The Next Pokémon Generation: Embracing a Revolutionary Platform's Triumph

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Pokemon franchise fans have their own unique way of enjoying the series. However, Game Freak's popular RPG series, which features powerful creatures, stands out from other gaming franchises. While the core concept of the franchise and its battle mechanics are based on rock-paper-scissors, the game is complex enough to engage fans in the creation of competitive Pokemon scenes.

These dedicated fans, who strive to win and become the best, have received official recognition from Game Freak in surprising ways. In Generations 8 and 9, raising and building competitive teams has become easier since the methods, previously concealed in hidden values and stats, are now accessible through items like nature-changing Mints. This recognition also brings glory, as the Pokemon VGC has been held alongside the Pokemon TCG World Championships since as early as 2008. However, there is still room for improvement in making this aspect of the games more accessible to Pokemon fans.

The Undisputed Popularity of Pokemon Showdown

Pokemon Showdown is a fan-created website that allows players to engage in simulated battles between pocket monsters. It offers various options, from casual matches with random opponents online to hosting full-fledged tournaments with friends. Competitive Pokemon players have found it to be an invaluable tool for testing and experimenting with team compositions before investing the time required to train them in official Pokemon games like Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Showdown provides real-time updates on the status effects of players' Pokemon, enabling them to grasp crucial concepts like the suitability of held items for specific Pokemon and the impact of various statistics throughout a match.

The significance of Pokemon Showdown cannot be overstated in fostering and supporting the competitive aspect of the Pokemon series. It is surprising that Game Freak, the creator of Pokemon, has not recognized the immense popularity of this battle simulator and attempted to develop their own version. Showdown's success highlights the potential for a user-friendly Pokemon battle simulator created by Game Freak that thoroughly explains the game's rules, which would undoubtedly cater to both fans and the company itself.

What an Official Competitive Pokemon Battle Simulator Might Look Like

An official Pokemon battle simulator game may not be as far-fetched as fans initially believe. In the past, the Pokemon Stadium games were released frequently alongside the mainline games, up until the Wii U and 3DS era. Although they were not designed exclusively for competitive play, the Pokemon Stadium games could easily serve this purpose and potentially be used as the foundation for a robust battle simulator if Game Freak ever decided to pursue one.

Besides the ability to transfer Pokemon from handheld games to Stadium, the game also offered the option for fans to rent pre-made, powerful teams. A battle simulator could recreate this feature by allowing players to customize and save their ideal team as a rental. These teams could then be put to the test in various Cups, which could be directly imported from the classic Nintendo 64 game.

However, this does not imply that the spiritual successor to Pokemon Stadium should ignore the option of transferring old Pokemon creatures. On the contrary, integrating Pokemon Home compatibility would not only enable the inclusion of Pokemon from this game, but also facilitate the trading of other creatures back into the mainline titles for exciting new adventures. Additionally, the battle simulator could feature special ranked battle reward creatures that noticeably excel in the mainline games, which could prove more valuable than previous Pokemon ranked battle prizes.