I feel like TMZ right now.

Junichi Masuda just posted to his Twitter that he has arrived at Los Angeles' International Airport (LAX). The E3 convention takes place in Los Angeles starting Tuesday, which is where he held a developer's conference last year that revealed a bunch of XY news. Coincidence?

There have already been rumors that a new Pokemon trailer will be revealed along with a gameplay demo, though again, it's only rumor at this point. I will be at E3 again this year to cover any Pokemon news that may arise. Stay tuned!

I swear every time I'm on a film shoot in the middle of the desert with spotty mobile Internet the PokeGods decide to reveal big news!

CoroCoro has leaked super early, revealing new Mega Evolutions for Sceptile, Swampert, and Diancie, and revealing brand new story details!

• Kyogre and Groudon's new "formes" are named Primal / Primeval / Prehistoric. Their "formes" are a regression called "Ancient Devolution," perhaps their original formes before they fought? The "formes" arise from "nature's energy." They also know new moves.
• Mega Diancie is still Rock/Fairy and its ability is unknown. (She looks like Sailor Moon.)
• Mega Sceptile is Grass/Dragon and has Lightning Rod.
• Mega Swampert is still Water/Ground and its Ability is Swift Swim.
• Like the originals, Team Magma is headed by Maxie; his admins are Tabitha and Courtney. Team Aqua is lead by Archie; his admins are Matt and Shelley. All of them are redesigned.
• Steven Stone appears to own a Mega Charizard X. He is researching Mega Evolution.
• The Mach Bike and Acro Bike are in the games again.
• The Mega Evolution item is called the "Mega Bangle" and is used by Brendan and May.

Again, I will be at E3 on Tuesday to cover any Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire news that may arise. Stay tuned!

As expected, Pokemon Get☆TV is set to feature a large segment on Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire during its June 15th show. CoroCoro will be out by then, so the show will likely exhibit the same information.

E3 starts next Tuesday in Los Angeles. Rumor has it that a new OR/AS trailer and gameplay demo will be showcased. Like last year, I will be at the convention to cover any Pokemon news that may arise. Stay tuned!

Following Charizard-EX in March and Pyroar in May, August's issue of CoroCoro magazine will come with a holo Landorus promo. It seems that the magazine will continue to release promos every few months based on the latest set.

A new Rising Fist TV commercial has revealed that Landorus and Lickitung will be in the set, revealed Shroomish for the first time, and alluded to the Dragonite line being in the set. All of the cards are too small to translate. The commercial can be seen below and it's pretty awesome!

A creepy / hilarious how-to-play video with a puppet Meowth voiced by Inuko Inuyama was also uploaded. I propose the Meowth be used to narrate the Nationals match commentary.

Pokemon.com has announced that, for the very first time, the U.S. Nationals tournament will feature an official live stream on Twitch TV! The stream will cover both TCG and video game matches and last for several hours on the 5th and 6th. Nationals will be held from July 4th to 6th at the Indiana Convention Center. We'll of course post the stream when it goes live.

Those who attend the event will also be able to download a shiny Level 50 Mamoswine with the moves Icicle Spear, Earthquake, Icicle Crash, and Rock Slide. The Mamoswine's Ability is Thick Fat, it has an Adamant nature, and it's holding a Choice Scarf. You do not need to be playing in the tournament to download the Pokemon.

Players may also pre-register for Nationals for the very first time (links below). TCG Masters division players can pay their $30 entry fee with a credit or debit card during the same online process as well.

Note that while anyone can play in the video game tournament, you need 10 Play Points to participate in the TCG tournament if you're a Masters division player (15+ years old) and 5 points if you're a Junior or Senior player. You get these points by participating in sanctioned events throughout the year (tournaments, prereleases, League Challenges, playing for a season at a Pokemon League, etc). Thus, you can't just show up and play in the TCG tournament as your first event - you need to have played several times during the season. TCG Masters players must also pay a $30 entree fee.

From Pokemon.com:

Gear up for the 2014 Pokémon TCG and Video Game US National Championships, starting July 4, 2014! The three-day event is the largest Play! Pokémon tournament of the year and features some of the most fun and intense battles on the planet. Take a look at some of the news regarding the upcoming competition in Indianapolis.

Preregistration Begins

For the first time, Pokémon players will have the opportunity to register for the National Championships prior to arriving at the Indiana Convention Center. Skip the long lines and secure your seat in the competition starting now. You’ll need your Player ID handy. Preregistration is open to both Pokémon TCG and video game competitors in all age divisions. Pokémon TCG Masters Division players, you’ll be able to pay your tournament registration entry fee at the same time.

Preregister for the Pokémon TCG National Championships.

Preregister for the Pokémon Video Game National Championships.

Travel Awards Issued

Hundreds of top players from around the country who have been battling throughout the year have qualified for Travel Awards and Stipends. In fact, more than $300,000 worth of Travel Awards and Stipends have been issued to nearly 500 players! Travel Awards ensure that the top players from the entire season are recognized for their excellent play and that the National Championships include some of the best players in the country. For more information on Travel Awards, check out this recent Pokemon.com article.

Live Streaming on Twitch!

Once again, Play! Pokémon is using the Twitch platform to provide hours of competitive action live from the tournament floor! Live streaming will cover both Pokémon video game and Pokémon TCG matches, including Swiss rounds, top-cut matches, and of course every finals match. Tune in to the action at twitch.tv/pokemon or on Pokemon.com’s official Nationals page during the event.

National Championships live streaming schedule (times subject to change):

Saturday, July 5

Noon to 5 p.m.: Pokémon Video Game
5 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Pokémon TCG

Sunday, July 6

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Pokémon TCG
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Pokémon Video Game

A Cool Pokémon Distribution Event

At the 2013 Pokémon World Championships, Arash Ommati led an epic team to victory to become World Champion. Now you can add a Mamoswine to your game based on one of the stars from his winning party! This Lv. 50 Shiny Mamoswine is built to do massive damage with four devastating attacks—Icicle Spear, Earthquake, Icicle Crash, and Rock Slide. It is also holding a Choice Scarf to help make up for Mamoswine’s relatively slow speed.

Everyone who attends the Pokémon National Championships can get Mamoswine—not just the competitors. Be sure to bring your system from the Nintendo 3DS family and your copy of Pokémon X or Pokémon Y. Look for signs at the Indiana Convention Center hall for more details on how to get Arash’s Mamoswine!

Whether you’re competing, cheering on your friends, or just stopping by to join the fun, we look forward to seeing you on the Fourth of July weekend at the Indiana Convention Center for the Pokémon National Championships.

Good luck, Trainers!

Sometimes I read news when I'm half asleep, dream that I've posted about it, then forget to check if I actually did or not.

Pokemon's Organized Play Director, Dave Schwimmer, announced last week on Play! Pokemon's forums that TCG sets will now be legal 21 days after their official release date instead of instantly. This will also apply to promo cards, event promos, and TCG products. The reason for this change is probably to give more flexibility to release dates, especially since stores do not consistently release Pokemon product at the same time and some events that give out promos are often held across multiple weekends. Thus, even though Furious Fists will be released a few days before Worlds, it will not be legal for play.

Beginning with the Pokémon TCG release in August 2014, Play! Pokémon will now set the tournament legality date of all new TCG sets for 21 days after the official street dates in all markets worldwide at three weeks after the official release date.

This means that if a TCG set releases on the 7th of a given month, that the first day that cards from that set will be legal for play in sanctioned tournaments would be the 28th of that same month. Sanctioned limited format events will not be affected, as the product for these events is provided by the organizer.

Sets will be legal for play in TCG Online general play, and casual tournaments as of the release date, offering players an opportunity to test cards and decks in the weeks leading up to the tournament legal date.

The tournament legal date is based off of the U.S. release date, and will not change based on shifted international market release dates. Play! Pokémon will publish a worldwide tournament legal date for each set prior to its release.

Organized Play Director
Dave Schwimmer
May 30th, 2014

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Yet another new product has been announced for August! The "Mega Charizard Collection" will be released on August 18th and will come with Mega Charizard X or Y as a figurine, four booster packs, and a special holo Charizard promo. This product is different than the "Mega Charizard Box," which will also be released in August and features one of two jumbo M Charizard-EX, and the "Charizard Box," which was released last month. No product image or price is available yet.

Feel the furious flames of Mega Charizard, and let your imagination take flight with 1 of 2 unbelievable sculpted figures featuring this awesome Pokemon! But that’s not all: the Mega Charizard Collection also fires up your battles with 4 Pokemon TCG booster packs, plus a special foil promo card - because nothing is hotter than Mega Charizard!

The collection includes:

• A special figure of Mega Charizard X or Mega Charizard Y
• 4 Pokemon TCG booster packs
• A special foil promo card featuring Charizard

Update (8:15 AM, Wednesday) - Added the product image! The MSRP is $399.99.

A brand new PTCG product will debut with Furious Fists on August 13th! This one is called the "Furious Fists Launch Kit" and is unlike any PTCG product released before. It comes with two booster boxes worth of Furious Fists booster packs (72 packs), eight theme decks, and 16 holo promo cards.

This product seems to be targeted at folks who like to buy Pokemon cards in bulk or who want to hold their own mini prerelease or those who run small card shops... or something. As of now we do not have a price or product image, nor do we know what the promo cards are (hopefully they won't be unique to this kit or it'll be expensive to get them).

Supercharge your Pokémon Trading Card release day with the XY - Furious Fists Launch Kit! It includes 72 booster packs and 8 theme decks from the XY - Furious Fists expansion, plus 16 foil promo cards to trade, play, and add to your collection!

Each kit contains:

• 72 Furious Fists booster packs!
• 8 Furious Fists theme decks!
• 16 exciting foil cards: 8 each of two designs!
• A unique shelf display to hold the product for the new release

His facial expressions are the best part.