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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Magna Gate and the Infinite Labyrinth catches Japan Nov. 23
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Magna Gate and the Infinite Labyrinth, Nintendo's first 3DS entry into its roguelike Pokemon spin-off franchise, will randomly generate dungeons all over Japan on November 23.The game, which has still yet to be announced for European or North American territories, makes use of the 3DS' various cameras and augmented reality capabilities by allowing users to take pictures of round things around their house, which in turn open portals to dungeons in-game. So whether you were aware of it or not, there's an entire world of treasure and adventure waiting for you inside of your toilet bowl.
What a Pokemon MMO would be like
This is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer. Could the Pokemon series translate into a good MMORPG? For fans, the answer is almost always, "Yes. Definitely. It's perfect for the MMO genre. What's taking so long?"When Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 arrive next week – a game I've written about before – someone, somewhere will probably writing a column saying that very thing. But I think it's time that we debunk this idea that a Pokemon MMORPG would automatically be amazing once and for all. Here's the completely hypothetical scenario that would probably happen if a Pokemon MMORPG were to actually be announced.
Evolving Pokemon: How Black 2 and White 2 points to the future of 'catching them all'
Who says Pokemon never changes? Until recently, the franchise's story wasn't much more than an afterthought. Its main virtue was its consistency – you could always count on an evil organization showing up to destroy the world for no real reason at all. With Pokemon Black and White, a sliver of change was added to adjust the formula and pointed the series toward the possibility of more deft storytelling.That trend continues in Pokemon Black and Pokemon White 2, which takes the time to examine some of the consequences of the previous game. The somewhat deeper story isn't the only new element either. The franchise's first ever numbered sequel brings with it a few other interesting trends, which are apt to continue once the Pokemon series leaps into the Nintendo 3DS market.%Gallery-155420%
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 3DS makes portals out of globes
The new Pokémon Mystery Dungeon coming to 3DS is stepping up the visuals, this Japanese trailer showing off a dramatic improvement from the last entry on DS. Of course that's not surprising given the new hardware, nor is the inclusion of some recent Pokémon. But taking photos of cups, globes, and lamps to open up in-game portals? Yes, that one is still surprising. Apparently anything round does the trick for the 3DS camera – so much for our Pikachu slippers idea.Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Magnagate and the Infinite Labyrinth, to give the game its full translated title, comes to Japan later this year. There's no word yet on a Western release.
Pokemon Black and White 2 anime trailer, we choose you!
If you're down with Pokemon, this six-and-a-half minute animated trailer promoting October's DS launch of Pokemon Black Version 2 and Pokemon White Version 2 is going to blow your mind. It has everything Pokemon anime fans live for: Pokemon and anime. Enjoy, you earned it.
'Pokemon Conquest' brings Nobunaga's Ambition stateside on June 18
Yes, that's a factual headline above: Nintendo is publishing the bizarre crossover of Pokemon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition in the US as "Pokemon Conquest" for the Nintendo DS. And yes, you also read that right -- Pokemon Conquest marks the second Pokemon game heading to the DS in 2012 rather than the 3DS (Pokemon Black/White Version 2 being the other).Unlike main series Pokemon games, Tecmo Koei handled development rather than Game Freak. Conquest is also a 2D adventure set in the world of Ransei, where players inhabit "a young warlord who is linked with a Pokemon." Pokemon Conquest arrives on June 18.%Gallery-152208%
Here's the Japanese Pokemon Black/White Version 2 box art
Pokemon Black/White Version 2 are slated to hit Japanese DSes this June, with a North American release later this fall. If previous titles are any indication, this Japanese box art should be roughly analogous to what we'll get in our stores, as hungry Pokemaniacs ravage the land of its resources.
New Pokemon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition trailer rewrites history
We don't remember Oda Nobunaga's blood-soaked conquest of Japan being quite so cute and fluffy, or having so much to do with scantily clad ninja women and so little to do with murder, but what do we know? It's not like we double majored in History and Applied Pokeology. Oh wait, we totally did.
Nobody on the planet is as good at Pokemon as Ray Rizzo
Ray Rizzo is the greatest Pokémon player on the planet. We have a number of reasons for thinking that -- the most obvious being that Ray Rizzo is the greatest name a human being has ever been given -- but Rizzo's accomplishments speak for themselves. He placed first in the Masters division of the 2011 Pokémon World Championships, bringing the gold home for the United States; as did Junior and Senior division winners Brian Hough and Kamran Jahadi. Take that, every other country! These big, American heroes will take home portions of a $100,000 scholarship fund made available to competitors in the video game and trading card game tournaments. Still, we think being lifted on the shoulders of your peers and told that you're the greatest Pokémon player on the planet is probably reward enough.
Wolfe Glick is the very best, like no one ever was
Americans, gather round and pay tribute to our nation's most esteemed representatives: The best and brightest Pokémon trainers who have battled their way to the top of the U.S. tournament ladder. This past weekend, the winners of each regional Pokémon Video Game Championship bracket faced off in Indianapolis, weeding out the top eight trainers from the Junior (born after 2000), Senior (born 1995 - 1999) and Master (born before 1995) divisions. These 24 youngsters will now head to San Diego, Calif. where they'll face off against other top-tier players from around the globe in the Pokémon Video Game World Championships. Check out the full list of eligible trainers after the jump. We're personally pulling for the Zheng brothers, who locked down top spots in the Junior and Senior brackets. Of course, we're also big fans of Wolfe Glick, the Master-tier Champion; though that has less to do with his remarkable monster-dueling prowess, and more to do with his preposterously amazing name.
Here's your scannable Hydreigon for the Pokedex 3D
It may be the middle of the night, but here you are, sitting at your computer, 3DS in-hand, flipping through that brand new Pokédex. Pokémans in 3D! Well we've got good news, friend. In our travels around the E3 2011 show floor, we spotted a rare one: the Hydreigon. That's kinda like a water dragon thing, right? Anyway, if you'll pause the Pokédex for a moment and whip out your QR Code scanner, you'll snag the elusive Pokémon yourself. Sure, you can't exactly battle him against your friends, but you could always ... pose in pictures with him! Or show your friends! Or ... uh ... explore his stats! Yeah!
Pokemon Black and White World Championship detailed, kicks off next month
You've caught 'em all. You've trained them. You've bred them, trained them, and then EV trained them. You've hunted for their rare, shiny counterparts. You've done every little thing there is to do in the confines of Pokémon Black and White -- but you haven't yet taken on the world. Like, the real world. You know, the one we live in? Nintendo announced today its schedule for the 2011 Pokémon World Championship, a killer, three-month-long event which will test the mettle of trainers across the U.S. and Europe. Players in the U.S. will have to attend a qualifying event held in one of six cities, starting with Seattle on May 14. Each qualifier will send sixteen players from the Junior Division (players born in 2000 or later) and the Senior Division (players born before 2000) to the National Championships on July 8 in Indianapolis. From there, the top eight will move on to the World Championships in San Diego on August 12, where they'll battle for fame, fortune and global Pokémon bragging rights, which is way more valuable then those other two things. Check out the full schedule for the tournaments in the press release posted after the jump!
Pokemon Black and White use $10 off on Amazon, it's super effective
If you've been holding off on purchasing Pokémon Black and White until its price is reduced or until you overcome your fears of what your grown-ass friends will think -- well, you can put one of those to rest. The new generation is available for $24.99 on Amazon as the current Deal of the Day.
Pokemon Black and White sell 2 million in U.S. in first two weeks
The Pokémon franchise is commonly criticized for refusing to change between generations -- luckily for Nintendo, one of the elements that doesn't seem to change over the years is all the mad, mad money each new installment pulls in. Nintendo of America recently Tweeted to inform its followers Pokémon Black and White have sold 2 million units in the U.S. during their first two weeks on store shelves. On top of the 5 million-plus copies that have sold in Japan, we think it's safe to say that gamers aren't scared off by all the similarities to previous iterations of the franchise. We're a little worried about the game's success, though -- after all, it's going to be rather difficult to be the very best (like no one ever was) when over 7 million people share our aspirations.
Pokemon Black and White sells 1.08 million on US launch day
Worried that the latest Pokémon generation wouldn't find much traction on North American store shelves due to their absence of titular color? Your fears were unwarranted -- within the first 24 hours of their launch, 1.08 million copies of Pokémon Black and White were sold, beating out the record of 780,000 units set by Pokémon Pearl and Diamond. The reason for this growth? It probably has something to do with the fact that we keep getting older, but still love playing Pokémon, and also babies keep getting born, and eventually they love playing Pokémon too. That's no unnatural phenomenon -- that's basic physical anthropology.
Presidents of the United States of America pen a Pokemon song
It's ever-so-rare that the things we love on this planet converge as expertly as they do for the song posted after the jump, so let's all take a second to really soak in this moment. Ahhhh. Feels good, right? Once you're done savoring, go listen to the Presidents of the United States of America's latest track, "Can't Stop (Catchin' 'Em All)," a tribute to some of the new collectible creatures in Pokémon Black and White. Sure, it may lack the deeply funky bassline of a "Dune Buggy," or the raw, face-destroying rock of a "Love Everybody" -- but it's still the Presidents, dishing out tips on the latest installment in the Pokémon franchise. It is delight, in its purest form.
Pokemon Black and White review: This year's model
Pokémon, I love you -- but you're bringing me down. Don't let either half of that opening assertion cheapen the significance of the other. More than any previous installment in the franchise, Pokémon Black and White taps into the visceral core of what makes the series so exceptional. The compulsion for all-catching is as strong as ever, the new roster is the best generational addition to the universal Pokécatalog, and the capacity for building, customizing and perfecting your team is the deepest its ever been. However, for all its iterative improvements, Pokémon Black and White still feel like this year's model. The framework the game is built around, while sturdy, is the very same skeleton which propped up literally every other generation that came before it. After five generations, this duplication has lost its nostalgic charm -- now it just seems like the series' creators possess a frankly befuddling hostility towards change. %Gallery-90865%
Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store
You should probably clear your schedule on the afternoon of Saturday, March 5 -- unless, of course, you want to miss out on the coolest* party of the year. On the eve of the launch of Pokémon Black and White, Nintendo's hosting a launch shindig at its Nintendo World Store in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Attendees can check out original Pokémon artwork, and can collect stamps on a "passport," which they can exchange for a limited edition Poké-T-shirt. We're guessing the passport allows you to travel to cooltown**. Attendees can also go to a special download station to grab a Liberty Pass, a key item which lets players catch the new legendary Pokémon Victini -- which you'll also be able to do from home over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. * - least cool ** - anywhere but cooltown
Pokemon Trainer Challenge brings the trading card game online
The problem with trading card games is that you have to have friends around to play them -- and, a lot of times, that means you actually have to leave the house. In a video game, roaming the world in search of Pokémon may be relatively safe, but out in the real world, there are certain dangers that need to be taken into consideration. Bears, diseases and cosplayers are all real threats. That's why we're excited about the Pokémon Trainer Challenge, a new Flash version of the TCG coming to the internet near you this April. Using three pre-constructed decks, you'll be able to face off against 12 virtual trainers across three leagues in the online game, hopefully learning enough to keep you from embarrassing yourself at the next Saffron City Social. Pokémon Trainer Challenge will require a free Pokémon Trainer Club account to play. You can find more details on Pokemon.com. %Gallery-116787%
Grab Pokemon Black or White at launch, get new legendary monster Victini
You probably won't win every single battle in Pokémon Black and White, but that doesn't mean you can't always lay claim to victory. Anyone who grabs one of the twin titles before April 10 will be able to obtain a "Liberty Pass" using the game's Wi-Fi connect mode -- a special item that allows the player to catch the newest legendary monster Victini, who, in some circles, is known as "the victory Pokémon." Victini's got access to a range of Fire and Psychic abilities, including one that lets you boost the accuracy of all your team's Pokémon in a particular fight -- making it indispensable for the series' new Triple Battle systems. PLUS: it's adorable.
