Pokemon Gold/Silver remakes let you train Pokemon by walking
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jun 8th 2009 at 9:30AM } 
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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
KingKRule @ Jun 8th 2009 9:33AM
Is this gonna start pokemon training parades?
Frank @ Jun 8th 2009 9:38AM
slightly reminiscent of those picachu digital pets you could get years ago.
pman1225 @ Jun 8th 2009 9:49AM
Not a big deal, but it should be nice for those who want to grind away from the game.
Todd @ Jun 8th 2009 9:54AM
idk kids carrying around pedometers seems odd to me for some reason.
Ryoga Vee @ Jun 8th 2009 9:56AM
I remember when I got to 1,000,000 steps with my Pocket Pikachu... back in 1999!!!!
Seriously. Either make a big update or let it die.
PR0F3TA @ Jun 8th 2009 9:57AM
ironically, a Pedometer is also what Chris Hansen uses to train his agents with
RogueFace @ Aug 15th 2009 12:05PM
While I am unsure as to the actual presence of irony, I will give you the LOL and the upvote that you so hilariously deserve.
JonEthan @ Jun 8th 2009 12:35PM
Given how much walking I do around campus, this sounds pretty cool to me, anyway. If it's included in the game package, I'll probably use it. If it's sold separately for ≈$10, I'll consider it.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jun 8th 2009 1:42PM
i was thinking the same thing. i do enough walking around campus that this could really help me out since i don't have a huge amount of time for grinding usually. guess i have another device i have to find space for in my pockets.
and yea, don't know if it's something i would pay extra for but i would definitely use it if it was bundled. just how the Wireless Adapter was back in the day, i would have kept on using my Link Cable if that hadn't come bundled in my Leaf Green Version.
Bob @ Aug 14th 2009 8:27PM
The late end of 2004 is "back in the day" now? What?
Kattleox @ Jun 8th 2009 10:01AM
This bears a surprising resemblance to those million digivices I bought as a kid. I remember not actually walking, but sitting around with my friends shaking the things until we got somewhere. THOSE were the days...and apparently these are too.
Dragod @ Jun 8th 2009 12:22PM
YES. I loved those things; back before I could afford a GameBoy Color, I used to sit there all day until I heard that chiming that said something was happening. Man, those things were awesome. I had like 4 of them; my friend had the D-tector, so he could do all kinds of cool things... Digivices have one up on the pokewalkers, though; You could trade between the devices.
Scuffles @ Jun 8th 2009 3:44PM
Actually never really a fan of pokemon, tho I did own a pokemon stadium game or two over the years just for their mild entertainment value.
I actually think its an interesting idea, not sure if it warrented another peripheral since one already existed tho to be honest I have never seen it. If it has a screen they probably should have stuck with that one.
In any case Pokemon pedometer + paint shaker = FTW?
Storm Eagle @ Jun 8th 2009 10:03AM
So we'll know who to blame when kids start dying from heat exhaustion just because they're Pikachu's level wasn't high enough and they just had to walk more to get it stronger.
j.howlett @ Jun 8th 2009 10:25AM
i was messing around with a pedometer my niece got in a kids meal last year and i could just shake the thing to get steps to register.
Zenith @ Jun 9th 2009 1:08AM
First people complain about kids not exercising enough due to video games, and now people will complain about kids exercising too much due to video games. When will people be satisfied?!?!?! LOL
Rhamsey @ Jun 8th 2009 10:07AM
This is awesome, i still have the first one that allowed you to trade with the old gold and silver, oh mystery gift, how you have fallen.
butaneko @ Jun 8th 2009 10:35AM
I think this is pretty ingenious actually. Fitness is go!
Dragod @ Jun 8th 2009 12:24PM
Until 5 minutes after the kids get them and they realize they can just shake them to get the steps to register...
butaneko @ Jun 8th 2009 12:39PM
Ha that's probably true. The next third party peripheral release will be a miniature paint can shaker for your pedometer.
Feba @ Jun 8th 2009 10:45AM
I would complain about how it's stupid marketing, but I *did* have one of those pikachu pets when I was a kid, and it *did* get me walking.
If it gets some kid off the couch, and keeps him from succumbing to heart disease, I'm all for it.
Ezio Auditore (Now equipped with double blades!) [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 8th 2009 10:46AM
what's with nintendo and peripherals lately? this is one of the less stupid ones, but still, the sheer number of peripherals coming out is ridiculous.
mr nimblewick @ Jun 8th 2009 10:57AM
I know, it's like people have shown that they are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on plastic guitars or something.
Ezio Auditore (Now equipped with double blades!) [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 8th 2009 2:34PM
but nintendo specifically coming up with ridiculous peripherals. like the heartbeat monitor. come on! it's like peripherals are becoming requirements for wii games now. the ds seems to only get stupid peripherals once in a blue moon though.
VaultICEE @ Jun 8th 2009 9:16PM
Plastic guitars are essential to their respected games, however.
Are pedometers going to become ESSENTIAL to the Pokemon experience? Is the Wii Vitality Sensor going to be ESSENTIAL to playing Mario or even Wii Sports?
Nintendo... you're getting pretty ridiculous. Besides, I don't think Pokemon needs a gimmick to sell well.
TennisMan8304 @ Jun 8th 2009 11:09AM
I think it's a good idea because when I need to run errands or go to work, I can level up my beloved party. If I have to pay extra I probably won't though.
Captain NvsS @ Aug 8th 2009 1:34PM
To be fair, it does come bundled with the game. I don't think it costs money separately, and I really don't think that the old ones will work with the DS. And Nintendo is probably (and by that I mean hopefully) not going to be stupid enough to sell the thing on it's own. Plus, a lot of people don't have the old version, like myself. (Ages of using Pokemon Stadium 2 to get all my mystery gifts)
Nap @ Jun 8th 2009 11:12AM
I still have the first Pokémon Pikachu
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jun 8th 2009 1:37PM
yea i happened across mine the other day. obviously the battery was dead so it didn't work but it got a chuckle out of me.
Jawmuncher @ Jun 8th 2009 11:16AM
The lazy people are going to find a way to cheat this thing.
Ezio Auditore (Now equipped with double blades!) [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 8th 2009 11:34AM
they still have to shake their arms vigorously to cheat it...
pibs @ Jun 8th 2009 12:10PM
Put it on a paint shaker ;D 2009 will be the year children will have an interest in going to the hardware store.
Mazrael @ Jun 8th 2009 11:23AM
Pokemon G/S remake....!? this is a first to me, think I'll be buying this one.. will Lugia actually be in this one this time, or do I need continue with the Colloseum sequel (yawn).. cos I'll dust of my DS for this.. though looking at the pedometre, I'll need a DSi.. I think I only need 50 pokemon for a full dex at the moment (ie global dex)...
R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jun 8th 2009 11:27AM
Tie it to a dog collar.
Then after its been around my girlfriends neck for a week, come back and enjoy. :P
Ezio Auditore (Now equipped with double blades!) [PSN SniperChameleon] @ Jun 8th 2009 1:52PM
your girlfriend wears a dog collar? YOUR GIRLFRIEND IS A DOG? ooh...
Marco @ Jun 8th 2009 3:30PM
Is you're image consisting of Zelda and Peach gettin it on?
R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jun 8th 2009 3:42PM
@Ezio,
The fact that your mind lept to that instead of the more obvious (and sexy) image of a girl in a collar concerns me, and makes me wonder what sort of thoughts are in your head.
@Marco,
Why yes. Yes it is.
jburnz @ Jun 8th 2009 11:31AM
talking about milking the cow....
Snowblind @ Jun 8th 2009 12:12PM
Pokemon isn't really being milked, the main games are only released every 2-3 years.. The spin off games are another story, but almost none of them are worth playing and can be largely ignored.
Aero @ Jun 8th 2009 11:47AM
Now if only you could hatch eggs using this, then you could ride your bike back and forth IN REAL LIFE to hatch them.
Donald @ Jun 8th 2009 12:22PM
Listening to the Joystiq Podcast while hatching eggs > listening to the ingame music.
Sorry, but it's true.
rTwelve @ Jun 8th 2009 12:59PM
It wasn't mentioned at E3 because Nintendo of America probably plans to announce it for North America sometime later this year.
Travis @ Jun 8th 2009 2:36PM
How nice. When I don't buy this/use this and level my pokemon up the tradition way my friends will get it and will shake it getting all their pokemon to very high levels while I'm slowly helping mine, and when we play online they will kick my ass.
That sounds fun.
IMO dumb idea unless they actually make one that can tell if your walking and not shaking it :/ This stuff shoulda died back in like 1999.
But meh, if it comes with it (Will NOT by it seperate) I might end up using it if I'm tired of battles and need to level up a certain pokemon a little more.
Freestyle Farfetchd @ Jun 8th 2009 3:18PM
The difference is your pokémon will have EVs and theirs wont, so you'll still kick ass. This is just like using rare candies, you'll end up with really shitty high level pokémon with stats only in the 200s because they won't have EVs from actually fighting.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 8th 2009 1:43PM
I like it,is like in Fable 2 you get gold by doing something else except that in this case you train your pokemon by moving around. I rather do that than grinding in the Elite Four cave.
No really, have you any idea how hard is to raise the level of a Fire Pokemon before facing the Elite four?
bongoes @ Jun 8th 2009 3:00PM
Experience by walking? But what EVs do you get? This will never work for competitive players!
Just to clarify, I myself do not play competitively, and do not have the patience to EV train my pokemon.
Freestyle Farfetchd @ Jun 8th 2009 3:16PM
This was what I was thinking. You could abuse the hell out of this thing, just like rare candy cloning, but your pokémon would still end up sucking due to lack of any EVs.
... And yes, I have EV trained, just the one Pokémon. But only sped up under emulation! I can't see myself having the patience to do it at normal speed.
Onomah @ Jun 8th 2009 4:38PM
I wonder if I will ever be old enough to walk around with a visible pokéball at my waist without getting beaten up by the twelve-year-olds at the corner for it.
No...No I don't think I will
Shoyz @ Jun 8th 2009 5:34PM
I wish it was less of a game accessory and more like that old Pikachu Tamagachi-clone. The premise of walking to level up a Porta-Pika seems neat, but I'm not sure if I really want to play the game for it.
TakeCTRL @ Jun 8th 2009 8:56PM
as long as it doesn't cost $50 like PT: walking.