Shigeru Miyamoto, the "Father of Mario" and legendary Nintendo game designer, recently spilled the beans during an investor Q&A, revealing the surprising backstory behind the "dual-version release" strategy for the "Pokémon" series. Turns out, this iconic design wasn't just about in-game interactivity; it stemmed from "Pokémon" creator Satoshi Tajiri's ambitious goal to "beat Mario."
When asked if any Nintendo title could ever surpass "Mario Kart"'s sales record, Miyamoto chuckled as he recalled an old memory: "A long time ago, before we made the first 'Pokémon' game, Satoshi Tajiri jokingly told me, 'If I'm going to beat Nintendo's Mario, I'll have to make everyone buy two copies of the game.'" He revealed that this very statement was the genesis of "Pokémon Red" and "Green" (known as "Pokémon Red" and "Blue" in the West) launching as dual versions.
"That's one of the reasons why 'Pokémon' adopted two versions from the very beginning," Miyamoto added. "I believe new ideas often come from those who want to challenge their predecessors and surpass existing success models."
Since the debut of "Pokémon Red" and "Green" on the Game Boy in 1996, the dual-version strategy has become a series tradition. Nintendo and Game Freak cleverly placed different Pokémon in each version, encouraging players to trade and complement each other via link cables, further enhancing community interaction and the joy of collecting. This strategy continued with "Pokémon Gold" and "Silver," "Ruby" and "Sapphire," and even recent titles like "Scarlet" and "Violet," often offering "dual pack" bundles with slight discounts to entice fans to buy both at once.
As for whether "Mario Kart" will ever be surpassed, Miyamoto remained humble yet confident: "If a brand-new Nintendo title can offer players an unprecedented experience, its sales potential might break through entertainment boundaries. However, even if that happens, 'Mario Kart' will probably still continue to sell incredibly well!"
Currently, "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" firmly holds its spot as the best-selling title on the Switch platform, with global sales exceeding 60 million units. Meanwhile, the "Pokémon" series continues its hot streak with innovation; the recently released "Pokémon Legends: Z-A" was a massive hit. Fans are eagerly anticipating the tenth generation of mainline games next year, as the series approaches its 30th anniversary.
via： IGN