State of the Game #4

A fan-made Pokémon game focused on open-world exploration and experimentation, built with Pokémon Essentials and PSDK.

Game Development: Building the Tower, Brick by Brick

Progress has been steady — if a bit slow — as I continue shaping Pokémon TestFlight into the tower-focused experience I envision.

Tilesets & Collision Work

Lately, I've been focused on integrating new tilesets from Essentials into PSDK. This process is proving time-consuming, as each tileset requires manual collision mapping after import. It’s a bit of a grind, but piece by piece, the visual foundation of the game is coming together.

Database Management & Executive Thorn

On the backend, I’ve been doing some PSDK database work, including implementing our first major boss:

Executive Thorn, CEO of the Pokételion Group and Champion of Battle Island.

His team, items, and battle logic are now fully in the game.

About Executive Thorn’s Team

Executive Thorn’s team is a calculated blend of defense, attrition, and brutal precision — much like the corporate empire he built. As the CEO of the Pokételion Group and the architect behind Battle Island, his battle philosophy mirrors his business mindset: control the board, pressure the opponent, and strike only when the outcome is guaranteed.

Thorn leads with tanks like Corviknight and Blissey to wear opponents down through pivoting and status effects. His midgame core — Rotom-Wash, Excadrill, and Garchomp — is built to punish overextensions and bait misplays. Then there’s his ace: Mega Metagross, a cold and calculated closer that hits fast and ends fights before they begin.

Thorn doesn’t just test your Pokémon — he tests your strategy, patience, and adaptability. Beating him isn’t just a victory... it’s a promotion.

Narrative Polish & Naming Update

In terms of world-building, I’ve rebranded the placeholder company name. Big Poke Co. is now officially known as The Pokételion Group, to better match the game’s tone and corporate-battle setting.

Learning Curve & Next Steps

PSDK is proving to have a steeper learning curve than I anticipated, so I’ve been diving into forums, tutorials, and documentation to get a better grip on how to do what I want to do.

I’m also working on some UserBars for fans who’d like to show support for the project — more on that soon!