Sword and Shield director explains why they made it so EXP share can’t be turned off

[Zellia]

I'm personally fine with the EXP share always being on, so long as the game difficulty is balanced with that in mind.

That said, I don't see what was wrong with the system they had before - on by default, with the ability to turn it off? The Pokemon community has long embraced challenge runs of various flavours and while this is minor, it's still a downgrade.

The whole 'just stick your Pokemon in the PC' bit comes off as condescending and dismissive as well, and is symptomatic of Gamefreak's inability to communicate with their fanbase without sounding distressingly out-of-touch.

 

[KillstealWolf]

Ah yes, because pausing the game after you are done with one pokemon, micro-managing your Pokemon PC Box and searching for the pokemon team member you want to use is so much simpler system than an On/Off option.

 

[Poppy]

ha ha amazing thought process at work

 

[PepperedHam]

I'm not seeing it. Seems like people just want the option to toggle it like with the previous generation.

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dont sugar coat it, just say it you didnt feel like doing the extra programming and balancing

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I'm not seeing it either.

 

[lovecatt]

"Most people weren't using this option so we took it away from players."

Groan. The PC method doesn't work for swapping out different Pokemon to level up in the same battle either.

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why would you swap pokemon when exp share is a thing

 

[Zero-ELEC]

That's... the dumbest reason to actually remove an option. Christ.

 

[NotLiquid]

I'll say one thing, not having to box your Pokémon at a center and being able to do that at anytime does alleviate that prospect at least.

 

[Deleted member 58846]

So did Bethesda until they didn't

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Okay, so basically now we can wait for every developer to randomly put out badly received games?
I eagerly await Naughty Dog's Bethesda moment, I guess.

 

[Mekanos]

why would you swap pokemon when exp share is a thing

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Because the games are too easy for me with EXP Share on. I prefer swapping them out individually.

 

[Kiro]

One of the few reasons I'm skipping.

 

[Tora]

Always better to have options, i'm happy with the change but it would be better to have a toggle*.

*Which is easier said than done. Depends on priorities.

 

[Lord Azrael]

"Those who have it turned off want to train one specific Pokemon. We thought: is there a way to achieve that? There is, simply by putting the rest of your Pokémon in the PC."

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This is almost "Fortunately we have a product called Xbox 360" level

 

[RockmanBN]

Idiotic

 

[Deleted member 51691]

Already folks insinuating laziness. Wouldn't be a Sword and Shield thread on Era without it.

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Only one folk really

 

[TyraZaurus]

No Gamefreak that is not a solution (and to something that wasn't even a problem). I want to carry my team of 6 with me at all times and switch out during battles rather than be forced to use just 1. And you cant even use the pc box in gyms and elite 4 unless I'm mistaken.
People want "The Option" to turn exp share off to make up for the lack of a hardmode, something every other JRPG has added to their games since over 20 years ago.

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what current RPG titles have the ability to turn shared party EXP off right now?

 

[Natiko]

dOnT cALl aLL oF Us ToXIc

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How childish

 

[The Adder]

Okay, so basically now we can wait for every developer to randomly put out badly received games?
I eagerly await Naughty Dog's Bethesda moment, I guess.

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Naughty Dog hasn't been steadily cutting features and options as their series progressed. *Shrug*

 

[PirateKingERA]

What does this post accomplish except fanning the flames further?

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You have an issue with that post but not by the other post? Amazing.

 

[Scarlet Spider]

That's... the dumbest reason to actually remove an option. Christ.

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Well yeah but as some say, it's a non issue so we shouldn't be bothered by another feature removed.

 

[Serif]

I'm not seeing it either.

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Then call out that post specifically instead of generalizing people in the thread? Seems like some people just want to fan the flames on both sides.

 

[Shudouken]

... Or it could be a toggle in the options menu.

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I mean, a toggle is literally the easiest thing to implement.
But in their case, removing it was actually more work for them because they had to change the code.

 

[lovecatt]

Because the games are too easy for me with EXP Share on. I prefer swapping them out individually.

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but you're not even making the game difficult by doing that...

you're just taking extra steps for no reason

 

[Metto]

Seems like they had data that the option wasn't used much to begin with and figured the convenience of it would outweigh whatever issues that would crop up because of it. Especially as having a common standard for EXP distribution would allow easier balancing.

It seems like they didn't think it would be that big of a deal and honest I'm still shocked people are viewing this as a big deal to begin with

 

[Deleted member 49643]

The game can never be balanced around exp share. If you encounter low level pokemon, you're overleveled. If you encounter high level pokemon, your pokemon will get more exp which means you will become overleveled. It's a system that puts you above the level of opponents and then a never ending loop that prevents the level gap from ever closing.

Not only that but it's designed to be beaten by 5 year olds. Pokemon fans are now in their 20s and 30s, they won't have the same difficult experience as the kids. This one difficulty idea that only Gamefreak does will never be balanced.

 

[Mekanos]

You have an issue with that post but not by the other post? Amazing.

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What makes you think I don't have a problem with that post? Hostile generalizations don't help the discourse is my point.

but you're not even making the game difficult by doing that...

you're just taking extra steps for no reason

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Having EXP Share on at all times makes your Pokemon higher leveled. By taking it off your Pokemon will be lower leveled and you will have a bit more challenge. This is how people played all of the games before XY came out.

 

[Metal B]

I'm personally fine with the EXP share always being on, so long as the game difficulty is balanced with that in mind.

That said, I don't see what was wrong with the system they had before - on by default, with the ability to turn it off? The Pokemon community has long embraced challenge runs of various flavours and while this is minor, it's still a downgrade.

The whole 'just stick your Pokemon in the PC' bit comes off as condescending and dismissive as well, and is symptomatic of Gamefreak's inability to communicate with their fanbase without sounding distressingly out-of-touch.

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Just wanna say, this is a great example of good, productive criticism against the game and the company.

 

[RochHoch]

I'm personally fine with the EXP share always being on, so long as the game difficulty is balanced with that in mind.

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We all know it won't be.

It's going to be beyond easy to just catch a few decent Pokemon and steamroll everything in sight. They can't even be bothered to make simple changes like giving most random trainers more than 2 Pokemon at a time, at most, they'll make the level curve a tiny bit steeper, but that won't accomplish shit.

 

[Metto]

what current RPG titles have the ability to turn shared party EXP off right now?

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Dragon Quest XI. Which if anything is kind of the exception that proves the rule especially as it's lumped in with options like making basic enemies stronger or having NPCs giving misleading advice. DQXI treats it as an extra burden to make the game more exciting for hardcore players not necessarily a difficulty option

 

[SlumberingGiant]

So you think that the best course of action is to demonstrate toxic hostile behaviour?

You need to grow up because that is not acceptable.

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'Fuck off' is an acceptable expression of exasperation at another silly explanation like this. It's not abusing anyone and don't pretend it is.

 

[The Adder]

but you're not even making the game difficult by doing that...

you're just taking extra steps for no reason

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You're making the game difficult by your team not all gaining exp from every battle. It keeps your team from leveling too fast and making the game significantly easier.

To put it another way, if a particular battle grants 500 exp, without exp share you're getting 500 exp. With exp share you're getting 3000 exp across 6 Pokemon.

 

[nsilvias]

I'm not seeing it either.

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im not saying they are lazy.its no secret that gamefreak likes to make dumb design decisions and then give a dumb response as to why they did it.

 

[Wonderrade]

I mean if they think the game is better by having it xp share on, sure whatever. But like did they really need to REMOVE the ability to turn it off? Feels super extra

 

[Dogui]

No Gamefreak that is not a solution (and to something that wasn't even a problem). I want to carry my team of 6 with me at all times and switch out during battles rather than be forced to use just 1. And you cant even use the pc box in gyms and elite 4 unless I'm mistaken.
People want "The Option" to turn exp share off to make up for the lack of a hardmode, something every other JRPG has added to their games since over 20 years ago.

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Wait. Pretty much every jrpg ever the entire party gets the exp at the same time.

Partly because they're not 1x1 combat games in most cases. But even in recent Digimon and SMT games (To cite games "similar" to pokémon), the creatures in the party that didn't got into the battle gets exp.

It's pretty much only Pokémon that had the option to turn the exp share before ShSw. In any other game in the genre i can remember, exp share was always a staple.

Edit: Okay, i misinterpreted your post lol

You meant every recent jrpg had hard mode, i thought you were talking about toggling the exp share off. :p

You could balance the games with EXP share in mind but let the people who insist on no EXP Share have their way. I believe that's what Sun and Moon did, but I skipped Gen 7. Gen 6 definitely felt too easy with the EXP share on.

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Any balance that would make different players with a big difference lvs at the same part will make the game too easy or too hard for a group of players. And Game Freak will always choose too make the game easy rather than hard to not frustrate younger people whose the series theorically targets.

Then super hardcore internet forum dwellers hate how easy the games are.

 

[Deleted member 19742]

Already folks insinuating laziness. Wouldn't be a Sword and Shield thread on Era without it.

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How on earth is it difficult to put in an option to turn the Exp. Share off? Your passive aggressiveness is little better than the people telling GF to fuck off.

 

[Metto]

We all know it won't be.

It's going to be beyond easy to just catch a few decent Pokemon and steamroll everything in sight. They can't even be bothered to make simple changes like giving most random trainers more than 2 Pokemon at a time, at most, they'll make the level curve a tiny bit steeper, but that won't accomplish shit.

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So uh the same as in every other Pokemon game then. I can't think of a game in the mainline series where sticking with one super powered Pokemon doesn't help unless it's a major gauntlet like the Elite Four which is the only time the games have actually provided a roadblock for people doing that

 

[MayorSquirtle]

Seems like they had data that the option wasn't used much to begin with and figured the convenience of it would outweigh whatever issues that would crop up because of it. Especially as having a common standard for EXP distribution would allow easier balancing.

It seems like they didn't think it would be that big of a deal and honest I'm still shocked people are viewing this as a big deal to begin with

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Because they've literally NEVER balanced for exp share. There's no reason to believe they know how. In all the games that it's been on by default but toggleable, the game feels like every other Pokemon game if you turn it off but if you leave it on then you end up seriously overleveled.

 

[TyraZaurus]

Dragon Quest XI. Which if anything is kind of the exception that proves the rule especially as it's lumped in with options like making basic enemies stronger or having NPCs giving misleading advice. DQXI treats it as an extra burden to make the game more exciting for hardcore players not necessarily a difficulty option

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So is it common in other titles or not?

 

[lovecatt]

What makes you think I don't have a problem with that post? Hostile generalizations don't help the discourse is my point.



Having EXP Share on at all times makes your Pokemon higher leveled. By taking it off your Pokemon will be lower leveled and you will have a bit more challenge. This is how people played all of the games before XY came out.

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I know that. I've played them all. Its not even about challenge more so than grinding the pokemon that didn't get leveled up which is inconvenient not difficult.

 

[Metto]

So is it common in other titles or not?

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Nope like I said DQXI is the exception that proves the rule

 

[Cronogear]

It's harder to balance a combat when one part of the playerbase uses exp share and the another doesn't. They would probably put the games on the easier side as prevention.

With everyone getting exp share, balancing would be a lot more tight and maybe even more challenging.

Choices aren't necessarily always good in game design.

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This would be a perfectly acceptable answer if I actually thought Game Freak were capable of properly balancing a Pokemon game.

 

[Zellia]

We all know it won't be.

It's going to be beyond easy to just catch a few decent Pokemon and steamroll everything in sight. They can't even be bothered to make simple changes like giving most random trainers more than 2 Pokemon at a time, at most, they'll make the level curve a tiny bit steeper, but that won't accomplish shit.

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They should bring back hard mode.

And not do the monkey's paw thing of implementing it as a post-game unlockable in one version of the game.

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

So is it common in other titles or not?

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Not really but some other RPGs can be harder.

 

[Mekanos]

I know that. I've played them all. Its not even about challenge more so than grinding the pokemon that didn't get leveled up which is inconvenient not difficult.

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I never grind in Pokemon games except maybe a little bit at the end of Victory Road before the Elite Four. If you're grinding excessively in Pokemon games, you're doing something wrong.

 

[Lord Azrael]

This is a massive pain in the ass. I'm basically not gonna be able to add any new Pokémon to my team late, and I don't trust them to have balanced the game well around this

 

[Giga Man]

I'm personally fine with the EXP share always being on, so long as the game difficulty is balanced with that in mind.

That said, I don't see what was wrong with the system they had before - on by default, with the ability to turn it off? The Pokemon community has long embraced challenge runs of various flavours and while this is minor, it's still a downgrade.

The whole 'just stick your Pokemon in the PC' bit comes off as condescending and dismissive as well, and is symptomatic of Gamefreak's inability to communicate with their fanbase without sounding distressingly out-of-touch.

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Good post, and I agree completely.

 

[The Adder]

I know that. I've played them all. Its not even about challenge more so than grinding the pokemon that didn't get leveled up which is inconvenient not difficult.

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If you need to grind, then you should be playing with Exp Share on. The people playing with it off want to be underleveled for more challenge.

 

[Xaszatm]

Didn't we already have this thread like a month ago which already had this explanation? Are we really so desperate to have "fuck gamefreak threads" that we're recycling old topics?

 

[Deleted member 51691]

Wait. Pretty much every jrpg ever the entire party gets the exp at the same time.

Partly because they're not 1x1 combat games in most cases. But even in recent Digimon and SMT games (To cite games "similar" to pokémon), the creatures in the party that didn't got into the battle gets exp.

It's pretty much only Pokémon that had the option to turn the exp share before ShSw. In any other game in the genre i can remember, exp share was always a staple.

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Yeah, Pokemon's leveling system before the modernized EXP Share in Gen 6 was out of the norm and kind of annoying to be honest.

Any balance that would make different players with a big difference lvs at the same part will make the game too easy or too hard for a group of players. And Game Freak will always choose too make the game easy rather than hard to not frustrate younger people whose the series theorically targets.

Then super hardcore internet forum dwellers hate how easy the games are.

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Let the people who want to have their excessive grinding have it. Just include a warning before deactivating the EXP Share feature that it will mess with the balancing and make the game harder and more grindy.

 

[Serif]

Having the game be balanced around EXP share and having the option to toggle it off aren't mutually exclusive (like having Shift vs. Set option in the menu) and the workaround described in the OP doesn't seem like as seamless an alternative as a simple on/off.

The discussions about grinding and whether or not other RPGs do this seems extraneous.

Didn't we already have this thread like a month ago which already had this explanation? Are we really so desperate to have "fuck gamefreak threads" that we're recycling old topics?

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No, they verified you can't turn it off but I don't think the explanation of swapping Pokemon in the PC was given before.

 

[Metto]

Because they've literally NEVER balanced for exp share. There's no reason to believe they know how. In all the games that it's been on by default but toggleable, the game feels like every other Pokemon game if you turn it off but if you leave it on then you end up seriously overleveled.

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Likewise this is the only game that actually has it be mandatory. Unlike previous games balancing EXP distribution with EXP Share is needed to make sure the game isn't braindead easy.

I don't expect SwSh to be the most difficult Pokemon game but I'm also not expecting it to be and be more in line with other titles which even then the easier Pokemon titles are only marginally so and same with with the harder titles.