Gamepro March 22 2009 Interview
Published March 22, 2009.
Interviewees: Junichi Masuda, Takechi Kawachimaru
My commentary is (NOTE:) - other commentary comes from the original source.
Interview
Part One
GP: This is the first Pokemon game that's been named after a metal since Gold & Silver. Was there a special reason for calling this one "Platinum"?
Junichi Masuda: Diamond is a gem, as you know, and a pearl is something that nature creates. When we researched about Diamond & Pearl, [the word] "diamond" has a meaning of "love", and "pearl" has a meaning of "happiness". So when we thought of the third one, we wanted to have something "beautiful," at the next level. [It's] different from a diamond, different from a gem, different from a pearl, different from something that nature creates, something [that] shines, something beautiful. That's how we came up with Platinum.
GP: Are there any Pokemon that can be caught in Platinum that trainers didn't have access to in Diamond & Pearl?
Takeshi Kawachimaru: (Speaks to translator.) There are some Pokemon which you cannot meet in Diamond & Pearl, but you can meet [those Pokemon] in Platinum.
GP: How did you decide on the different story changes in the main game? There are certain elements of the story that have been tweaked and the villains have different motivations, so...
Kawachimaru: In Diamond & Pearl, you have Dialga and Palkia, and it has a story to each Pokemon. [It's] two different Pokemon, but one story in Diamond & Pearl. We wanted to create a different story for Platinum. That's how we developed Giratina, as something opposite of Dialga and Palkia. We wanted to make the existence of Giratina more fun, more interesting, cooler. That's how we came up with the whole scenario of Diamond & Pearl and then advanced to Platinum. We wanted to make different roles easier for the player to understand, so we used the text to explain how this is related. We set up an environment where Giratina exists, so that's something we have to add to make the storyline more appealing and approachable and accessible to players.
(NOTE: Once again they are ignoring the plot!!)
GP: What is your reaction to the success of the Wi-Fi battling system shown in Diamond & Pearl?
Masuda: One of the features that utilize the Wi-Fi connection is voice chat. You can chat while playing, and that makes the Wi-Fi battles more interesting because you can talk to each other. We definitely wanted to include that. If there was no voice chat, I [wouldn't] think this was that successful. Once we realized that was something we could make, we knew this was going to be very big.
GP: Finally, I can taunt people after I knock out their Pokemon verbally! It's going to be great. (Laughs.)
Pokemon Platinum: Developer Interview!
Charmander's clearly an office favorite over at Nintendo's Bay Area branch.
GP: What promoted the choice to have Gym Leaders and Gym Trainers use only one single Pokemon type? Is that going to make it more challenging?
[Author's Note: In Pokemon Platinum, Gym Leaders and Gym Trainers no longer carry any Pokemon that don't match their respective gym's type. This means that a Gym Leader like Candice won't be rounding out her Ice-type lineup with a weird pinch-hitter like the Fighting/Psychic Medicham.]
[Editor's Note: Nerd!]
Masuda: It is very difficult to set which actual Gym Leader has what kind of Pokemon that he or she uses. Each gym [ranks as] "Number 1 through Number 8." When you get to Number 1, you meet certain Pokemon, [and] that's limited. So, we have to think of whole scenarios, how Number 1 to Number 8 happens and which Gym Leaders [will] specialize in Water Pokemon or [any type] of Pokemon. It also affects the nearby area, so if there's a snowy city, of course, you will have Ice Pokemon. That scenario needs to be matched with how you line up the Gym Leaders, as well as their Pokemon. Towards the end, because you have already experienced many battles and you will meet wild Pokemon of a much higher level, that's why [in the game's final gym], of course, that leader has strong Pokemon.
Part Two
GP: The Pokemon Video Game Championship: What does it mean to you personally, with the insane growth of people playing against each other that now has turned into a full-fledged battling phenomenon?
Masuda: That was my wish. My wish was to go to see people playing at the World Championships, so it's almost like a dream come true if this video game championship is realized. Definitely, this is great that things are coming along.
GP: As a developer, is there anything that you learn from watching the players using different Pokemon in all of the tournaments? Is there anything you learn about the gameplay that you didn't know?
Kawachimaru: Definitely. I've been to see a lot of video game tournaments in Japan, and I've seen a lot of players having different combinations of Pokemon. Definitely, there are [some] interesting combinations. But, it's not anything that we didn't know, it's just something interesting to see, that they're using "that" particular Pokemon.
Ideally, I want each player to have different Pokemon. I don't want to see everybody using the same Pokemon. That's my ideal situation. So, if I see somebody uses Pokemon that normal people don't use, I would love to support that particular player and give a cheer for him or her.
Pokemon Platinum: Developer Interview!
Oooooh, shiny.
GP: For people that are just picking up Pokemon for the first time, do you have any personal tips that you want to throw in, for people just getting their hands on Platinum?
Kawachimaru: For the beginner players, we have been focusing not just on Platinum. In past games, we have [also] been focusing on new players. So, once he or she starts the game, I would recommend going into the bushes or areas where you can meet wild Pokemon. Please, meet as much as you want! There might be something interesting that happens, and meet with different people. That's something I recommend.
GP: What's your number one favorite Pokemon?
Kawachimaru: Bulbasaur.
Masuda: My favorite is Piichu.
GP: Do you have a preferred type [of Pokemon] that you use when playing the game. What is your preferred lineup? What are your heavy hitters?
Kawachimaru: We have an internal office tournament, so whenever we battle, I predict what my opponent will have, and then decide what my Pokemon will be. But my favorite Pokemon to use in the tournament... there are two of them I regularly use. One is Weevile and the other one is Gengar.
Masuda: The type I always use is actually Water Pokemon, because Water Pokemon have strong moves, such as Surf. That's my favorite move. Also, I get involved in creating Pokemon itself, so I get involved in naming, get involved in the design of the Pokemon, so there's so many Pokemon that I have so much energy put into, so those are the Pokemon that I always want to use. But, that's not necessarily a strong Pokemon for the battle.
Pokemon Platinum: Developer Interview!
GP: Is it ever hard to keep coming up with new names and designs?
Masuda: Yes, it's incredibly difficult! Especially [coming] up with a name [that] is universal here, in the U.S. or Europe, such as Pikachu, Dialga, Palkia, and Lucario. Those are the names that you have to come up with, appealing to all of the audiences. That's very difficult.
Another thing, especially coming into the gameplay, the first three Pokemon [are difficult], because they're the ones who the player actually first meet, so you have to come up with really good names and characteristics and everything.
GP: For the Pokemon Championship, does the winner get to battle you guys? Do you plan to compete off to the side?
Masuda: We haven't done it yet!
Kawachimaru: Probably, they're going to beat us.
GP: Can you tell me the name of the next Pokemon title? Are we even thinking about that yet?
Masuda: We're thinking about it, but not yet!