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1 entry of 164 involving Satoshi Tajiri

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1990-1999 The 1990s

Pokemon arrives late in the Game Boy's life and revives it

Game Freak's Pokemon Red and Green reached Japanese stores on February 27, 1996, roughly seven years into the Game Boy's run. Collecting creatures and trading them over a link cable turned an aging handheld into a phenomenon.

Key facts and significance Hide details
Platform
Handheld systems
Region
Japan, Worldwide
Period
The 1990s

Why it matters

A hardware generation that looked finished was extended by several years on the strength of one design, and that design worked by making other players necessary rather than optional. It also showed that a game could seed a franchise across television, print and merchandise rather than the other way around.

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