In this new picture, we see Groudon and Kaiorga, with 16 Pokemon behind them that are just shadows of the Pokemon. Although a couple of the Pokemon do look like some of the new Pokemon we have already seen, there are a bunch of them that look completely new. At this point, we have no idea what their names are. Also, you catch a glimpse of Team Magma on the top right corner next to Groudon, and Team Aqua on the bottom left corner next to Kaiorga. In previous news, we have already seen what they look like exactly. The male and female trainer for Ruby/Sapphire can be seen on the bottom right corner, something we also have seen in the past.

In our second picture, it’s from season 6 of the Pokemon TV series. Season 6 is based on Ruby/Sapphire. As you may have noticed, there is a clothing change for both Ash and Brock. Also, the new girl, Haruka is joining the group shown in the picture, as Misty leaves the group. The three starter Pokemon, from left to right: Mizugorou, Kimori, and Achamo (all Japanese names). In the US, season 5 started not long ago. Season 6 will start after everything is done in Johto, and it will begin in a new region. As mentioned before, it’s based on the upcoming new Pokemon game, Pokemon Ruby and Pokemon Sapphire, which will make its release on November 21st of this year in Japan, and the expected release date for the US is May 2003.

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Pokemon 4Ever, the 4th Pokemon movie, is entering its third weekend since the release. The Pokemon 4Ever movie features Celebi, as well as Ash and the others in this adventure. You will get a free Pokemon TCG promo card of Celebi, while supplies last, with purchase of movie ticket. The Pokemon 4Ever movie was a limited release, which means it only shows at a small number of theaters. The movie debuted with about 250 theaters showing the movie. However, entering its third week, Pokemon 4Ever will be shown at more theaters. It won’t be a major change, but some of you out there might notice your local theater showing the Pokemon 4Ever movie for the first time. To search for a theater showing Pokemon 4Ever near you, go here: Yahoo Movies: Pokemon 4Ever. Enter your zip code or city and state, and it will search for a theater near you that is showing Pokemon 4Ever.

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At the Pokemon Center store at New York, they are giving you a chance to capture some very exclusive Pokemon. Every week until January 2, 2003, there will be a different set of Pokemon you’ll be able to capture at the Gotta Catch 'Em All Station. There are Pokemon that has moves already on them that they don’t naturally learn. Examples: Pichu with Scary Face, Krabby with Metal Claw, Lapras with Future Sight, Kangaskhan with Faint Attack, and more! Think that’s great? There’s more. Not only can you get these exclusive Pokemon with attacks they don’t naturally learn, you’ll also have the rare chance to capture Celebi and Mew. Celebi was available from October 11th to the 17th, but Celebi will come again in the week of November 22nd through November 28th, and Mew will also be available during that same time period. You will need to have your own Gold, Silver, or Crystal game cartridge to participate in this. To learn more about the Gotta Catch 'Em All Station, go to the Pokemon Center at 10 Rockefeller Plaza, 48th Street between 5th and 6th Aves, New York City. Also, visit the official Pokemon site for complete list of Pokemon and dates they are available: [Pokemon.com: Gotta Catch 'Em All Station]

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Latios and Latias are not the Pokemon representing Ruby and Sapphire. Instead, Groudon, the big red Pokemon that seems to be a fire type, will be representing Pokemon Ruby. Kaiorga, the blue Pokemon that is most likely a water type Pokemon, will be representing Pokemon Sapphire. Not long ago, we have seen these two Pokemon in box art for Ruby/Sapphire. This has caused a lot of confusion, since Latios and Latias were believed to be representing Ruby/Sapphire. In the Pokemon Festa event in Japan, people were able to try out demo versions of Ruby/Sapphire. They were referred to "demo" for a reason, they aren’t the finished product. Well, this real finished product features Groudon and Kaiorga. The popular Japanese gaming magazine Coro Coro, confirmed this information.

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There will be new villains in Ruby/Sapphire. It seems that Team Rocket is no longer in existence, at least, not in these games. If you translate their names directly from Japanese to English, they are called Team Magma and Team Aqua, keep in mind these are not official English names for these two villain teams. Team Magma wants to capture the Groudon, and Team Aqua wants to capture Kaiorga. Groudon is believed to be the king of the land, and Kaiorga is believed to be the king of the sea. Team Magma relates to land, and Team Aqua relates to sea. These two villain teams are not working with each other, instead, they hate each other. That’s reasonable, since they are total opposites, land and water.

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Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire has surprisingly brought some very new and thoughtful ideas. Instead of the original bad guy type rival, your rival will be the opposite gender trainer that you chose in the beginning of the game. This rivalry will probably be a friendlier one. In a set of two pictures, you will see a 2-on-2 battle. Seeing where this battle is taking place, this is most likely a four way linking battle (in Game Boy Advance, it’s possible to link 4 units together). That is neat feature to have. Also, another new thing in Ruby/Sapphire, instead of a room, it seems that our main character has a hideout. In this hideout, looks like a mountain and cave like setting, you have your typical room with some rather new decorations and different layout obviously.

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Here is some more information coming straight from the Japanese gaming magazine, Coro Coro. Here, you see some screen shots that rather interesting screen shots. For first time, we have a pretty good look at this new Ruby/Sapphire region, which is called Houen (Japanese name). In one of the pictures, you will see the main trainer with new Professor Odamaki (Japanese name). The trainer in front of the Pochena is actually Professor Odamaki as well. At that point, it’s still in the beginning part of the game. You will have to pick up Professor Odamaki’s backpack, and select a starting Pokemon to save the Professor. The Pokemon you choose will be your starting Pokemon. In another picture, you will see a picture of a truck. Will be interesting to see whether or not you’ll be able to travel like that, like a one time thing. In the last picture I have to talk about, it’s like a Pokedex entry, but it’s actually a page of information about someone, probably a trainer. A new item in Ruby/Sapphire, the Navigator, the use of it is probably to record the trainers you have fought, and any other information about that trainer, possibly phone number too.

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Pictures of some never before seen Pokemon has been released by Japanese gaming magazine Coro Coro. One of them, seen ready to battle Ash’s Pikachu, looks like an ape. In the second picture, it’s hard to make out what exactly it looks like, but it seems to be water Pokemon of some sort, it’s some kind of fish. At the current time, we don’t have names for these two Pokemon. In both pictures, Haruka is visible. Haruka is the trainer that joins Ash’s group in the season 6, which is based on Ruby/Sapphire (we are still in season 5 here in the US).

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Pokemon 4Ever has been released in theatres, making its debut on the 11th on Friday. The Pokemon 4Ever movie was a limited release, meaning not all movies theaters will have it on opening day, but some might eventually show them later on. Also, seven other movies are being released nationwide, making their debut the same weekend as Pokemon 4Ever. Which means even less theaters will have Pokemon 4Ever, both due to the limited release and the jam packed lineup of movies. Nevertheless, Pokemon 4Ever makes its debut. The movie feature Celebi and Suicune as our main Pokemon stars, and Ash and the others are back in this adventure. Like past Pokemon films, you will receive a free promotional TCG card, this card features Celebi (while supplies last). To locate the nearest theater that is showing Pokemon 4Ever, go here: Yahoo: Pokemon 4Ever.

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We finally got a chance to look at the official box art of Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire. Many Japanese gaming sites/online stores have begun showing these pictures. Pokemon can now be pre-ordered in Japan, which started on October 1st and ends on October 31st for pre-orders, the game will be released in Japan in November. Surprisingly, the box art of Ruby/Sapphire does not include Latios or Latias. Instead, two never before seen Pokemon are used, their Japanese names are Groudon for Ruby, and Kaiorga for Sapphire. Whether these two Pokemon are legendary or not, is still unknown. On a side note, it has been learned that Ruby/Sapphire will not be able to trade with past versions. Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire is scheduled to be released in the US, in May 2003.

UPDATE: Although I am 99% sure they are the real thing, because reliable Japanese gaming site/online stores have used them. Some have raised the question whether they are real or not. You'll hear about it in the news here if these box art prove to be not real.

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