Translation: Masuda on Sun & Moon, Pokemon Gray, Z, and Colosseum Sequel
Discussing Gen 7, briefly addressing games that never got made
Written by Dr Lava • September 27, 2020
The following interview was originally published in late 2016, in the Spanish edition of Official Nintendo Magazine. The interview was conducted shortly after the worldwide release of Pokemon Sun & Moon, and featured Sun & Moon’s director Shigeru Ohmori, and the games’ producer Junichi Masuda. It’s a pretty short interview but includes some interesting quotes, including brief references to Pokemon Gray, Pokemon Z, and the prospect of new Pokemon Colosseum. A big thanks to Feroz El Mejor for submitting magazine photos, so this interview can be preserved and translated into English. Here’s the interview:
The Interview
“Pokemon Sun & Moon have broken sales records in many countries, including here in Spain. Did you expect they’d get this kind of reception?”
Shigeru Ohmori: “I put a lot of effort into making them, and for me it’s an honor and a great joy they’re being enjoyed so much in Spain and all over the world.”
“This year Pokemon regained much of its popularity (which wasn’t easy) thanks to Pokemon GO. Do you think GO’s success contributed to the great triumph of Pokemon Sun & Moon?”
Shigeru Ohmori: “This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Pokemon series, and it coincided with the launch of Pokemon GO; I think these two factors together helped a lot in making Sun & Moon so successful.”
“We really like the three new starter Pokemon in the seventh generation. Which ones are your favorites and why?”
Junichi Masuda: “I have a cat at home, so I like Litten the best. Now my Litten’s evolved, but I remember its previous form and it brings back good memories.”
Shigeru Ohmori: “The one I like the most is Rowlett because with the jump to three dimensions, we can see how his head turns, “chirp chirp chirp,” which makes him the most fun and interesting.”
“Pokemon Sun & Moon is a huge and very complete game, but were there any features you would have liked to include in Sun & Moon, but due to lack of time or other reasons weren’t possible?”
Shigeru Ohmori: “There were lots of staff working on development, and we all contribute many ideas. The process is always to choose the ideas that are the best or the most feasible, and discard the ones that aren’t. So ultimately, there’s always lots of stuff that doesn’t get implemented.”
Dr Lava Notes: In an earlier interview, Masuda said Sun & Moon’s development “had a team of around 120.” For comparison, Masuda and Ohmori have previously said Red & Green were produced by about 10 developers, Black & White had a team of 70, and Sword & Shield’s core team was about 200 developers. In other words, the Pokemon team grows substantially larger with each passing generation.
“What are your thoughts on the great achievement of the player who managed to defeat the Elite 4 using nothing but a Magikarp? Did you think something like that was possible?”
Junichi Masuda: “There’s always someone who’s capable of doing things we didn’t think were possible. Hearing about those kinds of accomplishments really amuses us. Fans are always surprising us in new ways.”
“Do you plan to include new accessories (clothes, haircuts, etc) in Sun & Moon?”
Junichi Masuda: “Not right now.”
“And have you thought about expanding the adventure through DLC?”
Junichi Masuda: “No, we haven’t thought about that either (laughs).”
Dr Lava Notes: There of course never was any Sun & Moon DLC, because seven months later, Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon were announced, then released in November 2017. The interviewer is refering a story that went viral about a week after Sun & Moon’s laumch, in which a Japanese fan beat the game using only a Magikarp. Apparently the story made it all the way to Game Freak headquarters. These sorts of “Can you beat [Pokemon game] using only [Pokemon]?” have become quite popular on YouTube in the four years since the Magikarp story.
“Why did we never end up seeing Pokemon Z?”
Junichi Masuda: “We never really planned to make a third version, we always want to do things that surprise fans. For example, after Black & White people thought Pokemon Gray was going to come next, but instead we made Black & White 2. And the same with X & Y, instead we made Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. People thought Pokemon Z would come next, but taking advantage of the fact it’s the 20th anniversary, we decided to deliver another surprise with Sun & Moon.”
“Here’s a question that many fans who’ve been around since the beginning of the series have been wondering. Is there a possibility that we’ll see, one day, a game in the style of Pokemon Stadium or Pokemon Colosseum?”
Junichi Masuda: “No (laughs).”
Dr Lava Notes: It’s worth noting, Masuda was asked if there would ever be a sequel to Pokemon Snap a couple times in 2014 (quotes are compiled in this video). He always left the possibility open, and New Pokemon Snap for Nintendo Switch was eventually announced in June 2020, more than two decades after the original on N64. But in this Spanish interview, when Masuda’s asked about a new Pokemon Stadium or Colosseum, he openly laughs at the prospect. In other words, as far as Masuda is concerned… the series is dead.
As for Pokemon Gray and Pokemon Z, Masuda and Pokemon Company president Tzunekazu Ishihara have used this exact same explanation on multiple occasions — that Gray and Z never got made because they wanted to surprise fans. But the real reason probably has more to due with sales figures. There have been some developer quotes regarding Gray over the years, mostly in Japanese, that paint a picture beyond just “wanting to surprise fans.” I’ll be publishing a video about Gray’s development in the near future, probably in early 2021. And I’ll eventually make a video about Z if future research suggests a video discussing its development is warranted.
“Nintendo launches a new console in just a few months! What do you think of the Nintendo Switch, do you think it has potential?”
Junichi Masuda: “I’m looking forward to it being released, seeing what games it has, and finding out what it’s capable of. I really want to see it.”
Conclusion
About a year-and-a-half after this interview, Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee were announced for Switch, with the games launching in November 2018. They were the last Pokemon games Masuda ever directed, with him announcing he was stepping down as director shortly before the games’ release. Sword & Shield launched a year later — and just like Sun & Moon, Ohmori served as director, and Masuda served as producer. Masuda’s expected to continue his supervisory role as a producer for the foreseeable future.
This is the shortest developer translation ever posted on this site, so if you’d like to read some longer ones, three recommended translations are linked below. If you wanna keep up with future translations, follow me on Twitter. And if you’re in possession of a developer interview worth preserving, send me a message on Twitter — my DMs are always open. Cheers.
Read More Pokemon History:
• Translation: Sugimori Explains Gen 5 Pokemon Design Origins
• Translation: 90’s Pokemon Anime Was Written Under the Influence
• Interview: Speaking with Pokemon Beta Sprite Leaker
Videos About Pokemon History:
• Translation: Sugimori Explains Gen 5 Beta Pokemon
• Cut Content: Gen 4 and 5’s Scrapped Lock Capsule Event
• Cut Content: Pokemon Snap and Masuda Talks Snap 2
