Latest news with #Charizard
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A Pokémon pop-up is heading to Anaheim with exclusive merch
Before Labubus, there were Pokémon. Whether you grew up debating the superiority of Charizard versus Blastoise or spent hours trying to catch Mew under that infamous truck, the franchise has become a shared language of childhood joy. Even today, Pikachu's squeak hits like a warm hug from the past. Now, you can celebrate Pokémon and bond with fellow enthusiasts in SoCal thanks to a limited‑time Pokémon Center pop‑up at the Anaheim Convention Center, part of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships. (Yes, that's definitely a thing.) This pop‑up isn't just a store; it's a celebration of Pokémon fandom. With photo ops, surprise drops and merch you can't get anywhere else (like the 2025 World plushies for Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Machamp, and Fennekin), the August 14–17 event is a chance for fans to catch 'em all in person. But just because you're a badgeholder for the Pokémon World Championships doesn't guarantee you entry; you still have to RSVP. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pokémon (@pokemon) The larger question might be just what are the Pokémon World Championships? Held since 2004, the event blends nostalgia with modern spectacle and finds players from across the globe gathering to battle it out for the title (if they scored an invite, that is) in four major events: the Trading Card Game (TCG), Video Game Championships (Scarlet & Violet), Pokémon GO and Pokémon UNIT. With a prize pool of over $2 million, players vie for world‑champion status through intense multi‑stage formats leading to single‑elimination finals, with Pokémon GO culminating in best‑of‑five grand finals on the third day. Winners will receive invitations for next year's championship in San Francisco. The 2025 Worlds is the first in Anaheim since 2017. Beyond competition, the event is a vibrant fan celebration: exclusive merchandise at the Pokémon Center pop‑up, photo ops with Pikachu mascots, side events and interactive experiences. The Worlds also emphasizes global engagement with live streams on Twitch and YouTube, multilingual commentary, fan contests, behind‑the‑scenes content and social-media-driven interactivity throughout the three-day event.
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Indian Express
$113,000 worth of rare Pokemon cards stolen from Massachusetts store
A thief broke into a trading card shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the early hours of Tuesday and made off with a trove of rare Pokemon cards valued at over $113,000, according to the store's owners, reported The Guardian. Police were called to 1st Edition Collectibles early morning after the suspect reportedly smashed through a courtyard window and forced entry into the shop. Surveillance footage shows a masked and hooded figure crouched over a glass display case, selecting specific items. The stolen collection includes extremely rare and valuable cards, among them a BGS 8.5 Skyridge Crystal Charizard and a BGS 7.5 1st Edition Shadowless Blastoise, the owners said in a Facebook post. These are highly sought-after by collectors and no longer in print. 'He knew exactly the items he was taking,' said Felipe Andre, one of the store's three owners, speaking to NBC Boston. 'We don't display pricing in the store at all. The value is determined by recorded sales or auctions. So he had to know what he was looking for.' Andre added that the stolen cards came from sets dating back to 2000–2006, including what he called 'the crown jewel of the entire Pokemon' series, the first edition base set Charizard. He described the shop as a labour of love for its small team. 'We're literally just three guys … This is our passion. This is what we love, since we were children,' he said, as per The Guardian. Following the robbery, the store temporarily closed its doors. In a Facebook update, the team wrote they would use the time to 'reflect, regroup, revamp and come back even better.' Despite the loss, Andre remains hopeful, explaining that each of the stolen cards had been individually graded and serialized by professional services. Photos and serial numbers of the stolen cards have been posted on the store's Instagram and Facebook accounts to help with identification. 'If anyone sees that certificate number, they'll know exactly where it came from, and who it belongs to,' Andre told NBC 10. (With inputs from The Guardian)
The Independent
12-07-2025
- The Independent
Gotta catch ‘em all: Search for thief who stole over $100k worth of rare Pokémon cards in overnight raid
Police are searching for a thief who stole over $100,000 of rare Pokémon cards from a Massachusetts shop in the middle of the night. Cops in New Bedford responded Tuesday following reports of the break-in at 1st Edition Collectibles in the early hours of the morning. According to the store's three owners, the incident took place at around 2:30 a.m., with the culprit making off with several items – some worth tens of thousands of dollars. A total of $113,650 worth of the rare trading cards were taken, including multiple editions depicting the fire-monster Charizard, as well sealed booster boxes and other rarities. "We're literally just three guys," store owner Felipe Andre told NBC Boston. "This is our passion. This is what we have loved since we were children." Following the break in, the store owners posted a flyer detailing the missing stock on Facebook and asked people to watch for any suspicious online posting. They added that they would 'reflect, regroup, revamp.' 'The overwhelming support that we've received from you all this week has been amazing and a reminder as to why we love this hobby and the community involved so much. We're truly honored to be a part of it,' the post read. 'Seriously, thank you all for bringing some comfort to us during this crazy time. This incident was devastating but we will bounce back, grow, and come back better than ever. We can't wait to see you all soon!' The owners said they planned to reopen on Tuesday. No arrests have been made so far, according to NBC Boston. The Independent has reached out to the New Bedford police department for updates.
Tokyo Weekender
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Pokemon Green: The Game the Rest of the World Never Got
If you grew up throughout the 90s, chances are you played at least one Pokemon game on Game Boy, namely Pokemon Red or Blue. Released in America in September of 1998, and throughout Europe and other countries shortly after, these two colored cartridges took the gaming world by storm. What many didn't know at the time, though, was that Pokemon Red had already been released in Japan two years before, along with another title that would never be sold outside the country: Pokemon Green. In the decades since then, with the advent of high-speed internet and accessible international travel, Pokemon Green is no longer a land-locked title, and copies can be found for sale online and in person in many parts of the world. But why was this game never released internationally? And more importantly, what's different about it? List of Contents: Where It All Began Blue to the Rescue But Why No Green? Related Posts Where It All Began Before the trading card game and the anime series that I used to watch in the mornings before catching the bus to school, Pokemon was originally a video game developed by Game Freak for the Nintendo Game Boy. Released in Japan in February of 1996, there were two options to choose from: Pokemon Red and Pokemon Green, starring Charizard and Venasaur on the box art respectively. For titles that are now 30 years old and designed to run on systems you could hold in the palm of your hand, these games were incredibly ambitious for their day. With 151 Pokemon to catch, a storyline that took more than 20 hours to complete on average and the ability to trade Pokemon with other people that owned the game, it did a lot. But this level of ambition didn't come without its problems, particularly for the green version. From crashes to character sprites loading incorrectly, Pokemon Green was rife with programming inconsistencies that would cause the game to, at times, behave erratically or stop working entirely. So infamous are the many glitches of this particular title that entire video series have been created to document the many ways in which these errors can be replicated and exploited to achieve strange and often hilarious results. Blue to the Rescue Realizing that their game needed some polish, Game Freak got back to work and in October of 1996, Pokemon Blue was ready in Japan, essentially as a new and improved version of its predecessors with better graphics and the bugs ironed out. Interestingly though, customers couldn't just wander down to their local games store and pick up a copy. At least, not at first. Initially, Pokemon Blue was made available only via mail order through CoroCoro Comic, a monthly magazine for children that relied on an honor system by which customers would pay after they received the game in the mail. With the glitches of the first two games sorted out and the graphics improved, Game Freak then set about developing the international versions of the game. By combining the data sets of the Japanese Pokemon Red and Green (in-game narrative, Pokemon spawn rates, etc) with the new and improved programming and graphics of the Japanese Pokemon Blue, along with translations and dialogue adjustments to appeal to international audiences, the English versions of Pokemon Red and Blue that we know today were then released in America and the rest of the world. But the changes weren't just limited to the game's programming. In Japan, the original Pokemon game cartridges were released in an understated matte gray with a colored sticker on the front, while the international versions were far more eye-catching, with the entire cartridge being colored to match whichever version of the game was inside. But Why No Green? From the outside looking in, there doesn't appear to be any reason why an updated version of Pokemon Green couldn't have been released alongside either Pokemon Red or Blue internationally. But thanks to the Wayback Machine, we can see that in a post on Game Freak's website back in 1999, the decision to proceed with red and blue as opposed to green may have been a marketing tactic to appeal further to the American consumer, with the colors designed to match that of the American flag. Whether or not this played into the success of the franchise with Western audiences, though, we may never know, as this decision is scarcely elaborated on anywhere else. Looking back, even with all of its problems, it's safe to say that Pokemon Green walked so that its international counterparts could run. For anyone interested in trying out the somewhat janky predecessor to some of the most influential titles in gaming history, copies of Pokemon Green can still be found relatively easily. If you're in Japan, most retro gaming stores will have a used copy either with the box or without, and there are just as many to be found online if you're shopping from overseas. Just be aware that all genuine copies of the game are in Japanese, which makes it perfect for brushing up on your language skills while doing your best to catch 'em all (without any glitches, hopefully). Related Posts Lego Pokemon Sets To Release in 2026 What Generation I Pokémon Are You Based on Your Zodiac Sign? How to Find Tokyo's Secret Nintendo Bar: 84 Hashi Cafe
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide - Best counters and defenders, strengths, weaknesses, catch CPs, and more
Gigantamax Cinderace in Pokemon Sword and Shield (Image via The Pokemon Company) A Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide will help trainers take down this powerful boss. Gigantamax Cinderace is now available as a Tier 6 Max Battle in Pokémon GO, offering trainers a challenging fight that requires teamwork and strategy. This Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide covers everything you need to know, from counters and team composition to move sets and battle mechanics. How to participate in the Gigantamax Cinderace battle To challenge Gigantamax Cinderace in Pokemon GO, you'll need: - 800 Max Particles (only consumed upon victory) - 10-40 players (split into teams of 4) Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide: Weaknesses and resistances of the raid boss As a pure Fire-type, Cinderace is weak to: - Ground - Rock - Water Resistances include: - Fire - Grass - Ice - Bug - Steel - Fairy Best attackers to defeat Gigantamax Cinderace in Pokemon GO Top Counters for Gigantamax Cinderace – 100 IVs, Best Attackers & Quick Win Tips! The top Pokémon to deal maximum damage: Rank Pokémon Fast & Max Move 1 Gigantamax Kingler Any Fast Move + G-Max Foam Burst (Water) 2 Inteleon Water Gun + Max Geyser (Water) 3 Excadrill Mud Slap/Mud Shot + Max Quake (Ground) 4 Rapid Strike Urshifu Waterfall + Max Geyser (Water) 5 Kingler Bubble + Max Geyser (Water) 6 Gigantamax Blastoise Any Fast Move + G-Max Cannonade (Water) Gigantamax Kingler is the strongest attacker, followed by other high-damage Water and Ground types. Best defenders against Gigantamax Cinderace in Pokemon GO Since Cinderace mainly uses Fire-type moves, these Pokémon provide the best resistance: - Blastoise (Bite/Water Gun) - Charizard (Dragon Breath) - Zapdos (Thunder Shock) - Raikou (Thunder Shock) - Gengar (Sucker Punch/Shadow Claw/Lick) Blastoise and Charizard are top choices due to their bulk and typing. Best healers for team support against Gigantamax Cinderace For survivability, consider these healers: - Blissey - Snorlax - Lapras - Greedent - Entei Recommended team composition for Gigantamax Cinderace in Pokemon GO Max Battles split 40 players into groups of 4. For optimal performance: - 2 Attackers (high DPS Water/Ground types) - 1 Defender (tanky resistances) - 1 Healer (sustain for the team) Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide: Charger strategy to maximize your raid performance Start with a 0.5s fast move Pokémon to quickly charge the Dynamax meter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like อย่ากินอาหารที่ก่อให้เกิดมะเร็งเหล่านี้ อ่านเพิ่มเติม Undo Swap to your main attacker once Dynamaxed, then switch back. Fast move speed is crucial—faster moves fill the meter quicker. Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide: Catch CP of the raid boss Once defeated, Cinderace can be caught with CP ranging from 1646 to 1724. Note that the Gigantamax form cannot be shiny from Max Battles. Gigantamax Cinderace movepool in Pokemon GO Cinderace uses two charged moves from its pool, including legacy moves: Fast Moves: - Tackle (Normal) - Fire Spin (Fire) Charged Moves: - Flame Charge (Fire) - Flamethrower (Fire) - Focus Blast (Fighting) Final tips for success against Gigantamax Cinderace in Pokemon GO - Coordinate with teammates—balance attackers, defenders, and healers. - Dodge Focus Blast—watch for the warning to swipe. - Prioritize Water and Ground types—they deal the most damage. Also read: Pokemon GO Groudon raid guide: Best counters, strengths, weaknesses, CP range, and shiny odds With the help of this Pokemon GO Gigantamax Cinderace max battle guide, this raid boss can be taken down efficiently. Gather your squad, pick the best counters, and prepare for an intense battle!
