Gotta buy 'em all? The ever-popular franchise has just hit a new mark...and its a big one.

In Nintendo's recently released investor relations report, the company touted a new milestone reached by their prolifically popular creature catching-breeding-fighting series: 100 million. As in, through the recently concluded fiscal year, shipments of Pokemon handheld games has exceeded 100 million copies.

The figure recieved its final boost over the 100 million plateau from typically high-powered sales of its latest Pokemon games. Fire Red and Leaf Green alone combined to sell an astounding 6.09 million units in the last year. This was further augmented by sales of Emerald, which contributed 1.72 million itself. All told, the 12 games that have been released for Nintendo handhelds (the figure does not take into account Pokemon home console games such as the Stadium series or the ever-desirable Hey You! Pikachu) have sold in excess of 100.86 million units through the end of March, 2005.

This figure entrenches the series as Nintendo's second best-selling franchise of all time. Whats the first, you say? Do you even need to ask? Have a look at the "hot" list below:

• Mario franchise - 181.17 million units
• Pokemon franchise - 100.72 million units
• Donkey Kong franchise - 46.51 million units
• Legend of Zelda franchise - 46.33 million units

An amazing number, to be sure, and a testament to the staying power of this army of charming little creatures Nintendo has created. One has to wonder what the franchise's console sales amounted to as well. One point is for sure however: the series won't be slowing down at all anytime soon, with the impending release of Pokemon:XD for Gamecube and the inevitable juggernaut that will be the DS Pokemon RPGs.