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| [[Image:English Pokemon logo.png|frame|The official ''Pokémon'' logo.]] | | #REDIRECT [[Pokémon (disambiguation)]] |
| '''Pokémon''' (ポケモン ''Pokémon'') is a [[Wikipedia:Media franchise|media franchise]] owned by [[Nintendo]] and created by [[Wikipedia:Satoshi Tajiri|Satoshi Tajiri]] around 1995. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable [[Wikipedia:Game Boy line|Game Boy]] [[Wikipedia:Console role-playing game|role-playing]] video games, ''Pokémon'' has since become the second most successful and lucrative video game-based media franchise in the world, falling only behind [[Nintendo]]'s [[Mario (series)|''Mario'' series]].<ref name="UK paper names top game franchises ">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6164012.html |title=UK paper names top game franchises |accessdate=2007-02-26|last=Boyes |first=Emma |date=2007-01-10 |work=GameSpot |publisher=GameSpot UK}}</ref> Pokémon properties have since been merchandised into [[Wikipedia:Anime|anime]], [[Wikipedia:Manga|manga]], [[Wikipedia:Collectible card game|trading cards]], toys, books, and other media. The franchise celebrated its tenth anniversary on February 27, 2006, and as of December 1, 2006, cumulative sold units of the video games (including home console versions, such as the "Pikachu" [[Nintendo 64]]) have reached more than 155 million copies.<ref name="sales release 12 01 2006">{{Cite web |url=http://www.n-sider.com/newsview.php?type=story&storyid=2543 |title=Nintendo sales through end of November revealed |accessdate=2006-12-01 |last=Behrens |first=Matt |date=2006-12-01 |work=N-Sider |publisher=N-Sider Media}}</ref>
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| The name ''Pokémon'' is the [[Wikipedia:Romanization of Japanese|romanized]] [[Wikipedia:contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of the Japanese brand, ('''ポケ'''ット'''モン'''スター '''Poke'''tto '''Mon'''sutā),<ref name="The Pokemon Series Pokedex @ Gaming Target">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=6531 |title=The Pokemon Series Pokedex @ Gaming Target |accessdate=2007-02-28 |last=Swider |first=Matt |work=Gaming Target |publisher=Gaming Target}}</ref> as such contractions are very common in Japan. The term "Pokémon", in addition to referring to the ''Pokémon'' franchise itself, also collectively refers to the 493 [[Wikipedia:List of Pokémon|Pokémon species]] that have made appearances in ''Pokémon'' media as of the recent release of the newest ''Pokémon'' role-playing games (RPGs) for the [[Wikipedia:Nintendo DS|Nintendo DS]], [[Wikipedia:Pokémon Diamond and Pearl|''Pokémon Diamond'' and ''Pearl'']]. Like the words deer and sheep, the singular and plural forms of the word "Pokémon" do not differ, nor does each individual species name; in short, it is grammatically correct to say both "one Pokémon" and "many Pokémon". Nintendo originally translated ''Poketto Monsutā'' literally, but a naming conflict with the [[Wikipedia:Monster in My Pocket|Monster in My Pocket]] toy line caused Nintendo to rebrand the franchise as "Pokémon." The game's catchphrase in the Japanese language versions of the franchise is "Let's Get Pokémon!" (ポケモンGETだぜ! ''Pokemon Getto Daze''); in English language versions of the franchise, it was originally "Gotta catch 'em all!", although it is now no longer officially used except in the sidestory episodes airing under the name ''[[Wikipedia:Pokémon Chronicles|Pokémon Chronicles]]''.
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| In November 2005, [[Wikipedia:4Kids Entertainment|4Kids Entertainment]], which had managed the non-game related licensing of Pokémon, announced that it had agreed not to renew the Pokémon representation agreement. Pokémon US Inc., a subsidiary of Japan's Pokémon Co., now oversees all Pokémon licensing outside of Asia.<ref>"[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7615 Pokemon USA Moves Licensing In-House]", ''Gamasutra''.</ref>
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| ==Collecting and playing==
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| The concept of the ''Pokémon'' universe, in both the video games and the general fictional world of ''Pokémon'', stems from the hobby of [[Wikipedia:Insect collecting|insect collecting]], a popular pastime which ''Pokémon'' executive director Satoshi Tajiri had enjoyed as a child.<ref> "[http://web.archive.org/web/20050314021722/http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/99/1122/pokemon6.fullinterview1.html The Ultimate Game Freak: Interview with Satoshi Tajiri]", ''TimeAsia'' (Waybacked]).</ref> Players of the games are designated as [[Pokémon Trainer]]s, and the two general goals (in most ''Pokémon'' games) for such Trainers are: to complete the [[Wikipedia:Pokédex|Pokédex]] by collecting all of the available Pokémon species found in the fictional region where that game takes place; and to train a team of powerful Pokémon from those they have caught to compete against teams owned by other Trainers, and eventually become the strongest Trainer, the Pokémon Master. These themes of collecting, training, and battling are present in almost every version of the ''Pokémon'' franchise, including the video games, the anime and manga series, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
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| In most incarnations of the fictional ''Pokémon'' universe, a Trainer that encounters a wild Pokémon is able to capture that Pokémon by throwing a specially designed, mass-producible tool called a [[Poké Ball]] at it. If the Pokémon is unable to escape the confines of the Poké Ball, that Pokémon is officially considered under the ownership of that Trainer, and it will obey whatever commands its new master and/or friend (depending on how that trainer treats Pokémon in general) issues to it from that point onward, unless the Trainer demonstrates enough of a lack of experience that the Pokémon would rather act on its own accord. Trainers can send out any of their Pokémon to wage non-lethal battles against Pokémon; if the opposing Pokémon is wild, the Trainer can capture that Pokémon with a Poké Ball, increasing his or her collection of creatures. (Pokémon already owned by other Trainers cannot be captured, except under special circumstances in certain games.) If a Pokémon fully defeats an opponent in battle so that the opponent is knocked out ("faints"), the winning Pokémon gains experience and may level up. When leveling up, the Pokémon's statistics ("stats") of battling aptitude increase, including Attack, Speed, and so on. From time to time the Pokémon may also learn new moves, which are techniques used in battle. In addition, many species of Pokémon possess the ability to undergo a form of [[Wikipedia:Metamorphosis|metamorphosis]] and transform into a similar but stronger species of Pokémon, a process called [[Wikipedia:Pokémon evolution|evolution]].
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| In the main series, each game's single-player mode requires the Trainer to raise a team of Pokémon to defeat many non-player character Trainers and their Pokémon. Each game lays out a somewhat linear path through a specific region of the Pokémon world for the Trainer to journey through, completing events and battling opponents along the way. Each game features eight especially powerful Trainers, referred to as Gym Leaders, that the Trainer must each defeat in order to progress. As a reward, the Trainer receives a Gym Badge, and once all eight badges are collected, that Trainer is eligible to challenge the region's Pokémon League, where four immensely talented trainers (referred to collectively as the "Elite Four") challenge the Trainer to four Pokémon battles in succession. If the trainer can overcome this gauntlet, he or she must then challenge the Regional Champion, the master Trainer who had previously defeated the Elite Four. Any Trainer who wins this last battle becomes the new champion and gains the title of Pokémon Master.
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| ==In the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series==
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| ===''Super Smash Bros.''===
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| In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', two Pokémon are playable characters — the popular [[Pikachu]] and [[Jigglypuff]]. A Pokémon [[stage]] is also in the game, named [[Saffron City]].
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| [[Poké Ball]]s are also in the game as [[item]]s. When used, [[List of Pokémon in Super Smash Bros.|one out of 13 possible Pokémon]] can be summoned, each capable of dealing damage to opponents.
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| ===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
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| In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', four Pokémon are playable characters — Pikachu, Jigglypuff, [[Pichu]], and [[Mewtwo]]. Two Pokémon stages are in the game — [[Pokémon Stadium]] and [[Poké Floats]].
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| Poké Balls also return in ''Melee''. When used, [[List of Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Melee|one out of 29 possible Pokémon]] can be summoned. About 60 Pokémon related [[trophy|trophies]] also appear in the game.
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| ===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
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| In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', Pikachu and Jiglypuff are once again playable, along with [[Pokémon Trainer]], who uses [[Squirtle]], [[Ivysaur]], and [[Charizard]] when fighting, and Lucario, about whom nothing is known yet. Only one stage has been revealed — [[Pokémon Stadium 2]].
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| For a third time, Poké Balls return. So far, [[List of Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl|eightteen Pokémon]] have been confirmed to be in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.smashbros.com/en_us/items/mball/index.html |title=Poké Balls |accessdate=2007-11-12 |work=[[Smash Bros. DOJO!!]] |publisher=smashbros.com}}</ref>
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| ==References==
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| <div class="references-small">
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| ;Books
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| *Tobin, Joseph, ed. ''Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon.'' Duke University Press., February, 2004. ISBN 0-8223-3287-6.
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| ;Notes
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| </div>
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| {{Reflist}}
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| ==See also==
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| *[[List of Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. series|List of Pokémon in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]
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| *[[List of Pokémon in Super Smash Bros.|List of Pokémon in ''Super Smash Bros.'']]
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| *[[List of Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Melee|List of Pokémon in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'']]
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| *[[List of Pokémon in Super Smash Bros. Brawl|List of Pokémon in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'']]
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| [[Category:Pokémon]]
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