Pokégear: Difference between revisions

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, indicating who actually manufactured the product. 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 plain blue, plain pink, Team Rocket, a Japanese dojo, Dark Red with a gold star, and sky blue.

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 of 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.

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.

• 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 old man, 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 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 Pokémon that travel around Johto, including Entei, Raikou and Suicune.

• 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. 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 will be used in the same way. The player will able to select a person to call from the touch screen, and be able to call them. It is also able to store many more numbers in its memory than the same function in Generation II. The player's mom will once again provide her unique money-saving services.

Trainer phone listing

Radio

Obtained after the Radio Card is received from a quiz host at the Johto Radio Tower, 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 Johto 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 Johto 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 Kanto 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

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.
• 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.
• Kotone owns the new version of the Pokégear, and she owns a pink model. Likewise, her friend Kazunari owns a blue model.

TCG

The PokéGear appears as a card in the Neo Genesis set.