Thread: Issue 2: Are RS Remakes Necessary?

Here's where you can discuss our feature article, asking whether remakes to RS are necessary. Feel free to debate the premise, or the writer!

Well, I think of it this way. They have been remaking the games, starting with Gen 1, then most revently Gen 2, why wouldn't they remake Gen 3 especially with the introduction of the 3DS. Ruby and Sapphire, one of the best generations, in the 3D, hell yes.

Also, the only region that is not available on a DS style game chip is Ruby and Sapphire, making it harder (obviously not that hard but still, its the concept) to get region exclusives.

Originally Posted by Derier44

Well, I think of it this way. They have been remaking the games, starting with Gen 1, then most revently Gen 2, why wouldn't they remake Gen 3 especially with the introduction of the 3DS. Ruby and Sapphire, one of the best generations, in the 3D, hell yes.

Not to start anything, but "best generation" is certainly subjective. Gen II was an expectation because of how it latched itself onto Gen I. Gen III, you can argue all day and night that it could be remade because it was the original game that tried to "reboot" the series, but then argue that relying on past generations breaks the whole reboot thing.

And back to the issue of subjectivism, I doubt corporations are going to go on subjective views. At least I hope so (though comments Masuda makes sometimes really make me wonder...). In terms of sales, it would be the lowest if I recall, which again, you can argue was a result of the downfall that could be observed back in Gen II in terms of their declining sales, and the anime's apparent inability to keep its audience during the Johto saga.

On the article itself, I really don't like the second point, it just seemed weak.

Of course, I'm on the side that we should stop with the remakes for reasons that I could probably write an entire NB article about.

Originally Posted by The Outrage

Not to start anything, but "best generation" is certainly subjective. Gen II was an expectation because of how it latched itself onto Gen I. Gen III, you can argue all day and night that it could be remade because it was the original game that tried to "reboot" the series, but then argue that relying on past generations breaks the whole reboot thing.

And back to the issue of subjectivism, I doubt corporations are going to go on subjective views. At least I hope so (though comments Masuda makes sometimes really make me wonder...). In terms of sales, it would be the lowest if I recall, which again, you can argue was a result of the downfall that could be observed back in Gen II in terms of their declining sales, and the anime's apparent inability to keep its audience during the Johto saga.

On the article itself, I really don't like the second point, it just seemed weak.

Of course, I'm on the side that we should stop with the remakes for reasons that I could probably write an entire NB article about.

Ruby and Sapphire were the best selling games on the Game Boy Advance. "Lowest" for the series? Yes. But when you're selling 13 million copies of a game, I don't think that constitutes a failure.

The plainest reason they're remake Ruby and Sapphire is because the remakes would sell. The second and third reasons in the article are pretty weak (Connectivity to Hoenn didn't stop them from putting Hoenn Starters and Legends in HGSS/Point 3 isn't very objective). The only one that holds some weight is the first (comparing the tech), but that sounds more like a reason not to remake Diamond/Pearl, since they can still be played on the same console as BW and future 3DS games.

On the note of point 3, Game Freak was basically BSing us. Masuda's idea of shaking up our conception of Pokemon was to trade outside Pokemon Centres. I've seen people say they've basically "gone back to Gen I" (in the good way) that they placed emphasis on the League again rather than just the side plot. Objectively speaking, many Pokemon designs were throwbacks to past generations, and there were many references to past games, as well as suddenly having old Pokemon appear in the wild post-E4.

Really, the only way that the franchise "moved forward" was because Game Freak said it did, even when evidence suggests that they didn't move as far forward as they would claim.

1) We are closer to Generation III now than we were to Generation I eight years ago.

From Generation I to their remakes using the earliest english release:

From and including: Midnight between Tuesday, September 29, 1998 and Wednesday, September 30, 1998
To, but not including : Midnight between Monday, September 6, 2004 and Tuesday, September 7, 2004
The duration is 2169 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes and 0 seconds
Or 5 years, 11 months, 8 days excluding the end date

From Ruby & Sapphire to today, also using the earliest english release:

From and including: Midnight between Tuesday, March 18, 2003 and Wednesday, March 19, 2003
To, but not including : Midnight between Wednesday, September 28, 2011 and Thursday, September 29, 2011
The duration is 3116 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes and 0 seconds
Or 8 years, 6 months, 10 days excluding the end date

In the literal sense, though, 8 years ago, we were about 5 years apart from Generation I, and today, we are about 8 years apart from Generation III, though this isn't as accurately calculated as the above dates. If duration matters for remakes, then Ruby & Sapphire deserve remakes more than Red & Green (Blue) did when FireRed and LeafGreen were released.

2) We can still (technically) connect to Gen III

That is true, however, games from Generation III are quite hard to find, unless they are used copies, and most of the time, they are expensive. But, it isn't an issue of connectivity, as Gamefreak could have easily inserted some of the Pokémon from Kanto and Johto into the other games, and those who wanted to experience those games would have to buy the old cartridges, and the Gameboy. Some Johto and Kanto Pokémon were in fact available in Hoenn and Sinnoh, but that didn't stop the remakes.

3) Generation V is supposed to be the future

Every new Generation is supposed to be the future. Black & White were just a way for Gamefreak to draw in new fans, and the Pokémon issue was just to not give the old players an unfair advantage, as they know which Pokémon is good or bad for a certain task. Ruby and Sapphire themselves were "the future", and they played it better than Black & White did; by completely rejecting all connectivity to the old games, and Hoenn being a region on it's own, as opposed to Johto being connected to Kanto. There was a new plot, and mostly new Pokémon, even though some old ones were found in the wild.

As it was with arguments for Generation II remakes; new fans didn't get to play the older games.

Are RS remakes neccesary? No. Would they gain a lot of profit if they were remade? Yes. Is money the reason stuff is done is our economy? That's usually the main reason, yes.

I agree with the article, but also render it void. That's my stance on any pro or anti remake arguments, anyway.

Gamefreak would make money, it would be a best seller on the game lists, and the fans would party. It's not necessary, but neither was HGSS.

Their are only two reasons that a pokemon game is necessary...

1) First two games in a new Generation.

2) Cant get access to a certain region because of hardware.

Those are the only times a game is necessary, the reason they make the "unnecessary" games is too....

1) Please the fans

2) Make money

And if it hasn't been apparent by now that they are going to follow the pattern of remaking the Gen's in order, and that (hopefully) Gen III is going to be the first 3D pokemon game, I dont know what is.

What i found as a profound hint that ruby sapphire would be remade was the presence of basculin. Thats all. So whether they are necessary or not doesn't matter now.

However, i'l give my example. I didnt get why there was so much hype around HG and SS simply because i never really played gen 2. Gen 3 was my first exposure so just the same way as the original fans of gen 2 were hyped for the remakes, people like me are hyped for these remakes.

Originally Posted by Zapface

What i found as a profound hint that ruby sapphire would be remade was the presence of basculin. Thats all. So whether they are necessary or not doesn't matter now.

From what I heard Basculin was added because the creators thought there weren't enough fish pokémon in Unova.

Originally Posted by Mijzelffan

From what I heard Basculin was added because the creators thought there weren't enough fish pokémon in Unova.

That is likely but having the two semi-exclusive colors were probably to make the fish more useful by being a hint I think.

Originally Posted by Gligar13

Gamefreak would make money, it would be a best seller on the game lists, and the fans would party. It's not necessary, but neither was HGSS.

To be fair, HGSS was more necessary because there was no connectivity between GSC and the rest of the games.

Originally Posted by Zapface

What i found as a profound hint that ruby sapphire would be remade was the presence of basculin. Thats all. So whether they are necessary or not doesn't matter now.

Explain. I'm not sure I quite understand your meaning.

Originally Posted by hurristat

To be fair, HGSS was more necessary because there was no connectivity between GSC and the rest of the games.

i think the blue and red basculin has something to do with ruby and sapphire. It's just my opinion but it makes sense.

Explain. I'm not sure I quite understand your meaning.

I just think the red and blue basculins have something to do (symbolize) ruby and sapphire. It's just my opinion but it makes sense.

The only thing that I would use as a hint for the RS remakes are the re-introduction of Dive, feature only found in the Generation III games.

Regarding the points, the second one isn't really strong. And it's true; no remake is necessary, but for the fans, to see a game they played and loved in the past make it more valuable. I, for one, liked (amongst all Pokémon games) RSE the least, but that doesn't mean I won't wait for the remakes to happen.