So, X and Y are released, and the following is implemented.

All HMs are now removed, fly and surf are now TMs.

A large portion of the region is available from the get go, however the level scaling between areas are very high. High enough to get sweeped if you stray too far, even by wild pokemon.

Gym badges are no longer licenses to use HMs (due to the lack of them), and are instead used as licenses to catch wild pokemon in the higher level areas. This is to ensure that people don't weave their way through to the higher level areas, get lucky and catch a high level pokemon, then proceed to sweep through every area easily.

How do you feel?

Pic unrelated