History of the Pokémon world: Difference between revisions

→‎In the core series games: some of these sections may get removed, rewritten, or combined in the future, but I feel some organization helps
(→‎In the core series games: removal of unconfirmed information. reclarification and moving in others)
(→‎In the core series games: some of these sections may get removed, rewritten, or combined in the future, but I feel some organization helps)
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On May 7, 2014, Game Freak employee [[Toshinobu Matsumiya]]'s Twitter account posted a timeline of the core series Pokémon games up to that point.<ref name="Matsumiya">[https://archive.is/D9iPz Matsumiya tweet] (archived from [https://twitter.com/matsumiyan/status/464052839870787584 Twitter])</ref> However, the tweet was subsequently deleted.
On May 7, 2014, Game Freak employee [[Toshinobu Matsumiya]]'s Twitter account posted a timeline of the core series Pokémon games up to that point.<ref name="Matsumiya">[https://archive.is/D9iPz Matsumiya tweet] (archived from [https://twitter.com/matsumiyan/status/464052839870787584 Twitter])</ref> However, the tweet was subsequently deleted.


The plots of {{game3|Red and Green|Pokémon Red, Green|s}}, {{pkmn|Blue Version (Japanese)|Blue}}, {{v2|Yellow}}, {{game3|FireRed and LeafGreen|FireRed, and LeafGreen|s}} and {{game3|Ruby and Sapphire|Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire|s}}, {{pkmn|Emerald Version|Emerald}}, [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire]] are contemporaneous, as revealed in Matsumiya's tweet. They are then followed by the plots of {{game3|Gold and Silver|Pokémon Gold, Silver|s}}, {{pkmn|Crystal Version|Crystal}}, {{game3|HeartGold and SoulSilver|HeartGold, and SoulSilver|s}} and {{game3|Diamond and Pearl|Pokémon Diamond, Pearl|s}}, {{pkmn|Platinum Version|Platinum}}, [[Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl|Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl]] three years later; although Matsumiya's tweet suggests that they are also contemporaneous, dialogue from [[Jasmine]] and [[Cynthia]] provides conflicting evidence on which games occur first.<ref name="Jasmine" group="note">'''Jasmine''': "I'm thinking maybe I should participate in this Contest in Sinnoh to try and be more vibrant."<br>'''[[Erika]]''': "How did it go?"<br>'''Jasmine''': "I couldn't bring myself to go to the Contest."</ref><ref name="Cynthia" group="note">'''Cynthia in HeartGold and SoulSilver''': "This is the pattern that represents Giratina, the ruler of the world that is on the opposite side of ours, the world of antimatter..."<br>'''Cynthia in Platinum''': "No...! I'm so sorry I took so long. I think I finally found the answer from studying the myths. When this world was made, Dialga and Palkia appeared. Apparently, there was one more Pokémon that appeared at the same time. A Pokémon with as much power as Dialga and Palkia... But also one whose name was never to be spoken--Giratina! It's said to lurk in another world... A world on the opposite side of ours... That's what the shadow was. It must have been Giratina."</ref> {{game|Black and White|s}} are set some time after this, as evidenced by [[Caitlin]] having visibly aged, as well as Cynthia and the {{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}} who stole the [[Machine Part]] referencing previous events. [[Pokémon Black and White Versions 2|Pokémon Black 2 and White 2]] are set two years after {{game|Black and White|s}}, and are contemporaneous with {{g|X and Y}}, also revealed by Matsumiya's tweet. [[Pokémon Sun and Moon|Pokémon Sun, Moon]], [[Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon|Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon]] take place two years after the events of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, as revealed by concept art of [[Grimsley]].<ref>Pokémon Sun and Moon Grimsley [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/settei settei]</ref> {{g|Sword and Shield}}'s placement is more vague, with little direct connection to other games, though the [[Pokédex]] entry for {{p|Type: Null}} in Sword mentions that stolen research notes led to the creation of more Type: Null,<ref group="note">'''Pokédex from Sword:''' ''Rumor has it that the theft of top-secret research notes led to a new instance of this Pokémon being created in the [[Galar]] region.''</ref> which could imply that they take place after the events of Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, as only three Type: Null exist in those games. {{g|Scarlet and Violet}} take place after the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, as revealed by the presence of a copy of [[Sonia's Book|Galar: A History]], which was published during the events of Sword and Shield, at [[Naranja Academy]]{{sup/9|S}}/[[Uva Academy]]{{sup/9|V}}. [[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]] is established to be set long before all other games in the series, taking place in [[Sinnoh]]'s [[Hisui|distant past]], which culturally [[Pokémon world in relation to the real world#Sinnoh|corresponds to the Early Meiji period]] that began in 1868 in the real world.
;Placement of games
The plots of {{game3|Red and Green|Pokémon Red, Green|s}}, {{pkmn|Blue Version (Japanese)|Blue}}, {{v2|Yellow}}, {{game3|FireRed and LeafGreen|FireRed, and LeafGreen|s}} and {{game3|Ruby and Sapphire|Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire|s}}, {{pkmn|Emerald Version|Emerald}}, [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|Omega Ruby, and Alpha Sapphire]] are contemporaneous, as revealed in Matsumiya's tweet. They are then followed by the plots of {{game3|Gold and Silver|Pokémon Gold, Silver|s}}, {{pkmn|Crystal Version|Crystal}}, {{game3|HeartGold and SoulSilver|HeartGold, and SoulSilver|s}} and {{game3|Diamond and Pearl|Pokémon Diamond, Pearl|s}}, {{pkmn|Platinum Version|Platinum}}, [[Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl|Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl]] three years later; although Matsumiya's tweet suggests that they are also contemporaneous, dialogue from [[Jasmine]] and [[Cynthia]] provides conflicting evidence on which games occur first.<ref name="Jasmine" group="note">'''Jasmine''': "I'm thinking maybe I should participate in this Contest in Sinnoh to try and be more vibrant."<br>'''[[Erika]]''': "How did it go?"<br>'''Jasmine''': "I couldn't bring myself to go to the Contest."</ref><ref name="Cynthia" group="note">'''Cynthia in HeartGold and SoulSilver''': "This is the pattern that represents Giratina, the ruler of the world that is on the opposite side of ours, the world of antimatter..."<br>'''Cynthia in Platinum''': "No...! I'm so sorry I took so long. I think I finally found the answer from studying the myths. When this world was made, Dialga and Palkia appeared. Apparently, there was one more Pokémon that appeared at the same time. A Pokémon with as much power as Dialga and Palkia... But also one whose name was never to be spoken--Giratina! It's said to lurk in another world... A world on the opposite side of ours... That's what the shadow was. It must have been Giratina."</ref> {{game|Black and White|s}} are set some time after this, as evidenced by [[Caitlin]] having visibly aged, as well as Cynthia and the {{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}} who stole the [[Machine Part]] referencing previous events. {{B2W2}} are set two years after {{game|Black and White|s}}, and are contemporaneous with {{g|X and Y}}, also revealed by Matsumiya's tweet. [[Pokémon Sun and Moon|Pokémon Sun, Moon]], [[Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon|Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon]] take place two years after the events of Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, as revealed by concept art of [[Grimsley]].<ref>Pokémon Sun and Moon Grimsley [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/settei settei]</ref> {{g|Sword and Shield}}'s placement is more vague, with little direct connection to other games, though the [[Pokédex]] entry for {{p|Type: Null}} in Sword mentions that stolen research notes led to the creation of more Type: Null,<ref group="note">'''Pokédex from Sword:''' ''Rumor has it that the theft of top-secret research notes led to a new instance of this Pokémon being created in the [[Galar]] region.''</ref> which could imply that they take place after the events of Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon, as only three Type: Null exist in those games. {{g|Scarlet and Violet}} take place after the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield, as revealed by the presence of a copy of [[Sonia's Book|Galar: A History]], which was published during the events of Sword and Shield, at [[Naranja Academy]]{{sup/9|S}}/[[Uva Academy]]{{sup/9|V}}. [[Pokémon Legends: Arceus]] is established to be set long before all other games in the series, taking place in [[Sinnoh]]'s [[Hisui|distant past]], which culturally [[Pokémon world in relation to the real world#Sinnoh|corresponds to the Early Meiji period]] that began in 1868 in the real world.


;Porygon's creation
{{p|Porygon}}'s Pokédex entries in Pokémon Sun, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon state that it was created 20 years ago.<ref name="Porygon" group="note">'''Pokédex from Sun:''' ''Roughly 20 years ago, it was artificially created, utilizing the latest technology of the time''. Pokédex from Ultra Sun: ''This Pokémon was created using the cutting-edge science of 20 years ago, so many parts of it have since become obsolete''. Pokédex from Ultra Moon: ''It was built 20 years ago by scientists who dreamed of exploring space. Their dreams have yet to come true''.</ref> [[Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia]] states that Porygon was created in 1995, as well as stating that 150 species of Pokémon have been discovered as of 1996, alluding to the {{player}} having completed their [[Pokédex]] in Pokémon Red and Green,<ref group="note">'''[[Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia]]''': ''As of 1996, thanks to the investigative and research efforts of [[Professor Oak|Prof. Oak]], 150 species of Pokémon have been discovered''.<br>''#118. Porygon: In 1995, [[Silph Co.]], which undertakes R&D into Pokémon and related products, successfully applied state-of-the-art technology to create this man-made Pokémon''.</ref> thus implying that Pokémon Red and Green take place in either 1995 or 1996. This would mean that Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon take place 19-20 years after Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow; from this information and the time lengths between other games in the series, it can be calculated that the time period between [[Generation II]]/{{gen|IV}} and Pokémon Black and White is 12-13 years long. However, the length of this time gap has never been explicitly confirmed in any official material, with Toshinobu Matsumiya having described it as "secret" on Twitter.<ref>"''Elapsed time is secret. Imagine freely!''" - Toshinobu Matsumiya. May 10, 2014. [https://twitter.com/matsumiyan/status/465154051173130240 Twitter]</ref>
{{p|Porygon}}'s Pokédex entries in Pokémon Sun, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon state that it was created 20 years ago.<ref name="Porygon" group="note">'''Pokédex from Sun:''' ''Roughly 20 years ago, it was artificially created, utilizing the latest technology of the time''. Pokédex from Ultra Sun: ''This Pokémon was created using the cutting-edge science of 20 years ago, so many parts of it have since become obsolete''. Pokédex from Ultra Moon: ''It was built 20 years ago by scientists who dreamed of exploring space. Their dreams have yet to come true''.</ref> [[Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia]] states that Porygon was created in 1995, as well as stating that 150 species of Pokémon have been discovered as of 1996, alluding to the {{player}} having completed their [[Pokédex]] in Pokémon Red and Green,<ref group="note">'''[[Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia]]''': ''As of 1996, thanks to the investigative and research efforts of [[Professor Oak|Prof. Oak]], 150 species of Pokémon have been discovered''.<br>''#118. Porygon: In 1995, [[Silph Co.]], which undertakes R&D into Pokémon and related products, successfully applied state-of-the-art technology to create this man-made Pokémon''.</ref> thus implying that Pokémon Red and Green take place in either 1995 or 1996. This would mean that Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon take place 19-20 years after Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow; from this information and the time lengths between other games in the series, it can be calculated that the time period between [[Generation II]]/{{gen|IV}} and Pokémon Black and White is 12-13 years long. However, the length of this time gap has never been explicitly confirmed in any official material, with Toshinobu Matsumiya having described it as "secret" on Twitter.<ref>"''Elapsed time is secret. Imagine freely!''" - Toshinobu Matsumiya. May 10, 2014. [https://twitter.com/matsumiyan/status/465154051173130240 Twitter]</ref>


Although [[Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!]] are remakes of Pokémon Yellow, {{ga|Red}} and {{ga|Blue}} are known to have already finished their journeys years ago, and [[Mina]]'s age mentioned in her concept art would suggest that the games are set a maximum of six years before Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon,<ref>Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! [[Mina]] [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/settei settei]</ref><ref group="note">'''[[Mallow/Quotes#Pokémon Sun and Moon|Mallow]]''': "I mean, we have to move on from being [[Trial Captain|captains]] when we turn 20 anyway". ([[Pokémon Sun and Moon|Pokémon Moon]])</ref> implying that they take place later than the original game. However, this is contradicted by [[Sabrina]] having a vision of meeting a special Trainer in three years, referencing the protagonist of Generation II, suggesting these games may not necessarily adhere to the timeline of the rest of the core series.
;Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Although Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, they contain some references to features from the original games as having been present about a decade ago,<ref group="note">'''A {{tc|Bug Catcher}} in [[Rustboro City]]'s [[Pokémon Center]]''': I heard that Pokémon Centers had two stories up until around 10 years ago! And they used to have a special area called a “Pokémon Cable Club”!"<br>'''A {{tc|Battle Girl}} in [[Dewford Gym]]''': "A long time ago at Dewford Gym, it was always dark inside. We trained our minds by practicing in the dark!"<br>'''An old man in [[Fallabor Town]]'s [[Contest Hall]]''': I just love making [[Pokéblock]]s! In the old days it used to take four of us to make a Pokéblock with this machine. A machine that was used to mix {{Berries}} in this region long ago."<br>'''A man on [[Mt. Pyre]]''': "This used to be a desolate place. The ground had holes here and there, and I used to fall in!"<br>'''{{ho|Mom}}''': "The [[Litleonids]], hmm? I remember going to see them with your dad 11 years ago when they last passed by!" (12 in the Japanese and Korean versions)<br>'''[[Norman]]''': "Hmm? Is that an [[Eon Ticket]] you have there? Hm...it’s been a good 11 years since I last saw a ticket like this..."</ref> while others have not yet come about, such as the {{gdis|Battle Frontier|III}}, which is under construction. Despite this, the remakes are implied to happen at the same point in the timeline as the original games, as the [[Royal Unova]] and a device to visually reproduce the dreams of Pokémon having not yet been created reveals them to take place before Pokémon Black and White<ref group="note">([[Oceanic Museum]]) '''“The Royal Unova”''' ''“A model of the sunset cruiser currently being built in the Unova region. It’s scheduled to be complete in — years.” The number is too faint to be read.''</ref><ref group="note">'''[[Devon Corporation|Devon]]'s scientist''': "I'm trying to develop a device that visually reproduces the dreams of Pokémon... And I’ve heard that my [[Fennel|rival]], who lives [[Unova|far away]], is doing the same research! I can't lose this race."</ref> and [[Mr. Bonding]] gaining [[O-Power]]s reveals them to take place before Pokémon X and Y.<ref group="note">'''Mr. Bonding''': "HEY! This...this power! This power is incredible! I feel tied to these [[Old guys|old men]] with such strong bonds now! I feel like a totally different man!"</ref>


Although Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, they contain some references to features from the original games as having been present about a decade ago,<ref group="note">'''A {{tc|Bug Catcher}} in [[Rustboro City]]'s [[Pokémon Center]]''': I heard that Pokémon Centers had two stories up until around 10 years ago! And they used to have a special area called a “Pokémon Cable Club”!"<br>'''A {{tc|Battle Girl}} in [[Dewford Gym]]''': "A long time ago at Dewford Gym, it was always dark inside. We trained our minds by practicing in the dark!"<br>'''An old man in [[Fallabor Town]]'s [[Contest Hall]]''': I just love making [[Pokéblock]]s! In the old days it used to take four of us to make a Pokéblock with this machine. A machine that was used to mix {{Berries}} in this region long ago."<br>'''A man on [[Mt. Pyre]]''': "This used to be a desolate place. The ground had holes here and there, and I used to fall in!"<br>'''{{ho|Mom}}''': "The [[Litleonids]], hmm? I remember going to see them with your dad 11 years ago when they last passed by!" (12 in the Japanese and Korean versions)<br>'''[[Norman]]''': "Hmm? Is that an [[Eon Ticket]] you have there? Hm...it’s been a good 11 years since I last saw a ticket like this..."</ref> while others have not yet come about, such as the {{gdis|Battle Frontier|III}}, which is under construction. Despite this, the remakes are implied to happen at the same point in the timeline as the original games, as the [[Royal Unova]] and a device to visually reproduce the dreams of Pokémon having not yet been created reveals them to take place before Pokémon Black and White<ref group="note">([[Oceanic Museum]]) '''“The Royal Unova”''' ''“A model of the sunset cruiser currently being built in the Unova region. It’s scheduled to be complete in — years.” The number is too faint to be read.''</ref><ref group="note">'''[[Devon Corporation|Devon]]'s scientist''': "I'm trying to develop a device that visually reproduces the dreams of Pokémon... And I’ve heard that my [[Fennel|rival]], who lives [[Unova|far away]], is doing the same research! I can't lose this race."</ref> and [[Mr. Bonding]] gaining [[O-Power]]s reveals them to take place before Pokémon X and Y.<ref group="note">'''Mr. Bonding''': "HEY! This...this power! This power is incredible! I feel tied to these [[Old guys|old men]] with such strong bonds now! I feel like a totally different man!"</ref>
;Pokémon<nowiki>:</nowiki> Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Although {{LGPE}} are remakes of Pokémon Yellow, {{ga|Red}} and {{ga|Blue}} are known to have already finished their journeys years ago, and [[Mina]]'s age mentioned in her concept art would suggest that the games are set a maximum of six years before Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon,<ref>Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! [[Mina]] [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/settei settei]</ref><ref group="note">'''[[Mallow/Quotes#Pokémon Sun and Moon|Mallow]]''': "I mean, we have to move on from being [[Trial Captain|captains]] when we turn 20 anyway". ([[Pokémon Sun and Moon|Pokémon Moon]])</ref> implying that they take place later than the original game. However, this is contradicted by [[Sabrina]] having a vision of meeting a special Trainer in three years, referencing the protagonist of Generation II, suggesting these games may not necessarily adhere to the timeline of the rest of the core series.


;References to real-life years and release dates
The specific years of events are not mentioned in the games themselves, but Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia implies that Pokémon Red and Green take place in 1995 or 1996, the latter being the year in which they were released; this year is also referenced in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon on Red's shirt, which features a symbol resembling the number "96". Pokémon Gold and Silver are known to occur three years later, also aligning with their release in 1999. Similarly, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are set two years after Pokémon Black and White, which was also the amount of time that passed between the releases of the games. References to the passage of time in real life also appear in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, in which the player's [[Mom (Hoenn)|mother]] states that she saw the [[Litleonids]] when they last occurred 12 (in the Japanese and Korean versions) or 11 (in the English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish versions) years ago, referencing the time between the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and their remakes, and [[Norman]] mentions having seen the [[Eon Ticket]] 11 years ago, referencing how long had passed from the item's original distribution in 2003 to the release of the games. Similarly, in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, the description of the [[Member Card]] mentions that the last date marked on it was 50 years ago; the date shown on the card's official artwork (1958.12.1) is exactly 50 years prior to its first distribution.
The specific years of events are not mentioned in the games themselves, but Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia implies that Pokémon Red and Green take place in 1995 or 1996, the latter being the year in which they were released; this year is also referenced in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon on Red's shirt, which features a symbol resembling the number "96". Pokémon Gold and Silver are known to occur three years later, also aligning with their release in 1999. Similarly, Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 are set two years after Pokémon Black and White, which was also the amount of time that passed between the releases of the games. References to the passage of time in real life also appear in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, in which the player's [[Mom (Hoenn)|mother]] states that she saw the [[Litleonids]] when they last occurred 12 (in the Japanese and Korean versions) or 11 (in the English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish versions) years ago, referencing the time between the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and their remakes, and [[Norman]] mentions having seen the [[Eon Ticket]] 11 years ago, referencing how long had passed from the item's original distribution in 2003 to the release of the games. Similarly, in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl, the description of the [[Member Card]] mentions that the last date marked on it was 50 years ago; the date shown on the card's official artwork (1958.12.1) is exactly 50 years prior to its first distribution.


Furthermore, the existence of {{pkmn|multiverse|multiple alternate universes}} is alluded to or stated in some of the games.
;Alternate universes
The existence of {{pkmn|multiverse|multiple alternate universes}} is alluded to or stated in some of the games.


===Beginning of the [[Pokémon universe]]===
===Beginning of the [[Pokémon universe]]===