Sorry the report is late this week; I guess Halloween candy takes precedence over computers (yummm). (Pojo Note: CHRISBO was only a little bit late, I was really late with getting it up. Sorry CHRISBO).
Anyway, it sounds like the BattleZone information is almost ready for release, but not quite ready yet. So this week in addition to the normal news, I decided to share an entertaining thread involving MT_Pat and his arch-rival, the GameBoy...
Enjoy,
- CHRISBO
POKEMON LEAGUE / BATTLE ZONE:
master_trainer_mike says, "Anyway, I'd like to start off with some good news. Pokemon BattleZone is coming! We FINALLY worked out the final details and it is going to the press as we speak! We are shooting for a release date of around Nov 22nd. Keep an eye on the web site for more details. This also means that I will soon be starting the Professor Delegate program as well where interested Professors will get a chance to help support this program. They will also be rewarded for doing so (no such thing as a free lunch!)"
master_trainer_mike says, "Sorry it took so long to tell you more about this but I have recently learned that until I KNOW something is happening, I ain't talking about it. This is for all of our protection :)"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #223 from bulletpokemonmaster:
Do you know of toys R us, BAM, or of any stores
off the top of your head that will be hosting Battle Zone?
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #233 from pokemaster gen:
Is Toys R Us a possible place for Battlezone?
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #228 from bodragon:
Any progress this week with the Battlezone?
master_trainer_mike says, "It is up to the
individual stores to decide whether they will run BattleZone or not. The more
you bug them for it, the more likely they will run it. I know that the Wizards
stores, Books-a-Million, and Hastings stores are all excited to be involved.
There are also many individual other core and mass market stores as well.
Only YOU can make the difference!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #219 from skywolf9653:
MTM: Is there a printable vers. on BZ info that I
can distribute to my league stores should questions arise?
master_trainer_mike says, "I will be sending out
these details to the Professor list soon. Please be patient."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #206 from daytongl:
Is there a better number to call to order
BattleZone than 1-800-821-8028? My management team has been trying for 3
straight weeks to get ahold of someone to order and have been getting only
busy signals.
master_trainer_pat says, "That number is no longer working...as you management team has discovered. Your management team can contact Customer Service here at 1(800)324-6496 or e-mail leaguesupport@wizards.com for more info"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #218 from michel1be:
Could you confirm that BattleZone will start in
Europe in January 2003 ?
master_trainer_mike
says, "Nope, it is up to the individual offices as
to when they will launch it. I have heard that they plan on shooting for this
though."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #220 from ukpokemonpro:
I hope I am doing this right and sorry if I have
got the protocol wrong.. my question is this ... We have been having a lot of
problems with league kits and promo's over the last three years.. like not
getting them! What will you be doing to ensure Ba
master_trainer_mike says, "The UK office, as you may know, was absorbed into the Hasbro UK office. There have been many staff and budget changes there and I know they are all working as hard as they can. With limited staff and budgets, they have had to make choices on what they can and can't do quickly. I know they want to support Pokemon, but have all sorts of limitations that we can't go into. Keep letting them know of your desire and interest to help and they will get to you when they can. The same goes for all of our offices (including this one)."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #232 from ikendall:
When Battle Zone does hit Europe, will European
Profs be involved in a Professor Delegate system?
master_trainer_mike says, "That will be up to the
individual offices as they use a different system than we do. We have direct
sales with stores here and they go through
distributors. I will work with those
offices and see if it will work for them :).
Not to worry if they don't use it though, as the
shirts and special promo cards will be made available for them to get out to
you as well."
PROMO CARDS:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #248 from steel_claw:
The Ho-Oh and Rapidash promos will be re-released
soon, so I hear. Will they be any different from the NY promos so as not to
destroy the value of our nice, shiny new cards?
master_trainer_mike says, "They have already come out to subscribers of Nintendo power magazine (without the store stamp) and will also appear in another promotion soon."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #259 from chrisbo:
Re Q248 - Can you tell us what "other promotion"
will be offering the Ho-oh & Rapidash Promos (#51 & #52)?
master_trainer_mike says, "I COULD, but that would
take away the excitement! And I am ALL
about excitement!"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #251 from bulletpokemonmaster:
is it too early to tell if WOTC will have a say a
Promo Suicune Card or something inserted in the VHS and DVD version of Pokemon
4Ever?
master_trainer_mike says, "AHHHHHH SUICUNE!!!"
master_trainer_mike says, "no idea"
HUMOR ALERT - "HEY, LET'S WATCH MT_PAT'S GAMEBOY EXPLODE!!"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #210 from bl_prime:
Q. E-Reader says that the card "Strength Charm"
does not add damage done to the bench. Is that correct? How should we play
the card?
master_trainer_pat says, "Do you mean you get a ruling when you scan it? As far as I'm concerned our ruling on it stands unless we get some order to change it from the powers that be."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #225 from pokesensei:
This is what it says when you scan the card (I
just did it): "Strength Charm is a Pokemon Tool. If the Pokemon Strength Charm
is attached to does damage with its attacks, that damage is increased by 10.
Damage done to benched Pokemon isn't increased though"
master_trainer_mike says, "Sorry but Pat hadn't
been at the meeting where this was clarified."
master_trainer_pat says, "Nuts! That is so lame!"
master_trainer_mike says, "Turns out it is a game
rule that NOTHING will ever increase the amount of damage done by a bench
attack. So we have had to change the
previous ruling on this card. Strength
Charm does NOT increase damage done to the Bench ONLY to the Defending
Pokemon."
master_trainer_pat shakes her/his head.
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #227 from chrisbo:
Just to clarify... If I use an attack that does
damage to the opponent's bench, but the defending pokemon is "Lily Pad" Mew
with Neutral Shield, does the bench damage get blocked or not? In light of
other Suicune rulings, I would guess "not blocked".
master_trainer_pat says, "Right...not blocked that is. At least until I'm overruled by a Game Boy again!"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #229 from lizardotc:
If my Eevee has 40 damage on it and I use
Venusaur's Harvest Bounty to attach 2 Rainbow energies to it, I flip two
coins. If I get tails on the first and heads on the second, does Eevee get to
use Energy Evolution before it takes the damage, or not?
master_trainer_pat says, "Lemme check my game
boy"
master_trainer_mike says, "Geez, feeling a bit put
upon???"
master_trainer_mike says, "You have to resolve
each card after you attach it."
master_trainer_pat says, "still scanning
cards...."
master_trainer_mike says, "SO, after the first
rainbow is done, you would add 10 damage, then you would do the same for
the second card.
In your example, Eevee, would have been Knocked
out."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #237 from yoshi1001:
So no bench extra for S Charm-what about
self-damage?
master_trainer_mike says, "Well, self damage would
still happen because that does NOT go against any game rules."
master_trainer_pat says, "Doesn't the e-reader
cover that"
master_trainer_mike says, "I think you guys ticked
pat off.........."
master_trainer_mike says, "or maybe I
did........."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #246 from pokesensei:
Hey Pat, you
have your Gameboy out now and swiping each card for all the questions now,
aren't you? rotflmbo
master_trainer_pat says, "I started, but I got
sidetracked and am now Excitebike! That's a
cool game!"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #253 from chrisbo:
(Sorry to beat this question up, the queue is long
today...) Re: Strength Charm - OK, so damage to the opponent's bench is not
increased, but self-damage is increased? Ugh, what a mess...
master_trainer_pat says, "Right, and oh by the
way, we have game boys to keep track of rulings now apparently??!!"
master_trainer_pat smirks.
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #258 from puritys_echidna:
hmmm... [asks master_trainer gameboy about brock's
ninetales and kingdra] ...maybe we can get a different answer....
master_trainer_pat says, "I tried that one...no
more Excitebike...my game boy exploded!
It's twitching in the corner of my cube!"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #261 from chrisbo:
JOKE - If rulings were printed on Card-E Ditto, I
bet it would be solid black ink. Bwahahaha... thud!
master_trainer_pat laughs hysterically.
master_trainer_pat says, "They better make a pack
of 40 cards to scan for Ditto!"
master_trainer_pat laughs hysterically.
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #262 from lizardotc:
How do I load the Compendium and Master Rulings
into my GBA so I can see the GBA updates?
master_trainer_mike says, "there is a certain type
of thermometer that may help"
master_trainer_mike smirks.
master_trainer_pat laughs hysterically.
master_trainer_pat says, "I've had too much
candy..."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #265 from pokesensei:
MTM. Would you
like to comment on those nasty rumors that Pat is being replaced by Master
Trainer Gameboy? [smirks]
master_trainer_mike says, "I have always been a
sony guy myself so I would not vote Pat off of the island."
master_trainer_pat says, "As soon as a Game Boy
can handle calls from an angry grandma, I'll be in trouble!"
[CHRISBO NOTE: If you check out Pokemon Zeo's
website, this may happen sooner than he thinks.
http://www.sugarshock.net/zeo/fake_cards/other_fakes/gameboy.jpg.]
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #270 from skywolf9653:
So, are the "GBA Rulings" permissible, or are they
subject to final approval by TPC/WotC?
master_trainer_mike says, "You are always better
off checking with us. The folks that right
the tip text for the cards are NOT the same people who make game rules."
