>>56655444Yeah, Nintendo owns the copyright, but that's the case for a lot of publishers when it comes to IPs. Game Freak isn't unique in that regard.
Point is, I've never seen proof that Nintendo is actively involved in the development process for Pokemon games beyond publishing, localization assistance via NOA and NOE and providing playtesting and QA support via Mario Club. I've never seen an interview where Game Freak says Nintendo forced or even recommended them to do something, Nintendo employees aren't in the staff credits lists for Pokemon games beyond minor assistance in the roles above, and many of the decisions we hate modern Game Freak for - the casualization, the worsening art direction, the removal of features, the frantic dev cycle, etc., by all accounts were decisions made by Game Freak themselves, and everything they've said supports this. Like, Masuda didn't say he didn't implement the Battle Frontier from ORAS because of Nintendo meddling or anything, that was something he decided by himself.
I know people want to believe in the narrative that Game Freak sold their souls to Nintendo and now they're in some sort of abusive relationship and that's why the games are now shit, but there's just no evidence for it. Hell, if Nintendo was in charge, I bet the recent games would be a lot less buggy - that shit is bad for PR, and especially Nintendo's PR. Even TPC is less like the board above Game Freak that tells them what to do, and more like the company equivalent of a meeting room where Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and Game Freak talk and divide their responsibilites for the franchise. And all evidence points towards Game Freak having the sole responsibility for the games and their direction. Hell, TPC was primarly made for the purpose of making merchande licensing easier. I know people don't want to believe it, but maybe there really isn't an outsider influence ruining Pokemon and the rot is coming from the inside.
