Pokémon Mini

Pokémon Mini in "Wooper blue"
Manufacturer	Nintendo The Pokémon Company
Type	Handheld game console
Generation	Sixth
Release date	NA: November 16, 2001 JP: December 14, 2001[1] EU: March 15, 2002[2]
Introductory price	US$40 (equivalent to $71 in 2024)[3] ¥4,800 (equivalent to ¥4,951 in 2019)[4] £40 (equivalent to £84 in 2023)[5]
Media	ROM cartridge
CPU	S1C88 @ 4 MHz
Memory	4 KBSRAM
Storage	4 KBBIOS ROM, 8 KB EEPROM (6 save "files")
Display	MonochromeLCD, 96 × 64 px
Power	1 ×AAA battery, up to 60 hours
Dimensions	74 × 58 × 23 mm (2.91 × 2.28 × 0.91 in)
Weight	70 g (2.5 oz) with cartridge and battery
Related	Pokémon Pikachu

ThePokémon Mini^[a] (stylized asPokémon mini) is ahandheld game console designed and manufactured byNintendo in collaboration withThe Pokémon Company. It was originally released in North America on November 16, 2001; followed up with Japan the following month and Europe in March 2002. The system is themed around thePokémon franchise and is the smallest Nintendo system ever produced with interchangeablecartridges, weighing just under 70 grams (2.5 oz).

The Pokémon Mini features a monochromedot-matrix display, adirectional pad, threeaction buttons, a speaker, areal-time clock, aninfrared data port formultiplayer gaming, areed switch to detect when the device is shaken, and amotor forforce feedback. The console was available in three color variants named after Pokémon characters: "Wooper Blue," "Chikorita Green," and "Smoochum Purple."

The device is powered by the8-bit S1C88CPU with 16-bitinstructions, custom-designed by theNintendo R&D3 team and manufactured byEpson. This processor, clocked at 4 MHz, manages game execution, user input, and graphical output.^[6][7]

The device features a monochromedot-matrix display with a resolution of 96 x 64pixels and arefresh rate of 30frames per second. Unlike the Game Boy, it lacks the ability to display shades of grey and does not rely on adisplay driver. Instead, it uses a "Picture Rendering Controller" to transfer image data from memory to its internalframebuffer before outputting it to the screen.^[4][8]

Input is provided by aD-pad for movement, threeaction buttons labeled "A", "B", and theshoulder-mounted "C", a power button, and areed switch called the "shock sensor" capable of detecting motion, allowing players to interact with certain games by shaking the device and allowed the device to function as apedometer.^[4] The system includes a built-inrumble feature forhaptic feedback.^[3][9] An infrared communication function capable of operating up to 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) away, enables multiplayer gaming between up to six Pokémon Mini devices.^[4][10] Game states can be saved to the 8 KBEEPROM, which provides six internal save files, though the number of files used per save varies by game.^[11][12]

Games are stored onGame Pak cartridges, which could have up to held up to 2 MB of game ROM,^[13] although all commercially available games are under 500 KB.^[14] Internally, the 4 KBBIOS ROM initializes the system and handles power management, as the console remains in a suspended state rather than fully powering off.^[15] The console includes 4 KB of internalstatic RAM, which is shared with video processing functions.^[14] A battery-backedreal-time clock allows the device to function as awatch and enabled time-based features in games.^[10] Audio is produced by a single-channelsquare-wave generator with adjustablepulse width and three volume settings (0, 50, and 100 percent).^[16]

It is the smallest Nintendo system ever produced with interchangeablecartridges,^[17] measuring 74 millimeters (2.9 in) in height, 58 millimeters (2.3 in) in width, and 23 millimeters (0.91 in) in depth. With a cartridge and battery inserted, it weighs 70 grams (2.5 oz). Powered by a singleAAA battery, Nintendo estimated a battery life of up to 60 hours of gameplay.^[18]

The Pokémon Mini was first released in North America on November 16, 2001. The system was exclusively sold atPokémon Center New York which opened on the same day.^[19] On November 19, it became nationally available as a launch item on the Pokémon Center website.^[20] it was Nintendo's least expensive console ever produced atUS$45 (equivalent to $80 in 2024) and camebundled with the gamePokémon Party mini.

The system was later launched in Japan on December 14, 2001, and was sold at a specific lineup of retailers^[21] with a stand-alone version later being sold at a reduced price; and eventually in Europe on March 15, 2002.

Sales of the Pokémon Mini were poor, and only ten official games were produced, with five remaining exclusive to Japan, five released in Europe, and four in North America. In later years, hobbyistsreverse-engineered the device, enablinghomebrew development andemulation of official titles on other platforms.

A total of ten games were officially released for the Pokémon Mini. While all were available in Japan, only four were released in North America and five in Europe. Due to low sales and limited interest in the system, later titles were not translated from Japanese. These titles would eventually receivefan translations. Games sold forUS$10 (equivalent to $18 in 2024) in the United States^[3] and¥1,200 (equivalent to ¥1,238 in 2019) in Japan.^[22]

Games were mostly developed by Denyusha^[23] or Jupiter^[24] and published by The Pokémon Company in Japan and by Nintendo in other regions.

Pokémon Party mini^[b] is aminigame collection developed by Denyusha. It includes six minigames which all take advantage of the system's capabilities and abilities:

• Hitmonchan's Boxing: As aHitmonchan battling against aMachop in a boxing match, the player must shake the system to 'punch'.
• Pikachu's Rocket Start: As aPikachu, the player must launch off a starting line before another Pokémon (ARattata,Eevee and another Pikachu). Pikachu can run using the buttons or shaking the system. AnElekid gives the signals which is achieved through the system's rumble ability.
• Bellossom's Dance: Arhythm game. As aBellossom playing against two other Bellossom, the player must match the right moves with the D-Pad, and shake the system to jump.
• Chansey's Dribble: A simple soccer dribbling game. As aChansey, the player must use the D-pad to position the ball, and make sure Chansey kicks it into the finish line as quickly as possible.
• Slowking's Judge: As aSlowking, the player predicts if a tennis ball will land in or out of the court.
• Sneasel's Fakeout: Arock paper scissors-like game for two players. As twoSneasel, the players decide who is on defense and offense in a game of Basketball.

Additional modes include "Battlefield", where two to six players battle for the highest score in the aforementioned minigames, and "Celebi's Clock", a clock with date, alarm and stopwatch function.^[3]

Pokémon Pinball mini^[c] is apinball game developed by Jupiter. The player uses Pokémon such as aDiglett or a Pikachu as the 'bumping' mechanism. Along the way, players can catch more Pokémon for use, and other Pokémon can function as level obstacle elements. There are 70 "Quest" levels, and 10 levels each in Time Attack and Score Attack modes.

Pokémon Puzzle Collection^[d] is apuzzle minigame collection developed by Jupiter. It features four different game types, which can unlock over 80 Pokémon in the game's "Minidex".

• Motion Puzzle: A sliding game where a moving image of a Pokémon has to be unscrambled by the player.
• Shadow Puzzle: The player must find different shapes and put them together to make an image of a Pokémon.
• Rescue Mission: A Pokémon is trapped, and the player must remove the blocks so they can access the rest of the maze.
• Power On: APipe Dream-like game where one has to connect a Pikachu to a light bulb, creating acircuit.

Pokémon Zany Cards^[e] is acard game compilation developed by Denyusha. It includes fourplaying card games featuring Pokémon-themed cards and characters from thePokémon anime.

• Wild Match: The player battles against other characters from thePokémon anime by making the most evolutionary matches, which at turn gives out coins, with the player who has the most coins winning.
• Special Seven: The player battling with otherPokémon anime characters must get rid of their hand of cards, which can be determined by suit or matching Pokémon.
• Card Duel: A two-player only game where the players must attempt to get each other's deck with the highest valued card.
• Four Kings: A single-playerSolitaire-type game where cards must be stacked into a specific order, while Magikarp (which functions as the "King") must top the deck off.

Pokémon Tetris^[f] is a puzzle game developed byNintendo. It plays like most versions ofTetris, but in addition to traditional piece rotation, shaking the system will cause falling pieces to flip horizontally. All of the Pokémon fromPokémon Gold andSilver can be "caught" and added to the in-game Pokédex, although rarer Pokémon can only be found on higher difficulty levels.

The game was not released in North America, but was rated by theESRB under the titlePokémon Mini Shock Tetris, suggesting it was planned for release.^[27]

Pokémon Puzzle Collection Vol. 2^[g] is a puzzle minigame collection developed by Jupiter, and is the sequel toPokémon Puzzle Collection. In addition to the returning "Motion Puzzle" and "Shadow Puzzle" modes, two new modes have been added:

• Pick-Up Puzzle: The player clears Poké Balls on the field in a forward-only position, and can only move if Poké Balls are faced in the respective direction.
• Stretch Puzzle: The player, through a given number, must fill gaps in a grid by stretching bars.

The game was not released in Europe or North America, but was rated by the ESRB under the titlePokémon Mini Puzzle Collection Vol. 2, suggesting it was planned for release.^[28]

Pokémon Race mini^[h] is aplatform racing game developed by Jupiter. Similar to the later-releasedPokémon Dash, the player controls a Pikachu and races against other Pokémon including a Chikorita, Wooper, Pichu, and Sandshrew in a competition for the fastest Pokémon.

Pichu Bros. mini^[i] is a minigame compilation developed by Denyusha, and is the sequel toPokémon Party mini. It features six new minigames based on the Pichu Bros. specials:

• Skate Pichu: Anendless runner game where as one of thePichu Bros., the player must avoid obstacles by shaking the system.
• Magby's Hot-Air Balloon: AsMagby, the player must land a hot-air balloon on an island without falling into the sea.
• Hoppip's Jump: The player must press the C button at the right time to makeHoppip jump.
• Teddiursa's Shaking Fruits: By shaking the system, the player must makeTeddiursa eat a piece of fruit in the shortest amount of time.
• Smoochum's Angel Kiss: Awhac-a-mole-type game where the player, asSmoochum, must attempt to kiss the Diglett that pop out of the holes by pressing the buttons at the right time.
• Cubone's Bone Club Fight: AsCubone, the player must shake the system to throw the bone and make sure it hits the target.

The "Battlefield" and "Clock" modes also return from the original.

Togepi's Great Adventure^[j] is a top-down action puzzle game developed by Jupiter. The player guidesTogepi out of maze-like levels in a tower while avoiding obstacles and other Pokémon. The game features over 200 levels spread across three towers.

Pokémon Breeder mini^[k] is avirtual pet game developed by Jupiter. The player is given an egg that hatches into aTreecko,Torchic orMudkip. The player must keep the Pokémon happy by feeding it, playing with it, and using toys. Feeding the Pokémon with special Pokéblocks can improve its stats.

The 2003GameCube gamePokémon Channel has an in-game Pokémon Mini that can be unlocked.^[29] Users can playemulated demo versions of some Pokémon Mini games, as well as an exclusive minigame, "Snorlax's Lunch Time."^[30] This official emulator was instrumental in helping a few hobbyist software engineersreverse engineer the handheld and create their own emulator. This allowed them to build new emulators to run the games on other devices, such as thePC,Dreamcast,Nintendo 3DS, andAnalogue Pocket, among others.^[31] These efforts let hobbyists createhomebrew games andtech demos.^[30] One of these demos,SHizZLE, was released atBreakpoint in 2005 and caused some excitement within thedemoscene and media by showing off advanced graphics rendering techniques.^[5][17]

• Pokémon mini page on Nintendo's official Japanese site(in Japanese)
• Pokémon-Mini.net – Pokémon Mini Database and Dev Site by Team Pokémé
• Pokémon mini development Wiki (technical information)
• Pokémon Mini atNinDB

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• Products introduced in 2001
• Products introduced in 2002
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