FIVE COPIES OF

POKÉMON PLATINUM

The Pokémon phenomenon is set toaccelerate to new heights on May22nd, with the release of Pokémon

Platinum, exclusively on the Nintendo DS.The game has already been a sensation

in Japan, where 2.4 million copies havebeen sold so far, including one millionwithin the first three days of launch.

Pokémon Platinum is a sweeping newadventure set in the Sinnoh region of thePokémon world, packed with newfeatures and revolutionary ways to play,including a whole new online worldaccessible in-game at the Wi-Fi Plaza.

Other breakthroughs certain to delightlong-term franchise fans and newcomersalike include the Vs Recorder, whichallows you to capture your greatestvictories for posterity, and DistortionWorld, which is governed by neither timenor space and presents a radical newgameplay challenge.

The epic story of Pokémon Platinumrevolves around the legendary renegadePokémon, Giratina, appearing in its newForme, the Origin Forme. Plenty of otherlegendary Pokémon also feature, includingDialga and Palkia and the powerful Laketrio of Uxie, Azelf and Mesprit.

Dedicated collectors will be especiallyexcited to learn that one of the rarest andmost popular Pokémon, Shaymin, appearsin a new Forme in this new adventure.Shaymin was previously only available inPokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearlthrough special events. When transferredfrom these versions, he appears in a newSky Forme, with a new appearance, newattributes and special powers.

In fact, all the Pokémon appear in newgarb, wrapped up warm to survive thefreezing cold of wintry Sinnoh.

The main meat of Pokémon Platinum isa quest to stop the sinister Team Galactic– a task that includes tacking a series ofside missions and contests, plus, ofcourse, some serious battles.

As you’d expect, it’s the battles thatreally pack a punch. The all-new BattleFrontier is a custom-built home forchallenges and tournaments thatbecomes accessible after defeating the‘Elite Four’ and the Pokémon LeagueChampion and taking a ferry to theFight Area.

The Battle Frontier contains fivedifferent Battle facilities, with eachawarding Battle Points that can be tradedfor fantastic prizes.

Furthermore, the Global Trade Stationfrom Diamond and Pearl has beenexpanded and renamed the GlobalTerminal. This is where players can checkout each other’s battles, with videoslisted by popularity to make it easy tofind great content.

Online play, competition and sharingcontent are all at the heart of PokémonPlatinum, which itself represents a hugestep forward and shift in tone for thisclassic series. In the basement of everyPokémon centre is a Wi-Fi Plaza whereup to 20 players can connect and playtogether in real time. They can tradeand battle with friends (as long asthey’ve exchanged Friend Codes) andthere are mini-games to play togetherat the Wi-Fi club.

GAME INFOPOKÉMON PLATINUMFormat: Nintendo DS Release Date: 22/05/09

Can you give us an update on the success of thePokémon franchise to date?James Honeywell: Pokémon continues to be one of our‘evergreen’ franchises. Over ten years since the first titleappeared in Europe, Pokémon games have regularly soldin large numbers. In the last quarter alone, five differentPokémon games appeared in the overall top 100 DStitles chart.

Globally, we have now sold over 180 million units ofPokémon software and we plan to continue releasingmore exciting products for some time to come.Roger Langford: In the UK the Pokémon franchise hasbeen a staple for all Nintendo handheld consoles sincePokémon Red and Blue were launched in Europe in 1999.Our most successful release, Pokémon Yellow, launched atthe height of the Pokémon craze in 2000, sold just over900,000 copies.

When was the last major Pokémon release on DS?RL: There have been many successful Pokémon releaseson DS since its launch in 2005. Last year saw the release ofMystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Darkness, as well asthe sequel to Pokémon Ranger, Pokémon Ranger: Shadowsof Almia. Both titles sold well throughout 2008.

Before these three titles, the Nintendo DS was home tothe most successful Pokémon launch for many years in theform of Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl in 2007.JH: As Pokémon Platinum is the companion title toPokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl we hope it will be apopular title. We have a huge, loyal fan base for thesetitles who will be eager to experience the new elementsof Pokémon Platinum like the new ‘Distortion World’ thatwill offer an experience unlike anything seen on Pokémonbefore. Plus, with the ever-increasing installed base ofNintendo DS we have lots of potential new owners andthey will be our focus for this launch.

What are the major gameplay advances in Platinum?RL: Platinum offers Pokémon fans all new adventures,locations and new Pokémon Forms. As James mentioned,for the first time players will be able to explore theDistortion World and encounter Girantina in its new‘Origin Forme’.

Plus, players who enjoy battling will also be treated to animproved Battle Frontier containing four new battle facilitieseach with their own special rules. Add to this a whole host

of new online features in the Wi-Fi Plaza and you have amust-have title for Pokémon fans young and old.

What are the online elements and how important arethey to the full enjoyment of the game?RL: The introduction of the Wi-Fi Plaza in PokémonPlatinum allows up to 20 players to connect wirelessly orvia the internet through the exchange of friend codes.Once connected they can play various mini-games, takepart in a parade and even see a fireworks show. Theaddition of being able to play against other Pokémon fansin these new games adds to the already huge socialaspect of Pokémon.

The Global Terminal is again present, offering players thechance to trade Pokémon with others from around theworld. A new feature of the new Global Terminal allowsplayers to record and post ‘videos’ of their best battlesonline. Pokémon Platinum brings the online aspect of thegame to the fore and makes taking your Nintendo DSonline essential to get the most out of Pokémon Platinum.

What sort of reaction did the title get when it wasreleased in Japan?RL: When Platinum was released in Japan last September,one million copies were sold in the first three days of launch.To date 2.4 million copies of Platinum have been sold andthis number is continually rising. These numbers show thehuge appetite for Pokémon and we hope to replicate someof this success on these shores with this latest release.

How high are expectation levels in the UK? RL: Pokémon Platinum is certainly high on the priority thisyear for DS. We aim to make this a must have title for allPokémon fans, as well as open up the brand to new userswho may never have played Pokémon before.JH: Overall this will be one of our biggest releases thisyear, with full year-long promotional activity planned.We hope that with the launch of the greatest Pokémongame so far that we can open this series of games to amuch wider audience and ensure its success for the nextten years.

Will Platinum be the bestselling Pokémon game so farin the UK?RL: We have seen in the past with Pokémon titles that thecompanion title has always performed well.

Senior product manager James Honeywell and product manager Roger Langford outline the reasonswhy Pokémon Platinum will be one of the biggest releases of the year…

Honeywell (top) and Langford are co-ordinating a UK campaign thattakes in two major bursts of TVactivity plus a major tour this summer.

We hope to improve on this with Platinum by engaginga wider audience who have chosen Nintendo DS as theirpreferred choice for the last couple of years.

What sort of marketing effort are you putting behindthe release?RL: Pokémon Platinum is a key title for Nintendo DS in2009 and will have a huge marketing campaign tosupport it. JH: For example we have already had a two-week pre-order campaign on TV that started to raise awareness ofthe upcoming title over six weeks before launch and hasdriven a lot of orders. This unprecedented sort of activitywill ensure a successful launch. RL: We will then continue the TV activity at launch withan even bigger two-week campaign aimed athousewives and kids covering all major terrestrialand multi channel stations. We will also berunning an extensive online campaign for twomonths across this whole periodtargeting major gamer and kid’swebsites. Moving into the summerwe are planning a major Pokémontour but we will confirm details onthis later.JH: That’s right, our plannedactivity for Pokémon Platinumisn’t just limited to the launchperiod, we have activity comingthroughout the summer holidaysand on into the peak season whichwill give this title one of ourbiggest ever campaigns.

Does the Pokémonaudience keepexpanding, or is it a finiteuniverse, do you think?RL: The huge success ofNintendo DS and now Nintendo DSiwith a combined install base over ninemillion will open the Pokémon franchise up to anew audience that may never have experiencedPokémon games in the past. We aim to make Pokémonaccessible to this audience and hopefully gain newfans in the process.

Pokémon Platinum is gearing up to be biggest Pokémon release on DSto date. The marketing around Pokémon Platinum will serve to bothwhet the appetite of Pokémon fans and gamers, as well as open up thefranchise to those not yet familiar with Pokémon...

� TVPlatinum will have a heavyweight two-week TVcampaign from launch running through until the endof May, targeting both adults and kids. As part of thefocus on kids there will also be sponsorship with Jetix.However, this was not the start of the TV activity.Throughout March there was a pre-order campaign tohype up the launch of Platinum, which also targetedboth adults and kids through the Easter break.

� OnlineFrom the beginning of the pre-order TV activity rightthrough to the summer, there will be an online presencefor Pokémon Platinum across gamer and kids websites.

� Point of SaleIn-store, Platinum will have a range of assets fromwobblers and countertop standees to FSDUs and cubes.The main POS image features the mysterious Giratina.

MARKETINGTV • ONLINE • POS

N GAMER 89%“Pokémon isn’t kids’ stuff. Whenyou look past the cards, thecartoons, and the Pikachulunchboxes there's a core gamethat's one of the most complexand customisable around.

It's perhaps the mostaccomplished battle system inany RPG, thanks to thecombination of that infinite loopof move and counter-move andits personable menagerie ofmice, dragons, bats, penguinsand (cough) fridges.

The online functionality isthe finest there's ever been in aPokémon game.

If you've never played aPokémon game before, Platinumis the series' high point.

In the simplest terms: as agame, Pokémon Platinum ishuge. As an obsession, it’sendless.”

TOXIC 4/5“I love the variety of newfeatures since Diamond & Pearl,particularly the increasedinteractive capacities.”

WATCHMEDIA

WIN

FIVE COPIES OF

POKÉMON PLATINUM

Send your answer to platinum@intentmedia.co.uk

Which TV duo were early champions of the Pokémoncraze on their Saturday morning TV show?

COMPETITION COMPETITION COMPETITION

A) Ant and Dec B) Slug and Lettuce C) Bootsie and Snudge

To celebrate the release of Pokémon Platinum exclusively on Nintendo DS on May 22nd, Nintendo is offering youthe chance to win five copies. To be in with a shout, just answer the following question...

www.nintendo.co.uk

© 2009 Pokémon. © 1995 - 2009 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.Nintendo DS, Pokémon and Pokémon character names are trademarks of Nintendo. © 2009 Nintendo