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Joystiq Weekly: The Cryptarch grows a heart, Alien: Isolation review, N64 turns 18 and more
Welcome to Joystiq Weekly, a "too long; didn't read" of each week's biggest stories, reviews and original content. Each category's top story is introduced with a reactionary gif, because moving pictures aren't just for The Daily Prophet. Between the Nintendo 64's birthday and the Pokemon TCG iPad app reminding us that our childhood card games no longer have to be played with expensive, holographic pieces of paper, we're teetering toward a slight meltdown. When did we swap out our trapper keepers for a stack of bills? Why did we have to give up Saturday morning cartoons, again? What do you mean there's more to save up for in life beyond booster packs and video games? Sorry, we'll do our best to get a grip. This week brought more than a halting reminder of time's unstoppable march, though! Bungie tweaked a few loot-related settings in Destiny, we reviewed Alien: Isolation, Skylanders Trap Team and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, and we explored the weirdest stages of the N64's now-adult life. Those stories and more are waiting for you after the break!
Pokemon TCG Online out today for iPad in North America
An iOS adaptation of Pokemon's official Trading Card Game has hit the iTunes App Store in Europe and Australia, and will be available as a free download for iPad owners in North America later today. Pokemon TCG Online is a deck-building competitive card game that features characters and settings culled from Nintendo's long-running Pokemon series. The game offers ranked multiplayer tournaments in addition to head-to-head battles against online opponents, and cards earned in the app carry over to linked Pokemon Trainer Club accounts, allowing players to resume their progress in the desktop version of the game. Today's release follows up on Pokemon TCG Online's recent soft launch in Canada, kicking off a worldwide release across several regions. Pokemon TCG Online requires an iPad with Retina display, so make sure you meet the minimum requirements before downloading. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Pokemon TCG Online app deals to Canadian-type Pokemasters
Canadians looking for a card battler beyond Hearthstone can search iTunes' deck for Pokemon TCG Online, The Pokemon Company's free app that hosts both player-vs-computer and online Pokebattles. In Pokemon TCG Online, players can unlock cards, earn booster packs and build custom decks as they accumulate spoils from battles, all of which are tied to a Pokemon Trainer Club account. Newcomers will find support in the app's tutorials, though they'll face the same question for their starter decks that so many routinely face in the Pokemon series: water, fire or grass? In order to play, Pokemasters will need to match or excel the base hardware requirements of an iPad 3 or iPad mini with Retina display. Hopefully Pokemon TCG Online's soft launch will lead to an iOS debut in other territories soon, but if you need a more immediate way to play a few battles, there's always the version for PC and Mac. [Image: The Pokemon Company International]
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.
Who's that Pokemon commentator? It's you (possibly)!
The Pokemon Company International has announced they're looking for the very best - commentator, that is. If you think you've got the Spark inside of you and are ready to make a Splash, you could tag along with TPCI for the 2014 Pokemon US National Championships and Pokemon World Championships. Just make sure to Rest up before you Swagger on-camera for your audition; there's sure to be a lot of competition for the spot. But who knows, maybe you'll get an Encore instead of a Double Slap. Complete rules for the auditions can be found on the official Pokemon site, but the gist is that you'll need to record a video audition of you commentating on a Pokemon X / Y or Pokemon Trading Card Game battle, then paste the video to YouTube. Also, while the Pokemon games don't seem to have a problem with child endangerment or child labor, only US residents who are 18 years or older may participate. Now go out there and Charm 'em all. [Image: The Pokemon Company]
Pokemon Winter Regional Championship dates, locations announced
Sick of the Pokemon series' protagonists getting hailed as the only Pokemon Champions? Get out there and earn your own glory, then! This year's Pokemon Winter Regional Championships are open to both Pokemon Trading Card Game masters and trainers prepared for trouble with Pokemon X/Y teams. The nationwide bouts have all been scheduled in January, with trainers in Doswell, Virginia kicking the tournament off on January 11. Battles in St. Charles, Missouri, Long Beach, California and Salem, Oregon will follow on January 18, leaving trainers in Orlando, Florida to wrap things up starting on January 25. Each event fills a weekend, with Pokemon TCG battles on both days and Pokemon X/Y battles only on the second day. These events are open to the public and all that is needed to compete is a legal Pokemon TCG deck or a copy of Pokemon X/Y with a 3DS or 2DS. Swiss-style pairings will be used, meaning players can partake in every round until the finals are determined. The associated press release notes that winners will be awarded "booster packs, trophies and stipends from a pool of nearly $200,000 in travel allowances." These can be used toward Pokemon U.S. Naitonal Championships Travel Awards or invitations to the 2014 Pokemon World Championships in Washinton, D.C. in August. Last year's Pokemon World Championships were broadcasted live, just in case you were wondering how many people will be able to witness your triumphant ascension as Pokemon Champion. For more information like event locations, check out the Winter Regional Championship pages for the Pokemon X/Y and Pokemon TCG tournaments.
Mega Evolutions coming to Pokemon trading card game in February
Mega Evolutions, one of the new features in Pokémon X / Y that allows players to take their pocket monsters to new heights in battle, will be making an appearance in the Pokémon trading card game (TCG) next year. Starting February 5, players can pick up 10-card booster packs as part of the Pokémon TCG: XY expansion, which may contain cards that allow them to Mega Evolve one of their Pokémon. In the Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolutions are only compatible with Pokémon-EX cards, which is interesting, because EX cards sort of already did what Mega Evolutions do: they're suped-up, more powerful versions of existing Pokémon, and they're incredibly popular at TCG tournaments. There is a catch to Mega Evolving your Pokémon in the TCG, though. Once you Mega Evolve, your turn ends immediately, so you have to survive into the next round if you want to attack. In other Pokémon TCG news, the Kalos Starter Set, which features the first TCG Fairy-type pokemon - who are resistant to Darkness-type Pokémon - will be available November 8 of this year. Both the Kalos Starter Set and the XY booster packs will include a code card that will help aspiring trainers build up their virtual deck in Pokémon TCG Online.
