Pokemon Platinumremains one of the most loved games in the long-running series, with fans commonly requesting the game be remastered for modern console hardware. While developersGame Freak have yet to answer the calls, a small group of players have created a stir with a Unity based remake, which is looking good despite being very early in development.
Pokemon Platinumwas an enhanced version of the Nintendo DS titlesPokemon Diamond and Pearl, having released in the West in 2009. One of the remake creators, Thomas Durgetto, initially posted about the game on Reddit, and followed up with a HD video that shows the region of Sinnoh in wonderfully updated detail. The remake features polygon graphics that lovingly reflect the pixel-art style of the classic Game Boy and Nintendo DS games.
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Not only have the team startedrecreating the full game world, they have also made new user interface menus, and coded full day and night cycles. Though the game looks excellent for such an early stage in development, and has received positive feedback from other fans, the team have been clear on Reddit that the game won’t be finished anytime soon. “I would say the map is at 25% where as the combat is barely at 10% so yeah, still a long way to go.”
Rumors have been swirling for some time thatGame Freak and Nintendo will announce a remakeofPokemon Diamond and Pearl, the games which becamePokemon Platinum, but as yet nothing has been confirmed. Although this remake is clearly being created with the care and dedication of true fans, who are genuinely passionate about the game, it is unlikely that anyone outside the development team will ever get to play it. Particularly with Nintendo being notoriously protective about their intellectual property.
Although publishers have a right to protect their IP from piracy and unauthorized use, Nintendo and many other publishers may be missing an opportunity with how they handlededicated fans like the team behindPokemon PlatinumRemake. Providing a little more leniency and acknowledgment to these dedicated fans could help them to promote the franchise, as well as gauging the level of demand for remade titles.
Sega are widely seen as the perfect example of how to handle fan games, bringing these talented fans with coding and development skills into their fold. This paid dividends with Christian Whitehead, who was initially hired to convert several 16-bit Sonic games, and then ledthe development of the return-to-form titleSonic Mania. Perhaps with some fan encouragement, Nintendo may look to do something similar in the future.
Pokemon Platinumis available on the Nintendo DS.
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