The new version of Mewtwo was revealed on Pokemon Smash, a Japanese TV show, and is said to share many similar traits with Mewtwo. Unfortunately, the TV show didn’t expand on anything else about the new Pokemon, like how it was created, if it will be more darker than Mewtwo, and how players will be able to catch it. Nonetheless, this new variation of Mewtwo has many players excited and eager to play the games when they come out.

Pokemon X and Y have an anticipated October 2013 release date for the Nintendo 3DS. They completely revamp the Pokemon hand-held series by transforming the Pokemon universe into a 3D world. Of course, with each generation of Pokemon games comes another generation of new Pokemon. The three new starter Pokemon include Froakie (water-type), Chespin (grass-type), and Fennekin (fire-type). There will also be two new legendary pokemon. Xerneas, the blue legendary Pokemon, will represent Pokemon X, and Yveltal, the red legendary Pokemon, will represent Pokemon Y.

The games will launch worldwide at the same time, so that players from all around the globe can play and battle each other from the getgo. This way “Pokemon fans across the globe can discover the secrets of Pokemon games and can collect, battle, and trade with each other immediately,” says Pokemon Company’s CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara. The game is set to release in 6 months, so we can expect even more Pokemon to be teased in the future.

[via Neoseeker]

On March 24, Nintendo will also be releasing Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, which it boasts as a game with a “deep and compelling story full of unexpected twists.” Gamers can choose to play as one of five different Pokemon through randomly generated Mystery Dungeons, where battles await and other pokemon can be recruited.

Says Nintendo, the Mystery Dungeons that are generated are “near infinite”, meaning players won’t be getting bored any time soon. In addition, entrances to new dungeons can be discovered via “everyday circular objects,” which the gamer will scan with the 3DS’s camera. It doesn’t specify what these everyday objects are, however. Only those with a 3DS will be able to play; it isn’t being offered on any other system.

The special edition 3DS will be available for $199.99 and will include a 4GB SD card. The Gates to Infinity game, meanwhile, will be priced at $34.99. Those who purchase both and register them will be given a download code for one of five free games: Super Mario 3D Land, Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone, Star Fox 64 3D, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, and Freakyforms Deluxe: Your Creations, Alive!

[via Nintendo]

Unfortunately, we’re not finding out anything new from these images, as they only feature the three new starters and the two new legendaries. Specifically speaking, we’re talking about fire starter Fennekin, grass starter Chespin, water starter Froakie, and legendaries Xerneas and Yveltal. We’ve known about these Pokemon since the game was announced last week, so in that respect, there isn’t much new to see here.

However, these are technically first official screenshots and art work released by Nintendo, which definitely counts for something. The company also revealed the height and weight of the two legendary Pokemon, so for those who care, we have that information. Xerneas comes in at 6’10 and 474.0 lbs, while its counterpart towers over it at 19 feet tall. Despite the massive difference in height, Yveltal is actually lighter than Xerneas, weighing in at just 447.5 lbs.

The news of Pokemon X and Y certainly has fans buzzing, but sadly those fans have quite a wait ahead of them. The games won’t be releasing until October 2013, so there are nine months left to wait before they arrive. The one good thing is that Nintendo will likely be releasing a whole slew of new details between now and then, so at least Pokemon fans have a lot to look forward to. Stay tuned.

The good folks at ExtraLives.org have raised almost $92,000 since opening their doors in 2009, and they’re hoping this Pokemon marathon will help put them over the $100,000 mark this coming weekend. Starting on Saturday, December 29, the team will be playing three different Pokemon sessions at the same time, each session involving three different Pokemon games.

They’ll start with the old Game Boy titles, and then make their way up into the DS era, campaigning the whole time to try and raise money for charity. In total, the team will try to complete 11 Pokemon games, and they even have some extra games on the list for stretch goals throughout the weekend, including Pokemon spin-offs like Hey You Pikachu.

The event will be live-streamed online, and each of the three streamed screens will be running a different version of Pokemon, and the infamous Pokemon bootlegs will also be making an appearance. All the money that’s raised will be going to Free the Children, so if you have time this weekend, and money to spare, be sure to check it out.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity marks the series’ debut on the 3DS portable gaming device, and Nintendo promises that the new game will have “vibrantly detailed 3D graphics” and will come with more than 20 Mystery Dungeons that change every time they’re entered. The developer touts that “nearly limitless adventure awaits players”.

Furthermore, players can actually become Pokemon characters themselves. You can choose from five popular Pokémon, including Pikachu, Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig, or Axew. Then, you can journey your way through different dungeons, and battle and befriend other Pokémon characters, as well as collect different types of treasures.

The changing dungeons are the game’s top selling points, since they change their form every time a player enters, which means that items and treasure within a Mystery Dungeon will change location every time you re-enter it. Gamers will be able to purchase Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity at retail stores or on the Nintendo eShop.

The initial Pokedex app will cost you $1.99 USD – this gets you what’s called the “Unova Pokedex” listing of pocket monsters number 494 through 647. After that, you’ll have to pay an additional amount for each of the other regions. We’re less than excited about the cost, mind you – and in a rare move that we rarely, very rarely make, we’re going to go ahead and suggest that you skip the full purchase here.

If you absolutely, positively must have the full Pokemon collection on this official app, feel free to pay the $5.99 USD (really, for real) for each additional region. That includes the original 001 through 151 with all of your favorites like Pokachu and Mew. If you’re a big fan of the original series, you’ll be paying nearly $8 USD for it – not the best deal on the market. If you do want to check out this Official Pokedex you’ll want to see “The Pokemon Company” developer page – searching for Pokedex without the correct “e” will get you only the 3rd party creations.

For those of you looking for an alternative, there’s more than enough out there that are absolutely free and ready for your download – they might have ads if they’re free, but they’ve got all the information you need if you’re really, really hunting Pokemon out there in the wild. Also if you’re looking for a perfect Pokemon alternative while you wait for the real deal to come to iOS (possibly never), you’ll want to check out GeoSociety – it’s a winner!

In any case, this Pokédex app only covers the Pokémon of the Unova region at first. The app itself costs 170 yen, but four additional packs that add Pokémon from previous games can be purchased for 500 yen each. That puts the total cost of this app at just about $26.70, so Pokémon trainers might be better off going for the recently released Pokédex 3D Pro for the 3DS instead, which features almost every Pokémon for $15 (a price some still find too expensive).

The app is compatible with iOS 6 iPhones, iPods, and iPads, and it’s even been optimized for the iPhone 5′s screen. For those who have never used either of the Pokédex apps on the 3DS, the concept is pretty straightforward: you select a Pokémon and the app not only shows you a picture of that creature, but also gives you a slew of information on it. If it’s mostly the same as the 3DS Pokédex apps, then it should be a handy tool for serious Pokémon players to have on hand.

Of course, this isn’t the first app that Nintendo has released on the iOS App Store – last year’s Pokémon Say Tap? has that distinction. It is, however, the first paid app that Nintendo has put out, so there’s some significance there. Perhaps we’ll see more companion apps for other platforms in the future? We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

[via Serebii]

That’s because only those who win a raffle will get the chance to buy one. Yes, we said “buy” there, as those who win the raffle won’t just be given one for free. The raffle will run from November 3 to November 26, and prospective entrants can either go to one of the Pokemon Center stores in Japan to enter or mail in their entry form.

Winners of the raffle will be notified on December 7, and then they’ll be able to purchase their Charizard-laden 3DS XL between December 15 and January 14. This special edition 3DS XL will cost ¥18,900, which is right around $237, and from what we can tell, there aren’t any games that come bundled with it. It’ll just be you, Charizard, and a 3DS XL that you may just want to leave in the packaging, considering how hard it was to get.

As far as Pokemon-themed handhelds go, this is one of the better ones, and there have been a lot of them throughout the years. The fact that its availability will be so limited in Japan means that there’s almost no chance of it ever becoming available in the US or Europe, which is definitely a bummer considering how nice it looks. Oh well – it looks like we’ll just have to settle for the Charizard posters plastered all over and the Charizard-themed bedspread that ushers us into the dream world every night.

[via Kotaku]

That’s because they’re a lot more battered and bruised than we’re used to seeing them. A bandaged and bloodied Pikachu, for instance, sports a chain around his neck and has a chunk missing from one of his ears, while Tepig is missing his ears altogether. Snivy has a syringe jutting out of his head and a tag on his tail, and Oshawott has been clearly skinned alive. In other words, it’s probably not the best idea to let your kids around Pokémon Black and Blue if the series is one of their favorite things.

Interestingly, it looks like PETA has done its research, as Pikachu can be seen on the game’s site holding a sign that says “I support Team Plasma.” Team Plasma is the Team Rocket of the monochrome generation, only instead of attempting to steal powerful Pokémon like Team Rocket did, Team Plasma is fighting to free all Pokémon from their trainers. “If PETA existed in Unova, our motto would be: Pokémon are not ours to use or abuse,” PETA writes on the game’s website. “They exist for their own reasons. We believe that this is the message that should be sent to children.”

The morality of battling Pokémon is up for debate, but with so many children falling victim to the Pokémon craze, we’re tempted to argue that showing images of bloody and severely injured Pokémon isn’t the best way to spread PETA’s message of animal rights to kids. In any case, we suggest that you play through the short game, if only to see PETA’s take on the Pokémon franchise. We also get to see Pikachu and the other Pokémon speaking perfect English, which is definitely an interesting (if not somewhat horrifying) spin on things.

The LG Nexus G has been tipped for a reveal later this month, and it looks like problems with component yields might mean that we’re headed for iPad Mini shortages (assuming the rumored tablet actually exists, of course). The Kindle Paperwhite has officially been jailbroken, and Rovio was spotted teasing a new Star Wars-Angry Birds tie-in earlier today, leaving us to wonder what’s in the pipeline. Sprint might be looking to rain on T-Mobile’s MetroPCS parade, and Anonymous is at it again, this time bringing down government sites in Sweden in the name of The Pirate Bay and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Wii U pre-orders are hard to find these days, but provided you’ve got the cash to burn, you can pick one up on eBay. iPhone cases were popping up left and right today, like this Loop Mummy case for the iPhone 4/4S and these Moshi cases for the iPhone 5. Xi3 has gone to Kickstarter to fund its new X3A and X7A modular computers, and one analyst is saying that HP’s stock should be worth negative $2. Ubisoft gave us a brand new ZombiU development diary, and we heard that increased iPhone 5 quality demands led to a strike at a Foxconn factory in China today.

New algorithms may eventually lead to cell phones that charge twice as fast, while NASA explained why Curiosity is collecting dirt from the surface of Mars. Motorola has managed to fight off Microsoft in a patent dispute over in Germany, while astronomers say they’ve discovered a new star circling a black hole at the center of our galaxy. Pokemon Black and White 2 launch in the US this Sunday (are you ready to be the best?) and we found out today that New Zealand authorities may have been spying on Kim Dotcom much earlier than they’ve admitted.

Finally tonight, we have quite a few original articles to share with you. Don Reisinger asks if Bill Gates will be remembered in the same way as Steve Jobs when he’s gone, Chris Burns explains why the iPad Mini will be free when it launches and what the iPad Mini needs to fix when it comes to Apple tablets, and Chris Davies has a review of the Synology DS213air NAS. That does it for tonight’s evening wrap-up – we hope you have a fun weekend!

I’d wager that these games will sell in huge numbers over the weekend. The new games bring players back to Unova two years after the events that took place in the 2011 Pokémon Black and White versions. Players will meet old friends and make new friends as they move around the game world facing down rival Gym Leaders.

The game will allow players to make their own Pokémon movies and connect with other players in new ways to enjoy the storyline of the video game. Players take the role of a Pokémon Trainer exploring new areas of the Unova region. Nintendo points out that these new games are the first time the history of the core Pokémon video game series that storylines have continued from one game release to another.

Nintendo promises that there are new Gym Leaders to play, and a new Unova Challenge area where players are able to level up the Pokémon characters easier than before. The game also features an upgraded Pokedex, making it easier to find data on Pokémon and track them including new Legendary Pokémon. The new game also introduces a new medal system for earning rewards.

Prior to this announcement, this 3DS XL was exclusive to Japan. There doesn’t appear to be a game that comes bundled with it, and pricing hasn’t been announced yet. A solid release date was also missing from Nintendo’s reveal, but the company does say that it’ll be available in Europe before the Sun sets on 2012.

Also unknown is whether or not this variant will make its way across the Atlantic to the US. Nintendo is notorious for launching variants of its handhelds and consoles that remain exclusive to Japan, so the fact that it’s launching in Europe is a good sign. Then again, if the US releases of Xenoblade and The Last Story are any indication, US consumers could be waiting a while, if they get it at all.

Don’t want to carry around a bright yellow 3DS XL that features Pikachu’s adorable little mug? Nintendo has you covered there too, as it will also be launching a special Mario Kart 7 bundle in Europe on November 17. The bundle features a white 3DS XL that comes with Mario Kart 7 pre-installed. Nintendo is keeping its mouth shut on pricing for this bundle as well, but we’ll keep an ear to ground for additional details. Stay tuned.

Today, the company announced that everyone who purchases the latest Pokemon installments between October 7 and November 12 will be awarded with opportunity to download that particularly scary-looking Pokemon you see pictured above. Its name is Genesect, and it’s a legendary bug and steel type Pokemon. Introduced prior to the release of the original Black and White, Genesect is the final Pokemon listed in both the Unova and National Pokedex. Aside from this upcoming event, there hasn’t been any legitimate way for players in the US to nab one, but that’s all set to change with the release of Black and White 2.

In order to get a Genesect of your own, all you need to do is purchase a copy of Black 2 or White 2 during the dates mentioned above. Once you’ve done that, connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection, and in no time at all, Genesect will be on the way to your game cart. Genesect comes with an exclusive move, Techno Blast, that isn’t used by any other Pokemon, and has the ability to “adjust its power levels based on the foe it’s battling.” Nintendo isn’t entirely clear on what it means by that, so it looks like there are still some surprises in store when it comes to Genesect.

Nintendo held a similar promotion for early purchasers of the original Black and White, handing out the legendary psychic and fire type Pokemon Victini. There’s no word on what level this promotional Genesect is, but the Victini that early Black and White buyers received was level 15, so it seems safe to assume that Genesect will come at a similarly low level. Is anyone out there planning to pick up Pokemon Black and White 2? Let us know what you think of this giveaway!

Customs and Border Protection agency spokesperson Jaime Ruiz said officers tracked down shipping containers they believed were full of the contraband, and they were destroyed. Exactly what happened to them? Ruiz simply said, “They are gone.” And in case you were wondering, there were strong measures in place to ensure the cards were indeed illegitimate. They were seized on June 26 and just recently confirmed as being fake.

For Ruiz, it was somewhat personal because his children are big fans of Pokemon cards. “They may feel they are getting a good deal, but they need to pay attention,” he said of customers buying cards at prices that seem too good to be true. Despite tracking the shipments, no criminal charges have been made and no civil case has been filed. It is unclear if either action will be taken.

[via LA Times]

For example, Pokemon Conquest will have a feature called Pokemon Passwords. Nintendo will distribute special passwords through online outlets and physical media that allow users to encite an “outbreak” of a certain Pokemon. This means it could be possible to capture rare creatures early on in the game, if players happen to have the appropriate password. There is also a system called Perfect Link, which allows players to create strong bonds with their Pokemon.

And finally, the option that takes advantage of the DS’s Internet capabilities is called will be for downloading new episodes. “Additional episodes are available to players after playing through the first episode of the game, and others will be available for download over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection after the game’s launch on June 18,” Nintendo explained.

[via Gaming-Age]

In the game, players will move away from familiar characters and instead play a Japanese warlord who is paired with a Pokémon. Nintendo say that the duo “set out to recruit Warrior allies to strengthen their growing kingdom. Along their journey, players will encounter a variety of Pokémon, as well as Warriors and Warlords inspired by the Japanese feudal era.”

Interestingly, the game wasn’t made by Nintendo, instead developed by Tecmo Koei. The game uses strategy RPG elements as opposed to traditional Pokémon gameplay too. The reception when the game was released in Japan was good, with reviewers praising the replay value and the easy to understand concept for children.

The game will feature over 200 Pokémon, including some from the recent Pokémon Black and Pokémon White games. You’ll be able to pick it up on June 18th, so if it sounds like something that takes your fancy, remember to pre-order when those links go live.

The release of the two new Pokemon is in honor of the upcoming games Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2, the first entries ever in the long-running RPG series that are direct sequels of their predecessors. Historically, Nintendo essentially hit the reboot button for every new Pokemon title, letting users play through a brand new story every time.

To grab the latest exclusive Pokemon, users will need to go into their game and select the Mystery Event option from the main menu. Reshiram and Zekrom are available from the Wi-Fi Connection event choice, meaning anyone with access to a wireless network can download them. In the old days, special Pokemon were only distributed at brick-and-mortar stores, many times only in New York City. The Wi-Fi download option has widely expanded the accessibility of these special downloads.

[via UGO]

In the past, there was a Pokemon game available in two installments, later complemented by a third, and that was it. Lather, rinse, repeat. Although games from one color series could interact with ones from another, there was no connection between the storylines in the games. That’s changing this time around, and Black 2 and White 2 will be direct sequels to Black and White. This move shows an increased focus on the story, which has admittedly taken something of a back seat in previous installments.

According to the games’ announcement, which was made in Japanese and translated by the website Andriasang, the launch is coming sooner than expected. They’ll be available in Japan in just four months, in June. US customers, meanwhile, will have to wait for translation and localization, with the final product available stateside in the fall. More details are sure to come in the following weeks.

[via Andriasang]

What you get with GeoSociety is not only the same basic set of controls you get with Pokemon, but the same general plot line as well. All the strage components are there, from you waking up in your mothers house without a clue of what you’re supposed to do in the world to your very own training center where you choose from one of three monsters to carry around with you the rest of the game! The big difference is in the details: there’s no Gary, for example, to annoy you throughout the game.

You still get to battle, to collect monsters throughout the game to do battle with – you even get to explore the world with essentially the same pixel-heavy graphics that the Pokemon franchise has loved for so long. The battle sequence is also turn-based, you can choose which moves your monster is doing, and you battle both wild monsters as well as other human opponents with their own contenders. Then there’s the bonuses: like being able to run instead of having to walk through the whole game. No need for a bike!

This game will cost you $1.99 on the App Store right this second and I can’t believe how fun it really, really is. I’ve literally not had this much Pokemon-related fun since I played Pokemon Red on my original GameBoy. Grab it!

Now, the company that actually owns the rights to the Pokemon video game series has come forward to issue a statement on the whole ordeal. “We continue to combat the unauthorised release of games, applications and merchandise that trick our fans into purchasing something that does not meet our quality standards,” The Pokemon Company said in its official response.

“Fans who encounter questionable products should report to us immediately so we can keep other fans from falling victim to these scams,” it continued. The company has also made it very clear that it has no intention whatsoever to bring an official Pokemon title to iOS or Android. At least not anytime soon. So as a rule of thumb, if you ever see a Pokemon title of any kind on any platform other than a Nintendo console, it’s fake.

[via Macgasm]

On the other hand, because the last version of Pokemon has now become depreciated because it was made for the last generation of Sony and Nintendo handhelds, the makers of Pokemon have hinted at a new release in the works. Just this morning it was revealed that the next version of Pokemon may well be coming to the PS Vita and Nintendo’s 3DS, and we can hope against hope that it’ll be coming to mobile devices as well soon. But who are we kidding – if Don Reisinger couldn’t convince Nintendo, noone could.

Here’s my question to you, Pokemon fans: do you think a full-fledged Pokemon game for iPhone or Android (or both!) would be a hit if released in the next couple of months? For those of you still playing Pokemon on your original Game Boys – first of all, high five, that’s the only version I’ve actually kept – RED! Then answer me this: what if Nintendo were to release a legacy version of Pokemon to the iTunes App Store and the Android Market like RockStar did with Grand Theft Auto 3? Would it be a hit?

I’d play it even if it were only green and black!

The director of the Pokemon Black and White titles, which are the most recent in the franchise’s storied RPG history, said in a recent interview that fans should keep a close eye on the weekly Japanese TV show Pokemon Smash. He reiterated this point in a post on his Twitter account. This was in direct response to a question about when the newest entry in the series would be revealed.

Since the launch of Pokemon Black and White on the Nintendo DS, there have been additional Pokemon games, but many fans, even the most hardcore, only care about games that are directly connected to the traditional RPG franchise. The number of spin-off games has increased in recent years, but the core of the franchise remains those RPG titles. The most recent episode of Pokemon Smash aired over the weekend, with no news about a new title. But it seems we should start going into “waiting with baited breath” mode. It should be noted that the next entry in the series is likely to be a new version of the Black/White titles, on the DS, as opposed to a brand new installment on the 3DS.

[via Siliconera]