You'd better catch 'em all!

Confession time - I'm not much of a Pokemon player. More confession time - I can't even remember the last time I spent any real time with Nintendo's billion-dollar (and billion creature) franchise, which like many of their inventions many have called a bad, yet refuses to go away. I'd wager that quality has something to do with its continued success, as even heavily-hyped garbage starts to stink after awhile. As the franchise began its long life on the Nintendo Gameboy and continues on, the third official entry in the saga for the Nintendo DS is officially on the way, and we've got (a few) details to share. Can't you just feel the electricity in the air?

Pokemon Platinum is on the way, and as stated above will serve as the third chapter in the DS-only Diamond and Pearl saga (taking a lesson from the previous Yellow, Crystal, and Emerald epics). And before any of your miscreants out there start thinking this as the long-awaited Pimp My Pokemon/MTV Cross-Over, keep in mind who the publisher is and you better scatter those fantasies into the wind.

Expect the usual slate of Pokemon-type upgrades, as new battles systems, cast of creations, and multiple enhancements join the party and extend the whole plotlines of Giratina and how it came about in the first place. Not exactly the epic stuff of Final Fantasy, but then again I don't imagine Picachu and Company will be going metrosexual anytime soon, either. Small blessings for small favors, here's a few shots to get you pumped and ready for even more monster-battling come its release.

No word yet on the inevitable North American release for Pokemon Platinum, but if Nintendo keeps to their established releasing record we could be looking at an early 2009 drop date. More facts as they come in, although something tells me the true Pokemon fanatics will already know. They always do...scary.

Japanese websites would like to thank Game Watch for the info!