Overview
A bug-collecting hobby became a worldwide obsession. Satoshi Tajiri’s vision of trading creatures between Game Boys created something unprecedented: a game that required social interaction to complete. Version exclusives meant trading wasn’t optional—it was the point. The 151 original Pokémon launched a franchise that would outlast the hardware it debuted on.
Fast facts
- Developer: Game Freak.
- Publisher: Nintendo.
- Year: 1996 (Japan), 1998 (West).
- Platform: Game Boy.
Core mechanics
| System | Function |
|---|
| Capture | Weaken and catch |
| Training | Level progression |
| Evolution | Form changes |
| Trading | Social completion |
Version differences
| Exclusive | Red | Blue |
|---|
| Legendary | — | — |
| Pokémon | Unique sets | Unique sets |
| Purpose | Trading incentive | Trading incentive |
Link cable innovation
| Feature | Impact |
|---|
| Trading | Collection completion |
| Battling | Competitive play |
| Social requirement | Community building |
| Hardware sales | Link cable demand |
Cultural impact
| Scale | Reach |
|---|
| Sales | 31 million copies |
| Merchandise | Billion-dollar industry |
| Anime | Global broadcast |
| Cards | Trading card phenomenon |
See also