Editing Pokémon (section)

===2006–2012: Generation IV–V, TPCi established===
Following ''Ruby and Sapphire'', [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'']] were released for the [[Nintendo DS]] on 28 September 2006, in Japan<ref>{{Cite web |title=『ポケットモンスターダイヤモンド・パール』キャンペーンでオリジナルDSLite発売！ – 電撃オンライン |url=https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2006/9/1/c919950e8e236ae123318364ad5b5286.html |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=dengekionline.com}}</ref> and on 22 April 2007, in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=20 December 2006 |title=Pokemon in April |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/20/pokemon-in-april |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> A third version, ''[[Pokémon Platinum]]'', was released on 28 September 2008, in Japan<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2008 |title=Pokemon Platinum Dated For Japan |url=https://kotaku.com/pokemon-platinum-dated-for-japan-5024087 |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}</ref> and on 22 March 2009, in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->  |date=16 March 2009 |title=Pokemon Platinum Version Makes Its U.S. Debut |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/16/pokemon-platinum-version-makes-its-us-debut |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> They form the fourth generation (Generation IV) in the ''Pokémon'' video game series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pricener |first=Zachary |date=9 September 2020 |title=Pokémon: 10 Ways Generation 4 Changed The Series Forever |url=https://gamerant.com/pokemon-generation-4-changes-series/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}</ref> ''Diamond and Pearl'' were designed based on the DS's various features such as its Wi-Fi capabilities and slot for Game Boy Advance cartridge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Q&A: Head Pokétrainer Tsunekazu Ishihara |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-head-pokytrainer-tsunekazu-ishihara/1100-6172003/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref> Pokémon president Tsunekazu Ishihara dubbed the games as the "ultimate" Pokémon titles because they allowed the player to trade and battle Pokémon including every Pokémon from previous iterations globally through WiFi, as opposed to previously only able to do so locally and with fewer Pokémon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tsunekazu Ishihara: The Pokémon Interview – Interview |url=http://spong.com/feature/10109598/Interview-Tsunekazu-Ishihara-The-Pokemon-Interview |access-date=2023-09-26 |website=SPOnG |language=en}}</ref> The games' characters are 2D and the environments are rendered in 3D, and it is considerably difficult to differentiate them because Game Freak designed them this way to innovate the graphics while also retaining the traditional game style and feel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alfonso |first=Andrew |date=29 September 2006 |title=Pokemon Pearl Playtest |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/29/pokemon-pearl-playtest |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 September 2006 |title=Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Campaign: Original DS Lite Released! |language=ja |work=Dengeki Online |publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]] |url=http://dol.dengeki.com/data/news/2006/9/1/c919950e8e236ae123318364ad5b5286.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003011403/http://dol.dengeki.com/data/news/2006/9/1/c919950e8e236ae123318364ad5b5286.html |archive-date=3 October 2011}}</ref>

In ''Platinum,'' the developers focused on changing the most essential elements from ''Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' to maintain continuity with the previous games. Director [[Junichi Masuda]] stated that since they designed ''Diamond and Pearl'' as the "ultimate" ''Pokémon'' titles, it was only necessary to make ''Platinum'' "even stronger" than them. They approached this by designing the "Origin Forme" for the legendary Pokémon Giratina, ensuring that the design would appear significantly different from its regular form in ''Diamond'' and ''Pearl'' and to express the games' core antimatter and Distortion World concepts.<ref name="gamespot.com">{{Cite web |title=Pokemon Platinum Q&A: Giratina, Anti-Matter, and E=MC2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-platinum-qanda-giratina-anti-matter-and-emc2/1100-6205772/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref> The title Platinum was chosen to reflect a [[Platinum|precious material]] that "shines" and is different from diamond and pearl and their associations of "love" and "happiness" respectively.<ref name="interview">{{cite web |author=McKinley Noble |title=Pokemon Platinum Version Preview from |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/209339/pokemon-platinum-developer-interview/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806160028/http://www.gamepro.com/article/previews/209339/pokemon-platinum-developer-interview/ |archive-date=2010-08-06 |access-date=2010-10-10 |publisher=GamePro}}</ref>

[[Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver|''Pokémon HeartGold'' and ''SoulSilver'']] were released on 12 September 2009, in Japan and on 14 March 2010, in North America as part of Generation IV.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 September 2022 |title=『ポケットモンスター ハートゴールド・ソウルシルバー』が発売された日。『ポケモン 金・銀』が10年の時を経てフルリメイク。"ポケウォーカー"でポケモンを連れたお出かけも【今日は何の日？】 {{!}} ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202209/12275076.html |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=ファミ通.com |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-heartgold-and-soulsilver-versions/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=www.pokemon.com |language=en}}</ref> They are remakes of ''Gold'' and ''Silver,''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christopher |first=Michael |date=3 November 2020 |title=Pokemon: Everything In The Johto Region Changed In HeartGold & SoulSilver |url=https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-johto-differences-heartgold-soulsilver/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref> aiming to balance familiarity for the original games' players and new content for newcomers.<ref name="Morimoto">{{cite web |title=Iwata Asks – Pokémon HeartGold Version & Pokémon SoulSilver Version |url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/news/iwata/iwata_asks_-_pokmon_heartgold_version__soulsilver_version_16288_16289.html#top |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205023415/http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Pokemon-HeartGold-Version-SoulSilver-Version/Iwata-Asks-Pokemon-HeartGold-Version-SoulSilver-Version/1-Just-Making-The-Last-Train/1-Just-Making-The-Last-Train-225842.html#top |archive-date=5 December 2012 |access-date=2010-03-14 |publisher=[[Nintendo]]}}</ref> The titles reflected the theme of the bond between trainers and their Pokémon.<ref name="Morimoto" /> The developers faithfully recreated the original story and added elements from the Generation IV games and ''Yellow'', the latter of which was released concurrently with ''Gold'' and ''Silver.<ref name="Morimoto" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Gonzalez |first=Annette |date=March 19, 2010 |title=Interview With Team Behind The Pokémon Franchise: Game Freak |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/19/game-freak-pokemon-interview.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814094313/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/19/Game-Freak-Pokemon-Interview.aspx |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |access-date=2025-02-08 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}</ref>''

In 2009, Pokémon USA and Pokémon UK merged to form [[the Pokémon Company International]] (TPCi).<ref name="Daswani_(2009)" /> This subsidiary of [[the Pokémon Company]] (TPC) has since managed the ''Pokémon'' franchise outside of Asia.<ref name="TPCi_About_Us" />

In Generation V, [[Pokémon Black and White|''Pokémon Black'' and ''White'']] were released on 18 September 2010, in Japan for the DS<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2016 |title=Pokemon Black and White releasing in Japan September 18 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-06-27-pokemon-black-and-white-releasing-in-japan-september-18.html |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}}</ref> and on 6 March 2011, in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reilly |first=Jim |date=27 December 2010 |title=Pokemon Black and White Release Date |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/12/27/pokemon-black-and-white-release-date |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> The games feature enhanced visual effects and increased use of 3D graphics. The developers excluded old Pokémon and strategies, while introducing over 150 new Pokémon to evoke a sense of novelty and to provide new players a more "leveled playing field" against old players.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 August 2010 |title=第170回 |url=http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/dir/?p=255 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111114601/http://www.gamefreak.co.jp/blog/dir/?p=255 |archive-date=11 January 2012 |website=Game Freak}}</ref> The games seek to attract both new players and returning players through its detailed walkthrough and the addition of C-Gear (a real-time communication tool to improve the trade and battle experiences), respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Richard |date=2 March 2011 |title=Struggling With Pokemon |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/03/02/struggling-with-pokemon |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

The games were followed by [[Pokémon Black 2 and White 2|''Pokémon Black 2'' and ''White 2'']]'','' which were released on 23 June 2012, in Japan<ref>{{Cite web |title=商品情報{{pipe}}『ポケットモンスターブラック2・ホワイト2』公式サイト |url=https://www.pokemon.co.jp/ex/b2w2/product/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=www.pokemon.co.jp |language=ja}}</ref> and on 7 October 2012, in North America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 |url=https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-video-games/pokemon-black-version-2-and-pokemon-white-version-2/#en-us/home |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=www.pokemon.com |language=en}}</ref> The games were developed for the DS rather than the more powerful [[Nintendo 3DS]] to maintain continuity with the game world in ''Black'' and ''White'' and they were presented from a different perspective in the storyline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iwata Asks – Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 – Page 1 |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/pokemon-black2-white2/0/0/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=iwataasks.nintendo.com |language=en}}</ref> Since the games are their first sequels, director Masuda explained that they have strived to find a "fine balance" to appeal to both newcomers and returning players by implementing introductory explanations, and by placing a [[Pokémon Center]] in the first in-game city, they were able to further this approach by providing newcomers with a detailed walkthrough and also returning players with new updates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iwata Asks – Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 – Page 4 |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/pokemon-black2-white2/0/3/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=iwataasks.nintendo.com |language=en}}</ref> During development phase, director Takao Unno revealed that they had experimented with a 100-player multiplayer experience via their communication feature Entralink drawing from their vision of players "sharing the same space, same time and same game" but this feature was never implemented due to technical limitations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iwata Asks – Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 – Page 2 |url=https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/ds/pokemon-black2-white2/0/1/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=iwataasks.nintendo.com |language=en}}</ref>