According to Nintendo, the special challenge is a thorn in the side of the Pokémon games. According to former employees, this resembles ROM hacks for the developers. However, this statement has already been denied.
For the Pokémon community, the so-called “Nuzlocke Challenge” is simply part of playing the Pokémon Editions. However, it seems that The Pokémon Company does not like it. Allegedly, the development team has compared this type of gameplay to ROM hacks – however, this fact seems to be subject to a misconception.
A Nuzlocke Challenge is a self-imposed challenge by the player(s) in Pokémon to make it more difficult to progress through the game. Typically, a Nuzlocke Challenge consists of three basic guidelines: Players are only allowed to catch the first Pokémon in an area. Once a pocket monster is defeated, it counts as “deceased” – so it must be put in the box forever or released. In addition, each monster must be given a nickname.
The Pokemon company thinks Nuzlocke runs are “on the same level as” ROM hacks according to former Nintendo employees pic.twitter.com/X9x7o0rnE7
– Patterrz (@Patterrz) September 18, 2022
However, The Pokémon Company International seems rather reluctant to see Nuzlocke’s way. Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis spoke on their podcast “Kit & Krysta” last week about an alleged proposal that was rejected by Nintendo. According to the two, this challenge was put “on the same level as ROM hacks” by Nintendo officials.
Normally, such a self-imposed challenge does not involve changing the code from the original game, which is again the case with the ROM hack. There is, however, a counter voice to this alleged nuzlocke phobia. According to Pokémon expert and journalist Joe Merrick, The Pokémon Company International is said to have no problem with Nuzlocke.
I’ve actually spoken to TPCi about this.
They confirmed to me that this is incorrect.
They haven’t cut out people for doing nuzlockes or anything like that. They don’t care as long as you follow the confines of what’s possible in the game. https://t.co/Vb1aV6nrPk
– Joe Merrick (@JoeMerrick) September 18, 2022
According to the report, Nintendo’s rumoured aversion to Nuzlocke was “false”. There would be no problem with the challenge as long as the game’s programmed standards were adhered to. “They don’t care, insofar as you stick to the boundaries,” Joe Merrick reported Nintendo’s supposed denial as saying.
Krysta Yang and Kit Ellis worked for Nintendo of America until January 2022, appearing on camera for numerous Nintendo shows. So far, there is no statement from the official side about the alleged dislike of Nuzlocke Challenges or whether it is a possible confusion with “randomisers”, where the code in the game is reprogrammed and could thus be considered a ROM hack.
