# Glitch City Laboratories Archives

Glitch City Laboratories closed on 1 September 2020 (announcement). This is an archived copy of a thread from Glitch City Laboratories Forums.

You can join Glitch City Research Institute to ask questions or discuss current developments.

You may also download the archive of this forum in .tar.gz, .sql.gz, or .sqlite.gz formats.

## Pokémon Discussion

### Unreleased first Gym Leader - Page 1

Previous Page

- 1

Next Page

#### Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: Torchickens
Date: 2018-08-28 12:31:40
This was revealed in a Twitter post by Ken Sugimori back in 2015, though it is still a little obscure and the first time I've read about it.
https://twitter.com/SUPER_32X/status/610807764617539587
There was a Gym Leader either designed before Brock or intended to be before Brock.
In the internal Trainer order, we can note that Bruno precedes Brock. It is possible that at one point in development, this spot belonged to this unreleased Trainer instead.
Cropped image courtesy of Hakuda2:
[img]http://hakuda2.jp/garou/ne1/n43-1.png[/img]
Note, though it may be a coincidence, he has a similar pose (and position of badge) to Giovanni:
[img]http://hakuda2.jp/garou/ne1/n43-5.png[/img]
Another character was also revealed, with a hairstyle similar to that of the old man in the final versions (but is numbered on the sketch as 7, where Gym Leader Blaine would be):
[img]http://hakuda2.jp/garou/ne1/n43-2.png[/img]
There is an article on Hakuda2 about it, in Japanese.
http://hakuda2.jp/garou/ne1/n43.html
Edit: The first Gym Leader also reminds me Silver, as well as the rival in Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee, though it could easily just be a coincidence https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:Lets_Go_Pikachu_Eevee_Rival.png
Edit 2: Additionally, the Sabrina art is not grouped with the Gym Leaders. Notably the index number for Saffron City is 0x0A; the last town programmed into the game after all the others even Pokémon League (0x09), Cinnabar Island (0x08) and Fuchsia City (0x07).
It could be argued Sabrina was not intended to be a Gym Leader, but we have no evidence. Curiously there is also a quiz question in Cinnabar Island that asks "There are 9 certified POKéMON LEAGUE BADGEs?" and there is the old unused key area (because it sets an unused Fly bit) after Saffron City (map 0x0B).

#### Re: Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: RETIRE
Date: 2018-08-28 12:47:01
Not only is the pose similar to Giovanni, he also has a badge at the exact same spot.
I wonder if its an easter egg or if it's just coincidence.

#### Re: Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: Torchickens
Date: 2018-08-28 13:16:23

> Not only is the pose similar to Giovanni, he also has a badge at the exact same spot.
> I wonder if its an easter egg or if it's just coincidence.

Maybe even Giovanni's sprite was originally this Trainer's sprite, just modified, and Giovanni's suit hides away what was this Trainer's arms, shirt, shorts and shoes but that's just my speculation. Their shoulders and the design of the shirt/suit look quite similar too.

#### Re: Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: Guy
Date: 2018-08-30 20:33:58
Love stuff like this. That development time sure wasn't for nothing.

#### Re: Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: Torchickens
Date: 2018-08-31 12:34:00

> Love stuff like this. That development time sure wasn't for nothing.

Same ^^. Development information sure is fascinating.

#### Re: Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: shaggs
Date: 2018-09-03 02:38:21
Awesome find! I always enjoy reading about the development of Pokemon games and finding obscure
information like this. Perhaps this trainer was intended to be the first gym leader but then had the concept
reworked into Giovanni hence the same pose and style

#### Re: Unreleased first Gym Leader

Posted by: Torchickens
Date: 2018-09-03 08:50:47

> Awesome find! I always enjoy reading about the development of Pokemon games and finding obscure
> information like this. Perhaps this trainer was intended to be the first gym leader but then had the concept
> reworked into Giovanni hence the same pose and style

Thanks! :) Same. It was always a little weird the first gym was locked until near the end of the game in retrospect.
Previous Page

- 1

Next Page