What differentiated this game from software games past was the imaginative and multi-layered world (and its inherent mythology) created for the players/trainers, which itself was based on 20th century tools of advanced technology. Also, although trainers engage in "battles" with their captured species, vanquished Pokémon are simply knocked unconscious, not killed. Industry watchdogs likened the game to "a Mensa version of rock/paper/scissors."

The wildly successful game spawned a series of Japanese comic books in Japan and in turn a line of toys, trading cards and eventually, a smash-hit television series. Nintendo of America purchased the rights to the entire Pokémon franchise.

Gail Tilden, Vice President, Product Acquisition and Development for Nintendo of America, remembers, "We saw the fervor this game generated in its young players and the genuine affection they felt for the Pokémon, such as Ash's favorite, Pikachu. It also encouraged teamwork and cooperation among trainers. Nintendo felt that American children could appreciate the same qualities that made Pokémon such a tidal wave experience in Japan-it literally saturated their cultural landscape." The unstoppable force of Pokémon was about to hit American shores. Immediately after Nintendo imported the show, 4Kids Entertainment, Nintendo's exclusive agent for the television series, home video and merchandising, dubbed it into English.

It began showing in syndication in September 1998 and within a few months shot to the top of the ratings chart for children's programs. Nintendo strategically launched the Pokémon video game to American consumers a few weeks later. Other merchandise (trading cards, comic books, videos, compact disks) followed. The video game has sold upwards of 4 million Nintendo Game Boy games in the United States, with the Pokémon game cartridges topping all others in the first and second best-selling slots.

Pokémon has since become the largest child-driven phenomenon of the decade, striking American shores with the force of a tsunami. Kids' WB! purchased the television show and debuted it on February 13, 1999. Until recently, the show aired in syndication and now runs exclusively on the network. It is the #1 series on broadcast television among Kids 2-11, 6-11, Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11.

Back in Japan, the first Pokémon feature film (produced by Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd.) was released. Surpassing "Godzilla" at the Japanese box office, it scored fourth in total box-office receipts for the year.