The Pokémon Video Game Championships are returning for 2010 and tournaments will be starting in the spring in cities across the world. More information about the tournaments will be announced around March 14th when Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions arrive in stores in the United States and Canada. Below are the rules for the tournaments that were announced on the official website.

Returning participants will notice that most of the rules and guidelines are the same as last year, but we've been working hard to make exciting changes that will make the 2010 Pokémon Video Game Championships better than ever! These changes include:

• Players now using Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver Version games exclusively
• Pokémon Level 51 and higher being automatically graded down to Level 50 for the duration of the battle using a new auto-leveling feature
• Each Pokémon keeps all of the moves it knew before being adjusted
• Pokémon that evolve after Level 50 don't devolve
• Any Pokémon below Level 50 will stay at its current level
• Virtually every Pokémon found in the National Pokédex of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions is eligible, including Pokémon traded in from earlier games, with the following exceptions:
• Arceus, Celebi, Darkrai, Deoxys, Jirachi, Manaphy, Mew, Phione, and Shaymin cannot participate
• A team cannot contain more than two of Dialga, Giratina, Groudon, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Lugia, Mewtwo, Palkia, and Rayquaza during a battle

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/news/op_vgc_2010_announce-2010-02-08/

The latest episode of Pokémon Sunday, Falling in Love with Kucheat! Hasubrero's Runway!! / Who is Phantom Champion Z!? / Jun'ichi Masuda reveals an important message! (恋するクチート！ハスブレロの花道!! / 幻影の覇者Ｚってダレだ！？/ 増田順一重大メッセージが明かされる！), aired today in Japan.

The anime rerun episode for this week was 'Falling in Love with Kucheat! Hasubrero's Runway!!' which originally aired as part of Pocket Monsters Advanced Generation.

At the end of last weeks show, Director Lucario runs into the room with a package from Game Freak director Jun'ichi Masuda in his hands. The crew went crazy and wanted to open the package immediately but before they could the show ended leaving a cliff hanger for this weeks weeks episode. After the rerun episode, Professor Red reminds the viewers of the package and shows it to the audience. Robert display pictures featuring them and Akiyama shows his love for HootHoot by showing his bed with a HootHoot bedspread.

Shoko joins the rest of the crew and then the trailer for the latest movie is shown. During the Pokémon Daisuki Project, Robert tries to find out "Who Phantom Champion Z is!?" (幻影の覇者Ｚってダレだ！？).

The Pokémon Sunday News segment announced the new Pokéwalker course Event (イベント) that was previously announced on the official Japanese website. The course is available from January 29th, 2010 till February 28th, 2010 at Pokémon Centers in Japan. Players can will find the Yellow Flute item, as well as a Yamirami that can be transferred over to HeartGold or SoulSilver.


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During the new Pokémon Yadon News segment, Yadon Akiyama reported a live Pokémon Sunday event that took place on January 24th, 2010 at the Next Generation World Hobby Fair 2010 (次世代ワールドホビーフェア) held at the Makuhari Messe (幕張メッセ) convention center just outside of Tokyo. The crew were up on stage performing and were accompanied by a special guest, MooMooMilk singing and dancing Dotchi Nyo.


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Jun'ichi Masuda, Game Freak director was on the show to reveal an important announcement which was promoted on the Game Freak directors blog last week as well as last weeks preview clip which showed him with a card revealing new information but a big question marked covered the card.

The crew finally played the video which featured Jun'ichi Masuda discussing the Pocket Monsters Series Latest Developments (ポオケットモンサター シリーズ 最新作開発中). The on screen message stated: Completely new after 4 years! A new setting and new Pokémon will appear!! (４年ぶりの完全新作！ 新しい舞台・ポケモンが登場！！).

Jun'ichi Masuda continues by saying, "...The Pocket Monsters (game) we're producing right now is so entirely new, you might even think 'Is this really Pocket Monsters?', so please look forward to it. Finally, today, as a special treat for the viewers of this program, we'll show a glimpse of a new Pokémon which will appear in the new setting of the new game. This Pokémon will hold the key in the Pokémon Movie to be released this summer, 'The Ruler of Illusions: Z'." He ended up revealing a new Pokémon silhouette which was behind the question mark in last weeks preview. More information will be announced on the February 21st episode of Pokémon Sunday.


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The preview announced that the new Ranger segment would air next week and that the anime special would be airing soon. Screenshots from the preview are posted below.


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The official website for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions launched today. The website url is: http://www.pokemongoldsilver.com. The website is currently only available for the United States and Canada in English but region options for America Latina, Belgique, Canada (FR), Espana, Italia, Portugal, Belgie, Deutschland, France, Nederland and UK/Ireland will be available soon.

The website features information about the new Pokéwalker accessory, which lets player interact with their Pokémon, catch wild Pokémon, find hidden items and trade gifts with friends all on the go. A few screenshots from the Pokéwalker are also shown.

It also features information about the pre-order Ho-Oh and Lugia figures as well as some basic story elements from the games.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions will be released in Korea on February 4th, 2010, in the United States and Canada on March 14th, 2010, in Australia on March 25th, 2010 and finally in Europe on March 26th, 2010.

The official Pokémon website has released information about the upcoming Noctowl card for the Pokémon TCG: HeartGold & SoulSilver expansion! Below is information about the card.

The Owl Pokémon Noctowl (8/123) stares out into the night sky, pondering its next move. And you'll be all the wiser with this Stage 1 Pokémon in your deck, too! Noctowl can use its Night Sight Poké-Power to let you draw an extra card every turn, giving you an additional opportunity to get just that card you're looking for. And in battle, Noctowl’s Extrasensory attack does 40 damage plus 40 more damage if you and your opponent have the same number of cards in your hand. So, rely on Night Sight to match your opponent's hand, and then let Noctowl deliver an 80-damage blow!

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/news/tcg_hgss1_featured_noctowl-2010-01-26/

As you are all no doubt aware the release of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver is only a few short weeks away and IGN recently posted a hands on impression of the English version games. While the hands on article doesn't post any new information, I thought I would post the screenshots and a link to the article to get all you guys excited for March 14th.



For anyone interested in reading the hands on impression here is the link: http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/106/1062574p1.html

Players who reserve a copy of Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver Version can receive a figure of the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh or Lugia at participating retailers while supplies last.



Those who reserve a copy of Pokémon HeartGold Version will receive a highly-detailed 2.25" tall Ho-Oh figure. Those who reserve a copy of Pokémon SoulSilver Version will receive a 2.5" tall Lugia figure. Both figures have been handcrafted by the internationally renowned figure makers Kaiyodo of Japan. These are the same figures that were given out in Japan for the Japanese pre-orders of HeartGold and SoulSilver.

Sources: http://www.gamestop.com/ & http://www.pokemon.com/

The official Pokémon website has posted the two new LEGEND cards which feature Ho-oh and Lugia. Each Pokémon LEGEND requires two special cards to create one larger completed card. To play a Pokémon LEGEND, you must have both halves of the Pokémon in your hand and you must play them at the same time.

Below is part of the news that was posted on the official site regarding these new cards and the rule changes regarding them.

Pokémon LEGENDs are unique in that, when in play, they are neither Basic Pokémon nor Evolved Pokémon. As such, they can't be played during the set-up phase at the beginning of the game (only Basic Pokémon can be played then). But they also can't be hit by attacks that target Basic Pokémon or Evolved Pokémon specifically. Pokémon LEGENDs are like no Pokémon you’ve ever seen before!


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As mentioned, one of the new Pokémon LEGENDs is Ho-Oh LEGEND. With its enormous fiery wings stretching over the two cards, the extraordinary Ho-Oh LEGEND is truly awe-inspiring. As the first of its kind, Ho-Oh LEGEND lives up to its name: a 140HP difference maker that can find a home in virtually any deck. With the Sacred Rainbow Poké-Body, all of the Energy attached to Ho-Oh LEGEND becomes Fire Energy, making Ho-Oh LEGEND usable now matter what kinds of Energy you have in your deck. Ho-Oh LEGEND can pound the Defending Pokémon with the Bright Wing attack, delivering 100 damage. The attack requires 4 Fire Energy (and you must discard one Energy attached to Ho-Oh LEGEND when you attack); fortunately, with the Sacred Rainbow Poké-Body, it won’t matter what kind of Energy is attached!

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/news/tcg_hgss1_ho-oh-2010-01-12/

The official Pokemon website announced that Pikachu Colored Pichu will be distributed at GameStop stores from January 30th, 2010 to February 14th, 2010. Players can bring in a copy of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum Version and receive the special alternate colored Pichu.

When Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are released, player will then be able to transfer the Pikachu Colored Pichu from their Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum Version. Players can then take Pikachu Colored Pichu to Ilex Forest (ウバメのもり) where Spiky-Eared Pichu (ギザみみピチュー) will join their team.

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/news/vg_pichu_promo-2010-01-12/

The latest Pokémon TCG expansion set: HeartGold & SoulSilver, was officially announced today. The expansion is the English regional version of the HeartGold & SoulSilver set that was released last year in Japan on October 9th, 2009. Below is the press release from the announcement.

Pokémon are the heart and soul of any great Pokémon Trainer, and now is your chance to catch some of the greatest Pokémon of all time with the all-new Pokémon Trading Card Game: HeartGold & SoulSilver! New kinds of cards will change the way you play—like Pokémon Prime and the astonishing Pokémon legends Ho-Oh and Lugia—plus you’ll find lots of Trainer cards that will accelerate your game and select Energy cards with a brand-new look. The HeartGold & SoulSilver expansion will get you started on your journey to greatness!



With more than 120 cards in all, the brand-new Pokémon TCG: HeartGold & SoulSilver expansion will arrive in stores nationwide on February 10, 2010.
* All-new card designs that give the set a unique look
* Introducing 2 dual-card Pokémon LEGENDs (Ho-Oh and Lugia)
* Discover 6 amazing Pokémon Prime (Ampharos, Blissey, Donphan, Feraligatr, Meganium, and Typhlosion)

Source: http://go-pokemon.com/tcg/cards/hgss/01/

Amazon.com posted the release date and box art for Pokémon™ HeartGold Version and Pokémon™ SoulSilver Version on the weekend. Nintendo's press release has now confirmed the information. Below is the press release from Nintendo.

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 14, 2009 - Consumers nationwide continue to snap up Nintendo products for the holidays, and Nintendo is poised to carry that momentum into 2010. Dozens of games for the Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems are on the way in a wide range of categories from both Nintendo and its third-party partners.

On the portable side, Nintendo's hand-held systems will see the arrival of a number of diverse games, including the eagerly awaited Pokémon™ HeartGold Version and Pokémon™ SoulSilver Version on March 14. Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version allow fans to return to the scenic Johto region first introduced in the beloved Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver games. The games have been fully enhanced with rich graphics, updated sound, new touch-screen controls and much more.

Source: http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=21389