The last two thumbnails in this gallery are videos. Watch them. They are key to understanding the Pokemon experience that we had here in Tokyo. No sign of this juggernaut faltering.

Yes, this man is the sexiest gaming cosplayer at Comic-Con 2009. It's a shame he has to hang out with that furry though.

We're slowly gathering more cosplay pictures, and while none will match Blanka in terms of sheer majesty, they are certainly people in costumes, and we dig that sort of thing.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl game director Junichi Masuda is very keen on trying out new elements. "This is just an idea but...as you know, Pokémon is a role-playing game," Masuda tells game magazine Game Informer. "But, personally, I really like the action type of games, so we just talk about that sometimes. We probably want to add some kind action element to the game."

Why not, they've got the current formula down pat. If they're really interested in mixing things up, why not add guns and sharp objects? That's action out the whazoo right there.

Would You Play [Dtoid via GoNintendo] [Pic]

In a recent interview, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata reveals, "We were sent a proposal of muscle-bound characters to use if we wanted to do well in the U.S." Nintendo didn't sign off on the beefed-up Pocket Monsters.

The-then-Nintendo-honcho Hiroshi Yamauchi viewed releasing the cute monsters in the States as a worthy challenge. The fact that these characters were different could be appealing to Western gamers.

Pokémon went on to be a hugely successful franchise in America, causing a national craze at one point. It's a shame Western gamers will never get to play titles like Pokémon: Muscle or its inevitable corresponding title Pokémon: Flab.

岩田聡・任天堂社長—日本人が面白いと思うものは世界で見ても「面白い」！ [Toyokeizai via はちま起稿] [Pic]

The handmade inflatable latex rubber outfit is easy to inflate and deflate — apparently! Obsidian says that it's easy to breath through the Pikachoo head, and vision is made possible through the character's mouth.

From the Obsidian site: "Pikachoo is based on a popular japanese animee,manga character from a cartoon series in which he is simply described as an electric mouse. Although this costume is relatively simply in looks he is prehaps one of the most recognised of my range unmistakable in bright yellow with its thunder bolt tail."

We sure didn't recognize Pikachoo by the bulge in his pants.

Pikachoo [Obsidian Thanks, Adam!]

Starting this Saturday, various goods featuring a slumbering Pikachu go on sale: t-shirts, cups, bentou boxes, cups, plush toys and, yes, sleepy Pikachu underoos. All too cute.

Pokemon Center [Official Site]

Pictured is Pikachu (literally) on the Seto line in Aichi prefecture. Getting on the trains in Japan is extremely stressful during morning rush hour. Imagine that this train makes it a little less so.

Decorated trains in Japan [Pink Tentacle]

So after hitting the pharmacy, we got masks for when we visit the baby (as not to get it sick). Mini-Bash picked himself something I had never seen: a Pokémon mask! Then again, I'd never really looked. This mask comes with stickers for easy customization.

Amazing to see how much branding that franchise gets.

I attend many anime conventions, car shows and do lots of events for children..Official Pokemon Events,Birthday parties, School events and so on mostly as the Pokemon Character Ash cause I can do his voice dead on..I am also a cartoonist and paint many murals around my town and teach children art classes at a local craft store...Now I do alot of promotional things with Pokemon as there characters and my Poke'Womon Princesses.....and one day I shall Catch Em' All...

Yeah, well, good luck with that.

Pikabellechu [Guinness World Records via GIGAZINE]

Captured one-by-one only after you order to ensure its good health!

Fantastic! These Pikachus were straight from the Pikachu forest, and the seller wrote that a 60-minute video showing how to raise and care for the Pikachu would be included as well. While we're guessing the seller didn't successfully unload any of this "limited edition" for US$900 million. Man, some people are so cheap.

Pika Auction [Yahoo Auction Watch Thanks, Matt!]

In fact, they named it because both the character and the protein are fast acting little guys. And of course, normal transmission of visual information to your brain has a lot to do with gaming, so the name might be an homage to that, too.

Researchers: 'Pikachurin' protein linked with kinetic vision [The Yomiuri Shimbun, via Destructoid, thanks reader Estee W.]

Circuit-bent Pikachu instruments [Pink Tentacle]

Reader Irving M. sent me that. It's like a big bag of Lay's. I can't watch it just once. Bet you can't either.

It's off to E3. By the time you read this I'll probably be in LA. Anyone coming to the party tonight, I will be there in the infamous I Heart Hot Moms shirt from Grand Theft Auto: DUI. Oh yeah, I cosplay myself. Wow, just blew my own mind there for a second.

Here's some highlights from the weekend of tomfoolery that was:

Microsoft Announce 60GB 360, Confirm 20GB Price-Cut
Super Chuck Norris Bros. — Wait, This is *Real*?
Rock Band 2 Gameplay Trailer
Predictions on the Future of Gaming
Game Marathons: Fad, or Going the Distance?
Why Korea Matters: Learning from Difference