Pokéwalker

The Pokéwalker

The Pokéwalker (Japanese: ポケウォーカー Pokéwalker) is a pedometer device specifically for use with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver that is able to interact with the games in various manners. It was released on September 12, 2009 in Japan bundled with every copy of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and then later released with every English copy of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver on March 14, 2010. The accessory features a Poké Ball-shaped design with a small LCD, Monochrome screen, with three functioning buttons. The Pokéwalker supports infrared signals allowing players to interact with each other within very short range, or with a Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite or Nintendo DSi system.

The player can transfer a Pokémon to the Pokéwalker from either HeartGold and SoulSilver. Every time the player takes a step, the Pokémon inside gains experience points and the player earns "Watts" which can be exchanged for a chance to obtain items and Pokémon. Players can also catch various Pokémon on the device and obtain items, then transfer them to the game. Alongside the Johto Safari Zone, the Pokéwalker allows for Pokémon normally unavailable until after the player has traveled to Kanto, such as Murkrow, to be available before defeating the Elite Four.

Much as HeartGold and SoulSilver are remakes of the original Gold and Silver, the Pokéwalker could be considered to be somewhat of a remake of the Pokémon Pikachu 2, which interacted in much the same way with the Generation II games. Unlike the Pokémon Pikachu 2, however, Pikachu is not the only Pokémon that can be interacted with, and Pokémon can actually be transferred to and from the Pokéwalker at any given point in time. Like the Pokémon Pikachu and its successor, the Pokéwalker uses a currency known as "watts" (shortened to w), which are obtained as the player walks with the device. Every 20 steps will earn the player one watt.

Hardware

Technical specifications

File:Pokewalker artwork.png

Artwork and features of the Pokéwalker

Mass: 21 grams (0.75 ounces)
Physical dimensions: 48 millimeters x 48 millimeters x 13.9 millimeters (1.9 inches x 1.9 inches x 0.5 inches)
Screens: 1-inch (25mm) LCD, monochrome screen
Controls: Accelerometer, infrared signal

Infrared communication

The Pokéwalker uses infrared waves to transfer data from the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver to the the device. There is a infrared receiver in the Pokéwalker which allows the device to send and receive data from other Pokéwalkers or the Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver game card, which also contains a infrared receiver. The infrared signals allow players to interact with each other within a very short distance, approximately 5 centimeters (2 inches) apart from each other. For best communication, avoid objects between the two connected devices, sunlight or other strong light nearby, and other sources of heat, light, or strong electromagnetic energy, which can interfere with infrared communication.

Battery life

The Pokéwalker contains a CR 2032 3V watch battery with a capacity of 220–225 mAh. The battery will last approximately four months if the Pokéwalker device is used 30 minutes a day and about 10,000 steps are taken. This will vary depending on the temperature, the number of steps taken, how often the Pokéwalker is used, how often infrared communication is used, and how often the buttons are pressed. If the battery power gets low, a battery icon will appear on the top-left corner of the display and the Pokéwalker will save the information once every hour before the battery runs out. The battery is currently not rechargeable and must be replaced with another CR 2032 3V watch battery if it runs out. If the Pokéwalker's batteries run out and the session is not saved, all steps will be lost and all watts, items and Pokémon that were obtained during the trip will be deleted, however the Pokémon deposited at the start of the session will remain the same.

To sustain battery life in the midst of a session, the Pokéwalker puts itself into sleep mode, so the display will turn off and the screen will go blank, which can be revived by holding down the central button for one seconds. While in sleep mode, the Pokéwalker will still maintain its primary function and record the amount of steps the player takes. There is also a setting that is about to turn the display light down to conserve battery life, while the sound can be muted also the save battery life. To replace the battery, a Phillips-head screwdriver is needed to remove the plain backing or the optional belt clip. Removing the battery will cause all steps taken and watts obtained to be cleared. The Pokémon inside will not be erased.

Gameplay and features

Pokéwalker gameplay boils down to simply walking around with the device so as to charge up watts, then utilizing the watts to purchase use of the Poké Radar and Dowsing MCHN. Up to three caught Pokémon and up to three found items may be stored at once: any more than that, and the player will have to decide which to get rid of. The step counter resets at midnight each day. Watts is the mode of currency used within the Pokéwalker. Watts can be earned in various different ways; every 20 steps the player takes 1 watt is earned, and Pokémon within the Pokéwalker can randomly find multiples of 10, 20, or 50 watts whilst on their walk. In total, a Pokémon can only gain one level every time they are sent to the Pokéwalker, and will not gain any more experience if it exceeds that level.

Each Pokéwalker area has three advantageous elemental types which vary between areas, and have influence over the Pokéwalker's Poké Radar and Dowsing MCHN. When a Pokémon of an advantageous type is brought into a areas, then the chance of finding rarer Pokémon when using the Poké Radar and items when using the Dowsing MCHN will slightly increase. In addition to making rarer Pokémon easier to find when using the Poké Radar, an advantageous type will lower the required step count for each Pokémon by 25%. This effect does not seem to apply to the Dowsing MCHN.

Poké Radar

File:Pokewalker battling.png

The battle screen

Each time the Poké Radar is used will cost the player 10 watts, and brings them to a screen containing four patches of grass. After a short period of time, an exclamation mark will appear above one of the patches. The player must then use the side buttons to align the arrow with that bush and push the center button to look in that bush before time expires. If the player successfully selects the bush with the exclamation mark, either a battle will begin or after a short random period of time an exclamation mark will appear above a bush again. Again the player must select the bush at which time either battle will begin or after a short random period of time two exclamation marks will appear above a random bush. If battle does not begin this time, finally three exclamation points will appear above one of the bushes. Successfully selecting that bush will always begin a battle. Taking too long to select the correct bush will instantly result in failure and the Poké Radar will need to be reused with 10 more watts to try again.

Exclamation Point	Pokémon Group
!	Group C
!	Group C or Group B
!!	Group B or Group A
!!!	Group A

It is important to note that the Pokémon catchable on a given stroll are fixed from the time the player transfers their Pokémon to the Pokéwalker. At this time the game selects one Pokémon from each of the 3 groups (A, B and C) that will appear during that stroll. Should the player wish to catch one of the three Pokémon not selected for that stroll they must send their Pokémon back to their game card and then choose to go on the route again. It is also important to note that Pokémon caught are assigned a random nature, ignoring Synchronize.

The battle system of the Pokéwalker is quite primitive, even compared to the Generation I games; each Pokémon utilizes their in-game menusprite in the battle, while each has only 4 HP. Only three choices are offered: Attack, Evade, or Catch. Attacking will cause the player's Pokémon to perform a basic tackle on the opponent (note that this is not the move itself, and that type advantages and disadvantages play no role), while evading may cause the opponent's attack to miss. Evading successfully will result in attacking the opponent for one damage without receiving any. If the player's Pokémon evades but the opponent does not choose to attack, it will result in a "Stare down" between the two Pokémon. If multiple stare-downs occur in succession, it is likely the opponent will flee, though this is not always the case. The catch option will throw a Poké Ball at the wild Pokémon, which may be caught. Critical hits sometimes occur: these will take away 2 HP rather than the standard 1. If a Poké Ball is not successful in capturing the opponent Pokémon, it will flee, and the player's 10 watts will have been in vain. The same is true if the player's Pokémon defeats its opponent, whereas if the opponent defeats the player's Pokémon, up to ten watts will be lost (much as money is in the main series games after the defeat of the player's Pokémon).

Player Action	Wild Pokémon Action	Result
Attack	Attack	Player's Pokémon	Receive one damage
	Attack	Wild Pokémon	Receive one damage
	Evade	Player's Pokémon	Receive one damage
	Evade	Wild Pokémon	---
	Run	Player's Pokémon	Receive one damage
	Run	Wild Pokémon	Receive two damage (critical hit)
Evade	Attack	Player's Pokémon	---
	Attack	Wild Pokémon	Receive one damage
	Evade	Player's Pokémon	---
	Evade	Wild Pokémon	---
	Run	Player's Pokémon	---
	Run	Wild Pokémon	Run away
Catch	Succeed	Wild Pokémon is caught
Catch	Fail	Wild Pokémon runs away

Dowsing MCHN

File:Pokewalker items.png

Finding an item

Much like in the main games, the Dowsing MCHN will help the player find items in the wild. Each use of this function costs 3 watts, and the player has two chances to find an item hidden among six grass tufts. If the item is not found the first time, the Dowsing MCHN will tell the player if the item is close by or far away. If the item is close by then it is likely either to the direct right or the direct left of the first checked grass tuft. Likewise if the item is far away then the item is at least two grass tufts away in either direction. If the item is not found on the second search, the player will be out of luck and will have to pay an additional 3 watts to try again.

Other menu options

Connect - Allows connection to another player's Pokéwalker, however that same person cannot be connected to during the remainder of the day.
Trainer Card - Views details such as the Trainer name, current area name and current time. By pressing the right-most button seven times, further details will be shown such as the day, the total number ofsteps taken, the total number of days, and the steps taken in those days.
Pokémon and Items - Displays all Pokémon and items obtained in the current session.
Settings - Alters features such as sound and screen contrast.

Areas

File:Pokewalker areas.png

Selecting an area before sending a Pokémon

The Pokéwalker has 27 distinct areas that a player can have their Pokémon visit on sending them from HeartGold or SoulSilver. The main difference between them is the species of Pokémon that can be found using the Poké Radar. Two areas are unlocked from the start, while more can be unlocked by various means.