Insert Topic – Pokémon A 20 Year Legacy

Welcome to Insert Topic, where once a week I’ll spend some time talking about stuff. Topics will vary from what’s big in nerd culture to my experiences with trying games or movies or anything really that I’d written off as not my kind of thing. This week we’re a little short, but I talk about Pokémon.

“Gotta Catch ‘Em All”

A slogan heard for 20 years, a mantra held by many since childhood. Whatever that phrase is for you, it’s become part of not just gaming culture, but everything. Pokémon may have faded from the huge boom of it’s initial mainstream popularity in the late 1990s but the franchise is still powering along with no signs of stopping. For those of us that grew up with Pokémon, whether the games, anime, movies, cards, or any other of the numerous products available, the series will always hold a special place. We’re not the target of this juggernaut franchise, but many times, we are it’s most loyal and diehard supporters.

I’m going to be 30 in June, Pokémon came out in the US when I was 12, that’s 18 years I’ve been playing Pokémon. The series may not raise the same feelings it once did in me, but there’s still something incredibly special about this franchise. As a kid I was incredibly into Pokémon, I own all the versions of each generation up to Diamond and Pearl era. I can remember seeing the first few movies in theaters and getting the special edition playing cards, going to Toys R’ Us for the Pokémon Trading Card Game tournaments, and of course battling my way through the different regions to catch ’em all.

My collection – Can’t for the life of me find my Silver, FireRed, or HeartGold.

Pokémon Blue was the first and only time I ever caught them all, but man was that satisfying.

Now here we are, 20 years after it’s initial release in Japan. Just this morning Nintendo announced a brand new adventure with Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, both due out Holiday 2016. On top of that, this weekend, tomorrow in fact the OGs of Pokémon games, Red, Blue, and Yellow are being released on the Nintendo eShop for 3DS. Along with a new movie hitting Japanese theaters this Summer, and the continued adventures of Ash and friends on the long running anime.

To say Pokémon isn’t going anywhere would be an understatement.

Chris talks a bunch on PodQuest each week. He's also been known to write about stuff from time to time. You can Email Chris or follow Chris on Twitter @Just_Cobb or Facebook

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