Why I thought 3DS was a good bet

Gamefreak did always stick with their ‘Third Version’-formula. That is, you pick up the two games, mash some minor extra content and catchable legendaries in to them and you get a new game. Nobody expected them do something else, I didn’t expect it, and most of the Pokemon community. However, this formula was aging. People saw them more and more a cashgrab. So, that’s why I thought ‘Gray’ would need something unique, something other third versions haven’t done.

That unique thing, I thought, had to be the 3DS. The 3DS doesn’t only have better graphics, it most importantly has more memory and a better CPU, allowing for more complex cities and battle scenes. Being able to view the Unova cities in a bigger, prettier, bolder setting would be a welcome change, in contrast to only a Battle Frontier.

It would also help to sell the 3DS, the system that was thought to be dead on arrival. Pokémon helps to sell handhelds, and could save the 3DS from imminent doom. It would help to combat the negativity that it doesn’t have games. But things turned out differently, half a year later…

Why keeping it on the DS makes sense

Gamefreak did the unexpected by releasing a two generations on one handheld. So, I expected something unexpected. But they still surprised me doing something totally unexpected. They released a direct sequel. A direct sequel has numerous advantages. It doesn’t have to rely on graphical prowess to be different, they are unique on their own. It can fix up all the plot holes while don’t making it so that the original two feel like they were broken intentionally.

By keeping it on the same handheld as their predecessors, they reach the same install base. Not everyone has a 3DS. If they just released a prettier version of Black, DS users wouldn’t feel a lot left out. But by bringing out a game that tie in nicely with the previous, you want everyone who experienced the first also be able to enjoy the second.

And another interesting reason: they can now wow the audience with the expected Generation VI. Gray would take away from the freshness of those games, especially when viewed by the casual. They also get an extra year or two to work on the engine and assets, so that they don’t have to rush things to bring out an otherwise outdated third version. It also allows them to keep this generation short, allowing them to announce groundbreaking new games within two years.

So, yes, I was wrong. Nobody is always right, and I’m no exception. That Gamefreak was able to surprise us all is a good sign, showing that they haven’t lost their creative spark, but I also think other people would think otherwise with this move.