Source: infendo.com

Dear America,

Do you want to cause a REVOLUTION? Do you want to create chaos among the populous and fill every public train with rabid children itching to spend money just to utilize your travel services? It’s easy — just ask Nintendo for some back-up!

In Tokyo this weekend saw the beginning of the Pokémon Stamp Rally, a yearly event where kids are encouraged to ride government-run trains (not those private ones), to select stations in Tokyo where stamps of various Pokémon have been placed over night. Once you collect at least six Pokémon, it’s off to one of the big stations to trade in your stamped card for a lanyard with two Pokémon posing in front of the Japan Railroad emblem — oh, and don’t forget a Pikachu visor (it’s made out of paper)!!

Also, every participant in the rally has a chance to win Pokémon Platinum and one of six plushies.

Ambitious kids who have mind-control powers over their parent’s wallets (and otaku with jobs) can go to all 95 stations and after spending tens of thousands of yen to receive the unique stamps, receive a talking Pikachu coin bank.

I happened to be going to a relatively small train-station yesterday to check out a museum with a friend, and you can bet there were traffic cones tied up with caution tape to create a make-shift line so that all the stampers didn’t bum-rush the pads at once. Just in case those pre-teens and their folks got 

extra rowdy, there were even two security guards with megaphones on hand for crowd-control.

And just so you don’t think I’m poking fun at all the zealous kids who want to “catch ‘em all” and win some goods at the same time, the event lasts 8 days so I can leisurely collect my six stamps throughout the week as well.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Nintendo released the first trailer from Pokemon Ranger 2: Shadows of Almia for the Nintendo DS and announced the title has been given a release date in America on November 10th, 2008.

It’s the sequel to a unique action-adventure series that features a fun, different way to capture Pokémon with the Nintendo DS stylus, which controls an item called the Capture Styler in the game. Players circle the Pokémon they want to catch by drawing circles around them on the touch screen. When you complete certain Quests, the Ranger Union awards you with power-ups, which add new upgrades and functions to your Capture Styler, allowing you to advance as you work to eventually become a Top Ranger.

Run across the world with all your Pokemon friends.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The latest issue of Japanese gaming magazine CoroCoro has revealed new features that will be in Pokemon Platinum on Nintendo DS when the RPG gets released in Japan on September 13th, 2008, and in 2009 in the rest of the world.

New Pokemon Platinum features include:

* You have to face Team Galactic once more, but it seems their plans and HQ have been stepped up a fair bit. New characters include a new member of Team Galactic and an international police force (Interpol) who are hunting Team Galactic.
* The Battle Frontier returns and takes place in the Fight Area in Sinnoh. There are different areas in the Battle Frontier, their battle quirks are not yet known. However, it does still contain the Battle Tower.
* The Wi-Fi area has been enhanced with various areas, which support up to 20 people at any one time.
* The Poffin making has taken a step up and has a new feature that involves a Swalot-shaped machine. You essentially throw berries into its mouth. This can be done over Wi-Fi in the new Wi-Fi area.
* The Battle Recorder, an item that allows you to record battles that you hold, and share them with your friends. This is done at the new and improved GTS in Jubilife City, which has a bigger global terminal.
* In Floarama Town you receive the Flower of Glacidea, which you can use on Shaymin, then Shaymin’s secret form changes procedures. — Shaymin changes from Land form to the Grass / Flying type Sky form. Ability is Serene Grace, which is more focussed in Speed and Special Attack and knows the move Air Slash. (In Japan gamers can receive Shaymin via Wi-Fi for Pokemon Diamond / Pearl in movie theatres.)
* Giratina’s Origin form can only be used in the Torn World (like in the Pokemon movie) and it’s in another form somewhere else. It’s unknown if there will be an item to use to keep it in its Origin form, but the main method will be revealed next month. — Giratina’s Origin form ability is Levitate.
* There will be new sprites for each Pokemon, including Bidoof, Giratina’s Another form, and Shaymin’s Land form.

Translations by Serebii & Teknoman

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Today Nintendo of Europe and Australia added new games to the popular Wii Shop Channel. The game went live at midnight CET. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the game. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at stores like Amazon UK.

The WiiWare games are:

My Pokemon Ranch (Nintendo, Simulation, 1 player, 1,000 Wii Points = €10 / £7.50 / AU$15): The Pokémon phenomenon debuts on WiiWare with My Pokémon Ranch, a game that lets you watch as Pokémon and Miis interact with each other for the first time. Enjoy the relaxing ranch life by viewing your ranch and its Pokémon, taking pictures and sending those pictures to your friends via the Wii Message Board. The more Pokémon and Miis you bring to your ranch, the more fun it becomes. My Pokémon Ranch can be linked with the Nintendo DS Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl Game Cards to deposit the Pokémon you’ve caught in these games in your ranch. You can deposit a maximum of 1,000 Pokémon from up to eight different game cards. Make your ranch livelier by playing with your friends and family.

TIP #1: You can get Phione by importing 250 Pokemon to the ranch.
TIP #2: You can get Mew by importing 999 Pokemon to the ranch.

Pop (Nnooo, Puzzle, 1-4 players, 700 Wii Points = €7 / £5.25 / AU$10.50): Pop bubbles to score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by anyone – casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.

Source: infendo.com

For a limited time only you can go to a Game Stop and score a rare genetically mutating Pokémon named Deoxys. You can get him either this weekend 6/20/ - 6/22 or next weekend 6/27/ - 6/29. Although the flier does not mention how you can download him, I would suggest that you unlock the “Mystery Gift” option just in case. Deoxys comes with NeverMeltIce and the following moves, Psycho Boost, Zap Cannon, Iron Defense, and Extreme Speed. Don’t miss out on this limited chance to get a new Pokémon.

I wonder if Nintendo is planning to announce a new Pokémon game sometime soon and they are building some hype with some rare Pokémon give aways… hmmm…

Thanks to rdaneel72 from the [Infendo Forums] for the tip!

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Pokemon USA is giving you the chance to receive the Deoxys, during a six days this month on download event at GameStop stores nationwide. The first weekend it’s available will be June 20, 21 & 22; The second weekend it’s available will be June 27, 28 & 29, 2008.

Bring your Pokemon Diamond or Pokemon Pearl game, along with your Nintendo DS, to any GameStop store in the United States to add the mysterious Pokemon from outer space, Deoxys, to your game. (Just make sure you have already obtained the Pokedex in your game.)

Darkrai is No. 386 in the National Pokedex
Type: Psychic
Height: 5′07″
Weight: 134 lbs
Held item: NeverMeltIce
Ability: Psycho Boost, Zap Cannon, Iron Defense, ExtremeSpeed (and Pressure)

Source: infendo.com

My Pokémon Ranch - WiiWare - 1,000 Wii Points
Enjoy the relaxing ranch life by viewing your ranch and its Pokémon, taking pictures and sending those pictures to your friends via the Wii Message Board. The more Pokémon and Miis you bring to your ranch, the more fun it becomes. My Pokémon Ranch can be linked with the Nintendo DS Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl Game Cards to deposit the Pokémon you’ve caught in these games in your ranch. [Developed by Ambrella, published by Nintendo]

And two NES Imports after the jump!

Dig Dug - NES Import - 1985 - 600 Wii Points
Become Dig Dug, the champion of love and justice, as you drill up, down, left and right, defeating any enemies in your path. Avoid the persistent Pooka and the deep-dwelling but whimsical Fygar as you defeat all the enemies in order to clear each stage. [Developed and published by Namco]

Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa - NES Import - 1988 - 600 Wii Points
Players take on the role of baby Upa, a prince of the Akuyo kingdom. Prince Upa must take on an adventure spanning seven different worlds in order to rescue the kingdom from the dangerous demon Zai. [Developed and published by Konami]

I’m surprised that Dig Dug was never released for NES in the US; it’s a classic arcade game and one of my favorites. Anything you’re looking forward to this week?

Source: infendo.com

So I know we have some Pokémon fans here at Infendo, and some of you guys probably missed out on the Darkrai event that was being held at Toys R Us last weekend. Anyway, for you guys that happened to miss out on acquiring this legendary Pokémon, and have no way of getting to Nintendo World in New York City. I have been planning to run a little contest of sorts, to enter all you have to do is write up the following… Click the jump to find out exactly what it is.

What was the worst Nightmare you ever had and why was it a Nightmare to you?

To enter simply write up your “nightmare” and post it in the comments section. Keep it clean, scary and concise. Judging will be based on why it was so scary to you, and judged by a secret panel of judges. So entries should be kept short and easy to read, as well as slightly entertaining.

The winner will receive of course the legendary Nightmare Pokémon Darkrai, and I will personally trade you the Pokémon from my copy of Pokémon Diamond. So after I announce the winner of this contest, I will contact you personally. So keep in mind that you must have Pokemon Diamond or Pearl for the Nintendo DS, as well as be able to trade and exchange friend codes.

The contest will end by the end of the week (Saturday June 14th, at 11:59:59 PM) so be sure to post them in the comments section before the deadline.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Here’s the Top 10 10 million selling games. Since the year 2000, there have been few games that sold over 10 million. Let’s take a look at the biggest hits. Just joining this list today at number 11 is Call of Duty 4 that sold 10 million, but including that in the list wouldn’t have given it such a nice ring.

The top list of 10 million sellers:

10. World of Warcraft (10 million since 2004)
9. The Sims 2 (13 million since 2004)
8. New Super Mario Bros. (13.14 million since 2006)
7. Pokemon Gold and Silver (14.1 million since 2000)
6. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl (14.17 million since 2007)
5. Grand Theft Auto III (14.5 million since 2001)
4. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (14.89 million since 2001)
3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (17.5 million since 2002)
2. Nintendogs (17.79 million since 2005)
1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (21.5 million since 2005).

We expect more next-gen games to join this list in the near future. Four other new games that are well on their way to 10 million are:

* Wii Play (9.23 million since December 2006)
* Guitar Hero III (9.5 million since October 2007)
* Halo 3 (8.1 million since September 2007)
* Grand Theft Auto IV (6 million since April 2008)

Source: infendo.com

In case you happened to miss the chance to snatch Darkrai, a rare Pokémon, at the Toys R Us event this past weekend. You now have another chance to get your hands on him, that is if you happen to live close to New York City.

The Nintendo World Store will be giving out the nightmare Pokémon via the usual wireless download that the Pokémon Nintendo Store has been known to do with the previous versions of Pokémon. They will also be giving him out for the entire month of June, so don’t fret if you don’t have any time this week to go.

[Via Kotaku]