March 2007
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Next: April 2007 |
PE2K News: March Recap! -03/31/07- | |
Starting this month, I will be recapping some of the major
news in the Pokemon world at the end of the month.
Pokemon Video Game News
-
PE2K at Game Developers Conference 2007: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (English
demo) and Pokemon Battle Revolution (Japanese version showcased).
Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007.
Pokemon Battle Revolution will be released on June 25, 2007.
- All Pokemon names for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl revealed (or I
guess, leaked).
- Pokemon Diamond/Pearl is featured on the cover of Nintendo
Power's May 2007 issue. The issue features two different covers of either
Dialga or Palkia as a special collectors edition.
- A new Pokemon game will be revealed in Japanese gaming
magazine, CoroCoro, in the May issue which will be available next month, on
April 15, 2007. No further details were given about the new Pokemon game.
- Sequel to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon announced. Two versions
for the DS and will support Wi-Fi. Scheduled to be released in Japan this
year in 2007 (no date yet for the US). It's currently unknown whether this
is the new Pokemon game CoroCoro was referring to.
Pokemon Trading Card Game News
- The Pokemon TCG US State Championships was held during March
3-11, 2007. The Pokemon TCG Regional Championships will start in April.
- Pokemon TCG: Diamond and Pearl will be released on May 23,
2007.
- Pokemon TCG: EX Collectors Tins, featuring Diamond/Pearl
preview cards of the starters, were released on March 21st.
- Pokemon TCG: Mystery of the Lake, is the second
Diamond/Pearl TCG set, will be released in Japan on March 2, 2007 (no date
yet for the US).
Pokemon TV Show and Movie News
- Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea aired on
Cartoon Network on March 23rd. The DVD will be released on April 3, 2007.
- Cartoon Network revealed the first five episode titles for
the Diamond/Pearl TV series. It also confirmed the official English names
for some of the new characters, including Dawn (Japanese name: Hikari), Paul
(Japanese name: Shinji), and Nando (Japanese name: Naoshi). A sneak peak of
the new season will be on Cartoon Network on April 20th.
- New trailer for the 10th Pokemon Movie was revealed for the
10th Poke movie: "Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai."
The movie will be released in Japan on July 14, 2007. There is currently no
official US release date available.
- The Pokemon TV show will celebrate its 10th anniversary in
April.
-----
For complete details on these news, check out the news archive
for March 2007: News Archive - March 2007 | |
 [Questions and Comments on This News Story]
|
Pokemon
Discussion at KidScreen West Conference! -03/31/07- | |
Pokemon will be one of the topics of discussion this year's
KidScreen West conference. The speakers include: Eddie Hayden from JAKKS
Pacific (Director of Male Action), Bob Higgins from Cartoon Network (Senior
Vice President of Programming and Development), and Holly Rawlinson from
Pokemon USA (Vice President of Licensing and Entertainment).
|
Case Study – Pokemon Takes the Driver's Seat
2006 marked a year of big changes for Pokemon. Most
notably taking all their own licensing initiatives in-house, aligning
with a new broadcast network and a overhauling their licensee and
partner list. Find out the strategy behind the realignment and how they
are managing their partnerships to ensure long-term relationships that
strengthen both the brand and the retail sales.
|
The KidScreen West will be held on May 14-15, 2007, at Santa
Monica, California. You can visit the official KidScreen West website here:
http://www.kidscreenwest.com/ | |
[Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon TV
Show's 10th Anniversary!
-03/31/07- | |
Pokemon celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, but this
year on April marks the 10th anniversary of the TV show. Here's a report by
the Anime News Network:
|
Anime News Network: 10th Anniversary of Pokemon in
Japan
In April, 1997, Pokemon premiered in Japan. Next month
marks the 10 year anniversary since its broadcast premiere, and Rica
Matsumoto has been performing the role of Satoshi the entire time.
Speaking to Yomiuri Shinbun, she said, "It's been 10
years, hasn't it? But, it doesn't feel it's been that long. It's like
Satoshi and I are doing this together. From the beginning, I wanted to
perform, and I knew I wanted to do work that let others have fun."
Beginning in her late teens, and under the guidance of her
father, the chairman of a stage troupe, she began working in theatrical
productions. As she continued to work in stage productions, she became
ill with tuberculosis. It took a long time to recover, and in that time,
friends and colleagues suggested other ways she could perform, such as
voice acting. She auditioned for a 1988 TV series called Osomatsu-kun,
and thus started her voice acting career. In the late 90s, she saw an
audition for the role of Satoshi, which was only described as "A young
boy's voice, that is also a singer."
"Satoshi is always coming up with funny things to say,
such as 'Pajama wa jama' (Pajamas are a menace!), as well as lots of
gags. It's what attracted me to the type of character." |
The read the entire article, go here:
Anime News Network: 10th Anniversary of Pokemon in Japan | |
[Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Nintendo Power: Pokemon Diamond and Pearl! -03/24/07- | |
The current issue of Nintendo Power, May 2007 (Volume #215),
features two different covers of either Dialga or Palkia as a special
collectors edition. The issue contains an article titled "Pearls of Wisdom,"
in which the creators of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl share their
thoughts on the game. In the interview are Junichi Masuda (Director), Ken
Sugimori (Art Director), Shigeru Ohmori (Game Design Leader), and Takao Unno
(Graphic Leader).
For more information on Nintendo Power and how to subscribe,
visit the official Nintendo Power website:
http://www.nintendopower.com/
Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April
22, 2007.
Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
Pokemon
Diamond/Pearl Video (English Demo) | |
[Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Sneak Peek of the "Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl" Season! -03/21/07- | Pokemon.com has announced that a sneak peek of the Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl season will be on Cartoon Network, on April 20th. From Pokemon.com:
What Pokemon will Ash add to his team? What friends and rivals will Ash encounter? Find out some of the answers on April 20th, as Ash meets a new friend named Dawn. She’s a beginning Pokemon Coordinator who’s determined to do things with style! But Ash is also about to meet a rival who could even make Gary look nice – and Team Rocket isn’t about to leave Ash and Pikachu alone, either! |
Related Links www.cartoonnetwork.com - Official Cartoon Network Website | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Japanese Magazine News: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 2! -03/20/07- | 
A poster on the NeoGAF forum listed some of the major Japanese magazine news. Among the news was a sequel to Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. New Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon
- Second Chunsoft x Pokemon project
- Slightly different format
- There's probably be 2 versions
- Story will be enhanced
- Will support Wifi |
You can read the post here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147175 The obvious speculation is that the game might feature all 493 Pokemon from Diamond and Pearl (since the first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon had all 386 Pokemon available), but of course, that's just speculation at this point since the available information from the original poster mentioned nothing to that effect. Though it is a good guess, one that will likely be true. As many of you may recall, CoroCoro (a Japanese gaming magazine) announced that they will reveal a new Pokemon game in their May issue (due out on April 15, 2007). It's unknown if the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon sequel is the one they're talking about. It might be the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon sequel, or it might be another Pokemon game that will be featured in the May issue. We'll just have wait and see. Related Links Pokemon Mystery Dungeon | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
PokemonCenter.com: Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Bundles! -03/20/07- | 
PokemonCenter.com is offering several different Pokemon Diamond and Pearl bundles that features the exclusive Dialga pin, Palkia pin, and starter pin: Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl Deluxe Game Bundle - $95.95 Bundle includes: Pokemon Diamond Game, Pokemon Pearl Game, Scenario Guide, free Dialga pin, free Palkia pin, and free Starter pin - while supplies last. [Product Page] Pokemon Diamond Game with Scenario Guide - $49.95 Bundle includes: Pokemon Diamond Game, Scenario Guide and free Dialga pin - while supplies last. [Product Page] Pokemon Pearl Game with Scenario Guide - $49.95 Bundle includes: Pokemon Diamond Game, Scenario Guide and free Palkia pin - while supplies last. [Product Page] Pokemon Diamond Game - $34.95 Pokemon Diamond Game and a free exclusive Dialga pin with pre-order - while supplies last. [Product Page] Pokemon Pearl Game - $34.95 Pokemon Pearl Game and a free exclusive Palkia pin with pre-order - while supplies last. [Product Page] |
You can view all the bundles in one page here: http://www.pokemoncenter.com/icat/vg_fea_diamond_pearl Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007. These items ordered on PokemonCenter.com will ship on or around April 23rd. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon Trading Card Game: Diamond and Pearl: In Stores May 23rd! -03/19/07- |
   
Press Release New Pokemon, New Adventures - Pokemon Trading Card Game Expansion Adds Dozens of New Characters! Eagerly Awaited Diamond & Pearl Expansion Has All-New Look! Pokemon USA, Inc., a worldwide leader in the trading card game industry, today announced the latest Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Diamond & Pearl, to be released on May 23rd. The expansion features over 120 cards, including more than 50 brand-new Pokemon for players to collect for the very first time. In Diamond & Pearl, players will explore the never-before-seen Sinnoh region in search of all-new Pokemon like the legendary Dialga and Palkia. With new gameplay—including the exciting Pokemon LV.X that make Pokemon more powerful—new attacks, and even a new look that incorporates Pokedex information for each Pokemon, Diamond & Pearl will take every player to the next level. The Pokemon TCG: Diamond & Pearl expansion will be available in three 60-card theme decks—Terra Firma, Inferno Zone, and Royal Frost—and in booster packs. Theme decks and booster packs go on sale in stores on May 23rd, priced at $11.99 for the theme decks and $3.79 for the booster packs. Each booster pack features 10 randomly inserted game cards. Theme decks include a unique coin, an updated rulebook, card list, a one-player playmat, and damage counters. For information, visit www.pokemon-tcg.com. ----- Pokemon TCG: Diamond & Pearl - Card Pictures (Click to Enlarge)     
    
| [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
"Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl" TV Series: Episode Titles and Character Names! -03/19/07- | 
Cartoon Network has revealed the episode titles for the first five episodes of the Pokemon: Diamond/Pearl TV series (the 10th Pokemon season). The episode descriptions also confirm the official English names for some of the new characters, including Dawn (Japanese name: Hikari), Paul (Japanese name: Shinji), and Nando (Japanese name: Naoshi). The Cartoon Network website did not say when the Pokemon: Diamond and Pearl series will begin.  
Episode 1 (Season 10) - Following A Maiden's Voyage! As Ash, Pikachu and Aipom head toward new adventures in the Sinnoh region, a young trainer named Dawn is just beginning her own Pokemon journey. Episode 2 (Season 10) - Two Degrees of Separation! As Dawn begins her quest to find an injured Pikachu's trainer. Ash sets out to find Dawn, and reunites with Brock in the process Episode 3 (Season 10) - When Pokemon Worlds Collide! Soon after Ash and Brock are reunited with Pikachu, Ash is challenged to a battle by a trainer named Paul. Episode 4 (Season 10) - Dawn Of A New Era! When our heroes come across a Pokemon bard named Nando, Dawn has her very first battle. Meanwhile, Nando tries to decide whether to pursue Gym battles or Contests. Episode 5 (Season 10) - Gettin' Twiggy With It! When Team Rocket makes off with Ash's Pikachu, a feisty Turtwig appears on the scene to rescue and take care of Pikachu. Unfortunately, the Turtwig mistakes our heroes for bad guys. |
Related Links www.cartoonnetwork.com - Official Cartoon Network Website | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Pop-Up Booklet Ad! -03/19/07- | Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Pop-Up Booklet Ad (Click to Enlarge)  
 
Here's a Pokemon Diamond and Pearl pop-up booklet ad I got from Nintendo. Nothing new in the ad, but thought I should share it with you all. When you open up the ad, there are pop-ups of Dialga and Palkia. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
New Pokemon Game to be Revealed in CoroCoro! -03/16/07- | 
CoroCoro, a Japanese gaming magazine, announced in their current April issue that a new Pokemon game will be revealed in the next issue (the CoroCoro May issue). The same announcement is also at CoroCoro's official website. The CoroCoro May issue will be available next month, on April 15, 2007. No further details were given about the new Pokemon game. Related Links
http://www.corocoro.tv/ - Official CoroCoro Website | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Official Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Website: Commercial! -03/16/07- |  
 
 
The official Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Website is now open. The site contains pre-order info, screenshots (nothing new at the moment), wallpapers (two so far of Dialga and Palkia), and commercial for Diamond/Pearl. You can visit the site here:
http://www.pokemon-games.com/pokemondandp/ The site notes that: "Full Site Coming Soon!" Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl: Six New English Version Screenshots! -03/15/07- | Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Screenshots (Click to Enlarge)   
  
We've seen plenty of Japanese version screenshots when Pokemon Diamond/Pearl was released in Japan, but we're just starting to get more English version screenshots as the release date for the US is getting near. Here are six new English version screenshots of Pokemon Diamond/Pearl (as seen above). Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Two New Pokemon Jewels Will Have People Talking! -03/15/07- | Press Release  
On April 22, Two New Pokemon Jewels Will Have People Talking Wireless and Chat Abilities of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl Act Like a Cell Phone for Kids For a decade, fans of Pokemon® video games have been entertained by exciting adventures, dramatic battles and hundreds of new Pokemon. Now the record-setting franchise is evolving with Pokemon® Diamond Version and Pokemon® Pearl Version, two new games available April 22 for the top-selling Nintendo DS. The in-depth games feature enhanced graphics that make Pokemon jump off the screen like never before. In addition to the 380 Pokemon available in previous versions, players can collect, train and battle more than 100 new Pokemon. After completing certain objectives, they can also import Pokemon from their Game Boy® Advance games. Starting March 18, fans who pre-order a copy of either game will receive one of two collectible Pokemon styluses (retailer may require pre-order deposit). But the game's wireless abilities are what will have everyone talking - literally. Using a local wireless connection, up to eight trainers can connect and play. Both Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl are fully Wi-Fi compatible, meaning players can log onto Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo's wireless gaming service, and compete with players all around the world. The microphone built into the Nintendo DS even lets players talk with friends before, during and after battles. Only players who have entered one another's Friend Codes can communicate using this Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, feature so players can control with whom they communicate. For kids, it's like having a cell phone that can only connect with their friends. The Nintendo DS Headset, sold separately, makes these conversations a breeze. "The amazing wireless and voice chat features of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl offer gamers something completely new," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "We make games for everybody, and these Pokemon titles are sure to be a hit with new and returning players." Players can trade Pokemon or battle with players anywhere in the world, even without voice communication. The Global Trade Station allows players to post Pokemon they want to trade on a board and browse through Pokemon other players have posted. The Battle Tower allows players to battle with seven Trainers who have registered their player data in the Wi-Fi Battle Dome. After the battle, players can upload their data so other Trainers can battle them virtually. The more games a player wins, the higher his or her ranking. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl feature the ability for players to control their Pokedex using the touch screen controls of Nintendo DS. As time passes in the real world, the look of the games changes. The Pokemon characters that appear change, and the evolution of some Pokemon is affected. More than 155 million Pokemon games have been sold worldwide. When Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl were released in Japan, they became the fastest-selling Pokemon games ever, with 5 million units shipped to retailers in their first three months of availability. For more information about these games, visit www.Pokemon.com. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Official Japanese Pokemon Movie Website: PikaTube Videos! -03/15/07- |  
 
The official Japanese Pokemon movie website revealed a new page called PikaTube. The page contains videos related to the 10th Pokemon movie: "Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai." One of the videos show the making of the music in the movie, which you can view here: http://www.pokemon-movie.jp/pikatube/070315-02.html The movie will be released in Japan on July 14, 2007. There is currently no US release date. Related Links Future Movies | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Complete List of US English Names for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl! -03/14/07- |  
A user on the GameFAQs message board posted the complete list of US English names for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, you can view the post here: US Names Of Fourth Gen of Pokemon. The list was further confirmed by sites who were slowly leaking the names. You can now view all the US English names along with their sprites in our Sprite Resource page: Sprite Resource Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Pokemon TCG: EX Collector's Tins, and Diamond/Pearl Preview Cards! -03/12/07- | Press Release 
  
Pokemon Trading Card Game: EX Collector's Tins Give Players a Glimpse of the Future! Three Tins with a Sneak-Peek at the Upcoming Diamond & Pearl Release Pokemon USA, Inc., a worldwide leader in the trading card game industry, today announced a special Pokemon Trading Card Game gift item, the EX Collector’s Tin, to be released on March 21st. Each tin includes four EX Series booster packs—two from the recent expansion EX Power Keepers and one each from the popular EX Delta Species and EX Dragon Frontiers expansions—as well as one of three exciting, brand-new Diamond & Pearl Pokemon preview cards: Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup. With three different designs, every 2007 Pokemon TCG: EX Collector’s Tin features a great window design for players to display their favorite card, and each comes with one of three foil Diamond & Pearl Pokemon cards that will give players and collectors a sneak-peek at the next highly anticipated Pokemon TCG expansion. The Pokemon TCG: EX Collector’s Tins go on sale in stores March 21st, just in time for Easter gift-giving and are each priced at $12.99. Each of the four booster packs inside contains nine randomly inserted game cards. For more information, visit www.pokemon-tcg.com. | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
PE2K at GDC 2007:
Shigeru Miyamoto's Keynote! -03/09/07- | |
 
Here's some pictures I took from Shigeru Miyamoto's keynote
at the Game Developers Conference 2007. His keynote, titled ""A Creative
Vision," discussed Nintendo's vision, as well as his vision for video
games. Using his wife as an example as a non-gamer, Miyamoto also talked
about how Nintendo have converted non-gamers into enjoying this form of
entertainment.
You can view the video of the keynote here:
http://www.visualwebcaster.com/Nintendo/38232/event.html
Related Links PE2K at GDC 2007 |
Pokemon
Learning League: Teaches Skills Needs for School and Life!
-03/09/07- | |
Press Release
Pokemon Learning League Teaches Children Skills Needed
for Success in School and in Life
Pokemon Learning League provides parents and teachers
engaging way to reinforce positive social skills to prepare children for
life's challenges
A growing body of research, including a study published in
Child Development in January 2006, indicates that children's social,
emotional and physical well-being have a significant impact on academic
achievement. Children need both academic and life skills to make smart
choices and to become productive members of society. To that end, Pokemon
USA, Inc., has added new topics to Pokemon Learning League.com that focus
on relationship-building, positive social skills and bullying prevention.
The online educational suite of animated, interactive lessons in language
arts, math, science, and life skills for children 8-12, is aligned with
school curriculum standards to reinforce classroom lessons and extend
learning into the home. Comprised of a narrative tutorial (watch), guided
practice (try) and an interactive challenge (apply), each lesson delivers
a supportive learning environment for children that is accessible anytime,
anywhere.
Many parents say that raising children in today's world is
especially challenging because of the harmful messages children are
exposed to on a regular basis. According to the 2002 Public Agenda report,
"Easier Said Than Done," 47 percent of parents say that the biggest
challenge they face is protecting children from negative societal
influences. Parents know that helping children develop positive social
skills is essential to prepare them for life's challenges and to mitigate
the destructive messages and influences that are an inescapable presence
in society.
Increasingly, education leaders are focusing on educating
the whole child, an approach that embraces a full curriculum to address
all areas of children's development. Educators are incorporating social
and emotional learning in the classroom, not just the counselor's office.
Making Friends, one of the new life skills topics added to
Pokemon Learning League this month, is important to every child and
contributes to his or her overall well-being. Through the Pokemon Learning
League lesson, children learn about what makes a good friend and how to be
one. Additional topics added this month include Teamwork and Bullying.
"In addition to direct instruction, it simply takes practice
and cycles of meaningful feedback to change deeply engrained habits, such
as how we respond to conflict, set goals, or eat nutritionally," stated
Laura Parker Roerden, former publisher for Educators for Social
Responsibility and an advisory board member for Pokemon Learning League.
"Pokemon Learning League is particularly well-suited to help children
develop a toolbox of skills they can use to make healthy choices in their
lives.
"The topics offer children a unique opportunity to acquire
these new skills through a medium that is both relational and private
enough for children to take risks in their learning that they might feel
uncomfortable taking in front of peers. Pokemon's familiar characters help
to create both a sense of safety and intimacy necessary to do this work."
The Pokemon themes of sharing, collaboration and helping
others are also woven into academic lessons in math, science and language
arts. Pokemon Learning League's diverse male and female Mission Guides
serve as mentors to students, leading them through the lessons and
demonstrating positive attitudes and life skills such as cooperation and
perseverance. Then, students and the Pokemon characters exercise their new
skills as they work together to solve academic challenges.
The program is available to schools, households, and
after-school programs through paid subscriptions. For more information,
visit
http://www.pokemonlearningleague.com/. |
PE2K at GDC 2007: "Pokemon Diamond/Pearl" English Demo! -03/07/07- |  
 
 
The English version demo of Pokemon Diamond/Pearl is on display at the Game Developers Conference 2007. The demo is short and limited, so there's not much to reveal. However, one of the city's English names has been revealed: Jubilife City. So I started up the demo, and I was greeted by my rival: "Hey! I've been waiting for you! Welcome to the Sinnoh region! This is a region of great natural beauty where Pokemon that have never been seen before can be found! Follow me! I'll walk you through Jubilife City!" You are then lead to a route (though you can't go back to the city) and he tells you: "You'll find a cave if you walk straight down this road. You should go there and check it out!" As I approached the route, I was stopped by a lab aide: "A Pokemon Watch is for all Trainers! We call it a Poketch for short!" You then obtain the "Digital Watch Poketch app." The lab aide further explains: "There are various Poketch apps that you can add to it!" After that, I got to battle a few trainers. The team on the demo version consists of Lucario, Roselia, and Mime Jr. Lucario has Force Palm, Me First, Bone Rush, and Metal Sound. Roselia has Leech Seed, Magical Leaf, GrassWhistle, and Poison Sting. And Mime Jr. has Barrier, Copycat, Mimic, and Psybeam. At the end of the road, you meet Professor Rowan, who says: "Wow! You've done a great job. I can sense that you could be a truly great Pokemon Trainer. You have the Thorn Pokemon Roselia. Some Pokemon that haven't evolved in other regions might evolve here in the Sinnoh region. Hmm... Let's see what happens with your Roselia..." And then Roselia evolves: "What? Roselia is evolving! Congratulations! Your Roselia evolved into Roserade!" And although you're at the cave entrance, you can't enter it, and this is where the demo version ends. Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl will be released on April 22, 2007. Related Links Pokemon Diamond/Pearl PE2K at GDC 2007 | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
"Pokemon Battle Revolution" Release Date: June 25, 2007! -03/07/07- | Press Release  
Wii™ owners of all ages have discovered the fun of playing with a group of friends in the same room. Now for the first time players can compete with one another near and far with Pokemon® Battle Revolution, a game of remarkable firsts: * the first Wii game to include Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection play * the first Pokemon game for Wii * the first game to link Wii and the hand-held Nintendo DS™ * and the first Wii game that can be controlled using Nintendo DS When Wii and Nintendo DS are linked, players can use their Nintendo DS units as controllers or import characters from the upcoming Nintendo DS games Pokemon® Diamond Version or Pokemon® Pearl Version. Pokemon Battle Revolution launches on June 25 exclusively for Wii and brings a dramatic new chapter to the Pokemon franchise, which has sold more than 155 million units worldwide. Pokemon Battle Revolution also serves as one of the standouts in Nintendo's second-quarter launch lineup, which the company revealed today in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Pokemon Battle Revolution will be joined by Super Paper Mario™, the first Mario™ game for Wii; Mario Party® 8, a multiplayer party game; and Big Brain Academy™, a brain-training game that builds on the phenomenal success of the Nintendo DS brain games. These will add to the ever-growing library of Wii games, which will total more than 50 by the end of June. Nintendo DS fans will see the arrival of Pokemon Diamond Version and Pokemon Pearl Version, two surefire smash-hits. "With strong third-party support, Wii and Nintendo DS have games on the way for both casual and veteran gamers," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Our new ways to play have attracted millions of players around the world. This lineup demonstrates our commitment to leading the industry with the future of video gaming." Related Links Pokemon Battle Revolution | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
PE2K at Game Developers Conference 2007! -03/05/07- | 
I'll be at the Game Developers Conference 2007, which is held at San Francisco during March 5-9. One of the keynote speakers will be Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, Donkey Kong, and Zelda (just to name a few). And of course, he also worked with Pokemon creator Satoshi Tajiri as a producer for the Pokemon games. What's the Game Developers Conference? The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the official trade event "by developers for developers" of computer, console, mobile, arcade, online games, and location based entertainment. The GDC attracts over 12,500 attendees and provides educational, networking, and business opportunities for game development professionals driving the $11 billion videogame industry. It is the main global forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas, network, and shape the future of the industry.
This market defining conference features over 300 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussions on a comprehensive selection of game development topics taught by leading industry experts. In addition, the GDC expo showcases all of the game development tools, platforms and services. The conference also includes the ninth annual Independent Games Festival, where new, unpublished games compete for the attention of the publishing community. |
So stay tuned here in the news for coverage of the Game Developers Conference 2007! | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Rockford Register Star: Pokemon TCG State Championship Recap! -03/05/07- |  
The Rockford Register Star has a recap of the Illinois State Pokemon TCG Championship: First ‘monsters’ state championship - Rockford Register Star Jeremiah Williams learned Pokemon before he learned to read and write.
The 7-year-old from Loves Park picked up the game at 4, when he began memorizing the cards, his father, Rich, says.
The father and son were part of a crowd of 112 players that gathered Saturday at Forest Hills Lodge for the Illinois State Pokemon Championships. It was the first time the popular trading card game’s state championships were held in Loves Park. Previously, Chicago had been the home for state tourneys. This year’s event was put on by Tomorrow is Yesterday, a Loves Park comic and novelty store.
“We have a really good solid player base here in Rockford,” said Pokemon Premier Tournament Organizer Camille Peltier-Robson “We have about 40-50 local players that play all the time, so it seemed natural to host the big event here.”
Loves Park will also be the site of the regional tournament on April 14. It’s one of less than 10 regionals in North America, Peltier-Robson said.
“Pokemon is alive and well in Rockford that’s for sure,” Peltier-Robson said. |
To read the entire article, go here: First 'monsters' state championship ----- The older Pokemon fans showed their numbers at the event, with 65 players in the Masters Division, which is more than the Junior Division (23 players) and Senior Division (23 players) combined, for a total 111 players at the event. Illinois State Pokemon TCG Championship - Winners Junior Division - Born in 1996 or later (23 Players)
1st - Drew F
2nd - Benjamin M
3rd - Angela W
4th - Jeremiah W Senior Division - Born in 1992, 1993, 1994 or 1995 (23 Players)
1st - Quinn D
2nd - James F 3rd - Jeff V
4th - Christopher W Masters Division - Born in 1991 or earlier (65 Players)
1st - Richard L
2nd - Jimmy B
3rd - Tom S
4th - Dave C II |
Jimmy Ballard, who came in second in the Masters Division at the 2006 Pokemon TCG World Championships, took second place at this State Championship. According to the tournament organizer, this year's Illinois State Pokemon TCG Championship showed some significant growth in attendance: "Just a point of interest, last year's IL States had 79 players and Regionals had 99... our States had 111 this year, dealing with some unfortunate weather." You can view the tournament organizer's post here: IL States - Rockford IL PTO PokeMama Related Links Pokemon-TCG.com - 2007 Pokemon TCG U.S. State Championships FAQ | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Cartoon Network Schedule Correction! -03/03/07- | 
The premiere of Pokemon Diamond/Pearl will not be aired on March 10, as previously speculated. Cartoon Network's schedule originally listed a new episode (but no episode title) to be aired on March 10th, at 9:30 AM. This lead to the belief that the Pokemon Diamond/Pearl series will be premiere at that time slot. However, that time slot was later left blank on the schedule. And now, CartoonNetwork.com's schedule currently lists "Fear Factor Phony!" (the first episode of Pokemon: Battle Frontier) as the March 10th, 9:30 AM time slot. Pokemon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea The premiere of Pokemon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea on Cartoon Network is still scheduled for March 23rd, at 7:00 PM (for more Cartoon Network movie schedules in the month of March, go here: ToonZone: Cartoon Network Movies for March 2007) Related Links Cartoon Network - Schedule Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
Japan's 2006 Box Office Gross: Pokemon Ranger Movie Comes in 7th! -03/03/07- | 
In Japan's 2006 box office gross list, "Pokemon Ranger and the Prince of the Sea" came in 7th place. Of course, Pokemon is no stranger to be one of the top ten movies in Japan. In 2004, "Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys" was the 4th highest grossing flim. And in 2005, "Lucario and the Mystery of Mew" was the 2nd highest grossing film. 
Japan's Top 10 Grossing Films - Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan, Inc. 1. TALES FROM EARTHSEA (July, 7.65 billion yen, TOHO) 2. Test of Trust UMIZARU 2 (May, 7.10 billion yen, TOHO) 3. SUITE HOTEL (Jan, 6.08 billion yen, TOHO) 4. JAPAN SINKING (July, 5.34 billion yen, TOHO) 5. DEATH NOTE the Last name (November, 5.20 billion yen, WB) 6. YAMATO (December '05, 5.09 billion yen, TOEI) 7. Pokemon Pokemon Ranger to umi no ouji MANAPHY (July, 3.40 billion yen, TOHO) 8. DORAEMON AND THE LITTLE DINOSAUR (March, 3.28 billion yen, TOHO) 9. NADA SOU SOU - Tear for You (September, 3.10 billion yen, TOHO) 10. DETECTIVE CONAN - The Private Eyes Requiem (April, 3.03 billion yen, TOHO) |
To view the the complete list of Japan's top grossing movie list (movies exceeding 1 billion Yen), go to the official Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan's website: http://www.eiren.org/boxoffice_e/index.html Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea on DVD will be released in the US on April 3, 2007. Related Links Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys Lucario and the Mystery of Mew Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
"Pokemon Diamond/Pearl TCG: Mystery of the Lake" Commercial! -03/03/07- |  
 
The official Japanese Pokemon website has been updated with the commercial for the Pokemon Diamond/Pearl TCG: Mystery of the Lake (the second Diamond/Pearl TCG set to be released in Japan). You can view the commercial here: http://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/img/2007/cf0302_01-mov01_300k.wmv (to save on computer, right click on the link and select Save Target As/Save Link As) Pokemon Diamond/Pearl TCG: Mystery of the Lake was released in Japan on March 2, 2007. There is currently no official US release date available. | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
The Tri-City News: Dad the Tournament Organizer! -03/01/07- | 
The Tri-City News has an interesting story about a dad taking on the job as tournament organizer: The Tri-City News: Game play in the cards for dad who is tournament organizer Port Coquitlam will host the next provincial Pokemon tournament thanks to a local dad who is organizing the event. Steve Ricker took on the job of regional tournament organizer to help the trading card game get a foothold in B.C. His kids like playing Pokemon, in which they battle one another using cards depicting creatures with special powers. Ricker expects dozens of kids, and even some teens and adults, who have already won city competitions to turn out for the March 3 tournament at the Best Western PoCo Inn. They’ll be competing for merchandise, a trophy and a chance to go to Toronto for the Canadian championships. The world championship will be held this year in Kona, Hawaii. Ricker said he likes the kid-friendly atmosphere of the Pokemon tournaments, where players compete in their age category not with older, more experienced players, and opponents knock out – not kill – other players. “We don’t use any terminology to kill,” Ricker said. |
To read the entire article, go here: Game play in the cards for dad who is tournament organizer | [Questions and Comments on This News Story] |
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