The official Pokémon website has announced that the Macintosh client for the Pokémon TCG Online game has finally been released. The system requirements are extremely high and they recommend people use an i7 Mac! Below are the details.

Mac Gamers - Start Playing Pokémon TCG Online Today!

A whole new audience can join in on the fun with a Mac-compatible game client!

Mac users have waited patiently for an opportunity to join PC users in battle, and now their perseverance has paid off. Both the Mac and PC versions of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online game client use the same servers, so Mac users will be able to battle, trade with, and befriend PC users seamlessly. Get the Mac client now on the Pokemon.com/TCG download page! Check the system requirements below to make sure you’re ready to play.

This new update also adds the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White—Boundaries Crossed expansion to the game. This expansion brings a mix of new Pokémon-EX, such as the Boundary Pokémon as both Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX. Players can also take advantage of the new ACE SPEC cards that are so powerful, players can only include one in a deck!

Remember that the Pokémon TCG Online game is still in beta, and players may encounter bugs during gameplay. In the event that this occurs, make sure you submit a ticket via the Pokémon Support Portal or visit the Open Beta & Support section of the forums. Feedback from the community plays a critical role in improving the Pokémon TCG Online, so be sure to have your voice heard!

The system requirements for the Mac client are:

Recommended:
Mac OS X 10.6
CPU: 2.3 GHz Quad-Core i7
RAM: 4GB 1600MHz DDR3
VIDEO: Intel HD Graphics 4000
VRAM: 256MB

Minimum:
Mac OS X 10.6
CPU: 1.5GHz Dual Core Processor
RAM: 2GB
VIDEO: Intel HD Graphics 4000
VRAM: 256MB

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/tcg_tcgo_mac-2012-11-26/

The commercial for Spiral Force / Thunder Knuckle (ラセンフォース / ライデンナックル) which has begun airing in Japan has revealed new cards for the set. The sets come out in Japan on December 14th, 2012. Below is the commercial.


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKsCvS63vco

Participating McDonalds locations in Latin and South America will be distributing Pokémon Black and White toys and TCG cards with their Happy Meals. The distribution dates depend on the country but the end of October until the end of December 2012 is the general time period. Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, México, Peru and Uruguay have all confirmed they will have the Happy Meals. Pikachu, Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Dwebble, Woobat, Axew and Emolga will all be distributed.


Sources: McDonalds Argentina, McDonalds Brasil, McDonalds Chile, McDonalds Colombia, McDonalds Costa Rica, McDonalds Ecuador, McDonalds México, McDonalds Peru and McDonalds Uruguay

A new Japanese Pokémon Trading Card set has been revealed called Shiny Collection (シャイニーコレクション). The set will be released in Japan on February 1st, 2013. Each booster pack will only contain 4 holographic cards. Retailers have announced pre-orders for a box that contain 15 booster packs and the box will sell for 2,835 yen. The JAN number for the box is 4521329130521. Individual booster packs will sell for 189yen each.


Source: http://item.rakuten.co.jp/gamefreak-shop/4521329130521/

Battle Strength Decks Black Kyurem EX and White Kyurem EX

The latest Battle Strength decks were released in Japan on October 19th, 2012. The decks each feature Black Kyurem EX and White Kyurem EX. Both decks contain 18 unique cards as part of their decks. Scans and transcriptions of those cards have now been added to our TCG dex. Click on either logo to go to the set lists.

The Pokémon TCG: Dragon Vault TCG expansion was released on October 5th, 2012. Pictures from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Dragon Vault

Open the Vault and Let Loose the Dragons... for the Very First Time! The vault echoes with the roar of Dragons—can you train what you find within? Inside the Pokémon TCG: Dragon Vault, you'll discover a treasure trove you've never seen before! You'll find incredible Dragon Pokémon such as Rayquaza and Druddigon—ALL of them foil!—in special 5-card booster packs, plus a code card to unlock hoards of rewards for the Pokémon TCG Online. So, when you open the vault, be prepared to command the might of these powerful Dragon Pokémon!

Dragon Vault treasures include:

• 3 Pokémon TCG: Dragon Vault 5-card booster packs!
• Special Dragon Pokémon and Trainer cards, all of them foil!
• 1 of 5 unique Dragon Vault promo cards!
• A code card to unlock this treasure trove in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online!

Source: https://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/dragon-vault

The Master Deck Build Box EX (マスターデッキビルドBOX EX) was released in Japan on September 14th, 2012 for 4200yen. The box contains 140 cards chosen by top players. There are 51 different cards and the remaining cards are doubles. The box also includes a card case and a Master Deck Build Book. Below is the commercial for the deck build box.

Master Deck Build Box EX Commercial

Source: http://mdb.pokemon.co.jp/mdb/

The Pokémon TCG: Black & White Boundaries Crossed TCG expansion was released on November 7th, 2012. Pictures from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.

Press Release - Black & White Boundaries Crossed

POKÉMON TCG: BLACK & WHITE-BOUNDARIES CROSSED EXPANSION INTRODUCES ACE SPEC CARDS AND ALL-NEW POKÉMON-EX!

New Expansion Parallels the Upcoming - Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Video Games

Enter the next dimension of your journey into battle with the Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Boundaries Crossed expansion! This Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video game-themed expansion includes a powerful mix of new Pokémon-EX, such as the Boundary Pokémon Black Kyurem-EX and White Kyurem-EX, along with Celebi-EX, Cresselia-EX, Landorus-EX, and Keldeo-EX; and features new forms, new Trainers, and new locations to enhance your deck!


Black & White-Boundaries Crossed also introduces four never-before-seen ACE SPEC cards that are so incredibly powerful, players can only carry one into battle! Some ACE SPEC cards found in the expansion have a unique game-mechanic that only works when attached to a specific Pokémon such as Black Kyurem-EX or White Kyurem-EX. ACE SPEC cards also feature a unique card face with a tinsel foil.


Key features of the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Boundaries Crossed expansion include:

• More than 140 cards in all
• Four powerful, never-before-seen ACE SPEC cards with unique game-mechanic and card design
• Six more Pokémon-EX cards and six full-art Pokémon-EX rare Ultra cards
• New Pokémon, new forms, new Trainers, and new locations that match the upcoming video games, Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2

Each new Pokémon TCG: Black & White-Boundaries Crossed theme deck and booster pack includes an in-pack code card that unlocks virtual cards for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Expand your personal deck and battle against others from around the world!

The next English Pokémon TCG expansion has been revealed. The set will be released in North American on November 7th, 2012 and will feature cards from the Japanese sets Cold Flare (コールドフレア) and Freeze Bolt (フリーズボルト).

Product Description

Step into the next dimension of your journey into battle using the might of the Boundary Pokémon ... both White Kyurem and Black Kyurem! Harness the powers of more Pokémon EX like Landorus, Cresselia, and Celebi, and Keldeo makes its debut in the Black and White - Boundaries Crossed expansion as both a Pokémon and a Pokémon EX, along with the never-before-seen, powerful ACE SPEC Trainer cards, which are so devastating that you can only carry one into battle! Cross over to sweep aside your opponents with one mighty push!

Source: http://www.toywiz.com/boundariescrossedbox.html

The 2012 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions concluded on August 12th, 2012 and all the world champions for the year were crowned. It was announced at the end of the event that the 2013 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions would take place in Vancouver, Canada, making it the first time that the event will be held outside of the United States. A special Flying Pikachu was also distributed at the World Championships and full details for that Pokémon have been added to our Event Database.

Press Release

Bellevue, WA - August 13th, 2012 - The 2011-2012 Play! Pokémon season came to a thrilling conclusion this weekend at the 2012 Pokémon World Championships in Waikoloa, Hawaii. Six battle-tested champions walked away as the world's best Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game players, rising above hundreds of other Pokémon players that came to the Big Island from more than 30 countries, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Representing their nations proudly in paradise, each player's journey began nearly a year ago, battling in events over the course of the Play! Pokémon season sanctioned by The Pokémon Company International. The hard work and dedication to their craft lead all players to Pokémon's premiere competitive event.

The 2012 Pokémon TCG and Video Game World Champions are:

• 2012 Pokémon TCG Junior Division World Champion, Shuto Itagaki from Japan.
• 2012 Pokémon Video Game Junior Division World Champion, Abram Burrows from the United States of America.
• 2012 Pokémon TCG Senior Division World Champion, Chase Moloney from Canada.
• 2012 Pokémon Video Game Senior Division World Champion, Toler Webb from the United States of America.
• 2012 Pokémon TCG Masters Division World Champion, Igor Costa from Portugal.
• 2012 Pokémon Video Game Masters Division World Champion, Ray Rizzo from the United States of America.

Winners of the invitation-only tournament earned the title of Pokémon World Champion, received a special Pikachu World Championships trophy, and earned collectively more than $100,000 in scholarships. Additionally, The Pokémon Company International will choose a select number of Pokémon World Championships video game finalists and their Pokémon teams to be distributed as a Pokémon Trainer avatar in the upcoming Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 video games via the Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection service. Players of the games, and who have wireless Internet access, will be able to battle these Pokémon World Championships finalists and their teams in the Pokémon World Tournament, a new battle arena featured in the games. Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 launch globally the week of October 7th. The Pokémon Company International will announce details of the distribution later this year.

"The Pokémon World Championships not only showcase some of the best Pokémon TCG and video game players from around the world, they also celebrate an international community that is unified by the fun, friendship, and mutual respect that the Pokémon spirit embodies," said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. "We are incredibly proud of all the players who competed this weekend and want to extend a big congratulations to the 2012 Pokémon World Champions who represented their nations proudly. "

Participating McDonalds restaurants in Japan will be distributing Pokémon Trading Cards as part of their Happy Meal. The campaign lasts for only two days from Saturday July 28th, 2012 until Sunday July 29th, 2012. Two cards will be distributed those days and those that purchase the Happy Meal will receive either a Meloetta Aria forme or a Meloetta Pirouette forme card.


Meloetta Aria forme knows the moves Sing and Psyburn while Meloetta Pirouette forme knows Slap and Acrobatics.

Source: http://www.pokemon-card.com/campaign/mcdonalds2012/