Before Game Freak created Pokémon, it was a hand-stapled video game zine written by a crew of arcade-loving teenagers.
Welcome to the debut episode of Past Games, the new Patreon-exclusive series dedicated to revisiting the stories behind classic games and gaming moments. Over the next few months, we'll be flipping through dusty periodicals and dog-eared history books to learn more about 2026's big gaming anniversaries.
For this episode, I invited my buddy Brendon Bigley (Wavelengths, Into the Aether) to talk pocket monsters. I share the history of the biggest children's entertainment icon since Mickey Mouse, and Brendon shares his experience of growing up alongside the rise of Pokémania.
Stories discussed:
Beware of the Pokemania - 1999 (Time/Archive.org)
The Ultimate Game Freak (Time/Archive.org)
Windom Vs Alien Cools HD (Ultraseven Series First Battle) (TokuMax)
1998 KFC promotional Pokémon toys (Bulbapedia)
Pokémon: Little. Yellow. Different. Better. (Slate)
COVER STORY: Masters of the Universe, Youth Division (NYTimes)
Pokémon Is One Powerful Drawing Card (LATimes)
Pokémon mania sweeps the United States (CNN)
Are Your Children Nuts About Little Cartoon Creatures From Japan? Don't Know Why? The Diagnosis Is Simple: -- Pokemon Fever (Seattle Times)
Pokemon history
Pikachu's global adventure: the rise and fall of Pokémon (Archive.org)
Pokémon Red review (IGN)
Magician ends 20-year battle with Nintendo over Pokémon card (Polygon)
Translation: Satoshi Tajiri Cuts Loose (1997 Interview) (lavacutcontent)
Is the Hottest Investment Pokémon Cards? (WSJ)