Game Freak Inc.()() is a video game developer based in Japan. They are responsible for creating the Pokémon video game series; the games in the series have sold over 300 million copies in total.[1] Game Freak jointly owns The Pokémon Company alongside Nintendo and Creatures Inc..
History[]
Game Freak was originally a self-published gaming magazine created by Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori in the 1980s. Tajiri wrote and edited the text and Sugimori illustrated. Tajiri also used "Game Freak" as his pen name when he wrote as a freelance writer for magazines like Family Computer Magazine and Famicom Tsūshin. On April 26, 1989, Tajiri and Sugimori started a video game development company with the same name.
When Tajiri first pitched the idea of what would become Pokémon to Nintendo, they could not grasp its concept, but were impressed enough with Tajiri's game design reputation that they decided to explore it. Shigeru Miyamoto guided Tajiri during the creation process. The first set of Pokémon games took six years to produce, and their production put a lot of finanial strain on Game Freak. Five employees quit and Tajiri did not take a salary, instead living off of his father's income. Additional funds from Creatures allowed Game Freak to complete the games and in return, Creatures received one-third of the Pokémon franchise rights. Between the approval and completion stages of the first set of Pokémon games, Game Freak got involved in the development of two Nintendo games: Yoshi and Mario & Wario.
In 2012, Game Freak started to let newcomers pitch new game ideas. They dubbed it the "Gear Project" with the first one being HarmoKnight.
In 2015, they purchased mobile game developer Koa Games. In February 2020, their headquarters moved into a larger workspace on the 7th floor of a place called called Kanda Square. This building now also holds Nintendo's Tokyo teams, HAL Laboratory and 1-Up Studio. Despite the relocation, Game Freak still holds a development studio on the 22nd floor of the Carrot Tower.
Games developed by Game Freak[]
| Title
|
Format
|
Release date
|
| Mendel Palace
|
NES
|
1989-06-27June 27, 1989
|
| Smart Ball
|
SNES
|
1991-09-13September 13, 1991
|
| Yoshi
|
NES
|
1991-12-14December 14, 1991
|
| Yoshi
|
Game Boy
|
1991-12-14December 14, 1991
|
| Mario & Wario
|
Super Famicom
|
1993-08-27August 27, 1993
|
| Nontan to Issho! Kuru-Kuru Puzzle
|
Game Boy
|
1994-04-28April 28, 1994
|
| Nontan to Issho: KuruKuru Puzzle
|
Super Famicom
|
1994-11-25November 25, 1994
|
| Pokémon Red and Green
|
Game Boy
|
1996-02-27February 27, 1996
|
| Pokemon Blue
|
Game Boy
|
1996-10-15October 15, 1996
|
| Bushi Seiryūden: Futari no Yūsha |
Super Famicom |
1997-01-17January 17, 1997
|
| Game Boy Camera |
Game Boy |
1998-02-21February 21, 1998
|
| Pokémon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition |
Game Boy |
1998-09-12September 12, 1998
|
| Pokémon Gold and Silver |
Game Boy Color |
1999-11-21November 21, 1999
|
| Pokémon Crystal |
Game Boy Color |
2000-12-14December 14, 2000
|
| Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire |
Game Boy Advance |
2002-11-21November 21, 2002
|
| Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen |
Game Boy Advance |
2004-01-29January 29, 2004
|
| Pokémon Emerald |
Game Boy Advance |
2004-09-16September 16, 2004
|
| Drill Dozer |
Game Boy Advance |
2005-09-22September 22, 2005
|
| Pokémon Diamond and Pearl |
Nintendo DS |
2006-09-28September 28, 2006
|
| Pulseman |
Mega Drive (VC) |
2007-04-24April 24, 2007
|
| Pokémon Platinum |
Nintendo DS |
2008-09-13September 13, 2008
|
| Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Nintendo DS |
2009-09-12September 12, 2009
|
| Pokémon Black and White |
Nintendo DS |
2010-09-18September 18, 2010
|
| Pokémon Black and White 2 |
Nintendo DS |
2012-06-23June 23, 2012
|
| HarmoKnight |
Nintendo 3DS |
2012-09-05September 5, 2012
|
| Pocket Card Jockey |
Nintendo 3DS |
2013-07-31July 31, 2013
|
| Pokémon X and Y |
Nintendo 3DS |
2013-10-12October 12, 2013
|
| Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire |
Nintendo 3DS |
2014-11-21November 21, 2014
|
| Pokémon Sun and Moon
|
Nintendo 3DS
|
November 18, 2016
|
| Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
|
Nintendo 3DS
|
November 17, 2017
|
| Pokémon Quest
|
Nintendo Switch/ Mobile
|
May 29, 2018
|
| Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
|
Nintendo Switch
|
November 16, 2018
|
| Giga Wrecker Alt.
|
Nintendo Switch
|
April 12, 2019
|
| Little Town Hero
|
Nintendo Switch
|
October 16, 2019
|
| Pokémon Sword and Shield
|
Nintendo Switch
|
November 15, 2019
|
| Pokémon Home
|
Nintendo Switch/ Mobile
|
February 12, 2020
|
| Pokémon Legends: Arceus
|
Nintendo Switch
|
January 28, 2022
|
| Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Late 2022
|
References[]
External links[]
