Visualizations of Pokémon Fanbases in the Pokémon World

[ParaChomp]

Okay, this is going to be really stoopid and I got a feeling this thread's going to flop and I might get an infraction but here goes.

What if big name fanbases like Smogon, Serebii, etc. existed in the Pokémon world? How would it change it?

[pokemonsquared]

Ash would never get into smogon in a million years.

[zozo]

Hmm, interesting concept. Well, if we're just transferring these communities directly into the anime world, without modifying anything to make it more "realistic", I have a feeling that most of these communities would be treated rather like evil organizations dedicated to exploiting Pokemon. I mean, take Serebii alone. We're a collection of various fans who want to connect with other fans and discuss (in no particular order):
1) Shiny hunting, which includes sifting through hundreds or even thousands of random wild Pokemon, eggs, stationary Pokemon, etc. in order to find one of a mutated colour. For MM hunters, this particularly means that hundreds and thousands of Pokemon end up released, unwanted, back into the wild, which would probably cause some nasty environmental damage
2) Shipping, which includes compiling masses of data about various people (real people, if we're in the anime world), and coming up with all sorts of arguments for and against who's romantically involved with who, bearing in mind that plenty of these "shipped" characters aren't even teenagers yet.
3) Trading Pokemon, to the point that people will actually open up shops where they collect masses of Pokemon to trade for various offers, including Pokemon and items. These traded Pokemon are often obtained by somehow predicting how the universe works to make Pokemon with specific DNA to appear (RNGing in the "real" world), and are generally cloned time and time again so that more and more of these ultra-powerful, ultra-rare Pokemon flood the world
4) Competitive play, which includes battling with "real" as well as "simulated" Pokemon (battling between cartridges vs. battling on PO). Both types of trainers, however, often insist on using only the best of the best, shunning anything with sub-par personalities or genes, and will generally try to create teams based on what's going to give them the win rather than working with the Pokemon they've developed bonds with.

And that's just a few sections on Serebii. On the whole, if we were to just jump into the anime world without any adjustment, the locals would think we are absolute monsters!

[Italianbaptist]

Maybe not an evil team, but I do get the feeling a Smogon-like group ("The Smogon Squad"?) would be very similar to the way the writers treated Paul. Clashing ideals with Ash all the time, but not necessarily a villain in the true sense of the term. The trade shops would be a hoot to watch too. Maybe the gang would find them exploitative and then realize they're just trying to make people happy or some such.

[Bolt the Cat]

Maybe not an evil team, but I do get the feeling a Smogon-like group ("The Smogon Squad"?) would be very similar to the way the writers treated Paul. Clashing ideals with Ash all the time, but not necessarily a villain in the true sense of the term. The trade shops would be a hoot to watch too. Maybe the gang would find them exploitative and then realize they're just trying to make people happy or some such.

Pretty much this. Also, I don't think many people would be happy with organizing Pokemon into tiers based on usefulness.

[Jdrawer]

I'd figure they'd be organizations like Silph or universities like the Pokemon Institute of Technologies (in case I messed up the name: the school of hard knocks).

[SoulMuse]

Well I have no doubt it would be comical to some extent. Hm...as to exactly what would happen? I don't really know. My guess is there would be a more literal division bewteen those who like their favorits, and people who use Smogon tiers, probably with leagues set up for both....although smogon would be rendered somewhat defunct by the difference in battle machinics in the anime.

[Excitable Boy]

I can't imagine that breeding would be as popular, considering the amount of bicycling you'd have to do.

Also, PRNG manipulation.

Ash would never get into smogon in a million years.

Why, because he doesn't know how to lie about his age?

You realize that anyone can join Smogon, right?

[ParaChomp]

Birch's starters...

[Jdrawer]

@zozo. I wonder what that'd make spriters? They're obviously laying out 'blueprints,' but are they evil like Team Focket or are they good like Silph

[Ironfish]

Why, because he doesn't know how to lie about his age?

You realize that anyone can join Smogon, right?

I don't think that mean his age but his entire battle strategy is luck I mean how is a pikachu able to take out a dragonite? and the only good pokemon he never gets stays in there first evolution

[Nemmeh]

I see Smogon being this big, snobbish Pokemon University--a place that someone like Paul would go.

I see Serebii sort of being a Pokemon club, but laid back. Perhaps some sort of "Trainer's Guild"?

Bulbagardens/Bulbapedia being like some sort of Pokemon University--but different than Smogon. I see it as a place wherein future Pokemon Professors would attend.

Pokebeach and Psypokes would probably be somewhat like Serebii.

[jireh the provider]

I see Smogon being this big, snobbish Pokemon University--a place that someone like Paul would go.

I see Serebii sort of being a Pokemon club, but laid back. Perhaps some sort of "Trainer's Guild"?

Bulbagardens/Bulbapedia being like some sort of Pokemon University--but different than Smogon. I see it as a place wherein future Pokemon Professors would attend.

Pokebeach and Psypokes would probably be somewhat like Serebii.

This is officially confirmed from you.

Smogon Status University specializes in Pokemon Metagame Battle Strategies

National Serebii Museum specializes in Pokemon Trainer Statistics, Pokemon residences, Events Specialists

Bulbapedia Research Center specializes in Pokemon Theories, Research, Mythologies, and Origins

Grand Pokebeach Resort specializes in Pokemon Mini Games and Activities (Pokeathlon, Contests, Pokestar Studios, etc.)

Psypokes Library specializes in Pokemon Psychology, Natural Environments, and Pokemon interactions

[Jazz Hands]

This is officially confirmed from you.

Smogon Status University specializes in Pokemon Metagame Battle Strategies

National Serebii Museum specializes in Pokemon Trainer Statistics, Pokemon residences, Events Specialists

Bulbapedia Research Center specializes in Pokemon Theories, Research, Mythologies, and Origins

Grand Pokebeach Resort specializes in Pokemon Mini Games and Activities (Pokeathlon, Contests, Pokestar Studios, etc.)

Psypokes Library specializes in Pokemon Psychology, Natural Environments, and Pokemon interactions

I could kind of see it like this as well

[zozo]

@zozo. I wonder what that'd make spriters? They're obviously laying out 'blueprints,' but are they evil like Team Focket or are they good like Silph

There's an interesting question. They are working with sprites, which are the types of images used in the games themselves, but they can't actually be used in the games (unless the spriter is also a worker at GameFreak). So maybe they'd be something like taxidermists that create new "monsters" by taking parts from already-existing Pokemon and fusing them together to create new ones. The resulting "Pokemon" would be highly realistic, but wouldn't be able to be caught or trained (since they're dead).

That's the best analogy I can come up with, at any rate. xD

[Honeyichigo]

There's an interesting question. They are working with sprites, which are the types of images used in the games themselves, but they can't actually be used in the games (unless the spriter is also a worker at GameFreak). So maybe they'd be something like taxidermists that create new "monsters" by taking parts from already-existing Pokemon and fusing them together to create new ones. The resulting "Pokemon" would be highly realistic, but wouldn't be able to be caught or trained (since they're dead).

That's the best analogy I can come up with, at any rate. xD

And here I was thinking they'd just be another sort of artist. D: