Since joining PJN I’ve had all of these mad ideas flowing through my mind, but then a sane, coherent, and utterly ingenious concept reared its ugly head. I’ve thought of a new series so completely logical it’s made my inner psycho shiver with disgust. My idea consists of highlighting the things I dislike in Pokémon. It makes a ridiculous amount of sense; I mean what could possibly go wrong?
Ok seriously this could go either way, and it will no doubt cause some controversy. However, I’d like to point out I do in fact love the franchise with a passion (obviously), and my dislikes (not ‘hating’) will be backed up with solid reasons. The topics I discuss won’t solely be about the games; it will be anything Pokémon. This week keeping with the ‘Gen 1’ theme I will be talking about an infamous group of people within the fandom known as the ‘Genwunners’.
“Biggest trolls in the fandom”
Now I’m not talking about people who just prefer Gen 1 over the others, as they’re great games and there are good reasons as to why people might prefer them. No I’m talking about people who say Gen 1 is the best but slate the rest of the series with little to no reason backing up their opinion. Yes I get that everyone is entitled to an opinion, but when someone is blinded by nostalgia and is defaming a series they supposedly love without any understandable or sincere reason then they’re a Genwunner.
This group of people are never happy and some become the biggest trolls in the fandom (although they’re not real fans if they constantly spurt hatred towards everything new they see in Pokémon). With each new generation they get more tiresome and repetitive, so much so that I’ll list some examples I expect most people have heard and my response to them:
Comment: ‘WTF? An ice cream Pokémon!? They’re really running out of ideas…’ – This is one of the most common jibes I see and it’s been around for a long time (although most now highlight the Vanillite line as their so called ‘evidence’). This comment is usually followed by people claiming how the series has lost originality and that Gen 1 Pokémon are the only good designs.
Response: Ok so you dislike one Pokémon and suddenly it means they’ve run out of ideas and the WHOLE generation sucks? Every generation has the odd weird/lazy design for example Voltorb and Seel. For every ice cream there’s an awesome eagle like Braviary. Besides people like different things, just because you don’t doesn’t mean others don’t either, so get over it.
Comment: ‘WTF? A rubbish bag!? Inanimate objects shouldn’t be Pokémon…’ – Another common complaint is Pokémon based on non living things. Chandelure and Garbordor are two which have garnered a lot of negative attention the past gen; apparently they should all be animals or insects.
Response: Ok explain Magnemite and Geodude to me. You can’t? Well there’s a surprise.
Comment: ‘Pokémon have become too complex’ and ‘Garbordor is such an awful design…’ – Garbordor can be replaced with other Pokémon but he’s been given a lot of hate this past gen. People have also complained about newer Pokémon being too complicated looking and miss the ‘simplicity’ of the original 151.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FopyRHHlt3M
Response: Yes Garbordor looks crap but that’s the actual point. He’s meant to look awful and unappealing because he’s a heap of rubbish. The idea for the design is great for a poison Pokémon because waste can give diseases etc. It’s more imaginative than Muk even if I think Muk looks cooler (in my opinion). Designs should not always be judged on looks alone, look behind them for the real meanings. Sometimes the best and most creative ones are the least appreciated.
As for complexity, surely the added detail makes Pokémon look better if anything? Besides every generation has simple and complex Pokémon. Gen 1 has Pokémon like Venusaur, Machamp and Kangaskhan all of which are very detailed. Yet in Gen 5 we see Pokémon as simple as Beartic, Swanna and Musharna. As I said before, one Pokémon does not represent a generation. Also if Pokémon are ‘meant’ to be based on animals and insects, then surely more complexity would be better seeing as how detailed the real life counterparts are?
Comment: ‘Pokémon is always the same, nothing changes, they’re milking it like COD…’ – This one isn’t exactly a Genwunner problem, but it’s a common complaint I see pop up on gaming sites made by people who are obviously unacquainted with the modern versions of the game. Also it’s not about the actual Pokémon this time so I thought I’d throw it into the mix. The premise of this dig comes from the fact that because Pokémon has maintained its winning formula (which has helped Nintendo sell an approximate 50 bazillion copies of the Pokémon main series), it is therefore not making any changes to it and are just reselling the same game with a new coat of paint.
“Every gaming franchise has a successful formula which they stick to”
Response: Right I’m guessing this has to do with 3 main areas which are: gym/elite 4/champion journey, turn based battling and sprites. First off sprites are no more, so that’s no longer a valid complaint (although now people will say they miss Pokémon’s retro look as it was part of its appeal). Secondly the turn based battling is part of Pokémon’s blood. You cannot change the genre of a main series because it would become a completely different game. Every gaming franchise has a successful formula which they stick to. The reason spin offs exist is so developers can take risks and change things. Anyway the battling has evolved greatly with the introduction of physical/special categories and IVs and EVs.
Finally for the 8 badges-Elite 4-Champion journey, I do think they could shake it up a little, but they can’t really change it too much as the whole point of Pokémon is to become the best trainer the world has ever seen. As for everything else in the main series, it has all evolved a lot but you’d have to play the latest games to see it. The core concepts may be familiar, but changing it too much could make them lose their appeal and make them seem more like spin offs than main entries.
Final Thoughts: There will always be Genwunners no matter how good or different the newer games are. We must just ignore and pity them for not being able to enjoy the awesomeness this franchise still brings. For now however, I’d like to hear from you lot. Do you agree with my responses and what would you say instead? Are there any Genwunners here who would like to counter comment? Please discuss below! 🙂
okay you guys are not going to believe me, but before coming into this website today i was talking about what grinds my gears(family guy) with my study group, and then this pops up! haha okay, but back to the topic, i really hate genwunners. I get to meet a lot of them since I go to college
*Everyone please stand*
We are here tonight to say final words for our friend Dicie. In a rather strange set of circumstances, he has been overcome with amnesia and has tried to impersonate the first person that came to his head (that would be me). If you see a certain MegaXatu around, close your shudders, hide yo’ kids and hide yo’ wife because he is no longer the same person. But, I have to confess that it was my fault; I used my hypnotic powers at an inopportune time and cleared his head of all things Dedenne, rendering his soul to a new form. It…it’s so sad to see the old Dicie go, but the rule of the PokeJungle is that we must leave the old and go in with the new.
I invite you all to share your fondest memories with the Dedenne freak we all knew and loved. Thank you for your time.
*sits back down and has a laughing attack*
Everyone please sit, this is BS.
WAIT, DEDENNE IS TAKING OVER ME!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO………………….
*closes shudders*
X…Xa….Xatu? ShinyXatu? Help me come back….
Wait, something’s happened. I feel.. Dedennyden again! IS IT TRUE!
I’M BACK!!!!! I’M BACK!!!!
Turns out, I was never gone. I just didn’t feel it inside me!!!! DA DICIE IS BACK!!!!! 😀
HOORAY! FREE DEDENNES!
REALLY!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only 26 more days until you get a REAL DEDENNE!
<3
http://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/b/bd/Dedenne.png
😀 DICIE HAS RETURNED!
I was never gone. All I had to do was believe……..
Do you believe in magic? 😀 I DO!
No, I believe in Dedennyden Miracles! 😀
I’m going to admit, I’ve also been stalking this site for a while, and up until now I’ve been too lazy to make an account. But I thought, whatever, I’ll make one. So I did. Hi.
I have no idea what I’m doing, but could someone who knows how make me an icon with a shiny trap inch please?
I don’t know about this, but… it’s possible they could make a Yellow remake for the Nintendo 3DS. Not only are FireRed and LeafGreen now outdated, but it’s been 9 years since they were released. Yellow remake next year? Perhaps. It also coincides with all of the seemingly misplaced Kanto hints within Gen 5, and the revelation of Kanto starter Mega Evos (and their early inclusion in Gen 6). Along with that, imo, Pokemon Amie would fit perfectly with the Pikachu emotion system implemented in Yellow. I know these are just random thoughts, but what does anyone think?
While this would be a great idea, I think the Kanto themes in x and y were to let older fans who may have started with the original starers to relive it. Also I think all this Kanto stuff is to compensate for no remake. The absence of hoenn however lets game freak explore hoenn’s starters and features in a potential remake.
That makes sense. But, still, LightningYellow (or something of the sort) would be so awesome 😀
Yeah, it would 🙂 I never played yellow so a remade version would be great
It’s good to be back, everyone. I would like to thank @shinyxatu:disqus for helping me with my therapy since I took the MegaXatu surgery, which was completely uncalled for. Therefore, he offered to pay for my transformation back into the amazing Dedennyden Dicie that I am right now! To @ShinyXatu!
PS: You’re paying my bill.
You are most welcome, old pal. TO ME!
@shinyxatu:disqus FTW!!!
Yeah, about that bill? I’m…giving it to my rich Aunt Natu to pay off.
It’s only $999,999,999,999,999,999,999,999,9999,999,999,999,999,999,999 in Pokedollars! Not a lot… right?
Nope, that’s pocket change.
Well, I’m off for the night! Stay Dedennyden everyone, and I’ll see you all tomorrow! 😀
Love ya @shinyxatu:disqus (no homo XD)
See ya. Be sure to take your Dedennymeds next time okay? 😛
I’ll remember to take a Dedennydose of Dedennymeds tomorrow, all right! Don’t forget to get high on those Xatupills, er, I mean, have a nice night (alcoholic druggist), er, good night (ugly ass…) SHUT UP SELF CONSCIOUS, er, night!
…yep.
I’m sorry, did I offend you? I think I smoked too much Dedennyjuana. Sorry about that, but hey, TOMORROW’S A FRESH DAY, and LETS HOPE FOR SOME REVEALS!!! 😀
TIME FOR BED! XP
BEDTIME FOR THE DEDENNYDEN AND THE SHINYWISEOLXATU!
Snuggle up ’cause we’re counting down the 25 Days of Poke’Mas starting tomorrow!
Oh Dicie…I swear that I will find a shiny Dedenne in your honor. Not FOR you, for me, but with you in mind.
Aww, thank you. I will find a ShinyXatu in your honor as well, FULLY keeping you in mind. 😀
#DedennesAreCool
#XatuSWAG4LifeW/OMileyCyrusTwerkingONaSUNDAY
I’m going to start a countdown tomorrow for X and Y themed around the 25 Days of Christmas, as there will be 25 days left until the games release. It’ll keep adding up until it becomes a very long list of Pokemon stuff the day before the 12th!
Oh yeah, and goodnight to anyone still roaming in the Jungle.
I guess this kinda goes with this theme. I’m listening to Pokémon Reorchestrated’s Kanto Symphony while I’m working on my homework, and all the old songs are bringing back so much nostalgia. Red and Blue weren’t the best games compared to now, but I had a blast playing them back in 1999. Here’s the link to his “Red’s Journey” piece that literally just made me tear up. Now I’ve got to explain to my friends I’m studying with why I’m crying…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvAgjquVnig&list=SPv1EAqcvJFuG-CMLxveY7eNEcse3xXm1a
I am a huge fan of all the games, just like 99% of you are, but with that said, I agree with the argument that Reshiram and Zekrom are over done. Also, Vanilite IS a piece of shit IMO.
However, that doesn’t mean I dislike 5th gen as a whole. As a matter of fact, B2 is my second favorite Pokemon game, and more of my favorite pokemon come from 5th gen than any other generation.
The arguements that genwunners propose sometimes – SOMETIMES – are valid (to some extent), but they are ignorant to Gen 1’s flaws and are close minded, and that is my real problem.
Side note, I am not a fan of most Pokemon that are based off man made things (except for ghosts i.e. Chandelure and Rotom because it is like the chandelier/washing machine is possesed). But that goes for Magnemite as well as Garbodor and Vanilite.
Sure Gen 1 brings back memories to the majority of us (I know a lot of people started with the Hoenn games here), but that doesn’t mean you’re entitled to rip on every sequel and other Gen games that are in the series
You can say that Gen 1 is your favourite and have your reasons but being hypocritical and complaining about inanimate objects? HELL NO, all the Pokemon SD mentioned above are all inanimate so don’t go hating on a cute ice cream (another thing is that they blame it on the American guy-sorry, can’t remember his name, it’s 6:40am when I wrote this-and say that cause he’s not Japanese, it’s shit….that is absolute crap, it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you design a Pokemon, then clearly you’re good enough)
To conclude my rant, all genwunners think they are the Arceus (Arsei? Idrk what the plural is) of Pokemon and think that Red and Green/Blue (if you think it’s Yellow, you’re gonna have a bad time) are the all time ‘God Games’ despite the glitches and bad graphics etc. They were the pioneer games of this whole successful series, and in all honesty, grow a pair and move on with your lives
*Rant Over*
Plural of Pokémon is the same as singular. So multiple Arceus would be Arceus 😉
But yes. Ice expressed my views on this all before in a Focus On.
Tell those to Gligar13vids and obvious COD fanboyism.
I went back to playing gen 1 recently and was actually frustrated about how impractical the game was. The sprites do not accurately represent the Sugimori art at all and there are so many little things that make the game so much more inconvenient to play:
– buying TMs is a pain as they only give you the TM number so you either have to memorise all the TM numbers, look them up or save before buying one
– Pokemon cannot unfreeze when frozen. I know that you could use an ice heal but this wastes a turn and often you end up being frozen again as the enemy spams their ice beam
– The move wrap does not allow the opponent to do anything. I cannot tell you how many times I cursed at Pokemon stadium as Lance’s Dragonair wrapped my entire team to death because I didn’t have anything fast enough to move first or strong enough to wipe it out in one move.
– focus energy actually decreases your chance to crit, making it a complete waste.
I’ve come to realise that the only thing that enables me to enjoy such a flawed game is the nostalgia; the memory of my first pokemon and the joy of going on the journey for the first time into the unknown. I do love red and blue but I can say right now that they are not the best Pokemon games by far, simply the most nostalgic.
But then there are people who like anything despite it being worse. I liked all the pokemon up to gen 4, but the 5th gen really has a lot of awful pokemon like whimiscott, conkeldurr, samurott etc. I know I dont need to use them, but that doesnt mean I like the fact they are in the game.
Also the 5th gen has a lot of the same species as pokemon like another bat, fish, rock, bull, frog, bear when they could be way more creative and use new species or something like snorlax, venusaur or nidoking where you cant tell with animal its based upon.
That being said, I cannot wait untill Pokemon XY gets released and I wont just stop playing because of what I said.
In all fairness, Bouffalant was based on a buffalo and not a bull and you could say that they when they added Miltank in 2nd gen they just went and added another cow pokemon. There are so many different species of animal in the world that it wouldn’t make sense for just one pokemon to represent an entire family! Think about how many insects there are and the subsequent number of insect Pokemon in every generation! So the complaint of “adding pokemon that already have animal counterparts” has been happening in every generation since gen 1! Not just gen V!
That’s fair enough, but there are great Pokémon in Gen V too, some of which are very creative. It just depends on your taste.
All (except for 1) of my cousins, whom I am very close with, are genwunners and hate any pokemon game after gen 3. This is why when I get X no one will know I have it, unless they ask. My hope is their minds will change after seeing me play a bit of X!
But sidenote: a rule gamefreak should have in making pokemon designs is to not take a MAN-MADE, inanimate object and put a face on it.
Example: Instead of gears with a face they could have made a base monster and attached the gears unto its chest.
Sorry if I sounded like a genwunner myself. 🙁
That makes sense, Pokémon like Vanilluxe are a bit too obvious when it comes to figuring out what it’s based on, but I still like it lol.
http://www.poke-mega.org/forum/showpost.php?p=570744&postcount=1197
IS THIS FAKE ?
Zebikon, Fairy / Dark, trio with Xerneas & Yvetal
Most likely, a lot of people are claiming it to be due to shading and stuff. Though, I honestly can see it beside Xerneas and Yvetal.
Looks fake but who knows, it could be concept art
Probably fake, but looks awesome
Fake.
It doesn’t look very well presented, considering most concept sketches for Pokemon are done showing multiple levels of completion of the design as well as showing it off in multiple angles and poses. So I call Fake on this one.
It looks like a blueprint. It def looks more believable. It actually looks really good!
Like this a lot ;)!
i agree with you in everything! one thing is that you may prefer one gen over the others, but when they start criticising new generations with “reasons” we can apply to Gen I, i get frustrated… “Pokemon should be based in living beings”. first, Pokemon are monsters, the same as Digimon or the monsters in Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. if we have a pickle monster in Dragon Quest, why can’t we have an ice-cream monster in Pokemon? second, if pokemon should be based in living beings, what about Magnemite, Geodude, Onix or Grimer?
it’s true that, at the beginning, they may seem weird. that happened to me with Tympole. but later on, if you have more contact with them, you see them oftenly in the game and all, you finally accept them, even you may find them cute!
Ah I forgot Digimon! I might focus on that in another article…
genwunners seriously bore me
the only part where i agree is the food pokemon. i have this problem with swrilix too. pokemon shouldn’t be food. i mean it’s unsettling! when a vanilite dies they eat it? i mean come on! there was a rumor about a croissant pokemon! if that’s the case i won’t say that gen 7(wow!) is rubbish but i will certainly paint that gen in a more negative colors that other.
NO
FOOD
POKEMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then again, it fit the theme. BW and B2W2 were set in Unova, which was based on NY…of course you’re gonna get something about ice cream! But that’s my opinion, you could think something different
Genwunners. They forget Generation 1 had some really bad Pokemon. Grimer is just a pile of glop. Voltorb is just a sphere. When, some Pokemon evolve they just make 2-3 of itself. Example Dudio evolves into Dutrio. Just multiplyed itself. I think Pokemon’s ideas have gotten better by each generation. Generation 6 having some amazing Pokemon. As, we all know “Haters Goin’ Hate”. 😉 (Can any Gen 1 Pokemon fly like Golurk?)
Take that
;D / Helicopter POWER’
Why do I love this so much?
Ahhhh, now I know how Doduo can use Fly.
Yes, this thing is great, even if it is fairly “complicated” in design for a Pokémon.
The worst argument is compare 1st generation pokemons. The 1st ones are original per se. You cant say “Some cave painting is bad and some new art is bad too” So…
I dont like “genwunners”,,, too but your argument is bad (like my english…)
What? I wasn’t comparing Pokemon. I was giving examples. I didn’t say anything was bad. If your talking about the Golurk part, it was a little joke on its flying!
I don’t think being the original means they can’t be compared to new Pokemon. I see the “it came first and therefore should not be compared to anything more recent” argument way too often and it’s an absolutely crap argument in many of the cases I see it applied to. After all, lots of old things still hold up just fine. And it’s just not fair to label something new as “uncreative” or “bad” when the old version did the exact same things, but gets a pass because it’s original. That is nostalgia blindness and nothing more.
Not that I think Koffing, Gastly, Exeggcute, Trubbish, etc are uncreative or bad. Imo they are some of the more creative Pokemon out there.
If anyone’s argument is bad, I would say it’s yours.
This is completely irrelevant, but I’ll ask it anyway. Since Golurk can fly does that mean he’ll be able to participate in Sky Battles? I’d make more sense for this guy than Doduo in my opinion.
I believe it will be able to, but if Doduo can I’m interested in seeing how they show that.
Probably like in Stadium: It will just “stand” in the air.
It would be cool to see it! He’s jet propelled. I would love to see Doduo propelled like a helicopter!
I don’t know why some people can’t seem to look past the First Gen. I don’t think there has been a Pokemon design I haven’t liked! And I’ve loved every Pokemon in the Sixth Gen.
I mean how can you not like little Vanillite ? It’s so cute!
Genwunners really get under my skin because they call themselves the true Pokemon fans however most of them hate on any generation after the second and its not like most of them gave the newer games a chance they just zeroed in the ‘low-lights’ of the newer gens to justify there meaningless arguements. Also with some people who got butthurt and are still over X & Y being on the 3DS, they don’t seem to realise that they had to upgrade their Gameboys to Gameboy Colours to play Gold and Silver.
^ This well said 😀
Thank you 😀
I’m not a genwunner, I’ve loved ALL the games in the series, although D/P/PT has to be my least favourite, but I gotta admit, there’s just something about the first two gens that no other gen can match. I can’t say exactly what it is though, maybe I’m just more used to these gens?. On another note, WHO’S EXCITED FOR X AND Y!!?
I love Magnemite and Muk and dislike Garbodor and Klink. I simply think Klink and Garbodor are over-designed and Muk and Magnemites simplistic designs are more appealing to me. I also think that Gen 5’s starters are terrible (Gen 4 had the best IMO). That all said, gen 5 was an overall solid gen with solid games and some of my favorites (Galvantula, Archaeops, Ferrothorn, Braviary, Scolipede) were from that gen. The problem is judging the entire game by a few bad Pokemon. If we did that then gen 1 would be called terrible because of Mr. Mime and Electrode. Gen 2 would be bad because of Aipom. Gen 3 would be terrible because of Luvdisc. And gen 4 would be terrible because of Bastiodon. There are hundreds of Pokemon so it’s easy to just ignore the terrible ones and enjoy the games. And think of it this way: if you’re faced with a Luvdisc or Garbodor in game, it only makes it easier to faint them.