Pocket Monsters Stadium

Battles in Stadium function similarly to battles in the Game Boy Pokémon games, with players using different moves to battle Pokémon used by opponent trainers. Pocket Monsters Stadium uses connectivity with the Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak to connect with the Game Boy games Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow. In the game's "Tournament" mode, players assemble a team of six Pokémon, then select three Pokémon from their team for each battle against a CPU opponent. Tournament mode is split into two "divisions" based on the level of the opponents' Pokémon: one for levels 1–30, and one for levels 50–55. The game features several game mode options. The "Computer" option allows players to store their Pokémon in Stadium, with a "Picture Book" option allowing players to create a "photo album" and organize the stored Pokémon, allowing players to view their models. The "Quick Look" option allows players to view the stats and information related to an individual Pokémon, while a "Collection" feature lets players view information about any given species to find strategies for facing them. For the first time in the Pokémon franchise's history, Pokémon utilized three-dimensional models. This can in turn be used to unlock a special minigame in Pokémon Yellow. Playable Pokémon Only 40 different Pokémon are available to use in the game, though an in-game encyclopedia function allows players to view all 151 species of Pokémon available in the Game Boy games. == Production and release ==

on its release in Japan. Connectivity with the Pokémon Game Boy games is available using the Transfer Pak (bundled with the game) in the same way as the internationally released Pokémon Stadium. HAL Laboratory president Satoru Iwata, who would later head Nintendo itself, ported the battle system to the Nintendo 64, taking a week to read the entire Game Boy source code before converting designer Shigeki Morimoto's programming from the Pokémon games. Iwata fixed compatibility issues with the Game Boy games and Stadium single-handedly. Because of technical limitations, only 40 Pokémon are available for battles, instead of the full 151 Pokémon from the Game Boy versions as originally planned. Once intended as a 64DD launch title with a March 1998 release date, the game was intended to take advantage of the 64DD's functionalities by allowing players to use Pokémon both on the go and at home. Stadium was eventually converted to a standard Nintendo 64 game on a 32 MB cartridge. Pocket Monsters Stadium'' was released only in Japan on August 1, 1998. A reported 270,000 copies of the game were sold in its first month of release, and it accumulated 400,000 copies by October of the same year. == Reception and legacy==

A review in the 64 Magazine highlighted the personality present in the Pokémon species models and animations, but criticized the game's lack of content, especially if a player lacks access to the Game Boy games. A review in Gamers highlighted the game's graphical qualities, comparing it positively to N64 game Banjo-Kazooie. A review in Joypad considered the game fun for Pokémon fans and owners of the Game Boy games but a weaker title for those unfamiliar with the series. Pocket Monsters Stadium was not released outside Japan. A sequel, dubbed Pokémon Stadium 2 in Japan, was announced in 1998. The game was released internationally as Pokémon Stadium. A follow-up game, titled Pokemon Stadium Gold/Silver in Japan was released as Pokémon Stadium 2 internationally. ==Notes==