I would like to tell about the Pokemon
phenomenon. One can think of the target audience between ages of 10 and 14
playing funny looking handheld games and trading card games. Is it real the
picture and archetype of the target customer group? To be honest - no. When I
was younger, like 9 years old (1998) Pokemon first appeared on Western and
Polish television as well as gameboy games and trading card games. They were
great and at that moment I found them very addictive. Many people aged between
9 and 16 at that time became addicted to funny looking monsters and simple idea
of collecting them and trading them with other players ( this was the main
intention of their creators because of different versions with ‘exclusive’
obtainable creatures). Nowadays they are in their late 20s or 30s and still
they try to “Catch ‘em all!” ( the motto of animated Pokemon series). I have to
admit that the first version was available only on the gameboy but over time
developed 'Emulators' for the systems by which started to play well on
consoles, computers, and not just on gameboys. How did it start?
In 1996 a Japanese company named Nintendo
created an odd-looking game with a simple idea: to collect monsters, train
them, trade them via the transfer cable with other players and to become best
trainer. First two Pokémon games were released in Japan : Pokémon Green and
Pokémon Red. What is in one game cannot be present in the other. This idea
encouraged players to interact with other people to trade monsters. At that
time it was revolutionary, because player battles, trades and society ( things
outside the game ) became the most important parts of a game.
Original covers of first games (Pocket Monsters
Trainer)
Evolution-revolution
This series became very popular inside and
outside Japan. Soon after original release Nintendo created manga, anime and a
trading card game. ‘Western’ release brought another three games : Blue, Red,
Yellow (last one was based loosely on animated series). These games are known
as the first generation. Nintendo made a few mechanism of unique pokemon not
obtainable in any way than attending events licensed by the Japanese company.
After wireless network became more popular Nintendo implemented battling and
trading via Wi-Fi.
Outside electronic game
Hasbro (owner of Pokemon and many other TCG*) still
organizes tournaments of Pokemon Trading Card Game online and offline ( with
real cards ). I used to attend them in Warsaw at one of Warsaw stores which
sold board games and various trading card games and I saw many times people
playing pokemon. They looked as though they had been between 25 and 40 years
old. I was a Pokemaniac. Still, I sold my old Gameboy color many years
ago along with a few games ( Pokemon games as well). Now I pity my old handheld
console which gave me so many positive memories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCOo6SAVI80
* Were you into Pokémon? Did you collect cards or other collectibles?
* Do you feel nostalgic about things you loved to do as a child?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCOo6SAVI80
* Were you into Pokémon? Did you collect cards or other collectibles?
* Do you feel nostalgic about things you loved to do as a child?
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