References to Other Media in Pokemon Franchise

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updated until 0.55.0

3 Different Types of Pokemon Go Players

There are three types of player groups here:

Diehard Pokémon fans that have been with the franchise since the franchise was born and/or they were old enough to play video games in general.
Players familiar with the Pokémon franchise, who may have grown up with it, lost interest over the years, but still holds the franchise in a special place in their hearts.
New players whose only or first experience with the Pokémon franchise is with Pokémon GO.

For the first group, probably everything here you already know. But for the second and most specifically the third group, here are some neat "did you know's" (in no particular order) to digest.

Basic Information

The Pokémon franchise was originally created with the Japanese launch of Pokémon Red & Green versions, two sister games for the Game Boy handheld console in 1996. In 1998, the games were ported over to the western world in the forms of Pokémon Red & Blue and set off an unprecedented phenomenon that left a deep mark in video game history. As of the beginning of 2017, there are seven generations of Pokémon with core series handheld games (from the original Game Boy to the current Nintendo 3DS), anime episodes, movies, toys, and trading cards to accommodate each generation.

Pyro, Sparky, and Rainer

This one should be familiar for GO players by now. Nicknaming your Eevee one of the above names will guarantee its evolving to Flareon, Jolteon and Vaporeon, respectively (but only once per nickname).

Pyro, Sparky, and Rainer are the names of three brothers who each owned an Eevee in the original English-dubbed Pokémon anime in 1998. Pyro's Eevee evolved into a Flareon, Sparky's evolved into a Jolteon, and Rainer's evolved into a Vaporeon.

Pokémon Models

All Pokémon models used in GO are the same as those found in the Generation VI and VII games (namely X, Y, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire, Sun, and Moon). The number of particles are different, but the skeleton and animations are the same.

Pokémon "Cries"

The sound effects used by all Pokémon are the same "cries" used for the core series games. They are not some random effects designed specifically for GO.

Yes, Pikachu does get special treatment as it's the only one that speaks its name. This is the same case with Pikachu starting in Generation VI games (specifically X and Y versions), though it did use its name as a cry back in Pokémon Yellow.

Music

Some of the tracks used in GO are remixes or contain samples of themes found in the core series games.

The "Walking Theme" or track played in the overworld contains some elements of the wild Pokémon encounter theme as well as the Trainer battle theme from the original Red/Blue/Yellow versions.

The track that plays after clicking on a Gym is a remixed version of the "Pokémon League" theme found in many of the core series games.

Junichi Masuda, one of the founding members of Game Freak (the developers behind the core series Pokémon games) and one of the company's main developers and music composers, composed the tracks found in Pokémon GO.

Kanto

One of the medals, "Kanto," is named after the Kanto Region, the setting for the original Pokémon games (Red/Blue/Yellow versions and the Japanese-only Green version) and home of the original 151 Pokémon. You may see the term "Johto" getting thrown around in recent months. Johto is the setting for Generation II (and you may see this term even more frequently) games, namely Gold/Silver/Crystal, which expanded the Pokémon roster from 151 to 251.

Medals

With the exception of "Kanto," all the medals in GO are named after Pokémon Trainer classes in the core series handheld games. These include Swimmer, Bird Keeper, Hiker, Gardener, Ace Trainer, Hex Maniac, etc. etc. etc.

The Youngster Medal

The Youngster medal is focused on tiny Rattata. Like the other medals, "Youngster" is also based on a trainer class, but most specifically it's a reference to Youngster Joey from the Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal and HeartGold/SoulSilver games. He is famous for his Rattata, where specifically in HeartGold/SoulSilver, he will frequently call the player just to say, "Remember my super cool Rattata? My Rattata is different from regular Rattata. It’s like my Rattata is in the top percentage of all Rattata."

His "Top Percentage Rattata" has become a meme in the Pokémon community.

The Fisherman Medal

The Fisherman medal requires you to catch big or "XL" Magikarp. While big Magikarp were shown on more than one occasion in the original anime, the main reference comes from one of the fishing guru brothers in Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal and HeartGold/SoulSilver. In the Lake of Rage, the fishing guru's dream is to see the world's biggest Magikarp and will measure the ones you catch and show him.

Professor Willow

Pokémon Professors are a staple in the Pokémon franchise. A running gag (if that's the appropriate term) is that the professors are always named after trees and/or other vegetation. The core series games' professors:

Generation I: Professor Oak
Generation II: Professor Elm
Generation III: Professor Birch
Generation IV: Professor Rowan
Generation V: Professor Juniper
Generation VI: Professor Sycamore
Generation VII: Professor Kukui

...all trees. Willow is no exception.

Teams

The title "Team" is a recurring theme in Pokémon games. Every generation and their core series games feature a villainous team that always follows the same naming format: Team [insert word].

The core series games' teams:

Generation I: Team Rocket
Generation II: Team Rocket (sequel)
Generation III: Team Aqua and Team Magma
Generation IV: Team Galactic
Generation V: Team Plasma
Generation VI: Team Flare
Generation VII: Team Skull

An early Pokémon GO theory was that the team leaders, Candela, Blanche, and Spark, are actually villainous to stay true with the franchise's recurring elements. It remains to be seen if GO will have any plot in the future.

Team Harmony

Players know Team Mystic, Team Instinct, and Team Valor. You may have occasionally seen a fan-made "Team Harmony."

SPOILER ALERT

Harmony is a reference to the second Pokémon movie, Pokémon: The Movie 2000, where the feuding legendary birds in Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres (the respective mascots of Mystic, Instinct, and Valor) are quelled and united by Lugia, a legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation II.

Razz Berries

Razz Berries are one of many, many, many berries in the Pokémon world. Specifically it's used to create PokéBlocks (Generation III games) and Poffins (Generation VI games), which boost the condition for Pokémon for Contest purposes (a feature in Gen. III/Gen. VI games Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire). By no means was it ever a battle/capture associated item like it is in Pokémon GO.

Lucky Eggs

GO players know Lucky Eggs double their experience gained. The same applies for any Pokémon in the core series handheld games that held a Lucky Egg (except the multiplier is 1.5x instead of 2x).

Lucky Eggs in the core series games are either gifts or unlockable rewards. But they can sometimes also be obtained from wild Chansey, their pre-evolution Happiny and Pelipper (ugly messes that slightly resemble anatomically impossible pelicans).

Has anyone tried gathering a massive group of players and simultaneously using Lucky Eggs in hopes of summoning a wild Chansey?

Incense

While the Incense in GO attracts wild Pokémon, there are several incenses from the core series handheld games that serve other purposes, from boosting attacks of specific types, through breeding specific baby Pokémon when held by the proper parent.

Though there isn't an incense in the core series games that attract wild Pokémon, a specific move called Sweet Scent (learned by many Grass-type Pokémon) can be used while out of battle to force a wild Pokémon encounter. The way that Sweet Scent turns the screen pinkish-purple is similar to the aura that GO's Incense produces.

Candies

Traditional levels take a backseat in Pokémon GO, but they exist nonetheless. A number of candies are required to level up a species by 0.5, thereby boosting its CP. A similar candy exists in the core series handheld games in the form of "Rare Candy," which instantly increases a Pokémon's level by 1. Coincidentally, Rare Candy is also spherical in shape.

Stardust

Stardust in GO is very different from Stardust found in the core series handheld games. In the latter, it is a simple valuable item that has no purpose other than to be sold for money in the in-game shops.

Abra's 99% Flee Rate

For GO players who have experienced the infuriating results of unsuccessfully capturing an Abra on the first ball throw, you may have realized that Abra virtually flees immediately every time it breaks out. This is a reference to wild Abra in core series handheld games that will use its Teleport move (the only natural move it can learn through leveling up) on its first turn. Barring any outside factors like status conditions and abilities (none of which are featured in GO), Teleport will instantly end any wild encounter.

Gender Differences

Originally, Raichu used its female sprite in GO. It has since been changed to the male sprite as all Pikachu in GO use the male variant.

If genders do get implemented, there will be many more species that showcase their differences.

Critical Captures (not implemented... yet)

Early datamining for 0.55.0 showed "critical catch" as a term. This is a feature originally introduced in the Generation V games (Black/White/Black 2/White 2 versions), where the more Pokémon caught lifetime by the player, the more likely a critical capture will occur. If a critical capture is triggered, the Poké Ball will only need to shake once (instead of three, in the case of GO) to check for a successful capture, meaning there is a significantly higher chance the player will capture the targeted Pokémon.

References to Other Media in Pokemon Franchise

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