Missingno. Name

[Kurai]

Why does Missingno. have a name that makes sense and not an indecipherable name made like most glitch Pokemon?

 

[Darksong]

I'm not completely positive, but I'm pretty darn sure it was because Missingno. was programmed into the game by the game makers for testing, and they forgot to take it out. Since Missingno was actually created by the game programmers, unlike most of the other glitches which are accessed through certain ways of messing with the game, its name doesn't contain glitch boxes.

 

[IIMarckus]

I'm not completely positive, but I'm pretty darn sure it was because Missingno. was programmed into the game by the game makers for testing, and they forgot to take it out. Since Missingno was actually created by the game programmers, unlike most of the other glitches which are accessed through certain ways of messing with the game, its name doesn't contain glitch boxes.

This is correct.

Basically, Pokémon RBY have 190 monsters programmed into the game. 151 are normal, of course; all the rest are named “Missingno.” Most of these are just placeholders, but three of them are used by the programming to display sprites (fossil Aerodactyl, fossil Kabutops, and Ghost).

 

[Kurai]

I'm not completely positive, but I'm pretty darn sure it was because Missingno. was programmed into the game by the game makers for testing, and they forgot to take it out. Since Missingno was actually created by the game programmers, unlike most of the other glitches which are accessed through certain ways of messing with the game, its name doesn't contain glitch boxes.

What do you mean by testing, and, on a side note, do you think Missingno. may have originally been planned
to have been a legit Pokemon (perhaps a legendary who's plot was related to being a missing Pokemon)?

 

[Blastoise Fortooate]

What do you mean by testing

Well, the developers had to make sure the game was in working order.

 

[Yarnchu]

Yeah, I don't really believe the whole testing thing. Unless you have concrete proof, that is.

Missingno. is just a place holder, like all of his other pals. The three "special" Missingno. are just calling up the sprites that have the same hex as they do.

 

[nothing to see here]

I'm guessing "Missingno." was just some random thing they chose to name everything that was left blank (if I remember right, it's a rough translation of what the Japanese version named them.)

Using it for testing sounds likely; a lot of games have dummied-out monsters with strange names that were probably for testing something out... or sometimes actual monsters that got cut out of the game. But the "actually cut from the game" kind usually isn't glitchy, so I'm guessing Missingno. was a testing thing.

It's kinda like "?????" in the more-recent games, or "TERU-SAMA" for all the blank/unused G/S/C items. They probably set up all those Pokémon slots before deciding on the number 151, so they just went in and changed all the blank slots to "MISSINGNO." to remind them that they weren't planning on putting anything there.

 

[glitchedgamer]

MissingNo. = Missing Number.

My guess is that this is just the game saying that it is accessing Pokemon data that isn't really there. Probably used for testing during development, but who knows.

 

[Kurai]

(if I remember right, it's a rough translation of what the Japanese version named them.)

But that brings up another question-Why isn't the name in Japanese? Why is it translated? When they localize it they generally just translate it, but I doubt they would translate something they forgot to delete.

 

[Charizard Morph]

I honestly think they left missingno in there to mess with us. Really, they translated it, then leave the glitch in there on purpose? It sounds fishy to me.
Although i'm a consperacy theorist, so pay no attention to the crazy girl in the corner.

 

[Kurai]

I honestly think they left missingno in there to mess with us. Really, they translated it, then leave the glitch in there on purpose? It sounds fishy to me.
Although i'm a consperacy theorist, so pay no attention to the crazy girl in the corner.

Ha. So true. (: But really, that is quite confusing.

 

[glitchedgamer]

Heh, this is why I love glitches...The mysteries surrounding them are fun =D

 

[Kurai]

Heh, this is why I love glitches...The mysteries surrounding them are fun =D

Yes, the mysteries are epic, but they can be frustrating too.

 

[Dewgong]

missingno is indeed just a place holder.
in the japanese games, missingno is けつばん i think or something like that, which means missing number as well.

i also don't think that they translated it to see if we find out about it or anything like that. they probably translated it for testing reasons.

 

[Kurai]

But wouln't they have already tested it in Japan?

 

[Dewgong]

yeah but i think there's actually some more differences in the translated version than just translated text.

...if i say "the cake is a lie" will you put in your signature? haha

 

[Kurai]

yeah but i think there's actually some more differences in the translated version than just translated text.

...if i say "the cake is a lie" will you put in your signature? haha

Yes I will put it in my sig. ;)

But what changes would they make besides translating it and changing some minor cultural things?

 

[Dewgong]

haha i was totally kidding but okay ♥

 

[Kurai]

I knew you were joking but I just couldn't resist. But we really should get back on topic.:sweatdrop:

 

[Doctor Jimmy]

Missingno's number on the Pokedex is 000, amirite? Since the translation team had to translate all of the names on that list, it would make sense that they translated 000's name, too. Also, do the original games include a Japanese dictionary? If not, translation would be necessary to keep Missingno as a placeholder.