Pokégear
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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 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 Roaming Pokémon, including Entei and Raikou.
If, in HeartGold and SoulSilver, a non-player character calls the player on the PokéGear phone for a rematch or to give an item, then the PokéGear map will display a small red exclamation point next to the name of the route or location.
- 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. When this happens, a red exclamation point next to the name of the route or location on the Pokégear map will indicate that there is someone in this area waiting for the player.
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 is used in the same way. The player is able to select a person to call from the touch screen, and is able to call them. The player also doesn't have to answer when someone calls them, another change from Generation II. 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 once again provides her unique money-saving services. When contacted, Lyra will give information on how certain Pokémon will react to different areas as well.
Another aspect for HeartGold and SoulSilver is that rematches with Trainers will start after the player has collected seven badges and has beaten Team Rocket at the Radio Tower in Goldenrod City. Each of them has a specific time during one day each week where the player contacts them to automatically set a rematch. As long as the player is not at the same route as that Trainer, they will accept the challenge whenever the player wants within that time frame. Otherwise, the other Trainer will call at random and the player will have to intercept their phone call to see if they want a rematch.
Trainer phone listing
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Gym Leader phone listing
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 most of the sixteen Leaders can be obtained before the Earth Badge has been obtained (though after defeating the Elite Four), but rematches with the Gym Leaders cannot be scheduled until after Blue has been defeated. 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.
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Radio
Obtained after the Radio Card is received from a quiz host at the Goldenrod Radio Tower, the 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
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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.
- A Pokégear under the ownership of Jasmine, the Olivine Gym Leader made a brief appearance in Fight for the Light.
- 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.
Trivia
- Music from the Pokégear doesn't stop when the player uses Surf, however it does stop when the player gets out of the water.
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