Zygarde’s New Formes Will Appear In ‘Pokemon Sun’ And ‘Pokemon Moon’

by Josh JacksonJune 12, 2016

Remember a few months back when we talked about how Zygarde was getting new formes in the Pokemon anime and predicted that they would make their first in game appearance in an unannounced Pokemon Z? As we know now, Zygarde got no game, but that doesn’t mean his alternate versions won’t turn up. As announced in the game’s latest trailer, it will just end up debuting in Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon.

Showing off two of its possible appearances, its 10% Forme takes the shape of a scarf wearing dog, which seems to be paired up with a set of new attacks. Thousand Arrows fires a series of energy blasts into the sky, with each one raining down on its opponent, while Thousand Waves transforms the pup into a cluster of data, which surrounds its enemy before it’s hit with the strike.

In its Complete Forme, Zygarde looks much more like a human shaped monster, which promises to be its most powerful version. Using a new attack called Core Enforcer, the Pokemon does its best Zorro impression by taking to the sky and blasting away its foe with a powerful beam that draws a Z into the ground. Aside from these attacks, any ability changes, stat alterations or how these transformations take place is yet to be revealed, but we’ll report it as soon as it’s known.

With these answers come so many questions. Namely, will the standard 50% forme from X and Y be needed for these new versions? Will the smaller formes like the core play a role in any of this? And why didn’t Zygarde get its own version? While we contemplate these pressing questions, watch the adaptable Pokemon in action below, then let us know what you’re hoping to see in Pokemon Sun and Moon in the comments below!

Japan Has Chosen Greninja As The Most Popular Pokemon

by Josh JacksonJune 7, 2016

Out of 720 Pokemon, Japan has selected generation six water starter, Greninja, as the most popular across the entire franchise.

Barring the yet to be (officially) released Volcanion and the Pokemon shown to debut in Sun and Moon, Japanese participants were asked to vote for any one of the current 720 Pokemon as their favorite between April 16 and May 8, with the winner to be distributed to copies of Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire as a bonus for pre-purchasing tickets to Pokémon the Movie XY & Z: Volcanion and the Exquisite Magearna. While it was surprising to see a non-generation one Pokemon win the poll, the wider results show a bigger picture.

First, Greninja has had a pretty big push since it debuted in X and Y. Not only was it arguably the best looking form out of all the other generation six starters, but it was easily the most viable in battle thanks to its hidden Protean ability. By changing its type to match whatever attack its using, it helped the water / dark type play both offensively and defensively, letting it adapt to various situations to make up for its lackluster defensive stats. On the anime front, Froakie became Ash’s main Pokemon during the most recent season of the long running anime, eventually evolving into Greninja and taking on some of its trainer’s characteristics in the process, (which is a heavily rumored mechanic for the upcoming Sun and Moon.) Lastly, Greninja was the sole playable X and Y representative to be featured in the most recent Super Smash Bros. title, with a variety of fast attacks that lay waste to its opponents in unique ways.

Rounding out the rest of the top 12 is Arceus, the creator of the Pokemon universe who debuted in Diamond and Pearl, Mew, the first Mythical Pokemon, Pikachu, the series mascot, Sylveon, the sole fairy type in the top 12 who is also the most recent Eevee evolution, the man made Mythical Pokemon, Genesect, from Black and White, the sky dragon, Rayquaza, X and Y‘s Zygarde, (who still got no game,) Charizard, best known as the $100 trading card that got stolen out of your card folder, the musical Meloetta from the fifth generation, the ultra powerful gen 1 secret boss, Mewtwo, and Eevee itself, the Pokemon that can become eight other types. What’s especially telling to me, is that despite gen 1 being held in such high regard, the list is full of a surprising amount of gen 5 and 6 Pokemon. Notorious for the former’s trash bag and ice cream monsters, while the latter had a living set of keys, it’s good to see that the voters acknowledged how awesome the rest of the roster could be. Now, where’s Latios, Latias and Volcarona!?

What wasn’t a surprise however, is Simisear was dead last. Sorry, fire poop monkey. There’s always next election. Stunfisk is still worse though…

Did any part of this list surprise you? Who would you put at the number one slot? Choose your favorites in the comments!

June Is Manaphy Month As The Latest Mythical Pokemon Becomes Available For Download

by Josh JacksonJune 5, 2016

It’s another month, which means it’s time for the next Mythical Pokemon to become available for download on your copies of Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Making its debut as a special egg that could be transferred from the excellent Pokemon Ranger to copies of Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl, Manaphy is a water type Pokemon that fits a similar role as Mew, Celebi and Jirachi before it. Manaphy’s signature attack, Heart Swap, allows it to switch stat increases and decreases with its opponent, allowing it to absorb any boosts its foe might have built up over the course of the battle. Its ability, Hydration, removes any negative status effects it receives at the end of each turn in the rain, giving it even more of a benefit on top of the attack boost rain already provides to water types. As the only Legendary Pokemon to be able to breed, pairing it with Ditto is still the only way to obtain Phione, a standalone Pokemon that does not evolve into its parent species. As a Pokemon of more than one firsts, Manaphy is also the first Mythical Pokemon to have to share the spotlight with a group of other Mythical types, being somewhat overshadowed by the eventual release of Shaymin, Arceus, and last month’s featured Pokemon, Darkrai.

Despite this, Manaphy has still made multiple appearances since its debut, being featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and 3DS/Wii U as a rare Pokemon that uses Heart Swap to switch which player controls which character mid match. Its movie, Pokemon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, has been digitally remastered and made available to download alongside Pokemon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and is rounded out by the release of the Manaphy Pokemon TCG set, which comes with two Pokemon Generations booster packs, a promotional Manaphy card, and a collectible pin.

This has been a big week for Pokemon, with Sun and Moon details showing off its new legendaries and Pokedex. Check out the Manaphy trailer below to keep up on all the releases featuring the water type, and check back with more details on #Pokemon20 as they’re available.

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 78 – ‘Blame It On The Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Parkinsons!’

by Shane O'HareJune 4, 2016

Join Josh and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week:

Blizzard bans a huge number of Overwatch hackers, a lot from China.

New Destiny DLC to be Live Streamed and sequel date announced.

Street Fighter V DLC woes.

Professional Street Fighter player banned from tournaments for sexual harassment.

New Pokemon Legendaries and gameplay released.

Nintendo E3 presence.

Starbreeze buys PayDay rights, removes micro-transactions and announced PayDay 3.

Minecraft sells over 100,000,000.

No Man’s Sky gets delayed, developer receives death threats.

Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst.

One Piece: Burning Blood.

Senran Kagura Estival Versus.

Mission Objective

“What is your favorite boxing game?”

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New Pokémon Sun And Moon Trailer And Major Gameplay Details Have Surfaced!

by Matt RodriguezJune 2, 2016

A new Pokemon Sun and Moon trailer is available and it packs a punch! More details have been revealed on the two new legendary Pokemon, more footage of the Alola region, character options and reveals, and even a shocking twist on the Pokedex!

The name of Pokemon Sun’s legendary Pokemon is Solgaleo, with its signature attack being Sunsteel Strike and its ability being Full Metal Body. The name of Pokemon Moon’s legendary is Lunala with its signature attack being Moongeist Beam and its ability being Shadow Shield. Both Sunsteel Strike and Moongeist Beam are attacks that disregard the opponent’s abilities. However, Full Metal Body and Shadow Shield are different–with Full Metal Body, “a Pokemon’s stats will not be lowered by the effects of an opponent’s moves or Ability.” With Shadow Shield, “a Pokemon will take less damage from an attack that lands when the Pokemon has full HP.” These abilities sound all too familiar right? They sound like the exact representations of the Abilities “Clear Body” and “Multiscale” which are described the same way… ALMOST. The choice of name for these Abilities–“Full” and “Shield” as well as the verbiage “a Pokemon” instead of “THIS Pokemon” leads me to believe that these abilities may protect teammates as well. With recent major changes to Video Game Championships rules in 2016, such as the ability to use two legendary Pokemon in your team from a limited list, with double battles being VGC standard, this may fall well in line with that direction and I’m excited to see where it could take the metagame! Their typings have also been revealed–Psychic/Steel for Solgaleo and Psychic/Ghost for Lunala… the secondary types remind me of the Sinnoh Legendary Pokémon, which happen to be Dragon/Steel (Dialga), Dragon/Ghost (Giratina), and the third–Dragon/Water (Palkia)… perhaps the third Legendary pokemon for sun/moon will be Psychic/Water? More information on Solgaleo and Lunala can be found on Pokemon’s website.

There’s some new footage on the Alola region as well. Although I’m sure the internet will find eggs in this footage, but what I’ve seen so far is a comparison to real-world scales. In other words, the scale between the character and buildings have been somewhat unrealistic in previous Pokemon games. However in this footage, a Mountain is so much bigger than the character, that it really makes the world appear infinitely more enormous and realistic. We are reminded of the many options available for character customization, such as the many different shades of skin, and some more details on Professor Kukui, his assistant Lillie, and your friend/rival Hau. I find the professor most interesting because he specializes in Pokemon Moves, which is something I have not seen in the past.

The last interesting tidbit is with the Pokedex! While in previous games these devices served little more function than electric encyclopedias, this new one is inhabited by the Rotom Pokemon, and with it comes benefits! They have just detailed on the Pokemon website that there will be a QR scanner built in. This can be used to capture information on Alola Pokemon habitats into your Pokedex, among your friends. We imagine this can be used to interesting effect for Augmented Reality promotional efforts for the Pokemon Company (Pokemon GO integration, anyone?).

Please check out the video and let us know your thoughts! How do you feel about the new mechanics and reveals?

Celebrate Pokémon’s 20th Anniversary With These Fan-made Hats!

by Natalie KipperMay 18, 2016

From downloading rare monsters to attending special events, many Pokémon fans are taking part in activities to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Pokémon series. Rio McCarthy of Rio’s Renditions has chosen to show her fandom by releasing a special line of Pokémon-themed hats in her Etsy shop. These beanies are extremely limited in edition size, three pieces for each of her ten designs (that is 30 total, for all of you playing along at home).

Let’s take a look at some of styles available, shall we?

There is the Meowth hat, perfect for that friend just straight-up loves money. Or cats. Or both (What? They aren’t mutually exclusive).

And then there is the Snorlax hat. I wonder if it would double as a sleeping cap?

Rio also has a Munchlax hat, which would make for some pretty awesome family photos when paired with the Snorlax one.

Other hats in the line include Jigglypuff (as seen in the header), Ditto, Psyduck, Marill, Lucario, Raichu, and of course, Pikachu. Prices range from US$25 to US$35, depending on the complexity of the pattern. Each hat is handmade with care by Rio herself. You can follow her store on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

‘Pokemon Sun and Moon’ Details, New Pokemon and Release Date Surface In First Game Play Trailer

by Josh JacksonMay 10, 2016

Are you ready to catch em’ all for the seventh time!? The Pokemon Company has unveiled the first game play trailer for the upcoming Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, showing off its new region, starters, and cover legendaries alongside its worldwide release date.

Releasing on November 18, each version returns with its tried and true turn based combat, which will surely come with another hundred or so Pokemon to catch, train and battle. What’s most exciting to me however, is that the new region seems to be in full 3D. In other words, while X and Y was the first foray into full 3D characters and game play for the main series, traveling was still largely from a top down perspective, save for a handful of special areas. This time, the world already looks so much bigger in scale since the environments have an actual layout that doesn’t revolve around the grid based map that every past game has revolved around. Just think of the new lands we’ll be able to explore while catching all those new Pokemon!

Speaking of which, the trailer gave us our first glimpse at the three new starters and the version exclusive Legendary Pokemon. Featuring Rowlet, a Grass/Flying owl, Litten, a fire kitten, and Popplio, a water type sea lion, one of these three will be the first Pokemon we claim as we begin our new adventure. Let’s talk about these new guys for a minute… Is it just me, or do they look more like fan art? I don’t usually favor Grass Types, but Rowlet looks the most interesting to me, especially with its 180 head spin. Popplio is cute, but uninspired, while Litten… It looks more like a Route 1 catch than a starter. Let’s just hope it doesn’t evolve into a Fire/Fighting type. As far as the Legendaries, we don’t have any specific information on them outside of their box art, but the Sun Pokemon looks like Wildfire from Skylanders decided to walk on four legs, and I’m looking forward to Moon telling us why Lugia went on to skin Cresselia and wear its coat.

Take a look below and watch the full trailer for yourself, then tell us what you think! Which starter are you leaning towards, and are you siding with Sun or Moon this time around? Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know!

May Is Darkrai Month As #Pokemon20 Continues!

by Josh JacksonMay 8, 2016

We’re already in the middle of the fourth month of the #Pokemon20 campaign to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the monster collecting RPG. With that, comes the first Mythical Pokemon giveaway from the fourth generation of games with Darkrai!

The Nightmare Pokemon debuted in Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl as a hard to obtain character that could only be found by diving into the dreams of a child who was stuck in an endless slumber. As a parallel to the Crescent Moon Pokemon, Cresselia, the Dark Type Pokemon was actually the second Mythical Pokemon to be made available in its games, following Manaphy. The item needed to get into the room could only be downloaded via a special event, making it very rare to come across. Its rarity wasn’t the only reason it was so sought after, since its signature attack, Dark Void, would put both opponents to sleep in a double battle with 80% accuracy. The powerful Bad Dream ability combined with the Nightmare attack will continuously drain its foe’s health as long as they’re sleeping, making them easy pickings considering Darkrai has high special attack even without these strengths. If you ever needed proof as to why Mythical Pokemon are usually banned from tournaments, look no further.

This month, Darkrai can be downloaded as a Mystery Gift by obtaining a download code from participating GameStop stores while supplies last. On the trading card front, Darkrai will follow the previous Mythical releases with its own card set. Packaged with a pin and promo card featuring the Pokemon in addition to two Origin packs, both of which contain both classic reprints and new versions of some of our favorite Pokemon. Lastly, the digitally remastered version of Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai, has been released on iTunes, Amazon and Google Play, as well as the Pokemon TV app for two weeks.

In addition to the rest of the download events this month and the release of the Fates Collide card game expansion that features the BREAK Evolution mechanic, this is the biggest month for #Pokemon20 so far! What are you doing to celebrate? Share your thoughts below!

Viz Celebrates Free Comic Book Day With Two Manga Samplers

by Josh JacksonMay 7, 2016

Free Comic Book Day is here, and what better way to celebrate than with, well… free comics?

Every year, publishers from across the spectrum provide samples and issues of some of their most popular properties as a way to celebrate the medium, (while hoping to hook a few new readers in the process). Viz is no different, as one of the lead manga publishers in the U.S. This year, the company behind the localization of hits such as Death Note, InuYasha and Dragon Ball Z, have not one, but two samples; one featuring Pokemon, and the other focusing on One Punch Man.

The Pokemon Pocket Comics issue serves as an introduction to the newest edition of the Pokemon manga library, that skews a little more to the kids, (or the kid in us). Containing three four-panel gag comic strips alongside a variety of quizzes and Pokemon statistics, the sample hopes to test your Pokemon prowess in between laughs.

The Shonen Jump Free Comic Book Day 2016 Sampler on the other hand, is all about action. Each copy contains excerpts from two of Jump’s currently running series, One-Punch Man and My Hero Academia. The former stars Saitama, an unassuming man who is part of a growing super hero community. He comes off as lazy, unmotivated and kind of dense, which stems from boredom since he has become so powerful, he has yet to find an opponent that he can’t defeat in one punch. Further along the super hero spectrum, My Hero Academia is set in a world where 80% of the population has a “Quirk”, or superpowers that has led to constant battles between heroes and villains. When you’re unsure of how to use your power however, this academy is where you go to learn how to use them. Yet, what happens when you’re one of the 20% that don’t have powers?

Both samples will be available while supplies last at one of the thousands of participating locations.

Have Your Pokémon And Eat Them Too With ‘The Pokémon Cookbook!’

by Natalie KipperMay 6, 2016

With this being the 20th anniversary for the Pokémon series, it seems only natural that print media get in on the celebration. And no celebration is complete without cake! Or apparently sushi, pizza, or ramen. VIZ Media will release Maki Kudo’s The Pokémon Cookbook: Fun & Easy Recipes on December 6 and it is packed with 35 pocket monster-inspired recipes.

The book’s recipes will range from snacks to entrees to desserts. Pokéball sushi rolls, Pikachu-style ramen, and something called “Meowth” potatoes are some the dishes you’ll learn to make. Here’s hoping they cover bento art in some form or another.

Fans can purchase The Pokémon Cookbook: Fun & Easy Recipes this holiday season for US$14.99/CAN$17.99. In the meantime, take a gander at the Japanese version’s cover (seen below).

Shiny Xerneas and Yveltal Will Follow Zygarde As Pokémon Mystery Gifts

by Natalie KipperMay 2, 2016

It looks the Zygarde Mystery Gift distribution will end sooner than anticipated. The current online download, which is available for Pokémon X/Y as well as Alpha Sapphire/ Omega Ruby, will end on May 8 in North America. But, don’t despair; the Order Pokémon will be replaced with two very special subsequent downloads: shiny Xerneas and shiny Yveltal.

Xerneas will be available first, running from May 11 to May 17, with Yveltal taking its place from May 20 to May 26. Like Zygarde, these Pokémon can be acquired by selecting the “Mystery Gift” setting on the title screen and choosing the “Get over Internet” option. No need to get a code from a video game store.

Xerneas will arrive with the move set: Geomancy, Moonblast, Aromatherapy, and Focus Blast. Yveltal will have Oblivion Wing, Sucker Punch, Dark Pulse, and Foul Play. Both will be level 100.

No word yet on European distribution.

[source: Serebii.net’s Facebook page, Serebii.net]

Surprise! A Wild Zygarde Appears On Mystery Gift For All Main Pokemon 3DS Games!

by Josh JacksonApril 30, 2016

As if a Mythical Pokemon every month and two sets of Legendary Trio Pokemon weren’t enough, the folks behind Pokemon decided to be extra generous and release a special Zygarde via Mystery Gift today.

Starting off at level 100, (so you won’t have to put any real work into raising it,) this downloadable version of the last obtainable Pokemon in X and Y will come with Land’s Wrath, Outrage, Glare and ExtremeSpeed in its attack arsenal. Essentially the same Pokemon that was made available in Japan last year to celebrate the launch of the Pokemon XY&Z anime, it’s good to see that we’re getting events that we usually would have missed out on.

But now we’re at the part where I complain about free stuff, because this Zygarde doesn’t do anything that a regular Zygarde can’t already do. Typically, monsters distributed this way are either impossible to get otherwise, or come with moves or abilities that it can’t normally obtain. This Zygarde is neither, so we essentially just have a Pokemon that we can’t EV train. He doesn’t even turn into a scarf wearing dog like in the anime! Then again, a lot of the appeal that comes from these events is to give us the knowledge that we have a Pokemon that was only temporarily available. Hey, it’ll probably come in a Cherish Ball with a cool Original Trainer name at least!

As with its sudden release, we also have no idea when it will be taken down, so download it while you can! Zygarde will be obtainable in Pokemon X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 73 – ‘If John Cena Wear’s Camouflage, CAN You See Him?’

by GeekscapeStaffApril 29, 2016

Join Carlos, Josh, Juan and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games! There is even a special guest!

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This Week:

Nintendo reduces their E3 prescence.

Nintendo NX releases March 2017.

Alicia Vikander is Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider movie reboot.

King of Fighters XIV get’s a release date.

EVO get’s 4,000 entrants for Street Fighter V.

Trials of The Blood Dragon leaked.

Borderlands movie gets screenwriter and producer.

Borderlands movie exists.

From Software not making another Dark Souls game and working on new IP.

No Man Sky has no story, but it does have lore!

Asura’s Wrath devs working on new game.

Retro Studios working on Nintendo NX game, NOT Metroid, Donkey Kong or Diddy Kong Racing.

Nintendo reports 61% profit loss.

Pokemon re-releases sell 1.5 Million copies.

Miitomo get’s Splatoon gear.

Xbox One gets seven backwards compatible games this week!

Rocksmith 2014.

Quantum Break.

Nioh Demo.

Dark Souls 3.

Mickey Magical Quest GBA.

Bravely Second.

Street Fighter V.

Valkyria Chronicles.

MegaTagmension Blanc + Neptune Vs. Zombies.

StarFox Zero.

VHS Player’s Guide.

Mission Objective:

“What game did you get so stuck on that you were forced to get a walkthrough for, and why?”

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Pokemon Designer Killed In Tragic Accident

by J.C. MarquezMarch 16, 2016

Sunday afternoon, Eric Medalle, a Creative Design Director at The Pokemon Company, was taking one of his two daughters on a drive through Seward Park in Seattle when, at approximately 1:30 P.M., a Douglas fir tree fell on his SUV–killing Madelle and inflicting minor injuries to his daughter. Medalle was 42.

From Pokemon Soul Silver/Heart Gold to the recent Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Red entries, Medalle was responsible for the graphic design and artwork of much of the Pokemon games released in the last five years. Additionally, he was responsible for much of the art and logos in the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

Medalle is survived by his wife and two daughters–ages 6 and 2. A fund has begun to help see Medalle’s wish of helping his children attend college. As stated on the YouCare website which is hosting fundraiser, “Eric’s expectation for his daughters was college, and to honor that expectation, we can ensure that college remains a reality for his girls. It is important that Isa and Nico are able to learn and grow, to discover what they love and pursue it to the fullest, just as their father did.”

Those wishing to contribute to the fund can do so here.

We here at Geekscape offer our heartfelt condolences to the Medalle family.

Source: K5 News report

Over 9000 Magikarps Flail About In New Pokken Tournament Stage!

by Matt RodriguezMarch 12, 2016

A new stage has been revealed for Pokken Tournament and it’s quite the doozy! The level is called Magikarp Festival–you can now battle on a boat-like level in Pokken Tournament, with Magikarps flailing about the ship! It’s going to be tough to concentrate on fighting with all of the funny business going on around the fighters.

Even so, this isn’t the strangest level I’ve seen in a fighting game designed by Bandai Namco. In Tekken 6, there was a level that was nothing but yodeling music while you fought in the middle of a herd of sheep. However, I did notice that this level seemed a bit familiar… this level may be a homage to a similar level in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, the Bountiful Sea.

With the recent news regarding a free Magikarp card promotional event at Target stores soon, this can’t be any coincidence. We have been really happy with our Pokken Tournament experience thus far, and it’s shaping up to be a great fighter! How do you feel about this unique level in Pokken? Does it make you want to bounce with joy?

Source: My Nintendo News, featured image by Sev Cosplay

Check Out The Surprise Announcement Trailer For ‘Pokemon Co-master’

by The_aczMarch 10, 2016

Well this was a bit un-expected.

Late last night, we got a trailer for a brand new Pokemon game heading to IOS and Android this spring. . . . . for Japan only. The game is called Pokemon Co-master, and looks to be some sort of board game with collectible miniatures. No date on if this will come to the west, but it’s safe to assume that it’ll be arriving some time after the Japanese release. It also looks as if the game will also be taking advantage of amiibo esque figures.

Check out the photo of the figurine and the announce trailer below! Are you excited for Pokemon Co-master?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFNP3uG0_Jc

Target Offers Golden Opportunity At A Magikarp That Does NOT Cost $500!

by Matt RodriguezMarch 9, 2016

Do you like Magikarps and the Pokémon Trading Card Game? Well you’re in luck!

Target will be celebrating Pokemon’s 20th anniversary its own way on March 19, by offering all shoppers in the toy department a free promo Shiny Magikarp TCG card and Pikachu visor! This variant of Magikarp is brand new so many people will probably by trying to get their hands on it (hint: show up early)!

There will also be a photo booth available, along with a Pokémon product sale that details a buy two get one free on all Pokémon TCG and 3DS Pokémon games.

New Charizard EX and other TCG tins will also be available for purchase.

I’m always looking for more opportunities to celebrate Pokémon, so this will be no exception! Will you all be getting your free card as well?

Source: Pokebeach and Jason Inquires (twitter), via Nintendo Inquirer

GeekscapeTV: Watch El Chucho Celebrate Pokémon’s 20th Anniversary!

by Derek KraneveldtMarch 9, 2016

Finally, Jonathan’s cousin El Chucho has returned to Los Angeles.

We had a blast with The ‘Chuch back at E3 in June, when he made a lot of people very uncomfortable, and also learned just how far folks were willing to go for those rare Amiibo figures, and now he’s back to celebrate Pokémon’s 20th Anniversary.

That’s right. El Chucho loves Pokémon. Almost as much as he loves Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer.

El Chucho took to JapanLA’s incredible Pokémon Boutique to find out which Pokémon Los Angeles likes best… and, well a lot more than that.

Take a look at the video below, and let us know where you’d like to see El Chucho pop up next!

Our Bodies Are Regi For Legendary Pokémon Bank Giveaway!

by Matt RodriguezMarch 4, 2016

The Regi-trio of Hoenn’s legendary Pokémon are back as a free giveaway for all registered users of Pokémon Bank! Pokémon Bank is a cloud based service which costs $4.99 a year for the ability to store Pokémon and transfer them between games. This is about the normal time where most folks’ subscriptions would expire, so it makes sense for them to offer a promotional opportunity such as this one.

The Regi-trio are Regirock, Regice, and Registeel. Also, these in particular are special because they will come equipped with their Hidden Abilities, for the first time ever! These new Pokémon abilities will open up many options for competitive battling, so expect the metagame to change quite a bit!

In order to retrieve these Pokémon, you will need to use the “Pokémon Link” option from your X/Y/OR/AS game. Also keep in mind that only one copy of each of these are available for each Pokémon Bank account, meaning you cannot get multiples if you own multiple games.

I’ve already renewed my Pokémon Bank service because it has been helpful in the past! Will you be renewing yours? Did this giveaway impact that decision at all? Please let us know in the comments!

Source: pokemon.com

The Kanto Classic Competition Is Now Open For Battle!

by Matt RodriguezMarch 4, 2016

The Kanto Classic online competition previously announced is now live!

As a reminder, the rules only allow you to battle with the first 149 pokemon of the National Pokedex, and they cannot hold items either! If you battle three times to completion, whether you win or lose, you’ll be awarded Lance’s Dragonite–a special Dragonite with the move Barrier, at the end of the competition.

Anybody with a copy of Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire can compete, and more rules and regulations can be found on Pokémon’s Global Link competition page (account may be required).

We look forward to seeing you online! I’m turning my game on right now!

The ‘Pokémon GO’ GDC Presentation Has Been Cancelled!

by Derek KraneveldtMarch 3, 2016

Briefly: Back in September of last year, Nintendo and Ingress developer Niantic announced an incredible-looking mobile title called Pokémon GO, and essentially the entire world flipped out at the endless possibilities that the game could bring to the cellular world.

At its reveal, Pokémon GO was marked for an early 2016 release. Early 2016 is disappearing, we haven’t heard anything from Niantic or Nintendo about the project, and now Niantic has cancelled the scheduled March 14th Pokémon GO GDC presentation.

The news has been spreading like wildfire, and has many fans around the world worried about the status of Pokémon GO. Niantic later gave a statement to Gamespot, noting that:

“We have decided to forego our GDC talk on Pokemon Go in order to focus on getting the product ready for beta test and launch. As much as we hate to disappoint those in the industry attending GDC, we feel our time and energy right now are best spent on making sure every aspect of the product is where we want it to be.”

We’re all beyond excited for the game, and we hope that Niantic takes all the time it needs to make Pokémon GO and incredible experience. At the same time, we’re a little worried that we’ve seen and heard nothing about the project since its announcement trailer all those months ago.

What do you think is going on with Pokémon GO? Are you looking forward to the title? Sound out below!

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 67 – ‘Where Are My Boobie Games?’

by GeekscapeStaffMarch 2, 2016

Join Juan and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week:

Geekscape 400!

www.mabtw.com.

Uncharted 4 gets delayed, AGAIN!

Sony announces the Playstation glove.

Microsoft HoloLens dev kit announced at $3,000!

HoloLens tech demo, Young Conker, is terrifying.

Pokemon Sun & Moon EU trademarking leaks.

Pokemon Sun & Moon announced by Nintendo.

Celebi Free for Pokemon Omega Red and Alpha Sapphire users all of March.

Star Fox Zero delayed?

Nintendo NX may get launched this year.

Nintendo Direct on 3/3.

Fire Emblem: Fates.

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.

Destiny.

Sega Saturn collecting.

Mission Objective:

Seems many voters aren’t satisfied with any of the candidates running for the Presidential nomination. Which videogame character(s) do you believe would be a great candidate to run for the presidency of the United States?

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Celebi’s Time Has Come! Celebrate Pokemon 20th Anniversary In March With Celebi!

by Matt RodriguezMarch 1, 2016

As promised, The Pokémon Company is celebrating 20 years of Pokémon with a new legendary pokemon every month! This month’s “theme” is Celebi, and they have detailed all of the available events and merch! Celebi, #251, is a time travelling Pokémon that was originally introduced Pokémon Gold and Silver, and is only obtainable through special events.

Celebi is now available to Pokémon X/Y/OR/AS as a gift distribution through Mystery Gift. In order to retrieve Celebi, you need to boot up your game, go to “Mystery Gift”, and select obtain through internet. The Celebi distributed is at level 100, with the moves Confusion, Recover, Heal Bell, and Safeguard. The Nature and other stats are not set, so you may need to soft reset to get the Celebi you want (PROTIP: A recommended nature for Celebi is Bold or Impish).

Also available is The Celebi collection for the Pokémon TCG. Similar to last month’s Mew collection, this box set includes a full-art promo card and collector’s pin, as well as two booster packs from the Pokémon TCG: Generations expansion. It will be available wherever Pokémon TCG products are sold, but don’t delay! My experience is that these boxes usually sell out within the first few days, so if you really want it, you need to go out there and get it right now! Like, why are you waiting?

New Celebi figures will now be available at participating Toys ‘R Us stores as well. One will be a special 2″ Celebi figure that comes with a Great Ball, as well as an 8″ crushed-velvet Celebi plush.

Also, for a limited time, the movie Pokémon 4Ever will also make a return on Pokémon TV (available via smartphone or pokemon.com). It will also be available for purchase on the iTunes Store, Google Play, and Amazon Video. This adventure follows Ash and his team as they try to crack down on a mystery surrounding Celebi.

That’s a lot of time-travel for one month! Will you be picking up any of these promotional products? Please let us know in the comments!

Source: pokemon.com

Geekscape Games Podcast: Level 66 – ‘It’s Anti-Bullying Day So Let’s Just Leave Shane Alone All Week!’

by GeekscapeStaffFebruary 29, 2016

Join Derek, Josh and Shane as they discuss the last week in video games!

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This Week:

Fallout 4 survival mode leaked.

New Uncharted trailer uses Ubisoft assets.

Pokemon Day incoming, so is a Nintendo Direct.

20 Year old Mortal Kombat cheat code found.

DICE MGS5 award.

Postal Redux announced.

Fire Emblem Fates has a huge US launch.

Anti-Video Game politician arrested for gun smuggling.

Neptune.

Splatoon.

Gravity Rush.

Fire Emblem Fates.

The Walking Dead: Michonne.

The Division Beta.

Street Fighter V.

Mission Objective:

Do you ever spend money on Free to Play titles? Which ones? And why or why not?

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Geekscape Roundtable: We Celebrate Pokémon’s 20th Anniversary With Our Favorite Pokémon Memories!

by Derek KraneveldtFebruary 27, 2016

We’re just about to celebrate our 400th episode, and today Pokémon is celebrating its 20th anniversary. What a weekend.

I don’t think I know a single human being whose life hasn’t been touched by those adorable pocket monsters in one way or another. Essentially all of us here at Geekscape have spent countless hours and dollars, and thrown away a myriad (well, one or two) of date opportunities to feed our Pokémon addictions.

Be it the anime, manga, RPGs, puzzle games, stadiums, TCG, plushies, Amiibo, or otherwise, there are a lot of different ways to be sucked into this universe, and it’s nearly impossible to escape it.

So let’s celebrate! There are a myriad of different events occurring today around the country, and we thought that today would be a perfect day to share our favorite Pokémon memories!

Read our memories below, and head down to the comments to share your own!

Josh Jackson

Man, where do I even begin? I’ve been gaming for 26 years now, but I can’t think of many other franchises that have stuck with me as long as Pokemon has. From the moment I first heard of some Japanese game called Pocket Monsters that was taking the region by storm, (along with the stable brain activity of their children thanks to the infamous siezure episode,) to when I stumbled across the anime by accident, and all the way to when my Squirtle and I took our first steps on what would become a lifelong journey, there are far too many memories to count. I’ve traveled miles away for legitimate legendary Pokemon, journeyed across states to participate in tournaments, experienced triumph when completing my Pokedex without hacks in Diamond, heartbreak when I physically lost my cartridges, and a return to glory when I re-caught 718 Pokemon in Y. But more than any other memory, one stands out in my head more than any other, if only because of how embarassing it is.

As mentioned, the siezure episode in Japan had a huge effect on the series, which led to the featured Pokemon, Porygon, being banned from the franchise’s animation iterations, which still endures to this day. However, this wouldn’t stop Porygon from ruining another kid’s day. When my local GameStop announced a No-Legendary local tournament (meaning standard Pokémon only), I trained my favorite Pokemon to peak condition, led by my special attacking powerhouse, Porygon Z. Unfortunately, the store employees didn’t share my enthusiasm for the games and didn’t know what a Legendary Pokemon was, which led to them throwing their hands in the air and allowing anything. I never lost a first round before, so I was both scared and angry, coming to the resolution that all my hard work would be for nothing.

That feeling only grew when I went up against a Dialga that my young opponent, who couldn’t have been any older than 10, threw out at the start of battle. Keep in mind that Dialga is strong against Normal types like Porygon, AND it’s a Legendary Pokemon with high defense. Also keep in mind that I’m a 25 year old man. With that in mind, imagine my shock when the “not very effective” Hyper Beam one hit KO’d his Pokemon! In fact, in a display of maturity and humility, I spontaneously waved my hand in front of my face, trying my hardest to channel my inner John Cena.

Not realizing what I had done, I looked over and saw the boy in tears. I then proceeded to wipe up the rest of his team, which resulted in me beating him so fast that I got a bye in the second round, as my humiliated opponent slowly shuffled out of the store with his dad. A valuable lesson was learned that day. No, not that I’m a jerk, or that a Porygon can one hit KO a likely poorly trained Dialga, or even that the power of Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect can overcome any challenge. It was that Pokemon isn’t just a game, but a lifestyle, and I won’t hesitate to wreck children in my pursuit of the title of Pokemon Master. Train On!

Matthew Rodriguez

My favorite memory is of generation five (Pokemon Black/White). Before my wife and I got married, we were dating long distance and I would only see her once or twice a year. We would always play Pokemon through the internet, but there were other features that were specific to local multiplayer, so we would take advantage of those when we would physically meet. In Pokemon Black/White, they had special missions where you can go to another players world to do various tasks, like locate a missing item, or buying specific items from their world. Well, I proceeded to do a mission, this time relating to hiding an item in her world.

My wife enjoys using the dowsing machine to find hidden items on the ground. One day she calls me and she’s practically in tears, because she managed to find an item in her game that was very useful and it had my name attached to it–she was very happy that she was still connected to me in a different way, despite our long distance apart. She wasn’t playing the game as often at this point so it was a very pleasant, and touching surprise.

It was a moment that brought us closer, as Pokemon had done on more than one occasion.

Natalie Kipper

My favorite memory is more a series of memories centering around the bond I built with my Skuntank, Stinker. He was my first Pokemon to have maxed-out happiness from PokemonAmie. The little side comments during battle about how he tried his best for me and such actually helped me through some of my darker moods. I love my Stinker so much, and if Sun/Moon let me transfer him over, I look forward to another adventure with him.

Shane O’Hare

Pokemon will always have a special place in my heart. It was one, if not THE first RPG I ever played. It sculpted how I approach role playing games today. I have three extremely vivid memories of Pokemon that will stick out in my mind forever. Reading a random issue of Nintendo Power and turning a page to see all about this hot new game/anime called “Poket Monsters”. I was incredibly intrigued, and a bit frightened. “Who would want to collect MONSTERS?!” elementary school Shane thought. The one thing I remember most from that spread, was that Jessie and James were in black Team Rocket uniforms.

Then the hype started. More and more information about the Anime was coming out, and a US broadcast was soon coming. I woke up so early one day to watch one of the episodes on Fox. 10 minutes in and no Pokemon, I realized I was on PBS! I will never forget flipping to channel 4 and seeing Ash and the Bug trainer battling their Metapods in the Viridian forest. I was hooked.

Shortly thereafter we got our US release of Pokemon Red & Blue. I was so hyped for it. Talking about it for days and days. Then one late evening my Mother called me when she was coming home from Anchorage (a city about an hour away). She told me that she had just picked me up a copy of Pokemon Red! I WAS ECSTATIC! I was going to be playing Pokemon! She asked me if I would have rather had Blue. I sheepishly said yes, but that any Pokemon was a great Pokemon. She proceeded to make an additional thirty minute trip BACK to Toys R Us, exchanged Red for Blue THEN made the 1 hour drive back home. I will never forget that moment, and am eternally grateful for her.

The rest, is history!

Eric Francisco

I don’t care about Pokemon.

I mean, I don’t hate it. But looking back on our childhoods — all of ours — our generation was so fickle. Pop culture fads came and went like the coming and going of military regimes. But unlike everyone else in school, I stayed a devout Power Rangers fan through and through long after its expiration date (circa 1997). I beat the Power Rangers drum all the way through Pokemon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Harry Potter, girls… but especially through Pokemon.

Man, I was alone. Yeah, I watched Pokemon and played the games and collected the cards. (I still have them too.) But Pokemon was state, while Power Rangers was church. I only got into it so I wouldn’t be alone on the playground, but I was anyway so what was the point?

But Pokemon gave me something which I’m thankful for everyday: My best friend. Playing the games with him cemented a friendship that lasts to this day. For over ten years I saw how Pokemon began to influence him day by day, and now that nerd is on his way to becoming marine biologist — a career that could only come from catching and training wildlife and learning all about them. As I type this, he’s on his way to grad school in Louisiana, and I couldn’t be more proud.

So, thanks, Pokemon. You made someone’s life worth living.

Power Rangers still rocks though.

Derek Kraneveldt

There are way too many amazing Pokemon memories.

From one-sided trades that had student’s parents nearly in fisticuffs (somehow, my elementary school was one of the few that didn’t ban the cards), to the myriads of actual cash that I saw offered for cards around the playground, to the incredible amount of hours I spent playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game for GameBoy Color (via an emulator, unfortunately). I had a ton of incredible Pokemon experiences, even though I missed out on a lot of the RPGs by being a NeoGeo Pocket kid instead of a GameBoy/GameBoy Advance kid (until way later in the GBA’s lifespan).

My favourite memory has to be the actual, physical trading card game. From picking up the original starter kit (and unfortunately trading my Machamp way too hastily), to spending exorbitant amounts of cash on booster packs in search for that one card to perfect my current deck, everything about the trading card game was fun and addicting, which is probably a big part of why Pokemon is still so near and dear to us all these years later.

I loved everything about the trading card game, except for playing it with most people, that is.

See, I’m a stickler for rules and regulations. I’m the dude that would get a new video game, and sit at the kitchen table reading the manual cover to cover before ever putting it in my console (and I would still be doing that if games still came with manuals). Playing a board game, everyone is going to listen to me read the rules before that board even comes out of the box.

Kids sucked at playing Pokemon. Energy cards might as well not have existed. We’re two turns into the game, I obviously haven’t seen a Charmander or a Charmeleon, and you’re already playing a Charizard (and unleashing its Fire Spin, again, without any energy). Screw you, kids.

It’s probably one of the reasons that I (sadly) dropped Pokemon cards long before everyone else did and jumped into playing Magic: The Gathering with adults. They could follow the rules, and they could actually play the damned game instead of simply playing ‘I drew a better card before you did so you lose’.

There was one saving grace though. Playing the Pokemon Trading Card Game with my close elementary school pal, Graeme H (who I just had dinner with a couple of weeks ago, actually). Like me, he followed the game’s rules to a T, and it was a freaking blast every time that we got to play (because we were actually, really, playing). Eventually, the trading cards fell by the wayside to things like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and other Pokemon-level addictions, but these are memories that I still hold dear, and are moments that I try to bring up whenever we get to see each other.

Thanks, bud.

Adam Lemuz

Pokémon has always been a big influence in my life. Out of the countless games, cards, and tv shows released for it, my favorite Pokémon item has to be Pokémon Gold. This is why I love Pokémon HeartGold even more. The original Gold itself was pretty amazing alone. Being able to explore and catch a whole new generation, as well as being able to revisit the first, made this one of the longest games at the time that I’ve ever played. Bundle that with a beautiful graphical update, being able to have any Pokémon follow you around, and a few more tweaks here and there, and you’ve got a remake that almost feels like it’s completely different from the original. I would say to go out and play it, but odds are, you already have.

Celebrate Pokemon Day With These Special Events!

by Josh JacksonFebruary 27, 2016

Pokemon Day is here! 20 years ago today, Nintendo and Game Freak released two games that would go on to become a worldwide phenomenon. To celebrate two decades of the redefining handheld games, Nintendo has set up a variety of events for Pokefans across the country to enjoy.

First, various GameStop stores are hosting a Pokken Tournament… tournament! As we reported earlier this week, select locations will be hosting a tournament and demo event for the upcoming fighter from the team behind Tekken. Considering that I’m writing this as I wait to play, expect a full preview later today!

While you’re there, or even if you can’t it, make sure to pick up your special 20th anniversary poster at all GameStop’s nationwide with any purchase. Featuring 20 years of Mythical Pokemon on one side, with the Pokemon 20 logo on the other, it’s a great giveaway for any Poke-Fan. Toys R’ Us on the other hand, will be distributing special foil cards to celebrate the Generations card game expansion, along with an exclusive binder available for purchase.

Though if you happen to be in New York, the Nintendo World Store will be hosting its own event, filled with activities and photo ops for those braving the cold and long lines. Los Angeles on the other hand, will welcome back the Pokemon Boutique at Japan LA, for those of us who need some themed clothing or $1000 ruby encrusted Pokeball necklaces!

If sunlight isn’t your thing, you can enjoy the festivities from the comfort of your own home via Twitch! Promising a massive event featuring Pokemon themed activities, discussions, and an animation marathon, the event will run from 10 AM PT, with the marathon ending at 6 PM on Sunday. If that gets old, you can pass the time with your Pokemon selfies in the Pokemon Photo Booth app, making sure your fandom never stops. Or… just keep it simple and download Red, Blue and Yellow, which are available now!

As you can tell, there’s no shortage of ways to welcome 20 years of Pokemon. How will you be celebrating? Let us know in the comments!

The Sun Is Shining For New Confirmed ‘Pokémon’ Titles!

by Matt RodriguezFebruary 26, 2016

In the latest Nintendo Direct, those cryptic Pokémon Sun/Moon trademarks that surfaced yesterday have been confirmed as a new Pokémon game for holiday release! We’re excited because this would be the second time that the Pokémon company would break its own pattern (two main titles, a remake, and a third title). The first time would be during generation five, where they released direct sequels to their games (Black 2/White 2) instead of a third game, and there were no remakes that generation. Of course, this point is moot if we get a “Pokémon Z” between now and Pokémon Sun/Moon.

They mention in the direct that all of the games up until now have been cumulating to this one game, specifically marking each trademark game of its generation, so it’s pretty safe to assume that Pokémon Sun/Moon is generation seven, although only time will tell for sure.

How excited are you for Pokémon Sun and Moon? Please let us know in the comments!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qBHfd2NtJs

The Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow 3DS eShop Releases Will Support Pokemon Bank!

by Josh JacksonFebruary 26, 2016

During today’s Pokemon Nintendo Direct, the big news was the official confirmation of Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, an announcement that would have surely had a bigger impact if it wasn’t leaked yesterday. While this is exciting news for sure, the shock of the announcement being eliminated if you were anywhere near an Internet connection, combined with a lack of footage or details outside of a 2016 release window, left me craving a groundbreaking surprise.

Well, we got one! In the closing moments, we were reminded of how we were never able to transfer our Game Boy and Game Boy Color monsters over to the Game Boy Advance, which would go on to be transferable all the way up to the 3DS. That changes with the release of tomorrow’s Red, Blue, and Yellow remakes, because the eShop titles will fully support Pokemon Bank, where your favorite nostalgia monsters can be stored, and eventually transferred into Sun and Moon when they are released.

One of the major questions floating around once the eShop ports were announced was whether or not those Pokemon would be able to be transferred to the new games. The silence regarding the matter made us think that these characters would be confined to their native generation once again, especially since the mechanics have drastically changed since 1996. Fortunately for us, this is clearly not the case.

But with this answer comes new questions. Only Sun and Moon were mentioned as compatible games, so does that mean we can’t move them into other Pokemon Bank compatible games like X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire? What’s going to happen if we transfer one of the glitched level 300 Pokemon? With unlimited EV points in Gen 1, how will that affect their use in future games? And will they be assigned natures once they make the move? We have no way of knowing for now, but if nothing else, here’s to hoping we’ll FINALLY get to play the Surfing Pikachu mini game in the West, and eventually transfer the freak of nature into our new games. Now I just need to figure out how to move that truck so I can finally get Mew…

All I know for sure is that $5 a year for Bank is more than worth it. What are you most excited about from this morning’s presentation? Are you hoping your MissingNo. will materialize in 3D? And are you dreaming of dominating the tournament scene with your overpowered pocketed monstrosities for Gen 1? Share your thoughts in the comments, and continue to check back with us for more Pokemon news as we approach its 20 year anniversary!

‘Pokemon Sun’ & ‘Pokemon Moon’ Trademarks; Logos Appear Online

by Shane O'HareFebruary 25, 2016

We’re less than 24 hours away from a special, Pokemon Themed Nintendo Direct, and we just got our first glimpse of what we can expect tomorrow!

Nintendo, as of this morning, have filed for trademarks for two new Pokemon related items. Take a look at the OHIM entries below!

OHIM (Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market) is the European trademark association, so these are for EU specifically. Both entries have the same “Nice Classifications” of 9, 16, 28, and 41. These are Scientific, Paper, Games, and Entertainment respectively. For Nintendo to trademark these two items, with logos in these categories we can safely assume that these are the newest Pokemon games to be announced!

Be sure to check out the Nintendo Twitch Channel tomorrow morning at 7 AM PST to see the full release!

Mega Evolve Your Selfie With ‘Pokémon Photo Booth’!

by Matt RodriguezFebruary 24, 2016

The Pokémon company has just released an app designed to add Pokémon-related retouches and filters on your selfies! It can currently be downloaded on the iTunes Store, and will later be available on Android devices. When you design your selfie, you’ll also be able to use a quick shortcut to share it to your social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook, with the tag #Pokemon20 automatically added.

I’ve already created my own selfie, although I’m hoping that with time, they’ll add more filters and options–the only two available adds an in-game themed caption, or adds a Pokeball filter to your photo (with or without a caption).

Don’t forget that a Pokémon themed Nintendo Direct is on Friday, as well as an early access Pokken Tournament competition and Pokémon Boutique this Saturday! Pokémon month continues the hype train!

Source: Pokemon.com