Pokemon fans had their dream come true recently with the release of New Pokemon Snap, a sequel to the classic N64 game 22 years later. People really thought they would never receive a follow-up to the unique photography game, but stranger things have been known to happen in the medium.
While taking a break from photographing a whole slew of new Pokemon in new environments, take some time to learn about the original classic. It was a long road from initial development to the release of Pokemon Snap in 1999, but ultimately worth it in the end. Some of these facts come from the recent Ask Iwata book and the summary of the game's development from Minnmax based on the book.
10 Both Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto Were Deeply Involved
Both Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto are credited as producers on the project. It is not too surprising to see their names here, considering either one of them has a hand in almost every Nintendo property. Iwata also had a big hand in the Pokemon franchise and even worked on Pokemon Go before his passing.
9 The Team Had A Vastly Different Ambition
The development team was put together by Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata with a specific ambition. The team, put together from open job listings, was meant to be given free rein to make any game they wanted with no deadlines or restrictions. Miyamoto specifically just wanted something new and shocking, with no regard for how successful it might be. This lack of direction ultimately caused problems in production, with no concrete focus for the team or leadership.
8 Shigesata Itoi Was Involved In The Beginning
Earthbound fans will know the name Shigesata Itoi as the creator of the Mother series. Early in the project, he was also involved in the ride.
The game designer has only worked on a few released games throughout his career, but Earthbound, in particular, is considered one of the most unique and influential games on the SNES. Shigesata Itoi has also done voice-over work, most notably in My Neighbor Totoro.
7 What Was The Jack And The Beanstalk Project?
The initial team and their game were dubbed the Jack and the Beanstalk Project. However, the public has never truly learned what the game they were making was. While some theorize it was a game about the fairytale, there is no evidence to support this claim other than the name. The photography element was intact, but other details are completely unknown. Evidence of this idea is only shown in the final game by the team's name "Jack and Beans".
6 The Connection To Earthbound 64
It is likely elements from the project that became Pokemon Snap were utilized in the doomed Mother 3, or Earthbound 64. Most notably, players were to able to plant seeds and have them grow based on the Nintendo Disc Drive's internal clock. Mother 3 also ended up being canceled but was thankfully revived and released as a Game Boy Advance game in Japan, though it has never been brought to the United States.
5 Todd Snap Appears In The Anime
Oddly enough, Pokemon Snap takes place in the universe of the Anime and not the games. Professor Oak is the scientist researching Pokemon for whom the player takes pictures, and the protagonist Todd Snap appears in the anime.
Where things get weird is in New Pokemon Snap. The new game is more closely associated with the game continuity, but Todd Snap still shows up.
4 There Are 63 Pokemon In The Game
Given its 1999 release, at this time there was only the first generation of Pokemon for the developers to choose from. In the finished product, there are 63 of the 151 creatures from the original Pokemon Red and Blue. While it is not all of them, just seeing these 63 fully rendered using the N64's power was a treat for fans. Up until then, they saw them in the anime and on a Game Boy.
3 It Was Being Developed For The Nintendo Disc Drive
Pokemon Snap was originally being developed for the Nintendo Disc Drive, which only came out in Japan. The add-on eventually failed in Japan, so it was never brought to the west and many games planned for the device were switched to standard N64 cartridges. The N64 struggled in Japan throughout its whole life, so it is understandable why the Nintendo Disc Drive failed.
2 There Was A Contest To Send Someone To Australia
The game was heavily promoted upon release. There was even a contest to win a trip to Australia. All players had to do was send in a photo from the game. The best one would be chosen as the winner and sent on the vacation. Runners up received a digital camera and a check for $100. A bunch of third-place winners also received a Game Boy with a copy of Pokemon Yellow.
1 It Was Satoru Iwata's Idea To Make It A Pokemon Game
After years of the project going on without direction or focus, Satoru Iwata recommended turning it into a Pokemon spin-off. Many members of the team were initially hesitant to adopt the license for the game, but it was ultimately the impetus needed to get the project off the ground. The team was put together and production started in 1995. Back then, a more than four-year development cycle was particularly long.