WARNING! Fake Copies of Heart Gold in Circulation

EDITED 27/03 with new info, see bottom of article.
Thanks to my buddy Toothache for the heads up on this. A Dutch site insidegamer has posted a blue screen glitch is occuring in copies of Heart Gold. This is the result of the game being a fake copy of the game. The following is directly translated (badly) from http://www.insidegamer.nl/nintendods/pokmonheartgold/nieuws/29248/Intertoys-Pokmon-HeartGold-uitgesteld-vanwege-bug.html

News | March 23, 2010 – The release of Pokemon Gold Heart is under an employee of Inter Toys indefinitely postponed by an error somewhere. According Intertoys appears a bluescreen while playing. This makes it impossible for the game at all for the first time to start without error in the following image.

We can confirm that from my own research Heart Gold indeed an error on startup. The error message displayed stored data can not be read to the Nintendo DS and restart, the same message back into view. Soul Silver is doing as far as we have to test it properly.

We have contacted Nintendo Benelux, but they can not yet confirm this bug. At present there is still no confirmation from Nintendo on the postponement of Pokemon Gold Heart. We hope as soon as possible to get clarification from Nintendo.

Its scary how quickly fake copies of the game has come out, and that they are in curculation. Basically the copies use an imported ROM version of the game which breaks down on the cart, causing it to be unplayable (thus the message).

Basically be carefull where you buy your copy of HeartGold (or SoulSilver for that matter, although that’s not effected yet) – make sure its a recognised shop and you will be able to go back to it if anything goes wrong, especially on the Internet. Be very careful with Ebay, as that is where the fakes turn up quickly and easily. If your in the UK, Roy’s Toys is a good place to buy from, plus TPC visitors can get 10% off when pre-ordering by using the promo code TPC4EVER at the checkout, but you better be quick – the game is released Friday.

EDIT 27/3: as Sol has pointed out in the comments, it turns out this isnt a problem of fake copies (although fakes can and will cause the same problem). Nintendo of Europe yesterday posponed the release of the games in Netherlands and other dutch speaking areas, and recalled any early dutch copies as they are causing an error where they dont detect save files. All other languages do not seem to be affected.

Nintendo Revals New Handheld System

Today (or yesterday if you’re in Japan) Nintendo revealed some details about a new Handheld system they plan to have released in Japan by this time next year (or end of March 2011 if you want a specific time frame).

Currently known as the Nintendo 3DS, the system will allow the player to experiance games in 3D (do you see what they’ve done with the name there). While not much is known about the console yet, it is said that the games will be in 3D without the player needing to wear any special glasses, and that it will be fully backwards compatible with the DS and DSi games (although are there any actual DSi games out there, cause I’ve never seen one).

The current rumour is that the system will be able to create an illusion of depth based on the position of your head, which it picks up via a special sensor detecting head movement. This rumour has come about based on an interveiw from Satoru Iwata who said the next DS should be able to “read the movement of people playing”

Nintendo is due to unvaile the console and more details at E3 in June. We’ll bring you more news when we know it. In the meantime, dont forget to swing by the Forums and post, especially if you wish to discuss Heart Gold and Soul Silver

Get 10% off HG/SS plus a free Pokémon figurine!

Nintendo specialist Roy’s Toys has teamed up with The Pika Club to offer TPC users a very special promo for our UK readers. With Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver just around the corner you can pre-order your copy now and receive 10% off as a TPC reader by using the promo code ‘TPC4EVER’ at checkout. Not only that, you get a free Pokémon figurine for pre-ordering!

Take a Walk through the Yellow Forest from April

With the release of Heart Gold and Soul Silver yesterday in the States, the official HG/SS microsite has updated on the US side to be the full site. There isn’t much to look at and no information that we don’t already know, but it has revealed the Pokewalker Course ‘The Yellow Forest’ and how to unlock it.

Connecting to the Mystery Gift Wi-Fi (with eithe HG or SS) between April 1st and April 30th (that’s the whole month) you’ll be able to get this course unlocked on you game cart. This special course features nothing but Pikachu to catch, but all of them have different move sets, including one that knows Surf and another that knows Fly.

It’s unknown if this will be available in Europe and Australia at the same time, although based off previous Wi-Fi events it should be. The European and Australian side of the microsite should open up when the games are released in those regions. If the sites then reveal they are to be available on different dates, we’ll let you know.

Don’t forget to drop by the forums to talk about HG and SS, especially if you’ve got a question. We’ll bring you more news when we learn it

Shiny Legendary Dogs heading for Japan

This months CoroCoro magazine has been released and it contains some post worthy news (which is good because we’ve had nothing to report for a while now)

While there is no details on the new games being released this year (although it does say they will be revealed next month, so details should appear soon), they have detailed the pre-order gift for the latest Pokemon Movie.

Pre-order tickets to see the movie and you’ll be able to download Shiny versions of the legendary dogs, Raikou, Entai and Suicune. Along with being shiny, these three will each know a move they wouldn’t otherwise, Zap-Canon for Raikou, Flare Blitz for Entai while Suicune gets Sheer Cold.

No details on if these three will unlock a special event in HG/SS or if they will make their way over to the west

more when we know it

Shiny Pichu Finally Headed To Europe

The european side of the HeartGold and SoulSilver teaser site has said that the Shiny Pichu, which unlocks an event in HeartGold and SoulSilver, is to be distributed over WiFi this month.

Between March 5th and March 25th, anybody with a European copy of Diamond, Pearl or Platinum will be able to download the Pikacu colored Pichu via the Mystery Gift option. Identical to other regions, this Pichu will be level 30 and know Charge, Volt Tackle, Endure and Endeavor. It’s also holding an Everstone, is in a Cherish Ball and has a Classic Ribbon

It’s real function, however, is once this Pichu is traded to either HeartGold or SoulSilver. If placed at the lead of your party and taken to the shrine in Ilex Forest, you will encounter an even more special Pichu, the Spikey Eared Pichu. This Pichu will then join you, it will be at level 30, and know Helping Hand, Volt Tackle, Swagger and Pain Split. This Pichu is unable to evolve or be traded, and you can find out why by taking it and showing it to Professor Elm.

We’ll bring you more news when we learn it.

EDIT Friday 5th March: As annouced above, All European versions will be able to download the Shiny Pichu from today. The http://www.dlouhygaragedoorrepair.com/ company offers affordable garage door repair services in California. It also turns out that all US versions and all Australian versions of Diamon, Peal and Platinum are able to download the same Pichu. Helpful if you missed the USA GameStop event, or imported a US copy of the game and obviously couldnt attend the event because you dont live in the states. If you DID get a shiny Pichu from GameStop, you will be UNABLE to get this Pichu as apart from Trainer and ID, they are the same Pokémon and you can only have one per cart.

UK Arceus Event Announced…Finally

Good news for those of us in the uk who don’t have international friends or cheat, the one pokemon we’re missing from all of our collections, Arceus, will be given away at Game stores in the two weekends leading up to Heart Gold and Soul Silver’s release.

It will only be held at a few stores around the country, the list found at the following link will give you the full details:
http://www.game.co.uk/lowdown.aspx?lid=13168&cm_sp=pokemon-_-topnav-_-participatingstores

Along with downloading the legendary Pokémon, selected stores will have some face painting, ballon modeling and a Pokémon Expert to give a few hints and tips, and maybe he’ll except a challenge or two. Of course, if your local event doesnt have this trainer, you’re sure to find some fan who knows enough to help you, and willing to have a battle or two.

The Arceus unlocks a special event when its traded to Heart Gold or Soul Silver. When taken to a location known as Shinjo Ruins, The Arceus will create an Egg of either Dialga, Palkia or Giratina (which ever you decide), along with Cynthia showing up giving more background to the Creation Pokemon itself.

We’ll bring you more news when we learn it, and maybe I’ll see you at one of the events to get an Arceus

Only 5 more till we know about 500 Pokémon

First, don’t forget that if you live in the UK and are interested in being in a Pokémon TV Advert, check out the post below this one.

Ok, so this is what happens every month. Scans from CoroCoro magazine, which isn’t officially released until this weekend, have surfaced on some Japanese image boards (which is how we learn and get a hold of them)

As predicted, they have revealed all about our mystery silhouetted Pokémon, and a whole lot more as well. They’ve not only show its picture, but given its name, type, height, weight, species… AND it’s pre-evolved form as well.

The Pokémon on the left is from the shadow, called Zoroark it’s described as the ‘Monster Fox Pokémon’. It’s 1.6m tall (about 5’ 2”), and weighs 81.1kgs (about 179lbs). The Pre-Evo, Zorua, is on the right, it’s an ‘Evil Fox Pokémon’ and is only 0.7m tall (about 2’ 3”) and 12.5kgs (about 28lbs) in weight. Both are Dark Types (Zorua will most likely be pure Dark Type, Zoroark may become Dark & Something else, but for now, we just know it’s a Dark Type)

Zoroark (and possibly its pre-evo form), will feature in the 13^th Pokémon movie, which has now been re-titled Phantom Champion Zoroark (or Ruler of Illusions Zoroark, which ever translation you want to go with… probably doesn’t matter as it will get changed when it finally comes out in English anyway). The movie is scheduled for release on July 10^th in Japan.

In Other CoroCoro revealing news, the magazine brings more details about the new Ranger Game, Tracks of Light, due for release in Japan on March 6^th. Between the games release and May 17^th, there will be 2 Special Missions available, One involving a Deoxys (which apparently can only be played in multiplayer), the mission sees you chasing a Deoxys who changes forms, the Form you catch is the one that you can send across to HG/SS. CoroCoro reveals this month that if you catch the Attack form, it will know Meteor Mash, while it will know Detect if you get the defence form. The second mission running from March 6^th will be a Manaphy Egg Mission, similar to those featured in the last 2 ranger games.

From March 18^th until May 17^th another 2 Special Missions will be available. One sees you out to catch a Shaymin Sky Frome, while the other sees you after a Heatran. The Heatran will know Eruption when it gets onto a HG or SS Cart.

The only other Ranger news CoroCoro revealed was a new character called Banema, who will help customise your capture styler and help you learn new Ranger Signs. If you missed one of our earlier news articles about it, Ranger Signs are special shapes you make with the styler that will allow you to call certain Pokémon to you. Amongst others, you’ll be able to call the legendary dogs, which are needed to overcome certain obstacles.

That’s all we have for now, We’ll leave you with the other couple of pages from CoroCoro showing the new Pokémon, and you can drop by the new Gen 5 topic on the forums to talk about it HERE… we’ll bring you more info when its released

Brand New Pokemon Game Set For 2010

Ok, so here’s an interesting one. The Pokemon Company, the main men behind pokemon, announced today that a BRAND NEW pokemon game will be released during the latter part of 2010 for the Nintendo DS. The actual release states that it is a new series, which may be one or more games, is stated to include new pokemon and is set to be an RPG. It was also said that it’s being planned so that everything is ‘born anew’

Could this mean that the fifth generation is on it’s way? Possible. It’s a new series, so it’s not restricted to one game being released, the main games are RPGs and a new generation means new pokemon.

However, the myster dungeon games have been RPGs, contained new pokemon before they were available in the main games and brought a new perspective on the pokemon games. So just because the announcement hints at the new generation, it doesn’t mean anything yet.

Also against it being a brand new generation is time. It hasn’t been a year yet since the Heart Gold and Soul Silver remakes have been released. There was a 2 year gap between the Leaf Green/Fire Red remakes in gen 3 and gen 4 being released. Not to mention we’ve yet to discover any new pokemon yet, which would be the shortest development of a generation between the release of a new pokemon and the new generation. Not to mention that there has never been 2 generations of pokemon on the same console, and this IS set to be on the DS.

The good news to take from this is that there will be a new game of some description appearing in the next 12 months and that 5th gen pokemon are on the horrizon. In fact the 13th movie’s merchandise has hinted at a new pokemon being in the movie and CoroCoro magazine is set to reveal something about it in the next issue in about 2 weeks time. Until then, it’s all guess work and speculation, but we’ll be keeping our eyes pealed for any new info we can get our hands on.

Special Jirachi Download Headed For US

Back in June last year, Japanese Diamond, Pearl and Platinum players were able to download a special Jirachi the knows Draco Meteor. When traded onto Heart Gold an Soul Silver, this Jirachi unlocks the special Pokewalker course ‘Edge of the Nights Sky’

Now serebii is reporting that between 27th February and 13th March, US gamestop stores will be offering this Jirachi available to download in stores. Until any official announcment is made, these details are subject to change.

The Edge of the Nights Sky course will allow you to catch Clefary, Jiglypuff, Zubat, Hoothoot, Onix and Geodude, as well as obtain items such as Psychic TM, Moonstones and Rare bones. The pokemon dont know moves that they Cannont learn naturally, but they do have moves that the wouldnt learn at the low levels they are at (the Clefairy, for example, is at Level 8 and knows Moonlight, a move it wouldnt normally know until Level 37)

We’ll bring you more news when we discover it.