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How Pokemon avoided steroid abuse photo

We all know Pokémon as the cute and cuddly game in which pocket-sized monsters fight for your approval. However, according to Nintendo president Saturo Iwata, the worldwide smash hit could have been an entirely different beast. An altogether more disturbing one, at that.

When Pokémon was being readied for its big Western debut, the localization team were incredibly skeptical, claiming that in no way, shape or form would such adorable little creatures ever be successful in the US. Apparently, all we care about in America are huge, rippling muscles. That's almost what we got, too. 

"We were sent a proposal of muscle-bound characters to use if we wanted to do well in the U.S," reveals Iwata. Luckily for us, Nintendo never went ahead with the idea of making American kids train, trade and battle with pint-sized Chris Benoits. The Pokémon never bulked up, thanks to former Nintendo boss Hiroshi Yamauchi. He felt Pokémon could be successful in the United States because it was something different, and he relished the challenge. His gamble paid off bigtime.

Would Pokémon have been such a huge craze in the States if all the monsters looked like Machamp? Something tells me it wouldn't have had the same charm.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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36 comments | showing # 1 to 36
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Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:04
Los255
If EVERY Pokemon was ripped, then it wouldn't have a flare to it. The variety is what makes it popular. Just look at Snorlax.
Josh Tolentino's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:08
Josh Tolentino
I'd like to see a ripped Seaking (f*ck yeah!), Magikarp, Mudkip, and Bidoof. Dire Bidoof?
PappaDukes's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:08
PappaDukes
Holy crap, I literally just turned gay!
RiotMonster's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:11
RiotMonster
Body-building Jinx pix kthnx.
ScottyG's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:14
ScottyG
Is his left arm sunk into the blanket, or is he leaning on a stump? :S
Harris Hatsworth's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:14
Harris Hatsworth
Concept sketches please.
kapshhh's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:15
kapshhh
If Magikarp was there, it might splash attack you right in the face.
sickNasty's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:16
sickNasty
WTF. Nothing like getting back from lunch, sitting down at my desk and being greeted with this once I open Dtoid.

I never scrambled so fast to hit the scroll wheel on my mouse.

You do realize some of Dtoid's audience has a full time job right?
J03yyz's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:16
J03yyz
christ dude, im at work...
Mr Wrighty 987's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:23
Mr Wrighty 987
I would play pokemen if the game included Gynocomastia, High Blood Pressure, Acne and Shrunken Balls
RAB's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:26
RAB
just because it hasn't got full frontal doesn't mean its safe for work T__T
BS3 Owner's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:27
BS3 Owner
Hamza!!!!!!!!!! Do Something?!??

The Economy is bad enough as it is Jim.
xdarkxwarriorx's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:28
xdarkxwarriorx
hahahahaaaa thank you jim, atheistium, and wardrox. and people complaining at work - you should have known this was coming. this is why you should listen to the podcastle. not for entertainment, not for amusement, but to be forewarned about naked men on the front page.

no one posted "hey man im at work wtf" on the other post... hmmmmmmm...

alright, soap box time is over for me. dont worry, im leaving im leaving.
Kraid's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:31
Kraid
The thing you did there , I saw it.
RiotMonster's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:34
RiotMonster
Maybe you people should, oh, I don't know, do your goddamn jobs?

XP
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:42
WarZombie
I hate the notion that publishers think they have to make shit all ripped or load a game with explosions to think it'll work in the U.S. Japan gets beautiful box art, we get angry faces and violence. People should learn from this, that you can be successful without muscles and explosions littering the game.
Projectexodus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 12:50
Projectexodus
Fap fap fap fap!
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:02
BluDesign
Japan thinks we want musclebound he-heroes?

This is the same country with Cho-Aniki for christ's sake.



Guys, maybe your research was DEAD WRONG.

Also, for some reason, over half of the Google Image Search images from Cho Aniki are tied back to Destructoid. Uh, maybe we should knock off the muscle-dude stories for awhile...
CitizenErased's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:14
CitizenErased
A little to the left Machamp...thank you.
stafax's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:35
stafax
Jim, you're what legends are made out of
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:42
falinter
What if every Pokemon was Brad Nicholson's pecs?
grasslunatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:43
grasslunatic
I really want to see a stacked Snorlax.
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:45
pedrovay2003
Yeah, what's going on with that guy's arm?
atastysammich's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 13:53
atastysammich
Ha, that crotchety, persistent bastard Yamauchi! Never thought I'd come to miss him--Wii Music would've never left the drawing board on his watch.
otogi guy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 14:07
otogi guy
his arm thing is odd
ShuperShawn's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 14:32
ShuperShawn
Somebody needs to do a mod of the original pokemon games where all the pokemon have 6 packs and bulging biceps.

And Brad Nicholson needs to be in it, or just his pecs.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 14:35
Syn
@work ppl: GET BACK TO WORK! Quit playin' around on the internet!
----

lower Machamp....lower.....loooower......ONNN TOP OF OLD SMOOOKEYYYYY
vrplumber's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 15:30
vrplumber
Thanks Jim, I was just wondering if i were gay. This header image clears things up nicely:)
boomfasa's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 15:40
boomfasa
daaaayum girl
HiddenAHB's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 15:44
HiddenAHB
Nah, Pokémon wouldn't be such a hit if they were muscular.
Parents may aprove pocket monsters fighting for their child pleasure, but HOMOEROTIC pocket monsters is a completely diferent thing.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 17:38
Chronic Logic
Pokemon on steroids you say?
JT706's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 20:01
JT706
Wow, what a terrific idea.

While we're at it, I've got this terrific treatment for Sailor Moon that'll go big in the states: A live-action multicultural team of 9th graders! There's the black one, the Hispanic one, the handi-capable one...
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/19/2009 20:36
Darren Nakamura
I'm glad. Pokemon would be ridiculous if all of them looked like Machamp. Not to mention, it would have been a ton of work to redraw 150 Pokemon.
TheToiletDuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 07:04
TheToiletDuck
Wouldn't really be pocket monsters if they were ripped like shit.
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/20/2009 22:07
Naim Master
Pocket Brad Nicholsons?
monkeyspoon5's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/21/2009 00:05
monkeyspoon5
Don't trainers already give thme steroids called "vitamins" in the game?
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