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The Mythical Pokemon Hoopa finally sees a North American distribution. From November 27rd to December 23rd, Hoopa can be acquired via Mystery Gift by connecting to Nintendo Zone hotspots located at local McDonald’s restaurants. Once connected just boot up your copy of Pokemon X, Pokemon Y, Pokemon Omega Ruby, and/or Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and receive your free gift. While at McDonald’s you can order a Happy Meal containing one of eight of the following Pokemon: Pikachu, Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, Lugia, Rayquaza, Mega Latios, Wobbuffet, and, of course, Hoopa. Along with the toys 1 of 12 Pokemon TCG cards will also be distributed.

Along with the Pokemon Happy Meal toys there will also be a Build-A-Bear Workshop Happy Meal series available. Even when the Pokemon franchise is highly praised by a wide audience, McDonald’s has set another franchise for the Girl’s Happy Meals. Unlike other promotional toys, such as the Despicable Me Minions or the current Peanuts Movie figures. Pokemon has been paired with other franchises instead of being the main attraction. Even with previous Nintendo Happy Meal toys featuring Super Mario cast, if memory serves, were the primary products that were served in every box. With the games, trading cards, and various merchandise available for a broad consumer demographic it would seem odd why this trend hasn’t been broke in recent years. Looking at this from a business perspective Happy Meals have always been propaganda for McDonald’s to sell a company’s product and promoting two at a time brings in more sales all around.

You gotta catch them all!

One of the core guests of McDonald’s has always been children, and with Happy Meals, McDonald’s can continue doing business with the young audience. The toy the customer, which can be an older individual at times, receives can entertain them but the toys themselves are merely a representation of the actual product. While they may be just promotional items, they may want the toy if they’re already fans of the franchise who just would like to add to their collection of merchandise. The other scenario is that they become aware of the franchise and would just like to see the toy, which will eventually lead to them purchasing the games/toys that the toy represents. While the toys themselves are enough to drive business for both McDonald’s and the company partnered for the promotion, the toys “might” be able to go beyond the “simply attracting customers with plastic” business model.

While most of the promotions were toys, there were occasional extras in the meal. Every so often, the toys will be packaged with an additional item such as the previously mentioned TCG cards or discount coupons (e.g. the Skylanders Happy Meal promotion) for a retailer such as Toy R’ Us, persuading consumers to buy newly released products. The Pokemon Happy Meals, in this case, are to promote the Hoopa distribution along with the card game and the release of Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (promotions for Pokemon X and Y took priority for 2014). As for the Build-A-Bear Workshop it could be assumed that the company wanted to promote their product before this year’s Black Friday. This promotional pairing, by strange reminder or using keywords in a Google search, could benefit both Build-A-Bear Workshop and The Pokemon Company International since the two recently signed a partnership that will allow customers to build their own Pikachu at local outlets in early 2016.

You can never have to many Pokémon´s, just to few.

They may advertise the upcoming Happy Meals as gender-specific toys while employees will ask, “For boy or girl?” at the drive-through but this does not stop McDonald’s from selling their promotional toys to anyone who asks for them. And while some toys are made to attract a certain gender group that won’t stop anyone there to hand out to the Adventure Time gal or Brony. Regardless of how the toys are categorized and advertise the McDonald’s will be more than happy to serve their customers, whether it’s with Pokéballs or teddy bears.

Be sure to catch your chance to get Hoopa before the year ends.

Hoopa Distribution Details:
Hoopa (Item for Hoopa Unbound can be found in Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire)
Level: 50
Ability: Magician
Move Set: Hyperspace Hole, Psychic, Astonish, Nasty Plot

To get Hoopa:
1# – Connect your 3DS to Nintendo Zone.
2# – Select Mystery Gift from the main menu.
3# – Select Receive Gift, then YES.
4# – Select GET VIA INTERNET, then YES.
5# – Load the save file and speak to the delivery girl in any Pokemon Center.
6# – SAVE THE GAME.