"That's not cheating" - A Pokemon arguement

[Paragon Fury]

So earlier today I was having an argument with a friend over the new Pokemon games, Black and White. I didn't pick them up because I was still content with Platinum, and while the new story and some of the stuff I've seen that they've added to the game intrigues me, I quite frankly hate EVERY SINGLE NEW POKEMON ADDED IN BLACK AND WHITE. Every one of them. They all look stupid, and I've heard more than a few of them are stupidly broken, even compared to the Uber-tier from the earlier games.

Unfortunately, my Platinum game got broken a little while ago. With everything on it; my Deoxys, Move Darkrai, Typhlosion and everything nice like that. Needless to say, I was (and still am) pissed. However, it might be suitable motivation for me to get Black or White for my DS. (Since the only other DS game I currently have is the second Izuna game)

However, when I mentioned that if I did get Black or White I would also most likely get an Action Replay in order to get back the Pokemon I lost from my former game, and to make it so that I don't have to use the new Pokemon (use the AR to force National Dex from the start, give myself the basic forms of my team from before to train up just like I would've in the older games), he called me a cheater, and was quite insistent about it.

Personally, I don't think you could call what I intend to with an AR cheating. Yes, the AR can be used to cheat, and often is, but what is done with it is what determines cheating, not just the device.

If anything, what I would plan to do is more akin to boosting or roster padding; I'm getting what I want when I want, but nothing I'm getting actual breaks the game, makes the matches unfair or otherwise influences the outcome of any potential match-up. I'm not planning on using an AR to give myself a Wonderguard Spiritomb, or make an unkillable team. I;m using it to get a god damn Cyndaquil to raise.

In addition, I don't think using it to get Event Items, such as the Azure Flute is cheating, considering the obscene difficulty involved in getting these items and Pokemon, or the outright impossibility for people who don't live in Japan or close the New York City. This isn't; its beating Nintendo at their own game.

So what say you; am I some sort of reprehensible demon who should die at the stake and fire, or is it acceptable to use something like the AR to reclaim something that was lost or otherwise would be impossible to get with out divine intervention?

 

[Caer Seraphim]

Well, you aren't cheating any more than what you were cheated out of from having your game explode. As long as you're not beefing up in a way that wouldn't be aligned with natural gameplay, then people who take it too seriously are just... people who take it too seriously.

 

[LordLundar]

Are you using it to get an unfair advantage in online play?

Mo? then who gives a damn. Your copy of the game, play it as you see fit.

 

[Raddra]

You can still build a team of pokemon from previous games without AR, just need to find someone to trade with who has gone through the previous games. I think you can trade from the older games too.. not totally sure on that. If you have a friend with the previous games, could you get them to trade you a team you want?

Honestly I don't consider AR cheating unless you line your team up with 6 Mewtwo's or whatever. I use it as a timesaving device by putting in 4x xp and sometimes to 'catch' a pokemon I want but don't want t spend 3 RL hours walking in circles in long grass to get.

 

[Paragon Fury]

You can still build a team of pokemon from previous games, just need to find someone to trade with who has gone through the previous games. I think you can trade from the older games too.. not totally sure on that. If you have a friend with the previous games, could you get them to trade you a team you want?

You're not allowed to use older Pokemon until you beat the game at least once; where I suppose the only real debate I can see for "cheating" comes up, since I would be using the AR to make the game give the National Dex at the start of the game, thereby allowing me to use Old Gen Pokemon before I normally would.

And no, I couldn't trade with him. He was freakin' idiot, and never took my offer of giving him baby Pokemon he didn't have on his game, so he didn't have the Pokemon I did. In order to re-make my team, I'd need a Cyndaquil (impossible without AR at this point), a Ralts (almost impossible), a Krabby (possible) and an Onix (possible) as well as an Eevee and a Thunderstone. And it still wouldn't get me back my Legendaries or Event Pokemon, since he didn't have them.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Long as you're not using the AR to artificially inflate your game with unbeatable pokemon and stuff like that I say you're good in my book.

 

[Aris Khandr]

I'd say that using the AR to get the legendary items is cheating. "They're not given out but once every X years" isn't an excuse. That's the point. I missed Arceus, Darkrai, and Deoxys. But I won't cheat to get them. As for hating the Black and White Pokemon so much, I just say you're being overly judgmental. There are quite a few really nifty ones in there.

 

[Aris Khandr]

You can still build a team of pokemon from previous games, just need to find someone to trade with who has gone through the previous games. I think you can trade from the older games too.. not totally sure on that. If you have a friend with the previous games, could you get them to trade you a team you want?

You're not allowed to use older Pokemon until you beat the game at least once; where I suppose the only real debate I can see for "cheating" comes up, since I would be using the AR to make the game give the National Dex at the start of the game, thereby allowing me to use Old Gen Pokemon before I normally would.

Also, that isn't true. I've traded Gen I-IV Pokemon to friends who aren't even half done with the game, and they were able to use them fine. You won't see them in your Pokedex until you get the National Dex, but no magical force prevents you from using them via trade.

 

[Raddra]

You're not allowed to use older Pokemon until you beat the game at least once.

Oh, that I didn't know. Shame.. seems like a poor design choice.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Well, you are cheating.
Pokemon games are "balanced" early around which wild pokemon you can find for type counters and such.
Also, the starters in black/white are particularly underwhelming.

Having said that, however ... who the hell cares?
If the gawdamn black/white anime has ash running around with pikachu, why can't you?

 

[Pat728]

Using AR is cheating even if you only alter the game is the slightest most trivial way. It's cheating, but it really doesn't matter. Play the game how you think it's funnest, even if that involves AR and cheating. Just don't cheat for multiplayer and/or ruin other people's experience.

 

[Paragon Fury]

I'd say that using the AR to get the legendary items is cheating. "They're not given out but once every X years" isn't an excuse. That's the point. I missed Arceus, Darkrai, and Deoxys. But I won't cheat to get them. As for hating the Black and White Pokemon so much, I just say you're being overly judgmental. There are quite a few really nifty ones in there.

Except that is the problem. For people who don't live near major cities on the West Coast of the USA, near New York City, or in Japan, many of the events simply do not ever happen for them.

There was no Arceus or Darkrai event, even during the movie for many people. If you don't live in Japan, you didn't get the chance to get the Celebii, Mew and Shaymin Event Items that were being handed out like god damn candy.

 

[Saelune]

Its cheating if you use it to make you impossible to beat in battles against people. But in a single player game, what you do to increase enjoyment is your own buisness.
I want to catch every single pokemone up to Gen 3, but I intend to "cheat" to do so. How? Simply giving myself the promotional items for the boat so I can legitmatly catch Mew, Jurachi, Celebi and Deoxys.
Not my fault Game Freaks set impossible goals for us. Gotta Catch Them All? Fine. But Ill need aid.

 

[GodofCider]

Snip.

When it comes down to it, the dozens of hours spent perfecting your team, will look identical to the five minutes spent spawning your team.

That's not to say the end justifies the means...but at the same time it's certainly not black and white.

That aside, you 'already' spent that time creating the team in the first place.

 

[crudus]

Spoiler: Dictionary.com definition #5 of cheat.

to violate rules or regulations

Considering the parameters of the game say you can't get the pokemon you want until x point in the game, yes it is cheating. Does anyone care? I don't and I am sure Nintendo doesn't.

 

[lovest harding]

Using AR is cheating even if you only alter the game is the slightest most trivial way. It's cheating, but it really doesn't matter. Play the game how you think it's funnest, even if that involves AR and cheating. Just don't cheat for multiplayer and/or ruin other people's experience.

Agreed.
I don't know why you'd feel bad about someone considering it cheating, though. It's your game and your prerogative to do what you want. Whether your friend feels it's cheating or not, it's still up to you. If you don't feel bad about doing something that only affects you and your game, then obviously you should just do it. As said earlier, just don't try to ruin someone's else's fun by cheating.

 

[ZeroMachine]

Getting your lost Pokemon back, or unachievable Pokemon? No.

Using it to force the game to do something it wasn't built to do (as in allowing you to use older Pokemon right away), yes.

But in all honesty, does it matter?

 

[Twilight_guy]

The fact that you made a post about this tells me that you need reassurance about your decision. Your less trying to convince us that this is right so much as trying to convince yourself. Think about why that is and then make your choice.

 

[Strain42]

I liked most of the Gen 5 ones over the excessive crap we got in Gen 4. But that's not really the discussion here.

 

[crudus]

I'd say that using the AR to get the legendary items is cheating. "They're not given out but once every X years" isn't an excuse. That's the point. I missed Arceus, Darkrai, and Deoxys. But I won't cheat to get them. As for hating the Black and White Pokemon so much, I just say you're being overly judgmental. There are quite a few really nifty ones in there.

Except that is the problem. For people who don't live near major cities on the West Coast of the USA, near New York City, or in Japan, many of the events simply do not ever happen for them.

There was no Arceus or Darkrai event, even during the movie for many people. If you don't live in Japan, you didn't get the chance to get the Celebii, Mew and Shaymin Event Items that were being handed out like god damn candy.

Did you see the Extra Credits about pirating? They said the only justification for piracy was if you couldn't get something(they were talking about games) where you lived, period. They didn't say it wasn't pirating; they said it was justifiable. It is still cheating to use an AR to get those things.

[sub](but probably not justifiable either since they are supposed to be event only)[/sub]