POKÉMON ORGANIZED PLAY ANNOUNCES 2005 TRADING CARD GAME WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Pokémon Company | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BELLEVUE, Wash. - January 10, 2005 - Pokémon USA, Inc. (PUI), a worldwide leader in the trading card game industry, today announced that the 2005 Pokémon^® Trading Card Game (TCG) World Championships^TM will take place in San Diego, Calif. The Pokémon TCG World Championships are the ultimate test of a player's Pokémon TCG skill, strategy and creativity, and award the most prestigious title offered by Pokémon Organized Play (POP)-Pokémon TCG World Champion. More than 400 players of this intellectual sport from over 30 countries will be awarded the chance to compete at this invitation-only event.

The Competition:

The Pokémon TCG World Championships will take place at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center San Diego August 19-21, 2005. Players are divided into three age groups: 10 and younger; 11 through 14; and 15 and older. The top 32 winners in each age category win Pokémon prize packages, and the top 16 winners receive scholarship awards ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. The top three players are awarded a Pokémon TCG World Championship trophy. The champions in each age category will receive an invitation and travel award to compete at the 2006 World Championships.

The Players:

The World Championships invite structure in North American includes the top players from each of the three age groups in the Pokémon TCG Gym Challenge^TM series; Pokémon TCG Regional Championships series; Pokémon TCG National Championships^TM; "Last Chance Qualifier" on August 19 at the World Championships venue; and the top four in each age category from the 2004 World Championships. The invite structure for international players includes the top two players from each age category in the Pokémon TCG National Championships^TM and top players from each age category in Pokémon TCG Stadium Challenges^TM in participating countries.

"Year after year, Pokémon Organized Play has inspired and challenged TCG players from around the world in a positive and rewarding environment," said Susan Scheid, senior marketing manager at Pokémon USA, Inc. "The Pokémon TCG World Championships are the ultimate event, providing kids the opportunity to build confidence in their strategic skills, socialize with their peers, and experience a number of cultures and languages."

Getting Involved:

For more information about joining leagues and participating in Gym Challenges, tournaments, and the Championships Series, visit http://op.pokemon-tcg.com/. The website gives players access to all upcoming events and provides information about leagues across the country and Pokémon retailers nearest you.

The Town and Country Resort and Convention Center is located at 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108. For hotel information, call (619) 291-7131 or visit www.towncountry.com

About Pokémon USA, Inc., and Pokémon Organized Play:

Pokémon USA, Inc., a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia, and oversees the licensing activities; brand promotions; publication of the trading card game; TV animation; home video entertainment; the official Pokémon website; the Pokémon Center NY in Rockefeller Center and Pokemoncenter.com, an e-commerce site. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 for play on Nintendo's Game Boy^® and has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Pokémon was introduced in North America in September of 1998 and has since generated over $15 billion in worldwide sales. More than 45 million Pokémon video games have been sold in the U.S., including Pokémon Ruby and Pokémon Sapphire, which were the #2 and #3 best-selling video games of 2003. The trading card game, fueled by organized play programs around the world, has spurred global sales of more than 13 billion cards to date, while the Pokémon animated series on Kids' WB!, now in its seventh season, consistently ranks within the top three shows for boys ages 6-11 in the United States. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com.

Contact:

Ashley Wolfe

Barokas Public Relations

206-264-8220

[email protected]