Hulk Hogan Joins Finalists From Around the Country as They Compete in Pokemon Video Game National Championships

Hulk Hogan Joins Finalists From Around the Country as They Compete in Pokemon Video Game National Championships

New York City Declares August 8th 'Pokemon Day' as Thousands of Fans Gather in Bryant Park to Celebrate the Pokemon Party of the Decade

NEW YORK, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Hulk Hogan is on hand today in New York City to celebrate 10 years of Pokemon, the pop culture phenomenon that has taken the world by storm since it debuted in 1996. Today, 64 Pokemon video game finalists from across the country take center stage in Bryant Park to compete in the Pokemon Video Game National Championships, the main event of the Pokemon Party of the Decade. In honor of Pokemon's 10th anniversary celebration, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has declared August 8th "Pokemon Day." One of the most successful children's properties of all time, Pokemon is the collective name for more than 380 characters that one can find, catch, train, trade, collect and use in battle against rivals in the quest to become a Pokemon Trainer.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060213/NYM013LOGO )

Hulk Hogan will be joined today by thousands of fans at the day-long 10th anniversary festivities, which will include a stage show, sneak peeks at new video games Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, a preview of the upcoming DVD release of "Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew," activity stations, Pokemon Trading Card Game play areas, top 20 fan-voted character distribution and more, as some of the best gamers in the country battle for the title of Pokemon Video Game National Champion.

"As we celebrate 10 years of Pokemon, we're excited to have Hulk Hogan take center stage and share this day with fellow Pokemon fans," said Akira Chiba, president, Pokemon USA, Inc. "Hulk Hogan knows what it takes to be a champion and we're thrilled he is on hand to crown the Pokemon Video Game National Champions during this milestone in Pokemon history."

"I'm really excited to be part of Pokemon's 10th anniversary and the Pokemon Video Game National Championships," said Hulk Hogan. "My son Nick introduced me to Pokemon, and it's exciting to see so many kids believing in themselves and competing to be the best at something."

Pokemon Party of the Decade

Pokemon's Party of the Decade follows on the heels of the Pokemon Journey Across America tour, which visited 24 cities and attracted more than 125,000 fans earlier this year. Continuing the celebration, today Bryant Park is transformed into a Pokemon fan's dream and is open to the public free-of-charge from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For the first time ever, the giant Pikachu balloon that is flown in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be flown at the event, directly over the great lawn at Bryant Park. All eyes will be on the video game finalists at 1:15 p.m. as the remaining contenders take center stage for a battle to determine who takes home the title of Pokemon Video Game National Champion. Hulk Hogan will crown two champions -- one in the 12 and under age category and one in the 13 and older category. Each champion will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for four to Japan.

Fans unable to visit the New York festivities can still get in on all the action by checking out the live webcast beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern on KOL (AOL for Kids) or by visiting http://www.pokemon.com/.

Pokemon Video Games

A pop culture phenomenon with more than $25 billion in worldwide retail sales, Pokemon has released 26 video game titles and has sold more than 140 million video games worldwide.

Pokemon video game titles have consistently been ranked among the top 10 selling video games according to NPD, and in 2005, Pokemon Emerald was the #2 selling video game of the year. Most recently, Pokemon Trozei was released in March 2006, and Pokemon is preparing to launch three new video games this fall.

Pokemon Staying Power

A market leader across multiple categories, Pokemon has major staying power. The past 10 years are just the beginning as the brand continues to innovate in ways that will give its fans new and exciting content for years to come.

* Consistently ranked among the top three shows for Kids 2-11, the Pokemon
animated TV series moves to its new home on the Cartoon Network this
fall for its new season, Pokemon: Battle Frontier.
* Pokemon continues to release kid-favorite movies with a new
direct-to-DVD titled "Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew,"
scheduled to launch in September 2006.
* Pokemon recently signed a new master toy licensee, JAKKS Pacific, to
bring an exciting line of Pokemon consumer products to market in 2007.
* Pokemon recently announced the launch of Pokemon Learning League(TM), a
web-based educational suite of animated, interactive lessons in math,
science, language arts, and life skills for grades 3-6.

History of Pokemon

Pokemon was created when Japanese game developer Satoshi Tajiri applied his interest in video games to the communicative properties of the Nintendo Game Boy(R) system. After six years of development, Tajiri and his company, GAME FREAK, turned his "interest" into the first-ever Pokemon video game.

In October of 1996, the Pokemon Trading Card Game was introduced in Japan as a seamless extension of the Pokemon world. Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokemon Company, developed the Pokemon Trading Card Game with his company, Creatures.

After becoming a phenomenal success in 1996 in Japan, Pokemon launched to immediate star status in the U.S. in 1998 and has continued to captivate the imagination of children and adults.

About Pokemon USA

Pokemon USA, Inc., a subsidiary of The Pokemon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia which includes licensing, marketing, the Pokemon Trading Card Game, an animated TV series, home entertainment, the official Pokemon website, and online retail center http://www.pokemoncenter.com/. Celebrating its 10th worldwide anniversary in 2006, Pokemon was launched in Japan in 1996 for play on Nintendo's Game Boy(R) and has since evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Pokemon was introduced in North America in September 1998 and today is one of the most popular toy and entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit http://www.pokemon.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060213/NYM013LOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Pokemon USA, Inc.

CONTACT: Chris Kooluris, of Ketchum for Pokemon USA, Inc.,
+1-646-935-4098; or Amy Wexler of Pokemon USA, Inc., +1-917-369-2028

Web site: http://www.pokemon.com/
http://www.pokemoncenter.com/

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