Wednesday, July 12 2006 12:16 AM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT Here! The best of America's Pokemon TCG Trainers threw down little over one week ago. With the US Champions now crowned, Nintendo of America sent out the following press release to media outlets to recap the excitement! Pokemon Announces US National Championships Winners National Championships are Largest Pokémon Tournament in the History of the Trading Card Game BELLEVUE, Wash.—July 5, 2006—Pokémon USA, Inc., a worldwide leader in trading card games, today announced the winners at the Pokémon® Trading Card Game (TCG) National Championships. Top four winners in the 10 and younger age category include: Andrew Krekeler, Dave Richard, Ben Capriola, Matt Sbaa; in the 11 to 14 category: Bobby Malec, Pablo Kingsley, Blaine Dollar, Jonathan Bristow; and in the 15 and older category: Martin Moreno, Eric Ennocenti, Seena Ghaziaskar, Tom Dolezal. In addition to being named a Nationals Champion or Finalist, these players also earned entry and Travel Awards for the 2006 Pokémon TCG World Championships™, scholarships, and other prizes. The competition took place in Columbus, Ohio, on July 1-2. The Pokémon TCG World Championships take place at the Hilton Anaheim in Anaheim, California, August 18-20. The Pokémon TCG World Championships is an invite-only event, and players must participate in a qualifying tournament to receive an invitation. As a way to test players’ skill, creativity, and strategy, Pokémon Organized Play events and tournaments promote good sportsmanship and a fun gaming environment for all ages. What the press release won't tell you is the incredible size of the event! A massive success, it drew in more than 500 Pokemon fans who competed across the three different age categories. That doesn't just make it one of the biggest Pokemon events in the game's history - it makes it one of the most successful National-level TCG tournaments of all time! Impressive stuff. That's it for today, but head on back tomorrow when we'll have some news on overseas tournaments and new promos!

quote of the day: Ang: That stor wasn't about me Ang: But if I was in that exact situation Ang: I'd do the exact same thing

Saturday, June 10 2006 11:42 AM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT Here! We're back, with one of the most exciting announcements ever made for Pokemon fans! Pokemon Battle Revolution Announced For The Wii A Nintendo meeting earlier this week, keynoted by the company's president Satoru Iwata and primarily intended to discuss the success and sales figures of the Nintendo DS, revealed some plans for the future of Pokemon on the Nintendo Wii! Debuting several months after the release of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl (both for the DS), Pokemon Battle Revolution appears to be a major overhaul of the Stadium and Colosseum lines. Wi-Fi connectivity is currently being considered, and interestingly enough, it's a feature that, surprisingly, will also be supported by Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl - mid-game voicechat (actual chat during gameplay, not just during "lobby time"), trading, and battling will all be offered by the two new Pokemon DS titles, something every Pokemon fan has craved for years. Both DS games will be the first to feature Wii/DS connectivity, linking up to Pokemon Battle Revolution: players will be able to transfer Pokemon between the Wii and DS games, assumedly in a similar fashion to previous Stadium / Colosseum titles. It's an interesting series of announcements from a functionality aspect, and it was followed up by some big statements about WiiConnect24, Nintendo's "Virtual Console" service. Players will be able to purchase "compact games" for 500 to 1000 yen (think $4.50 to $9.00 in American funds), and these appear to be intended for both the Wii itself, and download action for the DS. Several examples of DS/Wii functionality were discussed, including downloadable DS demos, expanded playfields in addition to your TV screen, and the addition of touch screen play to Wii games. Games could even be expanded through downloadable content from the Wii, adding new levels, characters, and unlockable secrets. Pricing announcements for the Wii are set to be given this September, as the system's launch is still a ways off. For now though, check out this awesome trailer for Pokemon Battle Revolution! There's A Groudon In It! Pretty cool, huh? That's it for today, but head on back tomorrow! Japan got a slew of new TCG merchandise, and we'll have the skinny for you later this weekend! Thanks for reading!

quote of the day: Ech: at socal Ech: i got a cab and said 'i want to go to popeyes chicken. i think its 'here'' Ech: and he's like 'no no. i know where is! i take you real good!' Ech: and he took me to pepboys. Ech: :(

Thursday, May 18 2006 8:00 PM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT Here! We've got some great news in store today for both American and Japanese Pokemon fans! Cartoon Network To Air Pokemon Chronicles Cartoon Network has picked up the rights to the American distribution of the first 22 episodes of Pokemon Chronicles! Fans in Canada will already be familiar with the series, which focuses on the "other" characters central to the Pokemon brand, like Team Rocket and Misty. The show has aired in Canada on YTV for months now, but has not debuted in the US. Cartoon Network announced just two days ago that Pokemon Chronicles will join the action block Toonami on June 3rd, filling the schedule's 7 PM time slot. True fan-pleasers, the Chronicles episodes fill out details in the extended Pokemon world by taking a step away from Ash and his immediate party. Despite the super-early time slot in Canada, I've become a huge fan of the series myself. Some of them are surprisingly charged with emotion, and the amount of variety in the series is really entertaining for veteran fans who are ready for something different. Pokemon Chronicles kicks off on June 3rd, less than two and a half weeks from now, so block off you that Saturday on your calendar and get ready for some all-new Pokemon action! Japan Plans Biggest Battle Road Summer Yet! Summer is just around the bend, and Japanese fans of the Pokemon TCG know what that means - Battle Road Summer! The year-round "Battle Road" tournament tour series always has its biggest season starting in July, and this year it's going to be bigger than ever! So far there are nine conferences announced, spanning Hokkaido, Chubu, Kyushu, Kansai, Kanto, Shikoku, and the North East. The auction starts on July 16th, and continues all across the country for one month. So what will Japanese trainers be battling for? So far the prize cards for the event remain top secret, but the participation prize was announced and displayed earlier this week: a new delta species mew! Check it out: Isn't it adorable? In addition, this year will feature a final showdown between all the Battle Road Summer champions! Called the Champion's League, it will take place in Taipei in September, and will be held at the Pokemon Park. It also appears as if there will be plenty of side events for non-Champion competitors, and hey, it's the Pokemon Park! Why wouldn't you want to go? That's it for today! Head on back soon for more international Pokemon news and events!

quote of the day: Ech: wii?? Elroy ech Elroy: welcome to 12 hours ago Ech: what the heck kind of name is TH- Ech I was sleeping Ech: a duck attacked me. Mech: no excuses Ech ;_; Gloom: well wii were awake. Ech: ¬_¬ Mech wii had all the news while you were alseep Ech: ...this pun isn't old yet? Elroy: no

Friday, May 12 2006 3:18 PM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT Here! E3, the videogame industry's biggest insider-only convention, took place in California this week, and there was plenty of information revealed for Pokemon fanatics! Pokemon at the Electronic Entertainment Expo! Fans crowded into the Nintendo booth at E3 this past week to get handson looks at the Wii, the DS Lite, and a plethora of new US-bound games. Amongst them were two new titles of particular note for Pokemon fans! The first is one is no surprise, as playable demos of Pokemon Ranger were on-hand, being demo'd in high fashion via DS Lite systems. The real news though is the confirmation of a North American release for Pokemon Rescue Force: Mysterious Dungeon! Now titled Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, the game features a totally new approach to the Pokemon universe. The premise is simple: you fall asleep, and wake up in the middle of a forest to find that you've become a Pokemon! But the game is far more complicated than the simplistic concept might suggest. Right off the bat, there are some interesting mechanics at work. Though this function was not previewed at E3, the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon will actually pick your Pokemon identity for you based off of a questionnaire that opens the playing experience. Once your main Pokemon has been chosen, you'll get to select a starter to accompany you, and together you can make plenty of allies: any Pokemon you battle is a potential party member. If you've never played a Mysterious Dungeon game, get ready for some dynamically-created dungeon-delving action. While the overworld, replete with towns and locations to visit RPG-style, is static and consistent, the dungeons you complete missions in are instanced for your gaming pleasure, meaning that no dungeon will ever be the same no matter how many times your quests take you to the same cave or catacomb. Missions are accepted and sought out on a rather non-linear basis, with a central story developing through main missions while a bulletin board offers plenty of side quests. If you liked Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, you'll instantly feel at home with Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. Your party is a "rescue force", a group of Pokemon that respond to distress calls and investigate the disappearances of Pokemon. Your mission? Find and extract Pokemon from deadly predicaments. I played the imported version pretty extensively, and even without having much clue as to what was going on, I have to say it's easily my favorite Pokemon game of all time. The semi real-time gameplay, perfectly-rendered, adorable Pokemon characters, and the amazingly balanced blend of Mysterious Dungeon and Pokemon game mechanics, mix to create a truly unique, original Pokemon gaming experience. Gee, can you tell I'm excited? ^_^ Attendeeds at Nintendo's E3 booth got some extra goodies for Pokemon's 10th Anniversary too, including a very cool DS cartridge case for holding a bunch of games. Check out this shot of one of them, still in its packaging: Pretty cool, huh? I'm thinking of picking one up on eBay... So, that's news in the Pokemon world for today! Head back soon for more current info on events, product releases, and upcoming videogame and TCG action!

quote of the day: Elroy: i just won a 45-minute long uno match MT: score Elroy: i guess you could say i'm Elroy: numero Elroy: uno

Wednesday, May 3 2006 5:06 PM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT Here! It's good-news-week for Pokemon fans, as anime fans get a second chance to catch last weekend's animated special and more tour stops get added to Pokemon Rocks America! Missed The Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon Special? Well, no AOL subscribers won't have to worry if they didn't catch last week's hour-long animated extravaganza. KOL, AOL's kid-oriented media service, will start showing the special on May 9th online. All AOL subscribers have to do is visit keyword: Pokemon in order to see the entire show! As speculated, The Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon did debut the new North American voice actors that have been adopted into the series, replacing the old voice talent that lended character to Ash, Brock, Max, Team Rocket, and the rest of the crew. Fan reactions to the new voices have been mixed, but I personally liked how a few of the characters just sounded like grown up versions of themselves - I mean, did we really expect Ash to keep sounding like a ten year old after all this time? Check it out and decide for yourself! The special also had a unique intro sequence and theme song, which may or may not become the standard intro for the animated series. Check it out next week on KOL! New Stops Added to Pokemon Rocks America! Pokemon fans in the Pittsburgh and Minneapolis areas are in luck, as yesterday Nintendo announced additional tour stops in the Pokemon Rocks America series! Pokemon will rock the Mall of America on the weekend of May 21st. Then, on the weekend of June 11th, the tour will hit the Century III Mall in Pittsburgh. Here's the complete list of upcoming tour stops May 4th - 7th: Denver, Southwest Plaza May 11th - 14th: Kansas City, Independence Mall May 18th - 21st: Minneapolis / St. Paul, Mall of America May 25th - 28th: Chicago, Westfield North Bridge June 1st - 4th: Detroit, Great Lakes Crossing June 8th - 11th: Pittsburgh, PA, Century III Mall June 15th - 18th: Cincinnati, Cincinnati Mills June 22nd - 25th: Memphis, Wolfchase Galleria More stops continue to be added as the Pokemon Rocks America tour keeps on pulling impressive numbers! We'll have more updates as the tour progresses over the summer. That's it for today! Check back soon for more news, info, and all the best on Pokemon from across the globe.

quote of the day: Pure: we could buy rhinestones Pure: and make H8 buttons Bolt: i'm all about rhinestones

Wednesday, April 26 2006 10:41 AM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT here! We've got some exciting news today, courtesy of Ech! Pokemon fans might want to clear their Saturday this week, because a brand new animated experience is hitting the airwaves! The Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon Airs This Weekend A new one-hour long animated special will air this weekend on Kids' WB! Titled "The Mastermind of Mirage Pokemon", it features Ash, Max, May, and Brock in a quest to save a mysterious scientist, creator of a machine that resurrects extinct Pokemon. What ARE Mirage Pokemon? so far we have no idea. This is NOT the upcoming DVD release "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew", despite Mew being "the mirage Pokemon". Whether the Pokemon referenced in the special's title are revamped versions of previous characters, or all new characters is up for debate. The animated special commemorates Pokemon's 10th anniversary, and may have voice acting performances by the animated series' new voice actors. It's also written by Pokemon USA (a series first), and is an American exclusive release never before seen anywhere else in the world! The Masetermind of Mirage Pokemon airs this Saturday at 10 AM. That's it for today! Head back tomorrow, and we'll have more news on current events in the world of Pokemon!

quote of the day: Ech: San Fran has the best sourdough bread ever Ech: even better than (insert really good sourdough bread vendor here)

Saturday, April 22 2006 12:59 AM posted by: Wiggly_Tough

WT Here! We're back, with some cool news about the Pokemon Park amusement destination, plus a look at an upcoming musical release that's bound to appeal to Pokefanatics like ourselves! Pokemon Park Kickoff Party In June The Pokemon Park is opening for business yet again this summer, and this time the Pokemon are setting up shop in Taipei City, Taiwan. To celebrate the Park's new location this year, the opening ceremony will feature a huge party for park attendees on June 23rd! Even cooler, is that the Japanese travel company JTB is scheduling tours leaving from Tokyo's Narita Airport and Kansai International Airport a week prior to the party. Hardcore Japanese Pokemons fans will be able to meet up with lots of other Trainers to make a big group journey to the Park, culminating in a day-long visit to take part in all the festivities! The Pokemon Park's shift in location is a good omen for us Stateside fans, and rumors continue to fly about an American tour for the Park at a later date. Thus far though, nothing concrete has been said about an American debut. I really don't want to have to go to Taiwan just to return to Pokemon Park. ;_; It's a crime to keep that much fun sequestered to a single continent. Details about the kickoff party have yet to be disclosed, but I think it's safe to say that the standard Pokemon celebration staples will be in place: costumed characters, exclusive commemorative goods, and plenty of cool free stuff! We'll keep you posted as details become clear. New Compilation Music CD / DVD Released A new CD / DVD combination set will released in a few days in Japan. The "Pokemon Perfect Best 2" collection features songs and themes from the Pokemon AG animated series, remastered for better listening. The set includes on CD of music and one DVD of music videos, and will come in both limited edition and general production versions: the limited version will cost 3360 yen, while the regular will be priced at 2520. In US funds that's about 30 dollars and 23 dollars respectively. Featuring twelve regular tracks all plucked from the popular anime, it's also got a thirteenth bonus track - a ballad version of the Battle Frontier theme! Landing on store shelves on April 26th, this should be a popular item for Pokemon fans the world over. That's it for today! Check back tomorrow, when we'll have more of the best Pokemon news, info, and insider insight from around the world. Thanks for reading Zeo!

quote of the day: Ech: you said you had to sleep.... Ech: you sleep liar Ech: ¬_¬