overview "Pokemon" is an abbreviation and common name for a series of media mix "Pokemon" series starting from the Game Boy software "Pokemon Red and Green" (hereinafter "Red and Green") developed by Game Freak and released by Nintendo. .. Twenty years after the first release, there are still many fans across generations and national borders.
As a media mix, the medium is not limited to games (portable devices, smartphone games, etc.), but is widely deployed in anime, manga, trading cards, figures, goods, and even live-action movies. However, since the first game was a game, the game series released by Nintendo still plays a central role in media development, and with some exceptions, new types of Pokemon will be released for the first time through this game series.
Currently, most of the related businesses of "Pokemon" except game software development are managed and operated by Pokemon Co., Ltd. The main part of the game is still basically developed by Game Freak and Creatures (only one remake work was outsourced).
Nowadays, Pokemon has grown into a world-class work, but its background has never been smooth sailing. Satoshi Tajiri launched the "Capsule Monster" project, which was the source of Pokemon, in 1990, and it took six years to release the first "Red / Green". It became. Originally scheduled to be released in the fall of 1991, the release was postponed further due to the difficulty in production and the frequent interruption of development due to the development of other games in order to obtain the development funds. I was supposed to go.
After many twists and turns, "Red / Green" released on February 27, 1996 was a Game Boy title that was already out of date at that time, and it didn't get much attention at first. The initial shipment was only 230,000, and there were criticisms about the sales method of releasing two versions at the same time. However, it became a big hit due to the popularity of word-of-mouth communication, especially among elementary school students, and the start of broadcasting TV animation in 1997. Even now, it is still very popular among elementary school students, and it is often ranked high in the "Children's Favorite Characters" questionnaire conducted by Bandai every spring.
Recently, we have been actively developing and planning products that are conscious of adults, and we are focusing on attracting adults. this is Despite its deep-rooted popularity, acquiring new children is not an easy task (the number of children is declining in the first place). Adults who have graduated from Pokemon once (especially the "red / green" generation, who are now in their 20s and 30s) are likely to be addicted to it for the first time if there is a chance. As a matter of fact, Pokemon GO, a Pokemon game for working adults, was a hit. It seems that there is a reason.
The current "Pokemon" is a huge complex business that must be managed by "Pokemon Co., Ltd." Being loved in various ways in various parts of the world, it is no exaggeration to say that "'Pokemon' exists in this world", leaving the framework of a kind of "game". There is.
