Still Gotta Catch ‘em All

To think that September 8^th, 1998 marked the beginning of the hugely successful Pokémon franchise in America; almost twelve years later, the phenomenon once thought fad, hasn’t gone anywhere but up in popularity. With the Pokémon video games taking the 2^nd spot in the top selling game franchises of all time, the trading card game having sold over fourteen billion cards worldwide, and the animé continuing to attract new and old audiences alike, Pokémon has never been healthier. What truly sets this franchise apart from any other “fad” like Pogs in the 1990s, or similar properties like Digimon, is the quality control put in place by both Nintendo (franchise owner) and The Pokémon Company (marketing branch) to ensure that each major component of the intellectual property keeps fans happy, and newcomers intrigued – starting with the games.

For those unaware of what Pokémon is, the premise is simple. In a fictional world where a number of creatures called Pokémon and humans live harmoniously, there exists a sport of capturing, training, and battling these pocketable critters to earn prestige or to simply have fun. This is the mainstay of the Pokémon franchise’s most popular component: the video games. If there is one part of Pokémon that is still on the minds of millions of people today, it has to be the video games. The original Red and Blue versions that debuted on September 28^th, 1998 are regarded as some of the best portable role playing games to date. Mention the games to any 90’s kid and they will almost certainly have a story or two to tell. For some, it is the nostalgia of the games that keep them coming back for more, but for many other kids and adults alike, Pokémon is only a recently acquired addiction. Through clever marketing, sizable alterations, and the addition of several new Pokémon species every few years, the franchise is able to maintain its appeal while remaining fresh with new content. Beyond the games, however, people continue to enjoy the trading card game.

Oh the memories...

Extending the grand marketing arm of Pokémon to become a collectable trading card game (TCG) made absolute sense. Card games like Magic: The Gathering had already proven successful as a long term investment, and Nintendo had a feeling that the battling and collecting aspect of Pokémon would fit this perfectly. Who doesn’t remember all the gatherings at the lunch tables, watching people show off their cool Charizard “holographic” or dueling? Today, it may not be so common to see this happening with the card game, but considering the Pokémon TCG continues to hold world tournaments for players, the game still has a considerable following. With the card game, The Pokémon Company has a powerful marketing tool that continues to draw people into the world of Pokémon.

The video games and card games are great and all, but the Pokémon phenomenon would not be complete without the animé cartoon series. The TV series starring Pokémon master wannabe Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu, became one of the hottest shows on daytime television, grabbing the attention of almost every kid across the globe. What made the show so effective too, was that it and the video games stayed fairly similar to one another, making the combination a powerful entertainment force. Like the TCG, the TV series is not as popular as it once was, but as it is now on its 12^th season in the U.S., it continues to be a sensation.

Pokémon’s success and influence on the world is astounding. Like Nintendo’s Mario & Luigi, Pokémon has become a household name. With a new generation of Pokémon on the horizon, it does not seem like this “fad” is ending anytime soon.