Pojo's Friday News Page
June 24th - 2005

Batman Begins Reviewed

In Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer have successfully re-imagined the screen version of Batman by dispensing with the big-budget camp of past features and getting back to the basics of good storytelling. This Batman is darker and the villains more complex. In addition, the action is more sophisticated to some extent, yet the screen fighting still has significant room for improvement. FullStory

Nintendo to makeover its archive
Old Nintendo games given new look when played on Revolution

Classic Nintendo titles offered for download via Nintendo's new Revolution console may benefit from a slight graphical upgrade according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata.

Iwata explained that Nintendo is currently working with new technology to explore ways in which older games can be made to look better for their next-gen renaissance. FullStory

Linux on DS

Trying to port Linux to various portable devices is hot nowadays. One project is porting Linux to the Nintendo DS, and is making big progress lately. Learn More Here

Pokemon priority for rescued boy
Pokémon Helps Save Life

Brennan Hawkins, found in Utah after being lost for several days, pointed to an unlikely source as his motivation to keep going. FullStory

He had recently ordered a set of Pokémon TCG cards online and thought that they would have arrived at his house by that point. Little Brennan was determined to return home so he could open up his new Pokémon cards! FullStory

Pokémon is alive and well

Contrary to popular belief, the Pokémon craze that swept the country in the late nineties is far from over. Although it may have faded from the forefront of the pop culture radar, it is still with us, and more prevalent than many would believe. FullStory

Pokemon XD Bundle

Nintendo Ltd. has confirmed that it will be releasing a new Nintendo GameCube bundle in Japan. The bundle will feature a Platinum GameCube, Memory Card 59, the game Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and a piece of art from the game.

The release date for this new bundle is August 4th, 2005, and it will cost 16,800 yen (about US$154.50). No plans for a North American or European bundle were confirmed. SOURCE

Pokemon Fire Red/Leaf Green FAQ/Walkthrough

By strawhat

Walkthrough

Medal of Honor: European Assault Cheats (PS2)

Cheats
Press START to pause the game, hold down L1 and R1, then press Circle, Circle, Left, Triangle, Circle, X.

Disable HUD: Circle, Down, Circle, Up, Triangle, Circle
Disable Shellshock: L2, R1, L2, L1, Triangle, Triangle
Get Documents: Up, X, R2, R1, Up, Square
Kill Level's Nemesis: Down, L2, L1, Up, Square
Suicide: X, Triangle, Circle, Right, Triangle, Circle

Hints
Free Medkits: You'll receive a free medkit at the end of every level for each surviving member of your squad.
Free Revives: You'll earn one revive at the end of a mission for completing all mission objectives.  SOURCE

Upper Deck Entertainment Hosts Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game U.S.
National Championship Tournament in Columbus, Ohio
Hundreds Battle for Chance to Compete in Upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh!
TCG World Championship Event in Japan

The nation's best Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME Duelists will duke it out for the chance to represent the United States in the upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship tournament as Upper Deck Entertainment hosts the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG U.S. National Championship tournament in Columbus, Ohio. The National Championship event will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center during the Origins International Gaming Expo on Saturday, July 2. FullStory

Devil’s Due To Adapt The Dragonlance Chronicles
Dragonlance begins in August

With the launch of R.A. Salvatore’s Dark Elf Trilogy adaptation coming in July, Devil's Due Publishing has announced its plans for an adaptation of Margaret Weis's and Tracy Hickman's classic Dragonlance® trilogy - that launched a worldwide phenomenon, The Dragonlance Chronicles.

The first book in the series, Dragons of Autumn Twilight, will begin its graphical retelling of the Wizards of the Coast-published novels this August in an 8-issue series adapted by Andrew Dabb and Steve Kurth. FullStory

Illustrator David Sutherland dies at 56

When David Sutherland III was a child, he played war games with his artistic dad using plastic molded figures they repainted to be historically accurate. By the time he was in his 20s, he was making iconic illustrations for the emerging Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) role-playing games.

Sutherland, a leading illustrator for D&D and M.A.R. Barker's Tékumel games, died of chronic liver failure June 6 at his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. He was 56.

"His name became synonymous with the role-playing game explosion of 1979 to 1981," said P.J. Stormberg by phone from Nebraska, where he runs an online store, Collector's Trove. "David helped shape the very roots of the role-playing games," he wrote in an e-mail. FullStory

Japanese Anime Viewtiful Joe Coming to WB

Following the success of such shows as "Yu-Gi-Oh!" and "Pokemon," Kids' WB! is adding another Japanese import to its schedule, the action-comedy series "Viewtiful Joe."

The anime show -- featuring characters from the video game series developed by Capcom Co. Ltd. -- centers on Joe, a normal guy who gets magically captured in a movie screen, where he has special superpowers bestowed upon him by a retiring superhero so that he can vanquish enemies in Movie Land. Its 26-episode run will kick off Saturday mornings in the fall.

"Joe" will be "trans-created" for the kids block, including a new voice cast, script rewrites, edits to allow for appropriate flow and pacing of the story line and new music -- all designed to customize the series for a U.S. audience. Other Kids' WB! imports from Japan, including "Yu-Gi-Oh!" and "Pokemon," have gone through the same process. SOURCE

Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament Finals
Digital card game looks for US champion.

The online digital card game Yu-Gi-Oh! is looking to crown a US champion. 16 of the nation's best duelists will be pit against each other to decide which five players will travel to Japan to compete against the top players in the world.
"Through this tournament, we are supporting the Yu-Gi-Oh! community by giving the best duelists around the country the opportunity to show off their skills, share in their experiences and prove who will be the ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh! video game champion," said Geoff Mulligan, chief operating officer of Konami Digital Entertainment America.

The players will compete June 24 via Yu-Gi-Oh! 7 Trials to Glory World Championship Tournament 2005, currently available for Game Boy Advance. SOURCE

PRESS RELEASE
Rocketmen: Axis of Evil Website Launched

June 22, 2005 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., creators of the runaway hit games Pirates of the Spanish Main and HeroClix, are proud to announce the launch of www.rocketmen-csg.com, the website for their upcoming Rocketmen: Axis of Evil Constructible Strategy Game (CSG).

“The website offers a portal into the exciting, fun future Rocketmen offers,” said Mike Samora, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at WizKids Inc. “It will not only showcase the game, but act as the conduit through which the growing legions of fans will view each new episode of the Rocketmen cartoon series.” The game, set in a retro-space future, features the exploits of Nick Sion, Rocketman of Earth, and his exploits with the Alliance against the evil Legion of Terra.

New Rocketmen episodes are available online each week. The game releases in August, and Game Packs will carry an MSRP of $3.99. Everything one person needs to play comes in one Game Pack. A DVD collecting all 8 episodes of the first season, 2 exclusive episodes, and an exclusive Game Pack, will release at the same time.