Part 80: Side Note #01: Release Overview

Side Notes #01: Release Overview

Way back in the beginning, Pokemon Gold and Silver were announced originally as Pokemon 2, or Pocket Monsters 2: Gold and Silver, with a tentative release date of "late 1997". By Nintendo Space World '97, the '2' had been dropped and it had been given a proper release date of March 1998. However, they were then delayed, with a public apology from Nintendo, stating that Game Freak were worn out, but were very passionate and needed more time on the games. And so, finally, on November 21st 1999, nearly 4 years after the release of Red and Green, as well as less than a year from Pokemon Yellow, Pokemon Gold and Silver were released in Japan. Unsurprisingly, they did incredibly well and soon came to America on October 15th 2000 and then finally Europe April 6th 2001. And due to the West being gripped by Pokemania, of course these games did well and it's where I started my adventure.

Most likely (since I can't remember), the release of Gold and Silver in Europe was very convenient timing, just before my 7th birthday, so when that time came around, my gran needed to get me something. Oh hey, here's this brand new Pokemon thing literally everyone's talking about. So, I received Pokemon Blue, Pokemon Silver and a Gameboy Colour and from there, I was hooked and have never spent a year where I haven't played Pokemon. So it's been nearly 15 years since I was first gripped by this series, so both Gen 1 and 2 have a special place in my heart. Alongside every other generation, but details details. So from there, every birthday or Christmas, I would make sure to get the next Pokemon installment and my Gameboy Colour and Advance became a literal Pokemon machine, I finally branched out to other stuff with the DS.

Anyway, like Pokemon Red and Blue before it, Gold and Silver received a third version, Pokemon Crystal, with an updated story, fixes and general changes to improve on the originals, but to a lesser extent to future third versions. Released in December 14th 2000 in Japan, July 30th 2001 in America and November 2nd 2001 in Europe, the games had a pretty quick localization, considering. Overall, it did pretty well, though as far as sales go, has one of the weakest in the series, but that's not too surprising. The game has had a good reception and included some weird mobile stuff that we'll talk about later, but it wouldn't be too long before the next generation would be announced...