At this year's New York Game Awards, Tsunekazu Ishihara—the President and CEO of The Pokémon Company—offered a rare glimpse into the formative years of Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green.
Launched in 1996 on the Nintendo Game Boy, these seminal titles not only shaped the direction of Game Freak as a developer but also established the foundation for the global Pokémon phenomenon we know today, spanning console generations, from the Game Boy to the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo eShop. During his speech, Ishihara explained that the Pokémon franchise began as a modest proposal within Game Freak: "What if you could catch creatures in a game and trade them with your friends?" This simple yet innovative concept set in motion one of gaming’s most beloved series.
The original gameplay loop—capturing, training, trading, and battling Pokémon—was a direct reflection of childhood experiences, he noted, drawing inspiration from universal games of catching bugs, raising animals, and nurturing living things. However, Ishihara made it clear that bringing this vision to life was far from straightforward.
He elaborated that the development process for Pokemon Red and Green was marked by significant challenges, particularly due to the technical limitations of the Nintendo Game Boy and the limited resources available to Game Freak at the time.
Translating the studio’s innovative idea into a fully realized RPG required the team to experiment and iterate extensively.
According to Ishihara, it took six years of perseverance, overcoming trial and error, before the games were ready for release. “Our development was a prolonged journey of trial and error.
With the resources we had, there were many moments when it seemed impossible to actualize our ideas,” Ishihara recounted.
Despite these hurdles, the team maintained firm belief in their core concepts, confident that the joy of catching, raising, trading, and battling with Pokémon would resonate widely with players. The gamble paid off.
Upon release, Pokemon Red and Green became a massive success, not just in Japan but globally, leading to over 440 million Pokémon game sales since 1996 and turning Game Freak into one of Nintendo’s most valuable partners.
These innovations also paved the way for mechanics and traditions that continue on modern platforms like the Nintendo Switch, where the Pokémon series remains a flagship franchise accessible through retail, the eShop, and regular updates in Nintendo Direct presentations. Reflecting on their journey, Ishihara concluded that what began with a small idea and a dedicated team has grown into a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire new generations of trainers.
The story of Pokémon Red and Green exemplifies the innovation, determination, and universal appeal at the heart of the Pokémon franchise.
Launched in 1996 on the Nintendo Game Boy, these seminal titles not only shaped the direction of Game Freak as a developer but also established the foundation for the global Pokémon phenomenon we know today, spanning console generations, from the Game Boy to the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo eShop. During his speech, Ishihara explained that the Pokémon franchise began as a modest proposal within Game Freak: "What if you could catch creatures in a game and trade them with your friends?" This simple yet innovative concept set in motion one of gaming’s most beloved series.
The original gameplay loop—capturing, training, trading, and battling Pokémon—was a direct reflection of childhood experiences, he noted, drawing inspiration from universal games of catching bugs, raising animals, and nurturing living things. However, Ishihara made it clear that bringing this vision to life was far from straightforward.
He elaborated that the development process for Pokemon Red and Green was marked by significant challenges, particularly due to the technical limitations of the Nintendo Game Boy and the limited resources available to Game Freak at the time.
Translating the studio’s innovative idea into a fully realized RPG required the team to experiment and iterate extensively.
According to Ishihara, it took six years of perseverance, overcoming trial and error, before the games were ready for release. “Our development was a prolonged journey of trial and error.
With the resources we had, there were many moments when it seemed impossible to actualize our ideas,” Ishihara recounted.
Despite these hurdles, the team maintained firm belief in their core concepts, confident that the joy of catching, raising, trading, and battling with Pokémon would resonate widely with players. The gamble paid off.
Upon release, Pokemon Red and Green became a massive success, not just in Japan but globally, leading to over 440 million Pokémon game sales since 1996 and turning Game Freak into one of Nintendo’s most valuable partners.
These innovations also paved the way for mechanics and traditions that continue on modern platforms like the Nintendo Switch, where the Pokémon series remains a flagship franchise accessible through retail, the eShop, and regular updates in Nintendo Direct presentations. Reflecting on their journey, Ishihara concluded that what began with a small idea and a dedicated team has grown into a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire new generations of trainers.
The story of Pokémon Red and Green exemplifies the innovation, determination, and universal appeal at the heart of the Pokémon franchise.
