This is a very specific post, aimed directly at parents of the younger demographic of Pokémon players. It doesn't relate to anything in the competitive Pokémon world, so if that is your main priority, I would recommend skipping over this post in favor of most everything else on this blog.
I'm not a parent, and I don't plan to ever be a parent. I'm writing this from the point of view of someone who can understand, and arguably sympathize, with your systems of belief about video-games/Pokémon/etc. I'm also a longtime veteran of the franchise, and-- though not affiliated with Nintendo/Game Freak in any way-- I might be a bit biased by that fact. I will, as always, remain as objective as possible in this post. So, without further ado, let's get into it.
Why should I let my child play Pokémon?
That's a very important question to ask. Those unfamiliar with the franchise might not understand its draw, or even see the entire thing as a marketing scheme in order to get children to buy more cards/game/merchandise in general. I'll be talking specifically about the video games in this post, though these points certainly can and do apply to other parts of the franchise.
- It teaches good sportspersonship. Whether they're playing the video-games or the card came, Pokémon stresses the importance of sportspersonship. Being respectful to your opponent is key, whether it's someone you're battling overseas through the Internet or a person across the table from you.
- The games are entirely text-based, and, as a result, can help improve a younger child's reading ability. As a youngster, I didn't have access to traditional video games until about the age of eight. By then, I was already addicted to reading. I know that, if I had the opportunity to play games before that age, I still would have become addicted to reading. However, I understand that not all children like to read, or want to do so. Giving them a Pokémon game allows them to better their reading skills-- provided that they already know how to read-- because of the fact that the game has no spoken words.
- It gives them an interest that they have in common with thousands of people around the world, of all different ages. Pokémon is not just an interest for the young. A fair portion of the demographic is made up of older children and adults, who can help mentor the newer members of the Pokémon "family" in all sorts of areas. That's part of the reason why I started this blog.
- It helps reinforce the ideas of care, friendship, and love for other beings/animals/people/etc. Yes, it's true: you're capturing creatures and using them in battle against other creatures. This, on its own, can seem very dark and arguably unethical, except when considering the overarching theme of the series, which is to love and care for other beings. Pokémon are not tools of war. They are much like pets to their Trainers, to be raised with love and compassion. They just also happen to have the ability to participate in friendly sparring with other beings. It's worth noting that nothing in the Pokémon universe dies. When a Pokémon is defeated, it simply faints. It will be able to continue about its day as soon as it awakens from its short "nap" of sorts.
Will video-games/Pokémon make my child antisocial?
Hardly. If a child enjoys spending time around others, they will continue to do so; if these companions also like Pokémon, then your child and their friends will have a new topic of conversation and discussion. Video games alone do not make a person antisocial; it depends on their personality and social environment. If they become overwhelmed by social interaction, it is logical that they would find an outlet to recharge, such as reading, writing, drawing, or playing video-games.
How safe are the online components of Pokémon? After all, you've talked about a fairly large demographic.
It's very safe, because Nintendo has already thought about those things. Pokémon's online features do involve interaction with strangers, but it is worth noting that there is absolutely no way to communicate with these people. You can trade Pokémon with them, you can battle against their Pokémon, but you cannot communicate with them over the Internet. Additionally, player interactions are designed to benefit other players, through granting them the Pokémon they desire through trading or improving their battling skills. As of Generation 6, there is also another feature-- called O-Powers-- that allows players to benefit the game-play experiences of others, by increasing the prize-money earned from battling, improving egg hatching time, and more.
What about Pokémon breeding?
Pokémon is very good about not being specific in the slightest as to what Pokémon breeding entails. Pokémon reproduction may very well be identical to the reproduction of normal animals, but the games make no mention of this or any implication of anything more than simply leaving two Pokémon in a day-care and finding an egg, without knowledge of how said egg appeared.
Is Pokémon just a massive marketing scheme?
In terms of the video-games, I would have to give a firm "no" as my personal answer. You can obtain all of the Pokémon in existence with one game; you would just have to do a lot of trading. There are certain benefits to each installment of the Pokémon franchise, with new features and adventures, but a person could very well pour hours into one Pokémon game and still remain interested in that game. Years after a game is released, Nintendo may close the online connectivity of a game, but the core game-play and all of the player's Pokémon and progress will still remain perfectly intact.
I've done my best to cover what I could see as the major sticking points for a parent...all that I hope for is that someone has found this helpful at some point.
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