they're the same games in a sense.  Every game that succeed the previous does not try to be a direct sequel.  They're just different versions.

Red.
Green.(JPN exclusive)
Blue.
Yellow.
Gold.
Silver.
Crystal.
Ruby.
Sapphire.
Fire Red.
Leaf Green.
Emerald.
Diamond.
Pearl.
Platinum.
Heart Gold.
Soul Silver.
Opal.(?)
Topez.(?)

?Sidetracking a bit.  Read at your own discretion.  It was obvious that Pokemon Platinum was originally going to be Pokemon Opal as Giratina gets its game from Girasol, a type of Opal.  Also Nintendo gives a redirect if you try to enter PokemonOpal.com.  My reasoning is that Pokemon Opal may very well be a fifth generation version of Pokemon.  I also put Topez too because I believe the two go well together and every generation launches with two versions.  Might very well be on the horizon.

All of them are different games.  All of them stay true to what made/makes the series the worldwide phenomenon it was/is.  It's just we've changed along with the series.  Several of us are either in adolescence or adulthood now.  We're become much more critical and less imaginative.  The designs became less appealing.  The areas and people became forgettable.  Why is that?

Well the series dove into some interesting themes, such as land/ocean expansion, the sky above it, time and space, anti-matter and unstable realms.  Could be interesting subject matter.. if not for the demographic staying where it is.  Keep in mind that the series has been rated K-A and E since the 90's.  What could have been magnificant origins in to the world of Pokemon are generally being told at a near-Kindergarten level.

If you don't take anything else from this thread, take this.  We have the same old Pokemon but with Time/Space/Anti-Matter in the fray and it's still being told for the lowest common denominator, AKA children.

PS - Your opinions of Blue, Red, Yellow, Gold, Silver and Crystal are based on nostalgia.  I dare anyone who says Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl, Platinum are awful to play one of first 6 and one of the other 6 back to back then say that.

P.S.S. - I'm so glad the series has a multiplayer mechanic.  If the local/wifi multiplayer was unheard of, I would have abandoned the series by now.

P.S.S.S. - Thank you Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori for making the best JRPG series on the planet.

Speaking of which, I need some trading partners for trading evolvutions and getting my damn Diamond Scizor to my Platinum game. 31 IV in Attack, Defense and Speed, BABY!

That is all.

What'll happen when they run out of colors? D:

Pokemon Pizza? Pokemon Chair? Pokemon Al-Qaeda!?

Much like they have over 1000 ideas for future species of Pokemon, I'm sure they have something in mind for 5th gen and 6th gen.

The only reason I don't like newer generations (well 3rd actualy, haven't really played 4th) is because the pokemon designs are ugly. I don't really like red/blue that much, but I did play it a lot and really enjoyed it. Silver is where its at, I love the pokemons, music, gameplay, I still play it sometimes.

Actually Son1x I consider the 2nd gen of pokemon the most ugly of them.

For me it goes 1st > 2nd > ...3rd.
I like second ones, but first ones just pwn.

The general consenus is that new Pokemon look ugly because they became more detailed.  I still don't get that complaint.

I think old Pokemon look bland compared the newer ones but maybe that's just me.

I am 18 and I still love Pokemon.

says the man that made the awful "Sony is kiddy" thread.

@SmokedHostage:

I must admit, I'm one of those people who stand by the original PM set. After that, Pokemon just seemed to go downhill. Games are still fun though, I just wouldn't say that taking a sphere, duplicating it 5 times, sticking them all to a cube, and naming it Bobablok is a full blown 'Idea' for a Pokemon. The legendary pokemon now are simply no fun. :(