Describing my perception of an entire world is difficult, let me know if you see any way I could more effectively rearrange all this. And comment on every aspect of it, of course. Now that I look it over I realize it's not written very well, the phrasing is a bit odd in places, but you will be able to understand it, I'm sure.
GEOGRAPHY
--Planet--
The world is similar to Earth, in plant life and landforms. It is largely unexplored, and not widely traversed.
(While areas such as poles have been referenced on occasion, none of these has been be elaborated upon or referenced thoroughly enough for me to consider it legitimate Pokemon canon rather than an area that is "created" circumstantially to satisfy a plot.)
--Regions--
Several known regions have been shown to exist; these are Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, and possibly a region known as Orre which does not have any Pokemon natively. Also in existence between and around these regions are islands, many of which form chains. Some of these are considered part of the main regions, such as Cinnabar Island and the Whirl Islands. Other islands are not considered part of the regions. These include the Orange Archipelago, which is located off of Kanto.
These regions are not the size of continents. Each one might be the size of a very large island or a small country.
However, the planet itself must be must larger than this. Unless the vast, vast majority of the planet is covered in water, it follows that quite a bit of the planet is either 'undiscovered', at least not by natives/aborigines of the 'known' regions. (Or it is known to exist but is purposefully never mentioned to allow for plot flexibility.)
BIOLOGY
--People--
People of this world are similar to people of Earth. They are mammals with opposable thumbs, stand on two legs, wear clothes, speak, etc. However, there are a few key distinguishing factors.
First, they do not seem to display varying nationality. This may not be such a distinction, because the people of Kanto have likely not discovered every continent in the entire known world, and so there may exist continents which show the existence of race. Of course, it could be that in this universe, there is only one race, which is roughly caucasian with some variation.
Second, a distinctly small percentage of people are able to exercise 'psychic' powers. 'Psychic' powers are often latent but require specialized training (as per Kanto's Saffron City psychic gym.) These 'psychic' powers involve, but are not limited to, telepathy (the ability to read minds) and telekinesis (the ability to move objects with one's mind).
Lastly, there is a distinct possibility that the psychological make-up of these people is different than that of Earth humans. Ancient peoples had cult-like religions, but religion is hardly prevalent among the modern-day people of the three regions. The established structure of society, which is less centralized than that of Earth humans if at all, also suggests some significant difference in mindset.
--Pokemon--
The most notable features of this world are the creatures which inhabit it. These creatures are known as "Pokemon" which is an shortened term for "Pocket Monsters"; the term "Pocket" may have come from the ability of these creatures to be set into small, round spheres known as 'Pokeballs' (which will be discussed later). There are over three hundred known, recognized and identified species of Pokemon.
Several characteristics distinguish Pokemon from Earth animals or non-Pokemon animals (the latter will be discussed later).
First and foremost, most, if not all, species of Pokemon are sentient. Most do not think and operate exactly as humans, but nonetheless have the ability to realize their own existence and act accordingly. Each species has its own language, which likely centers around phrasings and intonations of a few basic syllables. At least some of these creatures can also adopt human speech; humans have unsuccessfully attempted the reverse.
Second, these creatures experience (for the most part) a steady rate of increase in speed/movement, offense and defensive mechanisms, and stamina as they progress, grow and learn.
Third, Pokemon are able to adopt, or 'learn' certain abilities as their experience and overall strength/stamina increases. Many of these Pocket Monsters share the same abilities, although how these abilities are displayed is often distinct for each species, or even individual, Pokemon. These abilities, or 'techniques'/'moves', have been, for the most part, named and classified. Certain species of Pokemon learn certain abilities naturally, and many Pokemon acquire techniques that are individual to that specific species.
Fourth, a large number of species of Pokemon are able to 'evolve'. This 'evolution' involves a rapid change in the Pokemon's physiology; for all appearances, the Pokemon actually _becomes_ another species. This process is often characterized by the emission of light, and is not actual Darwinian evolution; the use of the word 'evolution' as a description for this may have come from the fact that often, these Pocket Monsters will 'evolve' in response to environmental hardships (which, in Darwinian evolution, serve to allow for increased prevalance of the 'fittest' organisms).
People and Pokemon can be at odds, but very often cooperate. Because these creatures are so intelligent, they are able to befriend/associate with humans. The kinds of relationships between people and Pokemon will often vary; often people who have earned the trust/cooperation of a Pokemon, whether they have 'tamed' or 'captured' or 'befriended' it, refer to it as 'their' Pokemon. What they usually mean by this is that they have unofficial guardianship of that Pocket Monster and that that Pocket Monster has greater allegiance to them than to any other human.
--Plant Life--
The world of Pokemon contains a vast and unusual variety of plants, many with strange, useful, and/or marvelous characteristics.
Several of the now widespread species of curative plants were initially found in the Johto and Hoenn region. These have been found to cure medical ailments in Pokemon, such as poison, paralysis, and burns, as well as induced sleep. Many plants also help maintain the health and growth of a Pokemon, and can even increase its beneficial properties.
--Non-sentient Animal Life--
Other animal lifeforms may exist, besides humans and Pokemon, but if so, they are far from apparent.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE/CULTURE
--People/Pokemon Interaction--
Usually relationships between humans and Pokemon are mutual. Pokemon and people cooperate in many different ways. The many species of Pokemon possess a variety of skills and unique abilities, so they can be directed to work on countless tasks that a human would be unable to do as well or at all. The 'owner' provides necessities, e.g. food/water/shelter, and other facilities that a Pokemon would be unable to make for itself.
Three main types of relationships exist between people and Pokemon, however.
What may be the most common relationship is one of owner/pet; people decide that they would like for a Pokemon to keep them company at home or anywhere, and so they acquire one.
Another very well-known relationship between people and Pokemon is one of trainer/teammate; the human acquires Pokemon with which to send forth in "Pokemon battles" and attack/defend against Pokemon. These battles are sport between Pokemon trainers, and are a common/widespread occurrence.
The third main relationship between people and Pokemon is that of worker/worker. In this case, the Pokemon is a 'career' Pokemon, and has a job. Usually the Pokemon's human partner, who often works in the same field, will receive the pay for this Pokemon's work and use it to finance the worker Pokemon's health and happiness as well as himself/herself.
Another relationship, which can occur in combination with one of the other three relationships, is one of person/partner. This is a general relationship in which the human and Pokemon live/travel together and support one another as friends. Often a trainer may have a specific Pokemon on his/her team with which he/she has this relationship, but the other instance in which this occurs is the owner/pet relationship.
The nuances of human-Pokemon interaction are beyond the scope of this brief analysis, however.
GOVERNMENT/ECONOMY
Pokemon are the movers and shakers of the world, and they hold a very significant role in the economy; for the most part, their abilities allow common people to be well off. (Often when a person is not doing well, it is because of factors that are difficult to address, such as weather or illness.)
There is no centralized government or governing force. Rather, communities and localities, mainly cities and towns, often have their own police force and/or fire department and/or Pokemon center, usually depending on size of the local populace, and necessity.
Because of this, it would seem to follow that crime would run amok in the routes and terrain between cities and in the more remote areas of the regions, but that is not so much the case. This ties back to the relatively minimal level of 'petty' crime that can be found across the world.
The duties and responsibilities of the Pokemon League Champion may include crime-fighting to some degree, but the exact orientation of the Pokemon League in that regard is unknown or undefined.
...OK, that's it for this description, which is not nearly all-encompassing or even thorough, but which I think is a good start in explaining this.
There are also a few other things I haven't included in here which would seem necessary for me to explain, judging from the other topic. First, Pokemon attacks can be harmful, but not severely; especially in the case of elemental attacks such as with ice/fire/electricity, the "Pokemon" version of these seems to be less severe than the "ordinary" version of these. If that weren't the case, then people would not be nearly so easygoing while traveling in the wild among Pokemon, or even in casual trainer battles. So I just assume that these elements are not as deadly coming from Pokemon, though they seem to share the same kinds of properties as the actual elements.
GEOGRAPHY
--Planet--
The world is similar to Earth, in plant life and landforms. It is largely unexplored, and not widely traversed.
(While areas such as poles have been referenced on occasion, none of these has been be elaborated upon or referenced thoroughly enough for me to consider it legitimate Pokemon canon rather than an area that is "created" circumstantially to satisfy a plot.)
--Regions--
Several known regions have been shown to exist; these are Kanto, Johto and Hoenn, and possibly a region known as Orre which does not have any Pokemon natively. Also in existence between and around these regions are islands, many of which form chains. Some of these are considered part of the main regions, such as Cinnabar Island and the Whirl Islands. Other islands are not considered part of the regions. These include the Orange Archipelago, which is located off of Kanto.
These regions are not the size of continents. Each one might be the size of a very large island or a small country.
However, the planet itself must be must larger than this. Unless the vast, vast majority of the planet is covered in water, it follows that quite a bit of the planet is either 'undiscovered', at least not by natives/aborigines of the 'known' regions. (Or it is known to exist but is purposefully never mentioned to allow for plot flexibility.)
BIOLOGY
--People--
People of this world are similar to people of Earth. They are mammals with opposable thumbs, stand on two legs, wear clothes, speak, etc. However, there are a few key distinguishing factors.
First, they do not seem to display varying nationality. This may not be such a distinction, because the people of Kanto have likely not discovered every continent in the entire known world, and so there may exist continents which show the existence of race. Of course, it could be that in this universe, there is only one race, which is roughly caucasian with some variation.
Second, a distinctly small percentage of people are able to exercise 'psychic' powers. 'Psychic' powers are often latent but require specialized training (as per Kanto's Saffron City psychic gym.) These 'psychic' powers involve, but are not limited to, telepathy (the ability to read minds) and telekinesis (the ability to move objects with one's mind).
Lastly, there is a distinct possibility that the psychological make-up of these people is different than that of Earth humans. Ancient peoples had cult-like religions, but religion is hardly prevalent among the modern-day people of the three regions. The established structure of society, which is less centralized than that of Earth humans if at all, also suggests some significant difference in mindset.
--Pokemon--
The most notable features of this world are the creatures which inhabit it. These creatures are known as "Pokemon" which is an shortened term for "Pocket Monsters"; the term "Pocket" may have come from the ability of these creatures to be set into small, round spheres known as 'Pokeballs' (which will be discussed later). There are over three hundred known, recognized and identified species of Pokemon.
Several characteristics distinguish Pokemon from Earth animals or non-Pokemon animals (the latter will be discussed later).
First and foremost, most, if not all, species of Pokemon are sentient. Most do not think and operate exactly as humans, but nonetheless have the ability to realize their own existence and act accordingly. Each species has its own language, which likely centers around phrasings and intonations of a few basic syllables. At least some of these creatures can also adopt human speech; humans have unsuccessfully attempted the reverse.
Second, these creatures experience (for the most part) a steady rate of increase in speed/movement, offense and defensive mechanisms, and stamina as they progress, grow and learn.
Third, Pokemon are able to adopt, or 'learn' certain abilities as their experience and overall strength/stamina increases. Many of these Pocket Monsters share the same abilities, although how these abilities are displayed is often distinct for each species, or even individual, Pokemon. These abilities, or 'techniques'/'moves', have been, for the most part, named and classified. Certain species of Pokemon learn certain abilities naturally, and many Pokemon acquire techniques that are individual to that specific species.
Fourth, a large number of species of Pokemon are able to 'evolve'. This 'evolution' involves a rapid change in the Pokemon's physiology; for all appearances, the Pokemon actually _becomes_ another species. This process is often characterized by the emission of light, and is not actual Darwinian evolution; the use of the word 'evolution' as a description for this may have come from the fact that often, these Pocket Monsters will 'evolve' in response to environmental hardships (which, in Darwinian evolution, serve to allow for increased prevalance of the 'fittest' organisms).
People and Pokemon can be at odds, but very often cooperate. Because these creatures are so intelligent, they are able to befriend/associate with humans. The kinds of relationships between people and Pokemon will often vary; often people who have earned the trust/cooperation of a Pokemon, whether they have 'tamed' or 'captured' or 'befriended' it, refer to it as 'their' Pokemon. What they usually mean by this is that they have unofficial guardianship of that Pocket Monster and that that Pocket Monster has greater allegiance to them than to any other human.
--Plant Life--
The world of Pokemon contains a vast and unusual variety of plants, many with strange, useful, and/or marvelous characteristics.
Several of the now widespread species of curative plants were initially found in the Johto and Hoenn region. These have been found to cure medical ailments in Pokemon, such as poison, paralysis, and burns, as well as induced sleep. Many plants also help maintain the health and growth of a Pokemon, and can even increase its beneficial properties.
--Non-sentient Animal Life--
Other animal lifeforms may exist, besides humans and Pokemon, but if so, they are far from apparent.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE/CULTURE
--People/Pokemon Interaction--
Usually relationships between humans and Pokemon are mutual. Pokemon and people cooperate in many different ways. The many species of Pokemon possess a variety of skills and unique abilities, so they can be directed to work on countless tasks that a human would be unable to do as well or at all. The 'owner' provides necessities, e.g. food/water/shelter, and other facilities that a Pokemon would be unable to make for itself.
Three main types of relationships exist between people and Pokemon, however.
What may be the most common relationship is one of owner/pet; people decide that they would like for a Pokemon to keep them company at home or anywhere, and so they acquire one.
Another very well-known relationship between people and Pokemon is one of trainer/teammate; the human acquires Pokemon with which to send forth in "Pokemon battles" and attack/defend against Pokemon. These battles are sport between Pokemon trainers, and are a common/widespread occurrence.
The third main relationship between people and Pokemon is that of worker/worker. In this case, the Pokemon is a 'career' Pokemon, and has a job. Usually the Pokemon's human partner, who often works in the same field, will receive the pay for this Pokemon's work and use it to finance the worker Pokemon's health and happiness as well as himself/herself.
Another relationship, which can occur in combination with one of the other three relationships, is one of person/partner. This is a general relationship in which the human and Pokemon live/travel together and support one another as friends. Often a trainer may have a specific Pokemon on his/her team with which he/she has this relationship, but the other instance in which this occurs is the owner/pet relationship.
The nuances of human-Pokemon interaction are beyond the scope of this brief analysis, however.
GOVERNMENT/ECONOMY
Pokemon are the movers and shakers of the world, and they hold a very significant role in the economy; for the most part, their abilities allow common people to be well off. (Often when a person is not doing well, it is because of factors that are difficult to address, such as weather or illness.)
There is no centralized government or governing force. Rather, communities and localities, mainly cities and towns, often have their own police force and/or fire department and/or Pokemon center, usually depending on size of the local populace, and necessity.
Because of this, it would seem to follow that crime would run amok in the routes and terrain between cities and in the more remote areas of the regions, but that is not so much the case. This ties back to the relatively minimal level of 'petty' crime that can be found across the world.
The duties and responsibilities of the Pokemon League Champion may include crime-fighting to some degree, but the exact orientation of the Pokemon League in that regard is unknown or undefined.
...OK, that's it for this description, which is not nearly all-encompassing or even thorough, but which I think is a good start in explaining this.
There are also a few other things I haven't included in here which would seem necessary for me to explain, judging from the other topic. First, Pokemon attacks can be harmful, but not severely; especially in the case of elemental attacks such as with ice/fire/electricity, the "Pokemon" version of these seems to be less severe than the "ordinary" version of these. If that weren't the case, then people would not be nearly so easygoing while traveling in the wild among Pokemon, or even in casual trainer battles. So I just assume that these elements are not as deadly coming from Pokemon, though they seem to share the same kinds of properties as the actual elements.
