I've been a fan since 1998. Like the retarded 10 year old I was, I saw commercial and I begged mom and dad to buy me a Gameboy Color and Pokemon Blue, and that was the first game I ever truly completed. I even got mew thanks to an event my mom was willing to drive me to. About two or so years later, Silver came out and it was nearly perfect. My only gripe was that Houndour came too late in the game. Then, when I found out my bros could not come during Gen 3, I stopped, only to pick up Platinum because it laid out the essential creation lore to the story. Then, thanks to some nice guys on /v/, I was able to get the hidden event items and get Darkrai and Arceus and whatever else I forgot. But it was Soul Silver that won me back as a permanent fan.

Now years later, seeing the degradation of the franchise as a whole, with the latest announcement that not everyone is going to make it to gen 8, well, it was the moment I realized these games weren't made for me anymore, despite the fact that Gen 7 was a hand holding simulator.

I just can't rationalize picking up these new games when I know there is at least one fan out there who got curbstomped by this, their favorite pokemon, the one that they always keep in their party, won't be joining them.

I remember a time when it was clear the Pokemon was for everyone, young, old, dumb, or autistic. Now, we have started excluding folks from being able to have their own experience. Picking what they wanted on their team. It's not that anymore, at least to me.

I honestly did not expect to live this long, to see a franchise that has been close to me nearly my entire life turn into this. I'm not angry, I'm just.... tired now. It was... fun while it lasted.
https://youtu.be/pTObSdocpxE