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DS

Pokéwalker Accessory Untethers Pokémon from the DS

by Jared Rosenberg - January 11, 2010, 10:04 pm EST
Total comments: 13 Source: Press Release

Players now have the freedom to level up their Pokémon wherever, whenever.

Nintendo announced today that Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver will each ship with the Pokéwalker, a Tamagotchi-like gadget that electronically carries Pokémon outside of the DS.

Pokéwalker

Visually, the Pokéwalker looks like a flattened Pokéball with a black and white LCD screen. The tiny device links wirelessly with a Nintendo DS system to enable the transfer of items and Pokémon between the two. Using the Pokéwalker's built-in pedometer, players will be able generate a currency called Watts with their footsteps. Watts can be spent on mini-games that are played on the Pokéwalker, where a player can catch rare Pokémon and find special items.

Interestingly, the Pokéwalker shares a great deal in common with a mini handheld device that Nintendo sold almost ten years called the Pokémon Pikachu 2. Owners of Pokémon Pikachu 2 could link it up with their Game Boy Color using infrared technology, and then receive items like the Miracle Berry in their copy of Pokémon Gold or Silver.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions will hit stores shelves on March 14.

New Pokéwalker Lets Players Bring the Fun of Pokémon Wherever They Go

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– For more than a decade, millions of Pokémon™ fans around the world have enjoyed training their Pokémon within their video games.The March 14 release of the Pokémon™ HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version games lets players continue to enjoy the world of Pokémon away from their Nintendo DS™ or Nintendo DSi™ systems, taking their favorite Pokémon with them wherever they go with the new Pokéwalker™ accessory. This new accessory will come included with each copy of these games.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, players can wirelessly transfer any one of their Pokémon from one of the two games to the Pokéwalker and walk them through virtual routes as the player walks around in real life. By walking, players earn Watts, which are used within the Pokéwalker to encounter and catch wild Pokémon or search for hidden items, and can be transferred into Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions to unlock new routes. There are even special versions of certain Pokémon that can only be found within routes on the Pokéwalker, giving players added incentive to keep their Pokémon with them wherever they go. The Pokémon in the Pokéwalker will gain experience points as the player walks, and can even go up one level when they are transferred back into the game. Players also can wirelessly connect two Pokéwalkers to trade items.

Letting players return to the beloved Johto region first introduced in Pokémon Gold Version and Silver Version for the portable Game Boy™ system, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions introduce several new enhancements for the series that enrich these timeless adventures. Created exclusively for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems, the games feature detailed graphics that spotlight the unique environments and hundreds of Pokémon that players can encounter and catch. Players can even see and interact with their favorite Pokémon outside of battle, selecting one from their team to follow behind their Trainer as they travel through the Johto region. The games also include robust touch-screen functionality, allowing for smoother control and seamless navigation by the player.

For more information about Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, please visit www.pokemon.com. For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.nintendo.com.

Talkback

pyrokamileonJanuary 12, 2010

How sad is it that this actually sounds cool...  I know it's nothing new, I guess I've just always liked stuff like this. 
And here I was telling myself after playing Diamond so little that I didn't need to buy anymore pokemon games.  Why does a remake of Gold/Silver have to sound even a little appealing??  How much did the last pokemon sell for?  Should I not be surprised when these new ones retail for $39.99?  I guess I can pass...  Now if they could find it in their heart (hehe) to sell them for $29.99 I wouldn't have any last line of defense.  I guess I should be glad the likelyhood of that happening especially with these new Pokewalkers being included in the box is pretty much 0%...

It is a very cool idea. Not enough to sell this game to me, but I'm closer than before.

I think I mentioned this on RFN, but I expect the next DS hardware to have a built-in pedometer so this kind of functionality can go into all kinds of games.

Mop it upJanuary 12, 2010

So I guess this little device isn't included in the Japanese version?

Ten bucks says the games will come in a huge box.

Wow, use in conjunction with Wii Fit for double the benefit. I can see this being pretty neat.

Flames_of_chaosLukasz Balicki, Staff AlumnusJanuary 12, 2010

Quote from: Mop_it_up

So I guess this little device isn't included in the Japanese version?

Ten bucks says the games will come in a huge box.

It was included in the Japanese version. I actually took some snapshots of the boxarts on Amazon before they took them down, and the box will probably be slightly bigger. Though since Amazon revealed that the pokewalkers will be included in heartgold and soulsilver, this is old news.

Chozo GhostJanuary 12, 2010

This would have been a neat idea if it hadn't been done 10+ years ago. Nevertheless, I'm sure it will be popular... there is a new generation who hasn't been corrupted by Tomagotchi, and this is sure to be a big hit for them.

MorariJanuary 12, 2010

So it's a handheld game for what is already a portable, handheld game?

Ian SaneJanuary 12, 2010

Yeah this seems like a total blast from the past.

I do a lot of walking.  It's pretty common for me to just go for a walk for an hour or so to gather my thoughts.  So if I cared about this I could save up some Watts pretty easily.

StratosJanuary 12, 2010

I remember my sister and I taking turns shaking the old one to store up tons of watt. We then blew them all on the slots. Good times.

Guitar SmasherJanuary 12, 2010

Although it may not be their prime intention, that's an interesting way to combat piracy.  I'm curious as to how this can be expanded upon.

Chozo GhostJanuary 12, 2010

I didn't think about that, but knowing Nintendo that makes perfect sense. There is no way this can be pirated, so that might be the reason they're doing it.

Wow. Halfway tempted now.

SesshaJanuary 12, 2010

I just need to find a good place to hide this and then I'm golden

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