Pokémon Bonus

US residents: get ready... The Pokon are coming! And uhm... pre-ordering gets you a bonus...

Press release: America Braces for Next Installment of Pokon Mania

Nintendo Readies Pre-sell Campaign for Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire for Game Boy Advance

REDMOND, Wash.--Feb. 11, 2003--Within the first six weeks of launching the new Game Boy(R) Advance titles Pokon(R) Ruby Version and Pokon(R) Sapphire Version in Japan, Nintendo sold through nearly 4 million copies combined.

Now, North America prepares for the sales onslaught as the official pre-sell program for both games gets underway this week at participating retailers.

With both video games hitting store shelves in North America on March 17, Nintendo anticipates brisk sales to continue, especially with the exclusive pre-sell incentive. While supplies last, those who pre-order Pokon Ruby or Pokon Sapphire also will receive a limited-edition, holographic Pokon collector's coin.

"The phenomenal sales of Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire in Japan illustrate the continuing popularity of the Pokon franchise," says George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America Inc. "After five years, kids are watching the Pokon cartoon in record numbers, buying the video games and collecting Pokon Trading Cards -- and we have every reason to believe these two Pokon games will be as huge in North America as they are in Japan."

In Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire, the quest to become a Pokon Master continues, as players discover more than 100 new Pokon characters, as well as many returning favorites. Players can play as either a boy or girl trainer, and for the first time ever, players can strategically battle with two Pokon simultaneously.

"We are anxiously awaiting the launch of Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire in the U.S. because these games will usher in a new phase for the Pokon brand," says Akira Chiba, president of Pokon USA, Inc. "Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire will be the starting point for a whole new Pokon world in regard to the trading card game, merchandise, the animated TV series and theatrical releases."

The Game Boy Advance dramatically improves the visuals of previous Game Boy titles such as Pokon Red and Pokon Blue and most recently, Pokon Crystal, as the colors are more vibrant and the graphics are more detailed. Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire are the first two Pokon titles designed for Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and will be available for a suggested retail price of $39.95 each. Game Boy Advance is available for a suggested retail price of $79.95, while the newest addition to the Game Boy family, the Game Boy(R) Advance SP, will be available March 23 for an estimated retail price of $99.95. Pokon Ruby and Pokon Sapphire are published by The Pokon Company and distributed exclusively by Nintendo of America.

Pokon USA, Inc., the New York-based subsidiary of The Pokon Company in Japan, manages and oversees the Pokon franchise in North and Latin America, which includes licensing, merchandising, TV animation, theatrical releases, home video entertainment, the official Pokon website, the Pokon Center NY in Rockefeller Center and PokonCenter.com, a retail site. Pokon first launched for the world's best-selling Game Boy(R) video game system in Japan in 1996 and has since evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Since bringing the franchise to North America in September 1998, Nintendo has sold more than 110 million Pokon games worldwide. Pokon merchandise has generated over $15 billion in worldwide retail sales since 1998. The trading card game, fueled by organized play programs with over 250,000 members in 47 countries, has spurred global sales of 9.8 billion cards to date. For more information on Pokon games, go to www.Pokon-games.com or www.Pokon.com.

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