Gamer Mommy & Geek Boy

Pokemon cheat sheet for parents

Don't know Pikachu from Chimchar?

Need a Pokémon crash course just to keep up with the kids?  Stay in the game with these tips.

• The main series of Pokémon video games is about exploration, adventure, and of course catching, training, and battling with Pokémon. Players can discover over 490 different Pokémon characters. Some are easy to find, but others are very rare. 

  

• Pokémon started as a video game on the original Nintendo Game Boy and since then has evolved into a global phenomenon including the Pokémon Trading Card Game, an animated television series, 11 feature films, toys and many other products.

  

• The cute yellow Pokémon with red cheeks and pointy ears is called Pikachu. Pikachu is one of the most popular Pokémon characters and is the mascot of the Pokémon franchise.

  

• Your child plays the role of a “Pokémon Trainer” in the main series of video games. A Trainer’s goal is to travel the local region of the Pokémon world, catching, training, and battling with Pokémon on a quest to become the region’s Pokémon League Champion. Along the way, they will usually encounter a group of villains who they must stop.

  

• There are hundreds of different Pokémon characters. One of the player’s goals in the main series of Pokémon games is to assist the local Pokémon Professor in gathering data for the Pokédex, an electronic encyclopedia containing information on the various Pokémon. The more Pokémon you find and catch, the more data you collect in the Pokédex.

 

• All Pokémon are classified into types and have unique abilities based on these types. For example, Pikachu is an Electric-type and is able to use special moves like Thundershock. Piplup is a Water-type who can douse its opponent with moves like BubbleBeam. There are 17 types in all that interact with each other in a “rock, scissors, paper-like” way. For example, a Water-type Pokémon has an advantage over a Fire-type Pokémon; a Fire-type has an advantage over a Grass-type, etc.

  

• A Pokémon Trainer catches wild Pokémon by battling them with one of his or her trained Pokémon. Once the wild Pokémon has been weakened, it can be caught by the Pokémon Trainer.Pokémon are caught in a Poké Ball – the basic version is a red and white ball. Pokémon usually remain in Poké Balls when not used in battle.

   

• Trading is a key element in the main Pokémon games. Players are able to connect their game to their friend’s game to exchange Pokémon characters. Players can work together to achieve the goal of completing the Pokédex.

  

• Your child can typically transfer the Pokémon he or she has caught and trained to the next new games in the main Pokémon series they so can continue with their favorite Pokémon.

  

• Pokémon never die or sustain serious injuries in battle,. When they use up their energy, they can be knocked out—as which point they return to their Poké Balls.

  

• The more times a Pokémon battles, the stronger it gets. As Pokémon get stronger, they grow or evolve into different Pokémon. For example, Pikachu can evolve into Raichu.

  
  

Pokemon Platinum launches; crowds lined up to purchase game

Pokeman's most famous character, Pikachu, greets Lauren Bergin during the launch of Pokémon Platinum Version video game this past weekend in New York.

Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza is mobbed Saturday, March 21, 2009, as kids and not-so-little kids lined up to preview and purchase Pokémon Platinum Version video game for the Nintendo DS system. Gotta catch 'em all.

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Pokemon Platinum Launch Party This Weekend

Celebrate Pokemon's 10th with the launch party for the Nintendo DS Pokemon Platinum game from 11-4 pm Saturday, March 21, at the Nintendo Store in Rockefeller Center. The much anticipated gamensold a million units in just three days in Japan. There will be Pokemon costume characters - and giveaways - and there will be a sneak preview of the new Pokemon movie, Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior. Highlights of the day will be an interactive Pokemon playground with minigame-play with other players around the world. Those brave enough to come in a Pokemon costume will have a chance to dive into Pokemon Platinum Plunge - a 10-foot vat of colorful balls - for a chance to win a special Giratina DS Lite. Only 60 of them will be released in the entire United States. Gotta catch 'em all.

Pokemon Fever, Gotta Catch 'Em All

Check Out Pokemon Ranger Shadows of Almia

Pokémon® Ranger: Shadows of Almia

Format:	Nintendo DS™
Launch Date:	11/10/08
ESRB:	E (Everyone): Comic Mischief and Mild Cartoon Violence
Game Type:	Action Adventure
Players:	1
Developer:	Creatures

Good news casual gamer Mommy!  If you can scribble in  a circle, then you have the dexterity if not the temerity to snatch your kid's DS and play Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia. 

This Gamer Mommy is all about being a do-gooder so the gentle and helpful spirit of the game's story line is all good.  No buckets of blood here, just old-fashioned green do-gooding in the form of nature preservation.

In the Almia region, Rangers meet and capture all kinds of Pokémon. From forests to undersea, your Ranger's mission -- to become Top Ranger -- is accomplished through completing a series of missions that might include fighting wildfires, rescuing people or delivering special packages.

Get ready Student Rangers, there are hundreds of Pokémon to build your dream team and you can choose to play as either a boy or girl Pokémon Ranger.  Captured wild Pokémon follow the player around until their special powers are invoked.

Gotta catch 'em all.