seriously, I think the pokemon games require a lot of strategy, especially in competitive battling, and the people that think it's childish are those who don't know about EVs and all that...

hehe, saw some 50 yearolds playing pokemon cards a few days ago

thats odd

I wouldn't say someone necessarily "outgrows" pokemon. I'm still playin the *old* versions (silver, crystal), mainly because my silver got wiped and I replaced the battery so I'm startin over. I'm still a teenager (16) and I know fellow teenagers who got D/P. It's just all around fun.
I will say this though. I think that as the overall quality of Pokemon (the show, the style of the new pokemon, etc) continues to decline, in my opinion, that a bunch of us "old timers" (ppl around when the originals came out) will not support the new ones and lean more towards the originals and play them more. I for one did not get RSE because of how ridiculous some of the pokemon got (poocheyena, i mean come on!!). Im sure that most ppl play the older versions more than the newer versions.

I will play Pokemon for the rest of my life. Gee, that's a wierd thought... sittin in a hospitalbed with a gameboy-"Yay! I just caught a Bagon!" when I'm 92 and a half

the truth is, probibly by the time I stop playing pokemon is when they haven't come out with a new game since 5 years or so before, and I know some people DO say they stop, but they didn't, two kids were talking about Kanto pokemon which I didn't even know, until now, some of there questions were at what level does he evolve, and they were pretty hard Pokemon, like Seel and Rydon, I don't know anyone who stopped playing who can name what level Seel evolves, they more then half the time dont know who that is

I voted never. I don't think it is possible for someone, to outgrow something they are so attached to. Some people past 20 (like me-23), become closet nerds about things like pokemon. I have never, and will never mention I play pokemon, to people I work with. I have worn a Kakashi-Naruto shirt from hot topic, though.

i am a hard core geek of games and anime, so i'm not thinking i'll outgrow pokemon for years to come.

I am not sure I think it is when you feel it is right.

Never is my answer.I have been into Pokemon for 3 years and my intent for the series has not decrease since then. It's really a personal thing though.

I that .

Meh, I might when I become a game designer. If I become one, though....

I agree with OP most people will outgrow it at 20, but some will stay with it forever.