15 Ways Pokemon Helped to Keep Handheld Video Gaming Alive (Prize inside)

Image via Complex Original

Pokémon is the king of promotion, and they go a long way when it comes to attracting buyers. You see McDonald's toys featuring your favorite monsters and are immediately reminded of the games, series, comics, or other media. What if you don't have one? Maybe your system was lost or you sold it. Great excuse to go out and get a new one while you're thinking about it, right? You'll probably pick up a new Pokémon title while you're at it too, and before you know it you've bolstered sales, even just by a little bit. Think about that effect multiplied all over the world, and you've got an idea of how the series can help keep handhelds afloat.

The only way you've ever been able to enjoy a proper Pokémon game is via handheld. Sure, we've had departures across other systems, but to have the genuine experience you need a Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, DS, 3DS, and so on. The legions of fans Pokémon has amassed over the years are ravenous, and continue to purchase new systems even if they don't need to upgrade, just because of Pokémon. This of course sends a clear message: fans are buying, and will continue to buy handhelds to play Pokémon, the flagship title.

When you've established a bond between player and distributor via handheld promotions and sales, you can think about the content and how it affects the player base. Pokémon games are long, complex and everyone wants to complete their Pokédex. This means they're sticking with their devices much longer, forming bonds that likely aren't broken even when the machine does. They know they're getting great value, and come back to purchase more, time and time again. Think of your last Pokémon completion time and compare it with a triple-A treat—we can guarantee it's going to run circles around your next-gen eye candy.

People are already buying multiple systems. To make more money and get more revenue back into the pool, splitting up Pokémon into several different releases is a tactic that strengthens the handheld market because people enjoy variety and having it all. They want to know they have choices, but in the end they come back and fill in the gaps in their collection.

Pokémon fans are numerous and loyal. They're all around the world, and they like to spend money on their favorite brand, no matter how much it is. Think of all the money spent on Pokémon products over the years by these millions of fans and how much money that's generating. Word of mouth counts as well—they'll tell one person, they'll tell another, and before you know it there's a global network of Pokémon fans anxiously awaiting the next release. It's a beautiful thing, and great for the gaming community.

Promotions all over the world have an enormous impact on Pokémon sales, which then turn into money, strengthening the handheld market. Tie-ins, however, are even better. Take an already tremendously popular company like Pizza Hut pizza and add Pokémon products to one of their campaigns. Everyone who purchases a pizza will now get an eyeful of the monsters as a reminder that a new game is available. It's yet another revenue-generating opportunity that eventually translates into the purchase of more handheld systems.

The legacy of Pokémon spreads beyond the scope of collecting and squaring off against other monsters. You can play pinball, the trading card game, puzzle challenges, dungeon adventures, and more. You name it, it's probably been done. Pokémon doesn't encompass only monster battles, and that makes it easier to branch out to other titles on handhelds. There are other options if the main games don't seem to work out for you, so people can still purchase the systems they desire.

Multiplayer is an extremely important mode to have, as well as interactivity. Pokémon games work well with handhelds because in modern times we've eschewed the link cable and it's easier than ever to link up with friends to battle, compete, and trade. It's easy for anyone to jump in and do so as well, and the ease of handhelds makes this possible. You don't even have to worry about being at home to do it .

One of the reasons Pokémon is so popular is because it's so accessible to people from all walks of life. Even players who have never experienced a video game before can jump in and start learning immediately. Kids, adults, the elderly—anyone who wants to play—are all succeptable to Pokémon addiction. Anyone can purchase a handheld, and in today's busy world it's easier than ever to game on the move. The very nature of the Pokémon series allows players to start and stop whenever they want so anyone from the attention deficient to those with nothing but time to spare can have the same experience without the fear of missing out on something cool in the game.

Next to the Mario games, Pokémon is Nintendo's flagship title. You automatically associate the two, and when many parents or members of the family decide they want to purchase video games or handhelds for their family, they think Nintendo. The company's clean and approachable image has created a brand in video games market that they've locked down for a long time. Nintendo is the happy, fun time company and that's why you'll see litle kids with a DS more than anything else. Add to the that a cute, yellow creature that smiles all the time and you've got something more wholesome than anything else you'll see out there. 

The sheer popularity of Pokémon alone is enough to bolster sales of handheld systems. Think about how many people are out there who made their X & Y runs at launch. It boggles the mind. A good portion of the people at the stores, didn't even have a system to play it on. That means they'll have to buy one that's most likely branded with Poke-ganda.

You can't dispute the fact that Pokémon is pure, unadulterated fun. Marketing hype aside, it's a great game. Whether you enjoy collecting, battling or taking in the sights, there's something in it for everyone. It's the game that you lose hours inside on a rainy afternoon, and the one you plan on purchasing with friends for months in advance, discussing who's going to get which version, which starter, and why.