Why I might get Pokemon Art Academy

Nintendo of America has confirmed that a Pokemon-inspired entry in the Art Academy series, aptly named Pokemon Art Academy, will be coming Stateside this Fall. As you'd expect, the game will teach you how to draw Pokemon.

Learn how to draw your favorite @Pokemon in #Pokemon Art Academy, launching this fall on #3DS and #2DS. pic.twitter.com/DqgZyc7Qes

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 12, 2014

Why might a 20-something girl like me want to get Pokemon Art Academy? Especially since I am not an artist in any sense of the word? Well, I sure wanted to be an artist when I was younger (what kid doesn't?), and Pokemon were a major source of "inspiration" for me. I consider a Machop I once drew to be my best artistic creation, though I have no idea what ever happened to that.

So it would be a lot of fun for me to relive my childhood fantasies. Whether I ultimately get Pokemon Art Academy depends largely on the game's price. If it's outrageous for some reason, that's a likely no from me. What are your thoughts?

Pokemon Battle Trozei is out now on the Nintendo 3DS eShop

On February 13, 2014, Nintendo surprised us with the announcement of a sequel to 2006's DS title Pokemon Trozei. The new game would release for the Nintendo 3DS with the title Pokemon Battle Trozei.

Well, the game has arrived, and you can now download the E-rated title from the Nintendo 3DS eShop for $7.99. I've put a little bit of time into the game, and my thoughts are mixed. I never played the original, so I had a lot to learn about the fast-paced puzzle gameplay when I began. As I mentioned on Miiverse, I'm having a difficult time grasping the gameplay. I played the first stage 3 times over, only achieving a mediocre B-rank (for the first stage, that's probably pretty sorry) by the end.

I'm not an expert on the puzzle genre, by any means, but I do expect games in the genre to be simple to learn (but with depth) and really addictive. Pokemon Battle Trozei has a simple enough concept: use the touch screen to match 3 or more Pokemon heads to attack and capture (or "Trozei") wild Pokemon. However, performing advanced techniques and setting up combos has me at a complete loss. When you clear a line of Pokemon, the rest start falling down to fill in the spaces, and more lines may match up. This is how combos work, but I can't predict them, and they happen so quick, my brain can't keep up with the madness.

So the addictive quality I look for in puzzle games is not apparent in Battle Trozei. However, I do plan on giving the game a few more chances...just in small chunks, maybe once a day, as it's rather maddening to play a video game I can't fully understand.

Nintendo is everywhere!

This video is awesome. It proves that NINTENDO IS EVERYWHERE! Also, that this band director is totally awesome!

Ohmigosh! E3 is tomorrow! Nintendo Lifeline gets excited

Here's a riddle for you all:

I'm the biggest gaming event of the year.

I take place in Los Angeles, CA.

I'm full of exciting news.

I start tomorrow.

Haven't guessed yet? I'll just go ahead and tell you, then! The answer is: "I am E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2012." How 'bout that? Nintendo Lifeline has a thing or two to say about this year's expo, so read on!

Pre-E3 Video by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata

Click here to whet your appetite with a video from Satoru Iwata dedicated to the Wii U system. I don't know about anyone else, but it has me excited! Nintendo must have a lot of news about the Wii U if they need a half-hour before the expo even gets started. I'm particularly fond of the connectivity the Wii U will apparently have...Miiverse looks pretty sweet.

Our Hopes and Predictions
New game trailers are the most exciting part of E3 to me. Is that strange? Anyway, I wanna see new trailers for games that have already been announced and, of course, games that will be announced for the first time at E3. If I could have all my dreams come true, I would like to see a new Pokemon RPG announced for the Nintendo 3DS system. I held out on Pokemon Black and White with the expectation that the third installment in this generation would be on the Nintendo 3DS. I was entirely wrong. Even Pokemon Conquest (which got 9/10 in Nintendo Power magazine, by the way) ended up on the DS! I don't care what kind of Pokemon RPG ends up on the 3DS, I just want it!

Maybe it's too early to hope for this, but I want to see a Nintendo 3DS redesign at E3. I have come to dislike the current Nintendo 3DS system design. How the top flap sticks out slightly over the bottom, how the stylus holder is in a very inconvenient position on the back of the system, how the surface surrounding the 3-D screen is unnecessarily reflective and inconsistent with the rest of the system. Ugh...I'm getting worked up now! I guess we'll just have to wait until tomorrow!

What are you looking forward to the most with this year's E3?

What does the Pokemon series need?

So you're curious about what the Pokemon series needs, are ya? I would only assume as much: you are reading this post, after all. Nothing is wrong with the sales of Pokemon games. As always, they tend to be instant best-sellers.

Since the series doesn't necessarily need help, what does it need? I'll end the suspense for you: the Pokemon series needs another adventure similar to Pokemon Colosseum. Gasp!

As I discussed in my review of Pokemon Colosseum, this Gamecube gem does a lot to break free of the typical Pokemon formula. The storyline sees the player controlling a former gang member who turns over a new leaf, instead focusing his efforts on fighting said gang. Having stolen the Pokemon "snagging" machine from his old hideout, he has the ability to capture other trainers' Pokemon. Whoa, right? You can already tell that the storyline is entirely engrossing. It really is. Pokemon Colosseum may be a little rough around the edges, but I think it added something invaluable to the series: a little bit of darkness. Not too much, of course: it's still a children's series, after all.

I would love to see another home console outing in the Pokemon series that follows the trend Colosseum began. Gale of Darkness (Colosseum's sequel) disappointed me because it substantially down-played the mature appeal of Colosseum. Battle Revolution (for Wii) didn't even excel at what it's sole focus was: battling.

What does the Pokemon series need? An epic home console entry that mixes things up, adds a darker tone, but maintains core Pokemon principles: collecting Pokemon, battling to level them up, and so forth. What direction would you like to see the Pokemon series take?

The Pokemon series' lack of story...and why I admire that

Zekrom's got a pretty mean AR attack. I feared for my life.

Role-playing games. RPGs. Whatever you want to call them. What are they? Why, they're games in which the player controls a party of characters that level up, collect items, earn currency, upgrade gear, and fight battles. Yes, the Pokemon games are classified as RPGs. Did I forget to mention one thing RPGs are known for? Ah, yes: story.

In this here post, you can find out what my stance is on stories in video games. In short, I appreciate story, but not at the expense of great gameplay. Going off of that, I think many video games out there rely too heavily on some complex plot, sacrificing fun or meaningful gameplay in the process. I'm not gonna lie: the Pokemon games tend to have very weak plots. In a genre that places an emphasis on story, that is a pretty bold design choice. But in so doing, the Pokemon games show us gamers that it's not about the destination: it's about the journey. Play one today...I really like Diamond version for the Nintendo DS.

The tragic story of my first GameBoy

Sometimes I wonder why I've stuck so firmly to Nintendo all these years. Some of my earliest video game memories involve the Super Nintendo, then the Nintendo 64. The NES didn't come until after both of those, if I recall correctly. Unlike most other hardcore gamers, I was by no means "born with a controller in my hand." Heck, my first go at Ocarina of Time was disastrous.

But there was something that bridged me into the world of video games: the Pokemon animated series. Yep, I blame it all on that cartoon show. It was a revelation to me that the cartoon actually stemmed from the best-selling GameBoy games, Pokemon Blue version and Pokemon Red version. That was when I knew I had to get a GameBoy. When that dream became a reality, the GameBoy Color had already hit the market. I got a beautiful GBC with clear purple casing for Christmas one year. The one game I got to go with it was SpongeBob SquarePants: Legend of the Lost Spatula. I struggled with that game, though my neighbor beat the whole thing in about an hour.

It was only a matter of time before I had the money to get Pokemon Gold or Pokemon Silver. Before that time came, however, "it" happened. I left the system on the bleachers in the gym during PE one day. About half way down the hall afterwards, I realized I had forgotten it. I ran back quickly to retrieve it, only to discover that it was gone. Stolen, most likely. I was in fourth grade at the time, and not brave enough to go to the principal's office for help recovering it. To this day, I wonder what happened to that beloved GameBoy Color of mine. Could it still be out there somewhere? Pokemon FireRed, a GameBoy Advance game, would be the first Pokemon game I enjoyed. Have a great week, and take care of your small electronics!

Strange new world: The RPG genre and me

I know a thing or two about the RPG genre! I've played Pokemon since I was ten! Other than that...well, who needs more?

My line of thought was somewhere along those lines before I played a little game called Chrono Trigger. RPG's, where have you been all my life! That's what my new thoughts are.

But before I get ahead of myself, let's go over the meaning of "RPG" first. RPG stands for role-playing game. A "party" is almost always key to the RPG formula. Leveling up is also a necessary ingredient. Battles must be fought. These can be turn-based or action-based. In a turn-based battle, each active character can choose how to act, then the battle proceeds, generally with the fastest character attacking (or not attacking) first. Thus, a certain degree of strategy is involved in turn-based battles. Action-based battles, on the other hand, play out much like battles in any action-adventure game. In fact, "Action RPG" is its own sub-genre.

I hope that at least gives you the gist of it. Back to Chrono Trigger! What a spectacular game! I must acknowledge Mary as the one to whom I owe the finding of this game. The question that remains now is this: is the RPG genre for everyone? Absolutely not! And I'll tell you why: many gamers want that quick burst of gameplay, which comes from a Mario platformer, or a Star Fox shooter, or a Wii Sports party-er, or a Mario Kart racer. There's a great deal of complexity in RPG games! And, oftentimes, there's a degree of drag to them as well. It was hard even for me, a big Pokemon fan, to accept the foreign RPG style of Chrono Trigger (What? I can't catch 'em all in this game?! Ludicrous!). But the bare-bones truth is, RPG's provide deep, rewarding experiences that are worth all the trouble of learning all there is to know about them. So dig a little deeper, and maybe you'll find that there's an RPG fan in you after all!

How Pokemon Colosseum surprised me: A Review

From Pokemon Stadium to Pokemon Battle Revolution, console Pokemon games always fall short of handheld Pokemon games. Therefore, Pokemon Colosseum, released for the GameCube in 2004, came as a pleasant surprise to me. It still doesn't measure up, but it becomes a great game in its own right through the use of a few twists to the tried-and-true Pokemon formula.

Twist #1: No Wild Pokemon
Okay, so most of the console Pokemon games don't have wild Pokemon. Colosseum, however, isn't like other console Pokemon games, in that it has an extensive single player adventure. So how does the player acquire new Pokemon? By snagging other peoples' Pokemon, that's how! This method is frankly frowned upon in mainstream Pokemon games.

Twist #2: A New Evil Agenda
Fortunately, the plot in Colosseum justifies such dastardly behavior: the bad guys are stealing Pokemon from other trainers (no change there) and shutting the doors to the hearts of these Pokemon (okay, that's different). There is hope for these "Shadow Pokemon": after snagging them, the player can gradually purify them by carrying them around and utilizing other cleansing methods.

Along with these, Pokemon Colosseum contains the single most compelling challenge I've encountered in a Pokemon game: the opportunity to earn a level-70 Ho-oh by snagging and purifying every available Pokemon in the game, then completing Mt. Battle in Colosseum mode with a party composed only of those Pokemon.

So play this game if you're a Pokemon fan! Not a Pokemon fan? It's still a great game.

Bite size bits from the Nintendo eShop

Game: Pokedex 3D
Price: Free
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Short Review: A must-have for Pokemon fans, especially considering it's free. Contains a surprising amount of info on each Pokemon, such as descriptions, moves, and evolutions. Not all Pokemon are available from the beginning, so it's fun to collect.

Game: Mario Calculator
Price: $1.99
Platform: Nintendo DSiware
Short Review: Most handheld gadgets come with a built-in calculator, but the Nintendo 3DS does not. If calculators are your thing, this may be a worthwhile transaction for you at a slim $1.99. Also, the unit conversion function is an unexpected treat.

Game: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX
Price: $5.99
Platform: Virtual Console-GameBoy Color
Short Review: Surprisingly fun for a handheld adventure game. A good buy for any Zelda fan. Not a Zelda fan? You'd be wise to stay away.

Two days, too much to cover...but I'll try

Update: Here are the links to a handful of new trailers Nintendo has released at E3:
Paper Mario
Mario Kart
Animal Crossing
Super Mario
Ocarina of Time 3D

I'll get straight to it today: starting with the brand-new eShop for Nintendo 3DS. With this important system update, Nintendo offered 3DS users everywhere two free downloads. The first is 3D Classics: Excite Bike. The original NES title remains untouched except for the addition of 3D depth. And it just so happens that a cool 3D trick comes into play: as the player moves the 3D depth slider, the whole background image shifts along with the depth itself.

The second piece of free Nintendo goodness is the Pokedex 3D. Users will start out with a limited amount of Pokemon data, but more can be obtained through SpotPass and by other means. Pokemon can be viewed in full 3D and can also be placed in the real world through augmented reality. Also included is comprehensive info on each acquired Pokemon: types, stats, and moves are just a few examples of what players can expect.

As if that didn't take up enough space, those little tidbits are nothing compared to the flood of new details revealed from Nintendo's E3 media conference, which took place Tuesday morning. Here goes:

2011 is The Legend of Zelda 25th anniversary. Fans can expect a host of celebratory events to take place throughout the year, starting with the ability to download The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service. That'll be seven bucks, please! Next, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be released on the 19th of this month. Club Nintendo members will be treated to a complimentary copy of the game's official soundtrack for registering their game...offer valid while supplies last, people! The long-awaited Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will finally be released for Wii this holiday season. A special promotion will see fans with super-awesome gold Wii-motes with the Zelda crest on the front.

New trailers are available for the following Nintendo 3DS games: Mario Kart, Super Mario, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Paper Mario, and more. In fact, 3D versions of said trailers can be downloaded for free on the Nintendo 3DS system. They all look amazing, by the way! The current Nintendo 3DS drought will be remedied by year's end, no doubt about it.

Readers, if you've made it this far, you're in for a treat, because Nintendo has pulled back the veil on their next home console. Rumors that the controller would have a built-in, 6-inch touch screen were, indeed, true (see the image on this post). The official name of the console is (drumroll, please)...Wii U! If Wii was able to capture the non-gamer market, then Wii U will capture the hardcore market. All thanks to a highly versatile controller and HD graphics capabilities. Non-gamer market, worry not: Wii U is backwards compatible with Wii games and accessories. In fact, Wii-motes will continue to be at the forefront of control with Wii U. The intention is that four Wii-motes and one touch screen controller can be used at one time. It's a new system, but incorporates the ol' Wii overtly, yet...subtly. Expect more details to emerge before the system's 2012 release. 

Pokemon-Just for Little Kids?

I'm debating whether I should start this post by saying that I like Pokemon, or by saying that Pokemon is highly misunderstood. I guess I just started with both. I like Pokemon games. Specifically, I enjoy the mainstream Pokemon games released on Nintendo handhelds. Pokemon is highly misunderstood (where I live anyway). You have no idea how many skeptical looks I've gotten by revealing my liking for Pokemon. The question I want to ask skeptics is: Have you ever played a Pokemon game all the way through?

A complex battle system that forces the player to consider types, moves, stats, abilities, effectiveness, items, dual-types, and experience points, all at the same time...does this seem like something that could appeal to a 7-year-old intellectually? Players ages 7 and up can effectively enjoy a Pokemon game. Creating the perfect team of six Pokemon alone involves an incredible amount of strategy. Add to that other activities like contests, catching 'em all, and growing berries, and the replay value of any contemporary Pokemon game skyrockets above even the deepest action-adventure game.