been implemented yet.
1998: Pokémon Gold & Silver Announced
Pocket Monsters 2 was not released in the end of 1997 as originally stated. The expected release date was removed. The title was changed to Pocket Monsters Gold & Silver, dropping the 2.
1999 - New information
- 1999-GS beta title screen.jpg
Following nearly a year without press releases, the Nintendo site was updated with new information on Pokémon Gold and Silver. It gave information on the revised release date (June 1999) and stated that it was to be compatable with the as-yet-unreleased Game Boy Color.
Artwork for Yadoking (Slowking), Marill, Kireihana (Bellossom) and Hoho (Hoothoot) were released.
- 1999 art yado1.gif
- 1999 art cara 1.gif
- 1999 art cara 2.gif
- 1999 art cara 3.gif
The first screenshots of the Pokémon G/S battle system, most prominently featuring several Pokémon in their new full color GBC graphics, were also released.
- 1999 shot p2.gif
Lv.42 Butterfree vs. Lv.38 Fushigibana (Venusaur)
- 1999 shot p3.gif
Player vs. Girl Scout Kanami
The battle screens are very similar to the final ones; however, the absence of gender notation is apparent. Pokémon gender was a previously announced feature, and the display of gender was likely added later as a convenience to players. The attack stats window, which in the final version tells you the remaining and total PP of each attack and its type was not fully completed at this point in development.
A screen cap from a video of Gold and Silvers battle mode has the player battling a wild Togepi. Something that was impossible to do in the final without cheating. Though it could be a posiblity that Togepi was enabled as a wild character just for show.
The new Pokédex is still missing a few features from the final edition; the Pokémon's number is not displayed beneath its picture and the footprint in the top right corner is missing, as are the three options near the bottom of the screen - location, cry and print.
The first screenshot may be an early version Route 45 & 46, Blackthorn City to New Bark Town. Screenshot two clearly shows the National Park, slightly differing from the final product in both graphics and placement of items. For example, the decorative borders are larger and arranged differently, a trash can in the top left, normally next to two benches, is missing and the people around the scene are differently placed as well.
Present Day: Beta Leftovers and Early Characters
Since Pokemon Gold and Silver was released, other things have been uncovered that reveal interesting details about the games development. The final games have full beta maps of every single Jhoto town remaining in it's ROM. All of which are significantly different from their final counterparts. One peticular beta map found in the ROM seems to be detailing that of the Safari Zone, which didnt make it into the final game itself.
Images have also since been found of various early ideas for the new Pokemon. Including early prototypes of Quilfish, Chikarita and Marill.
References
- Pokémon GS Pre-Release Images
- Pokémon Gold & Silver - Development Reconstruction
- IGN Pocket
- Pkmn.co.uk Pokémon GS Beta Information
- Pkmn.co.uk Lost Pokémon!
- Pkmn.co.uk GS Beta Maps
- Pokefor.tk Pokémon GS Pre-Release (Wayback)
- Different archived versions of Nintendo of Japan's and IGN's GameBoy website.
