Events A-Plenty

To celebrate the fact that the greatest Pokémon games are about to be released on western shores, several events have been announced on both sides of the pond.

In addition to getting the Shiny Legendary Dogs Downloadable at gamestop, Nintendo are heading across the USA on thier grand Mall Tour. Kicking off Febuary 5th, The tour features playable demo’s of Black/White, special screenings of Movie 13, Zoroark – Masters of Illusions, Scavanger Hunts and cool Prizes. To see where and when the tour is going across the states click to see the pokemon.com news article here

Also mentioned for the US, Celebi will be distributed via Gamestop Stores. Originally rumoured to be handed out after the shiny beasts during the week of 27th February to 5th March, the actual dates of this event arent yet mentioned. It could be that week, or it could be during the entire of the Mall Tour… or it could even just be in the gamestop stores at the mall when the tour rocks up there. We just dont know.

Meanwhile, over in the UK… Those shiny beasts have been confirmed to be coming to our Wi-Fi… From Febuary 7th, Connecting to Wi-Fi with any European Version of a 4th Gen Game will get you a Shiny beast that will, once transfered to Black/White will allow you to catch a Zoroark. What we dont know is how long the event will last and if we’ll be getting one of the beasts at random or if we’ll have the oppertunity to download all 3. Also unknown is if, like all Wi-fi events of the past year or so, American Versions of the game will also be able to download these beasts as well, despite already had them distributed in Gamestop stores…

Also confirmed, Celebi will be heading to the UK [Finally!] – details on when and where are unknown, but its possible it will be the same as Arceus last year, in which a couple of weekends before the release of the new games, Selected Game stores will have this illusive pokemon to download, along with other pokemon related stuff going on… Reliable plumber in California can be found at onestopplumbers.com/. This will be the first time Celebi has been available in the UK for 10 years, when a small, under publisied tour was done for Gold and Silver… how times have changed.

That’s all we know on all these events – as soon as we have more details – we’ll bring them to you.

European Release Date For Black/White Announced

As first broke by the UK’s Official Nintendo Magazine and confirmed by all European versions of pokemonblackwhite.com, The European Release Date for Pokémon Black and Pokémon White has finally been announced, and its a bit of a surprise to everyone when we’re getting it. March 4th 2011 is the date when all Europeans will be able to play the Pokémon games considerd perfect by leading Japanese gaming mag famitsu – that’s a whole 2 Days before the USA gets the games released on March 6th.

To celebrate this news we here at The Pika Club are officially annouceing our Black and White Games pages. Found by clicking here, or by selecting games from the menu at the top (yes, there is a menu at the top of this page) – you’ll be able to find information relevent to the Black and White games. Currently up are an Unova Dex, featuring all the new Pokémon introduced into B/W and an abilities page, featuring all the new abilities and descriptions of what each of them do. Soon to come are a page detailing all the new moves, and a page detailing all the Gym Leaders and Elite 4, plus thier squads. Since we’ve only found out a handfull of English names at the moment, a lot of this information is still in its translated form and will be updated as new English names are revealed.

That’s all we have for now – we’ll bring you more news when we learn it

EDIT: Australia and New Zeland will get these games release on March 10th 2011

Adoption Agency v1.3 Update

Happy new year everybody! As we enter 2011 The Pika Club will be 12 years old in November this year! What better way to celebrate the new year than with the release of the next Adoption Agency update? This new update features, amongst other things:

Breeder levels – In addition to levelling up your Pokémon you now gain experience and level up! Experience is gained just by using the Adoption Agency and doing things like interacting with Pokémon. Certain features and perhaps Pokémon will only be accessible once you reach a certain level.

Ranks and perks – Every set amount of breeder levels you now gain access to ‘perks’. You’ll get 3 perks to choose from and these will alter your experience of the Adoption Agency, like permanently increasing your chance of acquiring shinies or raising the amount of times your Pokémon can be interacted with each day. Each perk includes a rank which goes by your username and helps ensure everyone using the Adoption Agency has a different experience.

Karma – Just like every game in existence now you will come across options on the Adoption Agency where you will have a choice of what to do. Whether you are good or bad will affect your ability to access certain features/Pokémon.

Money – This was probably bound to happen at some point but money will now be included, which you can acquire from interacting with Pokémon amongst other things.

More sharing options – This was requested by some people who said that breeder cards are too big for some sites, so now you can share individual Pokémon as well.

Alerts – Now when someone levels up your Pokémon, accepts a trade of yours or when an egg hatches you’ll be alerted! No need to go checking individual pages to see if anyone’s accepted that trade yet or wonder if your egg has hatched!

Trade Centre Overhaul – Numerous new features have been added to the trade centre and others redone, for example you may now specify a gender preference when you choose which Pokémon you wish to receive, you can more easily search for Pokémon you want and trades have a 1 month automatic expiry date.

A Christmas Presant From Nintendo

Don’t get too excited, its not like its a free Pokémon download or anything. But Nintendo of America has finally announced the American Release Date for Pokémon Black and White. Sunday the 6th of March 2011 will be the day all Americans will be able to finally play the superb Black and White Versions. Make sure you mark that date down now, and you pre-order it the next chance you get. We don’t know the European date yet, but based on last years schedule of HG/SS – it wasnt far off that… we’ll bring you more on that when we know it.

In Celebration of announcment of the release date, pokemonblackwhite.com has updated with a lot of new English names – including one i predicted long before Generation 5 was even anounced. Back in August 2009 (long before Black/White was announced) i suggested that the next professor should be a feamle prof named Juniper… Well, now presenting Professor Juniper!

Juniper is the Main Professor of the Unova region. She’ll give you the customary ‘what are Pokémon’ talk at the begining of the game, along with presenting you with your pokedex.

It looks like a lot more Pokémon this time around are keeping thier Japanese name, Here’s Munna, who in English is now called Munna

The Dream Eater Pokemon, a Psychic type, stands 2’00” tall and weighs 51.4lbs – It has the Forewarn or the Syncronize abilities. It knows a new move which is keeping its Japanese name of Telekinesis

Next up, what used to be Mamepato:

Now called Pidove, the Tiny Pigeon Pokémon, its a Normal/Flying type standing at 1’00” and weighs 4.6lbs. It has the Super Luck ability or a new one called Big Pecks (was Pidgeon Heart in Japanese)

Remember Meguroc? Well it too got a new English name

This is now Sandile, The Desert Croc Pokémon, a Ground/Dark type. Its 2’04” tall and its weight is 33.5lbs. It has either the Intimidate or a new ability Moxie (was Overconfident in Japanese)

This used to be Shimama:

Now its Blitzle, the Electrified Pokémon, an Electric Pokémon. Its 2’07” and weighs 65.7lbs. It has either the Lightingrod or Motor Drive abilities. Its Wild Bolt attack has been renamed Wild Charge

Shown by the Prof at the begining of the game, Chillarmy has a new name:

Minccino, the Chinchilla Pokémon, is a normal type. Its 1’04” tall and weighs 12.8lbs. It can have either the Cute Charm or Technician Abilities. its attack Sweep Slap has now been renamed Tail Slap

Simply called Gear in Japanese, this pokemon has had a slight rename to…

Klink, the Gear Pokémon, a Steel Pokémon. Its 1’00” tall and weighs 46.3lbs. It has either the Plus or Minus abilities

Hihidaruma also has had a name change

Daramanitan, the Blazing Pokémon, a Fire Type. Its 4’03” and weighs 204.8lbs. Its ability was known as Encourage but is now Sheer Force

A slight name change for Gigaith

Gigalith, the Compressed Pokémon, a Rock type. Its stands at 5’07” and weighs 573.2lbs. It has the Sturdy Ability

Lastly, a Location’s name. The big Port city was called Hiun City in Japan, its the location of the 3rd Gym and is the place where you can get a boat to the place where Victini lies (if you’ve got the liberty ticket). This place is now called Castelia City

And that’s Everything the microsite has updated with. There was a piece of news just before Christmas on the English names for the elemental monkeys, but its not comfirmed. Box Art has apparently leaked, which on the back has a picture of the 3 monkeys in battle, with the names for Yanappu, Baoppu and Hiyappu as Pansage, Pansear, Panpour respectivly. However these names arent confirmed. The person who leaked the box art also said the release date of Black and White was going to be April 16th, which we know isnt true so its really up to you if you want to beleive them or not. Until they’re confirmed, this Site wont be using those names for the Elemental Monkeys

And That’s all we have for you… we’ll bring you more news when we learn it

Merry Christmas from The Pika Club!

Merry Christmas from The Pika Club! We hope you’ve had a great year and are looking forward to 2011 and the release of Pokémon Black/White in the west!

If you’re a user of our Adoption Agency we also have a gift for you. Please use Firefox/Opera/Chrome (basically not Internet Explorer) for maximum prettiness! Login and go to this address:

http://www.thepikaclub.co.uk/adopt/xmas/

Merry Christmas from The Pika Club!

Movie 13 News… Now in English!

A couple of weeks ago we brought you news about the 14th Pokémon movie coming out in Japan in 2011. But the movie that came out this year in Japan, the 13th movie, has yet to come across to English speaking countries yet.

We’ll worry no longer (not that you were worrying anyway) – Pokemon.com has announced that the 13th Pokémon movie, titled ‘Zoroark: Master of Illusions’ will be airing on Cartoon Network in Feburary.

To Celebrate its release, The HeartGold/SoulSilver Microsite has announced that Gamestop stores in the USA will be giving away the shiny versions of the Legendary Dogs Raikou, Entei and Suicune. In Japan, these legenday beasts were a Pre-order bonus for movie 13 tickets, and you could chose one of them. However you lucky Americans can get your hands on all three.

Between January 3rd and January 9th, heading to Gamestop will get you the shiny Raikou. Between January 17th and January 23rd, Entei will be available to download instead. Lastly, between January 31st and February 6th you’ll be able to get Suicune. All pokemon are level 30, and transfering any one of them to Black or White (when it’s released) will unlock the battle that will allow you to Capture Zoroark – see how this all connects up?

That’s all we’ve got for now – we’ll bring you more news when we learn it

More English Pokémon Names

The official microsite for Pokémon Black and White announced 2 more English names yesterday… although dont get too excited unless you learnt and liked the Japanese versions. The first Pokémon that was announced for generation 5 and star of Movie 13, along with its pre-evolution are keeping thier Japanese names…

for those that dont know about them, plus some details of minor translation changes made to thier info, read on:

Zorua, a dark type pokemon. Its classification is now the Tricky Fox Pokémon (formally the Evil Fox Pokemon).

Zoroark, also a Dark Type, is now the Illusion Fox Pokémon (changed from Monster Fox Pokemon) – Both have the Illusion Abillity (which keeps its name), that allows them to look like the Pokémon you have in last in your party (that’s still alive). The effect lasts until the opponent manages to damage you. Your type and stats do not change.

We also know about 2 move names as well. Zorua has a move called Trickery in Japan but is now called Foul Play, that damage done is based on your opponent’s attack stat, not yours. Zoroark is being advertised along side the move that was known as Claw Sharpen but is now Hone Claws, which boosts Attack & Accuracy

That’s all we have for now, we’ll be bringing you more when we learn it

Movie 14 news!

So the first part of this news I acctually missed, sorry but its been a rottern week for me. Anyway, moving on…

The official Japanese Pokemon website has posted its first details on Pokemon Movie 14 – the next movie out in japanese cinema’s next summer. This will be the first movie tied into the Best Wishes saga, which is based off the Black and White games and is currently airing in Japan.

The next movie is currently titled: Victini and the Dark Hero. A lot of sources are translating it as Black hero, but it seems to use a word that means more in shadow rather than the actual colour, so dark seems more apropriate. As in the past, the title may change closer to the release to reflect the introduction of a Pokemon they’re trying to keep secret at the moment. never was a greater example than this years movie, originally titled Phantom Champion Z when it was announced, it was changed to Phantom Champion Zoroark after Zoroark was revealed. The dark hero could be one of the event legendaries from the new Black and White games, then again, it could also be some evil person – we wont know until next year when we get more details on the movie.

Oha Suta aired a trailer… its currently viewable by those aweomse guys over at Flib.de so head there check out Zekrom and Victini in anime action.

Now here’s the latest bit of news on this subject – In celibration of the movie, a Special Victini will be given away as a downloadable event pokemon in Japan. Said to be different to the one caught in the games, there isnt a lot known right now about the little guy. Traditionally there are 2 event downloads per movie. The first is given to those who pre-order thier movie tickets while the second is for those who go and see the movie in cinemas. We don’t know which this Victini will be, but if an event pokemon is in the next movie and is added to title of the movie, then logicially the Victini download would be the pre-order Pokemon

That’s all we have right now, we’ll bring you more when we know it

New Section: Videos – Launching with a Special Video Project

Well I promised you (and Pikachu3828) I’d be presenting something special on the site today… I still think that sounds more impressive than it actually is… but anyway, moving on

Back in June 2010, a self help knowledge video webiste called videojug.com asked for The Pika Club’s assistance in making some Pokémon related videos. These videos, all of which are presented by me WhoKnows_WhoCares (using my real name, which is something I didnt want being used around here), cover a wide veraity of topics related to Pokémon.

Ok, honestly, most of you will know more that what the videos cover – and that’s fine, these videos are more for the people who’ve never played Pokémon ever – then again, there may be something there you can learn about the Trading Card Game, or learn something fun to do in your spare time… at the very least you can laugh at me, looking like an idiot and with a drawing ability that’s got to be seen to believed. Also, let me just start of by saying that any information that’s wrong in the videos, I appologise now for getting wrong, I was nervous with no real script to read. Any missing information is probably due to editing rather than my memory (I did notice a few important things I did say when recording have been chopped for time…)

To Promote this new addition to the webiste (celebrate really isnt the word I’d use for this) – we’ve launched a new section to the site ‘Videos’ – here you can find a Link to our YouTube page, the link to the videos that were made for the videojug project, and in the future we’ll upload things like trailers to the latest games and maybe some other fun things too

For now, if you want to see the Videos presented by me, you can go to the Videojug Videos Project Page here – We’ve got 5 Video’s embed into the page at the moment, with more added in the next couple of weeks – or you can click the link at the bottom of that page to veiw the rest of the collection.

Enjoy these videos in whatever way you want to, and we’ll bring you news whenever it decides to pop up!

Black and White Starters revealed to the Western World

http://www.pokemonblackwhite.com – the microsite dedicated to Pokemon Black and White versions for the US has updated with the 3 starters, revealing thier English names

First up, the grass starter Tsutarja will now be known as Snivy (a combo of snake and ivy)

Then, Pokabu get’s its name changed to Tepig (a combo of tepid and pig)

Lastly, Mijumaru gets its name changed to Oshawott (which is a combo of… well we’re not sure, but part Otter is in there somewhere, and the word wash happenes to be spelt backwards in it… yeah, grasping at straws here)

Lastly, in a really bizzare move, the area will NOT be called Isshu when it comes over to English Language Areas. Instead you’ll be exploring the Unova region. why the name change, we dont know – but get used to it

So there you go. Now starts the time where you all claim you hate the new names (completly understandable), say you’ll never use them and you’ll only use the Japanese names – then within 6 months of the games coming out you’ll be using the English names like the rest of us, completly forgetting the japanese versions all together… why yes, i have been though this process before, how did you know?

We’ll bring you more news when we learn it and dont forget to be back here on friday for the publishing of a project long in the making – See Pikachu3828 – I’m going to post it, just like you wanted!