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The History of Pokémon
The Pokémon saga was born in Japan in 1996 with Pocket Monsters Red and Green on the Game Boy. Created by Satoshi Tajiri and developed by Game Freak with Nintendo and Creatures, the series rests on a simple idea: catch, raise and trade creatures to complete your Pokédex.
Success came instantly. The games reached Europe in 1999 alongside the animated series, the trading card game and a wave of merchandise. Within a few years, Pokémon became one of the best-selling video game franchises in the world.
Each generation brings its own region, new creatures and fresh mechanics: Johto in 2001, Hoenn in 2003, then Sinnoh in 2007 with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl on Nintendo DS, the generation that saw the birth of Pokémon Life.