Joystiq

Pokemon X/Y gameplay trailer takes a tour of Lumiose City [update: screens, box art]

Sinan Kubba — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:30:00 EST

This new gameplay trailer brings the Pokemon X and Y info-dump from the latest CoroCoro magazine to life, with the two playable characters, four recently unveiled monsters, and the star-shaped Kalos region taking the limelight. The metropolis shown off above is Lumiose City, the epicenter of the Kalos region.

The four new Pokemon on show are Gogoat, Pancham, Fletchling, and Helioptile - find out more on them here. Also, as CoroCoro recently revealed, the two 3DS games support trainer hair and skin color customization - you know, in case the blonde with red gingham look just isn't doing it for you.

Update: We've caught some new screens as well the box art, which is after the break.

Gallery: Pokemon X / Y (5/14/13)

Continue reading Pokemon X/Y gameplay trailer takes a tour of Lumiose City [update: screens, box art]

Pokemon X/Y gameplay trailer takes a tour of Lumiose City [update: screens, box art] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Mewtwo-like Pokemon revealed for X and Y

Mike Suszek — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST

A Mewtwo-like Pokemon was recently revealed by the Pokemon Company on the Pokemon Smash TV show in Japan. Set to appear in Pokemon X and Y, this unnamed creature bears a striking resemblance to the first Pokemon that fans would reserve their lone Master Ball for in Pokemon Red and Blue, Mewtwo.

While the developer hasn't revealed whether the unnamed Pokemon will be a new form or evolution of Mewtwo, the Pokemon Company did specifically refer to it as a new creature. Yes, we want to call it "Mewthree" as much as you do.

Gallery: Pokemon X / Y (Mewtwo)

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New Mewtwo-like Pokemon revealed for X and Y originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon TV app lets you watch Pokemon on iOS, Android

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST

Let's face it, we've all had the same thought at one time or another: Pokémon just isn't ubiquitous enough. Try as we might, even with countless handheld video games, external apps, console spin-offs, toys, nightmares and more, Pokémon just hasn't quite invaded every single facet of our lives. The Pokémon Company aims to change that with the new Pokémon TV app for iOS and Android.

As the name implies, the app allows you to watch full episodes of the Pokémon TV show anywhere you want, as well as "special features, trailers, and Pokémon movie events." New episodes will be released weekly and, best of all (most insidious of all?), the app is free.

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Pokemon TV app lets you watch Pokemon on iOS, Android originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokémon X, Y Legendary details: Meet Xerneas and Yveltal

Sinan Kubba — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST

You've seen them in the trailer, now find out their bizarre spellings and phonetics. The Pokemon Company tells us the Legendaries from newly announced 3DS games X and Y are Xerneas (left, ZURR-nee-us) and Yveltal (right, ee-VELL-tawl). No prizes for guessing which one's in which game.

Gallery: Pokemon X / Y (Legendary Pokemon)

Pokémon X, Y Legendary details: Meet Xerneas and Yveltal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon's World Tournament is rich with nostalgia

Kat Bailey — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST

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.

My first experience with Pokemon was on Christmas Morning 1998. I was visiting my Grandmother in Minot, North Dakota, and there was nothing to do but play as much Game Boy as humanly possible (it's true - I've never been very social, even with family).

I was rolling right along with my Charmander until I ran into Brock - the franchise's very first gym leader. For those wielding a Squirtle or a Bulbasaur, he wasn't much more than a speed bump. For a novice trainer with an under-leveled fire-type, he and his Onix were nigh invincible. I beat my head against that stone for an entire morning, only stopping when I was finally dragged out to breakfast.

I eventually defeated Brock and collected all eight badges. Then I did it again and again. If I'm not mistaken, there are 48 badges in all now. Forty-eight gym leaders! All of them different; all of them serving as the backbones of their respective games.

Gym leaders serve all sorts of different purposes. In the fiction, they are sort of like the town sheriff, serving as both a pillar of the community and a bulwark against troublesome villains like Team Plasma. Frequently, they help to advance the story in some way by helping the player solve a problem. In gameplay terms, gym leaders are convenient bottlenecks that keep players advancing through the game at the pace Game Freak prescribes.

Gallery: Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 (5/15/12)

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Pokemon's World Tournament is rich with nostalgia originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Magna Gate and the Infinite Labyrinth catches Japan Nov. 23

Jordan Mallory — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:45:00 EST

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.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Magna Gate and the Infinite Labyrinth catches Japan Nov. 23 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What a Pokemon MMO would be like

Kat Bailey — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:15:00 EST

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.

Continue reading What a Pokemon MMO would be like

What a Pokemon MMO would be like originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evolving Pokemon: How Black 2 and White 2 points to the future of 'catching them all'

Kat Bailey — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:30:00 EST

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: Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 (5/15/12)

Continue reading Evolving Pokemon: How Black 2 and White 2 points to the future of 'catching them all'

Evolving Pokemon: How Black 2 and White 2 points to the future of 'catching them all' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon 3DS makes portals out of globes

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST

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 Mystery Dungeon 3DS makes portals out of globes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White 2 anime trailer, we choose you!

Xav de Matos — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST

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 Black and White 2 anime trailer, we choose you! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Pokemon Conquest' brings Nobunaga's Ambition stateside on June 18

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST

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: Pokémon Conquest

'Pokemon Conquest' brings Nobunaga's Ambition stateside on June 18 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's the Japanese Pokemon Black/White Version 2 box art

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Here's the Japanese Pokemon Black/White Version 2 box art

Here's the Japanese Pokemon Black/White Version 2 box art originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Pokemon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition trailer rewrites history

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST

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.

New Pokemon Plus Nobunaga's Ambition trailer rewrites history originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nobody on the planet is as good at Pokemon as Ray Rizzo

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:50:00 EST

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.

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Nobody on the planet is as good at Pokemon as Ray Rizzo originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wolfe Glick is the very best, like no one ever was

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Wolfe Glick is the very best, like no one ever was

Wolfe Glick is the very best, like no one ever was originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's your scannable Hydreigon for the Pokedex 3D

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:30:00 EST

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!

Here's your scannable Hydreigon for the Pokedex 3D originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White World Championship detailed, kicks off next month

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST

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!

Continue reading Pokemon Black and White World Championship detailed, kicks off next month

Pokemon Black and White World Championship detailed, kicks off next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White use $10 off on Amazon, it's super effective

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Pokemon Black and White use $10 off on Amazon, it's super effective

Pokemon Black and White use $10 off on Amazon, it's super effective originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White sell 2 million in U.S. in first two weeks

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EST

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 sell 2 million in U.S. in first two weeks originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White sells 1.08 million on US launch day

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

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.

Pokemon Black and White sells 1.08 million on US launch day originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Presidents of the United States of America pen a Pokemon song

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST

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.

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Presidents of the United States of America pen a Pokemon song originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White review: This year's model

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST

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: Pokemon Black and White (DS)

Continue reading Pokemon Black and White review: This year's model

Pokemon Black and White review: This year's model originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST

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

Continue reading Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store

Pokemon Black and White launch event coming to Nintendo World Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Trainer Challenge brings the trading card game online

David Hinkle — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST

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: Pokemon Trainer Challenge

Pokemon Trainer Challenge brings the trading card game online originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grab Pokemon Black or White at launch, get new legendary monster Victini

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST

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.

Grab Pokemon Black or White at launch, get new legendary monster Victini originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White reach five million sales in Japan

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:30:00 EST

The two latest additions to the neverending Pokémon franchise managed to move an incredible 2.6 million units during their first two days on Japanese store shelves -- but how have Black and White fared since then? Unsurprisingly, they've done just fine; according to sales statistics from Enterbrain, this week saw the pair's combined sales reach 5,036,724 units.

Pokémon Black and White aren't the first games to reach this impressive mark -- in fact, four other DS games have managed to reach five million sales in the past. However, no other DS title has managed to reach five million quite as quickly as Black and White, which have only been available for 17 weeks. We guess that just goes to prove that, for some people "Gotta Catch 'Em All" isn't just a catchphrase, it's a way of life.

Pokemon Black and White reach five million sales in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon to invade your local mall around 'Black and White' release

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:00:00 EST

We knew this day would come -- we just knew it. Fortunately, we've had a contingency plan for years now, on the off chance that wild Pokémon should ever infest our local shopping mall. If you'll turn your attention to Diagram 6C in your Poké-Survival Guide, you'll see where we've marked the locations most safe from these powerful menaces. For instance, that Hot Topic? It's really well-reinforced against some of the larger ones, and the music should scare away any monsters with unobstructed ears. The Orange Julius kiosk? That's what we like to call a "kill zone." Do not, under any circumstances, wander into the Orange Julius.

Oh, wait -- you mean that Nintendo is just demoing Pokémon Black and White at various malls around the games' release date, March 6, a full list and schedule for which is posted after the jump? We suppose that makes a lot more sense.

You'd better stay away from that Orange Julius, though. Just to be safe.

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Pokemon to invade your local mall around 'Black and White' release originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamestop and Toys R Us offering Pokemon download promos next month

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST

If your six-strong roster in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver could use a little sparkle, a little pizazz, a little shimmer -- any of that stuff, a handful of download promotions slated for early next year should satisfy your needs quite well. You can download rare, shiny versions of legendary monsters Raikou, Entei and Suicine during various week-long periods in January at Gamestop. Check out the schedule of their availability after the jump, and plan your retail excursions accordingly.

If you're looking for something a little more plain Jane, you can pick up Ash's Pikachu -- a version of the iconic lightning mouse with a special set of abilities -- at Toys R Us between January 30 and February 5. Don't get it twisted, though; this guy starts out at level 50. This isn't the adorable mascot you came to know and love in the anime series. This Pikachu is a hardened killing machine.

[Thanks, Michael!]

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Gamestop and Toys R Us offering Pokemon download promos next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan votes to decide the world's most popular Pokemon

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST

The Pokémon Company recently polled the hardcore players of its monster-collecting franchise to find out who's the most popular 'mon of all time. You'd think Pikachu, right? Like, that's a totally logical assumption, considering how much exposure that little yellow bastard has received over the years. Unfortunately, you're totally wrong -- first place went to Arceus, a legendary Pokémon first introduced in Diamond and Pearl.

Fellow legendaries Darkrai and Deoxys came in second and third place, respectively, followed by Pikachu in fourth and Meowth in fifth. As Siliconera points out, seeing as how the polls were conducted among hardcore players, the polls probably skewed towards the more powerful guys rather than the more recognizable guys, which is not the best metric for determining popularity. Like, we were clearly the buffest guys at our high school, but we were never elected prom king, you know?

What? Why are you laughing?

Japan votes to decide the world's most popular Pokemon originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of life's great mysteries revealed: How Pokemon get made

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 03:00:00 EST

Where do Pokémon come from? No, we're not talking about the means of Poké-reproduction -- a subject matter typically skirted around in the core game franchise (do those eggs just magically appear?) -- rather, who designs, names and provides statistics for each of the game's 649 creatures? A handful of Game Freak designers recently outlined the process to 1UP -- and it's not quite as unfeelingly scientific as you might think.

"There's about 17 people in our design team, and generally what happens is they each draw their own Pokémon and then they get discussed over group meetings," Game Freak co-founder Ken Sugimori explained. He added that, for Pokémon Black and White, the lead designers focused on the game's pair of legendary monsters, while the younger staffers created the three new starters. Considering the special places we have in our hearts for the Squirtles and Charmanders of the series, that's quite a bit of pressure for the newbies.

Check out the full interview for more insight into the the miracle of Poké-life.

One of life's great mysteries revealed: How Pokemon get made originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Largest Pokemon Center on Earth opening in Osaka next month

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST

Nintendo has announced a few more details about the new Pokémon Center it's planning on opening soon in the heart of Osaka. The retail outlet, which will swing wide its colorful doors on November 26th, will stuff 2,500 different kinds of purchasable Pokémon goods and a "Union Room," where players can congregate to trade and battle, into 9,000 square feet of retail space, making it the largest Pokémon Center on this, our planet Earth. We want to go to there.

It sounds like a pretty huge ordeal, but it's kind of a waste -- all anyone ever does in those places in run to the front desk, heal their dudes, then run back out for more adventures and stuff.

[Image Credit: Ipin]

Largest Pokemon Center on Earth opening in Osaka next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White get limited edition DSis in Japan

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you've got a bizarre hang-up about playing video games on consoles that don't have Pokémon branded upon their hulls, you'll be pleased to learn that you'll soon be able to add the DSi to your list of allowed devices. On November 20, Japanese store shelves will be stocked with limited edition Pokémon Black and White DSis, each of which come with a copy of the appropriately hued monster-catching title.

Each handheld prominently features Black and White's main Legendaries, Reshiram and Zekrom -- a premium for which shoppers will have to pay 19,800 yen (a tad more than the DSi's standard 15,000 yen price point). Is it worth the extra cash? We're not sure, but as far as special edition Pokémon-branded handhelds go, this one's kind of ... classy? Yeah, classy.

Pokemon Black and White get limited edition DSis in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White sell over 2.6 million in Japanese launch

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We find comfort in the known constants of our universe. You know, things like the laws of thermodynamics, or the fact that every time a new Pokémon game hits store shelves in Japan, people go absolutely bananas for it. Today, we have a figure for just how bananas these pocket-sized monster enthusiasts went: Within the first two days of their launch, Pokémon Black and White racked up over 2.6 million units sold.

As a point of contrast, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver only pulled in 1.4 million units during their first two days on store shelves last year. We guess Japanese gamers value the grayscale dichotomy of Black and White over the flash and elegance of Gold and Silver. Or maybe, just maybe, all those new pokémon had something to do with it.

Pokemon Black and White sell over 2.6 million in Japanese launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White have already gone platinum in Japan

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Describing the sales success of Pokémon titles has become a tricky enterprise, as the franchise has encompassed just about every precious metal in the Periodic Table. We hope you don't find this next statement too confusing: According to data from Media Create, Pokémon Black and White have gone Platin ... er, platinum in Japan, as pre-order sales for the two titles have already reached 1.08 million units.

These pre-orders have only been available since July 31, which The Pokémon Company claims is a new speed record for sales on the DS platform. The Company expects pre-order sales to reach 1.5 million before the game launches September 18. It would be all the more impressive if they could hit 10 million pre-orders, at which point they'd go Diamond. Or, even more ambitiously, they could aim for 20 million in pre-sales, bringing the games up to the rarely achieved SoulSilver status.

Pokemon Black and White have already gone platinum in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White battle footage sways our opinion

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

"Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Ketchum, but we're going to have to run a breathalyzer on your team. We've gotten reports that since Pokémon Black and White came out, they've been swaying back and forth, a clear sign of Pokéintoxication. Check out the video below to see what we're talking about."

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Pokemon Black and White battle footage sways our opinion originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White's colorful world map revealed

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

If you consider yourself a budding Pokécartographer, you should turn your eyes to the official site for Pokémon Black and White, which was recently updated to reveal the layout of Isshu, the region where the title's all-catching will take place. The interactive map, which can be viewed by visiting the site's splash page and clicking the link below the Pokémon White logo, shows a few screenshots of Isshu's varied locales, and gives a few hints as to how your quest will unfold.

Of course, much of the map is still uncharted by these little tips, so we've yet to see a few of the series' staple environments. You know, like the huge town with the humble casino and gigantic, unnavigable department store? The disturbingly out-of-place mausoleum tower? The final road you have to spend hours grinding on in order to beat the Elite Four? That place on that same road where you quit playing the game forever?

Pokemon Black and White's colorful world map revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White to feature new Pokemon only (until you beat it)

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

At long last, Game Freak has discovered exactly why you've been so hesitant to jump on the last few generations of Pokémon titles: It's all those old Pokémon, of course. It's hard to feel like you're on a level playing field when you don't recognize a few of the 'mons introduced in Pearl or Ruby or Silver -- but, according to a blog post from Game Freak's Junichi Masuda, that won't be a problem in Pokémon Black and White.

Going by Andriasang's translation of the blog, players of the upcoming generation of Pokémon titles will only encounter all-new monsters until they clear the game. The developer hopes this will make the game a fresh experience for veterans and newcomers alike -- though Masuda admits that coming up with new monsters has been completely challenging. Well, yeah, we'd assume anything after number 300 would be tough to come up with. Here, we'll try: Stonedog! He's a dog! But he's made of stone.

Pokemon Black and White to feature new Pokemon only (until you beat it) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Birds and the Beedrills puts a mature spin on the Pokerap

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

There's no real way to ease into this, so: A rapper by the pseudonym White Licorice has painstakingly crafted a track titled "The Birds and the Beedrills." Its innuendo-filled lyrics contain references to all 151 Pokémon from the series' first generation. It is, in no small measure, a masterpiece.

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The Birds and the Beedrills puts a mature spin on the Pokerap originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pokemon Black and White starters revealed in full color

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:01:00 EST

It's never too soon to start picking out your prospective team of Pokémon for the next iteration of the franchise -- even if it's still quite a ways away from being released. Of course, the most important decision on this subject is which of the three starter 'mons you'll choose. Thanks to an image published in latest issue of CoroCoro (via The Escapist), you can now choose between the (formerly silhouetted) Pokémon Black and White starters based on which one you think it the cutest -- which is really the most important metric, isn't it?

The three Pokémon pictured above reportedly have the Japanese monikers Tsutaja, Pokabu and Mijumaru (from left to right), though they'll probably be subject to change for the English-language versions of the game. CoroCoro also revealed the somewhat older-looking trainers featured in the game, which we've posted after the jump. We're not sure what their story is, but they need haircuts in a bad, bad way.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Pokemon Black and White starters revealed in full color

Pokemon Black and White starters revealed in full color originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 May 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Pokemon Black & White images revealed (in color)

Griffin McElroy — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST

While we were all hoping that the recently announced Pokémon Black and White would have an appropriate film noir aesthetic and monochromatic color palette, a few vividly colorful glimpses of the game have appeared in CoroCoro magazine (via Serebii.net). While it certainly looks a heck of a lot like previous DS-based iterations of the franchise, a few of the screens seem to change up the series' isometric camera angle. Will some creative camerawork and new pocket-sized monsters be enough to keep the franchise fresh? Only time will tell.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

First Pokemon Black & White images revealed (in color) originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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