FLAVOR TEXT: Pokémania

Explicit content warning

10/11/22 • 79 min

4 Listeners

In September 1998, the U.S. was introduced to the franchise that would soon become a worldwide phenomenon: Pokémon. After only 18 months, Pokémon was everywhere--on TV, in car CD players, in school cafeterias, and on kids' backpacks and bedsheets. You couldn't walk 5 feet inside a Kmart and not see something with Pikachu's likeness on it. How did this come about? Why, all of a sudden, was every child aged 7-14 suddenly screaming for their parents in to buy them booster pack upon booster pack of Pokémon cards in the summer of 1999? And, why oh God why is there a Pokémon Christmas album? Find out the answers to all these questions and more on our deep dive into the late 90s cultural phenomenon that was Pokémania.

Special thanks to our first-generational Pokémon Master, "@mgrum54" for commissioning today's episode. If you're interested in comissioning your own FLAVOR TEXT, come check out our patreon at patreon.com/debatethiscast.

Spooktacular Review-a-thon:

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Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Spooktacular Review-a-thon:

Step 1: Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, or anywhere else you can write reviews!
Step 2: Take a screenshot of your review, post it to social media, and tag us @debatethiscast
Step 3: We'll read your review in a spooky voice during the October ad breaks!
Step 4: If we get 20 new reviews this month, we'll make Todd play Doki Doki Literature Club live on Twitch!

Spooktacular Patreon Bonus:

Everyone who joins our Patreon at patreon.com/debatethiscast will score a free Halloween-themed Debate This! tchotchke!

Have you seen our Twitter? twitter.com/debatethiscast

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast

Want to send us an email? [email protected]

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Previous Episode

Ep. 109: Every Kill Begins with Kay

2 Recommendations

*Insert train whistle here* It's Spooktacular Express time y'all! Gear up for our month-long, Halloween-themed content adventure as we bored the train for a mythical mall in Colorado. We may not have an almost-zombie daughter, a goblin mask, or a bunch of NPCs to escort to the safe room, but we're still talking Dead Rising. It's time to slay some zombies because this week we're trying to make the best combo weapon with a video game item and a real world thing! (Keep scrolling for some Spooktacular Patreon Info) Andrew is on the defensive this week. Kyle may not understand how carpet works. Todd seems like he might have picked up a jewelry sponsorship but don't worry, he has to tell us. Spooktacular Review-a-thon:

Step 1: Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, or anywhere else you can write reviews!
Step 2: Take a screenshot of your review, post it to social media, and tag us @debatethiscast
Step 3: We'll read your review in a spooky voice during the October ad breaks!

If we get 20 new reviews this month, we'll make Todd play Doki Doki Literature Club live on Twitch!

Spooktacular Patreon Bonus:

Everyone who joins our Patreon at patreon.com/debatethiscast will score a free Halloween-themed Debate This! tchotchke!

The title of this week's episode was selected by our Patrons in our Discord Community! If you want to help us choose the next one, join our discord, and/or get some bonus content, become part of #ButtThwompNation at patreon.com/debatethiscast.

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If a podcast has a table at a convention and no one comes to see them, do they even make a podcast? We'll be at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo this month from Friday, October 14th through Sunday, October 16th! Come see us at the Oregon Convention Center if you exist in the Pacific Northwest. We'll have some fun new swag to give away and also, you can fight us in real life if you find the right swingset! Get more info at retrogamingexpo.com.

Properties we talked about this week: Dead Rising 1-4, The Walking Dead, Half-Life 2, Hades, Heelys, Lovesac, Durafoam, Fallout, Kay Jewelers, The Love is Forever Diamond Heart Necklace

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!

Next Episode

Ep. 110: He's Coming for Your Juuls

2 Recommendations

*Insert train whistle here* It's Spooktacular Express week 3 and we're getting High Concept. There aren't many better (betterier?) ways to celebrate spooky season than curling up with your boo for a scary slasher flick. We've produced plenty of movies here at DT!HQ but none of them have been slashers. Opportunity knocked and we answered with web-based, stick figure-centric, flash game-inspired pitches to decide which flash game would make the best kitschy slasher movie!

Todd comes in strong but it doesn't take long for him to pizza himself into a bad time. Matt has a bone to pick with 2001's Donnie Darko. Kyle sets a new record for longest walk on shortest pier which, on this show, is honestly the most impressive thing.

We made a lot of new friends this weekend at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo! If you're one of those new friends, welcome! Also, the show notes keep going, keep scrolling.

Spooktacular Review-a-thon:

Step 1: Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, Goodpods, or anywhere else you can write reviews!
Step 2: Take a screenshot of your review, post it to social media, and tag us @debatethiscast
Step 3: We'll read your review in a spooky voice during the October ad breaks!

If we get 20 new reviews this month, we'll make Todd play Doki Doki Literature Club live on Twitch!

Spooktacular Patreon Bonus:

Everyone who joins our Patreon at patreon.com/debatethiscast will score a free Halloween-themed, Debate This! chotchkey!

Have you seen our Twitter? twitter.com/debatethiscast

Have you seen our Instagram? instagram.com/debatethiscast

Want to send us an email? [email protected]

Hey you! Are you listening to this podcast on Spotify? Our analytics say it's likely that you are and we're definitely not watching from inside your home... Well if you haven't heard, Spotify is now allowing listeners to rate podcasts! If you have a spare second, consider leaving us a 5-star rating on this new validation platform. Or don't. I'm not your dad.

Properties we talked about this week: Ski Free, Line Rider, QWOP, Donnie Darko, Sublime, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I know What You Did Last Summer, Friday the 13th, The Butterfly Effect

Music for Debate This! is provided by composer Ozzed under a Creative Commons license. Check out more of their 8-bit bops at www.ozzed.net!