Pokemon has pretty much been the same ever since the first game hit store shelves back in 1996. It has made some changes here and there since then, but by far the core concept is still the same. Sadly, I can’t be the only one who thinks that it could be so much more if it wanted to be. Pokemon needs someone to come into the franchise and proclaim that in order to move forward, innovation will have to come, and it will have to come now!
Part of this problem lies with the idea that only children like Pokemon, which is partially true, but if Nintendo only markets their games this way, this is the only result they will get. Technology has improved so much since 1996, yet the core gameplay of Pokemon has remained stagnant. Some of this is due to its publisher Nintendo and their number one rule of keeping Pokemon on a Nintendo product. One way of breaking the mold a tiny bit would be by bringing Pokemon to the mobile market, or basically bringing it to the iPhone.
Since I have a better chance getting struck by lightning during a duel with Bruce Lee’s zombie, let’s consider another option to breath some life into this franchise. GPS technology is huge at the moment, and I believe Nintendo should capitalize on this right now. I have a dream, a dream where I have a Nintendo GPS-DS Pokemon game that uses the environment around me as the setting of the game. As I walk around in real life, I run into different Pokemon that I can catch. The different type of Pokemon I encounter throughout the game will depend on the ecosystem I walk through. So in essence I will find city-type Pokemon in the city, forest-type Pokemon in the forest, ect.
As you can see, the franchise itself can evolve into a stronger beast just by adding GPS technology to the mix. But they don’t even have to go that far yet, even a basic upgrade will please lots of fans at this point in time. Like a real, honest to god Pokemon game for the Wii with updated graphics would make tons of people happy. But I think what we all want deep down inside is a full-blown Pokemon MMORPG. Of course they can do it on the Wii, but I believe a PC release might be better for this type of game; which means that Nintendo will have to come to accept releasing one of their products on a non-nintendo system.
Either way there are tons of ways Pokemon can evolve to use modern day technology, much like it used to when it first came out. But in order to do this Nintendo and Game Freak must take a step away from what’s safe, and enter into unknown territory.
I actually don't mind that the series is stagnant. I've only purchased two games since they've come out and I'm sure that has a major role. I'd like the Pokemon Color/Mineral series to pretty much stay how it is. I wouldn't mind spin offs though. The one thing I'd want, that would probably never happen, would be for them to turn Pokemon's combat into a fast based real-time action system where you have direct control over your pokemon and your battles are like that.
As far as going to the consoles. There is really no need. Pokemon is the king of the hand held market. When your on top of your market there is really no need to go anywhere else. I'm pretty sure the pokemon series even beats Mario on the handhelds. It wouldn't be the same on the Wii because to most of the world Pokemon = hand held gaming like Mario = gaming. All they have left to do is add more Pokemon, upgrade the graphics, speed up the battle system, and increase online functionality.