Say the word Pokemon and kids all over the world know exactly what your talking about, Fun and Excitement! Although I was never a big fan of the franchise, it dominated and took over the gaming world during the end of the twentieth century. Switching to different mediums such as movies and television, the beloved Pikachu and company were soon featured in everything from trading cards, video games, and even action figures that were all dedicated to these cute little furry creatures hailing from the east that easily accommodated their growing audience. This "miniature world" of animals and people insatiately became the new "it" toy and consumers couldn't get enough, buying up anything they could to please their crying children. The growing influence of imported Japanese goods was quickly influencing the buying market and soon toy shelves across the nation became saturated with toys and other gadgets aimed towards kids and their curiosity towards different outlets of escapism. However, Pokemon wasn't the only phenomenon imported from the east that caused toy-craving frenzies.
Who could forget the lovable Digi (digital) Pets that populated the market during the end of the century? We all walked, fed, and played with our pets electrically and got sad when they weren't loved enough, which untimely resulted in death. Although the thought of owning your own electronic Dino or Dragon was appealing, the fad quickly died out. Even before the Digi Pets, the Nintendo Game Boy was welcomed into the arms of video game lovers. At last, video games were made portable and distracted us all, even from our original Nintendo gaming system. Originating in 1989, the Game Boy sold over 32 million units since its initial release and still goes strong with the DS (Dual Screen) released in 2004 to the next booming generation of gamers.
Since this semi-recent outcry of toys and gadgets, the Japanese electronic industry was booming and America quickly cashed in. After the original Nintendo (85') and the popular 64 (96') gaming systems, Sony Playstation 1 and 2 had successful runs within the gaming realm. All systems released thousands of titles that entertained the youth and reflected a culture of consumers. Even more recently, and possibly the most popular gaming console currently available, is the Nintendo Wii. Released in 2006, the Wii has sold millions of units and is still selling out to a point where they're still hard to get two years later.
In short, without these beloved gadgets, what else could distract us so beautifully from our boring everyday life? Being raised in a generation where it's impossible to think of a world without the Nintendo, I couldn't think of a better life filled with not only colorful graphics but also colorful characters.
More info on Japanese Gaming Systems.
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