POKÉMON CRAZE ZEROS IN ON THE UNITED STATES

Monsters Run Rampant On Nintendo's Game Boy – Catch 'Em If You Can

ATLANTA, May 27, 1998 – Aaauugh! The monsters! They're coming! Watch out for the huge invasion of monsters coming to North America this year. The monster attack isn't on the big screen, but on the small screens – Game Boy and T.V. – in the form of Pokémon, the video monsters who were born in a best-selling video game and then infiltrated television, music, and a huge assortment of consumer products.

With 8 million units sold and counting, Pokémon, the Game Boy game, has already achieved unprecedented popularity in Japan. In September, Nintendo of America Inc. will bring the virtual pet monster phenomenon to North America with the release of the multi-faceted Game Boy game (September 28); an animated television series (September 7); Pokémon Pikachu – the walking companion Pokémon; and a multitude of licensed products.

"Pokémon has been the hottest craze in Japan, and we believe it will become the same kind of cultural phenomenon in North America," says Peter Main, Nintendo of America's executive vice president, sales and marketing. "Kids in America are about to witness a portable gaming experience that surpasses anything they have ever seen before."

POKÉMON – THE GAME

Pokémon (called Pocket Monsters in Japan) is the first video game to combine an engrossing adventure/role-playing game (RPG), elements of raising a virtual pet monster, and the ability to link two Game Boys together for combat-based character battle and/or trading. The overall objective of the game is for players to become the "World's Greatest Pokémon Trainer" by finding, collecting, trading, training and battling 150 different Pokémon monster characters – whose development and success is entirely up to the player.

Players begin with one monster and raise and train it so it can become strong enough to weaken and capture other monsters. The new monsters can then be added to the players' collection of Pokémon. The virtual pet monsters evolve, take on new characteristics and alter their physical appearance and fighting abilities by winning battles.

There will initially be two versions of the game released – Red and Blue. Although each version plays the same, the frequency of appearance of certain monsters is different in each version, so even choosing which version to play is part of the overall game. To achieve the goal of collecting all 150 monsters, players will need to have access to both versions. For example, a player with the Red version can trade for the missing monsters with a player using the Blue version.

POKÉMON – THE ANIMATED TELEVISION SHOW

On September 7, a dedicated animated television series based on the Pokémon characters will debut in more than 86 percent of the United States – reaching all 40 of the top 40 markets. The show closely follows the story line of the game, with the hero Ash attempting to become the "World's Greatest Pokémon Trainer." The show will run as a strip, five days a week, during the morning and afternoon time slots.

POKÉMON PIKACHU – THE COMPANION POKÉMON

Pokémon Pikachu stars Pikachu, the cutest and most popular Pokémon character as a truly interactive virtual pet monster. Pokémon Pikachu is the only electronic pet in the world that can be taken out for a walk…literally. Conveniently attaching to a belt or purse, the friendly monster companion features a built-in meter that tallies the distance the owner travels. The objective of Pokémon Pikachu is to build a relationship with the pet. As the owner walks, he or she receives points in the form of watts. The watts need to be given to Pikachu over a vast period of time in order to foster a positive relationship.

In addition to walking, Pikachu performs a variety of other activities, such as brushing its teeth, taking a bath and riding a tricycle. Like a real pet, Pikachu goes to sleep at night and wakes up in the morning. Pikachu can't be bothered while it's sleeping.

POKÉMON – THE LICENSED PRODUCTS

Hasbro Inc. (HAS:ASE) has been selected by Nintendo as the worldwide (excluding Asia) master toy licensee for the Pokémon phenomenon. Hasbro has the option to manufacture and market products representing the 150 popular Pokémon characters for plush, non-video games, action figures and collectibles.

POKÉMON – THE JAPANESE PHENOMENON

The Pokémon game launched in Japan in February 1996, and by appealing to both girls and boys, the game has reached a popularity that has increased exponentially during the last two years, amounting to sales of more than 8 million units. There is no limit to the Pokémon phenomenon. The animated television show is Japan's highest rated kids show. In Japan, more than 100 million Pokémon characters have been sold through vending machines. More than 1 million music CDs featuring the theme song of the animated TV show have been sold. More than 400 million trading cards have been purchased. And, more than 1,000 different products featuring the endearing, charismatic characters have been sold.

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