>>48116543DP began preproduction at the end of development for RS in 2002, that's how Game Freak always operates. It's like how BW began preproduction in 2006 at the end of development for DP.
>>48116518I personally think what happened was corporate interference. When Platinum came out, it was designed to he more linear than DP based on the concern that children wouldn't be able to navigate complex areas and would give up playing as a result. This is the mindset that went into designing Unova, and you can also see it popping up in HGSS. Platinum was also around the point that Nintendo stopped localizing the games and TPCi took over. 2013 was when they reintroduced Charizard in the anime and did a Mewtwo movie in BW and also did Origins. It was also a 3 year development cycle for a Gen instead of the 4 year development Gens tended to get. The last 3 year cycle was RS which Masuda admitted he was rushing to get out because he was scared the brand was dying. When you consider that Masuda is the reason we have a Yellow, since they needed another game to keep up brand momentum during the frequent delays for GS, you begin to wonder if third versions were originally in the cards in Gen II and if Emerald was even planned between FRLG and DP in his road map. Crystal was made because Nintendo wanted a popular game to promote their Mobile Adapter GB, not because it was the natural third version.
But going back to more recent times, every Gen since XY has had a 3 year cycle no matter the conditions. Whether it was making models for 721+ Pokémon and forms or switching to HD development or tying into the 20th anniversary, they've stuck to that 3 year cycle, and it shows by how much the games have suffered. I feel like it's because TPC finds it more profitable to have simpler, more straightforward games that rely on easy brand recognition like Kanto with big marketing blitzes in shorter time frames while also splitting third versions in two.
