Explaining modern Pokémon games

[SERIOUSLY THOUGH]

So here's the thing - When I was younger, I played Pokémon for hours and hours on end. Completed Blue, and Gold. Then I played Diamond, and completed that, mildly confused as to why my Pidgey had to enter a beauty contest.

I've followed Pokémon from afar - shaking my head at ice-cream Pokémon whilst vehemently denying the fact that having a rat Pokémon called Rattata was pretty much the same level of originality - though haven't actually played a proper game in a long time.

What I'd like is a brief overview of changes that have occured over the times.
e.g. What the devil is IV/EV, nature, abilities, and so on and so forth ...?

Also, what do you dis/like about the changes ?

[spoiler]I will reverse-double-supersonic-ancestral-brunch-bitchslap anyone who says something like "omgzz00rdz 1st Gen wuz de Gr8T5t", "4.5st g3n iz fur babeiz", or "Do you even lift"[/spoiler]

[Kai]

Aside from the aesthetic changes, new Pokemon and new features, the core gameplay remains the same.

As for the game mechanics (IV's and EV's), if I recall correctly they were in the games since Red and Blue and have adapted and evolved with each installment. They weren't necessarily designed to be manipulated for competitive use but were instead used to make each Pokemon unique. The games use a random number generator that determines a number from 1-31 for each stat in a Pokemon. These numbers are the Individual Values or IV's. So for example, let's say you caught two Pidgeys at the exact same level and raised them both to level 100 Pidgeots. They'll have different stats because they had different IV's when you caught them.

This uniqueness is further divided by Effort Values or EV's. They're the points the Pokemon gains towards a certain stat when it defeats a Pokemon. So if one of those Pidgeys battled nothing but Starlys and the other one nothing but Bidoofs they'll each be stronger in a certain stat because defeating a Starly contributes to Speed and defeating a Bidoof contribute to HP.

Natures were added in Ruby and Sapphire and multiply the the effects of IV's and EV's in a particular stat while decreasing another. Once you add all these factors together, you have a way that no two Pokemon can be the exact same. Competitive battling is nothing more than manipulating all of these mechanics to ensure you have a Pokemon that excels in a certain stat.

As for another change in the games, I like how it's less about trying to catch 'em all and giving you more things to do after the main quest. Although it makes sense with 600+ Pokemon combined with how easy it is to get the legendaries.

[SERIOUSLY THOUGH]

That makes much more sense now - thanks !

[Symphony]

And if IVs/EVs/Natures discourage you to play the game, don't bother.

Natures 'only' offer a 10% increase or decrease in two stats.

It's impossible to complete your first playthrough with perfect EVs since you have to battle a lot of stuff. And even if you manage to get 252 EVs in the stat you'd like, the 50ish stat boost won't make a difference in the normal gameplay.

IVs are just plain random. And just like EVs, the points you're going to lose are not going to matter. (as 1 IV = 1 stat point at lv100)

It means that, if you're not looking to play competitively, the games remain pretty much the same way they did before. And even if you want to battle someone, there are countless ways of manipulating your pokemons, outside of straight-out battle simulators.

[BumblebeeCody]

@Symphony
That 10% is important though. Makes a difference and lets your Pokemon reach its full potential.

I like how the meta-game became some more than "get to level 100 to win" and meant that you had to smart in order to play. Getting your EV/IV's up is one thing, but then comes the strategy used in battle (much like chess).

[Symphony]

Quote:@Symphony
That 10% is important though. Makes a difference and lets your Pokemon reach its full potential.

Oh. I thought I added 'on the 'offline' game on all of the topics. My bad then.
The point is, if you're just playing through the storyline and can't be bothered with the metagame, then natures won't really matter. In the metagame, however, a 10% boost in speed is enough to outspeed a heck load of stuff in different tiers.

[Nicknclank]

Ommz I frekin hatz pokemonz! PEETA toldz me iz was a violant gam end maze pokemans fiht!



But SERIOUSLY THOUGH (Never gets old), I like new Gens. I can keep my pokemons I had (because of trading and all), and I can do some stuff in the new games I couldn't before. Such as getting new pokemons!

If some of the new pokemons look bad, you gotta think that some of them also looks good. If you can't be optimistic than b**ch you just can't live.

[BumblebeeCody]

(10-30-2012 08:54 AM)Symphony Wrote:  

Quote:@Symphony
That 10% is important though. Makes a difference and lets your Pokemon reach its full potential.

Oh. I thought I added 'on the 'offline' game on all of the topics. My bad then.
The point is, if you're just playing through the storyline and can't be bothered with the metagame, then natures won't really matter. In the metagame, however, a 10% boost in speed is enough to outspeed a heck load of stuff in different tiers.

Ah OK. Yeah I mean, Pokemon really only begins once you beat the Elite 4. Once you've discovered the majority of the world, then you can make your team. But for getting through, any random mess of Pogeymans is good.

[Arjahn]

Also, defense EV training in B/W is a bitch. The only reliable pokes to train on are Bouldors (or some other original name) who lower your accuracy and have sturdy, meaning if you go back to train on them, you can't one-hit them.
The only one's I've maxed are Breloom and Steve

[retrolinkx]

I don't know why, but I hate all the EV/IV training (mostly because I don't do it), I preferred it when it was more or less thinking of the move to use and the types.

[BumblebeeCody]

(11-02-2012 10:06 AM)retrolinkx Wrote:  I don't know why, but I hate all the EV/IV training (mostly because I don't do it), I preferred it when it was more or less thinking of the move to use and the types.

It gives a much higher level of respect though. It's not just a kiddies game but a game about seriously strategical thinking.

[Ouberry_13]

(11-02-2012 10:29 PM)BumblebeeCody Wrote:  It gives a much higher level of respect though. It's not just a kiddies game but a game about seriously strategical thinking.

Yea, but that level of meticulous thinking on the player's part is not really needed to enjoy the game, which is probably why some people, myself included, don't bother at all with all this EV/IV crap. It's something extra that you don't really need to use to play the game, and personally, I don't see it as something to show respect towards. If you do it, good on you, but I'm not gonna give you more respect just for spending more time fighting certain mons.

[Symphony]

(11-02-2012 10:58 PM)Ouberry_13 Wrote:  

(11-02-2012 10:29 PM)BumblebeeCody Wrote:  It gives a much higher level of respect though. It's not just a kiddies game but a game about seriously strategical thinking.

Yea, but that level of meticulous thinking on the player's part is not really needed to enjoy the game, which is probably why some people, myself included, don't bother at all with all this EV/IV crap. It's something extra that you don't really need to use to play the game, and personally, I don't see it as something to show respect towards. If you do it, good on you, but I'm not gonna give you more respect just for spending more time fighting certain mons.

Once again that's true if you're not interested in the metagame or you just play with your friends. However, not caring about EVs and natures (screw IVs) competitively means you're going to have a huge (and I really mean huge) disadvantage over someone who cares. 50 points into a stat might not make any difference 'offline' or with friends, but hell you'll be needing them on the meta.

[BumblebeeCody]

(11-03-2012 12:16 AM)Symphony Wrote:  

(11-02-2012 10:58 PM)Ouberry_13 Wrote:  

(11-02-2012 10:29 PM)BumblebeeCody Wrote:  It gives a much higher level of respect though. It's not just a kiddies game but a game about seriously strategical thinking.

Yea, but that level of meticulous thinking on the player's part is not really needed to enjoy the game, which is probably why some people, myself included, don't bother at all with all this EV/IV crap. It's something extra that you don't really need to use to play the game, and personally, I don't see it as something to show respect towards. If you do it, good on you, but I'm not gonna give you more respect just for spending more time fighting certain mons.

Once again that's true if you're not interested in the metagame or you just play with your friends. However, not caring about EVs and natures (screw IVs) competitively means you're going to have a huge (and I really mean huge) disadvantage over someone who cares. 50 points into a stat might not make any difference 'offline' or with friends, but hell you'll be needing them on the meta.

Exactly my point. If you want to mess around and get your pocket monsters to 100 then there's nothing to stop you playing that way. But if you ever want to win competitively, then you'll have to join the learning curve.