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| {{samename|species|Pokémon (species)}} | | {{samename|species|Pokémon (species)}} |
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| [[Image:Pokémon_logo_English.png|200px|thumb|right|International logo of the Pokémon franchises]] | | [[Image:Pokémon_logo_English.png|200px|thumb|right|International logo of the Pokémon franchises]]{{main|History of Pokémon}} |
| '''Pokémon''' (Japanese: '''ポケットモンスター''' ''Pocket Monsters'', '''ポケモン''' ''Pokémon'' for short) is a series of {{wp|video game}}s primarily for [[Nintendo]] handheld game systems, as well as the overarching franchise based on these games. Though many things differ depending on a specific [[canon]]'s interpretation of the series, what remains constant is the focus on creatures known as {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}, which can be captured, trained, and used to compete against one another in {{pkmn|battle}} or, more recently, other activities.
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| ==Etymology==
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| Much as happens with many other {{wp|wasei-eigo|words and phrases borrowed from English}}, the Japanese name for the series, Pocket Monsters, became contracted into "Pockemon" during the development of the original games, likely as much for convenience when referring to it as to save on screen real estate, considering the small size of the [[Game Boy]]'s screen. The official romanization of "Pockemon" at this time was derived from the contraction of '''Pocke'''t and '''Mon'''ster, and can be seen explicitly in ''[[EP025|Primeape Goes Bananas]]'', even in the dub.
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| The "Pokémon" name used today came about during the translation of the games for an English audience during 1997 and 1998. Whereas in Japan, Pocket Monsters was easily able to be trademarked, the release in America would prove difficult had this name been used, due to the unrelated {{wp|Monster in my Pocket}} franchise. Thus, an alternate romanization of the contraction was used, with an accent over the e to indicate its specific pronunciation, ''poh-kay-mon''. Despite this issue, however, the fact that Pokémon is short for Pocket Monsters has been referenced in English, with an NPC in {{game2|Diamond|Pearl|Platinum}} asking the player what Pokémon is short for after thinking about the name of the [[Pokétch]], itself a contraction, as well as on the back of the DVD set containing the [[Mewtwo Strikes Back|first]], [[The Power of One|second]], and [[Spell of the Unown|third]] {{pkmn|movie}}s.
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| ==Franchise==
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| {{main|History of Pokémon}} | |
| Pokémon as a series was originally conceived by [[Satoshi Tajiri]], as a way to instill in children of the modern, more urbanized Japan the same enjoyment that he felt as a young boy collecting insects near his hometown of {{wp|Machida, Tokyo|Machida}}. Initially [[Capsule Monsters]], CapuMon for short, Tajiri pitched the series to Nintendo due to the inspiration he drew from the [[link cable]], picturing an insect crawling across it between two Game Boy systems. | | Pokémon as a series was originally conceived by [[Satoshi Tajiri]], as a way to instill in children of the modern, more urbanized Japan the same enjoyment that he felt as a young boy collecting insects near his hometown of {{wp|Machida, Tokyo|Machida}}. Initially [[Capsule Monsters]], CapuMon for short, Tajiri pitched the series to Nintendo due to the inspiration he drew from the [[link cable]], picturing an insect crawling across it between two Game Boy systems. |
| [[File:Spr 1g 006.png|frame|right|{{p|Charizard}}'s Red and Green sprite]] | | [[File:Spr 1g 006.png|frame|right|{{p|Charizard}}'s Red and Green sprite]] |
| With help from [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], the series began development, with the concepts of the original games, {{game|Red and Green|s}}, going into production between 1990 and 1995. At last, in early 1996, the first games in the series were released, and Tajiri's dream had become reality. Though compared to other games of its time, Pokémon was very limited, with comparatively poor graphics and sound, the series was an overnight success, and Red and Green were quickly followed by an upgraded [[third version]], {{game|Blue| (Japanese)}}. | | With help from [[Shigeru Miyamotoan episode]] of the anime was found to be responsible for {{wp|epileptic seizure}}s in more was given a {{p|Pikachu}} instead of the standard [[starter Pokémon]] received in Red, Green, and Blue, and created a fourth, {{game|Yellow||Special Pikachu Edition}}, of the Kanto story to buy some more time for development on the announced sequels. |
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| An {{pkmn|anime}} was produced, with the intention of covering the journey players took through the [[Kanto]] region in the games over the course of a year and a half. About halfway through this run, however, tragedy struck, and [[EP038|an episode]] of the anime was found to be responsible for {{wp|epileptic seizure}}s in more than 600 children due to a flashing strobe effect. Happily, however, no one died of these seizures, and after a brief hiatus to address the problem, the anime returned to the air to complete the Kanto run.
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| Game Freak, however, encouraged by the success of their first trio of games, had already begun development on a sequel to them. With the franchise still running strong, and an upcoming introduction of it to the United States, popularity soared. Rather than releasing their sequels immediately, however, Game Freak instead chose to draw from the story of the anime, which differed from the games in that its protagonist was given a {{p|Pikachu}} instead of the standard [[starter Pokémon]] received in Red, Green, and Blue, and created a fourth, {{game|Yellow||Special Pikachu Edition}}, of the Kanto story to buy some more time for development on the announced sequels.
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| Several {{pkmn|manga}} series were also produced in this early time, including [[Pokémon Adventures]], which Tajiri has stated is closest to his original idea of the {{pkmn|world}} the series takes place in. | | Several {{pkmn|manga}} series were also produced in this early time, including [[Pokémon Adventures]], which Tajiri has stated is closest to his original idea of the {{pkmn|world}} the series takes place in. |
