Pokémon in 2007

Happy new year! 2007 will bring a lot of new developments for Pokémon. Here's what you can expect from Pokemon in 2007:

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea (April 3, 2007)

Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea will be on DVD on April 3, 2007. The ninth Pokémon movie, features Manaphy. The movie also features many of the new Pokemon that will appear in Pokémon Diamond/Pearl.

- Related Link: Future Movies

Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl (April 22, 2007)

Pokémon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl are next major Pokémon games since Pokémon Emerald, to be released on April 22, 2007. Pokémon Emerald became the second best selling game of 2005 in the US. Pokémon Diamond/Pearl has been breaking sales records in Japan (5 million units sold already), and Pokémon Diamond/Pearl are expected to enjoy similar success here in the US.

- Related Link: Pokémon Diamond/Pearl

Pokémon Battle Revolution (TBA)

Pokémon Battle Revolution for the Wii is expected to be released soon after Pokémon Diamond/Pearl.

- Related Link: Pokémon Battle Revolution

JAKKS Pacific: Pokémon Toys (Spring 2007)

JAKKS Pacific, an American toy company, announced back in June 2006 that it would launch the Pokémon product line in North America in Spring 2007, as well as various international territories, including Canada, South America, Central America, Mexico and more. So expect to see more Pokémon toy products.

Pokémon Diamond/Pearl TCG Set (TBA)

Just as the same way Pokémon Diamond/Pearl will change how players play Pokémon on the Nintendo DS, the Pokémon Diamond/Pearl TCG set will change how Pokemon TCG players play the game as well. The set features new game mechanics such as weakness and resistance values (it use to be weakness equals 2 times damage and resistance equals 30 damage decreased, but different values can now be placed for weakness and resistance depending on the card). Many other new game mechanics are introduced as well. And of course, the new Pokémon from Diamond/Pearl will be featured. No official release date is available for this set yet, but expect it sometime in Spring 2007.

Pokémon TCG Events (March-July 2007)

Many Pokémon TCG events will be running from March 2007 through July 2007. The State Championships will be held during March, Regional Championships during April 2007, Battle Road Tournaments during May 2007, and National Championships during Spring through July 2007.

- Related Link: Official Pokemon TCG Organized Player Website

2007 Pokémon TCG World Championships (August 10-12, 2007)

The 2007 Pokémon TCG World Championships will be held on August 10-12, 2007, at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kona, Hawaii. Players from around the world will compete with each other at the highest level of competition.

- Related Link: Official Pokémon TCG Organized Player Website

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2007)

Although not a Pokémon title entirely, Pokémon fans can enjoy this game as Pikachu returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. The game is expected to be released sometime in 2007.

- Related Link: Official Super Smash Bros. Website

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What else can we expect? The Manaphy code was suppose to be released in December 2006, when it was announced it would be available "later this month." That month has come and gone, so expect the Manaphy code to be released sometime soon.

Although there has been no official announcement, the Pokémon Video Game National Championships (and other similar events like Journey Across America) might make a return in 2007. These events were a huge success, with huge turnouts at locations across the US. So we definitely hope these events will be back for yet another year.

PokéPark, the temporary theme park debuted in Japan in 2005. In 2006, the theme park moved to Taiwan. It was announced that the PokePark will run for five years through 2010. After the Taiwan visit, the PokéPark will visit another location. The locations being considered are the United States, Europe, and Shanghai (China).