Pokégear
Pokémon Gear (Japanese: ポケモンギア Pokémon Gear), or more commonly just Pokégear (Japanese: ポケギア Pokégear), is an electronic device found in Johto. It looks like a large, advanced wristwatch with the Silph Co. logo on it. It was first introduced in Generation II; the Hoenn region's analog to the Pokégear appears to be the PokéNav, while the Sinnoh counterpart is the Pokétch.
The Pokégear is an important tool for Trainers, some see it necessary to have one on a Trainer's adventure. The main character of Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal receives a Pokégear from their mother at the start of their journey. The player is able to have access to the Pokégear by selecting it from the menu. At that, it is easy to navigate through the Pokégear by selecting through four different functions located at the top-left of the screen. It displays the map of the region, names of previously fought Trainers, and the current time. It also allows players to call registered Trainers. Certain functions need to be unlocked during the game by receiving special expansion cards.
The Pokégear returns in the Generation IV remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver. The interface has been completely redesigned, using both screens on the Nintendo DS. The top will always display the time function on the Pokégear, while the touch screen will display the other different functions of the Pokégear, as well as selecting other functions using the touch screen. The outer aesthetics of the Pokégear have changed abruptly as well. The whole Pokégear is a flip top, while the bottom section of the Pokégear is used to scan special expansion cards to upgrade it with other functions. Its color skin is changeable between blue, pink, a Team Rocket theme, a Japanese dojo theme, a Pokémon League theme, and teal-and-white with a Silph Co. theme.
Functions
The Pokégear's functionality comes from the several features and applications that can be installed in it, making it extensible. Many people are willing to give away special expansion cards to upgrade the Pokégear with other functions. In Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, there are 4 available functions, two of which are included with the Pokégear. The rest are not available at the start but can be received at a later time.
Time
Included in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal with the Pokégear, the time function is the most basic feature. The Pokégear will digitally display the time of day using the 12-hour AM/PM format as well as the day of the week. It runs off of the time the player input at the beginning of the game.
A glitch in Gold and Silver will change the day if the functions are scrolled through; this was addressed in Crystal. A function in Gold and Silver that allowed players to reset the game's time in the title screen was also removed from Crystal.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the time will always be displayed on the top screen of the DS. However, unlike in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, the time is displayed using the 24-hour format instead of the 12-hour format and runs on the Nintendo DS's internal clock, much like the Pokétch. There is also a wireless signal measurement next to the time, though it has no purpose and always displays the same. .
- PokéGearTime.png
The time function in Gold, Silver, and Crystal
- PokéGearPhone HGSS.png
The top screen in HeartGold and SoulSilver
Map
Obtained after the player receives a map card for the Pokégear after taking a tour of Cherrygrove City from the Guide Gent, the map function of the Pokégear acts as a Town Map, displaying a map of Johto and later Kanto with cities, towns and other important landmarks. It is the most basic of the map devices used by the player, and is the navigational item for all Generation II games.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the mechanics of the map remain the same, only to have several added features, including the ability to zoom in to display areas of interest, with certain locations having a small flavor text. There is another feature that allows the player to add notes and markings to different locations, to allow the player to make notes about each area about the Pokémon in the area, any Apricorn or Berry trees, any special buildings, TM locations or any other notes. These notes will appear on the top screen when the player highlights that specific area on the map. Like the Marking Map on the Pokétch, it also displays the current locations of all Pokémon that travel around Johto, including Entei, Raikou and Suicune.
- PokéGearMap.png
The map function in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, displaying the map for Johto
- PokéGearMap HGSS.png
The map function in HeartGold and SoulSilver, displaying the map for Johto
Phone
Included in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal with the Pokégear, the phone function on the Pokégear will function like a cellphone, allowing the user to make calls to people that they've traded phone numbers with. This allows the player to talk to other characters and learn information from them, such as battling tips or when rare Pokémon appear. The player can also store numbers of other important people, like their mom, or Professor Elm. Mom will also ring every so often, telling the player about the money she has saved (if opted for by the player) and occasionally buys decorations for the bedroom, or items such as Super Potions. The phone function has a memory bank that can save up to ten people on the phone.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the phone function makes a return, and will be used in the same way. The player will able to select a person to call from the touch screen, and be able to call them. It is also able to store many more numbers in its memory with no limit than the same function in Generation II. The player's mom will once again provide her unique money-saving services.
Trainer phone listing
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The rematch concept is expanded in HeartGold and SoulSilver to allow players to rematch the Gym Leaders of Johto and Kanto. The phone numbers for the sixteen Leaders cannot be obtained until after the Earth Badge has been obtained, but after Blue has been defeated, the majority of the Leaders take time out of their schedules to travel the two regions. By speaking with them at the appropriate time and place, players can obtain their phone numbers. At a later, specified date, the player can call the Leader and ask for a rematch. The Leader will always accept, and the battle will be fought at Saffron City's Fighting Dojo.
Gym Leader phone listing
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Radio
Obtained after the Radio Card is received from a quiz host at the Goldenrod Radio Tower, radio function allows music to be played like a radio. The Pokégear functions as a radio that allows the player to listen to the radio stations within the game being broadcast from [the Radio Tower. This allows the player to get tips from Professor Oak and DJ Mary on Oak's Pokémon Talk, affect how active wild Pokémon are by playing Pokémon March or Pokémon Lullaby on the Pokémon Music station, or listen to the Lucky Channel to keep track of the Radio Tower's lottery promotion.
When the player travels into Kanto in Crystal, he/she will not receive a signal for the radio, and must obtain an EXPN Card to tune into certain stations in Kanto; this is obtained from someone at the Lavender Radio Tower after restoring the power to Kanto. In Gold and Silver, the EXPN Card is only required for the Poké Flute station.
In HeartGold and SoulSilver, the radio function makes a return, and is received in the same way it was in Generation II. Tuning can be done in two ways, moving the indicator around the globe using the stylus, or selecting one of the four radio stations. Similar radio stations appear. As in Crystal, the EXPN Card is required for all stations in Kanto.
- PokéGearRadio.png
The radio function in Gold, Silver, and Crystal
- PokéGearRadio HGSS.png
The radio function in HeartGold and SoulSilver
Radio shows
| Program | Host(s) | Channel | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokédex Show | (no DJ) | 4.5 (Johto) 4 AM-10 AM only, Generation II only |
A show that broadcasts Pokédex entries gathered by the player. |
| Professor Oak's Pokémon Talk | Professor Oak, DJ Mary | 4.5 (Johto) 10 AM-4 AM only in Generation II, all day in Generation IV |
Talk show discussing locations where semi-rare Pokémon can be found. Also speaks about swarms and where Sinnoh/Hoenn Pokémon currently reside. |
| Pokémon Music | DJ Ben | 7.5 (Johto) | Broadcasts different music to different effects depending on the day of the week. |
| Lucky Channel | Reed | 8.5 (Johto) | Broadcasts one ID per week; trainers who come to the welcome center with a Pokémon whose ID is similar will win a prize (G/S/C only). |
| Buena's Password | Buena | 10.5 (Johto) | Broadcasts one password per night between 6 PM-12 AM; trainers who come to Buena and recite the password can get points redeemable for prizes (Crystal only). |
| Variety Channel | ???? | 10.5 (Johto) | Broadcasts Buena's Password channel with a couple more new features. Aside from the aforementioned channel, there's a few other new channels that are broadcast in different schedules (HG/SS only). |
| Un(kn)own Radio Station | Unown | 13.5 (Johto) | Strange noises will play. Ruins of Alph only. It must be tuned into manually using the stylus in HeartGold and SoulSilver, while normal stations assigned to the radio's buttons will not play in the Ruins of Alph. In Generation IV, it also increases the chance of encountering an Unown shape the player has not yet encountered. |
| Places and People | DJ Lily | 16.5 (Kanto) | Talk show discussing Kanto locations or trainers the player has faced. Requires EXPN Card in Pokémon Crystal (G/S/C only). |
| Let's All Sing | DJ Fern | 18.5 (Kanto) | Broadcasts different music to different effects depending on the day of the week. Requires EXPN Card in Pokémon Crystal (G/S/C only). |
| Poké Flute | (no DJ) | 20 (Kanto) | Plays Poké Flute music. Used to awaken Snorlax. Requires EXPN Card. |
| Team Rocket evolution signal (Shown as ?????) | Team Rocket HQ | 20.5 (Johto) | An eerie tune plays over and over. Only plays in Mahogany Town, Route 43, and Lake of Rage and causes interference that prevents the radio from tuning in to other stations in HeartGold and SoulSilver. No longer plays when the player has cleared the Team Rocket Hideout. |
| Team Rocket's announcement (replaces other radio station) | Team Rocket | Every radio station (Johto) | Plays on every radio station once Team Rocket has succeeded in taking over the Radio Tower. A Team Rocket executive announces over the airwaves that they have rejoined, and pleads their boss, Giovanni, to come out of hiding and rejoin them. Begins playing once the player has obtained seven badges, no longer plays when Team Rocket disbands. |
In the anime
In the anime, it is shown that the Pokégear has at least two designs, a black one and a white and pink one. Several characters in the anime own Pokégears:
- Lisa lent hers to Ash so that he could keep in contact with Professor Oak in Spell of the Unown.
- Jimmy, Marina and Vincent all own Pokégears. A plot point of The Legend of Thunder! is that it includes a tracking system to show where the other Pokégears currently are.
- Misty also owns one, so that she can keep in contact with her sisters at the Cerulean Gym.
- Lyra owns the new version of the Pokégear, and she owns a pink model. Likewise, her friend Khoury owns a blue model.
- Brock received his own Pokégear at the end of Bagged Then Tagged! when he was given one by Khoury's father. It has been used fairly regularly by him since then, normally being used by Brock to track the group's location (similar to how Max did with the PokéNav).
In the TCG
The PokéGear appears as a card in the Neo Genesis set. The redesigned version, Pokégear 3.0, appears as a card in the HeartGold & SoulSilver expansion.
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