Twitch Plays Pokémon is a unique and pioneering event in the world of internet and gaming, which began on February 12, 2014, on Twitch. It was a community experiment created by an anonymous Australian programmer, allowing viewers to play Pokémon Red together via live chat.

Twitch Plays Pokémon – How it Worked

Controls were handled via chat, with viewers present during the broadcast entering commands directly into the window. All commands were then translated so the game could recognize them. This mechanism made all actions extremely chaotic. The steadily increasing number of players didn’t help. At its peak, the hero’s actions could be controlled by tens of thousands of people.

People deliberately disrupting others’ gameplay also posed a problem, for example, by using Raticate, which knows the Dig attack. This meant that hours-long journeys could be thwarted by players deliberately leaving a location, requiring the journey to start over.

Anarchy or Democracy? Improving the Gameplay Mechanism

The ever-increasing player base forced the developer to make some improvements. At the end of the first week of play, a new method – democracy – was introduced. This was intended to alleviate the chaos that was raging everywhere. Naturally, not all players were pleased with this. Therefore, the developer introduced voting for the chosen method. The chosen system lasts until voters vote for another. This allows for a compromise to be reached, allowing for continued gameplay. So how did the previously mentioned modes work?

Anarchy – the previous mechanism that redirected all entered commands into the game. This led to significant chaos because it was never known which command would be activated.

Democracy – a system intended to control the lack of order. For a specified period, the system counts all commands and activates the one with the most votes from players. This facilitates coordinated actions, pushing the plot forward.

Twitch Plays Pokémon – Impact on the Community

During the event, numerous memes, legends, and traditions emerged that made Twitch Plays Pokémon more than just a game. Viewers began to attach symbolic meaning to characters, items, and Pokémon, creating a kind of mythology reminiscent of major religions. For example, one character, Lord Helix (Helix Fossil), became an iconic symbol because the player repeatedly opened the item in the game menu, which was interpreted as a prayer to the mythical deity they were determined to revive at all costs.

Characters such as Bird Jesus (Pidgeot), DigRat, and Flareon the False Prophet became integral elements of this community narrative, participating in extraordinary events that were followed by many people around the world. In addition to the movement system, two factions emerged – Lord Helix and Dome Fossil.

Completing the Game

Of course, the end of this extraordinary adventure was meant to be the conclusion of the storyline. The path to victory isn’t easy, as defeating the Pokémon League is an incredibly difficult task, considering the game’s decision-making. Unfortunately, the beginnings are often difficult, with Red, led by the community, repeatedly losing. However, players don’t doubt Lord Helix’s power and believe he will lead them to ultimate triumph. To compete against the best trainers, one must prepare the right team.