Thanks for the in-depth analysis, @Water Pokémon Master . I always appreciate your insights and the connections you draw between different aspects of the Pokemon marketing machine. I've learned a lot through the Pokemon machine and the culture in general that is applicable to the wider world, which is not something people would expect haha.
With regards to these rumours, I am apprehensive. In my eyes, with my own knowledge of Pokemon trends, it doesn't fully make sense.
While Lets Go! could be a spin off series, it's hard for me to see them as the flagship Gen 8 games -- we do know, after all, that Pokemon Switch will be the full-on next generation of Pokemon; with new Pokemon, attacks, etc.
Having a new generation without new starters seems ludicrous, and having a new generation with new starters and then forcing them to take a back seat to Pikachu and Eevee also doesn't seem to make sense and/or be in line with marketing tactics either (other than the fact that Gen 1 nostalgia consistently sells, which is why it always manages to find it's way into every game [except maybe X and Y.... which didn't even get a "third version"!]).
Furthermore, this new generation will surely have "box legends," just like every generation since Gen 2. Exclusive box legends sell games and are a huge part of what Pokemon main series games have become.... it would undoubtedly cut into their profits if they stopped having brand new version-exclusive legendaries because kids would be less inclined to buy both versions (as some do). Box legends are also a huge part of marketing... why have them take a back seat to Pikachu and Eevee as well? Cool new legends to market the games is huge for every generation.
Back when the Wii U launched, one of the many problems with marketing is that people were not sure if it was even a completely new system. The Switch made a huge leap and defined itself as something unique. If these are Pikachu and Eevee focused then it will, imo, hinder the idea that these games are a brand new generation... not exactly in the spirit of the Switch.
Re: Masuda: I think he's trolling us. That, or Lets Go! is a true spin-off with info coming soon, seeing as the names have been trademarked already. Something tells me there's a Flying-type Eeveeloution on the horizon... and they will likely reveal it before July to promote the movie and new generation simultaneously. The question is whether they'll show it in gameplay of the Gen 8 games if/when they reveal them in late May / June. Personally I think they'll reveal the new games before July, so that they can promote them in an ad/trailer in the theatres, like the one that revealed Trevenant (Oorotto, anyone?) and all we had to go by was people's descriptions and someone's pencil sketch of what they saw briefly in the trailer haha.
This is all without touching on the ideas put forward about Pokemon GO integration and GO-esque capture mechanics... things which I have thoughts on but don't have time to go into right now.
So yes, those are my thoughts! I don't expect anyone to read this long post, but I figured ranting it all out here would be cathartic nonetheless! If you got this far -- thanks for taking the time to hear me out!
With regards to these rumours, I am apprehensive. In my eyes, with my own knowledge of Pokemon trends, it doesn't fully make sense.
While Lets Go! could be a spin off series, it's hard for me to see them as the flagship Gen 8 games -- we do know, after all, that Pokemon Switch will be the full-on next generation of Pokemon; with new Pokemon, attacks, etc.
Having a new generation without new starters seems ludicrous, and having a new generation with new starters and then forcing them to take a back seat to Pikachu and Eevee also doesn't seem to make sense and/or be in line with marketing tactics either (other than the fact that Gen 1 nostalgia consistently sells, which is why it always manages to find it's way into every game [except maybe X and Y.... which didn't even get a "third version"!]).
Furthermore, this new generation will surely have "box legends," just like every generation since Gen 2. Exclusive box legends sell games and are a huge part of what Pokemon main series games have become.... it would undoubtedly cut into their profits if they stopped having brand new version-exclusive legendaries because kids would be less inclined to buy both versions (as some do). Box legends are also a huge part of marketing... why have them take a back seat to Pikachu and Eevee as well? Cool new legends to market the games is huge for every generation.
Back when the Wii U launched, one of the many problems with marketing is that people were not sure if it was even a completely new system. The Switch made a huge leap and defined itself as something unique. If these are Pikachu and Eevee focused then it will, imo, hinder the idea that these games are a brand new generation... not exactly in the spirit of the Switch.
Re: Masuda: I think he's trolling us. That, or Lets Go! is a true spin-off with info coming soon, seeing as the names have been trademarked already. Something tells me there's a Flying-type Eeveeloution on the horizon... and they will likely reveal it before July to promote the movie and new generation simultaneously. The question is whether they'll show it in gameplay of the Gen 8 games if/when they reveal them in late May / June. Personally I think they'll reveal the new games before July, so that they can promote them in an ad/trailer in the theatres, like the one that revealed Trevenant (Oorotto, anyone?) and all we had to go by was people's descriptions and someone's pencil sketch of what they saw briefly in the trailer haha.
This is all without touching on the ideas put forward about Pokemon GO integration and GO-esque capture mechanics... things which I have thoughts on but don't have time to go into right now.
So yes, those are my thoughts! I don't expect anyone to read this long post, but I figured ranting it all out here would be cathartic nonetheless! If you got this far -- thanks for taking the time to hear me out!
