Leading the way for Nintendo will be Pokemon Stadium for the Nintendo 64, Pokemon Trading Card Game and the highly anticipated Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver for Game Boy Color, debuting for the first time on U.S. shores. The $7 billion Pokemon franchise continues to grow with more than 1,500 toys, trading cards, books and video games, plus a new motion picture to keep up with the demand for all things Pokemon.

In 2000, Nintendo projects the Pokemon franchise total retail revenues to exceed $2.8 billion in the U.S. alone. To date, more than 13.5 million units of Pokemon video games have been sold in the U.S. claiming five of the top 10 best-selling interactive entertainment titles for the year.

Pokemon will also satisfy the hunger of those visiting the Toy Manufacturer's Association building with the ``Pokemon Pit Stop.'' Visitors can experience a Pokemon world, relax with a ``Poke-ccino,'' or challenge a lunch buddy to a Pokemon game on an interactive kiosk.

``Following the trends we've already seen in Japan, this next wave of titles will keep kids coming back for more,'' says Gail Tilden, Nintendo's vice president, product acquisition and development. ``With over 150 licensees supporting Pokemon, Nintendo expects Pokemon's unprecedented success to continue well into the new millennium.''

The debut of Pokemon Stadium for the Nintendo 64, touted as the ultimate battle experience for Pokemon Master Trainers, will lead the way of new Pokemon video games releasing this year. Using their trained characters from Pokemon Red, Pokemon Blue and Pokemon Yellow, players will be able to transfer their data to the N64 using the new Transfer Pak. Fans of the popular trading card game from Wizards of the Coast will soon be able to play a Game Boy Color version with Pokemon Trading Card Game, featuring 18 new cards created exclusively for the video game. Players can collect and trade their favorite Pokemon trading cards, build decks and duel other card collectors electronically and generate a new card using the infrared Card Pop feature. Releasing for Game Boy Color this fall is the highly-anticipated Pokemon Gold and Silver, which will launch new characters, worlds and adventures for the Pokemon franchise.

The Pokemon phenomenon in America began in September 1998 with the release of the original Blue and Red Nintendo Game Boy video games and debut of the television series. Pokemon has entertained millions of fans all over the world with a best-selling toy line, a hugely popular card game, a Warner Bros. motion picture and a multitude of licensed products. In the U.S. to date, Nintendo has sold more than 13.5 million Pokemon related video games.

[Updated 2/10/2000]