Pokémon Gold and Silver beta: Difference between revisions

Getting rid of all unsourced speculation from people who never even bothered to take a peak inside the game's code.
m (Images arriving shortly. \o)
(Getting rid of all unsourced speculation from people who never even bothered to take a peak inside the game's code.)
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[[File:1997 Pokemon2 Logo.png|thumb|right|The original logo of Pocket Monsters 2]]
{{incomplete|needs=wild Pokémon via fishing}}
{{game|Gold and Silver|s}}, released in 1999 in Japan and 2000 elsewhere, were in development for a long time beforehand. Several aspects from their prototype versions were released to the public during their development, many including aspects that did not make it to the final games.
{{Infobox location
|image=BetaSafariZoneGSC.png
|type=land
|location_name=Safari Zone
|japanese_name=サファリゾーン
|translated_name=Safari Zone
|location=Not accessible through normal gameplay
|region=Kanto
|generation={{gen|II}}
}}
The '''Beta Safari Zone''' is an area programmed into {{3v|Gold|Silver|Crystal}}, which was removed from gameplay by deleting the entrance warps. It was intended to be located in [[Fuchsia City]], as its [[Kanto Safari Zone|Generation I counterpart]] was. In [[Generation IV]], it is replaced by [[Pal Park]] and the [[Johto Safari Zone|Safari Zone]] is moved to the north of {{rt|48|Johto}}.


==First mention of Pocket Monsters 2==
==Pokémon==
[[File:1997 GS Pokemon.png|frame|center|Four "new" Pokémon that would be included in Pocket Monsters 2: {{p|Donphan}}, {{p|Ampharos}}, {{p|Slowking}}, and {{p|Ho-Oh}}. Due to the color used in the sprites, these were likely released after the games' development was focused on release on the [[Game Boy Color]].]]
No wild Pokémon exist within the grass of the Beta Safari Zone; however, a few Pokémon can be found by [[fishing]].<!--which ones?-->
In 1997, Nintendo announced the first details of the next generation of Pocket Monsters games, to be titled '''Pocket Monsters 2: Gold and Silver'''. The games were intended to be released at the end of the year for both Game Boy and Super Game Boy.


One of the many additions promised, notably, was a skateboard that could be used in addition to the [[Bicycle]] of the previous games and would allow users to travel to "unusual places". Though this never made the final cut, other things announced, such as the [[time|real-time clock]], {{cat|Generation II Pokémon|100 new Pokémon}}, including [[List of Pokémon with cross-generational evolutions|new evolutions of old Pokémon]], new [[TM]]s and [[HM]]s containing new [[move]]s were included. The trading and communication abilities of the games were also to be improved, and [[Time Capsule|backward compatibility]] with the Generation I games was also announced.
==Area==
Although the entrances to the Safari Zone were removed, the warps still exist, so it is possible to enter the area; however, the exits were fully removed. The area is rather small, with a few tiles of long grass, a small pond, and several other features. However, there are no wild Pokémon within the Safari Zone grass, but there are some that can be found by [[fishing]].<!--which ones?-->


===New Pokémon in the anime===
==Trivia==
The {{pkmn|anime}} also provided early looks at the new Pokémon. {{p|Ho-Oh}}, the eventual [[version mascot]] of Pokémon Gold, had already appeared in the [[EP001|first episode]] as an unidentified creature. Later, {{TP|Misty|Togepi}} hatched from an egg {{Ash}} himself found, and Misty became the first main character to own a Generation II Pokémon. {{p|Snubbull}} and {{p|Marill}} made their first appearances in ''[[PK01|Pikachu's Vacation]]'', and {{p|Donphan}} appeared at the start of ''[[M01|Mewtwo Strikes Back]]''. During [[Pokémon: The Adventures in the Orange Islands|the second season]], Ash and Misty also encountered {{Tracey}}, who owned a {{TP|Tracey|Marill}}, and the focus of [[M02|the second movie]] was {{OBP|Lugia|movie 2}}, the version mascot of Pokémon Silver. {{p|Bellossom}}, {{p|Ledyba}}, {{p|Hoothoot}}, and {{p|Elekid}} also made an appearance in ''[[PK04|Pikachu's Rescue Adventure]]''.
*This is the only Safari Zone to not house any wild Pokémon within the grass, due to it being a beta.


===First screenshots===
{{Glitches}}
The color scheme in these screenshots was not as varied as the one provided by the Game Boy Color. Instead, the colorscheme of these screenshots indicates that the games initially used a palette-changing feature that was present on the [[Super Game Boy]] (as well as the {{pkmn|Stadium}} games and {{game|Yellow}}), with different areas being colored differently (such as [[Pewter City]] having a gray palette, [[Cerulean City]] having a blue palette, and so on).
{{-}}
 
{|
At this time, the early game screenshots released generally didn't look all that much different from Generation I. The pictures clearly show the games' engine being in a more developed but still early stage. The lack of battle images would seem to indicate that a redone battle system had not been implemented yet.
| {{Project Locations notice}}
 
| {{Project GlitchDex notice}}
<gallery>
|}
Image:1997 GS Building.png|Coming out of a building
[[Category:Kanto locations]]
Image:1997 GS Silent Hills.png|Silent Hills, the starting town
[[Category:Gold, Silver and Crystal locations]]
Image:1997 GS Violet City.png|This town was ultimately either changed into [[Violet City]] (perhaps with [[Sprout Tower]] at right) or removed altogether.
[[Category:Parks]]
Image:1997 GS Route 35.png|This screenshot displays an area which made it into the game's final cut with little alteration. It depicts a simplified version of {{rt|35|Johto}} and the [[National Park]]'s southern entrance, except with water instead of trees and fences and no open path to the right.
[[Category:Safari Zones]]
Image:1997 GS Goldenrod City.png|A possible early design for the [[Goldenrod Radio Tower]] can be seen on the right-hand side of this screenshot.
[[Category:Glitch and Beta locations]]
</gallery>
[[ja:ベータサファリゾーン]]
 
==Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions announced==
[[File:1998 Pokemon GS Logo.png|thumb|right|Pocket Monsters Gold and Silver]]
The end of 1997 passed without a release for Pocket Monsters 2. The potential release date was removed, and things generally stayed quiet until early 1998.
 
It was at this time that Pocket Monsters 2 was re-announced as Pokémon Gold and Silver. Though the "2" was dropped, the games remained essentially a sequel to Generation I. Much of the year was quiet with regard to information about the games, as {{game|Yellow}} was on its way out in Japan, and {{game|Red and Blue|s}} and the [[Pokémon anime]] were on their way to the United States.
 
==New information emerges==
[[File:1999 Pokemon Gold Logo.png|right]]
[[File:1999 Pokemon Silver Logo.png|right]]
Following nearly a year without press releases, the Nintendo site was finally updated with new information on Pokémon Gold and Silver. A revised release date of June, 1999 was given and it was announced the games would be compatible with the then soon-to-be-released [[Game Boy Color]].
 
[[Ken Sugimori]]'s artwork for {{p|Slowking}}, {{p|Marill}}, {{p|Bellossom}}, and {{p|Hoothoot}} was also released, as were several screens of the new battle system featuring full-color sprites.
 
The battle screens are very similar to the final ones; however, the absence of [[gender]] notation is apparent. Pokémon gender was a previously announced feature, and the display of gender during battle was likely added later as a convenience to players. 
 
The attack stats window, which in the final version tells players the remaining and total PP of each move, as well as its type, was apparently not fully completed at this point in development.
 
The battle system, nearly complete, was demonstrated, including wild Pokémon encounters. The new [[Pokédex]], while close to completion, was still missing several features, such as the [[footprint]] and [[National Pokédex]] number of the Pokémon. The "location", "[[cry]]", and "print" functions were also missing.
 
The images released look very similar to the images that appear in the final versions of the games. The locations shown don't appear to be part of the final map, though they look similar. The colors of the locations are more washed out than they are in the final versions, though this may be due to the fact that they are pictures ''of'' a Game Boy Color screen.
 
<gallery>
Image:1999 Slowking Artwork.png
Image:1999 art cara 1.gif
Image:1999 Bellossom Artwork.png
Image:1999 art cara 3.gif
Image:1999 shot p1.gif|{{p|Snubbull}} vs. {{p|Marill}}
Image:1999 shot p2.gif|{{p|Butterfree}} vs. {{p|Venusaur}}
Image:1999 shot p3.gif|Player vs. [[Picnicker]] Kanami<!--Someone get the English name of this trainer?-->
Image:1999 shot p4.gif|{{p|Charizard}} vs. {{p|Donphan}}
Image:1999-GS_beta_title_screen.jpg|The prototype title screen of Pokémon Gold, reminiscent of those of Red, Green, and Blue.
Image:1999_trailer_titlescr.png|A near final title screen for Gold.
Image:1999 trailer battle2.png|Ah! A wild Togepi appeared!
Image:1999 shot yado2.gif|Now investigating this newly discovered Pokémon.
</gallery>
 
==After the release==
 
===Leftovers===
[[File:Olivine beta house.png|thumb|right|"When my Pokémon got sick, the pharmacist in Ecruteak made some medicine for me."]]
Since Pokémon Gold and Silver were released, other things have been uncovered that reveal interesting details about the games' development. The final games have a large number of incomplete maps that detail what most Johto towns looked like during development. One of the most complete prototype maps found in the ROM is a rough version of the [[Kanto Safari Zone|Safari Zone]].  Although no wild Pokémon appear inside, it has several of its attributes defined, such as music, and connections to Fuchsia City, which other prototype maps do not have. The Safari Zone also appears in the internal list of PokéGear map locations, along with [[Viridian Forest]], [[Cerulean Cave]], and {{ka|Pokémon Mansion}}. Another complete map is a house in Olivine City, where a woman refers to a pharmacy in [[Ecruteak City]] instead of [[Cianwood City]]. It is unknown if this is a typo made by the game designers or if this means the Cianwood Pharmacy was originally meant to appear in Ecruteak.
 
Full maps (minus events) exist for the [[Cinnabar Island]] Lab, indicating [[Cinnabar Island]] was originally to make an appearance without the erupted volcano, or at least that the lab was going to remain.
Apart from maps, other prototype discoveries include a mine cart image in the cave tileset, and a second card-flipping Game Corner game. There is also an unused event script, complete with text, which would allow a different event for a level 40 {{p|Entei}}, analogous to the birds in [[Generation I]].
 
In addition, the games include large amounts of unreferenced text. For example, one block of text references the fact that [[Honey|Sweet Honey]], which made its debut in [[Generation IV]], was planned as early as [[Generation II]]. Code and text remain for yet another forgotten feature, the ability to name the player's mother. Space is reserved in RAM for two other names as well, which default to RED and GREEN &mdash; the player character and rival from Red and Blue.
 
The {{type2|Bird}} from [[Generation I]] remains in [[Generation II]]. This is presumed to be a carry-over from the Generation I game engine, as Gold and Silver are based on it. Also returning from leftover [[Generation I]] code are [[Town Map]] and [[Poké Flute]] items. Both are named "[[Teru-sama]]" and are unusable, but if hacked to have a use option, the Poké Flute will still function, and the Town Map will attempt to, but fail, as the data it would access is now in a different location.
 
There is unused battle data for {{ga|Cal}}, the default opponent in the [[Trainer House]]. There are two parties - one with the basic forms of the Johto starters and one with the middle forms of the Johto starters. As [[Viridian City]] and therefore Trainer House cannot be legally accessed until late in the game, it is unknown what purpose these parties would have served.
 
Another beta remnant is an unused sprite. This sprite is that of the player, only not carrying his pack. This sprite may have been originally intended to be used by the {{ga|Cal}} event, but was later left in favor of the player's own sprite. This sprite is fully inserted in the game, containing all data of a normal overworld sprite, except it is not used by any known event in the game. It may have been intended as the sprite used at the start of the game (when naming the player character).
 
An unused song is present in the games' code; however, the circumstances it would have been used for are unknown.
 
There is hidden text for an event related with the [[Burned Tower]], where someone's daughter was missing. It is possible that this event made its final debut as the missing granddaughter in the [[S.S. Aqua]].
 
===Beta maps===
Beta maps can be found existing in the final game's code. They appear to be a version between the ones presented originally, and the ones that were final.
 
<gallery>
Image:Betarage.png|A prototype [[Lake of Rage]], with Pokémon Gym present
Image:BetaSafariZoneGSC.png|The [[Beta Safari Zone|prototype Safari Zone]], which uses the [[Generation II]] evolution music as the background track
Image:Azalea_beta.png|A beta map of a town, possibly {{to|Azalea}}
Image:Blackthorn beta.png|A beta map possibly of [[Blackthorn City]]
Image:Cherrygrove_beta.png|[[Cherrygrove City]]'s beta map
Image:Route_23_beta.png|{{rt|23|Kanto}}'s beta map
Image:New_bark_beta.png|[[New Bark Town]]'s beta map
Image:Violet_beta.png|[[Violet City]]'s beta map
Image:Olivine_beta.png|[[Olivine City]]'s beta map
Image:Ecruteak_beta.png|[[Ecruteak City]]'s beta map, showing Magnet Train
</gallery>
 
==External links==
* [http://glitchcity.info/docs/gscsafarizone Glitch City Safari Zone]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20071202131509/http://www.geocities.com/worldofpkmn/gs_pre/gs_pre.htm Pokémon GS Pre-Release Images] (Wayback archive)
* [http://gameboy.ign.com/ IGN Pocket]
* [http://pkmn.net/?action=content&page=viewpage&id=109&parentsection=1 Pokémon GS prototype Information]
* [http://pkmn.net/?action=content&page=viewpage&id=112&parentsection=1  Pkmn.co.uk Lost Pokémon!]
* [http://pkmn.net/?action=gallery&page=viewgall&id=19 Pkmn.co.uk GS prototype Maps]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/tohjofalls/crysdump.txt Tohjo Falls Crystal Text Dump]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20041021125709/pokefor.greenchu.de/meowth346/gbc/alpha/ Pokefor.tk Pokémon GS Pre-Release] (Wayback archive)
* [http://web.me.com/celebi23/Spaceworld_97_Pokemon/Main.html Pocket Monsters 2 Alpha Release Information]
* [http://mltreq.alwaysdata.net/i/beta-song Beta Song]
* [http://mltreq.alwaysdata.net/i/ecruteak-daughter Ecruteak Daughter]
{{beta}}
{{Project Games notice}}
 
[[Category:Pokémon meta]]
[[Category:Games]]
 
[[de:Pokémon Gold & Silber (Beta)]]
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