View source for Old man glitch

The '''old man glitch''', officially known as the '''Fight Safari Zone Pokémon trick''', is a famous [[glitch]] in {{game|Red and Blue|s}}. It is one of the ways in which the [[player character|player]] can encounter [[Missingno.]] and [['M (00)]]. Its name comes from the {{ka|old man}} in [[Viridian City]], who is required to complete the glitch. It is not to be confused with the related [[item duplication glitch]], which is most easily performed by first performing the old man glitch.

This glitch was not present in the Japanese [[Pokémon Red and Green Versions|Pokémon Red, Green]], or {{game|Blue|_(Japanese)}}. This glitch was fixed in some {{wp|European}} versions of Red and Blue, such as the {{pmin|Spain|Spanish}} and {{pmin|Italy|Italian}} versions, by making the shore tiles act as [[water tile]]s, but still remains in other European versions, such as the {{pmin|Germany|German}} version. In the {{pmin|France|French}} version, the glitch is present, but the game freezes every time a [[Missingno.]] or [['M (00)]] appears. This glitch was removed in all versions of {{game|Yellow}} by blanking the data for wild Pokémon before overwriting it, and reprogramming shore tiles to not call any [[wild Pokémon]].

==Performing the glitch==
To perform the glitch, the player must talk to the old man located in the north of [[Viridian City]] and allow him to demonstrate how to catch a Pokémon. After the demonstration, the player should immediately {{m|Fly}} to [[Cinnabar Island]]. Here, the player should surf up and down along the east coast of the island where the water is touching the land without leaving Cinnabar Island. [[Wild Pokémon]] will appear, based on the player's name.

==Effects==
The wild Pokémon that appear are based on the player's name. The third, fifth and seventh slots of the player's name are the species of Pokémon that will appear (see table below). The second slot of the player's name becomes the level of the Pokémon caused to appear by the third slot, the fourth slot for the fifth slot, and the sixth slot for the seventh slot. The game also reads the ninth and eleventh slots as wild Pokémon and the eighth and tenth slots as levels; however, due to the seven character name limit, these slots are not used, so are blank (00), causing [['M (00)]] to appear at level 0.

At the end of the player's name, there is a special character to mark the end of the name. This character can either cause Missingno. to appear, or create the possibility for wild 'M (00) to be at level 80.

The eighth through eleventh bytes are only 00 if using a custom name; using a [[#Preset names|preset name]] results in these extra bytes being filled by the series of other preset name separated by end of name markers (with NEW NAME after the last preset name). As such, 'M (00) will not appear when using a preset name.

==Results==
This table demonstrates what Pokémon specific characters in the player's name will cause to appear, or the level of the Pokémon that they will cause to appear. Only characters possible to include in the player's name are included. [[Glitch Trainer]]s are in '''bold'''.

{| style="margin:auto; background: #{{unknown color light}}; {{roundy|1em}}; border: 5px solid #{{unknown color}};"
|-
|
{| border=1 width="100%" class="sortable" style="background: #FFFFFF; border:1px solid #{{unknown color light}}; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
!
!
! Pokémon
! Level
|-
|{{tt|&nbsp;&nbsp;|null character}}
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[['M (00)]]
|0
|-
|{{tt|&nbsp;&nbsp;|end of name marker}}
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|80
|-
|{{tt|&nbsp;&nbsp;|space}}
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|127
|-
|A
|{{MSP|055|Golduck}}
|{{p|Golduck}}
|128
|-
|B
|{{MSP|097|Hypno}}
|{{p|Hypno}}
|129
|-
|C
|{{MSP|042|Golbat}}
|{{p|Golbat}}
|130
|-
|D
|{{MSP|150|Mewtwo}}
|{{p|Mewtwo}}
|131
|-
|E
|{{MSP|143|Snorlax}}
|{{p|Snorlax}}
|132
|-
|F
|{{MSP|129|Magikarp}}
|{{p|Magikarp}}
|133
|-
|G
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|134
|-
|H
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|135
|-
|I
|{{MSP|089|Muk}}
|{{p|Muk}}
|136
|-
|J
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|137
|-
|K
|{{MSP|099|Kingler}}
|{{p|Kingler}}
|138
|-
|L
|{{MSP|091|Cloyster}}
|{{p|Cloyster}}
|139
|-
|M
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|140
|-
|N
|{{MSP|101|Electrode}}
|{{p|Electrode}}
|141
|-
|O
|{{MSP|036|Clefable}}
|{{p|Clefable}}
|142
|-
|P
|{{MSP|110|Weezing}}
|{{p|Weezing}}
|143
|-
|Q
|{{MSP|053|Persian}}
|{{p|Persian}}
|144
|-
|R
|{{MSP|105|Marowak}}
|{{p|Marowak}}
|145
|-
|S
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|146
|-
|T
|{{MSP|093|Haunter}}
|{{p|Haunter}}
|147
|-
|U
|{{MSP|063|Abra}}
|{{p|Abra}}
|148
|-
|V
|{{MSP|065|Alakazam}}
|{{p|Alakazam}}
|149
|-
|W
|{{MSP|017|Pidgeotto}}
|{{p|Pidgeotto}}
|150
|-
|X
|{{MSP|018|Pidgeot}}
|{{p|Pidgeot}}
|151
|-
|Y
|{{MSP|121|Starmie}}
|{{p|Starmie}}
|152
|-
|Z
|{{MSP|001|Bulbasaur}}
|{{p|Bulbasaur}}
|153
|-
|(
|{{MSP|003|Venusaur}}
|{{p|Venusaur}}
|154
|-
|)
|{{MSP|073|Tentacruel}}
|{{p|Tentacruel}}
|155
|-
|:
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|156
|-
|;
|{{MSP|118|Goldeen}}
|{{p|Goldeen }}
|157
|-
|[
|{{MSP|119|Seaking}}
|{{p|Seaking}}
|158
|-
|]
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|159
|-
|a
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|160
|-
|b
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|161
|-
|c
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|162
|-
|d
|{{MSP|077|Ponyta}}
|{{p|Ponyta}}
|163
|-
|e
|{{MSP|078|Rapidash}}
|{{p|Rapidash}}
|164
|-
|f
|{{MSP|019|Rattata}}
|{{p|Rattata}}
|165
|-
|g
|{{MSP|020|Raticate}}
|{{p|Raticate}}
|166
|-
|h
|{{MSP|033|Nidorino}}
|{{p|Nidorino}}
|167
|-
|i
|{{MSP|030|Nidorina}}
|{{p|Nidorina}}
|168
|-
|j
|{{MSP|074|Geodude}}
|{{p|Geodude}}
|169
|-
|k
|{{MSP|137|Porygon}}
|{{p|Porygon}}
|170
|-
|l
|{{MSP|142|Aerodactyl}}
|{{p|Aerodactyl}}
|171
|-
|m
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|172
|-
|n
|{{MSP|081|Magnemite}}
|{{p|Magnemite}}
|173
|-
|o
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|174
|-
|p
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|175
|-
|q
|{{MSP|004|Charmander}}
|{{p|Charmander}}
|176
|-
|r
|{{MSP|007|Squirtle}}
|{{p|Squirtle}}
|177
|-
|s
|{{MSP|005|Charmeleon}}
|{{p|Charmeleon}}
|178
|-
|t
|{{MSP|008|Wartortle}}
|{{p|Wartortle}}
|179
|-
|u
|{{MSP|006|Charizard}}
|{{p|Charizard}}
|180
|-
|v
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.]]
|181
|-
|w
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.#Kabutops Fossil form|Missingno. (Kabutops Fossil form)]]
|182
|-
|x
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.#Aerodactyl Fossil form|Missingno. (Aerodactyl Fossil form)]]
|183
|-
|y
|<center>[[File:AniMS_Missingno_I.png]]</center>
|[[Missingno.#Ghost form|Missingno. (Ghost form)]]
|184
|-
|z
|{{MSP|043|Oddish}}
|{{p|Oddish}}
|185
|-
|{{PK}}
|
|'''[[Rival]] {{ga|Blue}}'''
|225
|-
|{{MN}}
|
|'''{{DL|Glitch Trainer|Pokémon Prof.}}'''
|226
|-
|<nowiki>–</nowiki>
|
|'''{{DL|Glitch Trainer|Chief}}'''
|227
|-
|?
|
|'''{{tc|Team Rocket Grunt|Rocket}}'''
|230
|-
|!
|
|'''{{tc|Ace Trainer|Cooltrainer♂}}'''
|231
|-
|♂
|
|'''[[Blaine]]'''
|239
|-
|×
|
|'''{{tc|Gentleman}}'''
|240
|-
|.
|
|'''[[Rival]] {{ga|Blue}}'''
|242
|-
|<nowiki>/</nowiki>
|
|'''{{pkmn|Champion}} {{ga|Blue}}'''
|243
|-
|,
|
|'''[[Lorelei]]'''
|244
|-
|♀
|
|'''{{tc|Channeler}}'''
|245
|}
|}

==Preset names==
Choosing a preset name will result in different results to inputting a custom name. Inputting a custom name which is the same as a preset name will not cause the glitch to behave as if a preset name was chosen.

Preset names function differently because they are stored one after the other in the game data, separated by the end of name marker, whereas custom names are succeeded by zeros after the end of name marker. In English Pokémon Red, the player's name is stored as "RED<end>ASH<end>JACK<end>NEW NAME", starting from the selected name; in English Pokémon Blue, the player's name is stored as "BLUE<end>GARY<end>JOHN<end>NEW NAME", likewise starting from the selected name.

Due to the names extending past the usual seven character limit, the ninth and eleventh characters are also used to determine the wild Pokémon, and their levels are determined by the eighth and tenth characters, respectively. These characters are usually null, so cause [['M (00)]] to appear, and Pokémon to at level 0, respectively. Because of this, unlike when inputting a custom name, [['M (00)]] do not appear when using a preset name. Characters after the eleventh are ignored.

===Results===
The numbers in parentheses are the [[index number]] of the specific [[Missingno.]] in hexadecimal.
====Pokémon Red====
{| style="margin:auto; background: #{{unknown color light}}; {{roundy|1em}}; border: 5px solid #{{unknown color}};"
|-
|
{| border=1 width="100%" style="background: #FFFFFF; border:1px solid #{{unknown color light}}; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! Name
! Level 1
! Pokémon 1
! Level 2
! Pokémon 2
! Level 3
! Pokémon 3
! Level 4
! Pokémon 4
! Level 5
! Pokémon 5
|-
| RED
| 132
| {{p|Mewtwo}}
| 80
| {{p|Golduck}}
| 146
| [[Missingno.]] (87)
| 80
| [[Missingno.]] (89)
| 128
| {{p|Golbat}}
|-
| ASH
| 146
| [[Missingno.]] (87)
| 80
| [[Missingno.]] (89)
| 128
| {{p|Golbat}}
| 138
| [[Missingno.]] (50)
| 141
| {{p|Snorlax}}
|-
| JACK
| 128
| {{p|Golbat}}
| 138
| [[Missingno.]] (50)
| 141
| {{p|Snorlax}}
| 150
| [[Missingno.]] (7F)
| 141
| {{p|Golduck}}
|}
|}

====Pokémon Blue====
{| style="margin:auto; background: #{{unknown color light}}; {{roundy|1em}}; border: 5px solid #{{unknown color}};"
|-
|
{| border=1 width="100%" style="background: #FFFFFF; border:1px solid #{{unknown color light}}; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! Name
! Level 1
! Pokémon 1
! Level 2
! Pokémon 2
! Level 3
! Pokémon 3
! Level 4
! Pokémon 4
! Level 5
! Pokémon 5
|-
| BLUE
| 139
| {{p|Abra}}
| 132
| [[Missingno.]] (50)
| 134
| {{p|Golduck}}
| 145
| {{p|Starmie}}
| 80
| [[Missingno.]] (87)
|-
| GARY
| 128
| {{p|Marowak}}
| 152
| [[Missingno.]] (50)
| 137
| {{p|Clefable}}
| 135
| {{p|Electrode}}
| 80
| {{p|Electrode}}
|-
| JOHN
| 142
| [[Missingno.]] (87)
| 141
| [[Missingno.]] (50)
| 141
| {{p|Snorlax}}
| 150
| [[Missingno.]] (7F)
| 141
| {{p|Golduck}}
|}
|}

==Cause==
When the game sets up the battle between the {{ka|old man}} and a {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Weedle}}, it needs to temporarily change the player's name to "OLD MAN" so that it will display that name, rather than the player's entered name, during the battle.

The programmers decided to use the space where data for [[wild Pokémon]] found in the grass is stored (which is completely blank in Viridian City, as only {{m|Surf}}ing and [[Fishing]] data is used) to save the player's name temporarily. Normally, this would cause no abnormal activity, as this data is overwritten when the player moves to a different area.

In all cities, however, this data remains blank, and so the data is never overwritten (as there is nothing new to overwrite it with), and thus, the data that was last entered (be it the player's name or the wild Pokémon data from another area) remains in place. This itself still causes no harm; however, an oversight in the programming of the tiles used to denote the shore of [[Cinnabar Island]] marks them as equivalent to grass. As all [[water route]]s have no real grass on them, likewise, the data is not overwritten, and so whatever data is in the slots for wild Pokémon found in the grass is used, be it the player's name or wild Pokémon found elsewhere, such as the {{safari|Kanto}}.

The name of the player has six hexadecimal values in it. The game needs only three "slots" of wild Pokémon data to store this.

The species of wild Pokémon the player encounters along the coast are determined by the third, fifth, and seventh characters of the player's name, while their levels are determined by the second, fourth, and sixth characters, respectively. The game also reads the ninth and eleventh slots as wild Pokémon and the eighth and tenth slots as their respective levels; however, due to the seven character name limit, these slots are not used unless using a preset name, so are blank (00), causing [['M (00)]] to appear at level 0.

==Other coast related exploits==
[[File:Negative HP Stadium.png|thumb|right|256px|A {{p|Golbat}} affected by the glitch in {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}}]]
Due to the fact that [[Cinnabar Island]] has no wild Pokémon data but the potential for wild Pokémon to appear, and that wild Pokémon data is not formatted when entering a new area, any location that can be {{m|Fly|flown}} from can have its wild Pokémon available on the coast. This includes the {{safari|Kanto}}, so players can encounter Safari Pokémon under normal battling circumstances.

Due to being able to find Pokémon over level 100, it is possible to trigger glitches relating to Pokémon with levels that are too high. If Pokémon over level 100 receives experience by battle, it will automatically go to level 100; Rare Candies will level up the Pokémon normally. If the Pokémon's remaining HP is already low, dropping to level 100 can cause the HP to drop to negative number, but it will be interpreted as a very high number, similarly to the [[Pomeg glitch]]. In {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}}, HP is shown as the actual amount; in [[Pokémon Stadium 2]], it will act as if its HP was full.

==Trivia==
* Although less practical, players can make a [[trade]] and then surf on a coast to find the same Pokémon that they would have found otherwise via the old man glitch. This is because name data is stored in the RAM and recalled after performing a trade.

{{Glitches}}<br>
{{Project Glitchdex notice|no}}

[[Category:Glitches]]

[[fr:Bug de la rive droite de Cramois'île]]
[[pt:glitch do velho]]