Pokéwalker

Pokéwalker; ポケウォーカー
	; The Pokéwalker
Basic info
Platform:	Self-contained
Category:	Virtual pet
Players:	2 players simultaneous
Connectivity:	Infrared
Developer:	Game Freak
Publisher:	Nintendo
Part of:	Generation IV peripheral
Ratings
CERO:	A
ESRB:	E
ACB:	N/A
OFLC:	G8+
PEGI:	3+
GRAC:	ALL
GSRR:	N/A
Release dates
Japan:	September 12, 2009
North America:	March 14, 2010
Australia:	March 25, 2010
Europe:	March 26, 2010; April 2, 2010*
South Korea:	February 4, 2010
Hong Kong:	N/A
Taiwan:	N/A
Websites
Japanese:	Sub-page on official site
English:	Sub-page on official site

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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 localized copy of the games. The accessory features a Poké Ball-shaped design with a small monochrome LCD screen, and three functioning buttons. The Pokéwalker supports infrared signals allowing players to interact within a short range with a game card of Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver while slotted in the Nintendo DS, or with another Pokéwalker.

The player can transfer a Pokémon to the Pokéwalker from either HeartGold or 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 Pokémon Pikachu 2, which interacted in much the same way with the Generation II games. Unlike 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 time. Like 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: 0.75 oz (21 g)
Physical dimensions: 1.9 in x 1.9 in x 0.5 in (48 mm x 48 mm x 13.9 mm)
Screens: 1 in (25 mm) monochrome LCD screen
Devices: Accelerometer; infrared signal

Infrared communication

The Pokéwalker uses infrared waves to transfer data from the Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver card or other Pokéwalkers to the device. There is an infrared transceiver at the top of the Pokéwalker to allow the communication. The infrared signals allow players to interact with each other within a very short distance, approximately 2 in (5 cm) apart from each other. For best communication, it is recommended to avoid objects between the two connected devices as well as sunlight or other strong light nearby, along with other sources of heat, light, or strong electromagnetic energy, which can interfere with infrared communication.

Battery life

The Pokéwalker contains a 3V CR2032 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 3V CR2032 battery if it runs out. If the Pokéwalker's battery runs 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 unaffected.

To sustain battery life in the midst of a session, the Pokéwalker puts itself into sleep mode after 60-90 seconds of inactivity, so the display will turn off and the screen will go blank. The Pokéwalker can be revived by holding down the central button for one second. While in sleep mode, the Pokéwalker will still maintain its primary function and record the amount of steps the player takes. The device's settings can also be set in order to turn the display sharpness down and decrease or mute the sound, as a way to conserve 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 Machine. Up to three caught Pokémon and up to three found items may be stored at once: after either limit is reached and given the player has caught another Pokémon or found another item, he/she will have to decide to replace either, in order to make space for the new Pokémon or item. The step counter resets at midnight each day. Watts is the mode of currency used within the Pokéwalker and 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. If a Pokémon should learn a move while leveling up, if the level is gained in the Pokéwalker, it will not learn the move.

Each Pokéwalker area has three advantageous elemental types which vary between areas, and have influence over the Pokéwalker's Poké Radar and Dowsing Machine. When a Pokémon of an advantageous type is brought into an area, then the chance of finding rarer Pokémon when using the Poké Radar and items when using the Dowsing Machine 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 Machine.

The Pokéwalker can be used without a Pokémon stored in it, as well. It will continue to accumulate steps and watts. The Dowsing Machine can still be used, but the Poké Radar cannot, as no battle could take place. In addition, Pokémon from the route being walked may voluntarily join in the Pokéwalker seemingly at random, taking the spot of the missing Pokémon, essentially being caught for free.

Poké Radar

File:Pokewalker battling.png

The battle screen

Each time the Poké Radar is used, it 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, three exclamation points will then appear above one of the bushes. Successfully selecting that bush will always begin a battle. On the first exclamation mark, selecting a bush without the exclamation mark will not affect anything, but doing so after selecting the first exclamation mark will cause the Pokémon to flee. 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. Equally important is 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 menu sprite 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. 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 10 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	Take no damage
	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 Machine

File:Pokewalker items.png

Finding an item

Much like in the main games, the Dowsing Machine 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 Machine 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.

When using the Dowsing Machine, assuming that hints are always used correctly, there is a 50% chance of finding an item regardless of which patch is selected first.

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 of steps 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 - Manages sound volume 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.