In recent days, Game Freak has come under fire for various grievances fans have with the upcoming Pokemon titles, Sword and Shield. Following the controversy of only a select amount of Pokemon being in the game at all, Game Freak was then criticized for reusing animations and character models from previous Pokemon games. However, these claims appear to be untrue, as a previous interview with Junichi Masuda and Shigeru Ohmori confirms that Game Freak has had to create every Pokemon model in Sword and Shield "from scratch". The June 2019 interview, which went largely unnoticed due to its lack of English translation, was also not referenced in the "official response" from Game Freak two weeks ago, regarding the Pokedex issue.

Due to the nature of the Nintendo Switch's better hardware and smoother framerates, the 3DS-era Pokemon models and animations were unable to be directly transferred over to engine that Sword and Shield are running on, so the team over at Game Freak had to remake every Pokemon model. This was apparently especially difficult for the team, who has had their normal amount of developers split between two major projects: Sword/Shield and Town. During the development of Sun and Moon, Game Freak was "barely able to" import all 809 Pokemon into that game with a full dedicated team as it was. This, coupled with the daunting task of balancing each and every Pokemon was what led to Junichi Masuda deciding to "choose quality over quantity", when it came to choosing which Pokemon would make it into the Galar Dex. In the interview he says, "The decision is sad. Of course I wanted to bring all the Pokemon in if I could do it, but this was a decision I had to make eventually".

Masuda even joked about the matter responding that the Pokemon that won't show up in the game are thinking, "This region is too cold. I think I'll stay at home this time."

When it comes to the matter of adding subsequent Pokemon in post-launch updates, Game Freak says that they are considering the idea, but are undecided at the moment. He also further explained that the Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing features require additional 3D models from each Pokemon, and are not simply resized versions of their existing assets.

Source

 

[Kioku]

Every shot we've see of previous gen Mons in S&S says otherwise. Tell us you needed to make new models and animations for Dynamax/Gigantamax, sure, but don't bullshit us. We'll have side-by-side videos of the models/animations from gen8 and gen7 within a week of release that will make GameFreak look like fools for this statement.

I'd hope for side by side model rips rather than vids that won't prove anything. You're implying that they can't have started from scratch if the models and animations are remotely the same. Which just adds to my point. At best we can wait until someone with actual experience in the area can give us an in depth analysis. At this point the pedantic nitpicking is nothing short of hollow screaming from ill tempered children.

 

[chaoskagami]

Game Freak states something blatantly obvious to literally anyone with two braincells to spark together

Rabid retards: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MUH BANDWAGON THO

Stupid people coming out in full force to cry about Pokemon SS

Yeah, no. It's blatantly obvious from initial footage that models and animations are reused and they're being lazy. If every pokemon can Gigantimax and has a unique model, then the excuse of modelling and texturing becomes somewhat more believable, but still. They have probably the largest budget of any video game company in existence. There's no excuse here.

Watch hackers do it in a fucking week after release.

Hell, the man SciresM himself will probably do it given how annoyed he was on twitter when that news broke.

 

[Kioku]

Yeah, no. It's blatantly obvious from initial footage that models and animations are reused and they're being lazy. If every pokemon can Gigantimax and has a unique model, then the excuse of modelling and texturing becomes somewhat more believable, but still. They have probably the largest budget of any video game company in existence. There's no excuse here.



Hell, the man SciresM himself will probably do it given how annoyed he was on twitter when that news broke.

You're going off of videos of gameplay to make a baseless claim? Why can't they share similar animations and designs? Are they not the same Pokémon from before? What about that concept so hard for you people in denial here? Some of you are easily into your 30s. It's a kids game and you act like it's a government conspiracy or some shit.

 

[Idontknowwhattoputhere]

You're going off of videos of gameplay to make a baseless claim? Why can't they share similar animations and designs? Are they not the same Pokémon from before? What about that concept so hard for you people in denial here? Some of you are easily into your 30s. It's a kids game and you act like it's a government conspiracy or some shit.

Kids game?
I love pokemon and i'm in my 20's
So don't claim its a kids game

 

[Xzi]

You're implying that they can't have started from scratch if the models and animations are remotely the same.

So far what we've seen isn't 'remotely' the same, though, it's exactly the same. If they had started from scratch, it'd be nearly impossible to match the old stuff that closely, and I don't know why they'd waste so much time trying to replicate the work that was already done.

 

[Kioku]

So far what we've seen isn't 'remotely' the same, though, it's exactly the same. If they had started from scratch, it'd be nearly impossible to match the old stuff that closely, and I don't know why they'd waste so much time trying to replicate the work that was already done.

Not necessarily. Who is to say they didn't have some material to work off of to give us what we see. So, I should explain my stance here. It's not out of the realm of possibility that the models are the same. It's just that I'm trying to see their side. I also don't find it impossible to give us the same designs, animations, movesets when recreating the models from scratch. Especially if they have certain source material to base it off of. No, I'm not implying rips.

 

[chaoskagami]

So far what we've seen isn't 'remotely' the same, though, it's exactly the same. If they had started from scratch, it'd be nearly impossible to match the old stuff that closely, and I don't know why they'd waste so much time trying to replicate the work that was already done.

This is the counterpoint; if they aren't reusing models, why aren't they reusing models? It produces output that looks 99.9% identical and saves heaps of effort and employee work hours that could otherwise be spent refining gameplay or other elements of the game. It's inefficient to NOT reuse models. They also have done so in the past with Let's Go, so what exactly is stopping them here? I'm inclined to believe nothing. They're just making excuses to avoid a PR crisis.

 

[Kioku]

This is the counterpoint; if they aren't reusing models, why aren't they reusing models? It produces output that looks 99.9% identical and saves heaps of effort and employee work hours that could otherwise be spent refining gameplay or other elements of the game. It's inefficient to NOT reuse models. They also have done so in the past with Let's Go, so what exactly is stopping them here? I'm inclined to believe nothing. They're just making excuses to avoid a PR crisis.

So, Let's Go has been proven to use older models then?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Kids game?
I love pokemon and i'm in my 20's
So don't claim its a kids game

It's a kids game. The demographic is definitely those into their teens and younger. Just because you like MLP doesn't make it not a kids show.

 

[chaoskagami]

So, Let's Go has been proven to use older models then?

Aside from the partner Pikachu and Eevee, yes. The partners have slightly more detail than generic Pikachu and Eevee. Textures have also been redone on everything, but that's it.

 

[Kioku]

Aside from the partner Pikachu and Eevee, yes. The partners have slightly more detail than generic Pikachu and Eevee. Textures have also been redone on everything, but that's it.

Really then..

 

[smf]

Gonna say this as loudly as possible for those at the back.

BULLSHIT! The models and animations are exactly the god damn same as SMUSUM.

And they say they can't do it? Watch hackers do it in a fucking week after release.

Does talking like that turn you on or something?

Yeah, no. It's blatantly obvious from initial footage that models and animations are reused and they're being lazy. If every pokemon can Gigantimax and has a unique model, then the excuse of modelling and texturing becomes somewhat more believable, but still. They have probably the largest budget of any video game company in existence. There's no excuse here.

Why are you minimizing what they are saying and then using guess work as your proof?

It's interesting watching people persecute a company that can't win. Copy the previous game, you're lazy. Don't copy the previous game, you're lazy.

I reckon they'll put out a shit game to spite you all and it will be your fault.

 

[SapphireExile]

People find a reason to bitch about everything it seems.

 

[chaoskagami]

Why are you minimizing what they are saying and then using guess work as your proof?

Perhaps it's because I'm not making a proper argument there and simply stating my thoughts on the matter. Would you like to start a proper logical argument? I'd personally say it's impossible to judge correctly until we actually have SwSh in our hands, since all evidence at this point is circumstantial and video-based at best (although it's definitely not in Game Freak's favor.)

It's interesting watching people persecute a company that can't win. Copy the previous game, you're lazy. Don't copy the previous game, you're lazy.

When you have one of the largest player bases in existence, that's to be expected. Different people like different things, and at the numbers they pull, opinions on what they should do will often conflict.

To be clear, I'm buying SwSh either way and I'm sure it'll be a good game. I'm just not happy about the overall lack of every Pokemon, and that they seem to be attempting to deflect from this at every turn rather than just coming out and saying that it wasn't part of the plan from the beginning. I mean, if they were to just admit that, I'd be cool with it. The problem is that they aren't, and I'm doubtful that it's actually technical reasons given their budget, employee numbers and track history.

It's far more likely that Game Freak is attempting to detach from Nintendo given the increasing focus on their own original games and that they didn't reassign the original projects team to the Pokemon one this time around. If that's the case, I'm going to assume it's not a technical problem, but one of management, workpower and lower design specs than past entries, not animations, models or textures as they want us to believe.

 

[Dominator211]

Now that they're (most probably) lying, I can only imagine the shitshow this gen is gonna be

Mindless fucking people are still gonna buy it, its still gonna be a success, not matter how much it sucks. it will still sell like hotcakes

 

[Kioku]

Mindless fucking people are still gonna buy it, its still gonna be a success, not matter how much it sucks. it will still sell like hotcakes

"Mindless"... Or maybe people that want a Pokémon experience on the Switch and can't be damned to care about minor details like this? If anything, the Mindless ones are going off attacking GameFreak over something that has no bearing on their daily lives.

 

[Lumstar]

Superficial appearance doesn't actually prove the models are the same. Even if they are the same for all practical purposes.
Unlikely as it is, they might have minuscule changes or were re-created.

 

[codezer0]

God damn it, man.

I was actually hype when they first showed off Dynamax, because the first thought that came to mind was taking my Incineroar, performing Dynamax and then unleashing Malicious Moonsault. Even commented as much in the official unveil video.

Now, not only did they insist on regressing by removing mega's and z moves, but there's now as much of a chance I can't have my wrestle cat in the game.

Programmatically, there is zero excuse for the next mainline game coming to a more powerful console (the Switch) to actually be worse than both the last 3DS games to come out, and the side game that showed up before in Let's go.

Masuda is lying, and so is everyone that's come forward. If they had the time to do as they claim, they also have the time to implement better randomization algorithms, too. And we know they won't do that.

As much as I openly give the likes of EA, Ubisoft, Activision and the like shit for creating horrible working conditions and basically having the Sword of Damocles over their entire staff and ready to chuck anyone at a moment's notice when stockholders deem fit, the entire staff at game freak, including that egotistical trash boy Satoshi Tajiri need to get their head slapped up and down downtown tokyo with a 2-by-4. There is no goddamn excuse for any of these regressions. For as ridiculously good as they have it by being a second party dev for Nintendo, and for basically being second only to Nintendo to have access to their hardware SDK's, and for the embarrassing amounts of money Game Freak makes selling out like they do, GF could afford to subject the modeling and render job to effing Disney and still turn a profit within a week. Animations and rigging need not change for the critters. they are able to scale up with their rendering models. If their rendering software demands re-making skeletons and animation for changing or up-rating the models, then their software environment is at fault. But they need to stop being coy and acting like this isn't just them trying to blow smoke up someone's ass.

 

[medoli900]

I love how people doesn't read at least the two first pages before replying. I'll just bump these posts, hopefully people will see them before replying.

The article got mistranslated by someone using Google Translator
Using the Yandex translater it reveal that they were talking about making some choices from scratch due to the new hardware which make sense since the team didn't have a problem porting the original 150 Pokémon

Here's the translation with Yandex: "Omori: we had a lot of discussions with Masuda about this.Even at the time of the Pokémon San moon, it was quite a tough situation (to be able to bring all the Pokémon together), but the hard turns into a Nintendo Switch, and we had to make some choices from scratch.However, I think that if you can play"Pocket Monster Sword Shield" (even if there is a limit to the Pokemon that can be brought) wild area and story, such as the content of the play becomes a considerable volume."

Quick edit: Obviously the translation is not perfect but it make more sense than the bad translation about remaking the Pokémon models from scratch when they look the same and use the same animations

This complete misinformation has already been corrected multiple times by different people.
The sourcing of "having to redo every model because of differing framerates/couldn't port the 3DS model data" and "they had to split their team up" don't even come from a mistranslation of the article, they come from a random reddit post that blew up, the OP of said post completely misinterpreting the article, likely due to using an automatic translator and just plain not caring to properly read.
https://twitter.com/JoeMerrick/status/1150046237804154881

 

[rob4]

The more power the console has, the worse the result of game freak games

 

[Jayro]

Well that explains why the other Pokemon got cut...