Pokemon video games are a series of role playing games played both as party games and single player games, published by Nintendo, which have already sold over 175 million units as of April 23, 2008. The development work is done by Game Freak and Creatures Inc. for new generation releases.
These video games were first created as role playing games by Satoshi Tajiri for the Game Boy. The new releases kept getting categorized under generations of chronological orders as and when new characters with new gameplay concepts kept getting introduced in the games. Currently the fourth generation is under progress in the franchise.
The first party games/ single player games in the series were Pocket Monsters Aka and Midori for the Game Boy in Japan. When they went extremely popular, they were reprogrammed as Pokémon Red and Blue for international release on September 30, 1998 in the United States. Then came Pokémon Yellow completing the first generation as it is known today as its chronological name.
The second generation started in 2000 featuring Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver for Game Boy Color. Later in 2001 Pokémon Crystal was added to the list introducing 100 new species of Pokémon making it a total of 251 Pokémon to collect along with many other new features incorporated.
In 2003 came the third generation with the release of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire for Game Boy Advance, adding Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen in 2004, Pokémon Emerald in 2005, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team in 2006; introducing 135 new Pokémon and thus taking the total to 386.
In 2006 came the fourth generation with the release of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl for Nintendo DS to be expanded later with Pokemon Dash, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team, Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, Pokémon Platinum, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky, along with Pokémon Battle Revolution for Wii (with Wi-Fi connectivity); introducing 107 new species of Pokémon and thus taking the total to 493.
Players choose any one of three different Pokémon at the start of the game depending on the type of Pokémon their rival has chosen in order to be able to take advantage of their week points in the game. Only Pokémon Yellow is an exception in which the player gets a Pikachu and the rival gets an Eevee every time.
Pokemon video games as role playing games both as party games and single player games were awarded eight records in Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008, including "Most Successful RPG Series of All Time", "Game Series With the Most Spin-Off Movies" and "Most Photosensitive Epileptic Seizures Caused By A TV Show".
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