Well, "that's a wrap!!" The final WOTC Pokemon Chat went off today with lots of reminiscing (just don't ask MTM about the "Beef in Egg Sauce" incident; I hear it wasn't pretty) and fond memories of chats gone by. A little bit of news, a few rulings, but all in all it was a graceful exit from a truly awesome customer service team.

I personally would like to thank everyone who has encouraged me over the years. It's been a blast doing these Chat Reports and meeting people from all over the world. If Nintendo ever starts doing Chats I will return here and continue reporting from the front lines. But until then, stay strong and keep it "MINTY FRESH"!! Peace.

Thanks to all (especially Pojosama Bill),

(Pojo Bill Note:  No CHRIS ... Thank You.  Do you folks realize CHRISBO did this for 3+ years!!!  Going back to the Featured Articles Page ... the first Chat Report was from June 30, 2000!!! Holy Moly!  CHRISBO basically did a Chat Report for Pokemon CCG fans every week since then.  That is truly amazing!!!  You are my hero!  Thanks!  - Bill)

- CHRISBO

----------------------

CONVENTIONS:

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #59 from

wizo_pokemom:

will elaine or kierin be at sdcc, or gencon?

darkmt_mike says, "Be out at GenCon"

master_trainer_mike says, "They will both be at Gen Con! Kierin went over to the Dark Side! Dark Kierin at Star Wars!"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #37 from drpoke: Is MT Damon also going to be at gencon? master_trainer_pat says, "He'll be at San Diego...I don't know about Gen Con"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #38 from m_p_douglas: Gen Con reminder Bring two big suitcases Don't put Nintendo Cards in WotC Decks (immediate disqualification) yes even energy....Steve G. will be tightening the rules on team for the Team Championship. master_trainer_mike says, "There ya go! There are trophies on the line people!"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #16 from professorcfk: Will there be any time to "challenge the MTs" at Gencon indy? master_trainer_pat says, "dunno...you can certainly ask them." darkmt_mike says, "Hopefully" master_trainer_mike says, "I am quite the vicious thumb wrestler!"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #6 from drpoke: Will all of you be able to play pick up games? or maybe a draft after hours? darkmt_mike says, "They would love to!" master_trainer_mike says, "When we can. Have a lot of stuff to check out and run including Pokemon, Risk 2210, and talk with the Neopets folks." master_trainer_pat says, "We'll have to find time..."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #26 from richard

langenstein:

Any chance of MTM doing the Imakuni dance @ gen con? master_trainer_mike says, "I have my own surprise in mind................"

PROMO CARDS:

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #17 from m_p_douglas: I am putting the finishing touches on my WotC pokemon collection. It is not perfect, but it mine...Can you tell me if Best Promo #8 and 9, Rocket;s Mewtwo and Rocket's Hitmonchan will have a NON winner version. Also, will there be a Best Promo #10 or #11? master_trainer_mike says, "Nope and nope."

PROFESSOR PROGRAM:

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #33 from yoshi1001: Can we get an update on the MP materials. Did they get shipped on monday as scheduled? master_trainer_mike says, "I have to personally hand enter every single order. I got some of them in yesterday. And will be spending the last several days before I leave for SDCC finishing them off."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #100 from fishking: Will there be a final mailing of Professor and Master Professor membership cards? master_trainer_mike says, "Yes."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #112 from soslowpoke: Will the Professor/Master Professor List get updated again? master_trainer_mike says, "I will update the Master Professor when I get back on August 5th."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #66 from

mysterioustrainer:

When is the last possible date for any DCI tournaments? master_trainer_mike says, "The last day of sanctioning for Pokemon is August 31st, 2003."

MEMORIES...:

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #3 from drpoke: I would like to thank you all for all of the wonderful memories you guys brought with this game. master_trainer_mike says, "Thanks to all of you for the fun and memories as well!" darkmt_mike says, "As would I....but without the singing" master_trainer_mike says, "MEM'RIES!" master_trainer_mike says, "LIKE THE CORNERS OF MY MIND............" [CHRISBO NOTE: In the interest of protecting the ears of our readers, I have removed the rest of this song from MTM [GRIN].]

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #4 from wizo_pokemom: I just wanted to say it's been fun keeping the peace for you guys during the chats this past year or so; see you at SDCC, MTM and Pat; wish you were going to be there, DMTM :( master_trainer_mike says, "DMTM wouldn't accept being shipped freight like Pat and I are." master_trainer_pat says, "We're looking forward to seeing you there...thanks Pokemom." master_trainer_mike says, "at least we get pillows in the box.........." master_trainer_pat smiles.

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #8 from m_p_douglas: Last WotC Pokemon Chat.....Thanks and Thanks and well Thanks again to Dark Master Trainer Mike, Master Trainer Mike, MT D Rock (Damon Edmondson), Master Trainer Pat (Patman), and Dark Master Trainer Steve. Please accept our congratulation for being one of the best customer service teams this side of heaven. master_trainer_mike says, "Is Kukamumga this side of heaven too?" master_trainer_mike says, "YOU HEAR THAT?" darkmt_mike says, "Sniff" master_trainer_mike says, "IN YOUR FACE KUKAMUNGA!!!!!!" master_trainer_mike grins evilly. master_trainer_pat says, "Thanks...." darkmt_mike says, "Totally lost it he has"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #12 from purity1: yay, two mikes and one pat! but where's steve?? darkmt_mike says, "In the box" master_trainer_pat says, "He's right here playing Star Wars and answering the phone! He says to say hi and thanks for all the cool times. He'll be at Gen Con...be sure to look him up"

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #15 from

basictrainer007:

Thanks yall. You all helped us with rulings and such. Without you all, we would be still be thinking about ditto rullings. darkmt_mike says, "Yeah poor dtto." master_trainer_pat says, "The ruling would have been: Play as written." master_trainer_mike smiles. master_trainer_pat smirks. master_trainer_mike says, "Where would we have been without Chrisbo asking us EVRY FLIPPING POSSIBLE CARD combination? Home in bed! That's where we would have been!" darkmt_mike laughs hysterically. master_trainer_mike grins evilly.

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #88 from roonman: Anything you would have banned that didn't get banned? Or that got banned which shouldn't have? master_trainer_pat says, "Of course!" master_trainer_mike says, "Yup!" darkmt_mike says, "Lots of stuff" master_trainer_mike says, "BUT it isn't our game so we couldn't ban the most DANGEROUS card of all! Fire energy! Boy, did THAT need to go."

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #24 from marril2000: Pat, Mike, and Dark Mike, out of all your memories with the Pokemon Trading Card Game, what would you say is your most favorite and why? and, what moment are you most proud of and why? master_trainer_mike says, "You know you are asking about 4 years of work and fun. Too hard to pick one. Just glad to have met so many of you. Glad you all finally learned the power of WEEDLE!" darkmt_mike says, "Mine most favorite is watching Tournament play at the STS's" master_trainer_pat says, "Talking to the mother of the kids that microwaved their holos and got sick from the fumes!" master_trainer_pat laughs hysterically. darkmt_mike says, "That was good Pat" darkmt_mike smirks. master_trainer_pat says, "That was a riot!" master_trainer_mike says, "Don't forget the grandmother who wrote and told us how Pokemon cards saved her grand son's life!" master_trainer_pat says, "right!" darkmt_mike says, "Or the burned her car down one" master_trainer_mike says, "He had them in his pocket, and when he got bumped by a car, they hit the cards in his pocket and absorbed the impact." darkmt_mike says, "a miricale!"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #28 from cattdreams: what were some of the most memorable questions you've gotten in pokemon chat? master_trainer_mike says, "I think the thousand times we were asked what our favorite Pokemon was. Then I finally blurted out Weedle just to shush you all!" master_trainer_mike smiles.

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #80 from marril2000: Out of all the many ruling questions, what do you think was the most hardest or annoying to answer and why? darkmt_mike says, "Ditto Brocks Ninetails...need you ask?" master_trainer_mike says, "Anything with Ditto, Brock's Ninetales, or Lt Surge's Secret Plan in it. Which SEEMED to be in every other question Chrsibo or Yoshi asked!!!!" master_trainer_pat says, "Anything that really was not important for tournament play." master_trainer_mike says, "see above answer :)" master_trainer_pat says, "Lt Surge's secret plan comes to mind. B. Ninetales." darkmt_mike says, "Silly Ninetails" master_trainer_pat says, "Ditto was hard to answer stuff about because it was used in tournaments all the time until we started on Modified." darkmt_mike says, "Suicune had its moments" master_trainer_pat says, "and the answers were very important for tournament play."

master_trainer_pat presents the speaker with question #90 from yoshi1001:

Re: 80 Which reminds me, if Ditto is copying a shapeshifted brock's ninetales and you gust up a benched face down LSSPed card, what happens to ditto if the card is not a basic Pokemon? master_trainer_pat says, "1(800)859-4521 or tradingcard@noa.nintendo.com. Enjoy..." darkmt_mike says, "heh"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #35 from calathon: Can I get custody of Ditto? master_trainer_mike says, "He's yours!" darkmt_mike says, "Can't contain him...he keeps changing." master_trainer_pat says, "Here ya go!"

master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with question #78 from yoshi1001: Congratulations, Mike. You've set a new record for cheesyness and annoyingness. I can only hope Nintendo will be able to reach the standards you've set. ;-) master_trainer_mike says, "MEM'RIES!!!!" master_trainer_mike says, "I am the keeper of the cheese!"

PARTING WORDS:

master_trainer_mike says, "Ok gang, we do have to go." master_trainer_mike says, "Thank you all for the last 3+ years of chatting and listening to us and our silliness." master_trainer_mike says, "Couldn't have done it without you." master_trainer_mike says, "Hope to see many of you at the SDCC or at Gen Con." master_trainer_mike says, "More goodies to come for you all." master_trainer_mike says, "best of luck in the future!" darkmt_mike says, "It has been a genuine pleasure. Thanks for all your support. You're the greatest!" master_trainer_mike says, "Nintendo has some good plans so Pokemon should continue." master_trainer_mike says, "If you like any of our other games, then we'd be glad to keep you on :)" darkmt_mike says, "Good luck in whatever you do. See ya at GenCon!" master_trainer_mike says, "Take care all of you!" master_trainer_pat says, "Well, I don't want to drag this out with long goodbyes...for those of you that I don't see in San Diego...bye and thanks for making this such a special part of our jobs for the last 3 1/2 years." master_trainer_mike says, "MEM'RIES!" master_trainer_pat says, "See ya gang!" master_trainer_mike says, "Like the corners of my mind" master_trainer_mike says, "Misty water-colored memories" master_trainer_mike says, "Of the way we were" master_trainer_mike says, "Scattered pictures," master_trainer_mike says, "Of the smiles we left behind" master_trainer_mike says, "Smiles we gave to one another" master_trainer_mike says, "For the way we were" master_trainer_mike says, "Can it be that it was all so simple then?" master_trainer_mike says, "Or has time re-written every line?" master_trainer_mike says, "If we had the chance to do it all again" master_trainer_mike says, "Tell me, would we? could we?" master_trainer_mike says, "Mem'ries, may be beautiful and yet" master_trainer_mike says, "What's too painful to remember" master_trainer_mike says, "We simply choose to forget" master_trainer_mike says, "So it's the laughter" master_trainer_mike says, "We will remember" master_trainer_mike says, "Whenever we remember..." master_trainer_mike says, "The way we were..." master_trainer_mike says, "The way we were..." master_trainer_mike says, "Take care all of you......." master_trainer_mike says, "MTM moving on............" master_trainer_mike bows gracefully.