* The Pokémon series has enjoyed sales of more than 140 million games:
Gameboy
-Pokémon Red/Blue/Green
-Pokémon Yellow
Gameboy Color
-Pokémon Gold/Silver
-Pokémon Crystal
-Pokémon Pinball
-Pokémon Trading Card Game
-Pokémon Card GB2
-Pokémon Puzzle Challenge
Gameboy Advance
-Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire
-Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen
-Pokémon Emerald
-Pokémon Pinball: Ruby/Sapphire
-Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon Red
-Pokémon GBA Video
Nintendo DS
-Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (to be released in 2006 in Japan)
-Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon Blue
-Pokémon Ranger (March 23rd in Japan)
-Pokémon Torouze/Trozei/Link
-Pokémon Dash
-Pokémon Fishing Rally - A simple game that is offered at events, it was available for download at the Pokémon Park in Japan between May 10th and September 25th 2005.
Nintendo 64
-Pokémon Stadium
-Pokémon Stadium 2
-Pokémon Snap
-Pokémon Puzzle League
-Hey You, Pikachu
Gamecube
-Pokémon Colosseum
-Pokémon XD
-Pokémon Box: Ruby/Sapphire
-Pokémon Channel
- With Pokémon appearances in the Super Smash Bros series on the N64 and Gamecube.
* There are also Pokémon trading card games, Pokémon E-Reader cards and a Pokémon Mini handheld.
* Hugely successful anime:
Around 450 episodes(!) with new seasons being made, and is shown around the world. To strengthen the role of Pokémon USA and the Pokémon brand, in December 2005, Pokémon USA announced they weren't renewing their representation deal with 4Kids Entertainment and instead assumed all Pokémon brand licencing duties from 2006 onward.
* 8 successful theatrically released movies in Japan (DVD worldwide):
The 9th, Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea, is released this July.
-Pokémon: The First Movie
-Pokémon The Movie 2000: The Power of One
-Pokémon 3 The Movie: Spell of the Unown
-Pokémon 4Ever - Celebi: Voice of the Forest
-Pokémon Heroes
-Jirachi Wish Maker
-Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys
-Lucario and the Mystery of Mew
-Pokémon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea - Manaphy
* Pokémon Centers in five major cities across Japan and in New York USA:
You can find a multitude of Pokémon related items, including soft toys, sushi making sets and even toilet seat covers amongst the video games and cards.
* Travelling amusement park later this year:
A Pokémon Park was temporarily built last year in the central Japanese city of Nagoya to coincide with the World Exposition held for six months to September. It drew 4.5 million visitors during its half-year run!
* Downloadable content for phones:
Pokémon and Zingy have teamed up to introduce downloadable mobile media content for phones, with personalized ringtones, voicetones and wallpapers.
The origins of Pokémon:
...Satoshi Tajiri, a Japanese developer in his 40s who came up with the game as a variation on his childhood hobby of collecting insects; a popular pastime in Japan when he was younger. In a rare interview with Time magazine, he explained that "because of urbanisation, kids play inside their homes now, and have forgotten about catching insects. I decided to make a game with that concept."
Even Tajiri couldn't have known how popular his idea would prove. Back in February 1996, the first two Pokémon games, six years in the making, were unleashed on an expectant public in Japan. But even with the blaze of publicity surrounding the games launch, no-one could have anticipated the amazing success of the titles. By the end of 1996, video game sales topped 10 million units (Red, Green and Blue) in Japan. That popularity is hardly diminishing; last year in the USA, the second best selling game (of any format) was Pokémon Emerald on Game Boy Advance.
First appearing in the USA in 1998 as Pokémon Red and Blue, and released in Europe in May 1999, sequels soon followed. With the release of Pokémon Gold and Silver on Game Boy Color in April 2001 in Europe, an additional hundred Pokémon were added to the original line-up.
Then with the Game Boy Advance came Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, released in July 2003. As well as adding another 135 Pokémon to the Pokémon universe, now each Pokémon exhibited one of 25 distinct personalities. Each new iteration of the series has offered new additions, like wireless play and two-on-two Pokémon battles. There have also been home console versions of the Pokémon games like Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
The more popular Pokémon characters have appeared in spin-off titles too, such as Pokémon Dash or Pokémon Pinball. Certain Pokémon have also made cameo appearances in other games; for instance, Pichu and Mewtwo both appeared in the GameCube beat'-em-up Super Smash Bros Melee, while Pikachu made an appearance in the earlier Super Smash Bros game on Nintendo 64...
I'm a huge Pokémon fan and love the RPGs, for me they're some of the best games I've ever played. I also love the whole world of Pokémon and think the relationship Nintendo has between the anime, movies and games is brilliant. It's great to see the franchise has been around for 10 years (where has the time gone!) and is still going strong
I enjoy the movies, with Destiny Deoxys and The Power of One (Pokémon The Movie 2000) being my favourites. I'm looking forward to the next movie's English release, Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
The next game to be released outside Japan is Pokémon Trozei/Link. It looks fun:
Pokémon Trozei - NA March 6th
Pokémon Link - Europe 28th April
Trailer
Experience endless Pokémon puzzle action in Pokémon Trozei, a brand-new puzzle game only for Nintendo DS. Using the stylus, slide Pokémon puzzle pieces and line up four in a row (horizontally or vertically) to make a "Trozei" and clear the screen.
Features
Find a line up over 380 Pokémon puzzle pieces to complete your Trozei list.
Battle or cooperate wirelessly with friends to help uncover rare Pokémon for your collection.
Rescue stolen Pokémon and uncover the evil plans of the Phobos Battalion in Adventure mode.
Distribute a version of Pokémon Trozei with limited functions to friends, allowing you to compete or cooperate with a friend using just one game card!
The Basics
When you line up four identical Pokémon vertically or horizontally, it's called a Trozei. When you get a Trozei with four or more Pokémon, they disappear from the screen and you enter Trozei Chance mode. While the Trozei Chance lasts, you can Trozei three or more Pokémon, and then two Pokémon.
When you line up more Pokémon than needed to get a Trozei -- such as a Trozei with five Pokémon instead of four -- a Ditto will appear. Since Ditto can be Trozeid with any Pokémon, they come in very handy and can help you rack up big points.
Here is a closer look at the four modes of play in Pokémon Trozei.
Trozei Adventure (1 Player)
In Adventure mode, you play as Lucy Fleetfoot in an action-packed mission to save tons of Pokémon from the evil Phobos Battalion.
Endless Trozei (1 Player)
In this mode, your goal is to challenge your high score by playing as long as possible. Select a starting level, then let the Trozei marathon begin. When the number of remaining Pokémon reaches zero, you move to the next level.
Trozei Battle (2 Players)
In Trozei Battle, the player whose field has been filled with Pokémon will lose. If you make numerous Trozeis during the battle, you can send Pokémon that are in your Pokémon set to your opponent's field.
Pair Trozei (2 Players)
Your goal in Pair Trozei is to challenge the high score while cooperating with a friend. The more Continuous Trozeis you make, the easier it is for your partner to get Trozeis because the number of types of Pokémon will decrease on their field. Also, Dittos will drop on your partner's field instead of yours.
Lucy Fleetfoot to the Rescue!
The storyline in Pokémon Trozei is much deeper than you'd expect in a puzzle game. The evil Phobos Battalion has been stealing countless Poké Balls containing Pokémon and carrying them to their secret bases using machines called Phobos Mobiles. Playing as Lucy Fleetfoot, your mission is to rescue the stolen Pokémon from the Phobos Battalion.
To rescue Pokémon, you'll need to use a gadget called the Trozei Beamer. This device allows you to scan Poké Balls and then transfer the Pokémon inside to safety. An accurate lock is required for transfer, which means that you have to line up Poké Balls containing identical Pokémon in a straight line.
To rescue all of the stolen Pokémon, you'll have to battle your way through a long series of increasingly challenging levels and boss battles with Phobos Battalion generals.
Pokémon Trozei is a manic puzzle game that sees you fighting through more than 20 levels of increasing intensity, linking matching Poké Balls in order to clear the levels
IGN Preview
Taken from:
NoE
NoA
Serebii.net
Pokémon Elite 2000
Yahoo News
