Twitch Plays Pokémon

From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Jump to navigationJump to search
Twitch Plays Pokémon logo

Twitch Plays Pokémon is a channel that is known for streaming play-throughs of Pokémon games, usually through the use of emulators. It is hosted by game streaming website Twitch . Unlike other channels, where the streamer plays the game for the audience to watch, Twitch Plays Pokémon give every viewer the chance to participate via. the built in chat. The channel went live with a play through of Pokémon Red on February 13, 2014 at 01:22:37 GMT, and received widespread media attention internationally for its chaotic nature and unique concept. The channel is notorious for its fan-generated lore, spawning thousands of stories, images, videos and Internet memes.

When a game is not being played, the channel instead hosts randomly generated Pokémon battles utilising Pokémon Stadium and, more recently, Pokémon Battle Revolution. Viewers can bet Pokémon Dollars on a Red or Blue team via. the built in chat, and in later updates could vote for what moves their team’s Pokémon could use.

The channel had around 120,000 simultaneous viewers at its peak, with almost 55 million total views in the first episode alone, and was awarded "Best Fan Creation" in the 2014 Game Awards in Las Vegas. After successful completion of the first run, the channel continued streaming other Pokémon games, with the streamer planning to continue as long as interest remains.

Format

Twitch Plays Pokémon is divided into seasons and episodes, the episodes being each run-through of a game. According to the streamer there are to be four runs per season, and each season lasts around a year (equating around four runs per year). In-between these runs, the betting stream is usually shown.

Episodes

The channel's most recent run, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, in 'anarchy' mode

During an episode, known as a run, the channel’s format is fairly simple. A viewer simply has to input the command into the chat window, and that command is translated to the game. For example, if one user were to type ‘up’ into the chat, the character onscreen would move up. User commands are generally shown as a reverse-waterfall like scroller situated to the right hand side of the frame. The username of each command contributor is shown alongside it.

The control scheme varies depending on what platform is currently being used. For example, when playing games designed for the Game Boy or Game Boy Color, only the 8 commands (up, down, left, right, a, b, start and select) are accepted. When playing games designed for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, these commands are expanded to the touchscreen (users input with pairs of three-digit coordinates) and other controls (such as the 3DS’s C-Stick).

During runs, there are two main systems in use, known as Anarchy and Democracy. Anarchy simply inputs commands as soon as the system receives them in the order in which it receives them. Democracy holds a vote for each command to be input; only the command with most votes is input to the game. Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages, and they are often a source of controversy in the community as to which system "should" be used.

Betting Intermissions

Typical battle betting, using a modified version of Pokémon Battle Revolution

When the channel is not streaming a run, it instead shows randomly-generated Pokémon battles known as TPP Bets. Utilising Pokémon Stadium 2 and, more recently, Pokémon Battle Revolution, it pits two teams each of three Pokémon against each other. Viewers can place bets using Pokémon Dollars on either side, with betting odds calculated accordingly. Like the currency used in the games, the money used in-stream is fictional, and no actual money is spent on betting. If a player runs out of money, their funds are reduced to $100 and will not decrease below that. More features were added to the betting system as time went by.

Viewers are able to use a separate currency unit (called tokens) to influence elements of the stream. They can spend them to change the next music track to be played, enable a glow around their username onscreen and bet them on random slot machines. At the start of each hour, a token match will begin. Viewers can submit six Pokémon they want in the next battle and bid tokens next to it. The submission with the highest token bid will be selected for the token match. Tokens are obtained randomly through voting commands on a play through of Vietnamese Crystal or through donating or subscribing to the stream.

Vietnamese Crystal

The host (nicknamed 'Baba') competing in Blackthorn Gym. This mode is sometimes referred to as 'super democracy' by fans.

Starting after the conclusion of the first episode of Season 2 (known as Anniversary Red Version by fans), a run of the Pokémon Vietnamese Crystal ROM hack was started as a filler in between betting matches. Players are able to vote for only one command at a time, after which the game is paused and resumes after the next match. At the end of each vote, a player is randomly selected to receive a token. Players who already have tokens can choose to donate them to the pool, causing multiple random players to each receive a token; this is nicknamed a 'token storm'.

Donations and Subscriptions

As well as Twitch's standard channel subscription model and space for commercial advertising, the channel also accepts independent donations to the its upkeep. Donators are rewarded in-stream with tokens, with the equivalent of one US dollar equalling one token. Every time a donation is received, a banner is displayed with an animation (using the sound effect from the Pikachu kickback in Pokémon Pinball) counting up the amount donated. If the donation is over a certain amount, the donator can display a custom message onscreen.

Subscribers are rewarded with an icon displayed next to their name onscreen, a "welcome back" message whenever they log in, access to a set of exclusive chat emotes and a rise of the lowest amount of in-stream currency they can have (it will not drop below $500, as opposed to $100 for normal users).

Donation and subscription banners are displayed in both runs and betting intermissions.

Intermission Games

The channel occasionally streams other games during the intermission between run episodes, often with bets running alongside. These games are often wide-ranging and include many franchises that are not linked to Pokémon, including Catz, Mario Golf, Doom and Worms. It is speculated that these games were introduced as a field test of new inputting systems before episodes began. Since all major hand-held platforms have now been played at least once on the channel, intermission games appear far less often.

Origins

Twitch Plays Pokémon is often referred to as a 'social experiment'; to see if it is possible to create order from complete chaos.

The original creator of the stream has chosen to remain anonymous, though has revealed he is a male freelance programmer from Australia. The actual act of hosting of the channel is done by a small team, mostly from the community. Programming for the onscreen control system is also shared amongst several people, the streamer playing a large role. Other work, such as creating a betting system to work with Battle Revolution or creating ROM hacks for the stream is done by different groups of volunteers.

The streamer himself is rarely seen on-stream and has a policy of near-complete non-interference, with the desire for the stream to be as organic as possible. Intervention is needed on several occasions, such as break-downs or game crashes, power-cuts and so on. The streamer's only correspondence are seen on Twitch, through the channel's subreddit or in media interviews.

Seasons and Episodes

With the completion of the original run, the channel's streamer stated that each future season will comprise of four episodes, with each season lasting roughly one year. The first ten playthroughs were retroactively referred to as the first season thereafter, with each run reclassified as an episode of that season.

Season Episode Game Date Started Date Completed
1 1 Pokémon Red February 12th 2014 February 28th 2014
2 Pokémon Crystal March 2nd 2014 March 15th 2014
3 Pokémon Emerald March 21st 2014 April 11th 2014
4 Randomised Pokémon FireRed April 12th 2014 April 26th 2014
5 Pokémon Platinum May 2nd 2014 May 20th 2014
6 Randomised Pokémon HeartGold May 23rd 2014 June 11th 2014
7 Pokémon Black June 14th 2014 June 26th 2014
8 Pokémon Blaze Black 2 July 6th 2014 July 25th 2014
9 Pokémon X July 27th 2014 August 1st 2014
10 Pokémon Omega Ruby November 22nd 2014 December 1st 2014
2 1 Pokémon Red Anniversary February 12th 2015 March 23rd 2015
2 Moemon and Touhoumon May 10th 2015 May 24th 2015
3 Randomised Pokémon Alpha Sapphire July 12th 2015 July 26th 2015
4 TBA October 12th 2015 Unknown


Season 1

Main article: Twitch Plays Pokémon: Season 1
Navigating the Safari Zone in the original run

The original run of 10 games starting at Pokémon Red and ending with Pokémon Omega Ruby came to be known collectively as the first season, with each run being an episode of that season. It was during this time that the channel received the most media attention, since at the time of the original playthrough it was wondered whether completion was possible and a marvel that any progress had been made at all. It is also the season where the vast majority of lore and most well-known memes originated from. The lore of this season was particularly potent, as fans drew together a vast, overacting story that interconnected every game, incorporating characters such as caught Pokémon and hosts and interpreting in-stream events.

This run introduced many concepts which would become core to the channel's format, including command inputs through the chat, anarchy and democracy, donations, command stacking and the betting intermission. It also introduced the idea of playing ROM hack versions of official Pokémon games, including randomized runs for remakes such as Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon HeartGold and a playthrough of the ROM hack Pokémon Blaze Black 2 in place of the original Pokémon Black 2. A notable breakthrough in this season was a specially modified 3DS that could accept inputs from the chat and stream out video via. a capture card. This was necessary, as 3DS emulators are currently unavailable. Several concepts, such as the 'tug of war' system between anarchy and democracy modes (where each player would vote on a system to use), were not retained in future episodes.

Fans generally consider the first two episodes, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Crystal as the most exciting, with viewers gradually losing interest through Episodes 3 and 4 (Emerald and Platinum). A comparatively smaller group of dedicated fans have continued to play and generate lore, with some lore becoming more 'niche' in the process. As the season progressed, and the viewers became more adept at the control system, the runs became quicker to play. This culminated in Episode 9, Omega Ruby, taking only 9 days to complete compared to the first episode's 16. Complaints that the games were becoming too easy prompted the streamer to promise a modified harder version of a Pokémon game for the start of the next season.

Season 2

Main article: Twitch Plays Pokémon: Season 2
Playing two games simultaneously, introduced for Season 2

The current season started with a modified version of Pokémon Red as a homage to the original run and celebrating a year online. Known as Pokémon TPP Version, itself a modified version of the Dex hack Pokémon Red 151, it was the first Pokémon ROM hack to be specifically designed for live broadcast, and introduced a large number of game changes designed to make the run more challenging. The objective was to catch all 151 Pokémon (all made available in-game), as well as beat a special final boss.

This season introduced the concept of two games being played at simultaneously with both games accepting the same inputs, with a play through of the popular Moemon and Touhoumon (both modifications of FireRed) for Episode 2. It also introduced a randomised version of a Generation VI game (Pokémon Alpha Sapphire) for Episode 3, a concept that is still relatively new.

The season is currently awaiting its fourth and final episode, due to start on October 12th 2015 at 9:00pm UTC. For the first time, the streamer has allowed a polling of viewers to determine what game should be played next. The final round of voting is due to start soon.

Lore

Bulbanews
Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:
Fan art depicting Twitch Plays Pokémon lore. Art by whoaconstrictor (original)

Lore and fan creations are considered an essential part of the culture surrounding the stream. The unpredictable and chaotic nature of the game often causes viewers to make connections and create stories based on the events that unfold. The input commands are often interpreted as "The Voices", often characterised by Unown, which only the player character (known as "The Host") can hear. The character's erratic movement and unpredictable decisions is often used to humorous effect, particularly in animated movies.

Character names are sometimes romanised versions or interpretations of their in-game nickname. For example, a Pidgeot on RED's team in the original run named "aaabaaajss" was translated as "Bird Jesus". Other characters were created in response to freak events. For example, the Helix Fossil, somehow at the top of the Item list was inferred as some kind of consultation in hardship, as since it was in the first item slot it was constantly being selected. This was compounded when the fossil was revived at the Pokémon Lab; fans interpreted this as a 'resurrection', transforming the character into a kind of god. Other pivotal characters, such as the False Prophet (a Flareon 'blamed' by players for the unintentional release of a number of Pokémon, including the run's starter, were created in similar ways. Lore is still created today under similar circumstances.

Generally speaking there is no fixed canon, with fans free to interpret different lore, events and characters however they choose. The vast majority of creativity tends to happen off the main stream in the channel-focussed community hubs, such as the stream's Reddit page and DeviantArt group.

Trivia

  • Before being battled in the French version of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Brawly says, "J'ai découvert le secret de la vraie puissance en fixant un Nautile pendant des jours et des jours...", directly referencing the Twitch Plays Pokémon Red playthrough.
  • Another possible reference in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire to the same playthrough could be the framed portrait of an Omanyte at the back of Mr. Stone's office in the Devon Corporation. He also gives the player the Pidgeotite in that office, a possible reference to the Bird Jesus character.

External links

Bulbanews
Bulbanews has an article related to this subject:

References


Project Fandom logo.png This article is a part of Project Fandom, a Bulbapedia Project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every aspect of the Pokémon Fandom.