BELLEVUE, WA—September 4, 2013—In a surprising twist announced this morning during a special Nintendo Direct presentation, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y players do not receive Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie from Professor Sycamore but are in fact given the choice of a classic partner Pokémon—Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle—from the very first Pokémon games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue! Adding to the excitement, once a player has evolved this Pokémon into Venusaur, Charizard, or Blastoise and obtained its unique Mega Stone, the Pokémon will be able to Mega Evolve while in battle. Mega Venusaur, Mega Charizard, and Mega Blastoise will possess overwhelming powers never before seen in a Pokémon game. Players can choose fan favorite Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle when Pokémon X and Pokémon Y launch worldwide October 12, 2013, for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.



Editor's Note: This article taken directly from Nintendo's official press release.

More secrets about Mega Evolution were also revealed today. It was previously announced that certain Pokémon needed to hold a unique Mega Stone in order to Mega Evolve, but now it's known that there is a second requirement players must fulfill for Mega Evolution to occur. Trainers must also obtain a bracelet called the Mega Ring that holds a mysterious stone called a Key Stone. The Trainer's Key Stone resonates with the Mega Stone held by his or her Pokémon, and together they trigger the Evolution that is normally impossible—Mega Evolution.

Director from GAME FREAK inc., Mr. Junichi Masuda, also announced Pokémon Bank—a new Nintendo 3DS application and service that allows Pokémon X and Pokémon Y players to conveniently store up to 3,000 of their beloved Pokémon on the Internet. Pokémon Bank gives players the flexibility to store and deposit 100 Boxes worth of Pokémon. This is in addition to the Boxes found within Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, just like in previous Pokémon titles.


Additional features of Pokémon Bank include the ability to deposit and withdraw Pokémon from multiple copies of Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. Once a Pokémon X or Pokémon Y Game Card is inserted into a Nintendo 3DS system or the downloadable version of the game is opened, the Pokémon Bank software can be turned on for use. Players can then transfer Pokémon from multiple copies of the game via Pokémon Bank to one copy of Pokémon X or Pokémon Y.

Pokémon Bank software is activated upon payment of an annual service fee. This charge will support maintenance of the online server that allows players to store up to 3,000 Pokémon conveniently, and will provide the application's support for future Pokémon titles.

Players who activate Pokémon Bank, will be able to use its linked application, Poké Transporter, which makes transferring many Pokémon caught in other Pokémon games easy. What used to be a lengthy process to transfer Pokémon from a previous Pokémon game to the latest titles is now a breeze with Poké Transporter—just insert Pokémon Black, Pokémon White, Pokémon Black 2, or Pokémon White 2 into your Nintendo 3DS system and use Poké Transporter to transfer Pokémon from those games into Pokémon Bank.

Pokémon Bank will be available in North America on Nintendo eShop. More details about this software, including a free trial period, will be added to Pokemon.com in the near future.

Also announced in this morning's Nintendo Direct presentation were details for the North American release of two special Nintendo 3DS XL hardware designs featuring imagery from Pokémon X and Pokémon Y. These systems come in Red or Blue and feature brand new Legendary Pokémon Xerneas and Yveltal. The systems will launch on September 27 at a suggested retail price of $199.99 each.


To view the Nintendo Direct presentation in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct.

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Poke-cloud is a genius move to make Nintendo a crap load of money. I wouldn't pay for it, but great idea business wise.

I'm not sold on Mega-evolutions yet. Seeing the real starters (REAL!) make a comeback along with the new ones made me so happy. Squirtle and I will team up again! Hooray!

Overall the direct was kind of boring, I didn't like the voiceovers. Also the limited edition 3DS consoles are pretty ugly in my opinion, but hey, I already have one so it doesn't matter to me! I'm sure they'll sell gangbusters.

I look forward to jumping back into this Pokemon-fad soon.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 09/04/13, 17:34

It's very strange that the Pokemon X/Y XLs don't include the game.

Pokemon Box---er, Pokemon Bank's annual fee is discouraging, but it's only 500 yen in Japan (so about $5) per year, which seems reasonable for people who want to transfer their Pokemon from B/W/B2/W2. It's a good idea, but as someone who hasn't played any recent games, not for me. I might use it if X/Y gets me back into the series head-first though.

Looking forward to these games, and to getting a Bulbasaur again!

Posted by

TriforceBun

on: 09/04/13, 17:43

I wish the 3DS XL's didn't come with the reindeer.

Posted by

missypissy

on: 09/04/13, 18:43

missypissy said:

I wish the 3DS XL's didn't come with the reindeer.

I think it might've worked better if there was just Xerneas on the X one and Yveltal on the Y one. It's a little busy right now.

Posted by

TriforceBun

on: 09/04/13, 19:07

Squirtle and I will once again become the very best. Like no one ever was.

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 09/04/13, 20:46

@GameDadGrant

Whoa there, cowboy. Don't get ahead of yourself. To catch them is your REAL test.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 09/04/13, 23:50

@TriforceBun Well, at least the design isn't like the "camo" special editions that have been hitting Japan, like the Mario one, AC one, Luigi one, etc.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 09/05/13, 00:23

@-JKR-

True. But to train them is my cause.

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 09/05/13, 01:54

@TriforceBun

Tell me about it. --And in a world where Pokemon sells two games and forces people to gain access to two games somehow (is it still like this?) to complete it, why wouldn't they NATURALLY have TWO DIFFERENT designs?

Each would be simpler, and Deathly_Hallows would buy both. As is, they both look gross, and nobody wants them.

Posted by

Mr_Mustache

on: 09/05/13, 02:05

@GameDadGrant@GameDadGrant

After you travel across the land.


Count me in the Squirtle camp BTW.

Posted by

Shadowlink

on: 09/05/13, 03:16

Chespin and Squirtle for me.

Posted by

Hero_Of_Hyrule

on: 09/05/13, 04:26

@Hero_Of_Hyrule

I'll be Fennekin and Squirtle I think...

Bulbasaur was my first ever Pokemon, so I'm tempted to go with him, but I've learned to love Fire and Water pokes more than Grass these days.

Posted by

DrFinkelstein

on: 09/05/13, 04:30

So when exactly do you get to choose a new starter?

Posted by

anon_mastermind

on: 09/05/13, 04:30

@anon_mastermind It hasn't been announced. They just said you get a gen 6 starter from your friends, and then a gen 1 starter from the professor. Based on that, I expect it will be at the beginning of the game, since you normally meet the professor before leaving the starting town.

Posted by

Hero_Of_Hyrule

on: 09/05/13, 05:48

Dang, I'm really tempted to get Bulbasaur now, just because I never have. But how can I neglect my beloved Squirtle?

Someone trade with me when the game comes out. Give me a Bulbasaur. Please.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 09/05/13, 06:01

@-JKR-
I'm sure there'll be lots and lots of breeding and trading going on. I ended up with pretty much every starter ever in Pokemon Black, just from trades. Good times!

Posted by

ploot

on: 09/05/13, 07:40

Looks like I'm gonna have 2 water starters when I get Pokemon X

Posted by

shinriley

on: 09/05/13, 07:42

Speaking of Pokémon, be sure to take in your copies of Black 2/White 2 to Gamestop and pick up the Shiny that's available this month.

Posted by

GameDadGrant

on: 09/05/13, 16:01

GameDadGrant said:

Speaking of Pokémon, be sure to take in your copies of Black 2/White 2 to Gamestop and pick up the Shiny that's available this month.

You can also do it with Black 1 and White 1. Just did it myself and hour ago.

Posted by

sirmastersephiroth

on: 09/05/13, 20:37

@shinriley

Unless the Prof. just gives you automatically the complementary Pokemon to the starter you pick of the new bunch. Possible.

Posted by

-JKR-

on: 09/05/13, 21:01