Nintendo launches official Pokemon Platinum site

same reason rayquaza was emerald's main pokemon, it finishes the trio of legendaries, in this case, dragons

Gameboy Advance games always costed $30, unless we are talking when GBA first came out. Pokemon GBA games were $35.

Plus no one is telling you to buy all three.

wait, if they're all the same, why buy all three versions? I highly doubt Satoshi Tajiri is forcing you at gunpoint to buy every version of the game. As for every Pokeman in one game, I agree. But then again, think of how small the memory is for DS carts. Now think of how much memory is needed to fit all 493 in one game across multiple areas, setting encounter rates for all of them, creating entries in the Pokedex for all of them, creating a set of moves each one can use, building a tiered stat system for each one, creating an updated sprite for each one,etc. Now, imagine how many of them sucked ass.

Personally, the only problem I have with Pokemon is:

1. Where the fuck is the Azure flute? Stop teasing me with Arceus, just let me catch the fucker

2. Have Regigigas start at level 1? DO NOT WANT

Moptimus:
Are you forgetting that each game -does- have the data for every pokemon?
They just don't let you "catch 'em all!" in one game.

I'm pretty sure the point is to get your friends to buy the other version so you can trade, or make more money from the lonely people who don't cheat.

I have to agree though, I made that same argument in another Pokemon Platinum topic recently.

@HB: My mistake. I thought original GameBoy (not Advance) games were in the low $20 range? Guess not. The point is, it's still an awful lot of money, just to fill up the Pokedex.

@Moptimus: Actually, all that already fits into one cartridge. I have an Action Replay and I've used it to complete my Pokedex with those skittish buggers I can never seem to catch. The game card already has the capability. We're just not seeing the effort. And as for the Azure flute, it's just that sort of marketing ploy I'm mad about. Nintendo sells us a product that Unsuspecting Soccer Mom X thinks is a complete game. A week later, her kid comes up to her and tells her she needs to shell out another $40 to get the companion game-- if he ever wants a complete game. Otherwise, it's tough luck, kid. Or the special event Pokemon; the only kids who manage to get Mew/Deoxys/Ho-Oh/Lugia/Shaymin/Arceus are those kids who either live in San Fransisco or New York City. Why? Because those are the only cities in America with Pokemon Stores, where you can get those nasty buggers. It's just sickening, really. Why did I resort to AR? Because Nintendo literally left me no other options. It's their fault.

@Shoyz: Yup, yup, my sentiments exactly. Why does Nintendo do this to us? For money. Apparently, the Wii and the DS/DSLite/DSi aren't raking in enough cash, so they feel the need to sell us the same game thrice over.

The other sad thing; with the Mystery Gift being able to use the Wi-Fi and they still haven't even used it for anything as far as I can see. I still had to go out of my ways to catch a hedgehog instead of staying home and just zapping Shaymin into my Pearl game.

I agree that a revamp would be nice. What if Nintendo did something REALLY original and went all out and created a whole new world of Pokemon hurt, like Square Enix revamped the Final Fantasy battle system back in '90 with FFIV and the new timed battle system, or again in '07 with Crisis Core and the Action RPG elements? I absolutely adored that system. It was basically a full on action game with RPG control elements, but it never felt slow, especially during the harder battles. I'm going to cloud nine just thinking of Crisis Core-style A-RPG battles with Pokemon, in full 3D, with all 493 Pokemon catchable, and boss battles with varying difficulties. Or if Pokemon could learn more than 4 moves... or if the trainer was actually open to attack in battle, like in the anime... or if weather elements could play a big part in outdoor battles (like having a Thunder attack strike all Pokemon during a storm), and (for indoor battles) things like electricity could be messed with during battle? Ninty really needs to step up to the next generation. They're still using the same old battle system created in '94. NINTEY-FRICKING-FOUR, PEOPLE! That's nearly as old as the original Final Fantasy battle system!!!! This is really an issue Pokemon fans everywhere should be outraged about. Why are we settling for the mediocre?