Pokemon to Release Trading Figure Game in North America

BELLEVUE, August 6: Pokemon USA has revealed that the new
Pokemon Trading Figure Game (TFG) is slated to hit stores in the U.S. on
September 19, with the initial line to include more than 40 popular Pokemon
characters and Trainer figures.

The debut of the Pokemon Trading Figure Game follows the
successful release of the Pokemon Trading Card Game in Japan in 1996. Targeted
at players aged eight and older, the two new Pokemon TFG starter sets include a
two-player arena play mat, Trainer cards, and four different dynamic figures,
including a Trainer figure. Select booster sets of the new game will include
Pokemon from the recent Pokemon Trading Card Game: Diamond & Pearl release.
The boosters will expand game play and add new figures and Trainer cards to
players' collections. The starter sets will be priced at $14.99 and the
boosters at $3.49 for one figure, $6.99 for two figures (including a random
mystery figure) and a Trainer card, and $9.99 for three figures, including a
random mystery figure and one of three special promo figures (Chimchar, Piplup
or Turtwig) from the Diamond & Pearl release, as well as a Trainer card.
Future expansions with additional popular Pokemon to increase the possibilities
for battles are under development.

The new Pokemon TFG game also includes a dynamic spinning
mechanism for each Pokemon that lets players send their figures into battle
against one another in a new way. By mixing and matching figures, players can
expand their battle choices right from the beginning, encouraging a similar
sport and strategy as practiced in the Pokemon Trading Card Game. The figures
were sculpted by Kaiyodo Co. of Osaka, Japan, which has been a manufacturer of
original, limited-edition assembly-type plastic models for more than 40 years.

"Pokemon fans reacted with great enthusiasm to early
previews in the U.S.," said Tsunekaz Ishihara, the president and CEO of
The Pokemon Company, and co-creator of both the TFG and the original Pokemon
Trading Card Game. "The high quality of the figures, the collectible
nature of the game, and the exciting mechanism for battle were all very popular
with players of all ages. We feel we have created a truly distinctive game that
will carry on Pokemon's tradition of excellence."