Miyamoto: Pokémon's Two-Version Idea Was a Joke to Beat Mario
It's a practice as old as the series itself: every new mainline Pokémon generation arrives not as a single title, but as a pair. From *Red* and *Blue* to *Scarlet* and *Violet*, the dual-release strategy has been a cornerstone of the franchise's identity. For decades, fans have understood it as a brilliant mechanic to encourage trading and social play.
Now, a stunning revelation from Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto peels back the curtain, revealing the tradition’s origin was rooted in a playful, ambitious joke aimed at toppling Nintendo’s biggest star: Mario.
A Legendary Joke with Real-World Impact
The challenge of standing out in the mid-1990s gaming landscape was immense. Nintendo's own properties, particularly those featuring Mario, were global phenomena. For a new title from an external developer like Game Freak to succeed, it needed a truly unique hook. Satoshi Tajiri's joke, whether he was fully serious or not, perfectly encapsulated the kind of outside-the-box thinking that was required.
The idea morphed from a simple sales gag into a foundational gameplay mechanic. It wasn't just about selling two boxes; it was about creating two slightly different worlds that needed each other to be complete. This masterstroke leveraged the technology of the day—the humble Game Boy Link Cable—and transformed a solitary role-playing game into a deeply social experience.
This approach was a gamble, but it was one that Miyamoto and Nintendo championed. It encouraged communication, cooperation, and a playground-level economy of trading that fueled the series’ initial explosion in popularity.
How Red and Blue Brought the Idea to Life
When *Pokémon Red* and *Green* launched in Japan in 1996 (later released as *Red* and *Blue* internationally), the two-version concept was fully realized. The core adventure was the same in both, but a key difference set them apart: version-exclusive Pokémon.
- Exclusive Monsters: Players who bought *Pokémon Red* could catch creatures like Arbok, Growlithe, and Scyther, which were completely absent in the wild in *Pokémon Blue*.
- A Call to Trade: Conversely, *Pokémon Blue* owners had exclusive access to Sandshrew, Vulpix, and Pinsir.
- Completing the Pokédex: The only way to achieve the game’s ultimate goal of "Gotta Catch 'Em All" was to find a friend with the opposite version and trade with them.
This wasn't just a feature; it was the game's soul. It forced players to interact, to build friendships, and to strategize on how to acquire the Pokémon they were missing. The joke about selling two copies evolved into a system that built a worldwide community.
An Enduring Legacy for Every Generation
What began as a clever strategy for the Game Boy era has proven remarkably timeless. Game Freak and Nintendo have carried the dual-release model through every subsequent generation of Pokémon, adapting it to new hardware and online capabilities but always maintaining its core purpose.
From the day/night cycles of *Gold* and *Silver* to the differing villainous teams in *Ruby* and *Sapphire* and the unique legendary encounters in every modern entry, the tradition lives on. It continues to drive sales, but more importantly, it preserves the spirit of connectivity and cooperation that Satoshi Tajiri and Shigeru Miyamoto fostered from the very beginning.
What started as a lighthearted quip about outselling a plumber became the blueprint for building one of the most powerful and beloved entertainment franchises on the planet. It’s a testament to the idea that sometimes, the most revolutionary concepts begin with a simple, ambitious joke.