The way the Switch works means that you could have access to both versions by making a new profile which is also why they won't make multiple save files
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It's time for Gamefreak to stop releasing the same game as two different versions
- Thread starter Qurupeke
- Start date
Not at all though.
How it currently works is: I search for Shield players because I 100% know that they have a pokémon that I don't have as a Sword player.
What the other idea is proposing is: - Hey, do you have a rattata? RNG hates me so I can't catch it in my game
- Sorry dude, I also don't have Rattata!
We already both agree that a minority of players buy both versions—the disagreement is on the relative number, and I suppose the age of the buyers. I don't think you can draw any arguable conclusions about either of those, since all we have is anecdotal evidence. Having said that, anecdotally, the only time I had both versions was in elementary school, and I had a friend of the same age who bought both more often than I did, so I'm less inclined to believe it's just adults doing it.
As for the trading statistics, there's nothing there that indicates how many people do or don't buy both versions. The most you can get out of that is that, among the people who buy only one version, significantly more people bought Sword than Shield. People who bought both wouldn't be trading for exclusives, so you wouldn't expect to see them affecting trade popularity either way. If anything, one could argue that the lack of demand for Clauncher suggests that people who bought Shield also tended to buy Sword—if they hadn't bought Sword, wouldn't there be more demand for Clauncher? I don't think that's actually the case, but it illustrates the limitations of this sort of data for drawing such a conclusion.
Does it matter? Pokemon is casual game for kids. Who cares if they use multiple saves to get version unique Pokemon?
It won't happen because it doesn't actually bother most people.
But sure, if you asked me what I'd prefer, I'd prefer they drop the two versions thing.
But sure, if you asked me what I'd prefer, I'd prefer they drop the two versions thing.
Why aren't you using the GTS to trade? What happens when a Shield player doesn't have a Pokemon you need?
Sure GTS is the way to go, but what about those trades in HOME that don't trigger trade-evolutions?
I'm not sure, what about them specifically? I don't think HOME would have any impact on a hypothetical one version Pokemon where your available Pokemon are determined by RNG but I haven't used much of it since I don't want to pay.
You think a company would do that?
Just ignore practices and features that would benefit the player in favor of greed cause they can get away with it?
Like, it takes money to have to print two slightly different carts, and everything else that comes with two versions. It is obvious that the profits of having two SKUs outweight the logistics and extra spending.
It always feels like GF gives the short stick to the people who support them the most.
"Bought both versions Sw/Sh? How bout we reward you by making you only pay once for DLC? lol jk pay up."
It always feels like GF gives the short stick to the people who support them the most.
"Bought both versions Sw/Sh? How bout we reward you by making you only pay once for DLC? lol jk pay up."
My best friend always buys both, and lately she doesn't even play any of them, she didn't play sumo and she just started playing sword last month I think, but I doubt she's gonna finish it.
For some reason my brother also bought the double pack, I asked if he was planing on playing both and he said he might after finishing one, but so far he hasn't started the second one.
They make too much money selling 2 games to the same people, they won't stop doing it.
For some reason my brother also bought the double pack, I asked if he was planing on playing both and he said he might after finishing one, but so far he hasn't started the second one.
They make too much money selling 2 games to the same people, they won't stop doing it.
Two things I know about Pokemon fans, they will accept anything and will defend everything. Gamefreak should do a lot of things, but they won't because they have no incentive to. Hell, they don't even have to defend or respond to criticism because they have millions of PR people who will do it for them.
Expecting anything to change with this company and how it handles this IP is a lost cause.
Expecting anything to change with this company and how it handles this IP is a lost cause.
They'll never stop selling two versions of the same game for the same reason they'll never make a decent game again: people are so attached to this brand that they'll buy whatever they put out in whatever form they put out.
Two versions is fun. You get interactivity between friends of discussing version differences, trading etc.
what isn't cool is selling double packs but then expecting that people buy the dlc twice. Dlc should be one purchase applied to both games. Normally a third version would combine two games and add post game so why can't dlc follow this procedure too? My girlfriend has shield and I have sword but she would prefer I play and beat the dlc then give her the Pokémon she needa and gmax her Pokémon for her because spending 90 aud for both of us to get an extra hour and a half of content is a joke.
what isn't cool is selling double packs but then expecting that people buy the dlc twice. Dlc should be one purchase applied to both games. Normally a third version would combine two games and add post game so why can't dlc follow this procedure too? My girlfriend has shield and I have sword but she would prefer I play and beat the dlc then give her the Pokémon she needa and gmax her Pokémon for her because spending 90 aud for both of us to get an extra hour and a half of content is a joke.
Keep two versions but make the name and packaging identical so you don't know what you got til you buy and start playing.
Everyone wins.
Everyone wins.
You're absolutely right OP, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
For all of you guys who enjoy trading, you'd still be able to trade with a single version. No one is stopping you. My two friends who play it and I all ended up buying Sword. Newsflash: we are still allowed to trade with each other, so I can confirm trading within a single version is still enabled, despite what I've heard on this thread. But guess what: we'll never complete the Pokédex! Trade as much as you want. But if other people can't (or don't want to) trade, why should they be forced to? Why not make their lives a little bit easier, by removing the possibility you buy the same version as your friend?
If having all Pokémon accessible in a single version makes you stop trading - well, I guess it was never fun in the first place then!
I bet a lot of the people who support the idea of two versions are the same people who went mad over "Dexit". And then complained about how bad looking and archaic, and easy the games were. But the Pokémon fan base gets the game it deserves really. If you want a game with good production values, good progression, and innovation, you should try embracing modernity across the board. Dropping outdated practices is good, and GF should absolutely drop the two versions thing. But no, the fan base is averse to progress, so yeah, beating the Elite 4 will become ever easier, completing the Pokédex will become increasingly impossible if you haven't been playing for the past 20 years, and the games will look worse and worse compared to competitors.
For all of you guys who enjoy trading, you'd still be able to trade with a single version. No one is stopping you. My two friends who play it and I all ended up buying Sword. Newsflash: we are still allowed to trade with each other, so I can confirm trading within a single version is still enabled, despite what I've heard on this thread. But guess what: we'll never complete the Pokédex! Trade as much as you want. But if other people can't (or don't want to) trade, why should they be forced to? Why not make their lives a little bit easier, by removing the possibility you buy the same version as your friend?
If having all Pokémon accessible in a single version makes you stop trading - well, I guess it was never fun in the first place then!
I bet a lot of the people who support the idea of two versions are the same people who went mad over "Dexit". And then complained about how bad looking and archaic, and easy the games were. But the Pokémon fan base gets the game it deserves really. If you want a game with good production values, good progression, and innovation, you should try embracing modernity across the board. Dropping outdated practices is good, and GF should absolutely drop the two versions thing. But no, the fan base is averse to progress, so yeah, beating the Elite 4 will become ever easier, completing the Pokédex will become increasingly impossible if you haven't been playing for the past 20 years, and the games will look worse and worse compared to competitors.
Thanks for making this thread. I was actually doing some research on Gameboy ROM sizes and complexity to see if there was any reason why it was two games to being with.
Since I didn't finish, I'll only talk about the new games. There is no reason whatsoever to have more than one version. If they want to have "teams"/versions, which I'm not a fan, they could easily introduce an option to choose inside the game "Are you team Red?" "Do you want to play the sword version?".
So at least today, they have no excuse. Even by design. They could launch it as a single game with options.
Since I didn't finish, I'll only talk about the new games. There is no reason whatsoever to have more than one version. If they want to have "teams"/versions, which I'm not a fan, they could easily introduce an option to choose inside the game "Are you team Red?" "Do you want to play the sword version?".
So at least today, they have no excuse. Even by design. They could launch it as a single game with options.
I want the opposite. I want both versions to be more different.
If Fire Emblem Fates could do it, so can Pokemon!
If Fire Emblem Fates could do it, so can Pokemon!
Pokemon's whole business model is about giving you opportunities to spend more money; all these decisions work together and none of it is accidental. They'll keep the two versions because they know that some percentage of people buy both. They only give you the single save file so that if you ever want to replay the story you'll need to either pay for Pokemon Home to keep your Pokemon or just buy the other version. They've taken GTS out of the main game and offloaded it to the app where you'll be exposed to more opportunities for spending money. Some Pokemon are now exclusive to the Sword/Shield DLC, and of course the DLC is two different SKUs that must be be paid for separately. Sword/Shield do require Nintendo's paid online service to do anything online, but they DON'T support the cloud save functionality; you need to pay a separate subscription fee to back up your Pokemon.
And the excuse is, of course, that you don't have to pay for any of it. You can still just buy one version and trade like you always have. It's just that now you have so many more opportunities to open your wallet if you want to, no pressure, honest. Basically all the same excuses EA's PR lizard people give when they get questioned about their monetization practices, but people always want to treat Pokemon with kid gloves.
And the excuse is, of course, that you don't have to pay for any of it. You can still just buy one version and trade like you always have. It's just that now you have so many more opportunities to open your wallet if you want to, no pressure, honest. Basically all the same excuses EA's PR lizard people give when they get questioned about their monetization practices, but people always want to treat Pokemon with kid gloves.
You want two half-assed games instead of one half-assed game?
I'd say in the case of Pokemon when you buy one of their games there isn't really any pressure to engage with those things. It's not like you load up the game and get hit by a "Today's Message" about Pokemon Home, alternate versions, downloading the app etc. You can play one of these games and basically be blissfully unaware of all of that stuff.
Are they milking the people who get crazy into the game? For sure, but I really wouldn't say they're in your face about it and pressuring players like almost every other game that has related apps, subscriptions and MTX.
(That is to say, criticise Game Freak for their model, but let's not pretend they're pressuring players to engage in said model, it's so extremely easy to play Pokemon Sword or Shield and be almost completely unaware of all of this ancillary stuff. If anything it's more insidious than how you're putting it.)
I know brothers that buy the combo every time because it's easier.
I think they're the only people I know who buy the combo. I don't know anyone who buys both games.
It's one of the most blatant examples of money-grubbing corporate greed, and so many people just eat it up. The amount of shameless sycophants and/or naive people defending it is embarrassing.
They could release a single version of the game and have you pick an option at the start.
There is only one reason for this and that's to squeeze more money out of consumers wallets.
They could release a single version of the game and have you pick an option at the start.
There is only one reason for this and that's to squeeze more money out of consumers wallets.
For everyone who thinks this is because of money, don't you think it'd be far more efficient to only manage inventory of one SKU? I wouldn't be surprised if any extra revenue generated from double dippers is completely negated by keeping up with and predicting the split in popularity between versions.
Of course they can. Lots of RPGs lock you into the character you create and the path it takes right at the beginning. Imagine if an RPG gave you two choices, and the second path costs you additional $60. This is what it is with Pokemon.
Guys, I also can't read, but...
And of course, we have calm and measured responses, steaming with cleverness and insights, to dumb posts...
But fuck do I know
Uh no?
A lot of other smaller games(including Pokémon spinoffs) can have two versions so I imagine in most cases the profitability outweighs this theoretical cost.
Well, what do you know? I play Pokemon, so don't presume that the ones speaking out on this are just looking from afar. There's no player benefiting reason to have the versions split up in a way that can't be done with a single release.
The way you word it makes the state of franchise seem comical...
I mean, yeah, you can't read. None of that supports the idea that actual Pokémon fans aren't tired of this and the only people complaining are just ignorant trolls or something.
User banned (1 week): hostility, prior ban for hostility
Your very smart way of dropping the plural in also can't read to turn it into a straight up insult attacking me, is a charming reminder who you are as a human. For that I'm grateful. However, yes I agree with you that the majority of Pokemon fans see the dual versions as what what it was intended in 1995, a greedy money grab by a small group of japanese devs which will be defended by dumb mouth breathers on american gaming forums in 2020, being fooled by heinous PR which tells them to pick a side and trade.
Game Freak played the longcon here and only a few Pokemon fans dare to speak out against this hideous opression. And yes, noone was or ever will be insulting towards Pokemon fans, the very thing I wrongly stated and missleading proved with the quoted posts. Except you.
honestly it does no harm in my eyes, i think it's a unique motif for the franchise and I enjoy to see the paralells and differences between the two games and have a culture of "which version are you picking?" "oh cool, im getting the other one".
I don't know, there's a lot to complain about, I feel like this one is harmless.
I don't know, there's a lot to complain about, I feel like this one is harmless.
You could have a single release and choose your path/version/team inside.
sure, but there are also other people in this thread that mentioned several people they knew got both versions.
And if you wanna talk about "thats not how things work", lolololol at saying "more people bought sword, therefore people arent buying both clearly".
You're right Nintendo and Gamefreak curated this experience just for us gamers. We shouldn't be mad or disappointed that one game is split into two and then pay walled separately. We should be THANKFUL. And money was definitely not a goal here. If they didn't charge $60 for each, the devs would literally starve to death. The goal was solely to entertain us gamers. We are not worthy.
Yeah I never understood why people don't get more upset with Nintendo for doing things like this and only allowing one Animal Crossing town per Switch.
The obversation that there a few who go against the idea and marketing of Pokemon and buy both versions always make me think....and?
The idea being pondered with:
Pokemon is built around people buying both versions and 30 years of millions of marketing invested, telling people to pick a side, socialize and trade were simply designed to distract from this apparently hideous business practice. Seems like a weird way to run your business in particular when you know the fans would lap up everything anyway.
Point in case.
The idea being pondered with:
Pokemon is built around people buying both versions and 30 years of millions of marketing invested, telling people to pick a side, socialize and trade were simply designed to distract from this apparently hideous business practice. Seems like a weird way to run your business in particular when you know the fans would lap up everything anyway.
Point in case.
I brought up thid point and people called me selfish and entitled.
This whole trading excuse doesn't fly for me. It is easy to solve. Just make it so you choose one or the other at the start of the game and can't change after you start the save. Easy.
This whole trading excuse doesn't fly for me. It is easy to solve. Just make it so you choose one or the other at the start of the game and can't change after you start the save. Easy.
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