Pokemon Remake Day One Patch Reminds Us that Games are Hard to Make
Shining Pearl and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond will be out next week. However, the first patch of the game is being released a bit sooner than its November 19 release. You’ll be able to access some important (and sometimes silly) features of the main game without this update. If you are purchasing the game digitally, this update will be included in your initial game download. However, you will need to download the 3GB upgrade before you can play a physical copy. This is if large portions of the remakes you wish to access.
The patch will be available on the eShop tomorrow , November 11. This is good news for anyone who was able to obtain the game before the street date. It also brings with it significant elements of Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. These include the Grand Underground, Super Contest Show and Union Room as well as Mystery Gift features. The patch must be downloaded before some Pokemon, which are only available in Grand Underground, will not be included in the game. It will not be available for features such as the Super Contest Show and Union Room, which are some very substantial side content. Union Room and Mystery Gift, both online features, wouldn’t be accessible without the patch, even if the Switch card had them.
As part of the patch, the post-game content will also be rolling out. This includes the Ramanas Park which allows you to capture Legendary Pokemon but not in the main story. There are also a few small but fun things in the update. You’ll be able to see some animations and cutscenes without it. These are crucial to the complete experience. You should have the patch installed before you can see the final cutscene.
The Union Room will need an update in order to use online features. However, at the time the patch is released, only one player will be able to trade and battle with another. The patch notes indicate that a post-launch update will increase the maximum number players and add greetings to capsule decorations. The Global Wonder Station in Jubilife, as well as the Colosseum feature within Pokemon Centers are also coming after launch.
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This is a lot of content not going to be installed onto the actual cartridges. It’s also indicative about the state of digital game development. Many of the core experience elements are being reworked even before launch. This requires Shining Pearl developer ILCA teams to release content that was intended to be part of the initial experience via a patch. If some of this content is hot, it can sometimes lead to large swathes of the game not being on a disc or cartridge. This is because it has to be manufactured and delivered to retailers weeks before it goes on the shelves.
Depending on your location, a 3GB update may not seem like a big deal. However, in rural areas, it can take at least an hour to wait for the game to be available to play. My life in the suburbs with poor internet means that I have to wait for updates on launch days. Even if I purchase a physical copy, I still spend much of my time waiting. Although it’s tempting to blame ILCA for sending something incomplete, that’s not the truth of the situation. This is also true for most games that require a day-one update to ensure everything works together. Day-one patches can be a necessity in order to get games to retailers before they are finished. If you plan on purchasing Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl digitally then be prepared.
