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When confronted with designing a pokemon game using Essentials, the developer is challenged to develop the front end of the software from scratch, as opposed from piggybacking off an already-established ROM. Pokemon Essentials gives the developer the engine to base their game off, however they are inclined to make everything else: the trainers, the maps, events (and plot), any custom moves, abilities, animations, and pokemon that have been introduced in generation 6 or later or any other fake pokemon.

This can be a monumental task for anyone and it requires different skills than ROM Hacking.

There are many ways to skin a cat, and designing a pokemon fan game is no exception; however, let this serve as a simple road map for those just starting.

Checklist of Required Skills to Do It Yourself

Here is a list of skills needed to properly to being and carry through a RPG Maker Pokemon Essentials Game:

  • Coding in Ruby or the ability to learn coding fast from previously established code
  • Decent photo manipulation and graphic design skills in programs more powerful than MS Paint, notably ones that support transparency
  • Ability to draw and sketch maps, trainers, and fakemon designs by hand, and draw them into said graphic manipulation programs
  • A keen sense of design.
  • If you want to maintain the pixel density of all the sprites, a working knowledge of sprite art is required.
  • Project management skills is a must if you want to organize a team of people to help make assets for you
  • Strong knowledge over niche battle mechanics, moves, abilities, and forms.

Groundworks for your Games Aesthetic and Theme

Starting out it is easy to say "I want make a pokemon game!"

We already know what that is. Most people who develop pokemon game are already familiar with the series and have a good idea about what it looks like. Believe it or not, coming from there can be used as a start point. We already have a core: we have a game based around magical creatures that can be stored in pokeballs and can battle each other.

We're also familiar with the general structure of their games: a young trainer travels the region(s) to defeat many trainers and ultimately the Pokemon League while also at the same time become the region(s)' hero/heroine!

Jumping from there ask yourself:

"What about my idea that sets it apart from the main series?"

The main idea: Do you want to invert the story? Do you want to make it darker? Do you want to see what Let's Go! style gameplay in a Unova-inspired region?

Your next question then would be: how do you want it to look? How do you want people to interact with your theme? How will the game's aesthetics match/or un-match it?

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