How experimentation, limited resources, and childhood inspiration shaped Pokémon
At the New York Game Awards, Pokémon Company President and CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara reflected on the six-year trial-and-error process that shaped the original Pokémon games in a prerecorded message, delivered as the franchise received the Andrew Yoon Legend Award.
Though simple in concept, the Game Boy titles were difficult to create due to limited resources, requiring extensive experimentation over a six-year development period, according to Ishihara, who served as a producer on Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green.
Through six years of refinement, Ishihara and his team solidified the foundational Pokémon formula—catch, raise, trade, and battle—drawing directly from the universal childhood experiences of collecting bugs, nurturing plants, and raising animals.
Ishihara also admitted he was initially uncertain whether the series would succeed overseas, but he now recognizes Pokémon’s ability to transcend language and cultural barriers, ultimately becoming a powerful way to connect people around the world.
Pokémon
will celebrate its 30th anniversary next month on Pokémon Day, which takes
place on February 27, 2026.
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
