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Pokemon Alpha, Omega trailer is our big, fat Greek retreading
The new Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby trailer showcases the games' X/Y graphics, as well as some of the new Mega evolutions, secret bases and... Pikachu cosplay coming to the remakes. Whether or not you see dressing up Pokemon as bordering on the flagrantly felonious (ahem) the Alpha and Omega hit 3DS on November 21. [Image: Nintendo]
Glameow it up with Pokemon Alpha & Omega steelbooks in EU
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby are getting their own steelbook bundles in Europe, complete with Kyogre and Groudon figurines respectively. Bundles including the game are coming to GAME and Nintendo's online store in the UK, and will be available for pre-order. The House of Mario Marowak lists the steelbook and figurine separately at £40; we've reached out to confirm if that also includes the game at that price. The Poke-remakes are also scoring some other pre-order goodies in the UK. Pre-orders of the standalone version at GAME get the respective figure chucked in, while early birds at Shopto will get their own early bird, namely a 2D keyring of Torchic. As for the small matter of the game itself, it hits 3DS in North America on November 21, then a week across the pond on November 28. [Image: Nintendo]
Tekken-style Pokemon fighter unveiled for arcades in 2015
Pokken Tournament combines the world of cutesy critter-catching series Pokemon with fast-paced 3D fighting in the vein of the Tekken series. Do not adjust your monitors, this is for real. As Famitsu confirms, the game represents a collaboration between Nintendo and Bandai Namco, and it's coming to arcades in Japan some time next year. The game was revealed today during a Niconico livestream by The Pokemon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara, Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada and Soulcalibur producer Masaaki Hoshino. Gematsu reports Pokken Tournament will be developed under the leadership of Harada and Hoshino. Details are limited, but a short announcement trailer showed Lucario and Machamp duking it out, before revealing the Pokken Tournament logo. To see the announcement trailer, pokken below the break.
Slowpoke used reggae music video, it's super effective
While it's not exactly Bob Marley strumming a guitar in the summer heat of Kingston, this Slowpoke music video is a solid representation of reggae ideals - assuming Pokemon lazily devouring their own bloated bodies in a psychedelic ouroboros of Pepto-Bismol-colored nightmares is a core tenet of the genre. [Image: Nintendo]
Pokemon Art Academy hits North America in October
Pokemon Art Academy launches on October 24 in North America, digitally and in stores for 3DS. This follows the game's launch on July 4 in Europe. Pokemon Art Academy trains players to be master Pokemon artists, starting with basic shapes and working up to blending, shading, and special lessons in drawing Mega-Evolved Pokemon. Now is when you use your Pokeprowess to tell us which 'mon is the hardest to draw. Ready....go! [Image: Nintendo]
Pokemon Trading Card Game Online, I(Pad) choose you!
An iPad version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game Online is in development, The Pokemon Company has confirmed to VentureBeat. Although Nintendo has released intellectual property tie-ins on non-Nintendo hardware before, this will be the first major game from The House That Mario Built on iOS. A glimpse of the iPad version was first shared by pokemon enthusiast Josh Wittenkeller - or TheJWittz as he's known on his YouTube channel. The picture was taken from Washington D.C., where the Pokemon World Championship is currently underway. Card games are somewhat of an "in" thing at the moment, with Blizzard's Hearthstone performing well financially and Obsidian currently developing a Pathfinder digital card game. The spokesperson for The Pokemon Company told VentureBeat that the game will be available sometime later this year. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Pokemon goes mega bro in Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire
Yo Slowbro, we gotta talk. We notice you're taking hits like a champ in the new trailer for Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire where you Mega-evolve into Mega Slowbro. We see you got these super high defense stats, and you bro-down with some of the toughest pokemon out there. We're just wonderin' where this came from, bro. Brotein shakes? Some brototype muscle pill? You know what, it's none of our business, bro. Live and let live. We're just happy to see you get some time in the spotlight, and look forward to some brodacious battles with you on November 21. Until then, stay chill bro. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire players get free Shiny Metagross, new Megas
Pokemon fans planning to pick up a copy of Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire when it hits shelves on November 21 will be in for a mega, shiny (but also potentially gross) treat: For a limited time via an in-game internet character distribution, players can receive a Shiny Beldum holding a Mega Stone. Keep it fed and watered, and it just might grow up to be a strong and healthy Shiny Mega Metagross. Metagross won't be the only Pokemon to go Super Saiyan Mega, though. Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have also revealed new Mega forms for Altaria, Salamence and Lopunny as well. If you're less about Mega battles and more about mega cuteness, you can instead opt to participate in Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire's Pokemon Contest Spectacular, where pokemon are judged on their Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Cleverness or Toughness. The Spectacular is also where players will receive Cosplay Pikachu, who you may remember dressing up as a lovely southern belle. Cosplay Pikachus can use moves normally not available to everyone's favorite yellow mouse, such as Pikachu Rock Star being able to use the Steel-type move Meteor Smash. An attached press release has notes on Pikachu Pop Star, Pikachu, Ph.D., Pikachu Belle and Pikachu Libre. Lastly, Horde Encounters will make an appearance in Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire as well, though this time they won't be limited to wild pokemon; trainers will also sometimes appear in groups, giving battle-hardened trainers even more XP to soak up. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Twitch Plays Pokemon has beaten all Pokemon generations
We did it, everyone. Humanity has reached the highest state it will ever achieve, the pinnacle of our societal evolution. This week, Twitch Plays Pokemon completed Pokemon X, meaning that every generation of the Pokemon series has been conquered by the schizophrenic hivemind that is the TPP audience. Truly, we are ready for ascendance. The social experiment where thousands of Twitch viewers input commands to control a single character has gone on for nearly six months now, and though the main series has been mastered, the madness continues. At the time of writing, the TPP Twitch channel was still active, with audience members battling each other in Pokemon Stadium 2. Will Twitch Plays Pokemon return to the Hoenn region when Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire hits shelves on November 21? We'll have to wait and find out. In the meantime, let us never forget this all started with a boy named Red and his Charmander, named ABBBBBBK(. Praise Helix. [Image: Twitch]
Nintendo Network smuggles Pinsir, Heracross through Pokemon X / Y's customs
"Gotta catch 'em all" is a seriously-demanding life motto these days, considering there's more than 700 Pokemon out in the wild. With some of those only appearing in one version of a region's dual-release debut, earning the Pokemon Master title can be tough if you can't find someone willing to trade. Pokemon X / Y owners will soon be able to get a little closer to Master status though, thanks to an upcoming Nintendo Network distribution event. You see, Heracross only resides in Pokemon Y, whereas Pinsir only prowls the wildlands of Pokemon X. But starting August 13, X / Y trainers can end the hunt and download level-50 versions of either Pokemon using the Nintendo Network. Beyond boosting their Pokedex headcount, trainers can also head into GameStop from August 18 - 31 to find codes for the Heracronite or Pinsirite Mega Stones, items that allow either Pokemon to Digivolve Mega Evolve mid-battle. You can get a complete stat rundown of both Heracross and Pinsir at the promotion's description page, as well as instructions for nabbing your free Pokemon. If you're all set on bug-type Pokemon and would rather not turn Pinsir into a winged nightmare, you can still get a poster by pre-ordering Pokemon Omega Ruby or Pokemon Alpha Sapphire from GameStop. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Pokemon World Championships stream live on August 16
If you can't make it to Washington, DC for this year's Pokemon World Championships, don't worry, Twitch will be streaming the entire thing. Festivities kick off on Saturday, August 16 with an opening ceremony at 9AM EST, followed by a full day of streaming Pokebattles. From 9AM until 5PM, the streams will be reserved for those playing the 3DS' Pokemon X and Y while coverage will shift to the Pokemon trading card game after 5PM. Proper tournament play begins Sunday morning, with the trading card game finals from 10AM until 3PM EST and video game finals from 3PM to 6PM. If you miss any of the action, Twitch also plans to replay the entirety of the weekend's coverage on August 18 and 19. To catch all of this tournament coverage, visit the Pokemon Twitch channel. In case you forget any of the scheduling details we've laid out above, the channel includes a handy reference guide. [Image: Nintendo]
Here in my Pika-car, I feel safest of all from Team Rocket
Toyota chose our hearts when it unveiled two Toyopet Pokemon cars at this year's Tokyo Toy Show, because they're freaking delightful. The Pikachu car is lovely, even if the ears aren't the most streamlined design, but it's the Fennekin model that has our number. Check it out below the break, and there are more shots of the 'dorable duo over at Japan Trends. Toyota also has a shot of an Oshawott model, but we're not sure about that one, honestly. Fennekin stole the show in last year's Pokemon X and Y, while this year the critter-catching series goes back in time with Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. The 3DS remakes hit North America on November 21 and Europe on November 28.
Pikachu dresses fancy for Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire
Oh no. Oh no. No no no no no. Japanese magazine CoroCoro, you did not just reveal that Pikachu - and potentially other pokemon - will be able to wear various ensembles in the upcoming Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire. And Serebii, you did not take scans of that magazine and post them for all to see. Sure, we're not sure how this will factor into the eventual gameplay, but it's still a pokemon wearing a bonnet - isn't that enough? Nintendo, you must stop this. For the sake of productivity across the global work force, we beg of you: don't let us dress our pokemon in adorable outfits. OH NO LOOK AT THAT ONE, HE'S WEARING A LITTLE LUCHADOR COSTUME OH GOD [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Become secret pals by visiting bases in Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire remakes
Nintendo's Game Boy Advance entries in the Pokemon series, Ruby and Sapphire, marked the introduction of "secret bases," in which players would annex a space of the game's worlds, decorating them as they saw fit. Secret bases are returning in the remakes of the games, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, with a modern touch. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire players will not only have the ability to create and customize their own secret base in the games, but take it a step further by sharing their creations using the 3DS' StreetPass and QR Code creation functions. Secret bases can include mazes and traps as well as NPC visitors with Pokemon battle rules, effectively turning the customized bases into competitive Pokemon gyms of sorts. Upon visiting other bases, players will also have the opportunity to invite others to their own base as "secret pals," which instantly makes the whole thing weird for everyone involved.
Catch this fancy bug in Pokemon X/Y
Fancy Pattern Vivillon is now available for Pokemon X and Y players to obtain for free, The Pokemon Company announced. The pretty bug can be downloaded through the Mystery Gift option in the game by connecting a 3DS to the Nintendo NT, then choosing to receive a gift via the Internet. While the Pokemon itself isn't all that uncommon in the game, its colorful pattern usually changes based on the real-life location of its owner. In the case of the Fancy Pattern Vivillon, which was announced in late May, the special version of the creature was created to commemorate the 100 millionth Pokemon trade via the Global Trade Station. Now that the milestone has been met, all players can pick up their new teammate today, though the developer says it "won't be available for long." [Image: Nintendo]
Pokemon Trading Card Game chooses Europe's eShop this week
The Game Boy Color's Pokemon Trading Card Game shows its hand in the 3DS eShop this week in Europe, but there's no word on it coming to North America. The Virtual Console offering is priced £4.49/5 euros and is due for release on Thursday, July 10. To recap, the Pokemon Trading Card Game is based on the physical trading card game which is based on the video games which aren't based on the anime series but vice versa. We've reached out to Nintendo and The Pokemon Company to see if it's also headed to North America, but we suspect if it's not this week, it can't be too far off. After all, the news arrives just ahead of the new XY - Furious Fists expansion for the physical TCG, which will add 110 cards to the mix when it hits on August 13.
Pokemon Center online store opens in August
American Poke-fans can indulge themselves through a new online Pokemon Center, which is slated for a grand opening on August 6. Like the Poke-Centers dotted across the world, this is a store and not an infirmary for sick and wounded Pokemon. You can try demanding to see Nurse Joy so she can heal your pocket monsters, but we strictly wouldn't advise it. If you can't wait to buy 'em all, there are items already available to order on the store. At the moment you can grab a $17.50 Mewtwo tumbler, a $13 adorable Pika-plush, and a $24 pack of keyrings for Eevee and its evolved forms.
Mega Sableye debuts in latest Pokemon footage
Nintendo would like you to meet Mega Sableye, the latest Pokemon to break from its lowly roots and Mega Evolve into something more, something better, something you'll find in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire. [Image: Nintendo]
Pokemon Art Academy opens Euro branch in July [Update: NA this fall]
Pokemon Art Academy brings Skitty-sketching to Europe in two months' time, when the 3DS game hits the region's store shelves and eShop on July 4. The game that's putting the art into Articuno provides step-by-step lessons for drawing 40 Pokemon, as tutored by the probably white-coat wearing Professor Andy. To be honest, we don't know if Skitty's one of those 40 - sorry - but Pikachu, Oshawott, Charizard, Fletchling, Fennekin and Torchic definitely are. Maybe Skitty's one of the 100 templates artists can reference in Free Paint mode, and if it's not you can scan in an image of the critter or whatever you so wish using the 3DS camera. And when you're done etching your Fletchlings, you can share your creations via Miiverse. Update: Nintendo confirmed Pokemon Art Academy launches in North America this fall, and it'll be available on the eShop and at physical retailers. [Image: Nintendo]
First Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire gameplay shows 3D legendaries
The Pokemon Company and Nintendo have shared the first gameplay glimpse of Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire, the upcoming "full remakes" of Pokemon Ruby / Sapphire. According to a screengrab from Pokemon website Serebii brief trailer (posted above), the games will feature full 3D graphics similar to Pokemon X / Y. It is unknown at this time if the games will also feature X / Y's other gameplay invention, Mega Evolutions. Like a normal evolution, Mega Evolutions grant a pokemon extra power and change its physical appearance. However, Mega Evolutions are temporary, and only last for a single battle. The Mega Evolution forms of pokemon who can utilize them are also not counted in the franchise's expansive pokedex. We'll update as more information becomes available. Update: We've replaced the Serebii screengrab with a (very) brief trailer showing off the monsters in motion. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
