<P> The Pokémon franchise started off in its first generation with its initial release of Pocket Monsters Aka and Midori ( `` Red '' and `` Green '' , respectively ) for the Game Boy in Japan on February 27 , 1996 . When these games proved extremely popular , an enhanced Ao ( `` Blue '' ) version was released sometime after , and the Ao version was reprogrammed as Pokémon Red and Blue for international release . The games launched in the United States on September 30 , 1998 . The original Aka and Midori versions were never released outside Japan . Afterwards , a further enhanced version titled Pokémon Yellow : Special Pikachu Edition was released to partially take advantage of the color palette of the Game Boy Color , as well as to feature more elements from the popular Pokémon anime . This first generation of games introduced the original 151 species of Pokémon , in National Pokédex order , encompassing all Pokémon from Bulbasaur to Mew . It also introduced the basic game concepts of capturing , training , battling , and trading Pokémon with both computer and human players . These versions of the games take place within the fictional Kanto region , inspired by the real world Kantō region of Japan , though the name `` Kanto '' was not used until the second generation . </P>
<P> The Pokémon franchise started off in its first generation with its initial release of Pocket Monsters Aka and Midori ( `` Red '' and `` Green '' , respectively ) for the Game Boy in Japan on February 27 , 1996 . When these games proved extremely popular , an enhanced Ao ( `` Blue '' ) version was released sometime after , and the Ao version was reprogrammed as Pokémon Red and Blue for international release . The games launched in the United States on September 30 , 1998 . The original Aka and Midori versions were never released outside Japan . Afterwards , a further enhanced version titled Pokémon Yellow : Special Pikachu Edition was released to partially take advantage of the color palette of the Game Boy Color , as well as to feature more elements from the popular Pokémon anime . This first generation of games introduced the original 151 species of Pokémon , in National Pokédex order , encompassing all Pokémon from Bulbasaur to Mew . It also introduced the basic game concepts of capturing , training , battling , and trading Pokémon with both computer and human players . These versions of the games take place within the fictional Kanto region , inspired by the real world Kantō region of Japan , though the name `` Kanto '' was not used until the second generation . </P>
when did pokemon come out in the usa
when did pokemon come out in the usa
September 30 , 1998
September 30 , 1998