Pokémon Red and Blue Versions: Difference between revisions

'''Pokémon Red Version''' and '''Pokémon Blue Version''' were the first [[Pokémon games]] to be released outside of Japan, becoming available in North America on September 30, 1998, and thus being the first Pokémon media to hit the international market. The pair closely followed the debut of the {{pkmn|anime}}'s North American dub, which began airing September 8, 1998<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=270&page=25 Anime News Network - (Pokemon TV)]</ref>, and within a year, Pokémon was well-known as a popular {{wp|Nintendo}} franchise.

Unlike later [[generation]]s, Red and Blue were not the same as their corresponding Japanese releases. Japan had gotten their first pair of Pokémon games as {{game|Red and Green|s|Pocket Monsters: Red & Green}} (Japanese: {{tt|ポケットモンスター 赤・緑|Poketto Monsutā Aka Midori}}), which in all aspects were the same as Red and Blue with the exception of {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} sprite designs. When preparing the games for their English release, it was decided that Red & Green would be merged with Japan's already-released third version, {{game|Blue| (Japanese)|Pocket Monsters: Blue}} (Japanese: {{tt|ポケットモンスター 青|Poketto Monsutā Ao}}), for its improved graphics, sound, and [[Dokokashira door glitch|lack of easily-accessed gamebreaking glitches]].

Despite being released towards the end of [[Game Boy]]'s lifespan, they quickly became the best-selling non-bundled games released for the Game Boy as well as being the best-selling {{wp|role-playing game}}s of all time.