Pokémon Pikachu

Pokémon Pikachu, also known as Pocket Pikachu (ポケットピカチュウ) in Japan, is a limited series of two portable Pokémon digital pets (similar to Tamagotchi) featuring the famous yellow electric-type Pokémon, Pikachu. Released on March 27, 1998, in Japan (November 2, 1998,[1] in North America), it was intended as an exercise toy and mentioned by Guinness World Records as the most popular exercise toy of its time.

Not to be confused with Pikachu, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!, or Pokémon Yellow, which starred Pikachu.
Pokémon Pikachu
Also known asPocket Pikachu (ポケットピカチュウ)
ManufacturerNintendo
TypeDigital pet, exercise toy
Release date
  • JP: March 27, 1998
  • NA: November 2, 1998
Introductory price
DisplayLCD
ConnectivityInfrared port (Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS, Pocket Pikachu Color)
PowerCR2032 battery[3]
Dimensions
  • 62.5 mm (2.46 in) H
  • 49.6 mm (1.95 in) W
  • 28 mm (1.1 in) D
[3]
Mass40 grams[3]
Related articlesPokéwalker
WebsiteOfficial website(in Japanese)
Pokémon Pikachu 2

Gameplay

The first release, a yellow unit resembling a Game Boy, features a black and white LCD screen used to display animations of Pikachu's activities. Gameplay differs slightly from other portable virtual pets in that Pikachu does not need to be fed, watered, or cleaned up after. Instead, the Pokémon Pikachu unit can be strapped to a belt and used as a pedometer. With every twenty steps it counts, the Pokémon Pikachu credits its user with one watt, a virtual currency used to buy Pikachu presents. Additional activities become available as the player spends more time with their virtual Pikachu. If neglected, Pikachu will express anger and eventually refuse to recognize the player.[4]

The second release, Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS, is available in clear and silver casing with a color display featuring more animations.[5] It features an infrared port for interacting with Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal via the Mystery Gift option, which utilizes the Game Boy Color's built-in infrared communication port. This allows players to trade watts for items in the Game Boy games. Although there is a limitation on how much the Mystery Gift mode can be used between Game Boy cartridges, Pokémon Pikachu's only limit is that of available watts(and it is region locked). Watts can also be sent to other Pokémon Pikachu 2 units.

Other models

Pokémon and its character Pikachu are not the only media franchises that are used by this Nintendo-made device. Sakura Taisen, a media franchise of SEGA and licensed by RED Entertainment released a virtual-pet with pedometer in the same style as the Pokémon Pikachu 2 called Pocket Sakura (ポケットサクラ). It was released alongside Sakura Taisen GB; they were developed by Jupiter. Sega could not publish either of them because they were rivals at the time with Nintendo, so publishing was handled by Media Factory.[6]

Similarly, Sanrio, responsible for the Hello Kitty franchise, licensed to Nintendo the development of the Pocket Hello Kitty. This featured a similar design to the first Pokémon Pikachu, with a game based on Hello Kitty and her friends, available in a pink-colored case.

Pokéwalker

A device similar to the Pokémon Pikachu, called the Pokéwalker, comes packaged with Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and communicates directly with the game cards via infrared. It allows the player to transfer one Pokémon at a time from their HeartGold or SoulSilver. The user is able to catch Pokémon and find items by spending watts.[7]

References
  1. "Nintendo: Press Release". November 5, 1998. Archived from the original on February 18, 1999. Retrieved February 21, 2018.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. "Poke Pika". Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  3. "Poke Pika". Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. "Pokemon Pikachu 2 GS - LCD games - IGN". Cheats.ign.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  5. "Customer Service | Other Systems - Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS". Nintendo. Archived from the original on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  6. "ポケットサクラ". Jupiter.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  7. Fletcher, JC (June 8, 2009). "Pokemon Gold/Silver remakes let you train Pokémon by walking". Joystiq.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
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