Tsunekazu Ishihara, President And Chief Executive Officer Of The Pokemon Company And Producer Of Pokemon, Introduces The New 'Pokemon Art Academy' Game During A News Conference At The 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Known As E3, In Los Angeles
IN PHOTO: Last year, one of the biggest wishes of numerous “Pokemon” fans were granted. Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and chief executive officer of The Pokemon Company and producer of Pokemon, introduces the new "Pokemon Art Academy" game during a news conference at the 2014 Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, in Los Angeles, California June 11, 2014. REUTERS/Kevork Djansezian

A preview of the Pokemon Center was recently released as part of its soft launch. It will officially open on Aug. 6, 2014. This particular Pokemon Center is an online retail store that sells official Pokemon merchandise for U.S. customers. It is similar to the Pokemon Center mall kiosks found in the U.S. and Japan, but it makes shopping so much easier because it can be done without having to physically go to the mall anymore. As long as one has access to the Internet, they can go online and visit the Pokemon Center using a smartphone, laptop, computer, tablet or phablet.

The Pokemon Center is run by The Pokemon Company International which is a subsidiary of Japan's The Pokemon Company. It is responsible for the management of Pokemon property outside Asia including its Web site, animated TV series, marketing, licensing and even the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

In the official Twitter page of Pokemon, news about the Pokemon Center was posted.

"Attention U.S. Trainers! Who's ready for another #PokemonCenter preview? http://bit.ly/1jKMckD," read the tweet.

The very first Pokemon Center was opened by the Pokemon Co. in Tokyo, Japan in April 1998. There are 2 brick-and-mortar (B&M) Pokemon Centers in Japan and about 10 stores in the U.S. today.

To visit the online Pokemon Center for U.S. customers, click HERE. Visitors of the Web site will notice a timer counting down to its grand opening on Aug. 6. 2014. While it is still ticking, interested customers can take advantage of special offers for selected Pokemon products including the Pikachu Poké Plush Hat (Item: 741-00628) which is available for $19.99, the Froakie Poké Doll (Standard Size) (Item: 702-00622) which costs $12.99 and the Pikachu Spiral Journal (200 pages) (Item: 710-01101) which costs $19.95.

Products available in the online Pokemon Center usually ship within 24 hours. Make sure to visit the web-based Pokemon Center weekly because new products with special promotions will be featured regularly up until Aug. 6, 2014. Aside from plush toys and notebooks, other Pokemon merchandise that will be sold in the Pokemon Center are iPhone cases and mugs with Pikachu brands.

The Pokemon Center mentioned in this article should not be confused with the Pokemon Center in the game. According to Bulbapedia, the one in the game is a building found in the Pokemon world for the Pokemon Trainers. They gather and rest here. They also trade their Pokemon with each other. Plus, they get healed for free in this area.

Speaking of the Pokemon Center in the game, Serebii reported that in Pokemon X and Y, there will be a Japanese PokeBall Pattern Vivillon that will be distributed in Pokemon Centers from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, 2014. It will also be available in the Pokemon Center Summer Festival from Aug. 1 to Aug. 18, 2014. For more updates about Pokemon, and for other technology, entertainment, business, financial, health and sports news, keep reading the International Business Times (IBT).

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