Pokémon Center NY | Deep Dive into Recovered Campaigns + New History, Details & Demise

The Pokemon Center New York's "Gotta Catch 'Em All! Station" was thought to be destroyed. Fortunately that was not the case. Today we take a deep dive into the event distribution campaigns for Pokemon generations 2 & 3 - Gold/Silver/Crystal & Ruby/Sapphire. We also touch on the hardware, and the history of the Pokemon Center New York.
First episode: • LOST Pokémon Center NY...
New Gen 3 Saves: projectpokemon.org/home/files...
More campaign info:
bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wi...
Special thanks to:
RetroAli
/ retr0ali
/ retroali
/ ali
/ retr0ali
Project Pokemon/Project Pokemon Event Research Team projectpokemon.org/
Gridelin / / gusseven7 / / soawesome2
Sabresite / / sabresite
Ajxpk
Deoxyz
Pokemon Center NY site:
www.pokemoncenternewyork.com/
/ mewisme700
/ tolovelfromvine
[e-mail]
Support the Show ►►
Patreon: / h4g
T-Shirts and MERCH: teespring.com/stores/hard4game...
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#Pokemon #PokemonCenter #RetroGaming #Gaming #Nintendo

[@error_404.69]

It's sad that PCNY didn't do well, I would have loved seen more pokemon centers in the U.S.

[@deathbringer2000]

Same.

[@reddawn1873]

Very populated cities need multiple Because of how hard it is to get around

[@excalibur493]

I imagine it'd do a lot better nowadays.

[@RetroAli]

We did it!! It's been a pleasure working with you (for like what, 6 months on this project now? haha) and everyone else involved, and I'm so happy we were able to get the machine into the hands of the community & properly preserve the Gotta Catch Em All machine. :D

[@thatcringeone]

Awesome :D

[@RetroAli]

@Daniel Oliveira XDRZERO Thanks!

[@raddog1478]

@Daniel Oliveira XDRZERO nintendo would sue just be glad they havnt started taking the save files down.

[@chopsmccartney6786]

People like you and the Hard4Games crew are the Bills and Lanettes of the video game community! Congrats for completing all that hard work!

[@ix8750]

💗

[@JessieEchidna]

I went to the Pokemon Center NY only once. Got a Shiny Articuno from a Gen 2 "shiny legendary birds" event. Wish I could remember the moveset it used... Original GameBoy saves long gone now.

[@soawesome2]

I'm gonna cry, thanks so much to Tony and Ali for the wonderful opportunity to research these incredible events. It's not everyday that you get the opportunity to deep-dive into something that you previously thought was lost to time AND make some new life-long friends in the process :) Working with both of you has been a pleasure, y'all rock!

[@RetroAli]

YOU THE REAL MVPPPPPP

[@edals123]

Release ALL the PCNY pokemon then, including the shiny bird trio and shiny mewtwo.

[@kerokerocola99]

Stuff like this both makes me sad and happy. I would've never been able to visit the store because of where I've lived all my life, but knowing how all of it is either lost or destroyed sucks. At least this things get salvaged and preserved.

[@taebeebee]

i live in nyc and my family and i had no idea this store even existed ): i was thankful that my mother brought me to the 10th anniversary party in bryant park as a kid.. its one of my most cherished memories!!

[@SnowyDeluxe]

Hey, I was at PCNY during a Gen 3 distribution thing. There wasn’t any staff at the distribution systems, I could just walk up and pop my cart in. I remember getting a Starmie in my Sapphire version.

[@royaldayz18]

Now I'm curious if the pokemon Colosseum bonus disk's Jirachi distribution is any similar coding wise

[@plushifoxed]

this is such a throwback, having lived in the bronx and visited the NYC pokemon center several times in my childhood, i cant help but feel happy that people are working on preserving these parts of the experience that everyone thought were lost forever

[@godmodejay178]

We probably played together. I was there day 1 they opened

[@VincePazera]

Awesome stuff, thanks to everyone involved for all of the great work!

[@8thLife]

Such a great deep dive; thanks for doing this one!

[@Bleachigo66]

I've been subscribed to you guys for years and watching videos on games I've never actually played, because they are interesting regardless. This series feels like it's finally _my moment_ 😂 thank you for making it!

[@tolovel]

Such an incredible video, guys! I’m so happy to have been part of your research and proud to finally know some of the answers to questions about the “Gotta Catch Em All!” Station that have swirled around my head for years now (especially that one about the distribution machine being a Japanese disc)! Really great job. Time to add more info to our website! - Julie

[@NatetheNintendofan]

Why can't you dump the ROM it's Advan doned ware

[@ThoseGuysPlay]

*Me, as a New Yorker*: Theft, are we CERTAIN? *Hears the warehouse was in Jersey* Me: Fair. -Matt

[@PandaXclone2]

It's a shame that so many of the events from both Gen II and III distributions from this machine are missing, but that doesn't mean what has been achieved here hasn't been an astonishing find.

[@andreablackrose3566]

Though this video is a year old, I find it very interesting! Especially the portions where how the distribution software functions, it's really cool! Hope you're doing well Tony!

[@somewastedguy6027]

Wow Project Pokemon Thank you guys so much man for real! Please continue, You're doing great things! 👍

[@swagkirby3449]

7:07 No, I actually vaguely remember looking up Ditto in the Ultra Pokédex in 2004 and I think it showed its FRLG artwork

[@Stonewulf]

Been waiting for this. Thank you all!

[@RetroAli]

Thank you!

[@SavageColeTrain]

This is awesome. Y'all have made the community proud.

[@SuperTrainStationH]

19:58 - that MAY be a modified/upgraded Super Famicom or SUper Nintendo, theres a copy of Pokemon Crystal in taht machine getting a Pokemon put on to it, Crystal was a GBC-only game that wouldnt have worked with a vanilla Super GB.

[@agata6337]

yes, but from what i recall inteligent systems developed the super gameboy 2 (ntsc-u) for retailers. so, i supose they used modfied machines with link capabilities.

[@Dustbyte20]

I remember going to the Pokemon center a long time back in New York.. I faintly recall the carousel moving around but not the squeaking from when it was broken. I must've been there a couple or so times cause we were only visiting city for certain reasons, one reason of course would be Macy's during the holiday season. I got myself an animatronic Celebi toy from there, and still have it somewhere in with my stored away stuff.

[@RetroAli]

If you have any pictures of the Celebi (or of the store!), we'd love to see. :D

[@Dustbyte20]

Sure thing! If I ever go back to the unit, I'll try to dig it up and post it on my twitter.

[@RetroAli]

@@Dustbyte20 Awesome! My Twitter is @retr0ali & Tony's is @hard4games, so feel free to @ us if you do. :D

[@Maniac536]

Yes! I’m so happy to see this uploaded

[@GrabEmByTheJoystick]

I always wanted to visit Pokemon NY when I was younger. The day my dad finally brought us we were disappointed to discover that it had been closed down. So we decided to check out WWE NY right after. Also closed!

[@LazyPirate8]

9/11 ruined NYC economy sadly.

[@Makocat]

This is amazing. Thanks !

[@calicorn5201]

Oh man, this made me remember I still have my 2001 Mewtwo bag from the New York Pokemon Center. It sucks I don't remember a lot from that trip, though, given I was super young, but it's cool to see there's still some documentation on what the Center looked like.

[@CaptainBen10]

I really hope more people come forward with more information or other campaigns

[@mrniceguy7168]

S/O to retro ali, didn’t hear of her before this series but she put in a lot of work for this

[@RetroAli]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

[@P5ychoFox]

I flew from the UK to NYC in 2010 and visited the Nintendo world store at Rockerfeller Plaza. Only problem was: it was closed for refurbishment!

[@rickyratcomics]

Dang hopefully you didnt fly just for that... Sorry 😢

[@dezukaful]

crazy , this is amazing stuff

[@zopolis0875]

Now we just need the Pokémon fishing theme park ds download play

[@samuraispiritsx]

19:56 wow haven't seen that in over 20 years, they had a bunch of these lined up for a huge Pokémon event in a mall here in California the summer of 1999, giving out Mew and everyone got a paper certificate with a unique code with Mew art on it. It was such a good time, Pokémon was at the height of its popularity everyone was battling, trading cards, buying merchandise watching the trailer for the first movie and making friends with people, it was super cool. I've still never seen anything quite like it to this day.

[@budgetcoinhunter]

Same here. I think I might even still *have* that certificate.

[@JoseAlberto-dh8pf]

I really like the music on the distribution machines, it doesn't sound like other piece of pokemon music.

[@Spindash54]

I had a feeling the aspect ratios were off on the video output. This explains it.

[@IkaNyan404]

15:48 yea Uh I was actually in New York city January 2002 so I can confirm there was a Celebi event held for gen 2 at the Pokémon center for the span of 1 week. They even had Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire demo carts to play on the first floor with preparation for their announcement party later that year. We had landed in New York City on a trip just after a huge blizzard so during our time there, there was ice and snow everywhere.

[@eco8gator]

I don't get why Nintendo wouldn't create some sort of Pokemon History Museum with all of these events available. Charge to get in but from them share the wealth... It is crazy that Nintendo is killing its own amazing history.

[@taebeebee]

i remember there were tons of pokemon statues at the pokemon 10th anniversary in bryant park so i wonder if those statues were the same as the ones in the pokemon center?

[@hawktalon7890]

It's quite possible, but we may never know for sure.

[@Skinnygami]

Incredible

[@powerblitz7319]

Glad these remnants lands in the hands of people like you! 😆😊

[@BlueKyoryuger]

Love the video series! Hope to see more like this type of videos. Is there a way to use the save file on a flash cart? Like a EZ Flash? I’m familiar with what emulating games and all. But the ram memory is new to me.

[@justinupshaw672]

How does this channel not have more subscribers?

[@whyhesoears]

I temember when i was little i heard rumours of a pokemon center in new york so i looked into it, but because i was a little kid i found myself at world of nintendo, wondering if the pokemon center really existed, now pokemon center ny is one of my biggest interests, and i wish i was born to have seen it in its prime

[@HorseFolder]

Is that NR disc gonna be dumped soon?

[@tbana2396]

I hope so.

[@ix8750]

I know it's not Pokemon related but I just got my first Sega Saturn this afternoon and I'm so excited right now! The only memories I have playing a Saturn is for one weekend at my uncle's house when I was like 6 or 7 years old so this will almost be a new thing for me!

[@excalibur493]

Man, I'd love to try and get a PCNY Seviper. I saw it in a box on your last video and Seviper is one of my favorite pokemon.

[@jacobbunea3131]

I was born in 01 and went to NY in 02, I wish I was older at the time, and went to the Pokecenter. This is awesome, thanks for posting, hope you’re well through covid Tony

[@swagkirby3449]

Also, I low-key want to transfer that event Pikachu to one of the Alola games to evolve it into an Alolan Raichu and then Sword/Shield

[@MatthewBussell]

When I was young I remember seeing a bunch of Pokemon Center merch in the local thrift shop and now I think I know what warehouse it may or may not have slipped out of. It's too bad I didn't pick out any :/

[@LetsPlayKeldeo]

PLEASE when there is an update to understand what is different with the GBA Hardware and such and if one day the emulation can work on a retail gamecube PLEASE upload an update video !

[@edals123]

Is there a possibility that this software could be modified for use with retail gamecubes and the gameboy player? I hope the project pokemon team are at least trying this. It would be awesome.

[@lazy_figetspinner_from2228]

Are there images of the Pokémon renders in this campaign

[@williamsanborn9195]

But my question is: Say for instance you had more than 1 generation 2 Pokemon game (say Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Crystal), would you still be able to get the event Pokemon from different kiosks?

[@nine1690]

Yes, the machine can't write to cartridges not inserted into it. As for employees, from what I've heard they would let you obtain more if you had more cartridges, but might have made you get to the back of the line for the second cartridges.

[@kenkas002]

seems to me like the standalone reader is some kind of development reader. perhaps to test reading catridges before the serial connector (link cable) was finished.

[@mattstevenson1334]

Game Corner music is so hype

[@SYIBOI]

I cant wait until we get this to work normally on a retail GC with a normal gba and I can host events for my friends :D

[@keiyakins]

I ran a few gen 4 events off a DS flash cart, it's fun.

[@carlrygwelski586]

@@keiyakins wow that would be awesome

[@Mewyz]

My same thoughts!

[@Matando]

nice

[@OdainRoyals]

Currently waiting for my GBA player for my GameCube to arrive before I go on an adventure, but I was wondering if it would be possible to get a shiny Mew and how? Do you think you can distribute one to me? And if so what will I need to do ?

[@garlandstrife]

Last time I was this early, GameFreak still developed good games.

[@GoyBenius_0901]

So 2012 and the release of Pokemon Black 2 and White 2.

[@garlandstrife]

@@GoyBenius_0901 yep, indeed.

[@RetroAli]

@@GoyBenius_0901 u right tho

[@MrDinosaur25]

I never knew the nyc Nintendo store was pokemon center

[@GreyValkyrie]

How old times were better

[@mtndewv]

If i can find anyone cool on my college campus going to hold my own mini pokemon events and distribute pokemon like the good ol days. 🙂

[@commonsensei8719]

Wow Tony. Im born on the same date of the year as your kid. 30 august. Virgo. 1980 though😊

[@williamwilliam9993]

Is there ultra pokedex kiosk uses nintendo NR reader system?

[@KylerFlame]

The Gen 2 models look like Pokemon Stadium models

[@RetroAli]

I believe they just reused the Stadium models. :)

[@archy8822]

any updates on this?

[@mikeackYT]

Just stumbled across the first part of this last week and decided to mess around. I was able to get the shiny Mew into the VC version of Crystal for the 3DS, but Poké Transporter won't recognize it as legit and will not move it to Pokémon Bank. Just in case anyone in 2022 or later was curious.

[@miiuelyza9754]

Do i finally get my Mew now? :'D

[@mrkicker11181]

I got a feeling files leaked from Nintendo might have rest of data, I seen a lot people finding new files on games and beta versions,

[@TheLastDraconic]

I am a bit flabbergasted that at the exact same time there is commentary on having no idea how it functions differently than a standard GBA , there are literally multiple shots of the Altera CPLD playing.

[@StickFiguresMaster]

Tony, when I went to a target store a fair distance from where I live, they used to have someone in the electronics aisle who looked like you and I was like maaan if only it actually was tony :( They said he retired and is now working for a tire repair/replacing company somewhere

[@TrainerCTZ]

Jodie Foster on H4G!

[@cooltaylor1015]

What about the gen 2 Pokémon distributed with otherwise unlearnable moves...

[@kirby6459]

thanks of lot this pokemon are very rare but on the pkhex not all they are ILIGAL but i try put on pokemon home

[@FateTheArcher]

Well, yeah. Of course, they're illegal pokemon in PKHex. There isn't an official way to transfer from real Gen 2 carts to Gen 3 carts, so as far as PKHex and even the Pokemon Company are concerned, they aren't legal. In Gen 2 cartridges they are, obviously, but if you try to move them from Virtual Console GSC up to home they'll be flagged. PkHex tries their best to match Gen 3+ events--- sometimes even better than the pokemon company.

[@alfonso9805]

I hope they could recover the Pokemon event from 10ANIVERSARY english (include Celebi)

[@Anthony-uz5tj]

a pokemon center ot shiny mew is really cool history i can see why people would pay for them. i wouldnt but i can see it. lol

[@thatcringeone]

Hi

[@mutestingray]

I never understood Pokémon and the more I learn, the less I do. But this was fascinating nonetheless

[@Jayko1225]

Love this Channel! Hate the Theme Music tho

[@c08o.prkiua46]

Maybe it's just my cruel sense of humor, but I think it would be funny if an event was for a really good Pokémon, like a Celebi or a shiny legendary, but then had a 5% chance of giving you a plain old Magikarp lol

[@Nesdude42]

I always wanted to go to these events but I've always lived in Texas. Had to settle with cheat codes.

[@Evil_Chronic]

4:59 it’s because it was in New York. I wasn’t going to fly from California to PCNY for Pokémon stuff. It should of been in California, it might not have failed.

[@dillaspiller9511]

some one should make a h4g game cube with all the boys who bought one on the top or siges

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

lotta boyz Bought it in pearl harbor

[@dillaspiller9511]

@@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide nice

[@TeddyBelcher4kultrawide]

@@dillaspiller9511 i only quote the boyz trip to hawaii

[@mirabilis]

0:00 Aspect ratio looks off.

[@RetraCarteR]

Tony talked about that in the last video. The Gen II distribution software outputted a picture that was rotated 90 degrees. Back when they were in use at Pokemon Center New York, the screens they were connected to were physically rotated by 90 degrees to compensate for this. That's why the footage from the Gen II distribution software has an aspect ratio that's taller than it is wide.

[@TheSushiPlant]

I wish I could mail you guys my Pokémon ruby for some distribution Pokémon

[@hard4games]

We haven't had the writer in hand for months, but there are save files in the description.

[@yoshisenpai432]

I have a strong feeling I may have been the kid on the left on 4:33 But I'm not so sure.

[@relephonus]

Why are there 109 commentsu?

[@Apika24]

Why aer there 110 comments?

[@nine1690]

@@Apika24 why were there 111, now 112?

[@TBustah]

Broken animatronics? So you’re saying it was basically Lester’s Po... Po... Po...PoookePark. XD

[@ShadowEl]

TBustah WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE POOOOOKEMOOON

[@TBustah]

ShadowEl Come to think of it, there hasn’t been a possum yet, has there? I guess we’ll have to wait for another region based on North America.

[@CNFunnyJon]

I know all that happened with Celebi. That video will be out soon. I'll spoil a little. The Celebi event in Japan was a disaster to a person. To the point he swore to NEVER EVER do mystery gifts again of course... He changed his mind and we all are glad he did.... While until the mobile app.

[@punchydonut2798]

Ok, I'm really sorry, but I need to speak my piece. I really have been enjoying this channel, but I just have to be honest. I really hate the intro song Dx I'm sorry, I just do not enjoy it. Lol it's literally the only bad thing I have to say about the channel. That said, thanks for all your hard work and passion for gaming and making content. I'll sub, but I'm skipping the intro every time 😔

[@punchydonut2798]

Wish this comment got more love lol I know I'm not the only one thinking this. Change only comes when you speak up 😂😂

[@taxevader5386]

@@punchydonut2798 I don't feel like criticizing a KZbin channel for a 15 second Intro they made.

[@GTLx16]

Who asked

[@PJ-sv4iw]

Dang, she RED AS HELL!!!!!111

[@mirabilis]

Jealous?

[@reddawn1873]

I think since I am a hacker I'm your rival Though I just hack to get Mon that are lost time basically

[@LazyPirate8]

I speculate, the store failed is because of 9/11

[@GiveBackWhatIO]

May-reep. Sad that the only way you know how to pronounce Pokémon names is to watch the show.

[@nine1690]

Going off of the Japanese name and the pokemon's namesake, it's Mare-EEP. The show is hot garbage and cannot be trusted for anything.

[@MMOchAForPrez]

I don't like listening to so much Ali.

[@RetroAli]

Totally fair. :)

[@HalcyonEX]

Crunchee stfu this woman has done things for the gaming community that will last long after we are all dead wtf had you done with your miserable life?

[@RetroAli]

@@HalcyonEX thank you lol

[@mirabilis]

@@HalcyonEX Ain't you quite the knight?

[@HalcyonEX]

@@mirabilis yeah I'm white knighting because I want to sleep with a random KZbin girl who I don't know and probably will ever know you jackass you ever heard of common decency?