Bulbapedia:Featured content/Archive/April 2012
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The following is a list of articles that have been used as Featured Content on the Main page in the month of April 2012.
Sunday April 1, 2012: April Fools
April Fool's: Bulbapedia's pranks throughout the years
- In 2005, Bulbapedia was "taken" over by cabal and various pieces of text were changed to reflect this.
- In 2006, the interface for logged-in users was set to Finnish, then later, Japanese.
- While nothing big happened at the wiki in 2007, the forums became BananaGarden which was followed by mock war.
- In 2008, the User: namespace was deleted.
- In 2009 there was no prank due to server issues.
- In 2010, Bulbapedia became Slowpedia "the sluggish and mellow Pokémon encyclopedia", complete with Slowpoke family imagery and pink Slowpoke colors throughout the site.
- In 2011, Bulbapedia became Fushigipedia, "the Pocket Monster encyclopedia", complete with Generation I colors, references, and imagery of Pokémon throughout the site. The featured article was Game Boy, rewritten for 1998. To coincide with the Bulbasaur theme of Bulbapedia, the romanization derivation is taken from Bulbasaur's name, Fushigidane.
So, what will our prank be this year? We can't tell you that.
Monday April 2, 2012: Pokémon Channel
Touch That Remote: Pokémon Channel
- Pokémon Channel (Japanese: ポケモンチャンネル ～ピカチュウといっしょ！～ Pokémon Channel ~Together With Pikachu!~) is a spin-off game for the Nintendo GameCube. In 2003, it had a Japanese release of July 18 and North American release of December 1. It had a European exactly eight years ago on April 2, 2004.
- In the game, players and his/her Pikachu have been asked for help from Professor Oak. Play varies between the television programs and exploring Mintale Town. New programs are added everyday for a week in real time, and there are over ten programs available in the game.
- Most of the Pokémon have their anime voices, including Meowth, and the game includes a unique anime episode titled Pichu Bros. in Party Panic.
- The game includes an in-game Pokémon mini emulator, though the only new game is Snorlax's Lunchtime.
- Players can obtain Jirachi in PAL versions of Pokémon Channel. Downloading Jirachi onto a copy of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire would also download the patch to fix the Berry glitch found in the games.
Tuesday April 3, 2012: Silver
Character of the day: Silver
- Silver (Japanese: シルバー Silver) is the main rival of the Generation II games and its remakes. He is a rather cruel and abusive person only wanting Pokémon that he deems are strong and despises weak Pokémon and weak Trainers.
- It was revealed in Pokémon Adventures that Giovanni is his father, this was later proven in HeartGold and SoulSilver via an event where it shows Giovanni leaving Silver after his failure with Team Rocket. Because of this, Silver dislikes Team Rocket seeing them as weak.
- While Silver never made a full anime appearance, he briefly appeared in the Japanese opening of The Legend of Thunder! (A New Oath). However, Paul can be seen as an inspiration of Silver as both have similar appearance and personalities.
Wednesday April 4, 2012: Who's That Pokémon? (Magmar)
Who's That Pokémon!?
- You may wash me out, but I will sizzle you down.
- Once alone, now I'm in the middle.
- Me and my counterpart share similar attributes.
- I may be related to a starter, but I'm not one myself.
- I am owned by a Gym Leader, and am owned by a rival.
- I become slow once I evolve.
- I have 17 cards regarding the TCG.
Thursday April 5, 2012: BubbleBeam
Your move: BubbleBeam
- BubbleBeam (Japanese: バブルこうせん Bubble Beam) is a damage-dealing Template:Type2 move introduced in Generation I. It was available as TM11 in said Generation and was awarded for defeating Misty.
- Every Pokémon that learn this move by level gains STAB from it.
- BubbleBeam is a variation on the move Aurora Beam
- This move affects anyone adjacent to the user.
- BubbleBeam has appeared in the Pokémon Trading Card Game 16 times; first on Gyarados from Base Set, and most recently on the Palpitoad from the Japanese Reshiram EX Battle Strength Deck. It Paralyzes the Defending Pokémon with the success of a coin flip.
Friday April 6, 2012: Blaze
Know your ability: Blaze
- Blaze (Japanese: もうか Raging Flames) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Seventeen Pokémon can have this Ability, a majority of them are starter Pokémon.
- When a Pokémon with Blaze uses a Template:Type2 move, the power will increase by 1.5× if the user has less than or equal to ⅓ of its maximum HP remaining.
- Blaze is one of the four variations of the ability Overgrow.
- Blaze was first used in the anime in Once More with Reeling! by May's Blaziken in a contest battle with Ash's Sceptile. Ash's Infernape would activate Blaze in numerous battles in all stages of its evolution.
- In the manga, Blaze was first used by Kimberly's Typhlosion in Old Kimberly of Two Island.
- Blaze has appeared only one time in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, on Blaziken from EX Emerald, as a Poké-Body. If the Pokémon's remaining HP is 40 or less, its attacks do 40 more damage.
Saturday April 7, 2012: Pokémon Musical
Spotlight on: Pokémon Musical
- Pokémon Musical (Japanese: ポケモンミュージカル Pokémon Musical) is a feature introduced in Generation V. Like Pokémon Contests, Pokémon Super Contests, and the Pokéathlon from Generations, this feature provides Trainers with an alternative to battling.
- Just like in Super Contests, Trainers have to dress up their Pokémon in different Props. In the competition round, Pokémon compete by dancing on the theater stage with the other entrants. Similar to Pokémon Contests and the Pokéathlon, there are four Trainers allowed to participate at once.
- There are initially four of Musical shows: Stardom, Forest Stroll, A Sweet Soirée, and Exciting Nimbasa, more can be obtained on the Pokémon Global Link and set as the fifth show in the game.
- During each performance, Pokémon are given short solos where the spotlight showcases them specifically.
- After the musical, the theater owner tells the player and other participants how well they did, in what category and to what degree.
- After a performance has ended, the player may talk to the audience members gathered outside the reception area to receive Props.
- Pokémon Musicals made a brief anime debut in Lost at the Stamp Rally!.
Read more...
Sunday April 8, 2012: Potions
Trainer's Guide: Potions
- Potion (Japanese: キズぐすり Wound medicine) is a type of item from the Pokémon games. They can be used during or outside of a battle to restore a Pokémon's HP.
- There are six different potions, with the sixth potion being introduced in Generation II.
- Though potions are depicted as spray bottles, the secret potion is depicted as capsules.
- Potions have made many appearances in the anime often being used by Brock and Cilan to heal wounded Pokémon.
- The standard Potion has been printed numerous times in the Pokémon Trading Card Game: it is one of the most printed Trainer cards. Originally allowing the removal of up to 2 damage counters, the most recent print heals 30 damage from one of the player's Pokémon. Max Potion has also been give a card recently in the Emerging Powers expansion of the Black & White Series. The player may heal all damage on one of his or her Pokémon at the cost of removing all Energy attached to it. Super Potion had also appeared in Base Set, and Hyper Potion appeared in Skyridge, with effects of their own.
Monday April 9, 2012: Vermilion City
Tourist Spot: Vermilion City
- Vermilion City (Japanese: クチバシティ Kuchiba City) is a city in Kanto. Situated near a sea inlet to the south, it serves as a popular sea port for ships such as the S.S. Anne. Vermilion Harbor is a home port for many ships.
- Vermilion City is home to the Template:Type2 Vermilion Gym with Gym Leader Lt. Surge.
- Vermilion City is also home to the Pokémon Fan Club where the Fan Club Chairman will award the player with a bike voucherWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc. or a Rare CandyWrong template. See Template:Sup/doc.Wrong template. See Template:Sup/doc..
- Vermilion City made its sole anime appearance in Electric Shock Showdown where Ash battled Lt. Surge for the Thunder Badge.
- An in game trade allows players to obtain a Farfetch'd for a Spearow.
- The Vermilion Harbor is famous for a truck that had caused many rumors about a Mew being available. The truck then reappeared in the remakes, this time with a point, the player can obtain a Lava Cookie.
Tuesday April 10, 2012: Who's That Pokémon? (Porygon2)
Who's That Pokémon!?
- I am not an organic Pokémon, you will never see me in the wild.
- I can and will copy your ability.
- I must be given to someone else to be upgraded.
- I become lighter as I upgrade.
- I have never been in an anime episode, I blame my predecessor for it.
- My successor is corrupted, don't trust it.
Wednesday April 11, 2012: Gigalith (Emerging Powers 53)
Pick a card, any card: Gigalith
- Gigalith (Japanese: ギガイアス Gigaiath) is a Fighting-type Stage 2 Pokémon card. It is part of the Emerging Powers expansion, numbered 53 out of 98.
- In Japan, it originated from the BW-P Promotional cards, and was made available in a ten card random pack released during the February 2011 Gym Challenge.
- It was the Prerelease promotional card for the Emerging Powers expansion.
- Gigalith has 140HP, a
Weakness, and a Retreat Cost of 4. - Rock Bullet does 20 more damage for each
Energy attached to Gigalith. - Shear discards the top 5 cards of the deck, and attaches any revealed basic Energy cards to Gigalith.
- This card features art by Naoki Saito, and a Pokédex entry from Pokémon White.
Read more...
Thursday April 12, 2012: Volkner
Character of the day: Volkner
- Volkner (Japanese: デンジ Denzi) is the Gym Leader of Sunyshore City's Gym, known officially as the Sunyshore Gym. He hands out the Beacon Badge Badge to Trainers who defeat him. He specializes in Electric-type Pokémon.
- At first, Volkner was depressed as he had not had a worthy challenge in a while and was therefore considering challenging the Elite Four. He also used his spare time to renovate the gym which strained the city's power and caused a blackout.
- Volkner made his anime debut in Flint Sparks the Fire! where he, like in the games, has grew bored of challenging trainers so he resorted to giving badges for free. However, with the help of Ash, Volkner had a change of heart and accepted his challenge.
- In Pokémon Adventures, Volkner was rather distant to all the other characters and, again like the games, was bored of battles.
- Volkner has had one card in the TCG series. His card, Volkner's Philosophy, was part of the Rising Rivals expansion and is a Supporter card. Playing it allows the player to discard a card and draw from the deck until he or she has six cards.
- In Pokémon Black and White, when Shauntal is battled for a second time, she will occasionally quote a book that she wrote which says,"'Do you know Thunderbolt?' was his first greeting to me. It wasn't until after we battled that I learned his name was Volkner."
Read more...
Friday April 13, 2012: Showdown at Pewter City
Remember That Episode?: Showdown in Pewter City
- Showdown in Pewter City (Japanese: ニビジムのたたかい！ Battle at Nibi Gym!) is the fifth episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on April 29, 1997 and in the United States on September 14, 1998.
- In this episode, Ash and Misty arrive in Pewter City. Ash then finds the Pewter Gym and challenges the Gym Leader; Brock
- This episode marks the debut of the following characters and Pokémon: Brock, Flint, Forrest, Brock's siblings, Geodude and Onix.
- This episode introduced the most named, recurring characters in the entire anime. However, given that it introduced Brock's siblings, it has an advantage over other episodes. If all of Gary's cheerleaders had ever been named, the honor would go to the first episode.
- This is one of the few episodes where Ash tries to return Pikachu to its Poké Ball.
- This episode is featured on the Volume 20: Onix copy of Pokémon All-Stars.
Saturday April 14, 2012: S.S. Anne
Spotlight On: S.S. Anne
- The S.S. Anne or St. Anne (Japanese: サント・アンヌごう S.S. St. Anne) is a well-known luxury cruise liner which sails the world, stopping annually in Vermilion City, Kanto.
- This ship contains many Pokémon Trainers, including many Gentlemen and Sailors. In Generation III, in one room on the first floor, a lady will restore a Trainer's party on hand to full health. Before reaching the captain's cabin, players will encounter Blue and must battle him.
- The S.S. Anne appeared as the St. Anne in Battle Aboard the St. Anne and Pokémon Shipwreck.
- In Pokémon Adventures the S.S. Anne is a huge cargo ship owned by Lt. Surge that arrives in Vermilion City port once every month.
- In the programming code of Diamond and Pearl, an item called "S.S. Ticket" has been found. According to its in-bag description, it is a "ticket for the Luxury Liner S.S. Anne," which means that S.S. Anne was possibly meant to reappear in Sinnoh or that Diamond and Pearl were built off a heavily modified Generation III game engine.
Sunday April 15, 2012: Thunder
Your Move: Thunder
- Thunder (Japanese: かみなり Thunder) is a damage-dealing Electric-type move introduced in Generation I. It is TM25 in all generations so far.
- Thunder has 100% accuracy when used in heavy rain, regardless of the opponents evasiveness stat change. It also can hit Pokémon using Fly or Bounce and has a 30% of paralyzing the foe.
- Thunder shares its name with Zapdos's Japanese name.
- Zekrom is the only Pokémon to learn Thunder by level up that does not have the Electric-type as its primary type.
- Pikachu uses Thunder as its down B attack in the Super Smash Bros. series.
- Thunder was first used in the anime by Pikachu in Showdown at Dark City!.
- Thunder has appeared many a time in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the most recent time being on the Lightning-type Stunfisk from Noble Victories. The attack damages the user if tails is the result of a coin flip.
Read more...
Monday April 16, 2012: Movie 3: Spell of the Unown
Movie Time!: Movie 3: Spell of the Unown
- Pokémon the Movie 3 - Spell of the Unown (Japanese: 結晶塔の帝王 ＥＮＴＥＩ Emperor of the Crystal Tower: Entei; officially Lord of the "Unknown" Tower in Japan) is the 3rd Pokémon movie, and 3rd of all Pokémon movies.
- It debuted in Japanese theaters on July 8, 2000. It then made its way to North American theaters on April 6, 2001.
- Spell of the Unown was shown with the Pikachu Short movie Pikachu & Pichu.
- The movie's overall plot involves a girl who becomes sadden by the loss of her parents and has her wishes and dreams come true by several Unown.
- The movie stars an Entei who was created by the Unown as a replacement for Molly's father.
- Several unknown Unown appeared in the movie. Whether they are real or just drawings is currently unknown.
Tuesday April 17, 2012: Golduck
Gotta Catch 'em All!: Golduck
- Golduck (Japanese: ゴルダック Golduck) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It evolves from Psyduck starting at level 33. It is classifies as the Duck Pokémon.
- Its abilities are Damp and Cloud Nine. It also has Swift Swim as a Hidden Ability.
- It is number 055 in the National and Kanto dex, #141* in the Johto dex, #159 in the Hoenn dex and #044 in the Sinnoh dex.
- Golduck, along with its pre-evolution, has appeared in all pre Gen V Pokédex.
- Golduck are fast swimmers, out-swimming even the most athletic of humans because of their frog-like webbed hands and feet. The gem on their foreheads glows when they use their psychic powers, and occasionally when they swim at full speed, suggesting that they sometimes use those powers to swim.
- Golduck made its debut in the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back where it was owned by Fergus. It made its first TV appearance in Bye Bye Psyduck where it was thought Misty's Psyduck had evolved when really it was a wild Golduck.
- In Pokémon Adventures Blue owns a Golduck. It first appeared in A Tale of Nintales where an accident caused Red and Blue to switch parties, with Golduck ending up with Red.
- Golduck has been featured on 23 different cards since it debuted in the Fossil expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Golduck cards are normally Water-type Stage 1 Pokémon.
Read more...
Wednesday April 18, 2012: Who's That Pokémon? (Ariados)
Who That Pokémon!?
- You may burn me with fire, but I will leave a terrible sting.
- I had my own signature move, but that was taken from me.
- I have two useless legs.
- My ability prevents me from sleeping.
- I appear in gold, but never silver.
- I prefer night than day.
- I can shoot strings from both ends of my body.
Thursday April 19, 2012: Pokémon Crystal Version
Know Your Game: Pokémon Crystal Version
- Pokémon Crystal Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター クリスタルバージョン Pocket Monsters Crystal Version) is the sixth Pokémon game in the main series; however, in Japan it was actually the seventh Pokémon game. It was released as a sister game of Pokémon Gold and Silver, which were released one year before.
- A female player character, Kris, was introduced, marking the first time where players could choose the gender of their character.
- Another character, Eusine, is added to the game. He is searching for Suicune as well, and will battle the player to earn its respect.
- The chain of events to obtain the Rising Badge is altered. Where previously, it involved a trip to the Dragon's Den to retrieve the Dragon Fang, it now involves entering the Dragon Shrine within the Den.
- Kurt can now make multiple Balls from same colored Apricorns simultaneously.
- This is the last main series game to use the slogan Gotta catch 'em all!.
Friday April 20, 2012: National Beginning Set and Keldeo Battle Strength Deck
In the News: National Pokédex Beginning Set and Keldeo Battle Strength Deck
- The Keldeo Battle Strength Deck (Japanese: バトル強化デッキ30 ケルディオ) and the National Pokédex Beginning Set (Japanese: はじめてセット 全国図鑑版セット) are two Japanese exclusive Pokémon Trading Card Game releases hitting store shelves today.
- These two releases are the first to feature Keldeo: each features Keldeo as a Water-type Basic Pokémon.
- The National Beginning Set introduces many Pokémon not yet seen in the Black & White era, including some, such as Spinda and Croagunk, that have not been featured in the TCG for more than 10 expansions: about 30 months in real time. In the case of Taillow, this will be the first card in four years.
- These are the first releases since the beginning of the Black & White era in December 2010 to feature artwork by Ken Sugimori.
- These two releases bring 38 new Pokémon cards to the game.
- The only Stage 2 Pokémon included are Serperior, Emboar, and Samurott.
- The Keldeo Battle Strength Deck features new artwork for Rocky Helmet and Eviolite.
- In order to be appropriate for newer players, the newly introduced Dragon-type is not included.
Saturday April 21, 2012: Unbeatable
Spotlight on: Unbeatable
- Unbeatable is the opening theme to the eighth season of the English-language Pokémon dub, Pokémon: Advanced Battle. It was used from Clamperl of Wisdom to Pasta La Vista! as well as in the movie Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
- It was written and produced by John Siegler and David Rolfe. David Rolfe also sung the song. It was the 8th track on the album Pokémon X.
- The opening animation featured footage from the eighth and ninth Japanese openings, Pokémon Symphonic Medley and Battle Frontier.
- Due to having animation from Battle Frontier, this opening revealed three new Pokémon: Mime Jr., Weavile (neither of whom had official English names yet at the time), and Lucario to international audiences. However, all three were later removed in Once in a Mawile.
- The appearance of Deoxys in this opening flying with the legendary birds is reminiscent of the first dub theme, where Mewtwo was flying with the legendary birds. In a way this is almost fitting, as this would be the last dub theme produced by 4Kids.
- This opening has the most Pokémon species in it, with 72. Also, this opening has the most Pokémon in it, counting the same species, with approximately 300.
