Pokemon-Platinum
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Twitch Plays Pokemon gambles with Pokemon Stadium 2
Gone are the days when Twitch Plays Pokemon was just a random crowd-play experiment based on a popular Game Boy RPG. Not only has the livestreamed game moved on to Pokemon Platinum for Nintendo DS, but it now features another game on the stream entirely: Pokemon Stadium 2 for Nintendo 64. Now, Twitch chatters can bet on battles between creatures in Pokemon Stadium 2, which act in completely random ways, all while participating in Twitch Plays Pokemon's ongoing quest to catch 'em all. The livestreamed game began in February with Pokemon Red, in which thousands of viewers were able to control the game using Twitch's embedded chat. The first game ended after two weeks, garnering 35 million viewers and countless memes and pieces of user-created lore. Now hovering around 2,500 concurrent viewers, Twitch Plays Pokemon is slowly approaching 60 million total viewers after having beaten four games in the Pokemon series. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Hey Griffin, Pikachu-colored Pichu downloadable at GameStop
There are all kinds of different reasons for choosing to write one story over another. For instance, I'm telling you about a Pokémon-centric GameStop promotion solely to irritate Joystiq co-worker and co-brother Griffin McElroy with my ignorance. It's a pretty big sacrifice for a major gaming website with millions of readers, but Griffin loves Pokémon more than you love most members of your immediate family, so it's absolutely worth it. So, apparently, if you take Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl (are there really that many?) into GameStop between January 30 and February 14, you can get a Pikachu-colored Pichu. That Pichu will also give you access to the mythical, spiky-eared Pichu in Pokémon Heart Gold and Pokémon Soul Silver (There are more of them? And they're called that?!). So make sure to say "Hi" to Griffin and his girlfriend there. Oh, and by the way: That thing to the right is a Pichu. I don't know how to break it to you, Griffin, but he is Pikachu-colored and has spiky ears.
Best of the Rest: Griffin's Picks of 2009
DJ Hero What started out as tepid fascination in DJ Hero quickly turned into a deep, passionate love. I initially thought it was just another rhythm game knock-off with an obtuse peripheral and a too-high price point. However, as my turntabling improved, my fondness for the game multiplied. Based on the game's lackluster sales, I'm guessing most people shared my outright hesitance -- but once you invest a bit of time and patience into DJ Hero, I guarantee you'll get hooked. (And that soundtrack! Oh, man, that soundtrack.)
Wii Sports approaches 50 million copies sold
In a supplement to Nintendo's earnings statement yesterday, the company released some sales numbers for top-selling games in the last quarter. Four Nintendo products sold over one million copies between April and July, only one of which was a new release anywhere in the world during that time.Pokemon Platinum on DS, which came out in North America in March, right before the quarter started, moved 1.91 million copies in Q1, for a life-to-date total of 5.66 million worldwide. It was an even better quarter for the Wii's evergreens. Wii Fit sold an additional 3.6 million copies, bringing its LTD to 21.82. Mario Kart Wii sold 2 million, making its total 17.39 million. And Wii Sports sold an additional 1.91 million copies, bringing its total sales number to a ridiculous 47.62 million, including copies sold in hardware bundles.And that's why there's a sequel.Source (PDF)
Joystiq Review: Pokemon Platinum
The structure of releases in the Pokémon series has always stood defiantly in the face of reason. Installments in the series aren't games, they're "Generations," each of which include two simultaneously released, nearly identical titles, and a third nearly identical title which launches a couple of years after the first two. On top of all of this, the gameplay, story and core mechanics of the game remain extremely similar throughout these "Generations." As a cynic would likely remark, Nintendo has released the same game about 14 times now.Pokémon Platinum is the companion piece to 2007's Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Following in the vein of other third wheels in former generations (such as Pokémon Yellow or Crystal), it leans heavily upon the framework of its predecessors, marginally improving the game's overall aesthetic and adding a handful of new features. But are these minor tweaks enough to justify purchasing an updated RPG that many of you likely purchased two years ago?
Pokemon devs not planning Wii game or MMO
You know your idea for a Pokémon MMO? Or a full Pokémon RPG on a home console? We're talking to all of you here, because literally everyone has come up with those ideas. Anyway, they're not going to happen.Pokémon Platinum game director Junichi Masuda told What They Play, "At this point, we're not thinking of going in that direction.""Trading is a core concept of Pokémon," Masuda said. "So when you're trading, you meet with a friend and decide which one you want and which one they want. I would like to emphasize real-world communication. You don't see each other online." This statement paints Diamond and Pearl's online trading, then, as some kind of concession rather than a defining feature.Masuda also said that the concept for Diamond and Pearl was to produce the "ultimate" Pokémon game. For Platinum? "My direction to (game designer Takechi Kawachimaru, also present at this interview) with Platinum was to produce another ultimate version."
Go to NYC Pokmon party, get Platinum a day early
So just how bad do you want Pokémon Platinum? Would you, for example, be willing to attend a Pokémon-themed party in the hub of the civilized world where you could be seen by the national news media and (more alarmingly) girls to get the game a day early? You'll have the opportunity to put your Charizard where your mouth is at New York City's Nintendo World Store on March 21, where the game will be sold a day early as part of a full-on Poképalooza.Just remember: Everyone's anonymous when they're cosplaying as Ambipom.
Nintendo launches official Pokemon Platinum site
We've long suffered the blight of the Pokéholic, so we're well aware of the unslakable thirst one can develop for new information as we near the release of another installment in Nintendo's highly lucrative monster indexing franchise. Thankfully, Ninty just released a veritable compendium of Pokéknowledge in the form of the official website for Pokémon Platinum, supporting and elevating our addiction to collectible, pocket-sized animals to extremely dangerous levels.If you've found it hard to follow the slow trickle of news concerning the lustrous revamp of Pearl and Diamond, the site does a good job of clarifying Platinum's updates with a few nifty slideshows. If you want to catch a glimpse of the game's new features, such as the Wi-Fi Plaza, the Battle Frontier, the trippy Distortion World, and the new pokémon forms, we highly suggest checking out the site -- just have a reliable friend at your side to cut you off once you've had enough.
Europe set to catch em' all (again) on May 22
We know our European readers were probably worried that Nintendo decided at some point to stop worrying about making money, and had therefore elected to neglect Europe the latest installment in their pocket-sized monster-indexing franchise, Pokémon Platinum. Fear not, our transatlantic acquaintances -- Ninty just set a European launch date of May 22 for the Diamond and Pearl follow-up. That gives us Americans two whole months to create a devastating arsenal with which to exact our revenge for a little something called the Battle of Lexington. Oh, you thought we'd forgotten?
Pokemon Platinum pre-order gives trainers limited Giratina Origin Form figure
Trainers anxious to beef up their Pokedex will get a chance when North America finally gets its hands on Pokemon Platinum on March 22. For those that drop some money on the game early, Nintendo is set to gift them with a limited edition Giratina Origin Form figure. The figure is crafted by Kaiyodo, an international figure-making company, and is about 2.75 inches tall. The press release mentions no exact retailers participating in this event, so it's advised you call ahead before pre-ordering the game somewhere. Still, safe bet is on Gamestop, at least, and maybe the bigger retailers like Best Buy.
Boost your Dex with the Toys R Us Shaymin download event
With the release of Pokémon Platinum a little over a month away, we're beginning to find ourselves relapsing into feverish pokémania. If you've ever known the thrill of a full-to-brim Pokédex, we're sure you've got the bug as well -- which is why we're sure you'll be excited to hear that Toys R Us will be offering a free download of the legendary Grass-type pocket-sized monster, Shaymin, from now until Saturday. Just pop into your local TRU with your copy of Diamond or Pearl in download mode, and snag the lil' guy.Shaymin comes in two distinct (yet equally delicious) flavors -- "land form", which is how he'll appear once you've plucked him out of the Wi-Fi ethers, and "sky form", which he'll change into should you trade him to Pokémon Platinum. Rumor has it that the toy store will offer another downloadable 'mon in mid-March: the towering Regigigas -- not to be confused with Reggie-Giggles, our nickname for Nintendo of America's equally statuesque president.
Punch-Out!! coming first half 2009, and more US / Europe Nintendo release dates
Nintendo has dropped a bob-omb of release dates for 2009 (via Videogamer). While mostly vague launch windows -- some of which will still likely be missed -- New Play Control! Pikmin and Mario Tennis will hit Europe February 6 and March 3, respectively, with the US getting both sometime in March. Other notable titles include Pokemon Platinum (March 22 for US, sometime 2009 for Europe) and Punch-Out!! (first half of 2009 for both regions).Additionally, the Big N said Europeans will be able to welcome the DSi into their homes sometime this spring or summer -- not exactly the most narrow window there, and nothing we haven't already heard since president Satoru Iwata said the portable would be launching worldwide by summer 2009. Check out the the full list for Europe and US after the break.
DS Daily: 2009: The year of the DS (again)?
While pretty much everyone expected the DS to have another awesome holiday, it was still a surprise when the NPD Group announced that the aging system had broken an all-time one-month sales record in December, beating (everything else, obviously, and) even the Wii. The DS will have a killer software lineup in 2009, with awesome third-party games and Nintendo releases like Fire Emblem, Rhythm Heaven, and Pokémon Platinum, and will even see the launch of a new hardware configuration, which should boost sales. Do you think the DS's fifth year will turn out to be as successful as its fourth? And will anything outsell Mario Kart this year? %Gallery-36348%
Pokemon Platinum, Fire Emblem, tons more Q1 releases officially dated!
Nintendo has graced us with their customary infodump of the next quarter's DS and Wii releases, and by far the biggest news in terms of guaranteed sales: Pokémon Platinum has finally been officially confirmed for North America (not that there was ever a speck of doubt), and it's indeed coming March 22. Statistically speaking, you will probably purchase it. Also in first-party news, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon hits February 16, a bit earlier than Circuit City predicted. Personal Trainer: Math will be Nintendo's first DS release of the year on January 12. In third-party news, we're thrilled to see a January 6 release date for Retro Game Challenge -- except that according to the list, it'll be competing with Big Bang Mini. Atlus's My World, My Way is on its way February 3, with Legacy of Ys following on the 10th, and Trackmania on March 17. GTA Chinatown Wars has yet to be dated in this release, but we know it's March 17. And Monster Band from DreamCatcher: could it be Music Monstars? Is that just for us? Check the post break for the full list! %Gallery-25539%
Rumor: March 22 release for Pokemon Platinum [update]
Our Pokédexes have sat idle too long for our liking, but now new light may have been shed on the North American release of Pokémon Platinum. While the game has yet to emerge in its non-Japanese form on Amazon or GameStop's site, Circuit City just listed the title, and apparently caught a release date in the process: March 22.Naturally, this shouldn't be considered official yet, but a six-month gap between the Japanese and North American versions of a Pokémon title is pretty much the norm by now.Update: Looks like Circuit City pulled the listing, but it was definitely there, we SWEAR. You believe us, right? *puppy dog eyes*%Gallery-25539%[Via Bulbapedia; thanks, hvnlysoldr!]
A reason to play My Pokemon Ranch a second time
Japanese Poké-enthusiasts will have a pleasant surprise next time they load up My Pokémon Ranch. No, the game won't suddenly be enjoyable or worthwhile or anything -- don't be silly -- but they will be able to enjoy full compatibility with Pokémon Platinum on the DS, and observe Giratina (in its Another Forme, as seen above) and Shaymin (in its Sky Forme, as seen here), or at least some very angular representations of Giratina and Shaymin.The cap of 1,000 pocket beasties has also been raised to 1,500, and GAME Watch has the first screens of the update -- click through our gallery and take a look. %Gallery-36180%
Update for My Pokemon Ranch arrives in Japan next month
Serebii has the lowdown on some updates set to hit WiiWare title My Pokémon Ranch in Japan next month. The most notable of the changes is full compatibility with Pokémon Platinum on the DS. But, hey, that's old hat, right? Well, there's more to the free update than just that!On top of the compatibility, the update will allow players to store more than the current cap of 1,000 pocket monsters. This will be upped to 1,500. In addition to the storage increase, the game will also allow you to deposit the Giratina original form. The Shaymin sky form will also appear.See also: My Pokémon Ranch makes for great papercraft%Gallery-26144%[Via Go Nintendo]
Pokmon Platinum approaches, er, platinum status in Japan
See, the game has sold 967,675 copies in its first two days on Japanese store shelves, which is close to a million, which means that, if Pokémon Platinum were an American music album, it would almost be a platinum record. Once we realized that, the headline just wrote itself. As did this explanatory paragraph ...Look, Pokémon games are still popular in Japan, all right? That's all we're trying to say here! Sheesh! We need a drink.[Via DS Fanboy]
Pokemon Platinum nears a million sales in two days
Ever since its release in Japan earlier this week, Pokémon Platinum has sold like ... well, like a Pokémon game. Nintendo's latest in the long-running series has sold close to a million copies (967,675, if you're looking for a specific number) in just two days of being on store shelves. Ridiculous? To say the least!We know a lot of you outside of Japan are crazy about those pocket monsters, so who's waiting to catch 'em all?%Gallery-25539%
My Pokemon Ranch to update for Platinum compatibility
If you happen to have a Japanese Wii and a copy of Pokémon Platinum on the DS, you may have discovered that My Pokémon Ranch does not interface with the new continuation of Diamond and Pearl. Pretty short-sighted of Nintendo, or Game Freak or Ambrella! We wouldn't expect Platinum to be that different.In any case, Nintendo has announced via the official Pokémon site that an update for the WiiWare Pokémon storage device/game is forthcoming sometime this year, to allow connection between the game and Platinum. Also according to the Pokémon site, there is no issue with connecting Platinum to Pokémon Battle Revolution.[Via Inside-Games]
