Pokémon’s E3 1998 Reveal Is Wild To Watch Nearly 30 Years Later

Key Points:

• The original 1998 E3 showcase for Pokémon, archived by the Video Game History Foundation, offers a rare look at how the franchise was pitched to retailers before its global explosion.
• Unlike modern E3 presentations focused on gamers, the 1998 event was more clinical and business-oriented, emphasizing sales figures and market potential rather than gameplay or player experience.
• The presentation highlighted Pokémon’s success in Japan and aimed to assure retailers of its commercial viability, with little emphasis on the series’ themes like friendship or trading mechanics.
• An early version of the Pokémon anime theme song was featured, using the tagline “Catch ‘em if you can!” instead of the now-iconic “Gotta catch ‘em all!” indicating changes made before the U.S. launch.
• This E3 event took place just months before Pokémon’s official U.S. debut, marking a pivotal moment in the franchise’s transition from a Japanese hit to a worldwide phenomenon.