Every now and then, unusual attempts to complete Pokémon games arise. For two years now, a mathematical experiment has been trying to play “Pokémon Sapphire” – with moderate success.
Do you still remember “Twitch Plays Pokémon”? In 2014, someone tried to have the Twitch chat complete “Pokémon Red” by allowing chat participants to vote on the inputs. After about 16 days, the participants succeeded and finished the game. The concept was then picked up again in subsequent years.
A comparably experimental, albeit modified concept has been in operation for about 2 years on the Twitch channel “WinningSequence”. Since late 2021, the game “Pokémon Sapphire” has been played there – and this time, by the number “Pi”.
How does the number play the game? According to the channel info, the idea is fundamentally based on the fact that the number Pi has an infinite series of digits after the decimal point. The thinking goes: if each digit from 0 to 9 is assigned a button and the sequence of numbers is then run, the number can basically play the game.
The aim: “We want to find out if there is a ‘Game-Winning Sequence’ within the known mathematical constants,” says the channel description. So: Is there any combination of digits in the Pi sequence that allows the game to be completed.
Theoretically, it should eventually become the case with the infinite possibilities. However, it doesn’t look promising so far. You can see what it looks like here in one of the many videos:
How is “Pi” performing in Pokémon Sapphire
How long has Pi been playing? According to WinningSequence, the experiment runs 24/7 with short breaks every 48 hours to meet Twitch’s terms of service. In the channel’s YouTube archive, you can watch countless hours of gameplay since November 2021. Over 16,000 hours of gameplay must have been accumulated by now.
How well does Pi play? The road to becoming a Pokémon Master is long, and this particularly applies when you are just a mathematical concept. So far, the number Pi has only managed to reach the gates of the first city, Wurzelheim, but then always ran back. It is still far from the first gym victory even after 2 years.
However, “Pi” has at least managed to train its starter Pokémon quite well through battles before the gates of the first city. The starting Treecko of the number is now a Sceptile at level 77. So if “Pi” ever manages to escape Wurzelheim, the competition will have to be on alert.
What are the problems? Basically, the number tends to wander aimlessly and often gets stuck. The menu also frequently interferes with success, as one can also easily get stuck there. In short: If there is a “WinningSequence,” it has not been found yet.
In general, a few commentators check in occasionally and still believe that Pi could become the Pokémon Master. Someday. Perhaps.
What do you think of the experiment? Tell us in the comments!
Recently, an AI also set out to play Pokémon Red. You can read about how it fared here.
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