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Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo

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Pokémon Gold demo
File:GoldDemoTitle.png
Title screen of the Pokémon Gold demo
Pokémon Silver demo
File:SilverDemoTitle.png
Title screen of the Pokémon Silver demo
Basic info
Platform: Game Boy (enhanced for the Super Game Boy)
Category: RPG demo
Players: 1 player
Connectivity: None
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company
Part of: Generation II
Ratings
CERO: N/A
ESRB: N/A
ACB: N/A
OFLC: N/A
PEGI: N/A
GRAC: N/A
GSRR: N/A
Release dates
Japan: November 21, 1997
North America: N/A
Australia: N/A
Europe: N/A
South Korea: N/A
Hong Kong: N/A
Taiwan: N/A
Websites
Japanese: Space World
English: N/A

The Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo is an early build of the games Pokémon Gold and Silver that was shown at Nintendo Space World '97 from November 21 to 23, 1997. At the time, the final game was estimated to be about 80% complete and was set to be released for the original Game Boy—the Game Boy Color would not be announced until late March of the following year.[1][2] However, due to a variety of delays, including a complete overhaul to the game, it would not be released until late 1999.

During the two years after it was first shown at Nintendo Space World '97 until its final release in November 21, 1999, the game changed extensively from this early demo. As with the final games, the demo used the Japanese Pokémon Blue as its basis for development.

Up until 2018, little information was known about this demo, due to the majority of the game being locked off from players. Only a few photographs were taken, and most of the information known comes from testimony of attendees. On May 26, 2018, however, ROM files of both the Gold and Silver demos were anonymously posted online, including versions with debug menus, allowing players to explore data that was blocked off at Space World.

Beyond what was intended to be played appears unfinished: many Pokémon have unfinished and placeholder base stats; scripts, NPCs, and warp data is largely absent; collision data is missing; and some areas are completely missing. Nevertheless, a large amount of information can be gathered from what is present, including many redesigned or scrapped Pokémon designs, minigame easter eggs, and a completely different region.

Gameplay

The demo begins with a monologue from Professor Oak, similar to the final game. However, there is no option to give the player a gender or a name, who is instead automatically a boy named Satoshi (サトシ)G or Shigeru (シゲル)S. Afterwards, the player begins in his room in a town called Silent Hill (サイレントヒル); this town is also named Silent Hills (サイレントヒルズ) in the Official Fan Book of Pocket Monsters (Japanese: ポケットモンスター公式ファンブック), published earlier in 1997. The player will already have 3000$ and eight Badges, although the Gym Leaders are blacked out. One of three starter Pokémon, randomly chosen, is already placed in the player's party.

Spr 2d 152.png
Type:
Grass Unknown
Held item:
None
ハッパ Lv.8
Tackle
Normal
Growth
Normal
Leech Seed
Grass
  --  
   
Spr 2d 155.png
Type:
Fire Unknown
Held item:
None
ホノオグマ Lv.8
Tackle
Normal
Leer
Normal
  --  
   
  --  
   
Spr 2d 158.png
Type:
Water Unknown
Held item:
None
クルス Lv.8
Tackle
Normal
Growl
Normal
Water Gun
Water
  --  
   

Silent Hill has exits to the west, north, and east; however, the northern and eastern exits are blocked to prevent the player from accessing unfinished areas. A Pokémon Center which the player can enter is present in the town, but all of its functions are unavailable. Silent Hill also has a laboratory, but it cannot be entered.

The player will then move west to Route 1, a typical route with a dungeon called Silent Hill (しずかなおか) in the middle. (Although the English translations for both サイレントヒルズ and しずかなおか are the same, they are written differently in Japanese: the town is a transliteration of the English term "Silent Hill" in katakana, and the dungeon area in Route 1 is the Japanese native translation for "Silent Hill," written in hiragana.) Silent Hill has the first Trainers to encounter in the game. After going through Silent Hill, the player reemerges on the other side of Route 1, where they will encounter another trainer. At the end of Route 1, the rival, automatically named Shigeru (シゲル), stops the player, and the demo ends. The demo will also end if the player blacks out.

Differences from the final game

The demo and the final versions of the Generation II games had numerous differences.

  • Morning

    Morning

  • Day

    Day

  • Night

    Night

The demo was meant to be played on Game Boy hardware and was not designed to take advantage of the colors available on a Game Boy Color; as such, the colors available through the Super Game Boy were less detailed. The day and night system is present, but due to running on a Game Boy color scheme, the change in colors for the time of the day are just shades of blue. Playing the final games on a Super Game Boy yields a similar effect.

The intro lacks music, and instead of showing the Generation II starters at the end of the intro, Venusaur and Blastoise are shown instead; Charizard, which was present in the final game's intro, has a slightly less detailed design.

Generation I Pokédex entries were carried over as placeholders for Pokémon until new Pokédex entries were able to be written for them. All Pokédex entries for Generation II Pokémon use the same placeholder text:「はっけんされた　ばかりの　ポケモン　げんざい　ちょうさちゅう。」 In an odd occurrence, it was also possible to battle wild Pokémon twice in a row without moving from a grass panel; why this was an implemented feature at the time is unknown.

Kanto Route 1 music plays for all Routes. The music of Viridian City, Saffron City, and Pewter City plays for all cities and towns present. Trainer and wild Pokémon battles both use Pokémon Red and Green Gym Leader music. More tracks from Pokémon Red and Green are present for events that are not normally possible in this build.

Type chart

Several type match ups differed from the final version of the game. Notably, Normal and Dark would be super effective against Dark types, while Normal types would only take resisted damage from Dark-type moves, Water and Electric would have been super effective against Steel, and Poison would be resisted by the Steel-type instead of Poison-type moves doing no damage.

In the below type chart, bold text and a different shade of the color means that the type matchup is different than in the final version.

× Defending type
Normal Fighting Flying Poison Ground Rock Bug Ghost Steel Fire Water Grass Electric Psychic Ice Dragon Dark
A
t
t
a
c
k
i
n
g

t
y
p
e 		Normal 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× ½× 1× 0× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2×
Fighting 2× 1× ½× ½× 1× 2× ½× 0× ½× 1× 1× 1× 1× ½× 2× 1× 1×
Flying 1× 2× 1× 1× 1× ½× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× ½× 1× 1× 1× 1×
Poison 1× 1× 1× ½× ½× ½× 2× ½× ½× 1× 1× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1×
Ground 1× 1× 0× 2× 1× 2× ½× 1× 1× 2× 1× ½× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1×
Rock 1× ½× 2× 1× ½× 1× 2× 1× ½× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1× 1×
Bug 1× ½× ½× 2× 1× 1× 1× ½× 1× ½× 1× 2× 1× 2× 1× 1× 2×
Ghost 0× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1× 1× ½×
Steel 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1× 1× 0× 1× ½× 1× ½× 1× 1× 1× 1×
Fire 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× ½× 2× 1× 1× ½× ½× 2× 1× 1× 2× ½× 1×
Water 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 2× 1× 1× 2× 2× ½× ½× ½× 1× 1× ½× 1×
Grass 1× 1× ½× ½× 2× 2× ½× 1× 1× ½× 2× ½× 1× 1× 1× ½× 1×
Electric 1× 1× 2× 1× 0× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1× 2× ½× ½× 1× 1× ½× 1×
Psychic 1× 2× 1× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× ½× 1× 1× ½×
Ice 1× 1× 2× 1× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1× ½× ½× 2× 1× 1× ½× 2× 1×
Dragon 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1×
Dark ½× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1× 1× 1× 1× 1× 2× 1× 1× 2×
These matchups are suitable for the Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo.

Demo restrictions

As this game was meant to be publicly played at Space World '97, there were several restrictions put in place to make sure the game could not lock up or be set up to not work for other players. The only options available at the start screen are "ポケモンを あそぶ" (Play Pokémon) and "せっていを かえる" (Change Settings). There is no Continue option as the player is not able to save in the demo build. The player is given a random level 8 starter Pokémon.

The player only has Potions as Pokémon Centers are not accessible in the demo. PCs are also not able to be used. Trying to visit a Pokémon Center or use a PC gives the text of "under repair" or "being adjusted." This is likely to prevent a single attendee from hogging the demo by repeatedly healing to avoid blacking out.

The player and rival's names are random pre-selected names. Starter Pokémon and wild Pokémon that appear in the demo are not able to evolve. When an NPC loses, they do not have any losing dialog, presumably to make the demo faster to play. The player can only visit Silent Hill and early routes up to the forest area. When all the player's Pokémon faint (i.e. the player blacks out), the game returns to the title screen, ready for the next person to play.

Pokémon

Main article: Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo/Pokémon

Although only a few new Pokémon can be seen in the demo through normal gameplay, 100 new Pokémon had been designed at the time. Some of these Pokémon were kept into the final release largely unchanged; some had major modifications; others went completely unused. 16 of the unused Pokémon were related to the original 151 Generation I Pokémon, and two of the unused Pokémon were related to Generation II Pokémon which made it into the final release.

Many of the 151 Generation I Pokémon still used their sprites from Pokémon Blue as placeholder sprites during this time. Several Pokémon would have also gained either an evolution or a pre-evolution. Certain scrapped Pokémon correspond to, and may have inspired, later-generation Pokémon such as Leafeon or Lickilicky.

Many new Pokémon that were unused in the demo had placeholder base stats, which were all 50.

List of new Pokémon

Pokémon whose names are in italics are present in the final game, but with different names. Pokémon whose names are in bold are not present in the final game at all.

Ndex Sprite Pokémon Type
#152 Spr 2d 152.png Happa Grass
#153 Spr 2d 153.png Hanamogura Grass
#154 Spr 2d 154.png Hanaryū Grass
#155 Spr 2d 155.png Honōguma Fire
#156 Spr 2d 156.png Borubeā Fire
#157 Spr 2d 157.png Dainabea Fire
#158 Spr 2d 158.png Kurusu Water
#159 Spr 2d 159.png Akua Water
#160 Spr 2d 160.png Akueria Water
#161 Spr 2d 161.png Hoothoot Flying
#162 Spr 2d 162.png Bōbō Flying
#163 Spr 2d 163.png Pachimē Electric
#164 Spr 2d 164.png Flaaffy Electric
#165 Spr 2d 165.png Ampharos Electric
#166 Spr 2d 166.png Mikon Water
#167 Spr 2d 167.png Monja Grass
#168 Spr 2d 168.png Jaranra Grass
#169 Spr 2d 169.png Hanēi Water Flying
#170 Spr 2d 170.png Pukū Water
#171 Spr 2d 171.png Shibirefugu Water
#172 Spr 2d 172.png Pichu Electric
#173 Spr 2d 173.png Cleffa Normal
#174 Spr 2d 174.png Igglybuff Normal
#175 Spr 2d 175.png Mizūo Water
#176 Spr 2d 176.png Natu Flying Psychic
#177 Spr 2d 177.png Xatu Flying Psychic
#178 Spr 2d 178.png Gyopin Water
#179 Spr 2d 179.png Marill Water
#180 Spr 2d 180.png Manbō1 Water
#181 Spr 2d 181.png Ikari Water Steel
#182 Spr 2d 182.png Gurotesu Water Steel
#183 Spr 2d 183.png Ekushingu Poison Flying
#184 Spr 2d 184.png Para Bug
#185 Spr 2d 185.png Kokumo Bug Poison
#186 Spr 2d 186.png Tsūheddo Bug Poison
#187 Spr 2d 187.png Yoroidori Flying Steel
#188 Spr 2d 188.png Animon Normal
#189 Spr 2d 189.png Hināzu Normal Flying
#190 Spr 2d 190.png Sanī Grass Psychic
#191 Spr 2d 191.png Paon Ground
#192 Spr 2d 192.png Donphan Ground
#193 Spr 2d 193.png Tsuinzu Dark Normal
#194 Spr 2d 194.png Girafarig Dark Normal
#195 Spr 2d 195.png Peintā Normal
#196 Spr 2d 196.png Kōnya Normal
#197 Spr 2d 197.png Rinrin Dark
#198 Spr 2d 198.png Berurun Dark
#199 Spr 2d 199.png Politoed Water
#200 Spr 2d 200.png Slowking Water Psychic
#201 Spr 2d 201.png Unown Normal
#202 Spr 2d 202.png Ledyba Bug Flying
#203 Spr 2d 203.png Mitsuboshi Bug Flying
#204 Spr 2d 204.png Puchikōn Normal
#205 Spr 2d 205.png Espeon Psychic
#206 Spr 2d 206.png Umbreon Poison
#207 Spr 2d 207.png Tāban Water
#208 Spr 2d 208.png Betobebī Poison
#209 Spr 2d 209.png Remoraid Water
#210 Spr 2d 210.png Octillery Water
#211 Spr 2d 211.png Gongu Fighting
#212 Spr 2d 212.png Hitmontop Fighting
#213 Spr 2d 213.png Pudi Fire
#214 Spr 2d 214.png Haneko Grass Flying
#215 Spr 2d 215.png Poponeko Grass Flying
#216 Spr 2d 216.png Wataneko Grass Flying
#217 Spr 2d 217.png Baririna Normal
#218 Spr 2d 218.png Rippu Ice
#219 Spr 2d 219.png Erebebī Electric
#220 Spr 2d 220.png Magby Fire
#221 Spr 2d 221.png Bellossom Grass Poison
#222 Spr 2d 222.png Tsubomitto Grass Poison
#223 Spr 2d 223.png Miltank Normal
#224 Spr 2d 224.png Bomushikā Water Fire
#225 Spr 2d 225.png Gifuto Water Ice
#226 Spr 2d 226.png Kotora Electric
#227 Spr 2d 227.png Raitora Electric
#228 Spr 2d 228.png Madāmu Normal Flying
#229 Spr 2d 229.png Norowara Ghost
#230 Spr 2d 230.png Kyonpan Ghost
#231 Spr 2d 231.png Murkrow Dark Flying
#232 Spr 2d 232.png Happī Normal
#233 Spr 2d 233.png Shizāsu Bug Flying
#234 Spr 2d 234.png Purakkusu Bug
#235 Spr 2d 235.png Debiru Fire
#236 Spr 2d 236.png Houndoom Fire
#237 Spr 2d 237.png Urufuman Ice
#238 Spr 2d 238.png Wāurufu Ice
#239 Spr 2d 239.png Porygon2 Normal
#240 Spr 2d 240.png Namēru Normal
#241 Spr 2d 241.png Steelix Steel Ground
#242 Spr 2d 242.png Kingdra Dragon Water
#243 Spr 2d 243.png Rai Electric
#244 Spr 2d 244.png En Fire
#245 Spr 2d 245.png Sui Water
#246 Spr 2d 246.png Sneasel Dark
#247 Spr 2d 247.png Ho-Oh Flying
#248 Spr 2d 248.png Togepi Normal
#249 Spr 2d 249.png Snubbull Psychic
#250 Spr 2d 250.png Teiru Normal
#251 Spr 2d 251.png Rīfi* Grass

Special entry animations

Pikachu and Sanī used the special "stars" animation, which would be later used for Shiny Pokémon. However, this demo lacked a special animation linked to Shininess.[3]

Hōhō used a special "fade-in" animation, which remains in the final games, but is unused.

There was also a special "wave" animation, which was unused even in the demo.

Shiny Pokémon

Shiny Pokémon had much different mechanics than in the final games. Instead of exact DV requirements (Defense, Speed and Special DVs at 10, and Attack DV of 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14 or 15), all Shiny Pokémon had DVs of 10 or higher for all stats other than HP, which translates to Shininess odds of 81/4096, or ~1.977%. Shiny Pokémon had no special star animation when sent out, although that animation is implemented in-game. For some reason, it only applies to non-Shiny Pikachu and Sanī.

Due to technical limitations caused by the Super Game Boy's hardware, each color palette also had an assigned Shiny palette. Thus, all Pokémon with a given color palette also had the same Shiny palette.

Color Standard palette Shiny palette
Green #E7E7E7 #A7D787 #4FA75F #272727 #E7E7E7 #BFAF87 #676757 #272727
Orange #E7E7E7 #FFA757 #D75737 #272727 #E7E7E7 #B77F87 #8F172F #272727
Cyan #E7E7E7 #AFCFEF #779FCF #272727 #E7E7E7 #7FA7A7 #2F8787 #272727
Brown #E7E7E7 #E7A77F #4FA75F #272727 #E7E7E7 #A78F97 #976F5F #272727
Yellow #E7E7E7 #FFE777 #D7A707 #272727 #E7E7E7 #D7BF87 #EF774F #272727
Blue #E7E7E7 #97A7DF #5F7FBF #272727 #E7E7E7 #8797AF #576797 #272727
Purple #E7E7E7 #DFB7C7 #AF7FBF #272727 #E7E7E7 #BF7F9F #772767 #272727
Human #E7E7E7 #F7B78F #87779F #272727 #E7E7E7 #BF9F6F #77678F #272727
Faded #E7E7E7 #D7AFB7 #7F7F97 #272727 #E7E7E7 #979797 #575757 #272727
Pink #E7E7E7 #F7B7C7 #E77FAF #272727 #E7E7E7 #AFCFEF #F7B7C7 #272727

Maps

Demo map of Johto
Main article: Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo/Locations

Although only Silent Hill and the route and forest leading from it to Old City are accessible in the demo, many other locations are programmed into the game. However, the inaccessible locations lack collision and warp data.

The final map of Johto shares little resemblance to the region present in the demo, which was based on the entirety of Japan, with Kanto included as a large city within it. Apart from Kanto and a prototype of the Ruins of Alph, none of the areas from the final game appear in the demo; however, some maps bear similarities.

Mini-games

This build of the game contained far more mini-games, with a total of 5.

Title screen

File:GoldDemoTitle alternate.png
Alternate title screen

A hidden mini-game involving Pikachu can be played if the game is left idle at the title screen for an extended period of time. The player tries to avoid obstacles and collect musical notes while catching up to Jigglypuff. The game ends once Pikachu catches up to Jigglypuff and returns to the title screen. After playing, the title screen will have musical notes flying across the screen, rather than fire.

Picross

A picross mini-game featuring Pokémon was present.

Some Pokémon picross puzzles would later appear in Picross NP Vol. 1. Pokémon Picross would also be announced for the Game Boy Color; however, it was ultimately cancelled. A Pokémon picross game would not be released until Pokémon Picross in December 2015.

Poker

The poker mini-game was based on the real-life game of poker but with various Pokémon on the cards instead of clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades. It would be replaced with card flip in the final version of the game.

Memory game

A memory game is a game where the player attempts to match five pairs of cards in five turns. However, no coins are actually rewarded for any matches. This game remains unused in the final game.

Slide puzzle

The last mini-game is a 15-tile slide puzzle game where the player has to try rearranging the tiles to reveal who the Pokémon is.

Gallery

  • Title screen mini-game

    Title screen mini-game

  • Picross

    Picross

  • Poker

    Poker

  • Memory game

    Memory game

  • Slide puzzle

    Slide puzzle

Items

Main article: Pokémon Gold and Silver Spaceworld '97 demo/Items

With the introduction of held items, many new items and Key Items were added that would be cut, have slight changes in how they worked, or be scrapped altogether.

References

  1. ↑ Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver Nintendo Space World 97 version - geocities.jp (archived; retrieved June 21, 2021)
  2. ↑ SPACEWORLD'97 Exhibit GAME BOY software vol.3 - nintendo.co.jp (archived; retrieved June 21, 2021)
  3. ↑ Pokémon Gold and Silver/Spaceworld 1997 Demo/Pokémon → Shinies | The Cutting Room Floor


Beta versions of Pokémon games
Generation I
Red and Green • Yellow
Generation II
Gold and Silver (Spaceworld '97 demo) • Crystal
Generation III
Ruby and Sapphire • FireRed and LeafGreen • Emerald • Colosseum • XD
Generation IV
Diamond and Pearl • Platinum • HeartGold and SoulSilver
Generation V
Black and White • Black 2 and White 2
Generation VI
X and Y • Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Generation VII
Sun and Moon • Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Generation VIII
Sword and Shield
Unreleased
Pokémon Picross
Pokémon demos
Tech demos: Pikachu: DS Tech Demo
Generation II: Gold and Silver (Spaceworld '97 • Spaceworld '99)
Generation III: Ruby and Sapphire • XD: Gale of Darkness
Generation IV: Diamond and Pearl • Mystery Dungeon: Gold Rescue Team
Generation V: Black and White
Generation VI: X and Y • Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
Generation VII: Sun and Moon • Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
Generation VIII: Sword and Shield
Pokémon game templates


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