About the Pokémon Factory

Created way back in the mid-to-late 90's, "Mewthree and Frogglet's Pokémon Factory" was a place where those creative souls among the sizable Pokémon fan base could bring their ideas for new kinds of pokémon to be developed into full Pokédex entries and displayed before the world. The staff of the site has since gone through many changes, and the site has been restarted at least twice, but the principle remains the same: we serve as an outlet for fan innovations in pokémon. (Fan, I stress, as in none of the species we display may be found in any official games; you'd be surprised how many people have misunderstood this aspect over the years. We have no affiliation with Nintendo or Game Freak; it's doubtful they even know about us.)

In the past, the Pokémon Factory has branched out from our fan-made pokémon creation to other areas of typical pokémon fansite content, such as info on the games, anime or TCG. This was, in the long run, found to be a bad move for us and is not an area we intend to go into again. Our focus is on fan-made pokémon and will remain there.

Site History and Timeline

The Pokémon Factory was one of the first Pokémon fansites, as well as one of the first dedicated to creating fan-made Pokémon.

• Dec 27 1998 - The site is founded as "Mewthree and Frogglet's Pokémon Factory" at http://pokefactory.f3d.net/ . Records of this era are foggy, as the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine was founded a some time later.
• 1999 - Version 3 of the website is created by Mewthree. The site moves to http://www.pokemonfactory.com/ .
• Aug 2000 - Version 4 of the website is developed by Mewthree. Artists start experimenting with GSC-style dexes, then known as "newage" or "Pokémon 2" style.
• 2001 - the site goes down in late 2001, www.pokemonfactory.com is lost.
• May 31 2002 - Culthulhu and Poryhedron restart the site, hosted at http://pf.ultimategamez.com/, developed by Poryhedron. The EZboard forum is created. Work on the PF2 archive, in GSC style, starts in earnest.
• 2003 - The Pokémon Factory League, our forum RPG, begins. Known affectionately as the PFL, members could team up with one another and work their way through the region of Bombur, created by Schimre. Staff chipped in with locations and gym leaders, and the Pokémon Factory's setting was born.
• 2004 - ultimategamez.com goes down, taking PF with it. Poryhedron stepped in, hosting the site on his pokemology.com domain at http://pokefactory.pokemology.com.
• Oct 26 2005 - Bonzai develops the "Pokémon Factory Advance" website, for the start of the RSE-style dex archive.
• Dec 8 2010 - Bonzai develops the "Delta Species" website, for the start of the DP-style dex archive. A policy to focus on quality over quantity was instituted, leading to hiring outside artists more than from the community.
• 2011 - The Pokéngine incarnation of the PF game is begun. The game was to follow the PFL's planned storyline, with the player able to play Team Uppercut, Team Lotus and Team Shadow off against each other in order to stop the Legendary Apes being unleashed.
• Sep 2011 - PF's 10th birthday is celebrated, technically 3 years too late due to confusion about the pokemonfactory.com domain. The Staff created a week-long event, revealing new archive Pokémon, new gag Pokémon, a contest to design legendary pokémon, Superdex entries and a searchable database of all Pokémon, and information about staffers themselves.
• Mar 2013 - The 3dPE incarnation of the PF game is begun, after the relationship with Pokéngine falls through. Bonzai began splitting time between archive sprites and engine development. Staff numbers declined, with older and non-community members leaving, and no new generation to replace them.
• 2014-2017 - because the suggestions were closed for years, interest in the site wanes. The staff dwindled to three remaining members, Bonzai, Moppnttef and Cacapulse, who put most energy into the development of the game, including updating all PF Pokémon.
  The game's storyline had expanded over the years, and was now split into several regions and postgame events, including one where strange Ultra Beasts would start appearing in Bombur.
  Bonzai also began developing a new incarnation of the site, to be a gallery and collaborative tool for creating Pokémon, rather than the much-bottlenecked suggestions/approvals system.
• Dec 2017 - due to a difference in approach, tensions boil over, and Bonzai and Cacapulse go their separate ways.
  Moppnttef hired a few longtime community members and some outside artists to restart the game project, and began to reinvigorate the community through a new Discord chat server.
• Nov 2021 - Archival. Moppnttef let me, Bonzai, know that the site had broken after a server update. Since I don't work here, meaning nobody can stop me any more, I decided to archive all the history I could remember and discover, and make it available to everyone.
  If you haven't explored the site for a while, have a look around, as there is some "new" content that hasn't been public for over 20 years.

In every era, Staff have commented on how people want them to release Pokémon more often, that big news is coming soon, and that they've been working hard. Here's to another 23 years - remember to raise a glass on Dec 27th.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you will find the questions we've been asked most often, and the answers we've provided to these questions. The questions are sorted into six sections. To look up a particular question, just click on the section it belongs to.

Suggestions
Usage of our concepts
PF pokémon species
New evolution methods
New status
Artists and other Staff members
PF RPG (the PFL)
Miscellaneous questions

Suggestions

Q: Can I suggest new moves/items/abilities/evolution methods?
A: Yes, but only along with an actual pokémon suggestion that makes use of said move/item/ability/method. You may not suggest them separately.

Q: Can I suggest new types?
A: No, you cannot. Our three fake types are plenty enough.

Q: Can I suggest new move categories?
A: No, you cannot.

Q: Can I suggest type changes to a pokémon/move?
A: No, you cannot. We've already changed the types of all pokémon and moves that deserved it. You can read about them here and here, respectively.

Usage of our concepts

Q: Can I use your dexes?
A: Yes, as long as you don't remove the copyright notice at the top, or modify them in any other way. Linking back to us is always welcome.

Q: Can I use your sprites?
A: No. You are not allowed, under any circumstance, to separate our sprites from our dexes and showcase them somewhere else. If you do so we will take action to get them swiftly removed. National Dex pokémon, items, and other loose sprites are not useable either.

Q: Can I use your pokémon for my fan project (game, forum RPG, etc.)?
A: You can use the pokémon for a forum RPG so long as you link back to us and give us full credit, including credit to the person who submitted the pokémon. You will also need to ask permission to that person, if possible. Fan games will be looked at case-by-case, so please link us to your game so that we can decide.

Q: Does the Pokémon Factory own my suggested pokémon?
A: PF only claims ownership of the resulting sprites and dexes, and reserves the right to use your pokémon in our forum RPG or any other media related to the site, such as wallpapers and skins. Other than that, the concepts themselves remain under ownership of the persons who submitted them, and are free for them to use at their own discretion in or outside the setting of the Pokémon Factory. This is not valid for concepts submitted as community works, however.

PF pokémon species

Q: You have a Porygon pre-evolution, but Porygon already evolves twice. Shouldn't the pre-evo be removed?
A: At the Pokémon Factory, there are two versions of Porygon, thus creating two different evolution lines. The first version produces Protogon as offspring and has Porygon2 as its final stage. The other, newer one removes the pre-evolution feature in order to make room for Porygon-Z. We have come up with this solution because Porygon is a computer program, so having different versions of it makes sense.
Should you choose to run into a Porygon in the setting of our forum RPG, you are free to decide which version it is.

Q: You have a Munchlax pre-evolution, but Munchlax is a baby pokémon and cannot breed. Shouldn't the pre-evo be removed?
A: When Munchlax was introduced, we retconned our Snorlax pre-evo, Yawnlax, into a pre-evolution of Munchlax. By doing so, we also agreed that Yawnlax would be the true baby form, while Munchlax would be considered to be a 'teen'. In the context of the Pokémon Factory, Munchlax can therefore breed as well.

Q: What will happen if a pokémon from a future generation clashes with one of your evos and/or pre-evos?
A: We will consider any possible changes that could be introduced in order to make our pokémon viable, whether by making it an alternate evolution or a whole new species altogether; we will try not to drop ideas whenever possible.

Q: One of your first (RBY-)generation pokémon looks acceptable. Can I bring it back?
A: No, you cannot. Our old pokémon are showcased as a museum of sorts. They represent a time when approval rules were lax, and they are not meant to be used in any way. They can only be redone as a 'Classic Reborn' Special Edition, which is entirely up to the Staff's discretion.

New evolution methods

Q: Some of your pokémon by a method called 'unhappiness'. What does that mean?
A: Unlike some seem to think, unhappiness is not about mistreating your pokémon and treat them so horridly, until they evolve out of utter misery. No, unhappiness should be seen as happiness, but inverted, for those pokémon that are sad or gloomy by nature. Such pokémon do not like being cheerful and happy all the time. Instead, they get their enjoyment from being gloomy. By using the Gloomy Bell, and by treating your pokémon just as well as you would treat any other pokémon, you can bring its happiness value down to 0, the point at which it will evolve. When checking your pokémon's happiness at this point the game will read: "This pokemon seems to be enjoying being gloomy!"

New status

Q: Some of your new moves inflict the Petrify status. What is it?
A: We have some moves, mainly Rock-type ones, that cause the Petrify (PTR) status. When petrified, your pokémon is prevented from using any moves, like when it is frozen. If a Fighting-type move is used on your pokémon, though, it shatters the stone casing around your pokémon and cures the status (just like how a Fire-type move can cure Freeze on the target.) You'd need a Full Heal (or any of the food items that act like Full Heals), a Full Restore or a trip to the Pokémon Center to cure your pokémon from the Petrify status.

Artists and other Staff members

Q: How do I become a Staff member?
A: To become a Staff member, you have to show us some of your work, and we will review it. If we like it, we might give you some sort of test; if we do not, you are always free to keep practicing and try again later.
There are many jobs to do as part of the staff: concept art, spriting, coding, data entry/sorting are the main ones. We are always looking for new sprite artists to help out!
When evaluating a potential new staff member, we will take into account your skills, and your general maturity or decision-making. You would also have to be the type of person that can be friends with the rest of the Staff; we've been down the alternate road before and it's not something we're eager to repeat.
It is a good idea for you to spend some time at the board or on IRC first, so we can get to know you better. If you stick around long enough, maybe we will be the ones who call upon you!

Q: I found a wonderful artist! Should we bring him/her in?
A: No. We prefer people to find us out of their own personal interest. Also, bear in mind that many pokémon artists out there already have projects of their own, and are not likely to leave them to work with us.

Q: How do you make sprites?
A: It mostly takes careful observation of official sprites, and a lot of practice. A useful guide to spriting can be found here.

Q: What programs does the Staff use for spriting?
A: You'd be surprised, but many people use plain old MS Paint to make sprites. Other common tools include Photoshop, Gimp and Adobe Fireworks.

PF RPG (the PFL)

Q: How does the RPG work?
A: The RPG can be described as interactive storytelling. Once you fill your registration form and have your character approved, you can start your adventure by writing out its actions, and then other people will help you to carry out the story. For this purpose, you can bring along a friend, or ask people who already started if you can join their adventures. At specific times, Staff from the Pokémon Factory will participate as well.
At all times, you are in full control of what your character does and encounters along the way, with some exceptions.
For more information and detailed rules, please visit the PF League sections of the site located at the bottom part of the menu on the left (the Map of Bombur in particular), and also read the following topics:
Rules for an Acceptable RPG Topic
Free Spirits General Plot

Q: How do I use TMs and HMs?
A: The Bombur pokédex, which is granted to you after beating the first gym, has the ability to read TM and HM discs and teach them to your pokémon. A pokémon may only know four TM and/or Tutor moves at once, but it may keep all the moves it learns naturally, and there is no limit to the amount of HM moves it can carry as long as they are compatible with it.

Q: How do I buy items?
A: Once you are in a town or city, you may simply write about going to a PokéMart and buying whatever you need. Money management is not really important, you may consider that your character has saved enough money for the pokémon journey, or he/she may get it from his/her parents. TMs are a special case, though; please visit our TMs section to learn more about it.

Q: How do I fish?
A: Once you are located in one of the bodies of water mentioned on the Placings List, just have your character use a rod and hook up one of the aquatic pokémon listed for that area. How did he/she get the rod is up to you; your character might have packed one for his/her journey, or else he/she can get one at the beginning of his/her journey, in Anchore Town, or buy one in any other city. There is no distinction between 'old', 'good' and 'super' rods in our RPG, a generic rod will do.

Q: Some pokémon in the placings list require the Silph Scope to be seen. How do I get that item?
A: The Silph Scope is available for you to find in Bastion City's Silph Co. Building once you've beaten the third gym in Askorun Town.

Q: Where do I revive fossils?
A: At the Altum Cecidi Museum, after beating the Elite 4.

Q: Are there Pokémon Contests/Super Contests in Bombur?
A: Yes there are. Players that are fans of contests can visit the Contest Hall in Bastion City. However, we do not rely on contest stats for evolution. Our pokémon, along with Feebas, evolve in other ways. There is one special pokémon, though, which still uses those stats, but it hasn't been revealed yet...

Q: Are there any other ways to raise a pokémon's contest stats in the RPG?
A: There is a special store in Askorun Town that specializes in colored scarves (blue for Beauty, green for Smartness, pink for Cuteness, red for Coolness, yellow for Toughness and purple for Scariness). Attaching one of these scarves to your pokémon will sharply raise that particular contest stat. There's also a spa located near the Hot Springs which offers trainers different treatments for their pokémon. A relaxing massage will raise your pokémon's beauty, while some exfoliation and nail (or hoof and antler) care will make it look extremely cute. Staying a while in a hot sauna will surely toughen your pokémon, while a mud bath will greatly boost its coolness points. Finally, for the intelectually inclined, a session of yoga and meditation is a good way to improve their smartness. Each of these treatments takes a couple of hours to complete and raises your pokémon's happiness too.

Q: What kind of special competitions can my pokémon participate in?
A: You can create all sorts of competitions and festivals at the different towns you visit, but you must keep them small and simple. Pokéathlons, cross-regional competitions or nation-wide events of any kind are not allowed.

Miscellaneous Questions

Q: Have you considered sending your designs to Nintendo?
A: No, and we never will. People at Nintendo already have enough talented artists at their disposal, and they are unlikely to be interested. Besides, companies will not usually accept ideas from outside sources, at it brings them unnecessary complications with copyright issues, and so on.

Q: Will you make a Pokémon Factory game?
A: No, for the moment we are not actively pursuing the creation of a full-fledged PF game. The RPG will remain our main source of interactive entertainment for the time being.

Q: What is this?
A: The move Substitute makes a 'copy' of the user; in the games, it's displayed as that little doll. So, when a sprite is missing, we use Substitute.