Tsunekazu Ishihara has admitted that the original Pokémon Gold & Silver games were intended to be the last in the series.
The President of the Pokémon company spoke out during the latest Iwata Asks discussion chaired by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata.
"I worked with the assumption that after we put out Gold and Silver, my work as far as Pokémon was concerned would be done," said Ishihara. "I didn't intend to make any more Pokémon titles. I even thought that once we entered the twenty-first century, it would be time for me to do something else entirely."
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In fact, Ishihari wasn't even contemplating making another Pokémon game even when the game was released. "I remember that when Gold and Silver were released, I felt like a burden had finally been lifted from my shoulders," he continued. "We'd had our sights set on the finish line of Gold and Silver for so long, and now that we'd finally completed the major series running right through from Red and Blue, I felt I could say to Tajiri-san: "I've fulfilled my duty!"
However, the success of Gold & Silver forced him to change his mind. "Once we'd released Gold and Silver and it was selling even faster than Red and Green, I couldn't very well get off the ride halfway through saying: "Nice work everyone. Good luck from here on in!" No, it didn't turn out to be the finish line!
Good job too. Can you imagine if Nintendo hadn't released any Pokémon games after Gold & Silver?
You can get £5 off Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver with the new issue of Official Nintendo Magazine which goes on sale today. Click here for more details.
