11/02/99 - NINTENDO'S LATEST POK‚MON GAME SMASHES COMPANY SALES RECORD
Nintendo Titles Dominate Industry Sales
REDMOND, WA, Nov 02, 1999, 17:00: (INTERNET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The newest addition to Nintendo's Pok‚mon phenomenon, Pok‚mon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, has already sold more than 1 million cartridges since its debut on Monday, October 18. The Game Boy video game's overwhelming success at retailer locations across the country has made it the fastest selling Nintendo title of all time, beating out last holiday season's Nintendo 64 blockbuster The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
In addition to the amazing software sales, Nintendo's limited edition Pok‚mon Game Boy Color hardware bundle, available since October 25, has sold more than 80,000 units. The game's pre-sell program was also one of Nintendo's most successful ever, with more than 280,000 Pok‚mon fans pre-ordering the game. Led by Pok‚mon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition, Nintendo Pok‚mon games currently hold the top five spots on the video game sales chart for all platforms, according to the NPD Group, the industry's leading independent retail tracking service.
BEST SELLING VIDEO GAME TITLES RANKED ON UNITS SOLD OCTOBER 17 - 23, 1999
RANK PLATFORM/TITLE PUBLISHER 1GBOY Pok‚mon YELLOW NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2 GBOY Pok‚mon PINBALL NINTENDO OF AMERICA3 GBOY Pok‚mon RED NINTENDO OF AMERICA 4 GBOY Pok‚mon BLUE NINTENDO OF AMERICA5 N64 Pok‚mon SNAP NINTENDO OF AMERICA
SOURCE: NPD TRSTS VIDEO GAMES SERVICE "The sales numbers we're seeing within the first 14 days for Pok‚mon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition seem to confirm the impossible-- Pok‚mon is actually getting more popular," says Peter Main, executive vice president, sales and marketing. "In marketing terms, we may be watching a textbook definition of synergy. The video games, trading cards and toys, along with anticipation for the upcoming movie, all are fueling what's now a major entertainment franchise."
The Pok‚mon phenomenon continues to sweep the nation with more than 7 million Pok‚mon- related video games sold to date. This past month, Pok‚mon was voted the number one overall gift choice for the holiday season by top toy and video game retailers. The game is compatible with both Game Boy Color and Game Boy pocket systems.
Pok‚mon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition features the Pok‚mon characters in enhanced color while following the premise of the top-rated animated television series. The game plays just like the original Red and Blue versions, and the star of the Pok‚mon television series, Pikachu, now accompanies the player throughout the game.
The Pok‚mon phenomenon in America began in September 1998 with the release of the original Blue and Red Game Boy games and debut of the television series. Pok‚mon has entertained millions of fans all over the world with a best-selling toy line, a hugely popular card game, an upcoming Warner Bros. motion picture on November 10 and a multitude of licensed products. Leisure Concepts Inc., a division of 4Kids Entertainment, is Nintendo's exclusive licensing agent for Pok‚mon.
Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than one billion video games worldwide, has created such industry icons as Mario(r) and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda(r) and Pok‚mon(tm). Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy - the world's best-selling video game system. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in North America.
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates Pok‚mon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition "E" for "Everybody." For more information about the ESRB visit www.esrb.org. For more information about Pok‚mon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition or any other Nintendo products, visit the company's web site at www.nintendo.com. For more information about Pok‚mon, please visit www.Pok‚mon.com.
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