Pokémon: The Directors Behind the Games - Game Design Gazette

Sunday 3 December 2017

Pokémon: The Directors Behind the Games


Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon have a new director making his debut: Kazumasa Iwao.


Iwao has been involved with the Pokémon games since Pokémon Platinum, where he was credited under the "Special Thanks" section. Since then, he's worked on a number of the games, and has been involved with concept planning, game map design, system planning, and more.

Click to enlarge

In total, the Pokémon RPGs have had seven directors to date. The infographic above traces their roles and responsibilities through the various games, and illustrates just how talented and multi-faceted each of these individuals are.

Additionally, you can find a breakdown of each director's achievements below.

SATOSHI TAJIRI
  • Pokémon Red/Blue - Director / Game Design / Scenario / Map Design
  • Pokémon Yellow - Director / Game Design / Scenario / Map Design
  • Pokémon Gold/Silver - Director / Game Design
  • Pokémon Crystal - Director​


JUNICHI MASUDA
  • Pokémon Red / Blue - Programming / Music
  • Pokémon Yellow - Programming / Music
  • Pokémon Gold / Silver - Sub-Director / Music / Game Design
  • Pokémon Crystal - Co-Director / Music / Game Design
  • Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire - Director / Music / Game Design / Scenario
  • Pokémon Fire Red / Leaf Green - Director / Music / Game Design / Scenario
  • Pokémon Diamond / Pearl - Director / Music / Scenario
  • Pokémon Platinum - Producer / Music / Scenario
  • Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver - Producer / Music
  • Pokémon Black / White - Director / Music / World & Plot / Producer
  • Pokémon Black 2 / White 2 - Producer / World & Plot
  • Pokémon X / Y - Producer / Music / World & Plot
  • Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire - Producer
  • Pokémon Sun / Moon - Producer / Music
  • Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon - Producer / Sound​

SHIGEKI MORIMOTO
  • Pokémon Red / Blue - Programming / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Yellow - Programming
  • Pokémon Gold / Silver - Programming / Monster Design / Game Design
  • Pokémon Crystal - Programming / Monster Design / Game Design
  • Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire - Battle Director / Monster Design/ Game Design
  • Pokémon Fire Red / Leaf Green - Battle Director / Monster Design / Parametric Design
  • Pokémon Emerald - Game Design / Parametric Design / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Diamond / Pearl - Battle Director / Parametric Design
  • Pokémon Platinum - Game Design / Parametric Design
  • Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver - Director / Parametric Design/ Monster Design
  • Pokémon Black / White - Battle System Lead / Pokémon & Trainer Param. / Battle Subway Param.
  • Pokémon X / Y - Game Battle System Design Lead
  • Pokémon Sun / Moon - Battle Planning Lead
  • Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon - System Planning Section Director / Battle Planning​

TAKESHI KAWACHIMARU
  • Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire - Game Design
  • Pokémon Emerald - Game Design
  • Pokémon Diamond / Pearl - Game Design
  • Pokémon Platinum - Director / Scenario
  • Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver - Game Design
  • Pokémon Black / White - Planning Director / Director of Linked Websites
  • Pokémon X / Y - Network System Game Design
  • Pokémon Sun / Moon - Network System / Game Design Section Director​

TAKAO UNNO
  • Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire - Graphic Design
  • Pokémon Fire Red / Leaf Green - Graphic Design Leader
  • Pokémon Emerald - Graphic Design / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Diamond / Pearl - Graphic Leader / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Platinum - Graphic Design / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver - Art Director / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Black / White - 3D Art Director / Monster Design / Digital Movie Design / 3DS Link Design
  • Pokémon Black 2 / White 2 - Director / Art Director / Monster Design / Digital Movie Design / 3DS Link Design
  • Pokémon X / Y - 3D Art Director / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire - Monster Design
  • Pokémon Sun / Moon - Concept / Graphics Director / Monster Design
  • Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon - Pokémon Model Creation Coordinator​

SHIGERU OHMORI
  • Pokémon Ruby / Sapphire - Map Design / Game Design
  • Pokémon Fire Red / Leaf Green - Map Design / Game Design
  • Pokémon Emerald - Map Design / Game Design
  • Pokémon Diamond / Pearl - Game Design Lead / Scenario / Map Design
  • Pokémon Platinum - Game Design / Scenario
  • Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver - Game Design / Pokéwalker Game Design
  • Pokémon Black / White - Special Elements Game Design Lead / Survey Radar & Tag Mode / Map Design
  • Pokémon X / Y - Planning Director
  • Pokémon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire - Director / Concept & Plot
  • Pokémon Sun / Moon - Director / Planning Director
  • Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon - Producer​

KAZUMASA IWAO
  • Pokémon Platinum - Special Thanks
  • Pokémon Black / White - UI System Design / Map Design / Pokémon & Trainer Param. / Battle Subway Param.
  • Pokémon X / Y - Game Map Design Lead
  • Pokémon Sun / Moon - Game Battle System Design Section Director / Field System Design / Concept Planning
  • Pokémon Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon - Director / Concept​