Pokémon Black and White beta
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It has been suggested that this article be moved to Development leftovers of Pokémon Black and White Versions. Please discuss whether or not to move it on its talk page. |
Like previous major releases, especially those that set a new generation, Pokémon Black and White went through multiple development stages, many of which included several elements that were eventually dropped or revised before the games' release. Some of these components can still be found within their internal data.
Pre-release
Pokémon names
According to Ken Sugimori in an interview, Oshawott's Japanese name was originally ラッコマル Rakkomaru.[1] The name may be a combination of ラッコ rakko (sea otter) and 丸 maru (round; a common suffix in male Japanese names).
First partner selection screen
The sprite used in the first partner Pokémon selection screen for Tepig is different in some early videos. The prototype sprite has a more triangular hind foot, with only one being visible on the sprite, and slightly different shading. Also, the silhouettes of the unselected first partner Pokémon are lighter compared to the final.
VS Sprites
Early VS sprites for Hilbert and Cheren can be seen in an early video which was broadcasted on Pokémon Sunday. Whilst Cheren's VS sprite has a few minor alteration with his eyes and shading, Hilbert's sprite received a complete overhaul. An early VS sprite for Bianca, lacking her Xtransceiver, was shown in the early video footage that came with an issue of Dengeki Nintendo DS.
In Excadrill's first appearance in a promotional video, its stripes were mirrored. However, this was not long-lived, as it was changed to its current appearance in the next video.
Hilbert's prototype VS sprite
Cheren's prototype VS sprite
Bianca's prototype VS sprite
Excadrill's prototype front sprite
Sprites
One of the C-Gear prerelease appearances showed a Lass with a different sprite than it currently does.
Music
In some early footage of Route 4, The Dreamyard can be heard playing instead of the correspondent seasonal variant of Route 4.
Region name
Some retailers in the United Kingdom (specifically GAME and Gamestation) used pre-release box art using the name Alleos for the region as opposed to its final English name, Unova. This name was also used at pre-release and post-release demo events in the United Kingdom.
Locations
Castelia City
In several pre-release screenshots and video footage, Castelia City's texture is noticeably different from the final version, with at least four different variations seen before the final release.
Image released on April 15, 2010
Animated view presented by Pokémon Sunday on April 18, 2010
Footage from the June 27, 2010 trailer that was broadcasted on Oha Suta
Image from a Pokemon.co.jp video
Image released on May 14, 2010
Another image from a Pokemon.co.jp video
Chargestone Cave
Pre-release screenshots of Chargestone Cave show rocks lying around the cave to be of a different shape and having a darker tone with less glow compared to the final version.
Skyarrow Bridge
On an early screenshot of within Skyarrow Bridge, a female Backpacker can be seen. This Backpacker was replaced by an Ace Trainer in the final release. However, in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, exactly the same spot is occupied by a Backpacker, just like in the screenshot. In addition, two pre-release screeshots of Skyarrow Bridge depict a slightly different skyline of Castelia City.
Early image of Skyarrow Bridge
Second early image of Skyarrow Bridge
Pokémon Center
When buying items at a Pokémon Center, the part of the screen where the player can be seen is rotated.
Dream World
On early videos of Dream World, a Pikachu could be seen being encountered in the game and also later at Entree Forest indicating that it had been befriended. In the final versions, Pikachu cannot be encountered in any location in-game or in the Dream World, and the only way to catch one is transferring via the Poké Transfer.
Post-release
Items
Since the engine that powers the games is improved upon that of the Generation IV games, all items from Generation IV, including Poké Balls, Key Items and unused items, are present in the internal data, with the exception of HM07 and HM08, which are now blank space "?" items. However, most of these items are unobtainable. Other leftover items, like the God Stone, are specific to Pokémon Black and White and can be likewise obtained through modification of the saved game or cheating. Additionally, the Dragon Skull has a description but the player cannot look at it in-game since they are made to hand the Skull in before they can view the description.
God Stone
Hidden Abilities
Some Pokémon are programmed to have Hidden Abilities in Generation V, but cannot legally obtain them. These Abilities may have been distributed in a later generation or are currently still not obtainable. The Litwick's line Hidden Ability was changed between Generation V and Generation VI in favor of Infiltrator.
Shiny Pokémon
Every Pokémon in the game are programmed to have a Shiny variant, but some of them cannot be obtained legally. These Shiny Pokémon may have been distributed in a later generation or are currently still not obtainable.
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Locations
P2 Laboratory
If the player uses the "walk through walls" cheat, enters the P2 Laboratory and keeps walking down, there will be an untextured room with a few tables in it.
This seems to be an early version of Nuvema Town with both an incorrect tile set and building set. It also has different movement permissions. For whatever reason it is placed on the same map matrix as the P2 Laboratory interior.
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
Nacrene City
A different version of Nacrene Museum exists in the game. It contains vastly different textures and modified movement permissions.
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| This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here. | |
Unused text
Several lines of unused weather effect text appear within the internal data of Black, White, Black 2, and White 2. Notably, quotes for fog exist within the text, implying that fog functionality was planned to exist in Black and White. While the final game does include foggy locations, such as Route 15, the fog weather condition does not appear in battles.
| Fog crept up as thick as soup! |
| The fog lifted. |
| The sandstorm rages. |
| The hail crashes down. |
Unused Mystery Gift text
The game contains various placeholder text of the Mystery Gift covering as far into the future as 2020 for any possible Mystery Gift events in Generation V.
Anti-Piracy
The game will freeze at random intervals and prevent Pokémon from gaining experience points if it detects it is being played on an emulator or flash cart making progressing in the game past a certain level impossible.
References
- ↑ Page 5 of interview with Game Freak, hosted on Nintendo's official website (Japanese, archived)
See also
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This game-related article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |