Sorry for the late report again this week, but we've got some good news to share. First, we have some new information about Aquapolis (next expansion after Expedition) including three brand-new energy cards! Then we have a name guessing game that will reveal the name of the following expansion set after Aquapolis. It will be called... hmm, on second thought, I'll let you read the report and not spoil the surprise.
MT_Mike was in Houston this week at the Magic Pro Tour, so unfortunately there was only little information about the newly-announced "BattleZone Delegate" program for Professors to encourage stores to run B.Z., and nothing new on the Challenge Series.
Enjoy,
- CHRISBO
AQUAPOLIS (next expansion set):
darkmt_mike says, "Hey all I have wrangled some
info out of the Brand Team about Aquapolis!"
master_trainer_pat grins evilly.
darkmt_mike says, "First there are 186 cards in
the set!"
master_trainer_pat says, "wow...killer!"
darkmt_mike says, "3 new Energies in the set!"
master_trainer_pat says, "that would make it the
biggest single set we've ever done."
darkmt_mike says, "Boost,
Crystal,
and...Warp!"
master_trainer_pat says, "What do they do?"
darkmt_mike says, "Warp Energy - colorless energy
and a Switch all in one."
master_trainer_pat says, "What about boost?"
darkmt_mike says, "I can only reveal one Pat!"
darkmt_mike smiles.
darkmt_mike smirks.
master_trainer_pat says, "nitroooo booostt!"
master_trainer_pat says, "darn!"
darkmt_mike says, "Some more later."
master_trainer_pat says, "What types of Pokemon in
the set?"
darkmt_mike says, "All your old favorites!"
master_trainer_pat says, "Is there a good
selection of trainers and supporters?"
darkmt_mike says, "Yup! Pretty good...or some good
and some bad. The usual mix!"
master_trainer_pat says, "Ok, that's fair."
darkmt_mike says, "I have an additional
announcement for our European friends...."
darkmt_mike says, "Aquapolis will be released
there without the difficulties we had with Expedition!"
[...and later on in the Chat...]
darkmt_mike says, "More Aquapolis news was just
ferreted out by Gengar!"
darkmt_mike says, "Two PCD's!"
master_trainer_pat says, "I don't know about
release dates though."
darkmt_mike says, "Abyss!"
darkmt_mike says, "Rock Garden!"
darkmt_mike says, "Abyss is Fire/Water"
darkmt_mike says, "Garden is Fighting/Grass"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#331 from skywolf9653:
What are PCD's?
darkmt_mike says, "Post Concocted Decisions."
darkmt_mike says, "No...er Pre Constructed Decks."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#378 from jpdevilliers80:
Will the Crystal Pokemon appear in Aquapolis or do
we have to wait for [...the next set...]?
Crystal Charizard looks amazing (Ecard 5 - Japan)
darkmt_mike says, "Can't say."
darkmt_mike says, "61 cards in the PCD's like last
time."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#295 from jpdevilliers80:
When, do you think or can you say, will Aquapolis
be released? This year still?
darkmt_mike says, "I can say that it will be
either late December or January."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#297 from jpdevilliers80:
As to the Europe Release - is it the same for
South Africa?
darkmt_mike says, "I can't say for sure. If it was
on Europe's schedule then possibly. Sorry can't be more helpful there."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #296 from marril2000:
any info on the
Aquapolis booster packs (such as the card scheme in
Expedition, 8 and then that crazy refractor holo)?
master_trainer_pat says, "It is the same scheme
for the boosters and the box topper cards."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#316 from skywolf9653:
You had stated that Aquapolis has three new energy
types, can you elaborate on that a bit more?
darkmt_mike says, "Many Bothans died for that
information...it's all I got!"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#328 from chrisbo:
Re Q316 Gosh, you guys really need to get more
Bothans. (GRIN)
darkmt_mike says, "LOL. Yup we just can't seem to
recruit enough of them!"
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #329 from soslowpoke:
What do you do with all those dead bothans anyway?
O_o
master_trainer_pat says, "I wish someone would
move them outside"
master_trainer_pat shakes her/his head.
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #318 from steel_claw:
will you ever plan on printing 1st edition cards
in any sets in the future? or is that all over with?
master_trainer_pat says, "No, we will not be doing
first edition for Pokemon anymore"
darkmt_mike says, "Elvis has left the building!"
S??????? (expansion set following Aquapolis):
darkmt_mike says, "So Pat want to guess what
the next set's name is?"
master_trainer_pat says, "Yes, I'd like to
guess...Farfegnugen!"
darkmt_mike says, "Nope!"
master_trainer_pat says, "Way off, huh?"
darkmt_mike says, "Anyone else?"
darkmt_mike says, "Yup...it starts with a S"
master_trainer_pat says, "Sasquatch"
darkmt_mike says, "Nope!"
darkmt_mike says, "It has to do with the air."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #340 from purity1:
stratosphere?
darkmt_mike says, "Nope. Good guess!"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#342 from soslowpoke:
Could the next set be called... "Skyopolis" ?
darkmt_mike says, "No! That is silly....hmmm..note
to self name set after Skyopolis!"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#353 from bigdaddysnorlax:
The new set must be called "Smog" then. ;)
darkmt_mike says, "Nope."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#355 from lizardotc:
Smog... Stench... Sunset...
darkmt_mike says, "Stench?
Nope."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#356 from pokesensei:
Skyscraper? ;)
darkmt_mike says, "Nope...but Sky is in the name."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #360 from daytongl:
Snuffleupagus?
master_trainer_pat says, "What does that have to
do with the air? It's funny though."
master_trainer_pat says, "What is it!
Fer cryin out loud"
darkmt_mike says, "Okay...it's..."
darkmt_mike says, "Skyridge"
master_trainer_pat says, "Skyridge...is that the
best we could do!"
master_trainer_pat says, "No, that's ok...I guess.
Maybe it'll grow on me."
darkmt_mike says, "You would not believe all the
names that are copy written!"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#370 from calathon:
Skyridge? Sounds like a 50's TV show
master_trainer_pat says, "The set is in black and
White!"
darkmt_mike says, "Yup! Ilike it! I really reaally
do!"
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#377 from bigdaddysnorlax:
Did the MTs have a hand in designing the PCDs for
Skyridge?
darkmt_mike says, "I think MTM did. So you can
blame him!"
POKEMON LEAGUE / BATTLE ZONE:
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #294 from spanky69:
So anything new on The Gym Challenges or
Battlezone?
darkmt_mike says, "The Posters look Cool!"
master_trainer_pat says, "I finally saw the first
but, MT MIke made me promise not to let anything out until he gets back from
Pro Tour Houston."
master_trainer_pat says, "We're still waiting for info on the Stadiums and Gyms."
master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with
question #304 from skywolf9653:
Any word on when BZ information, is going to be
posted on the website?
master_trainer_pat says, "Do you mean list of
locations? We need to get the kits out
first and we are planning to let you know here first when we have the ok to
release the info."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#327 from wizo_pokemom:
There have been some posts from upset -18 y/o
Professors regarding the Delegate program; could you clarify the reasons why
-18s cannot be part of this, please?
darkmt_mike says, "legal reasons."
darkmt_mike says, "wizo...it is because we there
are legal issues with putting that age group in the field."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#339 from skywolf9653:
For MP's that want to get the word out about BZ, I
thought that I had heard, that we'd be given a "script" of some some sort. Can
you elaborate on that?
darkmt_mike says, "Yes.
It will say Hey! This is Great! Do it!"
master_trainer_pat says, "A script is what you get
when you are acting or something, right?"
darkmt_mike says, "Our script writers were off
that day."
darkmt_mike says, "I'm sure MTM will write
something good."
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question
#344 from marril2000:
what do you think would be a good strategy to get
a store interested in possibly running the upcoming battlezone more than once
every 12 or so weeks (that's the current issue with the league... or was the
issue :/ )
darkmt_mike says, "You need to appeal to the business side. If they think it will bring them traffic and sales they will be more inclined to support it."