Pokémon: Difference between revisions

At a glance, most Pokémon species are based off of ordinary animals, and sometimes plants. They are also inspired by ''{{wp|yōkai}}'', which are very popular in Japanese pop culture. This is evident from the extensive powers Pokémon exhibit, as well as their ever-growing, in-game mythology.

Also called '''Pocket Monsters''' in Japan and some other countries, Pokémon is a mega-franchise including [[Pokémon games|video games]], an {{pkmn|anime}}, a {{pkmn|Trading Card Game}}, many {{pkmn|manga}} series, a [[Pokémon Trading Figure Game|miniatures game]], and much more merchandise. The concept of Pokémon was first created by [[Satoshi Tajiri]] and all Pokémon games are published by Nintendo Inc., Ltd for their video game systems, including the Game Boy, Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo DS, and Wii. The games include strategy games and RPGs where the player becomes a "{{g|Trainer}}" who encounters, captures, trains, and collects many Pokémon creatures; puzzle games; and pinball games. They were first released in 1996 in Japan, and were first released in the USA in 1998. Since then, as of 2009 the Pokémon Franchise has sold more than 186 million units worldwide, second only to {{wp|Mario}} with more than 201 million units sold worldwide and leaving even the next two closest franchises, {{wp|The Sims}} and {{wp|Final Fantasy}} in the dust with 100 million and 85 million, respectively.