Pokémon Red and Blue Versions: Difference between revisions

|platform=[[Game Boy]] <small>(enhanced for the [[Super Game Boy]])</small>

|release_date_na=September 28, 1998<ref name="Sept28PR">[http://web.archive.org/web/19990501171038/http://www.nintendo.com/corp/press/100298.html Game Boy's Pokémon Unleashed on September 28!] (archive)</ref> <small>(Game Boy)</small><br>February 27, 2016 <small>(3DS VC)</small>

|release_date_eu=June 10, 1999 <small>(Game Boy)</small><ref name="TPCi (RB) [UK]" /><ref name="Iwata Asks (UK)" /><br>October 5, 1999 <small>(Game Boy)</small><ref name="NoE (Red)" /><ref name="NoE (Blue)" /><br>February 27, 2016 <small>(3DS VC)</small>

|website_en=[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-red-version-and-pokemon-blue-version/ The Pokémon Company International] <small>(Game Boy & Virtual Console)</small><br>[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pokemon-red-version-3ds Nintendo] <small>(VC, Red)</small><br>[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/pokemon-blue-version-3ds Nintendo] <small>(VC, Blue)</small>

'''Pokémon Red Version''' and '''Pokémon Blue Version''' were the first [[Pokémon games]] to be released outside of Japan, becoming available in North America on September 28, 1998,<ref name="Sept28PR"/> in Australia and New Zealand on October 23, 1998 and in Europe on June 10, 1999<ref name="TPCi (RB) [UK]">[http://www.pokemon.com/uk/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-red-version-and-pokemon-blue-version/ Pokémon™ Red Version and Pokémon™ Blue Version | Video Games | Pokemon.com] (UK)</ref><ref name="Iwata Asks (UK)">[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-in-Motion-Pokemon-X-and-Pokemon-Y/Pokemon-X-Pokemon-Y/2-Pokemon-Born-Anew/2-Pokemon-Born-Anew-815805.html Iwata Asks | 2. Pokémon Born Anew | Pokémon X and Y]</ref> or October 5, 1999<ref name="NoE (Red)">[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Game-Boy/Pokemon-Red-Version-266109.html Pokémon Red Version | Game Boy | Games | Nintendo]</ref><ref name="NoE (Blue)">[http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Game-Boy/Pokemon-Blue-Version-266054.html Pokémon Blue Version | Game Boy | Games | Nintendo]</ref> (depending on the source used). In North America, the pair closely followed the debut of the {{pkmn|anime}}'s English dub, which began airing on September 8, 1998,<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=270&page=25 Anime News Network - (Pokemon TV)]</ref> and within a year, Pokémon was well known as a popular [[Nintendo]] franchise.

Unlike later [[generation]]s, Red and Blue were not the same as their corresponding Japanese releases. Japan had gotten their first pair of Pokémon games as {{game|Red and Green|s}}, which in all aspects were the same as Red and Blue with the exception of {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} sprite designs and more numerous bugs. When preparing the games for their English release, it was decided that Red & Green would be merged with Japan's already-released third version, {{game|Blue| (Japanese)}}, for its improved graphics, sound, and [[Dokokashira door glitch|lack of easily-accessed gamebreaking glitches]].

Like in Red and Green, players may [[trade]] Pokémon between two cartridges using a [[Game Boy]] [[Game Link Cable]]. To take full advantage of this feature, several Pokémon are exclusive to each game of the pair, making it required that a person trade with others in order to complete their [[Pokédex]]. The Game Link Cable also makes possible battles with another player, allowing one to pit their Pokémon against new challenges. The games can trade and battle with Western versions of Pokémon Red, Blue, and {{game|Yellow}}. They can also trade with Western versions of {{game2|Gold|Silver|Crystal}} via the [[Time Capsule]]. Pokémon Red and Blue are completely incompatible with games from [[Generation III]] onward.

Pokémon Red and Blue are compatible with {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}} and [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]. While link battles are not possible directly between Red and Blue and the Generation II games, a player may challenge a Generation II game using [[Pokémon Stadium 2]].

The [[Nintendo 3DS]] [[Virtual Console]] release uses Nintendo 3DS wireless communication as a substitute for the Game Link cable.

Players are introduced to the first eight Pokémon Gyms, each with their own type affiliation, of the series, led by [[Brock]] ({{t|Rock}}), [[Misty]] ({{t|Water}}), [[Lt. Surge]] ({{t|Electric}}), [[Erika]] ({{t|Grass}}), [[Koga]] ({{t|Poison}}), [[Sabrina]] ({{t|Psychic}}), [[Blaine]] ({{t|Fire}}) and [[Giovanni]] ({{t|Ground}}).

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According to the interview by [[Satoru Iwata]] with [[Tsunekazu Ishihara]] and [[Shigeki Morimoto]] about the release of {{game|HeartGold and SoulSilver|s}}, localized as ''Iwata Asks'', they admitted that after the {{wp|debugging}} tools were removed, they added {{p|Mew}} in the remaining space on the {{wp|Read-only memory|ROM}}. [[Nintendo]] thought that this would have been risky because altering the internal data after completing the testing period meant that any new {{wp|Software bug|bugs}} and/or {{wp|glitch}}es created by adding data without referring to debugging tools would have been much harder to fix. Standard {{wp|Computer programming|programming}} practices usually discourage altering the {{wp|source code}} and not testing it just before releasing the {{wp|software}} to the customer.<ref>[http://nintendodsi.com/iwata-asks-chapter.jsp?interviewId=6&volumeId=1&chapterId=1 Iwata Asks - Pokémon HeartGold Version & SoulSilver Version]</ref>

In an interview with [[Shōko Nakagawa]] in her book [[Shōko Nakagawa: Pokémon Taught Me The Meaning of Life]], [[Tsunekazu Ishihara]] revealed that originally, the game was programmed to trigger a battle with each Trainer any time the player walked by them, no matter if the player had already defeated them in battle previously. The [[wild Pokémon]] encounter rate was also significantly higher originally. The Trainer rebattling was omitted from the final release and the wild Pokémon encounter rate was significantly reduced.<ref>[http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/features/nakagawa_shouko_pokemon_meaning_life.html Dogasu's Backpack: Nakagawa Shouko "Pokemon Taught Me the Meaning of Life"]</ref>

A Japan-exclusive special Pokémon episode of ''{{wp|GameCenter CX}}'', known as ''Retro Game Master'' outside of Japan, included an interview with [[Satoshi Tajiri]], where he revealed early {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} character profiles of {{p|Nidoking}}, {{p|Slowbro}} and {{p|Kadabra}}. Notably, they are given a [[National Pokédex]] number which matches their [[List of Pokémon by index number (Generation I)|internal index number]], rather than their final [[Kanto Pokédex]] number. Nidoking, for instance is noted as being #007, rather than #034, either suggesting that there was another method of ordering the Pokémon proposed, or that they reflect their ordering in the internal data. The latter is supported by interviews with [[Ken Sugimori]], which verify that {{p|Rhydon}}, which has an index number of 001, was the first Pokémon ever created, and early sketches from [[Capsule Monsters]] featuring Rhydon. Nidoking is also referred to as 「マイコー♂」 ''Maikō♂'', indicating that there were either placeholder or alternate names for Pokémon before the development of {{game|Red and Green|s}} had finished.

In addition to this, it was confirmed in an interview with [[Shigeki Morimoto]] that there were originally going to be 190 Pokémon in Generation I, indicating that the 39 [[Missingno.]] found in the [[List of Pokémon by index number (Generation I)|internal index]] are formatted Pokémon.<ref>[http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78267 There Were 190 Pokémon! | Smogon Forums]</ref>

Different front sprites of {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} were planned for {{game|Blue| (Japanese)}}, notably the ones for {{p|Raticate}}, {{p|Rhydon}}, {{p|Ditto}}, {{p|Dragonair}} and {{p|Mewtwo}}. These were featured in the November 1996 issue of {{wp|CoroCoro Comic}}, which published general information about the game.<ref>[http://d.hatena.ne.jp/poke_age/20120601 2012-06-01 - ポケモンのおっさん]</ref>

{{game|Red and Blue|s|Pokémon Red}} has {{wp|VRAM}} tileset data for <sc>Green</sc>. {{game|Red and Blue|s|Pokémon Blue}} lacks any equivalent data for <sc>Red</sc>, however.<ref>[http://tcrf.net/index.php?title=Pok%C3%A9mon_Red_and_Blue&oldid=134791 Pokémon Red and Blue - The Cutting Room Floor]</ref>

The two games are also notorious for their several drastic glitches, among them the fabled [[Missingno.]], [[Glitch City]], and the [[Mew glitch]]. Despite this, the glitches are arguably minimal points of criticism due to the reward value that comes from their activation, such as the multiplication of a player's sixth item that happens when Missingno. is encountered.

* The American staff in charge of localizing the games tried to change the {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} designs; however, [[Tsunekazu Ishihara]] refused the proposal.<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0007/taidan1/page03.html スペシャル対談／３]</ref>  

|fr=Pokémon Version Rouge et Version Bleue

{{Core series}}<br/>