In preparation for the October release of Pokémon X and Y, as well as reminding the world that Pokémon is still a massive deal, Nintendo has announced that the Pokémon Adventure Tour will be doing the rounds at several UK venues beginning this weekend at Guildford's Magic Summer Live music festival. The tour is a mixture of gaming tournament and family event and should have something to keep dedicated Pokémon trainers and their families entertained. The great news is that the event is free of charge, with the only exception being this weekend. You'll need a ticket for Magic Summer Live to gain access to the Pokémon goodness in Guildford, the other dates are free.
Hopefully the weather will be something like this...
The event is split into three zones, each with a different focus and each designed to appeal to a different Pokémon enthusiast. For those who've build up an unbeatable squad in Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2 for the DS there will be the chance to put them to the test against other players, or perhaps make some trades, so remember to bring your handhelds with you. An additional bonus for 3DS owners is that the event is likely to provide a fair few StreetPass hits if you're hunting puzzle pieces or are working your way through the other StreetPass Plaza games.
For those keen to try out some of the numerous Pokémon games available right now, the Pokémon Game Zone will provide spin-off dungeon crawler Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity, simple but fun battler Super Pokémon Rumble and eShop Augmented Reality app Pokémon Dream Radar among others. The Pokémon Trading Card game will also have a presence in the game zone, so you may want to bring your winning decks along.
The Pokémon Fun Zone meanwhile is tailored more to families, and features face painting, photos with Pikachu and chances to win cuddly toys (hooray!)
In addition to the three main zones, there will also be a lounge area where episodes of the ever-popular Pokémon cartoon series will be shown as well as a training centre where newcomers to the world of collecting and battling can get hints and tips to get them started on their adventure.
The dates for the Pokémon Adventure Tour are as follows:
- Magic Summer Live in Guildford 13-14 July (you'll need a ticket for the festival to go to the Pokémon event)
- Gateshead Metro Centre 2 - 4 August
- Bristol Balloon Fiesta 8 - 11 August
- Clacton Air Show 22 - 23 August
- Bournemouth Air Festival 29 August - 1 September
Pokémon X and Y, exclusive to the 3DS, will be released worldwide on October 12th.
