The Warp Point

Mewtwo-A-Go-Go

2012-01-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

The Pokemon world has gone crazy over Mewtwo lately, thanks to the upcoming release of EX:Next Destinies and the highly anticipated Mewtwo EX card. Shortly after the release of Next Destinies on February 8, a special Mewtwo Collection box containing two Next Destinies packs, a Mewtwo EX jumbo card, a cool Mewtwo figure, an exclusive Battle City Stadium card promo, and (of course) a Pokemon TCG Online code card, will be released.

If the video games are more of your bag, then there's good news for you as well: a special Mewtwo will be given out via Nintendo WiFi. The Level 70 Mewtwo will have a random nature, hold a King's Rock, and know a move Mewtwo doesn't ordinarily know: Electro Ball. The promotion starts February 12.

To learn more about Mewtwo and EX:Next Destinies (and to download some cool wallpapers in the process!), you can go to Pokemon.com's mini-site here.

Happy Boxing Day!

2011-12-26T15:27:00.000-08:00

(pulls out a Pokeball, pushes the button)

(Hitmonchan comes out in a flash of light, fists flying)

...

Oh wait - it's not about that kind of boxing.

(puts Hitmonchan back in Pokeball)

(walks off with a sheepish look on her face)

A little Christmas Eve fun....

2011-12-24T03:45:00.000-08:00

For this year's Christmas Eve offering, the Warp Point brings you Twas the Night Before Christmas: Florida Style. Having lived in Florida most of my life, I can tell you it's tooooo accurate.

As always, NORAD is tracking Santa at this very moment. Kids (and adults!) can keep a watchful eye on Santa's travels (and maybe learn some geography in the process). Just make sure the little ones are tucked in before midnight!

That's all for this year, and may you and yours enjoy the holidays!

A musical Advent calendar

2011-12-11T16:59:00.001-08:00

Yep, it's another Advent calendar - this time with classic Christmas music videos. I'm sure this will bring back many a memory. Enjoy.

Serebii.net's 2011 Advent Calendar

2011-12-03T16:28:00.001-08:00

The holidays are upon us again, and that means it's time for Serebii.net's Advent Calendar! The 2011 edition can be found here, and like always, it's chock-full of puzzles, games, and downloadable icons and wallpapers. Be sure to visit every day from now until Christmas Eve!

Neo Fights: A guide to Pokemon TCG terminology.

2011-11-30T16:33:00.001-08:00

Since it's been a long time since the last Neo Fights article....

The helpful folks at the PokeBeach forums are assembling a glossary of Pokemon TCG terminology that may be useful for newcomers and veterans alike. The glossary covers deck and card nicknames, game play, tournaments, and common tournament formats. Well worth a look.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T11:48:00.001-08:00

A little Thanksgiving treat for my readers: everything you wanted to know about cooking a turkey (but were afraid to ask) from the University of Illinois.

"She'll be comin' round the (Rugged) Mountain when she comes..."

2011-11-16T14:04:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm back from Regionals, and I'll let you know I had a great time. I finished 9th in the pre-top-cuts standings (out of 182 Masters), but got knocked out in the Top 32. (Curse you, Vileplume and Reuniclus!) Still and all, it was great fun, both ins and out of the tournament hall. (So much has changed in Old Town since last I went there....)

For those of you with the 5th Generation Pokemon games who really love the Dream World (and who doesn't?), a new region has opened up for you to discover! The Rugged Mountain is filled with Rock- Ground- Fighting- and Fire-type Pokemon who'd love to make friends with you. Many of these Pokemon are otherwise hard to find in the regular games: Cacnea, Torkoal, Spinda, Burmy, Machop, and many others. A new mini-game has also been added; in it you have to draw lines to navigate Sableye's mine cart through a tunnel and collect gems. (It's nigh-impossible to play on a laptop, let me tell you that!)

Several new Pokemon have also been added to the Sparkling Sea: Seel, Chinchou, and Shellder.

All in all, it should provide hours of fun for any Pokemon fan. Happy hunting!

On hiatus for a few days.

2011-11-10T15:15:00.001-08:00

From Friday, November 11 to Sunday, November 13, I will be in Orlando during Regionals and thus will be away from my computer. Until then, just sit tight - I'll be back with more exciting Pokemon content!

YouTube of the Whenever: Warmest wishes for the holidays.

2011-11-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

For this installment of YouTube of the Whenever, a little something to warm those cold winter nights and get you into the holiday spirit: a virtual fireplace, complete with Christmas music.

Snarl if you love Zoroark!

2011-09-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you in the US, Canada, or Australia, a very special Zoroark is available via Mystery Gift at your local Toys 'R' Us store. What's so special about it? Well, it just happens to know Snarl, a halfway decent move that was previously unavailable (since it comes in a TM that is itself unavailable by normal means). Furthermore, this Zoroark is male, so you can breed Snarl onto any Pokemon that can learn the move. Cool, huh?

This Zoroark will only be available from now until the 25th in the US, the 24th in Canada, and October 16 in Australia, so don't delay!

Never forget...

2011-09-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

...that freedom isn't free.

May the light of goodness and love never go out!

Oh, Deer(ling)! More C-Gear skins?

2011-09-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

Yep, the C-Gear skins just keep on coming! First up, the password for a Croagunk C-Gear skin has been revealed to Nintendo Power subscribers. For those of you who are non-subscribers, the password is NPCGEAR. It is available from now until March 1, 2012.

Next up, we have several Deerling skins - one for each of its forms. The password for the Spring form is JJW2X97D. It is available from now until October 11, 2012. The passwords for the other three forms will be posted as soon as they are revealed.

Finally, a Zoroark skin is available from now until January 11, 2012. The password is ZoroarkMonth11.

More C-Gear skins available

2011-08-15T16:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lateness of this post - when your AC is busted, you just don't feel like blogging. ;)

Two more C-Gear skins have recently been made available on the Pokemon Global Link site:

A Worlds-themed skin featuring Pikachu can be unlocked using the password WorldsCGear (BTW, congrats to all who participated!);
And for those who can't get enough of Audino (or who can't stand her pretty face!), the Earful Audino skin can be unlocked using the password YAHOOAUDINO.

These skins are only available until September 15, so get them while they last!

Two new C-Gear skins revealed!

2011-07-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who thought Munna was too girly for your C-Gear, I have great news: the Pokemon Global Link site has two new skins available! From now until the summer of 2012, Pikachu and Mincinno C-Gear skins will be available for those who have the appropriate password. The passwords are:

Pikachu: PikachuCGear
Mincinno: PGLWELCOME

YouTube of the Whenever: The final countdown.

2011-07-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

Since I haven't done a YouTube of the Whenever in a while....

After 30 years and 135 missions, the Space Shuttle program is about to come to a close. Yesterday at 11:26 am ET, Space Shuttle Atlantis started its final mission: a 13-day journey to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

Contrary to what some people believe, this does not mark the end of the USA's space program. It does, however, mark the beginning of a hiatus in American manned spaceflight. In the interim, the Russians will send people to and from the ISS.

I'm going to miss the Space Shuttle; watching it take off (even from South Florida!) was one of the perks of living in Florida. I will, however, be keeping an eye on the various commercial enterprises who are hoping to establish a presence in the final frontier. Things have looked pretty good for them so far.

Godspeed, Atlantis.

Gotta forget 'em all!

2011-06-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

A picture that has been making the rounds in the blogosphere shows one person's vaguely-remembered names of the original 150 Pokemon. Some of these would make interesting nicknames (e. g. "Herpderp" for a Slowbro).

Soylent Brown?

2011-06-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Only in Japan....

Japanese scientists have made faux meat out of the most unlikely of sources: human poo. (Well, actually, it's a mixture of fats and proteins derived from sewage bacteria mixed with soy protein, but close enough.) Now that's one "steak" I'd want cooked well-done, thankyouverymuch....

Early rotation to HGSS-on

2011-06-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder to all Pokemon trainers who are thinking of attending Nationals and/or Worlds (and even those who aren't). As of July 1, the official Modified Pokemon TCG format will be Heart Gold Soul Silver-on. Please construct your decks accordingly. That is all.

Final 3 2010-2011 League seasons and their promos

2011-06-11T05:05:00.000-07:00

This is fairly old news, but I've been extremely busy, with most of my attention divided between work, Battle Roads, and trying to build new decks for the upcoming format (more on that later).

Anyway, the final seasons of the 2010-2011 Pokemon League year will be based around Pokemon Black and White's starters: Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott. The season promos will be as follows:

Snivy Season: Snivy (BW #1) and Broken Time-Space (a little too late for that)
Tepig Season: Tepig (BW #15 ) and Copycat
Oshawott Season: Oshawott (BW# 27) and Double Colorless Energy (woohoo!)

Patches featuring these Pokemon will also be available for those who fill up their League scorecards.

Thoughts on a failed Rapture

2011-05-24T13:24:00.000-07:00

So, May 21, 2011 has come and gone, and the only thing that was "raptured" was the Internet access on my laptop. (Fortunately, my father fixed that, although he's not sure how). Harold Camping, the perpetrator of this failed prophecy, has since skedaddled, taking over a million dollars with him - but not without changing his Rapture prediction to October 21. (Some people just don't know when to quit). His radio station has also been left empty. Thousands of his followers have been left homeless, having sold their possessions and quit their jobs. One woman even slit her and her children's throats out of fear of the end. (Fortunately, they were taken to the hospital before they bled to death.)

This has been a tragedy on so many levels.

Now, I'm a Methodist, and not a big believer in the Rapture concept. There are Bible verses talking about the dead and the living rising up together to Heaven on Judgment Day, as well as Jesus talking about some people being taken and others left behind at the end, but nowhere does it ever give an exact date. In fact, the Bible warns us time and again that mortals won't know the day or the hour that the Lord will come. Camping and his fellow date-setters are fools, decievers, and worst of all, scaremongers. Our religion is supposed to be based off of love, not fear.

I'm going to close this post by giving my fellow Christians some words of advice:

1. Don't quit your day job or sell your possessions just because someone tells you the end is near. Only the Lord knows when the end wil happen, and the rest of us will never see it coming. All Christians can do is make sure their souls are prepared.

2. Don't get taken in by glib-talking false prophets. And that includes many televangelists.

3. Whatever good you can do in this life, do it as soon as you are able. Don't be so heavenly minded that you forget your earthly mission. Live, laugh, cry, work, and play. Appreciate the little things a bit more. Get more involved in church activities. Volunteer at the non-profit of your choice (who knows, it may net you a job). Clean out the pantry and donate something to a local food bank. Set aside some money at the beginning of a month and donate it to charity. If there isn't one in your area, start a Pokemon League (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Just do something other than sit around.

4. Read your Bible a little more than usual. You don't have to read it in one day; a chapter or three a day will suffice. If you don't know what the Good Book says, you won't be well-prepared to counter the teachings of false prophets like Camping.

5. Finally, keep preaching the Good News - and not just with words. The best thing we can do is set a good example. "And they'll know we are Christians by our love."

Munna C-Gear code leaked

2011-05-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are unable to find, don't want, or are too cheap to get the Official Unova Pokedex and Guide, the password to unlock the Munna C-Gear skin is: PGLDR34M. This download is available from now until October 25, 2012.

Pokewalker more accurate than traditional pedometers

2011-04-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

This one's going to be a brief post - I'm far too busy enjoying the royal wedding festivities on TV. I wish Will and Kate the best of luck, and hope the British monarchy's "dysfunctional" period is over. But I digress....

Anyway, an Iowa State University (woohoo!) study showed that the Pokewalker - yes, that little doohickey that came with Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver - is not only cuter than your ordinary pedometer, it is also more accurate than your ordinary pedometer. The details of the study can be found on the ExerGame Lab blog.

Now if I only knew where my other Pokewalker went....

Pokemon Global Link now open for business!

2011-04-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

The Pokemon Global Link just opened today after a 2-week delay, and I must say, I like what I see. Not only can you have amazing adventures catching Pokemon in the Dream World, you can also download stuff like C-Gear skins and Pokemon Musicals to your copy of Pokemon Black or White. I highly recommend you bookmark the site today.

Pokemon Trainer Challenge now in open beta!

2011-03-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

...and it's looking pretty good. The Pokemon Trainer Challenge enables anyone with a Pokemon Trainer Club account to play the Pokemon TCG against 14 different virtual Trainers, each with a different deck, personality, and skill level. You can use any one of three decks (fire, water, or grass) to challenge your opponents; when the Black and White theme decks come out on April 6, they will contain codes you can use to play with their virtual versions.

As you might expect, the Trainer Challenge works a lot more smoothly than third-party simulators like Redshark - deck shuffling and card drawing are automatic, only legal moves are allowed. The AI needs a little tightening up, though; opponents will often use Trainer cards when there is little need to use them (e. g. Potion on a Pokemon that has only 1 damage counter on it). Hopefully, any kinks that might be present will be ironed out when player-vs.-player matches debut in the fall.

The Trainer Challenge is also a great opportunity for players to get acquainted with the new Black and White rules before they come into effect (whenever that is). The two most important changes are:

You can play Trainers, Supporters, and Stadiums on your first turn, even if you go first.

You cannot play Rare Candy on the first turn of a game or on the first turn a particular Pokemon is in play.

The Pokemon Trainer Challenge can be found at pokemontcg.com. It's a great place for newcomers to learn the ropes and experienced players to hone their skills.

More earthquake-related Pokemon news

2011-03-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

As the drama in Japan unfolds, the effects on the Pokemon world continue to manifest themselves. Japan's Worlds qualifiers have already been canceled; no word on how or even if they will pick who gets an invite. This will have a major effect on Worlds itself in August. Perhaps Americans will sweep this year?

Also, for those of you who have been itching to have fun in the Dream World, the Pokemon Global Link's international debut has been delayed until further notice. It was originally intended to open on March 30. C'mon, I want it now....

Japanese Earthquake Update - the Pokemon perspective

2011-03-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everyone has seen pictures of the devastation wrought by the recent earthquake in Japan, and let me tell you, words can hardly describe it. It may sound crass or tasteless to some, but images of Hiroshima spring to mind. Yes, the damage was that severe.

As you might imagine, this has had an effect on the people who helped make the Pokemon games possible. I'll start off with what needs to be said: contrary to what some media outlets have said, Satoshi Tajiri (Pokemon's creator, if you didn't know this by now) is alive and well. Two of the artists involved, however, ran into problems: Ken Sugimori, head artist for the Pokemon games, was stuck in Naha Airport in Okinawa for a few days, whereas Midori Harada (one of the better artists for the Pokemon TCG) couldn't leave her office for 3 days due to a damaged elevator. Both are now home safe.

The main Nintendo headquarters suffered no damage from the quake.

Earthquake/Tsunami in Japan

2011-03-12T03:47:00.000-08:00

Since this is a disaster of major importance and since Pokemon is a Japanese game, I simply have to blog abot this.

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that a magnitude 8.9 earthquake and its accompanyting tsunami struck Japan yesterday, causing untold destruction and great loss of life. As always, my prayers and condolences go out to the victims of this disaster. Let's hope all the great Pokemon TCG players escaped unharmed.

More Evolution Packs are out!

2011-02-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

(Less than a week before Pokemon Black and White come out in the US...the anticipation is killing me!)

Anyway, two new Evolution packs have come out, this time featuring Blastoise and Torterra from HS: Unleashed. Each comes with a HGSS-series booster pack and a full line of their respective Pokemon (including a holofoil Stage 2). The Blastoise is excellent with Feraligatr Prime from HGSS; the Torterra, alas, has no such combos. Still, if you're a promo hunter like me, you may want to pick these up. At $5 a pop, the price is right.

I'll take "Reasons the World Is Screwed" for $200, Alex.

2011-02-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

Well, the first part of a historical Jeopardy! match between IBM's Watson supercomputer and puny humans Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter has just finished, and I must say, I'm impressed. It didn't turn out to be the curbstomp many expected, but Watson sure gave his human opponents a run for their money.
Depending on how the rest of the 3-day series turns out, this could be an important milestone in the development in human-level AI. This could have implications for the future of search engines: imagine a search engine that can handle questions in plain English when you have no clue what the answer to your question is. Once they iron out some of the kinks, that is....

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

More Pokemon Black and White-related downloads

2011-02-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Good news for those who were unable or unwilling to go to a Gamestop last month: the Shiny Legendary Beasts will be available for download over Nintendo WiFi. Raikou will be available from now until February 13, Entei will be available next week, and Suicune the week after that.

A special Celebi will be downloadable in North American Gamestop stores from February 27-March 6, as well as in a few European venues (e. g. Spaceworld stores in Norway from February 14-March 4). This little green fairy does double duty: not only will it unlock a bit of Team Rocket-related backstory when downoaded or traded to Heart Gold or Soul Silver, when it's transferred to Pokemon Black or White, one can obtain a level 10 Zorua from a young boy in Castelia City.

Also, the first Nintendo WiFi download for Pokemon Black and White has been announced. The Liberty Pass will be available in North America from March 6-April 10 and in Europe from March 4-April 22. This item will allow you to travel to Liberty Island where you can capture Victini.

It's going to be a busy month for Pokemon players. Hope y'all have Pokemon Black and White preordered!

Reminder: Pokemon Black and White release dates

2011-01-24T15:01:00.000-08:00

Pokemon Black and White will be released in Europe on March 4, 2011, in North America on March 6, 2011, and in Australia and New Zealand on March 10, 2011. Mark your calendars accordingly.

Pokemon Black and White Sneak-Peek Tins coming out in March!

2011-01-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

A new set of tins is coming out in March, and they look better than ever! The Black and White Sneak-Peek tins are going to be packed: Not only will they come with 4 booster packs (1 Call of Legends, 3 older but still Modified-legal packs) and 1 of 3 exclusive promos (Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott), they will include a figure and a mini-pack containing 5 preview cards of the upcoming Black and White set, all featuring 5th-generation Pokemon. Because of this, these tins will be a bit more expensive than their earlier counterparts ($15.99 each).

YouTube of the Whenever: Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T14:53:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all, and what better way to celebrate with a funny video about Christmas in Merrie Olde England! Enjoy.

Ash's Pikachu download at Toys 'R' Us

2010-12-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

And the downloads just keep on coming! From January 30-February 5. 2011, Pokemon trainers in the US who visit Toys 'R' Us will be able to download Ash's Pikachu into their 4th generation Pokemon games. It will be at Level 50, hold a Light Ball, and know Volt Tackle, Iron Tail, Quick Attack, and Thunderbolt. It doesn't unlock anything special in the games, but it's still pretty cool.

Gamestop Shiny Legendary Beast giveaway coming soon!

2010-12-21T06:12:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates - a busy work week combined wit a nasty cold does not a happy Lucario make. :(

Anyway, Gamestop has recently announced that it will make the Shiny Legendary Beasts available for download at its US stores in the upcoming weeks. Unlike in Japan, US Pokemon players will be given the opportunity to collect all three.

The Shiny Beasts will be downloadable on the following weeks:

Raikou: Jan. 3-Jan. 11, 2011
Entei: Jan. 17-Jan. 23, 2011
Suicune: Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2011

Not only will you be able to fill up spots in your Pokedex (as well as not have to have to chase them all over creation anymore in HeartGold/SoulSilver), you will be able to catch Zoroark in the Illusion Forest once you transfer them over to your Pokemon Black and White cartridges.

Serebii.net's Advent Calendar

2010-12-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

This year's edition of Serebii.net's Advent calendar is better than ever! Not only are there wallpapers, avatars, and acitivitis to download each day, there are also online jigsaw and slide puzzles to while away those spare moments. Here it is:

Serebii.net's Advent Calendar

Reshiram and Zekrom to join Pikachu at the Macy's Thanksgiving parade

2010-11-24T17:42:00.000-08:00

Set two extra places at the table, Pokefans - two very special guests are coming over for Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, folks, Reshiram and Zekrom, Pokemon Black and White's mascots, will join Pikachu in his holiday romp around Manhattan. The legendary Dragon-type Pokemon will stand larger than life (fourteen feet tall!) on their own float. In addition, the Pikachu balloon holders will be dressed in black and white instead of the traditional yellow.

The parade will be televised on NBC at 9 am in all time zones. Don't miss it!

English names of Pokemon Black and White's starters revealed!

2010-11-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

Well, the wait is finally over! On Monday, the English names of Pokemon Black & White's starter Pokemon have finally been revealed:

Tsutarja (the grass snake, left) is called Snivy.

Pokabu (the pig, center) is called Tepig.

Last but not least, Mijumaru (the sea otter, right) is called Oshawott. (Osha-what?)

The Isshu region will be called Unova (I like it!), marking the first time a Pokemon region's name has been changed significantly from the Japanese version.

We will definitely post more English-language info as soon as it becomes available!

2010-2011 City Championships are coming soon!

2010-11-19T15:04:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is well upon us, and for Pokemon fans, that can mean only one thing: the City Championships are coming soon. Throughout the last week of November, all of December, and the first week of January, Pokemon trainers throughout North America will be duking it out to see who's the greatest in their city.

All participants will get a special foil version of Poliwag from Unleashed, and the winner will get a medal and 18 booster packs. 2nd-4th place finishers will receive booster packs as well.

In addition to all those packs and promos, many cool door prizes are to be had: baseball caps with the Play! Pokemon logo, a very cool playmat featuring Ho-oh and Lugia, and inflatable Pokeballs (yes!), as well as pencils and stickers for the kids. Pictures of all this cool schwag may be found at Pokebeach.

As usual, check Pokemon.com for times and locations.

Why the folks at PETA annoy me.

2010-11-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

Before I get into this, I have to speak my mind about a few things. I'm all for animal welfare. I am also opposed to real animal abuse (dogfighting, poaching, pet neglect, etc.) and support efforts to expose and eliminate such abuses. However, I am against the use of extreme measures to achieve such ends. Case in point: PETA.

Now I could go on and on about PETA's connections to eco-terrorist groups like the ALF and ELF, the fact that they put down most of the animals they take in (97% in 2009!), and their desire to eliminate all human usage of animals, from meat to seeing-eye dogs, but I'll let their stunts speak for themselves. Some of these are so over the top, they have to be seen to be believed:

7 Controversial PETA stunts (warning: nudity is mentioned, but not shown).
5 More Crazy PETA Stunts.
Even More Crazy PETA Stunts.

These articles didn't even mention PETA's claim that beer was better for kids than milk, or (the argument that really turned me off animal-rights groups) the "Holocaust on your Plate" campaign, which equated poultry raising to Hitler's slaughter of Jews. And when you invoke
Godwin's Law in such a patently ridiculous way, you deserve to be vilified or, at the least, ignored.

And it turns out that PETA's animal-rights agenda might not be so green after all. For example, a Finnish study has shown that if everyone in the world were to become a vegan overnight, it would only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7%. A full 7%! I'd stick to supporting nuclear power and the Toyota Prius myself.

And what to do with all those "liberated" animals? We can't just send them into the wild; those that weren't eaten by predators would multiply and wreak havoc with the local ecosystem. We'd either have to euthanize them all (which would be expensive), or have one last big barbecue before going vegan (which the folks at PETA would object to).

Speaking of ecosystems, PETA's not much into hunting, either. This is unfortunate, since carefully controlled hunting helps keep the populations of deer, rabbits, geese, and the like down - animals that would overpopulate and devastate wild areas were they not hunted. Since we've greatly reduced the numbers of many large predators, we must carry the torch for them.

If you really want to help animals, I suggest you donate some time or money to your local animal shelter, SPCA, or Humane Society. (Note: Do NOT support the Humane Society of the United States; they are an animal rights group misusing the Humane Society's good name. Less than one-half of 1% of their funds actually go to help actual animal shelters.) Who knows, you just might end up adopting a cute little bundle of fluffy happiness yourself!

A few notes on recent and upcoming Pokemon TCG products

2010-11-12T13:49:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot going around in the Pokemon TCG world. Several products of note to collectors and players have come out recently:

Two "Pokemon Evolution Packs" have come out recently, with a third coming out in December. The first features a complete Metagross SV line and an Arceus or Rising Rivals pack; the second has a complete Charizard AR line and a Supreme Victors pack. Each Stage 2 card has an attractive "stained-glass" foil pattern. Each Evolution Pack goes for roughly $5. The Charizard is quite a viable card, so expect him to sell like, well, hotcakes.
A "HeartGold and SoulSilver Series Collection Box" is now available in Target and Wal-Mart for about $20. This box is packed with good stuff: 5 booster packs (2 Triumphant and 1 each of Undaunted, Unleashed, and HeartGold/SoulSilver), 3 cards with the same foil treatment as the Evolution Packs' Stage 2's (Feraligatr, Meganium, and Typhlosion from HGSS), and a nicely detailed Entei figure. Not to be missed!

Two more interesting items will be released in the near-future:

Two "Clash of Legends" boxes will be released later this month, one featuring Dialga and Palkia and the other Darkrai and Cresselia. Each box has 4 booster packs, 2 Pokemon Lvl.X (wow!), and a jumbo Legend card. The Dialga/Palkia box is sure to be a hot seller, since it includes Dialga G Lvl. X and Palkia G Lvl. X, both highly playable cards. The boxes will go for $15 each.
The HS: Triumphant 3-pack will feature not one, but two promos per pack: Porygon and Porygon2. Otherwise, they have the same features as previous 3-packs.

Perfect additions to any Pokemon trainer's holiday shopping list!

"Call of Legends" to be the Pokemon TCG's February set

2010-11-09T11:28:00.000-08:00

We at The Warp Point have recieved word from several reputable sources that the next Pokemon TCG set is to be named "Call of Legends". This is likely to be a filler/core set in the Power Keepers mold. As such, it will include the 20 or so cards from the Japanese Lost Link mini-set that were left out of HS: Triumphant (including Lost World), as well as many Japanese promos previously unreleased in America. It is also possible that the set will include new cards (including new Pokemon Prime and Legends!) and/or reprints of classic cards.

The set comes out on February 2, 2011, with Prereleases on the last two weeks of January. More information will be posted on this blog as soon as it becomes available.

Excellent introduction to the Pokemon TCG on SixPrizes.com

2010-11-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

Michael Weldon of SixPrizes.com has published an excellent article on the Pokemon TCG aimed at beginners. Not ony does he talk at length about the history of the game, he offers valuable advice on deckbuilding that even experienced players can use. He goes into great detail into both the cards that are popular in today's (and yesterday's) decks and why they are popular (deployment aids, "surprise" cards, late-game recovery). If you want to improve your game, I suggest you check out the article.

YouTube of the Whenever: The Last Days of Soviet Russia: The Reckoning (Part 3)

2010-10-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

A great escape, an epic swordfight, and a funny (if thought-provoking) conclusion.

The fall of the Soviet Union can best be explained in two words: human nature. Humans are generally good-natured, but tend to be greedy, lazy slobs. In a perfect world, communism (and other utopian ideals) would work - but ours isn't a perfect world. Democracy and capitalism (with a reasonable degree or regulation) are the governmental and economic systems that best suit a species that values free will. Anything else falls short in some way or another.

Tons of HS: Triumphant scans on Pokebeach!

2010-10-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

The HS: Triumphant Prereleases are here at last! It looks like an OK set, in spite of it not having Lost World like everyone expected; no biggie to me, since a) Gengar Prime is still pretty dangerous without it (especially with Gengar Lv. X), and b) it just gives us something to look forward to in the next set!

The HS: Triumphant Prerelease promo is apparently Electivire, and the sleeves feature Celebi.

If you don't mind spoilers, most of the card scans can be found on Pokebeach.

YouTube of the Whenever: The Last Days of the Soviet Union: The Reckoning (Part Deux)

2010-10-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is Part 2 of of The Last Days of the Soviet Union: The Reckoning. When we last left our hero, he was traveling throughout the Soviet Union, making a documentary. In Part 2, he continues his quest, traveling from Moscow to East Germany (where he barely escapes with his camera), taking a side trek to the Kazakh SSR before finally ending up in Vladivostok. Unfortunately, the KGB have set a trap for him.

Will our hero escape? Stay tuned for Part 3 to find out!

10th Anniversary Mew Wireless Download

2010-10-14T05:23:00.001-07:00

It's cute, it's pink, it's furry, and it literally knows every trick in the book. And on October 15-30, 2010, it can be yours!

Yes, Pokefans, in honor of the 10th anniversary of Pokemon Gold and Silver's debut in North America and Europe, owners of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver (not so sure about D/P/P) can download Mew onto their cartridges. It comes in a Cherish Ball and carries a Premier Ribbon (not a Classic Ribbon like most downloaded Pokemon). Best of all, it's at Level 5 and only knows Pound, so you can customize Mew to your heart's content. Happy training!

Pokemon Black and White US release date

2010-10-07T21:32:00.000-07:00

According to people who preordered Pokemon Black and White at Gamestop, the much-anticipated 5th Generation Pokemon games will come out on April 22, 2011. Those who preorder them (as I hope to in the near-future) will be given the opportunity to download Zoroark into their games. It is unknown whether this will be a direct download or via a shiny Legendary Beast like in Japan.

Also, I picked up a copy of Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs yesterday after work, and I can't seem to put it down! It's every bit as good (or even better) than the previous games. The Sign mechanic adds new dimensions to play, the Pokemon Assists have greatly improved, and the mere idea of riding on a Legendary Beast is thrilling. Pick it up if you haven't already.

YouTube of the Whenever: The Last Days of Soviet Russia: The Reckoning (Part 1)

2010-10-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

Here's a little-known gem from YouTube: a college Economics student's project about the fall of the Soviet Union. In this 3-part movie, a disgruntled nail factory worker (who looks an awful lot like my friend Danny from Pokemon League) obtains a video camera and sets out to make a documentary film exposing the Soviet Union's glaring economic problems. Along the way, he talks to peasants in Ukraine and city-folk in Moscow, who express their complaints candidly. All the while, the KGB is hot on his tail - sorta.

Will our hero succeed in his task, or will the KGB catch him in the act? Stay tuned for Part 2 in a few days!

"This is a news website article about a scientific finding..."

2010-09-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

...and this is the Guardian, pulling our collective legs.

Insert funny comment here.

Read an RPG Book in Public Week is here!

2010-09-27T14:30:00.000-07:00

The Escapist's thrice-annual Read an RPG Book in Public Week is on again! Time to dig up one of your favorite RPG's from the closet, take it to a restaurant, the park, or wherever, and spread the word about just how fun and exciting role-playing can be. Just make sure it's a more family-friendly RPG; we don't want anyone to get the wrong idea.

Read an RPG Book in Public Week haapens on the weeks of March 4, July 27, and October 1. Its purpose is to raise awareness of role-playing games and their benfits as well as show the world they are in no way "Satanic" or evil. Heck, it might be a good excuse to take a couple of friends and actually play one!

More info on Read an RPG Book in Public Week can be found here.

More info on the Pokeathlon League mini-season

2010-09-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

The official Pokemon website amd the PokeGym have released more info about the new Pokemon League season! Or shall I say mini-season?

As I have previously mentioned, the upcoming League cycle will revolve around the Pokeathlon. The five Pokeathlon events and their corresponding promos are as follows:

Ring Drop: Donphan HGSS and Spiritomb AR (just in time for Halloween!)

Hurdle Dash: Crobat UL and Expert Belt (cool enough)

Snow Throw: Delibird HGSS and Azelf LA (finally!)

Block Smash: Steelix UL and Special Metal Energy (OK if you need them)

Disc Catch: Houndoom UD and Special Dark Energy (possibly the best "nice-to-have" League promo so far)

Each League season will last 5 weeks, which means this cycle will end somewhere around March, which is probably when Pokemon Black and White are coming out in the US.

The upcoming crop of League promos looks pretty hot, so why not stop by your local Pokemon League and grab yourself some?

Neo Fights: Deck Building for Absol-ute Beginners

2010-09-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Neo Fights is a new article series on The Warp Point that aims to show players new to the Pokemon TCG what they need to know.

New to the game? Returning to the game after a long absence? You're definitely going to need a new deck! But what to do? Follow these simple steps and you'll be well on your way to becoming a Pokemon TCG master!

Step 1: Buy Theme Decks. 3-4 theme decks will give you a good assortment of Pokemon, Trainer cards, and Energy to start with. Try to get decks with several different Energy types - e. g. both theme decks from HS: Unleashed (Grass/Fighting/Steel and Darkness/Fighting/Psychic respectively), the Stormshaper theme deck from Arceus (Psychic/Electric), and the Ember Spark deck from HeartGold/SoulSilver (Fire/Electric). The HS: Undaunted decks (and, presumably, any future sets' theme decks) contain an extra booster pack, making them a hot commodity for beginners and masters alike.

Step 2: Buy Tins. Aim for tins that have Pokemon Lv. X (Regigigas, Heatran, Giratina, Shaymin, Arceus) or Pokemon Prime (Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Meganium) that have counterparts in theme decks. This will make your theme deck-inspired decks that much stronger. The booster packs are an added bonus.

Step 3: Buy Booster Packs. The more, the merrier (within reason). If your budget allows, buy an entire booster box. Don't buy packs that aren't Modified-legal.

Step 4: Organize Your Stuff. Get yourself a binder or two and put your rares and foils in them. A 4-pocket binder is perfect for this purpose. Your commons, uncommons, and Energy cards should go into a separate box.

Step 5: Trade. Write down a list of cards you need for your deck and put it in your trade binder. Trade only for those cards.

Step 6: Go To Leagues. A lot. You can earn promo cards simply by playing the game, including staple Trainer cards. Leagues also give you a chance to look at the season's hot decks, seek out new and interesting combos, and generally have a good time. Check pokemon.com for a League (or Leagues) near you.

Step 7: ???

Step 8: Profit!

Thanks to Rogue Archetype for coming up with the original list of suggestions on the PokeGym!

New League Season Info and Promos!

2010-09-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

The theme for the 2010-2011 Pokemon League will be Johto-related, but won't feature the Gym Leaders. Instead, each League season will be based around a Pokeathlon event. The League promos will follow the same pattern as last year - one nice-to-have promo featuring a Pokemon who does well at the Pokeathlon event in question, and one gotta-have promo featuring a card that's in high demand by beginners and Pokemon TCG masters alike. Each League promo will have the same funky foil treatment as last year's promos, with the new Play! Pokemon logo watermarked in the text box.

The first League season will feature the "Ring Drop" (a sumo wrestling-like event) and the promos will be the non-Prime Donphan from HGSS and Spiritomb from Arceus (oh yeah!).

More info on the rest of next year's League promos as it comes out.

Scientists create "quantum dice"

2010-09-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

A group of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Light in Erlangen, Germany, have created one of the first true random-number generators. By splitting a laser beam and measuring the vacuum fluctuations that occur, these scientists have managed to create what is in essence a "quantum die". This promises to be of great value in the online privacy industry (not to mention cryptography and, we hope, gaming).

More information can be found in this ScienceDaily link.

Now if they could only make one small enough to fit in a Royal Crown bag....

Go forth and be Triumphant, Trainers!

2010-09-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

The next Pokemon TCG set will be called HS: Triumphant. This will be the last of the HG/SS sets, and it promises to be exciting! Eight new Pokemon Prime (including Machamp and the much-anticipated Gengar), two new Legend duos (Dialga/Palkia and Cresselia/Darkrai), and a plethora of new Trainer, Supporter, and Stadium cards (including some real game-changers) await collectors and players alike. The Lost Zone will feature prominently in this set.

Prereleases will be held on the weekends of October 23rd-24th and 30th-31st, with the set coming out November 2nd. The Prerelease sleeves will be green with a silhouette of Celebi in white.

This set is going to shake things up come Cities, so be sure to get your hands on some as soon as it comes out!

Just a friendly reminder...

2010-09-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

...that as of yesterday, the new Pokemon TCG Modified format is now Majestic Dawn-on. Also, all POP packs and DP Promos 1-21 are now Modified-illegal. Please adjust your decks accordingly.

Congrats to all Worlds champions!

2010-08-16T17:54:00.000-07:00

Well, Worlds has come and gone, and we have a new set of champions!

In the TCG:

Juniors: Yuka Furusawa, Japan w/Jumpluff (Miami's own Juan Pablo Arenas, a good friend of mine, was the runner-up) - the first female Pokemon World Champion
Seniors: Jacob Lesage, Canada w/Luxchomp
Masters: Yuta Komatsuda, Japan w/Luxchomp

In the Video Game:

Juniors: Shota Yamamoto, Japan
Seniors: Ray Rizzo, USA

Congratulations to one and all! Let's hope the 2011 Worlds in San Diego turns out to be an even bigger success!

Worlds article on CNN.

2010-08-13T13:28:00.000-07:00

Link here.

The article gives a pretty good overview of the Pokemon franchise. Anyone who's curious about Pokemon should give it a read.

On a related note, I was informed during the Undaunted prerelease that Florida's own Heidi Craig (PTO of the Orlando area, mother of three outstanding Pokemon TCG players, and all-around nice lady) has been chosen to help judge the Seniors' division at Worlds! Congratulations, Heidi!

I wish good luck to all participants! May the best deck win.

YouTube Video of the Whenever: Going to the bathroom in space.

2010-08-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

Rumor has it that the most commonly asked question at the Kennedy Space Center is: "How do you go to the bathroom in space?" In this YouTube video, Col. Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency explains how. To sum it up: it's all about suction.

Thanks for watching, and be careful the next time you wish upon a shooting star!

Some notes from around the Pokeverse...

2010-08-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

First up, the Enigma Stone is availlable through Nintendo Wi-Fi from now until August 27th. this myserious item will enable HeartGold ans SoulSilver players to catch the Lati that is normally unavailable in their version (Latios in HeartGold, Latias in SoulSilver). Take it to the fossil-reviving guy in Pewter City Museum, and he will turn it into the Soul Dew. Steven Stone will then arrive and tell you about the Soul Dew's connection to Latios and Latias. Leave the Museum and Latias or Latios will be waiting for you. He/she will be at Level 40.

In the TCG front, the HeartGold/SoulSilver: Undaunted set Prereleases will occur on the weekends of August 7-8, 14-15, and 21-22. This set features some of the best Pokemon Prime and Pokemon Legends yet, as well as cool new Eeveelutions, Supporters, and Stadium cards. As always, check www.pokemon.com for times and locations!

Also, Worlds is coming up in mid-August. The top players from around the world will gather in Hawaii to show the world what they've got! Best of luck to all participants!

After Worlds, the Modified TCG format will shift to Majestic Dawn-on. This means no more Claydol (sniff)! Adjust your decks accordingly, Trainers!

YouTube of the Whenever: Dungeons and Dragons, Satan's Game.

2010-07-23T15:08:00.000-07:00

Now here's a classic that never gets old: 8-Bit Theater's take on the Dead Alewives' "D&D" skit. It's funny becuse it's sooooo true. Any D&D player's who's anyone has been in a session like this, and anyone who claims otherwise is probably lying through their teeth. The addition of Fighter, Black Mage, and company only makes it funnier.

HGSS: Undaunted scans and Prerelease info

2010-07-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

The first few English-language scans from the HGSS: Undaunted set have been leaked recently, including a Forretress (which might combo well with Manectric from Platinum), a Honchkrow (meh), and the Legend Box Trainer card (which might come in handy for those few decks that use Pokemon LEGEND):

Not pictured are a slow-but-powerful Kyogre and Groudon LEGEND, an Espeon Prime (1-2 of which should be required in every Eeveelution deck!), and the Prerelease Promo Leafeon.

Speaking of Prereleases, the ones for this set will be on August 7-8 and 15-16. (Check Pokemon.com for the ones near you.) Besides the aforementioned Leafeon promo, each participant will recieve a set of card sleeves with Espeon and Umbreon in yellow on a purple background. These are probably the best-looking set of Prerelease sleeves I've seen so far. Let's hope they're sturdy.

A few musings on violence in entertainment...

2010-07-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

Vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvnnnnnnnnnnnk!

(puts down the vuvuzela)

Now that I have your attention, I'd like to share a few (possibly enlightening) comments on violence - specifically, the public's perception of violence in the entertainment industry. As I am typing this, the finals of the World Cup have just begun (go Netherlands!), and it's certain that there's a lot of security on hand to deal with the inevitable post-game brouhaha.

Major gaming events like E3 and GenCon, on the other hand, don't require near as much security.

And they say video games and D&D promote violence?

Something just isn't right here.

Jirachi/Night Sky's Edge Wi-Fi Download Redux

2010-06-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

From now until July 16, the Jirachi that unlocks the Night Sky's Edge Pokewalker route will once again be available to North American, European, and Australasian owners of Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and Soul Silver. This enchanting path enables you to catch cute Pokemon like Clefairy and Jigglypuff, as well as find rare items like Moonstones. As always, don't miss it!

On a short hiatus...

2010-06-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a short break from blogging. You see, on Monday I got attacked by some random vagrant at work who tried to gag and kill me. I have a black eye and some cuts on my hand (from trying to break his knife!), and I won't be able to type much until the latter heals.

The police and my fellow co-workers say I'm a pretty brave lady. Wonder if I'm gonna get a medal?

Anyway, I'm avoiding the scene of the assault for awhile unless I'm with another person. I sure hope they get the perpetrator and give him a long jail sentence.

Winners Path Pokewalker route now available for download!

2010-05-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

From now until June 25, 2010, Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver players can download the Winner's Path Pokewalker route to their games via Nintendo WiFi! This route contains very strong Pokemon that know moves they normally wouldn't know - a Beldum with Zen Headbutt, a Bronzor with Trick Room (very important combo with Gyro Ball!), even a Magikarp with Bounce. You can also find items like Choice Band and Focus Sash that will prove quite useful in those WiFi battles! A Disc One Nuke for sure!

Download the Winner's Path today, and get walking!

Yellow Forest Pokewalker route available via Nintendo WiFi now!

2010-04-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

This is old news, but from now until April 30, the Yellow Forest Pokewalker route is available via Nintendo WiFi. This route will enable HeartGold and SoulSilver player to catch several special Pikachus, including Surfing and Flying varieties that are hard to find anywhere else.

If you really love Pikachu (or even if you can't stand the little yellow rodent!), download the Yellow Forest while it's available!

OMG Canada!

2010-03-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been very busy with work and preparing for States. Now if only I could find a ride....

Anyway, another great Winter Olympics has come and gone, and with it its triumphs, trials and tragedies. In the two previous Olympic Games Canada hosted (Montreal 1976, Calgary 1988), Canada failed to win a single gold medal. At Vancouver, she more than made up for it by winning an incredible 14 golds, tying an Olympic record.

And not once did I ever hear a Canadian athlete say "eh". In fact, most English-speaking Canadians have a typical Midwestern-style accent, while the Francophones tend to have a definite French accent.

I (and just about everbody else) was surprised at how poorly the Russians fared. I hope they can get their act together by the time the Olympics come to their country in 2014. Ahh, Motherland....

O Canada, we stood on guard for thee - and it showed! Thanks and merci beaucoup, Vancouver!

YouTube of the Week - Pokemon is Satanic. Riiight.

2010-01-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Well, since this particular YouTube video is spreading like wildfire among the geek community, and since this is a Pokemon blog, I simply had to post and comment on it.

It's a short screed (circa 1999-2000) by a televangelist on the evils of Pokemon. Yes, Pokemon. My comments are below the video.

Anyway, the preacher says that Pokemon teaches children how to use magic powers in real life. I wish it did; it would sure make my life a whole lot easier. Trouble is, the powers Pokemon use aren't even magic; they're fully "natural", just like claws, fangs, and venom in the real world. Also, anything in any imaginary world has absolutely no bearing on the real world; anybody who thinks so is either delusional, lying, or possibly both.

Sure, there may be a Devil, and he wants to mess us up real good, but aren't there better (or worse) things out there the Devil can use for his own ends than Pokemon? Gangs, drugs, war...all those cause far more suffering than a video game.

As for children fighting and killing each other over Pokemon cards, it wasn't the cards that made them do it; those children were probably maladjusted to begain with. If it wasn't for Pokemon cards, those exact same children might have fought each other over basketball shoes or leather jackets.

Russian roulette isn't a game, it's just stupid. Gaaaaahhh. X(

The preacher then goes into the same hackneyed tripe about D&D and rock 'n' roll that was old back in the 90's. It wasn't true then; it isn't true now.

Saying some people can't be saved or can't go to Heaven because of the games they play is un-Biblical. Methinks our preacher would do well to re-read the Good Book a few more times, starting with the fourteenth chapter of Romans.

Well, I've said enough. If there's anything I missed ranting about, please make a comment!

Pokemon.com's New Look + Gamestop Shiny Pichu Giveaway

2010-01-11T17:47:00.001-08:00

Go-Pokemon.com and Pokemon-games.com have merged with the main Pokemon.com site! Poemon.com has a shiny new look, and tons of new features. Don't take my word for it, check it out yourself!

Also, from January 30th to February 14th, Gamestop stores throughout the US will have a special Shiny Pichu available for download that will trigger the Spiky-eared Pichu event if traded to HeartGold or SoulSilver (available this March). Don't miss it!

RPG Disclaimer Collection at The Escapist

2010-01-02T00:50:00.000-08:00

Those of you who are children of the 80s like me may remember the anti-D&D crusades some Religious Right types pursued. People were claming that RPGs were somehow connected with the occult, violence, suicide, you name it. In response to this, some RPG manufacturers put disclaimers in their products. Bill Walton of The Escapist has taken the time to compile some of the more interesting of these and is currently posting them on his blog. Most of them are something on the lines of "This is just a game, we do not in any way condone the occult, etc,", but a few are more noteworthy. For instance, Over the Edge First Edition required its GM to repeat its disclaimer before and after every gaming session (which must've gotten tedious after awhile). My personal favorite would have to be from Mage: the Sorceror's Crusade - it's quick and to the point:

"Yes, it's a game.
No, it's not Satanic.
Don't kill anyone.
Get a life.
Thank you."

You can see the complete collection at The Escapist Blog.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

Here's hoping 2010 is a lot better than 2009 for many of my readers, especially when it comes to Pokemon!

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Sky: Wonder Mail S: Treasure Memos, Part 1

2009-12-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

One of the wonderful things that sets Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky from its predecessors is the variety of ways one can get missions. Not only can one obtain missions from the bulletin boards at the Guildhouse, one can also get them from patrons at Spinda's Juice Bar or even the occasional message in a bottle. It is from the latter that the subject of this post comes from: Tresasure Memos.

Treasure Memos aren't anything like ordinary missions. You're not told exactly where to go (it doesn't even show up in the dungeon selection menu when taken); all you get are a few vague clues. Once you get to the proper level in the proper dungeon, you are taken to an irregularly-shaped room full of money, traps, and a treasure chest. Bring a Key and a Pokemon that can walk through walls (or a Drought Orb and a Mobile Scarf). The treasure is usually a Wonder Gummi, but other items like Joy Seeds (yay!) or Eyedrop Seeds (boo!) are obtainable.

Without further ado, here are a half-dozen Wonder Mail S codes for Treasure Memos. Now, I can't tell you exactly where they'll take you; you have to figure it out for yourself.

Treasure Memo #1:

P8TTK - 3RT8N74 - N4WPH
935QR - Y0J&J1F - 8@@+C

Treasure Memo #2:

=-%NF - +#=+6MN - +J1Q9
+1R5N - X&MR+JQ - 0M5P@

Treasure Memo #3:

FRQFM - 1603286 - R+NHP
H0J&3 - H#X8X83 - XCF@S

Treasure Memo #4:

P01YH - KMY-%MH - 8F2%J
-9CHT - WR3&C9F - SM7R6

Treasure Memo #5:

P1J58 - Q-QXKT& - NRT#N
-0T9S - 79FNY1P - 29+QM

Treasure Memo #6:

2YY5% - %4#SXH= - H8%1F
7W#%- - SWY6H@Q - 1Y3PX

YouTube of the Week: Hidden Messages in the Soviet National Anthem

2009-12-18T16:27:00.001-08:00

Well, not quite. More like laugh-out-loud misheard lyrics - and visuals to go with them.

Thanks to Dr. Buzzo of www.depletedcranium.com (quite possibly the most irreverent skeptical site out there!) for creating this masterpiece!

Carnivorous Potatoes?

2009-12-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Well, not exactly.

However, it does seem that the humble spud (and its close relative, the petunia) have sticky hairs on their leaves that trap and kill insects that might otherwise feed on it. When these insects fall to the ground and decompose, they provide food for the plant.

Think about that the next time you're eating French fries.

Belated YouTube of the Week: Christmas Tree Fire Safety

2009-12-07T17:10:00.000-08:00

Well, the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa season is upon us, and many of us are decking the halls and trimming the Christmas tree. In the spirit of the season, I bring you this YouTube video, with some advice from the National Christmas Tree Foundation (yes, Virginia, there is such a thing) on how to keep a live Christmas tree fresh, green, and (most importantly) fire-resistant. Basically, if you treat your live Christmas tree as if it were a giant cut flower, you're OK.

Happy Holidays!

City Championships are in full swing!

2009-12-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry if I haven't been posting lately. It's just that the Pokemon City Championships have taken up most of my time. The top 4 players in each age group get prizes, and the promo given out to all competitors this year is Gible from Supreme Victors, with the same foil treatment as the League promos.

For m ore information and to find a City Championship near you, visit the Pokemon TCG's official website.

YouTube of the Week: Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Pikachu Balloon

2009-11-26T05:29:00.000-08:00

A lot of other blogs seem to have an "X of the Week", so I decided to jump on the bandwagon. Every week, I will (or at least will try to) feature a cool or interesting (and usually family-friendly) YouTube video that most of us might not know about.

Today is Thanksgiving Day, a time for us to thank the deity of our choice - be him Jehovah, Arceus, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster - for all that is good in the world before settling down for an enormous, belly-busting feast. It is also a time for watching football, holiday movies, and, most imprtantly, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Today's YouTube video is that part of the Macy's parade we geeks all wait for: The Pikachu balloon. Enjoy it in all its yellowy goodness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4WkNWYGXC0

(Until I find out how to embed a YouTube video into Blogger, a link will have to do. I apologize.)

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky: Wonder Mail S Special Dungeon Codes

2009-11-13T17:47:00.000-08:00

Recently, I've been playing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky and I can't seem to put it down. If you liked Explorers of Time and Darkness, you'll love Explorers of Sky. There are many more dungeons to explore, items to find, a juice bar to hang out in, an extended storyline, and even the chance to play as certain NPC's in special episodes that deal with the game's backstory.

There is also a new form of Wonder Mail: Wonder Mail S. Unlike Wonder Mail in previous games, Wonder Mail S codes are in a 5-7-5 character format, meaning they are incompatible with previous games. In this post and probably in future posts, I will reval some interesting, cool, and maybe even some bizarre Wonder Mail S codes for you to try.

Our first list of Wonder Mail S codes open up the 7 Special Dungeons that hold the Guardians of the Seven Treasures. As some may already know from Explorers of Time and Darkness, these 7 dungeons are available when your exploration team rescues Scizor, gaining the Secret Rank. Each dungeon holds a Legendary Pokemon and a special item which increases the recruitment rate of Pokemon of a certain type.

The Wonder Mail S codes for the 7 Special Dungeons are as follows:

Shimmer Desert:

1HMTN - PR#MKFX - 4W@5%
=XR0& - N=+NSHX - R7@HJ

Mt. Avalanche:

-QFPM - Y+XFW9X - 8J3@@
5%6+6 - 4M9R6TY - 219J2

World Abyss:

-R9-@ - -8H-H&=0 - #8%3M
H=5MN - QSS884F - -@WXX

Sky Stairway:

=F%@H - - WH&=YN8 - =5k0+
0SMHN - 49CN+N+ - @4%=N

Bottomless Sea:

F#FK- - W1-9+85 - FHWQN
7@87# - 8#4&CWS - =W@WJ

Mystery Jungle:

X3QW% - @T@N0Y1 - 4RTHQ
5W7&3 - F92N0Q - 5821Y

Giant Volcano:

2P#QP - 3PN3Q0R - YJX+R
Q#Y-4 - 1C%R#%6 - X7KS5

Update on the Arceus event

2009-11-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

Pokefans in the Land Down Under, rejoice! From today until November 16, Arceus will be available for download at selected EB Games and K-mart stores across Australia. This will have the same moveset and properties as the American Toys 'R' Us Arceus. Don't miss it, mates!

Why you STILL don't bring Pokemon cards to school....

2009-11-05T16:36:00.000-08:00

Wisconsin kid banned from the bus after assaulting girls over Pokemon cards.

When will they ever learn?

Some notes on future Pokemon releases....

2009-11-03T05:08:00.001-08:00

The Platinum: Arceus TCG set comes out tomorrow. It looks to be a pretty exciting set, and the Arceus cards (1 of each type, plus 3 Lv. X) are easier to get than you think. It's a must-have for any Pokemon TCG player!

In video game news, Pokemon Rumble, a real-time action game featuring Pokemon from the 1st and 4th generation games, will come out on WiiWare in the States on November 16. It will probably cost 1500 Wii Points (about $15). A related TCG promo set will be released on December 2.

Finally, this is old news for most of us, but Heart Gold and Soul Silver, the long-anticipated remakes of the 2nd generation games, will come out on April 23, 2010 in the States and in Europe shortly thereafter. I can't wait that long!!

I wish I was this lucky....

2009-10-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

I had to talk about this since I'm such a Civil War buff....

A farmer in Pennsylvania found a Civil War medal while tilling a turnip field. The medal, valued at about $1000, apparently belonged to a soldier who lived in the area. The farmer gave it to his mother, who in turn wanted to turn it in to the wife of the soldier's grandson, who died a few years ago. So far, the woman hasn't been able to attend the church she and the farmer's mother attend, so the current plans are to donate it to a local veterans' museum.

I'm not sure what I would do if I was in such a situation. I would probably try to donate it to some museum or another where all could see it, but the thought of having it reurned to its rightful owners is too much to resist.

Like I said, it's just too bad I can't turn up stuff like this when I'm gardening.

Folks, don't pay to pray. I cannot emphasize this enough.

2009-10-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

This isn't about Pokemon, but it needs to be said.

A few weeks back, 3 people died and another 18 were hospitalized due to
heat-related injuries from a misguided sweatlodge ceremony in Sedona,
Arizona (a noted hotbed of New Age nuttery). The perpetrator? None other
than James Arthur Ray, proponent of "The Secret" and Oprah Winfrey's
favorite guru. A homicide investigation has been set up, and I hope Ray
gets a long prison sentence for this.

64 people paid Ray several grand (yes, up to 10,000 bucks apiece!) to
engage in a number of cult-like activities that included fasting for 36
hours, going out in the desert with no food or water, and pigging out on
a big breakfast before cramming into a so-called "sweatlodge" made from
plastic and heavy blankets.

This is wrong on so many levels.

Simply put, white guys like Ray shouldn't dabble in Native Amercian
traditions. Now I'm about as white as they come, but I've known quite a
few Native Americans over the years, including a very talented one (whos
is unfortunately in college in Orlando now) who went to my Pokemon
League for a long time. All of them would say that what Ray did was
bastardize the most sacred elements of some of their cultures.

Now, I've done some research on legitimate sites, and there are numerous
differences between what real Native American elders do vs. what New Age
"plastic shamans" like Ray practice. Needless to say, the differences are striking.
Here are just a few ezamples:

Real Native elders don't go around the world trying to preach love and
peace to everyone; they stay on the reservations, where they are most
needed by their people.

Real Natives don't charge money for their ceremonies. A symbolic
offering (usually tobacco or blankets but varies from tribe to tribe) is
offered in exchange for an elder's services. Sometimes donations to
cover the cost of food, gas, or the like may be requested, but never the
exorbitant prices that "plastic shamans" ask for.

Real Native elders don't take elements from other cultures (this
includes other Native American tribes) and mix it with their own. Native
American religions are highly culture- and tribe-specific: a ceremony in
one culture would lose most of its context if performed outside the
culture. They're also highly proprietary: oftentimes, non-Natives are
not even allowed to participate, let alone stand and watch.

I could go on and on about this, but I'll let sites like
http://www.newagefraud.org/ do the really detailed talking. We white people
should look to our own cultures' ceremonies and find something
enlightening in them before horking others' cultures, especially from
peoples as downtrodden as the Native Americans. We've taken too much
from them over the past 500 years; can't we at least leave something of
theirs for themselves?

Toys 'R' Us Arceus Giveaway in November!

2009-10-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Attention, Pokemon Trainers! This is the moment you've all been waiting for!

Arceus will be available for download at Toys 'R' Us stores across the US from November 7-15, 2009! All you need is your DS and your copy of Pokemon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum. This is a very special Arceus, which will open up the Shinto Ruins in Heart Gold/Soul Silver (available April 2010 in the US) when traded to those games. Once there, Arceus will give you a Dialga, Palkia or Giratina (your choice) to call your own.

This is going to be a very special giveaway, so don't miss it!

Japanese HeartGold/SoulSilver Set Scans on Pokebeach!

2009-10-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Pokebeach has all the scans of the Japanese HeartGold/SoulSilver TCG set out, and I must say, my initial impression has been favorable. I highly enjoy the art (the evolution items in the card art of the Pokemon that need items to evolve is a very nice touch), especially on the new "Great" and "Legend" Pokemon. Several old Trainer cards have been reprinted (Full Heal, Moo-Moo Milk, Fisherman, a Supporter-ized Bill, and especially Prof. Elm's Training Method and Copycat), and Double Colorless Energy returns after a decade-long absence. I'll post more on the latter's return later.

To see the HeartGold/SoulSilver set in all its glory, click here: ALL ‘LEGEND: HeartGold & SoulSilver Collection’ Scans and Translations

Hope to see this set come February!

Arceus Prereleases Announced!

2009-10-03T05:23:00.000-07:00

While the Battle Roads are still raging, the time approaches for a new Prelease! This time, the Platinum Series goes out with a bang with the Platinum: Arceus set! This set centers around Arceus, the "god" of Pokemon, and all the Energy types he can assume. besides Arceus, there are numerous excellent Trainer cards, including some interesting Pokemon Tools, numerous Lv. X's, the usual trio of Shiny Pokemon, and (unlike the previous three sets) only a handful of SP's.

The Prerelease promo card is Raichu (heh, heh) and the card sleeves feature (who else?) Arceus:

The Arceus Prereleases take place on the last two weeks of October. To find one near you, check out http://www.go-pokemon.com/op/premierevents/prereleases/. For set spoilers, go to PokeBeach's list.

Card Game Predicts 9/11. Fnord.

2009-10-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Will Walton of The Escapist Blog for finding this choice tidbit of woo!

Some far-out religious site claims the Steve Jackson card game Illuminati predicted the 9/11 attacks. Read about it here if you dare.

As Dave Barry would say, you just can't make stuff like this up.

The guy's also running a pyramid scheme on his site as well. Turning what's supposed to be a house of worship into a den of thieves is despicable. Seeing as he's into fleecing the faithful like that, would you trust the rest of what he says?

It's people like this that give religion a bad name.

Things to Pack for a TCG Tournament

2009-09-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

The excellent Pokemon TCG blog SixPrizes.com (a very good place to go for deck-building advice) has this article detailing essential items to pack for a tournament. I pretty much agree with all of them (except for the Battle Dictionary, which is only really needed for an international event such as Worlds or if you're attending a tournament in a foreign country), but I can also think of a number of other good things to take with you:

Hand sanitizer. When you're in a room with 30+ people who often handle each other's goods, you're bound to catch some weird bugs. Better to be safe than sorry.

Gum or mints - for you and for others. Proper hygiene is greatly appreciated.

Spare decklists, pre-printed or otherwise. Saves you registration time.

A good luck charm, if you wish. Nothing too adult, however.

Healthy snacks like trail mix or carrot sticks and a refillable bottle of water. Big tournaments can often go on into the night, especially if you're in top cuts or the side event.

Money. Quite possibly the most important thing of all. Most tournament venues have vendors on site, and a lunch break is often provided mid-tournament.

If you have any more suggestions, feel free to leave a comment!

Oak's Letter Wi-Fi download starts today!

2009-09-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

From today until November 8 , owners of Pokemon Platinum will be able to obtain an Oak's Letter via Nintendo Wi-Fi! Here's how to get it:

Select "Mystery Gift" from the main menu.
From there, select "Get Via Nintendo WFC"
If there's a Wi-Fi connection in your area, you should get the Oak's Letter event, assuming you don't aready have three Wonder Cards. If you do, delete one to make room for this.

Once you get the Mystery Gift, go to any Poke Mart and talk to the man in green. He'll give you Oak's Letter.

From there, go through Victory Road to Route 224. Professor Oak will be waiting for you at the end near a white rock. He will tell you to write down what you're thankful for on the white rock. Do so and you will hear Shaymin's cry (it's so cute!), the area around you will bloom beautifully and a new path will appear to the north. Follow that path to the Flower Paradise (save your game beforehand!) to capture Shaymin. He's at Level 30.

One you've captured Shaymin, you can take him to Floaroma Town to obtain the Gracidea Flower. This Key Item allows Shaymin to trasform into his Sky Forme during daylight hours.

On the (Battle) Road again...

2009-09-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

I'll be on the Battle Road circuit next week and in mid-October, so I won't be running League on the weeks I have tournaments. The Battle Roads I hope to attend are:

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009:

Outland Station
12540 SW 120 St
Miami, FL 33186

Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009:

BRADS Sports Cards
10548 Wiles Rd
Coral Springs, FL 33076

Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009

Tate's Gaming Satellite (one very cool place!)
4588 University Dr
Lauderhill, FL 33351

To find a Battle Road near your town, check out http://www.go-pokemon.com/op/premierevents/championshipseries/battleroad/autumn/.

Worlds 2010 info

2009-09-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Pokemon TCG and Video Game World championships will be held in sunny Hawaii, in the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island itself! The Last Chance Qualifier (aka the "Grinder") will be held on August 13, while the main event will be on August 14-15.

I can't afford to travel that far, so I probably won't be there. It's still worth a try.

New Pokemon League Promos are here!

2009-09-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

The scorecards and promos for the Rival season have arrived, and I must say they look great! The scorecards are bigger than in previous years, and fold up in the middle for some reason. The front has separate tracks for the TCG and the video game, and you can obtain a set of promos for both! The back contains a space for writing one's name and POP ID, as well as a picture of a notable Pokemon trainer and one of his/her favorite Pokemon.

The promos have a special shiny foil treatment as well as a Pokeball watermark in the text box. There are two types of promos for each season: one nice-to-have promo representing one of the featured Trainer's favorite Pokemon, and the other a have-to-have card that's a staple in many tournament-level decks.

In addition to promos, every other season players who finish one side of their scorecards in two consecutive seasons will be able to earn a special League-themed Nintendo DS skin.

The 2009-2010 League Seasons and their associated promos are:

Season 1 (Rival): Snorlax (Rising Rivals, rare) and Uxie (Legends Awakened)

Season 2 (Cyrus): Arcanine G (Supreme Victors), Dialga G (Platinum)

Season 3 (Cynthia): Milotic C (Supreme Victors), Claydol (Great Encounters - a must-have!)

Season 4 (Palmer): Dragonite FB (Supreme Victors), Roseanne's Research (Secret Wonders)

Season 5 (Thorton): Skarmory FB (Supreme Victors), Felicity's Drawing (Great Encounters)

Season 6 (Dahlia): Dusknoir FB (Supreme Victors), Bebe's Search (Mysterious Treasures)

Season 7 (Darach): Empoleon FB (Supreme Victors), Underground Expedition (Rising Rivals)

Season 8 (Argenta): Butterfree FB (Supreme Victors), Warp Point (Majestic Dawn)

As you can see, there's a definite Battle Frontier theme going on here. Aside from some of the later-season promos and the timing of the Claydol season, I'm quite happy with it. It's going to be a great League year for sure!

For more information go to: http://www.go-pokemon.com/op/leagues/.