Pokemon Gold/Silver remakes let you train Pokemon by walking [Joystiq]

[DP ServBot]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/pokemon060809.jpg (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/06/08/pokemon_gold_silver/)Turns out that the same technology used in Personal Trainer: Walking to train you will also help you train Pokemans in Pokémon Heart Gold and Soul Silver (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/10/first-footage-of-pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-revealed/). According to Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/06/08/pokemon_gold_silver/), the Pokémon Sunday TV show revealed a new pedometer device used in the game, called the "Poké Walker," that resembles a cross between a Pokeball and the Pokémon Mini (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_mini) handheld. For some reason, Nintendo decided to make another wireless pedometer peripheral for the DS rather than allowing people to use the existing one.

The device allows you to build one Pokémon's experience and personal affinity simply by walking. In addition, the Poké Walker generates "watts," which can be used to catch wild creatures and find tools inside the Poké Walker world to send back to the full game.

Check out the first screens of the remakes in our gallery, as you come to the terrifying realization that Nintendo didn't mention this game at all at E3.
Gallery: Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver (DS) (http://www.digitpress.com/photos/pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-ds/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/pokemonhg060902_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.digitpress.com/photos/pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-ds/2067018/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/pokemonhg060905_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.digitpress.com/photos/pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-ds/2067017/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/pokemonhg060904_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.digitpress.com/photos/pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-ds/2067016/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/pokemonhg060903_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.digitpress.com/photos/pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-ds/2067015/)http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/06/pokemonhg060901_thumbnail.jpg (http://www.digitpress.com/photos/pokemon-heart-gold-and-soul-silver-ds/2067014/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif (http://www.joystiq.com)Pokemon Gold/Silver remakes let you train Pokemon by walking (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/08/pokemon-gold-silver-remakes-let-you-train-pokemon-by-walking/) originally appeared on Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds (http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/).



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[Baloo]

Heh, interesting. That device looks like those old Pokemon Mini things they used to sell. I actually still have my Smoochum one from when the Pokemon Center NY was still open and not called Nintendo World.

[chicnstu]

Looks like I'm going to have some very tired arms when this game comes out....

[c0ldb33r]

Looks like I'm going to have some very tired arms when this game comes out....
uhhh... arms? What do you mean? It's a pedometer. It's for walking... Do you walk on your hands?

I think this is really neat! I'm going to buy it when it comes out.

[Cornelius]

Looks like I'm going to have some very tired arms when this game comes out....


uhhh... arms? What do you mean? It's a pedometer. It's for walking... Do you walk on your hands?

I think this is really neat! I'm going to buy it when it comes out.
Just strap it to your wrist with a towel over your lap and you'll be all set.

[kedawa]

Pokémon

[c0ldb33r]

Just strap it to your wrist with a towel over your lap and you'll be all set.
Heh. I s'pose.

It's too bad you can't use the pedometer from other DS products with this game. I've got a pedometer that came with some walking fitness game. It'd be neat to use it as well. Maybe level up two at once.

[joshnickerson]

I guess it's the replacement for this ol thing... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Pikachu)

It's probably going to be more of a virtual pet than simply a pedometer.

[chicnstu]

uhhh... arms? What do you mean? It's a pedometer. It's for walking... Do you walk on your hands?

I meant I would be lazy and just shake the thing to gain whatever benefits it gives to my Pokemon...

[NayusDante]

Try digging around archive.org for the old Lego Mindstorms "Pikachu Shaker" designs.

I'm going to cry foul on this. There's no way it's going to use anything other than lithium batteries, and it's almost guaranteed that it will last a month or less.

On a different note... A baby-shaking game on iPhone recently caused quite a controversy. We've been shaking these small animals for years and PETA has yet to chime in. Just an observation.

[BHvrd]

Pokemon and pedometer in the same sentence makes me chuckle.

[graciano1337]

I will keep that on my body at all times. Never leave home without it.

[8bitCaged]

Looks like I'm going to have some very tired arms when this game comes out....

Just duct tape it to a fan. Then play some Pokemon ;)

[c0ldb33r]

I'm going to cry foul on this. There's no way it's going to use anything other than lithium batteries, and it's almost guaranteed that it will last a month or less.
Why? I've got a pedometer that lasts forever.


Just duct tape it to a fan. Then play some Pokemon ;)
Or take it to Home Depot and use the paint shaker.

What I don't get is that it says it transfers using infrared. The DS doesn't have an infrared port.

[chicnstu]

What I don't get is that it says it transfers using infrared. The DS doesn't have an infrared port.

Maybe the Pokemon cartridge has a built in sensor like Personal Trainer: Walking.

[c0ldb33r]

Well, the only thing I can think of is that it connects to the DS wirelessly but not using IR.

Why? because product shots show it working with the DSi. So therefore, and solution that would connect it to the DS using the GBA slot cannot work.

[Nirvana]

This really benefits the Pokemon trainers who also happen to be marathon trainers too o_O

Running 3-4 miles 4 days a week = SUPER POKEMON

[NayusDante]

Why? I've got a pedometer that lasts forever.

A normal pedometer doesn't have IR data transfer, or play minigames, so it doesn't use a lot of power. It might not be bad if it charges somehow, maybe in the GBA slot or something.

[calthaer]

The old Pikachu pedometer for the old Gold / Silver used a watch battery. You could unscrew the back and replace it. The watch battery worked for me for a little over two years, I believe.

That was a great little device. You could get a lot of decent items using the mystery gift function in the old Gold / Silver - rare candies, evolution stones, etc. The pedometer was great if you didn't have many other people around to do that with.

I think that the N64 games also served the same function by giving you a mystery gift every day as well.

Anyways...I thought this old function was fun. Glad they're bringing it back.