The Dawn Of A Brand New Pokémon Adventure!

25th July 2007- The time is here! Following the most successful launch of any Pokémon title in Japan ever and with over one million games flying off the shelves in the first week of launch in the US, the ultimate Pokémon adventure, Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl, arrives in Europe this week. With brand new features never seen before in a Pokémon game, players can expect to meet over 100 new Pokémon and battle prized Pokémon with friends online, as well as having the opportunity to chat with them anywhere in the world through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service.

Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl is a brand new and exciting Pokémon adventure crafted to specifically utilise the features of the Nintendo DS, including its unique touch screen, online capabilities and microphone - enabling Voice-Chat capabilities for the first time. Played using a combination of buttons and stylus, this allows players to quickly and accurately control their battling Pokémon. The games are also fully compatible with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service allowing players to battle, trade and chat with friends from across the globe! If that was not enough, using the Nintendo DS's local wireless connection, players can also compete in numerous alternative gameplay opportunities ranging from cooking 'Poffin' with up to three other friends, or why not explore a huge network of underground tunnels with up to seven friends?

In this epic adventure, players assume the role of a Pokémon Trainer on the beautiful region of Sinnoh where they soon encounter the Pokémon obsessed Professor Rowan. His mission is to document all the species of Pokémon using his special Pokédex and he needs all the help he can get, so enlists players to lend a hand. This means leaving their home in Twinleaf Town and travelling around Sinnoh, however while doing this, players must also work towards their ultimate goal of becoming Pokémon League Champion. This prestigious honour is only bestowed upon players who have battled and defeated all eight Pokémon Gym Leaders as well as the Elite Four and the current Champion!

Collecting and battling Pokémon is a crucial part of the game and with over 100 new Pokémon to catch it's essential to hone your training skills. Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl also allows previously captured Pokémon from all the most recent Pokémon series on the Game Boy Advance (Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire versions, FireRed & LeafGreen versions and Pokemon Emerald version) to be imported, meaning a true Pokémon fanatic can capture well over 400 Pokémon in the game!

Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl also see the addition of a new exclusive Pokémon to capture! Pokémon Trainers who have completed the Manaphy Egg mission in Pokémon Ranger on Nintendo DS will now be able to transfer the Manaphy Egg to Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl. Here it will hatch into Manaphy, an extremely rare Pokémon who can't be captured any other way, so make sure you don't miss out! Check out www.manaphy.eu ; for details.

An all-new exciting element for all Pokémon fans is the opportunity to visit the Pokémon Centre Wi-Fi Club within the game. By swapping Friend Codes, here for the first time in a Pokémon adventure players will be able to engage in Voice-Chat with friends while battling and trading Pokémon! There's also the all new Global Trade Station where you can trade Pokémon safely and anonymously with any other player from around the world. And if you can make it to the Battle Tower you'll have the chance to pit your wits against other Trainers from anywhere in the world, by downloading their Pokémon data via the Nintendo WiFi Connection service.

Great online opportunities are not all Pokémon Diamond and Pearl has to offer. Using the local wireless network, link up with friends close by in the Pokémon Wireless Club Union Room to not only battle and trade, but also send messages and draw. Something else friends can do is visit the Pokémon Contest Hall in Hearthome City to take part in the Pokémon Super Contest, where trainers can enter their Pokémon into a talent contest. Going head to head in this contest with up to three other people makes this the ultimate Pokémon competition!

If setting out on an adventure of this scale seems a little overwhelming, don't worry. The official Pokémon scenario guide is out on the same day to help you navigate your way through Sinnoh without missing a single elusive Pokémon! With detailed maps of every region of the game, this book is a must-have if you want to complete your Pokédex.

The UK sees an exclusive launch event at Hamleys, London on Thursday 26th July. For 200 lucky fans in the UK, not only will they be able to get hold of the game one day early, but chart topping sensation McFly will also be making a special appearance. To avoid disappointment and to gain entry to this limited pre-sale event, fans will need to pre-order their copy of Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl now at GAME in Hamleys (02072875486) or GAME Oxford Street (02076377911.) *

So get ready to catch Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl as they land in store across Europe on Nintendo DS this Friday 27th July 2007 at an estimated retail price of around £24.99.

For further information please contact the Nintendo Press Office on 020 73073103

*The first 200 customers to pre order the either Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl in GAME Hamleys or GAME Oxford Street will be allowed access to the signing. This 200 will be made up of 100 Diamond pre-orders and 100 Pearl. Tickets are only available while stocks last.

About Nintendo

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCube systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.4 billion video games and more than 409 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zelda and Pokémon®. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.

About Pokémon

Pokémon UK, a branch of Pokémon USA, Inc., based in London, UK, manages and oversees the Pokémon franchise in UK, Europe and Africa which includes licensing, merchandising, TV animation, theatrical releases, home video entertainment and publication. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 for the Game Boy®, the world's best-selling video game system. The Pokémon franchise is now a worldwide phenomenon. Since Pokémon was first introduced into Europe in October 1999, over 37 million Pokémon video games have been sold across Europe, making it the fastest selling video games ever. Pokémon merchandise has generated over $25 billion in worldwide retail sales to date. The Trading Card Game, fuelled by organized play programmes in 47 countries, has spurred global sales of 14 billion cards to date.