1996, the year that:
Oasis play legendary Knebworth gig
Several children are tragically killed in the Dunblane massacre
FIFA announce Asia as the 2002 World Cup hosts
Steve Jobs computer company NeXT is bought by Apple
And, not forgetting, the very first Pokemon games appear in Japan for the original Gameboy
How retro does that look?
15 years later and there's no signs of stopping what can only be called a cultural phenomenon. In fact the game franchise seems as strong as ever. Currently, despite big titles like Bulletstorm and Dead Space 2, good old Pokemon holds the top two spots of the UK gaming charts.
As it stands White is in at #1 with Black at #2
With the 3DS on the horizon Pokemon fans old and young are in for a treat, and pokemon haters, you're going to have to put up with it for a few more years yet. I don't think even I could resist Pikachu in 3D to be honest.
Though the thought that a few of my friends (in their twenties) still love a cheeky Pokemon game is slightly worrying. In fact one posted on Facebook today "Playing a bit of the new Pokemon at work."
So how about you, do you love it or hate it, or just not understand it?