Pokémon

Pokémon are fictional creatures with varying powers that stem from the Japanese game series entitled “Pokémon” which was created in 1996. Originally, the franchise was a gaming magazine in the 1980s made by Satoshi Tajiri, the writer, and Ken Sugimori, the illustrator. The franchise is managed by The Pokémon Company and is produced by Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures. The popularity of the game series spawned an animated TV show with the same title. The animation follows a Pokémon trainer named Ash as he goes around the world training varying Pokémon in order to become the best and strongest trainer. The animation series debuted in Japan in 1996 with the U.S. adaptation released in 1998 and currently has 25 seasons with over 2,000 episodes.

The franchise revolves around a world where 1,008 species of Pokémon exist and Pokémon trainers try to capture, train, and battle Pokémon in order to become stronger. Some trainers focus on collecting as many Pokémon as possible, hence the catchphrase “Gotta Catch ‘Em All” which is featured in the animation series. Other trainers focus on creating the strongest team of Pokémon to “be the very best” which is another popular catchphrase in the franchise. Some just choose one Pokémon to act as their companion in their daily lives.

“Pokémon” was originally called “Pocket Monsters” when the game franchise first launched in Japan in 1996. It wasn’t until the game’s release to countries outside of Japan that the name switched over to Pokémon Red and Blue. The franchise began on Nintendo’s Game Boy hand-held device and has since adapted to be playable on Nintendo DS systems, the Nintendo Wii, IOS, and Nintendo Switch consoles. There are currently 122 games known which can be grouped into nine different generations.

Gameplay

Upon entering a game, players are designated as a young Pokémon Trainer, typically a child or pre-teen. The main designated tasks of the game are completing the Pokédex and becoming the regional Champion. Often, the game starts with players choosing the gender, customization of their character, and waking up in the world. Oftentimes, the players wake up in the character’s household with the character’s mother talking to them. Then, a different non-playable character enters the house and wants you to go with them. This NPC is usually the player’s old friend and new rival. The player has no choice but to follow the NPC and do what they’re told which usually includes encountering a Pokémon for the first time. That is when the doctor/scientist appears and explains the logistics of the Pokémon universe. This older character then displays three different Pokémon: a grass-type, a water-type, and a fire-type. The player then has the choice to which Pokémon they want to take with them to become their starter Pokémon. After the player chooses their starter, the rival NPC character will usually choose the opposite type which will be weaker against the player’s starter type. Grass types are weak to fire types but strong against water types. Water types are strong against fire types but weak to grass types. Fire types are weak against water types but strong against grass types. The player and their rival will then battle each other using their new Pokémon. Since the NPC chose the weaker counterpart of the player, the player will win this first battle and thus officially begin their rivalry of trying to prove who can become the strongest which is typically by becoming the Regional Champion and defeating all the Gyms. After this initial battle against the NPC rival, the doctor will be impressed and ask the player to complete the Regional Pokédex by collecting and registering every Pokémon in Pokéballs while also defeating all of the Gym Leaders at their respective gyms. After that introduction, you will say goodbye to your in-game mother and depart on your adventure alone.

In order to capture Pokémon, players need an item called Pokéballs which are spherical tools that are able to handle capturing and containing the wild Pokémon. To increase the chances of a successful capture, the player weakens the Pokémon by using attack moves against it. These moves vary depending on the Pokémon and its type. When the wild Pokémon’s health bar is in the red-zone, that increases the chance of successfully capturing it. If the player damages the Pokémon too much, it will faint and the player will not be able to use a Pokéball to capture the wild Pokémon. After a trainer successfully catches a Pokémon in a Pokéball, that Pokémon is now under the leadership of the player and follows the player’s commands. However, that is not always the case. Beating gyms increases the trainer’s level and allows them to capture higher level – and more skilled – Pokémon. In instances where the player has not beaten enough gyms yet captures a higher level Pokémon, that Pokémon will not follow the player’s wishes and will refuse to battle despite being captured in a Pokéball by the player.

Ethical Concerns

Slavery

Due to the nature of capturing Pokémon in Pokéballs, some members of the community opened forums on Quora and Reddit debating on if this capturing method of the creatures is ethical or not. Some akin capturing Pokémon in Pokéballs as similar to slavery while others reason that Pokémon actually have the desire to be captured. Pokémon are sentient creatures who can be highly intelligent, emotive, and occasionally talk. Some Pokémon are even described as being gods who created the Pokémon universe. The debate stems from whether it is ethical to keep these sentient beings – or even gods – as ‘pets’ who are kept inside Pokéballs and are released only to fight and/or serve their human trainer. According to the original poster from Reddit, they argue that if wild Pokémon wanted to be captured, they would not resist by battling the player back or escaping the Pokéballs when they are thrown by the player. There are many differing opinions in the comment section which has sparked a debate. This is the two opposing sides to the debate where some players view holding Pokémon in Pokéballs as slavery while others reason that Pokémon have the desire to compete, battle, and be the strongest they can be.

Abandonment

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