Word Play in the Original Pokemon Games Getting

Word Play in the Original Pokemon Games: Getting Ready for the Augmented Reality of Pokemon Go By Don and Alleen Nilsen

Ash Ketchum catching Pikachu

The word “Pokemon” is a clipping & blending of the Japanese word for “pocket monster”: Poketto Monsuta The original Pokemon games were played on Gameboys. There was a Red version, a Yellow version, and a Blue version.

Pokemon is a game for all ages and all genders—fathers, mothers, boys, girls, grandparents, family relatives and individuals. Pokemon is not a game about killing people or blowing things up. Pokemon is a game about adventuring, socializing, healing, caring, and thinking ahead. Where can I find Poke balls? Where can I find the most Pokemon? Is it possible to hatch Pokemon from eggs? Where will I find particular types of Pokemon, or particular Pokemon? Is it possible to make Pokemon evolve into other, more powerful Pokemon? Can I lure Pokemon to my own area? How can I interact with other Pokemon players to improve their Pokadex and my own? Can I take advantage of other people’s lures? What do I do if my Pokemon becomes tired or ill? Are there different types of Poke balls? How can I improve the strength of my Pokemon?

Pokemon GO is an example of “Augmented Reality. ” In your cell phone or tablet, the Pokemon characters appear to be living in the same world that you are living in. It was introduced to America in July of 2016.

Evolution: Notice that many Pokeman characters can evolve! In the following presentation, all Pokemon that are related to each other through evolution, are on the same slide. The earlier numbers evolve into the later numbers.

1. Bulbasaur, 2. Ivysaur & 3. Venusaur cf. Light bulb, tulip bulb, ivy, dinosaur & Venus Fly Trap

4. Charmander, 5. Charmelion & 6. Charizard cf. Charred meat, salamander, chameleon & lizard

7. Squirtle, 8. Wartortle & 9. Blastoise cf. To squirt, a squirt, little, war, turtle, blast, and tortoise

10. Caterpie, 11. Metapod & 12. Butterfree cf. caterpillar, pod, butterfly & free

13. Weedle, 14. Kakuna & 15. Beedrill cf. weed, beetle, cocoon, bee & drill

16. Pidgey, 17. Pidgeotto & 18. Pidgeot cf. Pidgin & Japanese Animoto & Kanemoto

19. Rattata & 20. Raticate cf. rat, ratatattat & eradicate

21. Spearow & 22. Fearow cf. sparrow, spear & fear

23. Ekans & 24. Arbok cf. Snake & cobra (palindromes)

25. Pikachu & 26. Raichu cf. Peek at you (assimilation) & Japanese rai (thunder) & chūchū (mouse’s squeak) Onomatopoiea) Raichu (thunder-squeak) is Antithesis

27. Sandshrew & 28. Sandslash cf. sand, shrew, The Taming of the Shrew, slash & slash fiction

29. Nidoran (female), 30. Nidorina & 31. Nidoqueen cf. Japanese nido (two types) & nidoru (needle) English feminine endings –ine and –a

32. Nidoran (male), 33. Nidorino & 34. Nidoking Masculine Ending –o Contrast Slides 13 & 14: -queen & -king

35. Clefairy & 36. Clefable cf. Bass Cleft, fairy, fable, fabulous

37. Vulpix & 38. Ninetales cf. vulcan, pics, nine & tails (homonyms)

39. Jigglypuff & 40. Wigglytuff cf. jiggle, wiggle, -y (feminine rhyme) puff, and tough (masculine rhyme)

41. Zubat & 42. Golbat cf. zoo, bat & gold

43. Oddish, 44. Gloom & 45. Vileplume cf. odd, raddish, vile, gloom & plume (rhyme)

Plumage: Note that in French, plume can mean feather or pen

46. Paras & 47. Parasect cf. Parasite & insect

48. Venonat & 49. Venomoth cf. venom, gnat & moth

50. Diglett & 51. Dugtrio cf. Dig & dug (tense shift) -let (diminutive), trio, tricycle, tricerotyps, triangle

52. Meowth & 53. Persian cf. Meow & Persian cat

54. Psyduck & 55. Golduck cf. psychology, duck & gold Irony: Psyduck is golden, but Golduck is not

56. Mankey & 57. Primeape cf. man, monkey, prime, primate & ape

58. Growlithe & 59. Arcanine cf. growl, monolith, arcane, canine

60. Poliwag, 61. Poliwhirl & 62. Poliwrath cf. polliwog, wag, whirl & wrath

63. Abra, 64. Kadabra & 65. Alakazam cf. Abra Kadabra, Alakazam & Shazam

66. Machop, 67. Machoke & 68. Machamp cf. my, chop, choke, champ & champion

69. Bellsprout, 70. Weepinbell & 71. Victreebel cf. bell, sprout, weeping & victory

72. Tentacool & 73. Tentacruel cf. tentacle, cool, cruel

74. Geodude, 75. Graveller & 76. Golem cf. geography, geology, dude, gravel, -er & Golem (from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings)

77. Ponyta & 78. Rapidash cf. pony, rapid & dash

79. Slow poke & 80. Slowbro cf. slow, slow poke & ‘Tsup bro?

81. Magnemite & 82. Magneton cf. Magnet, dolomite, calcite & ton

83. Farfetch’d cf. farfetched

84. Doduo & 85. Dodrio cf. dodo, duet & trio

86. Seel & 87. Dewgong cf. seal & dugong

88. Grimer & 89. muk cf. grime, grimey, -er & muck

90. Shellder & 91. Cloyster cf. Shell & cloyster

92. Gastly, 93. Haunter & 94. Gengar cf. ghost, ghastly, haunt, -er & Ghengis Khan

95. Onix cf. onyx (stone)

96. Drowzee & 97. Hypno cf. Drowsy, hypnosis & hypnotherapy

98. Krabby & 99. Kingler cf. Crabby & king crab

100. Voltorb & 101. Electrode cf. volt, orb, electric & electrode

102. Exeggcute & 103. Exeggutor cf. egg, execute, executor, executioner

104. Cubone & 105. Marowak cf. cue, bone, marow, whack

106. Hitmonlee & 107. Hitmonchan cf. hit, man, hitman, Lee & Chan (Chinese names)

108. Lickitung cf. lick, licky & tongue

109. Koffing & 110. Weezing cf. coughing & wheezing

111. Rhyhorn & 112. Rhydon cf. rhynosaurus, horn, and dimetrodon

113. Chansey cf. chance, Chaunsey & chant

114. Tangela cf. tangle

115. Kangaskhan cf. kangaroo, Ghengis Khan

116. Horsea & 117. Seadra cf. horse, horsy, sea, hydra

118. Goldeen & 119. Seaking cf. gold fish, golden, sea & king

120. Staryu & 121. Starmie cf. star, stormy, you & me (antonyms)

122. Mr. Mime cf. Mr. mime

123. Scyther cf. scythe, slither

124. Jynx cf. jinx, to jinx something or someone

125. Electrabuzz cf. Electric & buzz (what bees & electricity do)

126. Magmar cf. Magma & Dagmar (name)

127. Pinsir cf. pinch, pinchers

128. Tauros cf. Taurus (Zodiac sign) & Toreador

129. Magikarp & 130. Gyarados cf. magic, carp, & a blend of Japanese Gyaos & Radon Gyaos fought Gammera on land & sea and in the air Gammera was a giant turtle (Godzilla) & Radon is a common Japanese tatoo

131. Lapras is the Japanese Charon. He ferries people between Earth and Hell.

132. Ditto cf. ditto Ditto breeds with other Pokemon to produce eggs. The eggs will hatch into whichever Pokemon Ditto breeds with.