GADGETS & GIZMOS

Nintendo’s Pokemon--the phenomenally successful video game franchise that has legions of children scoring points by pitting tiny monsters against one another--is now available in a true pocket-size version.

Up until November’s introduction of the Pokemon Mini, kids who wanted to play the game anywhere had to make do with Nintendo’s larger Game Boy system.

Pokemon Mini is about as small as a stopwatch. It’s got a black-and-white screen, an infrared port for interacting with other Minis, and a built-in rumble pack. Best of all, it’s got a motion sensor, so some games are played not by punching buttons but by shaking the whole contraption.

It sells for about $40. You can find it at https://www.pokemoncenter.com. The set comes with a battery and one cartridge, which includes several games. Three other cartridges are available for $12 each.