December 2006
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Next: January 2007 |
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl: 5 Million Copies Sold in Japan! -12/30/06- | 
Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl reached the 5 million units sold in Japan, making it the best selling Pokemon game of all time in Japan. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl reached the 5 million mark in barely 3 months on December 27th (the games were released in Japan back in September 28, 2006). The milestone was reported on Japanese gaming website Famitsu: http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/12/27/103,1167202517,65081,0,0.html Pokemon Diamond/Pearl will be released in the US on April 22, 2007. ----- Before Pokemon Diamond/Pearl reached the 5 million mark, there were clear signs that the games will be a huge hit. Here's some of the other notable achievements it has made in Japan: First Week Sales: Nintendo DS Record Pokemon Diamond/Pearl sold 1,586,360 units in the first week of sales (September 28th - October 1st), making it the fastest selling DS game ever in Japan. 3 Million Units Sold in 46 Days Pokemon Diamond/Pearl is the record holder for the fastest selling Nintendo DS game to reach 3 million units sold in Japan. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl |  [Questions and Comments on This News Story]
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It's Official: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl on April 22, 2007! -12/20/06- | Nintendo officially announced Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl to be released in the US on April 22, 2007. Also, the Nintendo press release revealed that styluses featuring the new Pokemon will be available for those that reserve the game at participating stores (further details are not yet available, stay tuned here in the news when more information is available). You can read the press release below: Press Release 
New Pokemon to Make Diamond and Pearl Studded Debut
Gotta Catch 'Em All! The Next Generation of Pokemon Soon Will Be Here Pokemon trainers of the world, unite! How else will you manage to complete your Pokedex and challenge the sinister plot of Team Galactic? On April 22, Pokemon® Diamond and Pokemon® Pearl, the Pokemon series for the best-selling Nintendo DS™ game system, become available in the Americas. These two titles represent the latest adventure in the popular Pokemon franchise. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl offer a number of exciting new features to please both experienced and new Pokemon fans alike. Set in an entirely new region called "Sinnoh," players can choose to begin their adventure as either a boy or girl Pokemon trainer on a path to becoming Pokemon League Champion. The adventure continues as players can bring Pokemon from their Game Boy® Advance Pokemon games to Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl using the GBA game slot on their Nintendo DS. As players trade and collect Pokemon to complete their Pokedex in this new challenge, for the first time they'll have the chance to catch new Pokemon, Munchlax™ and Weavile™. They also can play via local wireless with up to eight other trainers while new moves and abilities deepen strategy. "After recently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Pokemon franchise continues to get stronger," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "These two new titles represent the best that Pokemon has to offer, and a great opportunity for Game Boy users to upgrade to Nintendo DS." Unique pre-sell styluses featuring new Pokemon from the new series will be available by reserving the game early at participating retailers. Stay tuned for more details about this special offer. Pokemon games continue to be wildly popular around the world, with more than 155 million units sold worldwide through September 2006. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl are currently shattering sales records in Japan since their September launch. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl for Nintendo DS will be available April 22, and are Rated E for Everyone. ----- Pokemon.com Release Date Confirmed The release date confirms the release date that was shown briefly at Pokemon.com on Monday. The release date, April 22, 2007, was removed later in the day from the Pokemon.com site. It seems they got ahead of themselves on the release date. As of writing this news, Pokemon.com has not yet updated their Diamond/Pearl page to reflect the official announcement of the release date. However, the Nintendo page on Diamond/Pearl has already been updated to show the release date: Nintendo.com - Pokemon Diamond Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon.com:
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Page Revealed!
-12/15/06- | |
The official Pokemon website has revealed a new
page for Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl. You can access the page by
clicking on the Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl icon on the main page of
the official site at
www.pokemon.com, or you can use this direct link:
http://www.pokemon.com/flash.asp?qString=diamondandpearl
Although no exact release date was revealed, a
Spring 2007 release date (same date we've known for a while now) was listed
at the page.
Information and Screenshots from the official
website:
Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl are coming! Get
ready for a brand new adventure in 2007!
A brand new world is waiting for you on the
Nintendo DS this spring - Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl are two new
games for the Nintendo DS which get back to the roots of Pokemon RPG's.
Battling, collecting, and training are back and this time they take place in
a new region - Sinnoh!
The Sinnoh region is a lush and beautiful area
filled with lots of different plants and Pokemon. You start your adventure
from a place called Futaba Town.*
Male Character
This is home of the main male character in
Futuba Town* where the story starts. He looks ready for anything!
Female Character
This is the main girl character. With an
eye-catching white hat and her bag slung low, she's ready to take on the
world! Or at least Sinnoh!
The game has a 3D feel to it!
Check out one of the main characters walking
through Sinnoh!
On the Path to Adventure!
Our fearless female character takes a stroll.
Is that a Pokemon Center above her?
Beyond the Sea
What lies beyond this mysterious beach? Does
this body of water connect to other areas of Sinnoh?
New Characters and Familiar Faces!
You may have seen some of these Pokemon before,
but now you'll be able to play them in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl!
Munchlax uses a "Swallowing" attack!
Munchlax has a new unique move called Gulp*
which recovers strength!
Weavile attacks with Revenge!
Although not much is known about this new
attack, it looks effective!
*All names are tentative.
Related Links
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | |
[Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon.com:
Manaphy and Movie Details Revealed!
-12/15/06- | |
As promised, the official Pokemon website at
www.pokemon.com
revealed more information on Manaphy today. The secret code needed to unlock
the Manaphy mission in Pokemon Ranger wasn't revealed (it will be revealed
later this month at the official Pokemon site). However, the official US
title for the 9th Pokemon movie was revealed: Pokemon Ranger and the Temple
of the Sea (the Japanese title was: Pokemon Ranger and the Prince of the
Sea). The official site listed Spring 2007 as the release date for the movie
(which is the same date we've known for quite a while now). You can read the
announcement from the official Pokemon website below:
Manaphy Makes Its Appearance
The newest Pokemon to make a splash is Manaphy,
star of the upcoming movie, Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, which
is scheduled for release this spring! We don't have a lot of information
about Manaphy just yet, but we can tell you this - you won't be able to get
it by just playing through Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl!
First, you'll have to access a special Ranger Net mission in Pokemon Ranger.
This special mission will send you on a quest to search for the Manaphy Egg.
Once you clear the mission, you'll be asked to guard the Manaphy egg. You
cannot hatch or raise Manaphy in Pokemon Ranger! You can send the egg to
Pokemon Diamond and/or Pokemon Pearl, where you can then hatch and raise
Manaphy!
Check back later this month for more details on the Manaphy egg mission,
including the secret code needed to unlock the special Manaphy mission!
Related Links
Pokemon Ranger
Future Movies | |
[Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
Official
Japanese Pokemon Movie Website: Poster and Trailer Revealed!
-12/14/06- | |
The official Japanese Pokemon movie website
revealed the poster and trailer of the 10th Pokemon movie. The movie is
titled "Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Dialga vs. Palkia. The trailer shows
Dialga and Palkia, the two Diamond/Pearl legendaries, battling it out in a
short clip. The movie will be released in Japan on July 14, 2007.
The official Japanese Pokemon movie website:
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/
Move trailer page:
http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/trailer/index.html
- Windows Media Player format or Quicktime. From
left to right, available in small, large, and extra large video sizes.
As for the US, the 9th Pokemon movie, starring
Manaphy, is scheduled to be released in Spring 2007. Which means you can
expect this 10th Pokemon movie to be released in the US sometime in 2008.
Related Links
Future Movies | |
[Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon Learning
League: Content Quickly Updated as Needed!
-12/14/06- | |
Press Release
Pokemon Learning League Leverages Online
Format to Provide Students With Current Content
Schools Increasingly See Benefit of Digital
Learning Materials; Content Can Be Quickly and Easily Updated As Needed
Online educational resources provide students with the most
up-to-date content, alleviating the concern educators have with the timeliness
of print-based materials. This benefit and many others are the reasons schools
are increasingly turning to online learning resources. According to the
America's Digital Schools 2006 survey, district curriculum directors
anticipate expenditures for digital supplemental materials to triple over the
next five years. Pokemon USA, Inc., the provider of the online educational
product Pokemon Learning League, is able to promptly incorporate current
events into the lessons, make revisions per the academic community, and
address issues that arise for students. The flexibility of online learning
resources, such as Pokemon Learning League, essentially eliminates obsolete
data.
Pokemon Learning League,
http://www.PokemonLearningLeague.com , is a web-based educational suite of
animated, interactive lessons in language arts, math, science, and life skills
for ages 8-12. It can be used at school or at home.
This fall, when the International Astronomical Union redefined
the term "planet" and reclassified Pluto as a minor planet, Pokemon USA
immediately modified its online lesson on the solar system to reflect the
change.
Another example of the timely and relevant information provided
in Pokemon Learning League is its lesson on the food pyramid. A major health
problem plaguing America is childhood obesity. This issue has come to the
forefront of education discourse. Schools are now searching for new ways to
teach students about healthy eating habits and exercise. With Pokemon Learning
League, students learn about the new Food Guide Pyramid in a way that is
relatable to them, using familiar characters and storylines that appeal to
their age group.
Because of the nature of the Internet, online educational
providers can quickly respond to current events to update the content on their
sites and make it immediately available to students. Print materials often
have a long lag time between the time they are written to the time they reach
students' hands. The widespread access to the Internet from virtually any
location is also an advantage over print-based materials, which must be
purchased in retail stores, or which school districts must warehouse and
distribute among its schools and then to its teachers and students.
"My students enjoy using Pokemon Learning League in the computer
classroom," said Margaret Slutz, master technologist for the Horn Academy in
the Houston Independent School District. "One of the greatest assets of the
program is its ease-of-use. It can be used on any computer with an Internet
connection, no matter what operating system is being used. The creators can
add more features without teachers having to download upgrades, and the
program doesn't require a lot of instruction beforehand for the students to be
able to use it."
Pokemon uses the feedback they receive from educators to revise
and update lessons to ensure the topics are the most relevant in the classroom
and strike the right tone with students and teachers.
Today's students are accustomed to reading and writing in an
online environment that instantly responds to their actions. With Pokemon
Learning League, students receive immediate feedback on their progress, and
they can proceed through the program at their own pace. To further customize
instruction to students' needs, teachers can assign lessons that meet the
students' skill levels.
"The use of digital supplemental materials, such as Pokemon
Learning League, in schools continues to grow," said Yves Saada, vice
president of interactive media for Pokemon USA. "The future of education lies
in a web-based learning environment that provides real-time information,
flexibility in use, and quick adaptability to the changing needs of students
and teachers."
Pokemon Learning League is available to educators and students,
as well as families, to preview for free. Beginning in early 2007, a paid
yearly subscription will be required for full access to the site.
Subscriptions start at $95 per household and $145 per classroom.
To preview the lessons, visit
http://www.PokemonLearningLeague.com . | |
[Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon TCG City Championships at Mountain View: PE2K Recap!
-12/10/06- |  
 
 
PE2K was at the Pokemon TCG City Championships at the St Joseph school
in Mountain View, California. The City Championships is one of many that
are going on across the US and in other countries during November 2006
through January 2007. At this particular location I was at, 69 players
participated in the event. 25 players were in the Masters Division (Born
in 1991 or earlier), 21 players in the Senior Division (Born in 1992,
1993, 1994 or 1995), and 23 players in the Junior Division (Born in 1996
or later).
For more pictures from the event, go here:
Pokemon TCG City Championships (Mountain View) | [Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon Elite 2000: Coverage of the City Championships!
-12/08/06- | 
The Pokemon TCG City Championships began last month, but many more
locations will host the event this month and into January 2007. Pokemon
Elite 2000 will cover the City Championships at one of those locations
tomorrow at Mountain View, California (at the St Joseph School in Parish
Hall). There will be a full recap and pictures from event here on the
website. Pokemon Elite 2000 was at
the City Championships last month at the Game Kastle in Santa Clara,
California. You can view the full recap of the event here:
Pokemon TCG City Championships
Pokemon TCG City Championships WHO: Pokemon Trading
Card Game players and the general public WHAT: Pokemon
TCG City Championship; FREE admission, open to the public
WHEN: November 18, 2006 - January 21, 2007 WHERE: Cities
all across the U.S. More
information about City Championships:
City Championships FAQ Dates, times, and locations:
City Championships Locations | [Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
Manaphy Egg Mystery Appears at Pokemon.com!
-12/08/06- | 
 
An image of the Manaphy egg is appearing at the official Pokemon website
at Pokemon.com. It also
lists a date of December 15th, 2006, which apparently is the date that
more information will be revealed. Image of the Manaphy egg also appears
and disappears randomly on the official site on various pages. We'll
have information here on the website's news as well when more
information is revealed.
The mystery revelation may reveal how to get Manaphy, a new Pokemon
beyond the current 386 Pokemon, in Pokemon Ranger (which you can then
transfer Manaphy to Pokemon Diamond/Pearl). And/or, it may reveal
details on the Manaphy movie, the 9th Pokemon movie, which is scheduled
to be released in Spring 2007 (exact date and title is not yet
determined). Pokemon Diamond/Pearl is also scheduled to be released in
the US in Spring 2007.
Pokemon Ranger for the Nintendo DS was released in the US back in
October 30, 2006.
Related Links
http://www.pokemonranger.com/ - Official Pokemon Ranger Website
Pokemon Ranger | [Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
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Pokemon Diamond/Pearl TCG: Two New
Commercials!
-12/01/06- |
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The official Japanese Pokemon TCG website released two new
commercials for the Pokemon Diamond/Pearl TCG. You can view the
commercial here:
http://www.pokemon-card.com/shouhin/index.html (The two commercials
are under the "2006.12.1" news at that page).
The Pokemon Diamond/Pearl TCG was released in Japan on
October 27, 2006 (there is currently no US release date available). |
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 [Questions
and Comments on This News Story] |
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