Chapter 2: The Game Changer

John stared at the screen, heart pounding with excitement. This was his chance to create something monumental, something that could redefine the gaming industry. He was going to start with one of the most beloved franchises of all time: Pokémon.

"System, how many MB do I need to develop Pokémon: Red/Green?"

The answer came back quickly. The original Pokémon: Red/Green, released in 1996, was less than 2MB. With the system's game beautification function, which allowed for improved graphics and optimization, the new game would be 5.8MB.

Perfect, John thought. He had 100MB to work with, so he had plenty of room for additional features and improvements.

System:

"To publish a game, you need to register a game publishing account. Please sign in with your username:"

Without hesitation, John typed:

"Username: The Game Changer"

System:

"Game interface open. It will download on your PC for posting after creating. Note: income will be credited to your account, but any extra taxes or fees will not be added to your account and will be paid immediately."

John chuckled, "Damn, even the government gets taxes from outworld systems?"

System:

"The system ensures compliance with local laws to prevent future legal complications."

John smirked at the system's response, appreciating the foresight. He was ready to dive into the creation process.

System:

"Starting tutorial..."

John watched as the tutorial guided him through the process of creating the game. The map and graphics were initially the same as FireRed/Green, but he adjusted the levels and added enhancements to make the experience unique.

Map and Graphics

The base map was identical to the original Pokémon: Red/Green, but with enhanced graphics. The colors were more vibrant, and the characters and Pokémon had more detail, thanks to the system's beautification function.

Pokémon Center

After defeating four gym leaders, the trade system would unlock, allowing players to trade Pokémon with each other. Additionally, a game shop was available where players could buy different outfits for their characters using real money credits.

Uncertain of the existence of IV and EV systems in the original Red and Green games, John deliberated before ultimately choosing to implement them. In his revamped version, starter Pokémon were equipped with 15 IVs across all stats, a hidden detail to enhance the game's challenge and strategy.

Extra Quests

In every bustling city boasting a gym, an NPC awaited players daily, tasking them with capturing a specific random Pokémon. Each successful completion yielded a momentary reward. Should a player conquer all eight challenges within one day, they would unveil an achievement and be awarded with an IV checker to their PC. John dedicated countless hours refining these elements to perfection. The interface he crafted was not just user-friendly but also remarkably intuitive, enabling him to implement alterations and witness immediate outcomes. Astounded by his swift progress, he marveled at the game's evolution into something truly extraordinary—a harmonious fusion of cherished nostalgia and contemporary gaming components designed to enthrall players. Amidst this excitement, he brainstormed additional quests to enrich the gameplay experience further.

Fishing Challenges

Near water bodies, Fishing Gurus will challenge players to catch certain types or sizes of Water-type Pokémon within a time limit. Success leads to rewards like fishing rods or water-based TMs. Completing all fishing challenges unlocks the ability to fish for rare Water-type Pokémon in previously inaccessible areas. Additionally, a new deep-sea fishing event was introduced, sending players on a boat to explore the depths of the ocean. Here, players could encounter and catch rare and powerful Water-type Pokémon, making the fishing experience more thrilling and rewarding.

John envisioned a lush, vibrant underwater world teeming with exotic Pokémon. As players navigated this new environment, they could discover hidden caves and sunken treasures, adding an element of exploration to the fishing event. The rare Pokémon found in these depths would be highly sought after, encouraging players to return and test their luck time and again.

Trainer Battles

John reimagined the trainer battle system to provide a more dynamic and challenging experience. After earning a certain number of badges, trainers in Pokémon Centers would offer daily battle challenges. Winning these battles yielded experience points, money, and battle points. Accumulating a high win streak would progressively pit players against stronger opponents with higher IV and EV stats. Every six-win streak would culminate in a boss battle featuring a single Pokémon at level 110. This added a new layer of strategy and excitement to the game, encouraging players to continuously improve their teams and tactics.

To keep things interesting, John included a variety of boss Pokémon, each with unique abilities and strategies. Players would need to adapt and devise new tactics to overcome these formidable foes, making each encounter a memorable challenge.

Viridian School Tutorial

John added a special tutorial at the Viridian Trainer School. This tutorial covered status effects, type effectiveness, and immunities, providing players with essential knowledge for their journey. He realized he would need the Lesser Memory Potion to remember all the details accurately, given his extensive but imperfect memory of Pokémon mechanics.

The tutorial featured interactive elements, allowing players to test their understanding through mock battles and quizzes. This hands-on approach ensured that players would grasp the intricacies of Pokémon battles, preparing them for the challenges ahead.

Pokémon Center Battles

He also added a battle option on the second floor of the Pokémon Center where people could battle each other. The options included ranked PvP (with your own Pokémon at their current levels), friendly battles (with all your Pokémon at level 50 or 100), or random Pokémon battles.

These battles provided a social aspect to the game, fostering a sense of community among players. Whether they were competing for rankings or simply enjoying friendly matches, the Pokémon Center became a hub of activity and excitement.

Team Rocket Integration

John considered adding an option to change loyalty and become a Rocket, similar to the Rocket Edition, but decided to save that for a future update. The idea of joining Team Rocket and experiencing the game from the perspective of a villain intrigued him, but he wanted to ensure it was executed perfectly.

For now, he left subtle hints throughout the game, teasing the possibility of a future expansion where players could embrace the dark side. This added an element of mystery and anticipation, keeping players engaged and eager for what was to come.

Expansion Teasers

He added a teaser at the Vermilion docks where a ship would take players to another region. He left a message there stating, "The legendary Pokémon, guided by The Game Changer, shape the unexplored lands of the region. Each move is carefully orchestrated by these mystical beings as we patiently await the reveal of this new lands."

The message was cryptic, hinting at grand adventures and legendary Pokémon waiting to be discovered. It sparked the imaginations of players, who eagerly speculated about the new region and its secrets.

In addition to this, John introduced NPCs in various towns who spoke in hushed tones about an old war with another region. One of them, gym leader Lieutenant Surge, mentioned that he was a general in that war. This subtle backstory added depth to the game's world, hinting at a larger, interconnected narrative waiting to be explored.

Furthermore, John added a mysterious grunt from Team Rocket in random encounters who would speak about joining Team Rocket to protect Kanto from Johto. Right after delivering this cryptic message, the screen would fade to black, and the grunt would disappear, leaving players with more questions than answers.

John also sprinkled teasers about Mewtwo throughout the game. In Cerulean City, an NPC mentioned seeing a bipedal, feline-like Pokémon entering the cave. Meanwhile, in the mansion on Cinnabar Island, players could find a book detailing the creation of Mewtwo. These hints tantalized players with the promise of uncovering more about this enigmatic and powerful Pokémon.

Final Touches and Launch

Finally, the game was ready. John took a deep breath and clicked the "Publish" button. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming as he watched the progress bar fill up, knowing that his vision was about to become a reality.