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| Main Page Pokemon Characters Story Movies Merchandise Digimon Sailor Moon Tenchi Guestbook Links Fan Stuff About Me Adoptions | Pokemon MerchadiseGamesThe orginal Pokemon games were released in 1998 in the U.S. There were two versions: Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue (Red and Green in Japan). The whole concept was to collect all the Pokemon (my sister described it like virtual Beanie Babies) and become the Pokemon Master by kicking the current one's butt. The problem is that only some Pokemon live in some games. The cartoon was actually based off of Pokemon Red and Blue, and a special release of Pokemon was modified with different Pokemon, more difficult bosses (Gym Leaders), and a Pikachu as your first Pokemon (it even follows you around, like in the show). This was christened Pokemon: Special Pikachu edition, but everyone called it Pokemon Yellow. A game-based-on-a-television-show-based-on-a-game...interesting.You know, I thought when I first read about the Pokemon games being developed in Japan, first I thought, 'this is the most stupid gimmick I have ever heard of. Who'd want to buy two games (or locate a friend with a different game) just to get all these things? This is going on the pile of Japanese RPGs that never get released in the U.S.' There's the proof I don't have precognition. Pokemon, both the games and the T.V. show, proved to be wildly popular with the youth. So the people at Nintendo did what every mass media company does when they realize they've got something here...they started making a sequal. Two sequals, rather...called Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver. These included new Pokemon, new areas to explore, a real-time component (a day-night cycle), and plenty of references to the first three games(which I suppose where really more like one game). They proved to be just as popular as the first games. Recently, I read (from an official source, no less) that Nintendo is coming out with a new verion of Pokemon Gold/Silver, a la Pokemon Yellow. The title is Pokemon Crystal, it's supposed to have improved graphics, some new features and (drumroll, please)...the opportunity to choose the gender of the hero. The Card GameAs well as spawning off a TV show, Pokemon also helped usher in the trend of anime-based CCGs (collectable card games). Basically, its sort of like trading cards, except the cards can be used to play a game, and some (usually the rarer ones) are better than others.There have been several sets (expansions) released in the U.S. Here's a list. I won't provide card lists for each set, but plenty of web sites devoted solely to the game will. Check the links page.
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