Pokémon.com

Bellevue, WA- January 11, 2009 --- The Pokmon Company International announces today the complete re-launch of the online Pokmon universe with the new and improved Pokmon.com. Providing fans with a comprehensive entertainment destination for all things Pokmon, the new site brings together Pokmon animation, video games and the Pokmon Trading Card Game (TCG), like never before. The new site will introduce free online mini-games, episodes of the popular animated series, a fully interactive Pokdex, a "Pokmon Trainer Club", all the latest news and more. The new Pokmon.com gives visitors a user-friendly layout, improved functionality and the first one-stop destination in Pokmon history.

"Pokmon.com unifies the Pokmon experience under one roof, providing fans with a fun entertainment destination where they can play mini-games, watch Pokmon animation, and explore the Pokmon universe," said J.C. Smith, director of marketing. "The re-launch of the site includes a number of exciting new features and functions with an emphasis on being a fun and parent-approved place to visit online."

To celebrate the new site's launch and highlight one of its most important additions - the "Pokmon Episode Viewer" - Pokmon.com will showcase the very first season of the animated series, which is now in its 12th season. Each week, new episodes of the series will air allowing fans to see where it all began. This schedule will continue beyond the first season, giving younger fans a chance to follow the series in its entirety for the first time.

The Pokmon Fun Zone, a new totally immersive and free casual games area of the site, allows kids to play mini-games and collect Trainer Tokens, rewarding fans for time spent on the site. These mini-games are quick to pick up and play, but are challenging enough to keep Pokmon fans entertained for hours. For example, in Pachirisu's Click-Clack Attack, players must shoot pucks into corner pockets of the playing board. You can earn bonus points by deflecting the pucks into each other to sink more than one in a single shot. And there are already plans to add more fun titles to keep Pokmon fans coming back for more.

Additional areas to access in the Pokmon Fun Zone include: a Trainer Builder, which allows users to completely customize their personal Trainers; a Trainer Store, where they can buy new gear for their Trainers; and a downloads page for wallpapers and screensavers.

Additional highlights fans can expect on the site include:

The most current and up-to-date news announcements featuring information on video game character distributions, Pokmon promotions and partnerships

The ability to keep track of Pokmon Organized Play ratings and stay aware of upcoming local Pokmon TCG and Video Game events

New ways to search through the Pokdex containing all 493 current Pokmon including new artwork from the upcoming Pokmon HeartGold and Pokmon SoulSilver Versions

Updated search functionality in the Pokmon TCG card database that lets players search 2,500+ cards by sorting from more than a dozen different card elements

The first place to find information on the eagerly anticipated 2010 Pokmon Video Game and TCG World Championships and other Pokmon tournaments

The news of the website re-launch comes in advance of some eagerly anticipated product launches for Pokmon in 2010, including the February 10 release of the Pokmon Trading Card Game: HeartGold & SoulSilver expansion, the March 14 release of the Pokmon HeartGold Version and Pokmon SoulSilver Version video games for the Nintendo DS, and the DVD release of the brand-new, feature-length film, Pokmon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life.

Pokmon is one of the top children's franchises in history. The Pokmon video game series has sold more than 197 million units worldwide since its inception 13 years ago. Additionally, Pokmon is one of the top collectible trading card games of all time. Other extensions of the property include 12 seasons of the animated television series, which is currently broadcast in as many as 153 countries in more than 25 languages. Pokmon films and DVDs continue to reach fans in amazing numbers, ranking at the top of the box office in Japan.

About Pokmon

The Pokmon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokmon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokmon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the official Pokmon website. Pokmon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children's entertainment properties in the world. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

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Contacts:

Brian Reinert / JP Shields

Bender / Helper Impact

212-689-6360

brian_reinert@bhimpact.com / JP_Shields@bhimpact.com

2009 Pokmon. 1995-2009 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, , and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.