Pokemon game hits stores

The Pokémon Company has announced that its Pokémon Trading Cards have arrived in South Africa and are set to go on sale today. The cards will allow players to build their own decks around their favourite Pokémon and battle against other players to see who the best Pokémon trainer is. The cards are available from Toys R Us, Reggies, BT Games and Toyzone stores across South Africa.

An exciting new era of Pokémon gets even better as Pokémon Trading Cards arrive in South Africa, set for official release on May 19th, 2011.

The Pok√©mon Company International is a subsidiary of The Pok√©mon Company in Japan. The Pok√©mon phenomenon began in Japan in 1996 and gave rise to, what is today, one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. With more than 11 movies, 12 seasons of television shows (one of which is currently showing on eTV on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 15:30 to 16:00 and Sundays from 10:30 to 11:00, with the latest Generation of Pok√©mon, Pok√©mon Black & White, set for broadcast in late 2011), a thriving Trading Card Game, and over 25 video games, The Pok√©mon Company International continues to deliver a wide range of fun, family-friendly entertainment.

The Pok√©mon Trading Card Game has also been popular for more than 10 years and is a world-wide leader in the industry. In the Pok√©mon Trading Card Game, players build decks of paper cards around their favorite Pok√©mon and then play against each other, sending their Pok√©mon into battle to prove who the best Pok√©mon Trainer is. Players can begin with theme decks‚Äîpre-constructed decks designed to cover the basics of the game. Then, they can augment their card collections with booster packs that provide more cards, letting players develop more diverse decks. With thousands of cards to choose from, the game is never the same twice. The Pok√©mon Company International releases four sets of cards, called “expansions,”” each year, so the game continues to evolve and expand for both players and collectors.

The Pokémon Legacy begins in South Africa with the Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion which includes three Pokémon TCG: Black & White theme decks РGreen Tornado, Red Frenzy and Blue Assault Рand expansion 10-card booster packs. The four boosters featuring brand-new Pokémon on their packaging РReshiram, Zekrom, Zoroark and Zebstrika Рwith each booster pack including one guaranteed parallel foil card. Discover a legion of over 70 never-before-seen Pokémon from the newly explored Unova region, including new, starter Pokémon Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott, as well as powerful new Pokémon like Zoroark, Galvantula and Reuniclus, plus many more! The new Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion comes battle-ready with over 110 cards, including the legendary Reshiram and Zekrom, both featuring never-before-seen art that covers the entire card. Best of all, only Pokémon from the Unova region appear in the expansion.

Features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion:

• Over 70 never-before-seen Pokémon from the brand-new Unova region

• New card frame expands the image of the Pokémon on each card

‚Ä¢ Reshiram and Zekrom cards feature a unique foil, and for the first time are given a ‚full art‚ treatment covering the entire card

• Three new theme decks РGreen Tornado, Red Frenzy and Blue Assault Рinclude a special code to unlock an identical digital deck ready for battle in Pokémon TCGO: Trainer Challenge online game.

Pokémon Trading Card Game products will be available for purchase from the following retailers:

• Toyzone

• Toys R Us

• Reggies

• BT Games

For more information about the Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion, please visit www.pokemon.com

For more information about Pokémon TCGO: Trainer Challenge, please visit www.pokemontcg.com

“