Pokémon.com: Difference between revisions
Marlofkark (talk | contribs) (Another pass at major updates) |
Marlofkark (talk | contribs) (partial update to the History section and round three of page wide updates) |
||
Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
[[File:Pokemon_website_logo.png|thumb|200px|right|Logo used for the website until the 2010 overhaul]] | [[File:Pokemon_website_logo.png|thumb|200px|right|Logo used for the website until the 2010 overhaul]] | ||
[[File:2000pokemonworld.png|thumb|200px|right|Logo used for the website in 2000]] | [[File:2000pokemonworld.png|thumb|200px|right|Logo used for the website in 2000]] | ||
'''Pok{{tt|é|Officially uses regular "e"}}mon.com''', known as ''Pokémon World'' prior to | '''Pok{{tt|é|Officially uses regular "e"}}mon.com''', known as ''Pokémon World'' prior to 2002, is the official international [[Pokémon]] website, which was first created on 8 January 1998<ref>[http://www.whois.net/whois/pokemon.com WHOIS information for Pokémon.com]</ref>. The website has gone by many different names and used many different Internet addresses throughout its history, such as ''Pokémon-games.com'' and ''Go-Pokemon.com'', though [[The Pokémon Company International]] has finally settled on the simple ''Pokémon.com'' nominer. Four [[#Website versions|full version]] of the official Pokémon.com website are maintained, each focusing on a specific language, country, or region. Several other partials websites are also maintained. The current version of the website, introduced on 27 January 2014, saw a complete reorganization of website content and visual design, as well as seeing the prominent return of the ''"[[Gotta catch 'em all!]]"'' slogan. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
:''NOTE: See [[#External links|External links]] at the bottom of this page in order to view archived versions of the Pokémon.com website.'' | |||
With the official launch of the ''Pokémon.com'' website on January 8, 1998, it was little more than a repository for [[#News and announcements|News and announcements]] about the then current [[#Video Games|Pokémon video games]], [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]], and [[#Attend Events|organized Play! Pokémon events]]. While using the ''"Pokémon.com"'' web-browser address, the website was referred as ''Pokémon World'' or the ''Pokémon Times''. | |||
Between 4 May 1999 and 29 November 1999, the ''Pokémon.com'' website underwent its first redesign. This update introduced new content such as the first version of [[#Play Games|Pokémon browser-based online games]] and an [[#Explore Pokémon|online Pokédex]] in which users could look up information on then current Pokémon video game versions of specific [[Pokémon]] as well as information about [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon anime]] television episodes and movies. | |||
Between 9 September 2001 and 24 January 2002, the website underwent a minor overhauled of its design. The only significant changes were the introduction of the [[#Pokémon Center|Pokémon Center]] as a separate online store for purchasing [[Pokémon]] merchandise and the relabeling of the ''Pokémon.com'' website itself from ''Pokémon World'' to just ''Pokémon.com''. | |||
In mid-2002 (sometime between 4 June and 22 July), the website underwent a complete overhauled of its design but largely left the content in place. | |||
Between 19 June 2003 and 19 July 2003, the website underwent a complete overhauled of its design and content. Content was separate into separate websites. ''Pokémon.com'' retained [[#News and announcements|News and announcements]]. The separate sites were ''Pokémon-games.com'' (March 2003 at least to January 2009) for the [[#Video Games|Pokémon video games]], ''Go-Pokemon.com'', and ''Pokemon-tcg.com'' (from May 2003 to 27 January 2014) for the [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]]) | |||
On 11 January 2010, the website underwent a complete overhauled of its content and design. This update introduced [[Trainer Token]]s and an early version of the [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] system, the ability to watch select [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon anime]] television episodes as well as the ability to look up information about them, and the initial set of three, current [[#Play Games|Pokémon browser-based online games]]. Prior to the 2010 update, only six online games were available (four being accessible directly and two hidden). These initial three online games were adaptations of games originally distributed on the Japanese [[Pokémon Daisuki Club]] website. The six previous online games were briefly made available on an archive site, which has since been removed. | |||
The current version of the ''Pokémon.com'' website was implemented on 27 January 2014 and again represented a complete overhaul of content and design. The basic layout was "simplified" along with the full incorporation of what had also been the separate [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]] website, including the incorporation of the current user customizable [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] system that allows users to define their owner visual look and style. | |||
==Website versions== | ==Website versions== | ||
Four full versions of the ''Pokémon.com'' website are currently maintained, each with identical design style, content and content organization, and almost identical | Four full versions of the ''Pokémon.com'' website are currently maintained, each with identical design style, content and content organization, and almost identical [[#News and announcements|News and announcements]] information: | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | |||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | |||
*[[Pokémon in France|French]] full version | *[[Pokémon in France|French]] full version | ||
*[[Pokémon in Germany|German]] full version | *[[Pokémon in Germany|German]] full version | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytr|5px}}; {{roundybr|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | |||
*[[Pokémon in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] full version | *[[Pokémon in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] full version | ||
*[[Pokémon in the United States|United States]] full version | *[[Pokémon in the United States|United States]] full version | ||
|} | |||
{{-}} | |||
Partial translations of the website exist for several additional countries and languages. These partial versions include full implementations of the [[#Explore Pokémon|Explore Pokémon]] section's [[Pokédex]] and the [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Watch Pokémon TV]] episodes of the [[Pokémon anime]] television series. These partial implementations also incompletely incorporate the [[#Play Games|Play Games]] section's [[Pokémon.com online games|Pokémon browser-based online games]]. The [[#Trading Card Game|Trading Card Game]], [[#Video Games|Video Games]], and [[#Attend Events|Attend Events]] sections are unimplemented with the exception of a special section dedicated to the downloadable [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] and a link to the separate [[#Pokémon Global Link|Pokémon Global Link]] website: | |||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | |||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | |||
*[[Pokémon in Brazil|Brazilian]] minisite | *[[Pokémon in Brazil|Brazilian]] minisite | ||
*[[Pokémon in Denmark|Danish]] minisite | *[[Pokémon in Denmark|Danish]] minisite | ||
*[[Pokémon in Finland|Finnish]] minisite | *[[Pokémon in Finland|Finnish]] minisite | ||
*[[Pokémon in Norway|Norwegian]] minisite | *[[Pokémon in Norway|Norwegian]] minisite | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytr|5px}}; {{roundybr|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | |||
*[[Pokémon in Russia|Russian]] minisite | *[[Pokémon in Russia|Russian]] minisite | ||
*[[Pokémon in Sweden|Swedish]] minisite | *[[Pokémon in Sweden|Swedish]] minisite | ||
*[[Pokémon in Singapore|Sinapore]]'s site currently links to another full site | *[[Pokémon in Singapore|Sinapore]]'s site currently links to another full site | ||
*[[Pokémon in the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]'s site currently links to another full site | *[[Pokémon in the Czech Republic|Czech Republic]]'s site currently links to another full site | ||
|} | |||
{{-}} | |||
There are also three office Pokémon websites that do not necessarily reflect the ''Pokémon.com'' design and content: | There are also three office Pokémon websites that do not necessarily reflect the ''Pokémon.com'' design and content: | ||
*Japanese website | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | |||
*[[Pokémon Daisuki Club|Japanese]] website (also referred to as the ''Pokémon Daisuki Club'') | |||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytr|5px}}; {{roundybr|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | |||
*[[Pokémon in Thailand|Thialand]] website | *[[Pokémon in Thailand|Thialand]] website | ||
*[[Pokémon in South Korea|South Korean]] website | *[[Pokémon in South Korea|South Korean]] website | ||
|} | |||
== | ==Website sections== | ||
===Landing | ===Landing page=== | ||
The initial Landing page is the | The initial Landing page is the initial page users see when they enter ''"Pokémon.com"'' into their web-browser. It is regularly updated to highlight various website content and news. Users may always return to the Landing page by clicking on the "Pokémon Gotta catch 'em all!" graphic on the left side of the website's primary [[#Navigation menu|Navigation menu]] located at the top of each Pokémon.com page. | ||
====News and | ====News and announcements==== | ||
The Landing page incorporates the only direct website link | The Landing page also incorporates the only direct website link to [[#External links|all collated website news]], announcements, and articles in one location. Otherwise, news articles are spread across the website by topic appearing separately in the [[#Trading Card Game|Trading Card Game]], [[#Video Games|Video Games]], and [[#Attend Events|Attend Events]] sections. | ||
Opening news articles that are categorized as ''"pokemon-news"'' on typically but not always earn the user a single [[Trainer Token]]. Articles without the ''"pokemon-news"'' categorization to not earn Trainer Tokens. However, opening the same article on different full versions of the website do, typically, earn the user a Trainer Token for each of the [[#Website versions|full versions]] of the website. | Opening news articles that are categorized as ''"pokemon-news"'' on typically but not always earn the user a single [[Trainer Token]]. Articles without the ''"pokemon-news"'' categorization to not earn Trainer Tokens. However, opening the same article on different full versions of the website do, typically, earn the user a Trainer Token for each of the [[#Website versions|full versions]] of the website. | ||
=== | ===Pokémon Trainer Club=== | ||
The ''Pokémon Trainer Club'' contains website user account information. This section is not easily identifiable under the name ''"Pokémon Trainer Club"''. However, it is easy to locate. It is the navigation bar on the upper, left side of most Pokémon.com webpages. It provides a means for Pokémon.com users to ''"Sign In"'' if they already have an existing account, ''"Join"'' to create an account, and also contains a website ''"Search"'' interface. By creating an account, users are able to earn [[Trainer Tokens]] and [[#Stamps|Stamps]], keep track of [[#Play Games|online browser-based game]] scores, friend other users, and centrally manage other Pokémon accounts. | |||
Before the January 2014 update, | Before the January 2014 update, ''The Pokémon Trainer Club'' represented the Japan's [[Pokémon Daisuki Club]] brought over to a more general audience. It included an early version of the customizable user [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] personalities. Users were required to have a Pokémon Trainer Club account in order to register high scores in the [[#Play Games|online browser-based games]] or to earn [[Trainer Token]]s. Anyone who had a Pokémon Trainer Club account could also keep track of their [[#Attend Events|Organized Play]] statistics. These features still represent the core functionality of the current Pokémon Trainer Club, even though the design and some of the underlying infrastructure been substantially overhauled. | ||
Once logged into with a user account, a "picture" appears | Once logged into with a user account, a "picture" appears at the top of the upper, left side navigation bar. This picture represents the user's current [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]]. When the picture is selected, the side navigation bar becomes a ''"slide-out window''' allowing the user access the following information: | ||
* The user's recent [[#Stamps|Stamps]] collection, | * The user's recent [[#Stamps|Stamps]] collection, | ||
* ''"Favorite Pokémon"'', although full functionality is not currently activated, | * ''"Favorite Pokémon"'', although full functionality is not currently activated, | ||
* A full-body view of the user's ''"Trainer | * A full-body view of the user's ''"[[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]]"'' picture, | ||
* The user's current ''"Level"'' based on [[#Stamps|Stamps]] rewards, | * The user's current ''"Level"'' based on [[#Stamps|Stamps]] rewards, | ||
* The user's current number of [[Trainer Token]]s earned by [[#News and | * The user's current number of [[Trainer Token]]s earned by [[#News and announcements|reading articles]], [[#Play Games|playing online browser-based games]], and earning [[#Stamps|earning Stamps]] on the Pokémon.com website or earned through the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] downloadable game, | ||
* Access to the ''"Customize Trainer"'' feature that allows users the ability to adjust their website ''"Trainer"'' picture, and | * Access to the ''"[[#Trainer avatar|Customize Trainer]]"'' feature that allows users the ability to adjust their website ''"Trainer avatar"'' picture, and | ||
* A ''"Shop | * A ''"Shop for Items/Trainer Store"'' feature users to purchase items for their ''"Trainer avatar"'' with [[Trainer Tokens]] (added on 18 March 2014). | ||
The | In the ''compressed'' state, once a user is logged in, the upper, left side navigation bar side also provides access to the following information: | ||
* The user's current [[Trainer Token]] total, which takes the user directly to the ''"[[#Trainer avatar|Customize Trainer]]"'' shop when selected, | |||
* A ''"Messages"'' and user ''"[[#Profile overview|Profile overview]]"'' section when selected, where users may adjust settings, add and manager accounts for their children, and centrally manager other Pokémon accounts, | |||
* A ''"Friends"'' section for "friending" and following other users (added on 9 July 2014), and | |||
* A ''"[[#Attend Events|My Play! Pokémon]]"'' section for viewing user information about organized [[Play! Pokémon]] activity. | |||
====Trainer avatar==== | |||
The Pokémon.com ''"Customized Trainer"'' and ''"Shop for Items/Trainer Store"'' features are fully compatible with the {{DL|Pokémon Trading Card Game Online|Shop|in-game Shop}} and {{DL|Pokémon Trading Card Game Online|Avatar Creator}}. [[Trainer Token]]s earned in either location may be used to purchase clothing items on the Pokémon.com website or in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Trainer/Avatar clothing items available for purchase in one are not always available for purchase in the other. Items added in one are not always immediately visible in the other. However, changes made to the user's ''"Customized Trainer"'' or ''"Customized Avatar"'' in one location will be seen in the other location the next time the user logs back in. | |||
====Profile | ====Profile overview==== | ||
The Profile | The Profile overview section provides access to user setting not necessarily specific to the Pokémon.com website itself. It is a central repository for all Pokémon user accounts. | ||
* ''"PGL Settings"'' allows users to adjust their [[Pokémon game|Pokémon video games]] settings for the [[#Pokémon Global Link|Pokémon Global Link]]. | * ''"PGL Settings"'' allows users to adjust their [[Pokémon game|Pokémon video games]] settings for the [[#Pokémon Global Link|Pokémon Global Link]]. | ||
* ''"Pokémon TCG Online Settings"'' provide user access to setting not directly available in the downloadable [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]]. | * ''"Pokémon TCG Online Settings"'' provide user access to setting not directly available in the downloadable [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]]. | ||
Line 69: | Line 96: | ||
:''NOTE: Be certain to select “Email Preferences: I would like to receive marketing email messages..." in order to receive the a monthly e-mail newsletter, which often contains Redeemable codes for in-game rewards for both [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]] and [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]]. | :''NOTE: Be certain to select “Email Preferences: I would like to receive marketing email messages..." in order to receive the a monthly e-mail newsletter, which often contains Redeemable codes for in-game rewards for both [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]] and [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]]. | ||
====Child | ====Child accounts==== | ||
Adult parents may create and | Adult parents may create and manage separate accounts for each of their children in the [[#Profile overview|Profile overview]] section, which is accessible through the adult's ''"Profile overview'''. While [[The Pokémon Company International]] strives to be [http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-tcg/play-online/parents-guide/ child friendly], parents may further restrict access to certain website and in-game [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] features. For examples, some in-game features such as ''"Public Chat"'' and ''"Private Messaging"'' in the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] are always inaccessible with a child account, while other in-game features may be further restricted by the adult parent such as ''"Friend Chat"'', ''"Game Chat"'', ''"Shopping"'', and ''"Trading"''. | ||
===Explore Pokémon=== | ===Explore Pokémon=== | ||
Line 83: | Line 110: | ||
===Watch Pokémon TV=== | ===Watch Pokémon TV=== | ||
Before the last overhaul, the television section simply provided a synopsis of [[Pokémon anime]] episodes. After the overhaul, a continuously cycling selection of episodes, which may be viewed | Before the last overhaul, the television section simply provided a synopsis of [[Pokémon anime]] episodes. After the overhaul, a continuously cycling selection of episodes, which may be viewed online, are interspersed with synopsis summaries and screenshots for every episode and movie. | ||
Rather than separating the episodes by seasons, the episodes are instead categorized under a special 'theme' such as a specific [[Pokémon]] and also by 'region' — the 'Kanto Channel', the 'Johto Channel', the 'Hoenn Channel', the 'Sinnoh Channel' and the 'Unova Channel'. There is also an option to 'Explore All Seasons' at the bottom of the page, if a traditional season by season search is preferred. | Rather than separating the episodes by seasons, the episodes are instead categorized under a special 'theme' such as a specific [[Pokémon]] and also by 'region' — the 'Kanto Channel', the 'Johto Channel', the 'Hoenn Channel', the 'Sinnoh Channel' and the 'Unova Channel'. There is also an option to 'Explore All Seasons' at the bottom of the page, if a traditional season by season search is preferred. | ||
Line 99: | Line 126: | ||
Before the 2014 overhaul, most [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] news appeared on separate ''Go-Pokémon.com'' website. However, after the overhaul, everything except for the [[#Pokémon Trading Card Game Online Forum|forums]] for the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] were folded into to Pokémon.com website proper. The Trading Card Game section includes: | Before the 2014 overhaul, most [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] news appeared on separate ''Go-Pokémon.com'' website. However, after the overhaul, everything except for the [[#Pokémon Trading Card Game Online Forum|forums]] for the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] were folded into to Pokémon.com website proper. The Trading Card Game section includes: | ||
*a card Database providing information on [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]] and cards from {{TCG|EX Ruby & Sapphire}} to the current set, | *a card Database providing information on [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]] and cards from {{TCG|EX Ruby & Sapphire}} to the current set, | ||
*strategies guides and | *[[#News and announcements|strategies guides, news and announcement articles]] dating back to November 2013, | ||
*the downloadable ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Online'' for PC, Mac, and Ipad, | *the downloadable ''Pokémon Trading Card Game Online'' for PC, Mac, and Ipad, | ||
*a step-by-step "How to Play" set of tutorials with the {{OBP|Professor|TCGO}}, and | *a step-by-step "How to Play" set of tutorials with the {{OBP|Professor|TCGO}}, and | ||
Line 107: | Line 134: | ||
===Video Games=== | ===Video Games=== | ||
Before the overhaul, most of the [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]] had their own mini-sites and sub-sites section with information and other materials about a given video games. While the newest video game release often still have their own mini-sites, this section of the Pokémon.com website now highlights information about all video games in one location and acts as a central repository of game information, announcements, and news on all currently available video games, including links to the individual game mini-sites. This section's news articles and announcements date back to November 2013. | Before the overhaul, most of the [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]] had their own mini-sites and sub-sites section with information and other materials about a given video games. While the newest video game release often still have their own mini-sites, this section of the Pokémon.com website now highlights information about all video games in one location and acts as a central repository of game information, announcements, and news on all currently available video games, including links to the individual game mini-sites. This section's [[#News and announcements|news articles and announcements]] date back to November 2013. | ||
===Attend Events=== | ===Attend Events=== | ||
This section acts as a central repository of information related to [[Play! Pokémon]] organized play Events, Rules and Resources for [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]] and the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] in the organized play setting, and Parent Guides. This section also allow users to locate local Pokémon events and clubs, as well as | This section acts as a central repository of information related to [[Play! Pokémon]] organized play Events, Rules and Resources for [[Pokémon games|Pokémon video games]] and the [[Pokémon Trading Card Game]] in the organized play setting, and Parent Guides. This section also allow users to locate local Pokémon events and clubs, as well as [[#News and announcements|News and announcements]] dating back to August 2014. | ||
==Stamps== | ==Stamps== | ||
Stamps represent an additional means of rewarding users for using the website and its various contents. The system was initially introduced in 28 August 2014 and substantial expanded on 30 March 2015. Stamps may be earned by reading [[#News and | Stamps represent an additional means of rewarding users for using the website and its various contents. The system was initially introduced in 28 August 2014 and substantial expanded on 30 March 2015. Stamps may be earned by reading [[#News and announcements|news articles]], looking up [[Pokémon]] in the [[#Explore Pokémon|Pokédex]], watching [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon anime]] television episodes, playing [[#Play Games|browser-based minigames]], and for viewing [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]] cards, as well as by participating in official [[|Attend Events|Play! Pokémon events]]. As Stamps are awarded, 6 [[Trainer Token]]s are earned. Some Stamps are one-time events only. Other Stamps increase in level (1 to 10). The more Stamps earned and the more Stamps with higher levels contribute to the assignment of a user's account level. | ||
* '''Online Game All-Star:''' | * '''Online Game All-Star:''' | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Play 1 minigame on Pokémon.com | *Level 1 — Play 1 [[#Play Games|minigame]] on Pokémon.com | ||
*Level 2 — Play 3 minigames on Pokémon.com | *Level 2 — Play 3 minigames on Pokémon.com | ||
*Level 3 — Play 6 minigames on Pokémon.com | *Level 3 — Play 6 minigames on Pokémon.com | ||
Line 134: | Line 161: | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Watch 1 episode on Pokémon TV | *Level 1 — Watch 1 episode on [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon TV]] | ||
*Level 2 — Watch 4 episodes on Pokémon TV | *Level 2 — Watch 4 episodes on Pokémon TV | ||
*Level 3 — Watch 8 episodes on Pokémon TV | *Level 3 — Watch 8 episodes on Pokémon TV | ||
Line 147: | Line 174: | ||
|} | |} | ||
* '''Looking Good!''' — Modify the default Trainer avatar on your Pokémon Trainer Club profile | * '''Looking Good!''' — Modify the default [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] on your [[#Pokémon Trainer Club|Pokémon Trainer Club]] profile | ||
* '''Pokémon Explorer:''' | * '''Pokémon Explorer:''' | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Look up 5 Pokémon in the online Pokédex | *Level 1 — Look up 5 Pokémon in the [[#Explore Pokémon|online Pokédex]] | ||
*Level 2 — Look up 25 Pokémon in the online Pokédex | *Level 2 — Look up 25 Pokémon in the online Pokédex | ||
*Level 3 — Look up 50 Pokémon in the online Pokédex | *Level 3 — Look up 50 Pokémon in the online Pokédex | ||
Line 168: | Line 195: | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 3 days in a row | *Level 1 — Sign in to the [[Account Information|Pokémon Trainer Club]] 3 days in a row | ||
*Level 2 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 6 days in a row | *Level 2 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 6 days in a row | ||
*Level 3 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 9 days in a row | *Level 3 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 9 days in a row | ||
Line 181: | Line 208: | ||
|} | |} | ||
* '''Regionals Competitor: 2014''' — Play in a regional Pokémon Regional Championships | * '''Regionals Competitor: 2014''' — Play in a regional Pokémon {{DL|Play! Pokémon|Regional Championships}} | ||
* '''Nationals Competitor: 2014''' — Play in a Pokémon National Championships | * '''Nationals Competitor: 2014''' — Play in a Pokémon {{DL|Play! Pokémon|National Championships}} | ||
* '''Worlds Competitor: 2014''' — Play in the Pokémon World Championships | * '''Worlds Competitor: 2014''' — Play in the Pokémon {{DL|Play! Pokémon|World Championships}} | ||
* '''Newshound:''' | * '''Newshound:''' | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Read at least 3 news articles on Pokémon.com | *Level 1 — Read at least 3 [[#News and announcements|news articles]] on Pokémon.com | ||
*Level 2 — Read at least 6 news articles on Pokémon.com | *Level 2 — Read at least 6 news articles on Pokémon.com | ||
*Level 3 — Read at least 9 news articles on Pokémon.com | *Level 3 — Read at least 9 news articles on Pokémon.com | ||
Line 204: | Line 231: | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Look up 10 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database | *Level 1 — Look up 10 cards in the Pokémon [[#Trading Card Game|TCG card database]] | ||
*Level 2 — Look up 25 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database | *Level 2 — Look up 25 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database | ||
*Level 3 — Look up 50 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database | *Level 3 — Look up 50 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database | ||
Line 217: | Line 244: | ||
|} | |} | ||
* '''Welcome to Kalos''' — Check out Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie in the online Pokédex | * '''Welcome to Kalos''' — Check out Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie in the [[#Explore Pokémon|online Pokédex]] | ||
* '''Super Shopper:''' | * '''Super Shopper:''' | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Redeem 200 Trainer | *Level 1 — Redeem 200 [[Trainer Token]]s in the [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer Store]] | ||
*Level 2 — Redeem 500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store | *Level 2 — Redeem 500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store | ||
*Level 3 — Redeem 750 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store | *Level 3 — Redeem 750 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store | ||
Line 235: | Line 262: | ||
|} | |} | ||
* '''Eevee Evolution Expert''' — Check out Eevee and all of its evolved forms in the Pokémon.com online Pokédex | * '''Eevee Evolution Expert''' — Check out Eevee and all of its evolved forms in the Pokémon.com [[#Explore Pokémon|online Pokédex]] | ||
* '''Explorer’s First Steps''' — Check out a Pokémon TCG card in the card database, view a Pokémon in the online Pokédex, and watch a Pokémon TV episode | * '''Explorer’s First Steps''' — Check out a Pokémon TCG card in the card database, view a Pokémon in the online Pokédex, and watch a Pokémon TV episode | ||
* '''Animation Maven: Kanto Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 3 episodes from Pokémon the Series: The Beginning | * '''Animation Maven: Kanto Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 3 episodes from [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon the Series: The Beginning]] | ||
* '''Animation Maven: Johto Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver | * '''Animation Maven: Johto Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver]] | ||
* '''Animation Maven: Hoenn Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire | * '''Animation Maven: Hoenn Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire]] | ||
* '''Animation Maven: Sinnoh Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl | * '''Animation Maven: Sinnoh Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl]] | ||
* '''Animation Maven: Unova Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Black & White | * '''Animation Maven: Unova Region:''' Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon the Series: Black & White]] | ||
* '''Make a Splash!''' — View the Magikarp entry in the Pokémon.com online Pokédex once per day | * '''Make a Splash!''' — View the Magikarp entry in the Pokémon.com [[#Explore Pokémon|online Pokédex]] once per day | ||
* '''Minigame Mastery: Pokémon Pulse:''' Level 1 — Play Pokémon Pulse at least 5 times | * '''Minigame Mastery: Pokémon Pulse:''' Level 1 — Play [[#Play Games|Pokémon Pulse]] at least 5 times | ||
* '''Minigame Mastery: Chesnaught's Spiky Shield:''' Level 1 — Play Chesnaught's Spiky Shield at least 5 times | * '''Minigame Mastery: Chesnaught's Spiky Shield:''' Level 1 — Play [[#Play Games|Chesnaught's Spiky Shield]] at least 5 times | ||
* '''Minigame Mastery: Floette Float:''' Level 1 — Play Floette Float at least 5 times | * '''Minigame Mastery: Floette Float:''' Level 1 — Play [[#Play Games|Floette Float]] at least 5 times | ||
* '''Friendly Rivalry''' — Overtake one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends on the leaderboard of any Pokémon.com online game | * '''Friendly Rivalry''' — Overtake one of your [[#Pokémon Trainer Club|Pokémon Trainer Club]] friends on the leaderboard of any Pokémon.com [[#Play Games|online game]] | ||
* '''Pokémon Trainer Club Service Award:''' | * '''Pokémon Trainer Club Service Award:''' | ||
:{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | :{| cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2" class="roundy" style="border: 3px solid #{{dark color dark}}; background: #{{dark color}}; width:{{{width|100%}}};" | ||
| width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | | width="50%" style="background:#FFF; {{roundytl|5px}}; {{roundybl|5px}}; vertical-align:top;" | | ||
*Level 1 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 1 year(s) | *Level 1 — Be a member of the [[#Pokémon Trainer Club|Pokémon Trainer Club]] for at least 1 year(s) | ||
*Level 2 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 2 year(s) | *Level 2 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 2 year(s) | ||
*Level 3 — | *Level 3 — | ||
Line 267: | Line 284: | ||
|} | |} | ||
* '''Screen Sharing''' — Watch the same Pokémon TV episode on Pokémon.com as one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends | * '''Screen Sharing''' — Watch the same Pokémon TV episode on Pokémon.com as one of your [[#Pokémon Trainer Club|Pokémon Trainer Club]] friends | ||
==Pokémon Center== | ==Pokémon Center== | ||
[[File:Pokémon Center online.png|thumb|260px|The original Pokémon Center website on its last day of operation]] | [[File:Pokémon Center online.png|thumb|260px|The original Pokémon Center website on its last day of operation]] | ||
[ | The [[#External links|Pokémon Center] is an online store where user may purchase many different kinds of Pokémon merchandise over the Internet. It was reintroduced on 6 August 2014 (although some select fans were invited to access it early starting on 2 July 2014). It separate website was initially closed on 1 February 2008 to prioritize the distribution and sale of Pokémon merchandise with local retailers. The Pokémon Center online store was launched initially around 4 February 2002. | ||
The Pokémon Center | |||
==Pokémon Global Link== | ==Pokémon Global Link== | ||
{{main|Pokémon Global Link}} | |||
The [[#External links|Pokémon Global Link]] is a separate [[Pokémon game|Pokémon video game]] related website. It offers a means for Pokémon video game players to interact and compete against each other. | |||
==Pokémon Trading Card Game Online | ==Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum== | ||
The official [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]] | The official [[#External links|Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum]] is a separate website dedicated to the downloadable [[Pokémon Trading Card Game Online]]. It was overhauled to reflect the ''Pokémon.com'' visual design, to improve its usability, and to reintroduce the temporarily removed [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] system in late 2014. | ||
==Defunct sections== | ==Defunct sections== | ||
Line 314: | Line 334: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* [http://www.pokemon.com Pokémon.com | * [http://www.pokemon.com http://www.pokemon.com] Pokémon.com | ||
* [http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/ Online Pokédex] | * [http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/ http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/] Online Pokédex | ||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/ | * [http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/ http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/] Collated News and Announcements | ||
* [http://www.engine.ca/alicia/anime/pokemon-old/pokedex-old/Loader.swf | * [http://www.pokemoncenter.com/ http://www.pokemoncenter.com/] The Pokémon Center (separate website) | ||
* [http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/ http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/] Pokémon Global Link (separate website) | |||
* [http://forums.pokemontcg.com/ http://forums.pokemontcg.com/] Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum (separate website) | |||
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/pokemon http://www.youtube.com/user/pokemon] The Official Pokémon YouTube Channel | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/19981202180143/http://pokemon.com/ http://web.archive.org/web/19981202180143/http://pokemon.com/] Archive of the original 1998 Pokémon.com website | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/19991129051351/http://www.pokemon.com/ http://web.archive.org/web/19991129051351/http://www.pokemon.com/] Archive of the 1999 Pokémon.com website update | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20020124015326/http://www.pokemon.com/ http://web.archive.org/web/20020124015326/http://www.pokemon.com/] Archive of the 2001 Pokémon.com website update | |||
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20020604143445/http://www2.pokemon.com/ http://web.archive.org/web/20020604143445/http://www2.pokemon.com/] Archive of the 2002 Pokémon.com website update | |||
* [http://www.engine.ca/alicia/anime/pokemon-old/pokedex-old/Loader.swf http://www.engine.ca/alicia/anime/pokemon-old/pokedex-old/Loader.swf] Archive of the 2005 version of the [[#Explore Pokémon|online Pokédex]] | |||
==References== | ==References== |
Revision as of 17:44, 2 April 2015
This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: History section |
Pokémon.com, known as Pokémon World prior to 2002, is the official international Pokémon website, which was first created on 8 January 1998[1]. The website has gone by many different names and used many different Internet addresses throughout its history, such as Pokémon-games.com and Go-Pokemon.com, though The Pokémon Company International has finally settled on the simple Pokémon.com nominer. Four full version of the official Pokémon.com website are maintained, each focusing on a specific language, country, or region. Several other partials websites are also maintained. The current version of the website, introduced on 27 January 2014, saw a complete reorganization of website content and visual design, as well as seeing the prominent return of the "Gotta catch 'em all!" slogan.
History
- NOTE: See External links at the bottom of this page in order to view archived versions of the Pokémon.com website.
With the official launch of the Pokémon.com website on January 8, 1998, it was little more than a repository for News and announcements about the then current Pokémon video games, Pokémon Trading Card Game, and organized Play! Pokémon events. While using the "Pokémon.com" web-browser address, the website was referred as Pokémon World or the Pokémon Times.
Between 4 May 1999 and 29 November 1999, the Pokémon.com website underwent its first redesign. This update introduced new content such as the first version of Pokémon browser-based online games and an online Pokédex in which users could look up information on then current Pokémon video game versions of specific Pokémon as well as information about Pokémon anime television episodes and movies.
Between 9 September 2001 and 24 January 2002, the website underwent a minor overhauled of its design. The only significant changes were the introduction of the Pokémon Center as a separate online store for purchasing Pokémon merchandise and the relabeling of the Pokémon.com website itself from Pokémon World to just Pokémon.com.
In mid-2002 (sometime between 4 June and 22 July), the website underwent a complete overhauled of its design but largely left the content in place.
Between 19 June 2003 and 19 July 2003, the website underwent a complete overhauled of its design and content. Content was separate into separate websites. Pokémon.com retained News and announcements. The separate sites were Pokémon-games.com (March 2003 at least to January 2009) for the Pokémon video games, Go-Pokemon.com, and Pokemon-tcg.com (from May 2003 to 27 January 2014) for the Pokémon Trading Card Game)
On 11 January 2010, the website underwent a complete overhauled of its content and design. This update introduced Trainer Tokens and an early version of the Trainer avatar system, the ability to watch select Pokémon anime television episodes as well as the ability to look up information about them, and the initial set of three, current Pokémon browser-based online games. Prior to the 2010 update, only six online games were available (four being accessible directly and two hidden). These initial three online games were adaptations of games originally distributed on the Japanese Pokémon Daisuki Club website. The six previous online games were briefly made available on an archive site, which has since been removed.
The current version of the Pokémon.com website was implemented on 27 January 2014 and again represented a complete overhaul of content and design. The basic layout was "simplified" along with the full incorporation of what had also been the separate Pokémon Trading Card Game website, including the incorporation of the current user customizable Trainer avatar system that allows users to define their owner visual look and style.
Website versions
Four full versions of the Pokémon.com website are currently maintained, each with identical design style, content and content organization, and almost identical News and announcements information:
- United Kingdom full version
- United States full version
Partial translations of the website exist for several additional countries and languages. These partial versions include full implementations of the Explore Pokémon section's Pokédex and the Watch Pokémon TV episodes of the Pokémon anime television series. These partial implementations also incompletely incorporate the Play Games section's Pokémon browser-based online games. The Trading Card Game, Video Games, and Attend Events sections are unimplemented with the exception of a special section dedicated to the downloadable Pokémon Trading Card Game Online and a link to the separate Pokémon Global Link website:
- Russian minisite
- Swedish minisite
- Sinapore's site currently links to another full site
- Czech Republic's site currently links to another full site
There are also three office Pokémon websites that do not necessarily reflect the Pokémon.com design and content:
- Japanese website (also referred to as the Pokémon Daisuki Club)
- Thialand website
- South Korean website
Website sections
Landing page
The initial Landing page is the initial page users see when they enter "Pokémon.com" into their web-browser. It is regularly updated to highlight various website content and news. Users may always return to the Landing page by clicking on the "Pokémon Gotta catch 'em all!" graphic on the left side of the website's primary Navigation menu located at the top of each Pokémon.com page.
News and announcements
The Landing page also incorporates the only direct website link to all collated website news, announcements, and articles in one location. Otherwise, news articles are spread across the website by topic appearing separately in the Trading Card Game, Video Games, and Attend Events sections.
Opening news articles that are categorized as "pokemon-news" on typically but not always earn the user a single Trainer Token. Articles without the "pokemon-news" categorization to not earn Trainer Tokens. However, opening the same article on different full versions of the website do, typically, earn the user a Trainer Token for each of the full versions of the website.
Pokémon Trainer Club
The Pokémon Trainer Club contains website user account information. This section is not easily identifiable under the name "Pokémon Trainer Club". However, it is easy to locate. It is the navigation bar on the upper, left side of most Pokémon.com webpages. It provides a means for Pokémon.com users to "Sign In" if they already have an existing account, "Join" to create an account, and also contains a website "Search" interface. By creating an account, users are able to earn Trainer Tokens and Stamps, keep track of online browser-based game scores, friend other users, and centrally manage other Pokémon accounts.
Before the January 2014 update, The Pokémon Trainer Club represented the Japan's Pokémon Daisuki Club brought over to a more general audience. It included an early version of the customizable user Trainer avatar personalities. Users were required to have a Pokémon Trainer Club account in order to register high scores in the online browser-based games or to earn Trainer Tokens. Anyone who had a Pokémon Trainer Club account could also keep track of their Organized Play statistics. These features still represent the core functionality of the current Pokémon Trainer Club, even though the design and some of the underlying infrastructure been substantially overhauled.
Once logged into with a user account, a "picture" appears at the top of the upper, left side navigation bar. This picture represents the user's current Trainer avatar. When the picture is selected, the side navigation bar becomes a "slide-out window' allowing the user access the following information:
- The user's recent Stamps collection,
- "Favorite Pokémon", although full functionality is not currently activated,
- A full-body view of the user's "Trainer avatar" picture,
- The user's current "Level" based on Stamps rewards,
- The user's current number of Trainer Tokens earned by reading articles, playing online browser-based games, and earning earning Stamps on the Pokémon.com website or earned through the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online downloadable game,
- Access to the "Customize Trainer" feature that allows users the ability to adjust their website "Trainer avatar" picture, and
- A "Shop for Items/Trainer Store" feature users to purchase items for their "Trainer avatar" with Trainer Tokens (added on 18 March 2014).
In the compressed state, once a user is logged in, the upper, left side navigation bar side also provides access to the following information:
- The user's current Trainer Token total, which takes the user directly to the "Customize Trainer" shop when selected,
- A "Messages" and user "Profile overview" section when selected, where users may adjust settings, add and manager accounts for their children, and centrally manager other Pokémon accounts,
- A "Friends" section for "friending" and following other users (added on 9 July 2014), and
- A "My Play! Pokémon" section for viewing user information about organized Play! Pokémon activity.
Trainer avatar
The Pokémon.com "Customized Trainer" and "Shop for Items/Trainer Store" features are fully compatible with the in-game Shop and Avatar Creator. Trainer Tokens earned in either location may be used to purchase clothing items on the Pokémon.com website or in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. Trainer/Avatar clothing items available for purchase in one are not always available for purchase in the other. Items added in one are not always immediately visible in the other. However, changes made to the user's "Customized Trainer" or "Customized Avatar" in one location will be seen in the other location the next time the user logs back in.
Profile overview
The Profile overview section provides access to user setting not necessarily specific to the Pokémon.com website itself. It is a central repository for all Pokémon user accounts.
- "PGL Settings" allows users to adjust their Pokémon video games settings for the Pokémon Global Link.
- "Pokémon TCG Online Settings" provide user access to setting not directly available in the downloadable Pokémon Trading Card Game Online.
- "Play! Pokémon Settings" provide user access to organized Play! Pokémon information and settings.
- NOTE: Be certain to select “Email Preferences: I would like to receive marketing email messages..." in order to receive the a monthly e-mail newsletter, which often contains Redeemable codes for in-game rewards for both Pokémon video games and Pokémon Trading Card Game Online.
Child accounts
Adult parents may create and manage separate accounts for each of their children in the Profile overview section, which is accessible through the adult's "Profile overview'. While The Pokémon Company International strives to be child friendly, parents may further restrict access to certain website and in-game Pokémon Trading Card Game Online features. For examples, some in-game features such as "Public Chat" and "Private Messaging" in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online are always inaccessible with a child account, while other in-game features may be further restricted by the adult parent such as "Friend Chat", "Game Chat", "Shopping", and "Trading".
Explore Pokémon
This section features the Online Pokédex with the Pokémon updated for each new Pokémon video game release, currently Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Like other Pokédexes, it allows the user to search for Pokémon by either Name or Number in "Basic Search Mode". "Advanced Search Mode" allows searched by Type, Weakness, Ability, Height, and Weight. The 27 January 2014 update redesigned the Pokédex with a grid-like structure. Without any search criteria, the user may scroll through the grid-like list of Pokémon by either Name or Number (currently 1 to 719). Selecting a given Pokémon brings up details on that given Pokémon, with two versions tied to the current video game release, currently an Omega Ruby version and an Alpha Sapphire version. Details include a picture, brief description, height, weight, gender, category, abilities, type, weaknesses, basic stats bar chart showing relative strength (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed), and Evolution chart (if any).
The Pokédex entry for a given Pokémon also includes suggested Pokémon anime television episodes and Pokémon Trading Card Game cards featuring that given Pokémon, allowing user to explore that Pokémon in other media.
Finally, there is also an options toward the bottom of Pokédex entry to share the selected Pokémon via several social media.
Watch Pokémon TV
Before the last overhaul, the television section simply provided a synopsis of Pokémon anime episodes. After the overhaul, a continuously cycling selection of episodes, which may be viewed online, are interspersed with synopsis summaries and screenshots for every episode and movie.
Rather than separating the episodes by seasons, the episodes are instead categorized under a special 'theme' such as a specific Pokémon and also by 'region' — the 'Kanto Channel', the 'Johto Channel', the 'Hoenn Channel', the 'Sinnoh Channel' and the 'Unova Channel'. There is also an option to 'Explore All Seasons' at the bottom of the page, if a traditional season by season search is preferred.
A Pokémon TV mobile application has also been introduced, which can be downloaded for free from Apple's App Store or through Google Play.
Play Games
- Main article: Pokémon.com online games
Formerly knows as the Pokémon Fun Zone before the last overhaul, this Play Games section presents a large number of browser-based video games for the user's enjoyment. Most are strategy based, although the exact design varies widely, and feature a specific theme or Pokémon. Details about each game is provided on Pokémon.com online games. These games are not only designed to require short installments of time, but they reward the user for successful achievements with Trainer Tokens. Successfully playing browser-based games earn 1, 3, or 5 Trainer Tokens depending on the specific game and whether the user has successfully played the game for the first time or successfully reached a higher success threshold on subsequent attempts. Each individual game defines what is a successful attempt differently.
Before the 2010 update, games were mostly based on Generation III and Pokémon Platinum. After the 2010 update the games featured a larger number of Generation IV Pokémon, all translated from the Japanese Pokémon Daisuki Club. Games released after the 2014 update added the ability to earn Trainer Tokens and increased in variety, many of which were also brought over from the Pokémon Daisuki Club. Games available on the site prior to the 2014 update are not longer available.
Trading Card Game
Before the 2014 overhaul, most Pokémon Trading Card Game news appeared on separate Go-Pokémon.com website. However, after the overhaul, everything except for the forums for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online were folded into to Pokémon.com website proper. The Trading Card Game section includes:
- a card Database providing information on expansions and cards from EX Ruby & Sapphire to the current set,
- strategies guides, news and announcement articles dating back to November 2013,
- the downloadable Pokémon Trading Card Game Online for PC, Mac, and Ipad,
- a step-by-step "How to Play" set of tutorials with the Professor, and
- a Product Gallery.
Most news articles and images from Go-Pokémon website were not transferred over, and thus have been lost.
Video Games
Before the overhaul, most of the Pokémon video games had their own mini-sites and sub-sites section with information and other materials about a given video games. While the newest video game release often still have their own mini-sites, this section of the Pokémon.com website now highlights information about all video games in one location and acts as a central repository of game information, announcements, and news on all currently available video games, including links to the individual game mini-sites. This section's news articles and announcements date back to November 2013.
Attend Events
This section acts as a central repository of information related to Play! Pokémon organized play Events, Rules and Resources for Pokémon video games and the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the organized play setting, and Parent Guides. This section also allow users to locate local Pokémon events and clubs, as well as News and announcements dating back to August 2014.
Stamps
Stamps represent an additional means of rewarding users for using the website and its various contents. The system was initially introduced in 28 August 2014 and substantial expanded on 30 March 2015. Stamps may be earned by reading news articles, looking up Pokémon in the Pokédex, watching Pokémon anime television episodes, playing browser-based minigames, and for viewing Pokémon Trading Card Game cards, as well as by participating in official [[|Attend Events|Play! Pokémon events]]. As Stamps are awarded, 6 Trainer Tokens are earned. Some Stamps are one-time events only. Other Stamps increase in level (1 to 10). The more Stamps earned and the more Stamps with higher levels contribute to the assignment of a user's account level.
- Online Game All-Star:
- Level 1 — Play 1 minigame on Pokémon.com
- Level 2 — Play 3 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 3 — Play 6 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 4 — Play 10 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 5 — Play 15 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 6 — Play 21 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 7 — Play 28 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 8 — Play 37 minigames on Pokémon.com
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Episode Expert:
- Level 1 — Watch 1 episode on Pokémon TV
- Level 2 — Watch 4 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 3 — Watch 8 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 4 — Watch 16 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 5 — Watch 32 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 6 —
- Level 7 —
- Level 8 —
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Looking Good! — Modify the default Trainer avatar on your Pokémon Trainer Club profile
- Pokémon Explorer:
- Level 1 — Look up 5 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 2 — Look up 25 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 3 — Look up 50 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 4 — Look up 151 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 5 — Look up 251 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 6 — Look up 386 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 7 —
- Level 8 —
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Daily Visitor:
- Level 1 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 3 days in a row
- Level 2 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 6 days in a row
- Level 3 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 9 days in a row
- Level 4 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 18 days in a row
- Level 5 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 36 days in a row
- Level 6 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 72 days in a row
- Level 7 —
- Level 8 —
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Regionals Competitor: 2014 — Play in a regional Pokémon Regional Championships
- Nationals Competitor: 2014 — Play in a Pokémon National Championships
- Worlds Competitor: 2014 — Play in the Pokémon World Championships
- Newshound:
- Level 1 — Read at least 3 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 2 — Read at least 6 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 3 — Read at least 9 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 4 — Read at least 15 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 5 — Read at least 25 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 6 — Read at least 50 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 7 — Read at least 75 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 8 — Read at least 100 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 9 — Read at least 125 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Level 10 — Read at least 150 news articles on Pokémon.com
- Trading Cards:
- Level 1 — Look up 10 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 2 — Look up 25 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 3 — Look up 50 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 4 — Look up 100 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 5 — Look up 200 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 6 — Look up 300 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 7 — Look up 400 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 8 — Look up 500 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 9 — Look up 600 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 10 — Look up 700 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Welcome to Kalos — Check out Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie in the online Pokédex
- Super Shopper:
- Level 1 — Redeem 200 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 2 — Redeem 500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 3 — Redeem 750 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 4 —
- Level 5 — Redeem 1,500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 6 — Redeem 3,000 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 7 — Redeem 4,500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 8 — Redeem 6,000 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 9 — Redeem 8,500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 10 — Redeem 10,000 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Eevee Evolution Expert — Check out Eevee and all of its evolved forms in the Pokémon.com online Pokédex
- Explorer’s First Steps — Check out a Pokémon TCG card in the card database, view a Pokémon in the online Pokédex, and watch a Pokémon TV episode
- Animation Maven: Kanto Region: Level 1 — Watch 3 episodes from Pokémon the Series: The Beginning
- Animation Maven: Johto Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver
- Animation Maven: Hoenn Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
- Animation Maven: Sinnoh Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
- Animation Maven: Unova Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Black & White
- Make a Splash! — View the Magikarp entry in the Pokémon.com online Pokédex once per day
- Minigame Mastery: Pokémon Pulse: Level 1 — Play Pokémon Pulse at least 5 times
- Minigame Mastery: Chesnaught's Spiky Shield: Level 1 — Play Chesnaught's Spiky Shield at least 5 times
- Minigame Mastery: Floette Float: Level 1 — Play Floette Float at least 5 times
- Friendly Rivalry — Overtake one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends on the leaderboard of any Pokémon.com online game
- Pokémon Trainer Club Service Award:
- Level 1 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 1 year(s)
- Level 2 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 2 year(s)
- Level 3 —
- Screen Sharing — Watch the same Pokémon TV episode on Pokémon.com as one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends
Pokémon Center
The [[#External links|Pokémon Center] is an online store where user may purchase many different kinds of Pokémon merchandise over the Internet. It was reintroduced on 6 August 2014 (although some select fans were invited to access it early starting on 2 July 2014). It separate website was initially closed on 1 February 2008 to prioritize the distribution and sale of Pokémon merchandise with local retailers. The Pokémon Center online store was launched initially around 4 February 2002.
The Pokémon Center
Pokémon Global Link
- Main article: Pokémon Global Link
The Pokémon Global Link is a separate Pokémon video game related website. It offers a means for Pokémon video game players to interact and compete against each other.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum
The official Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum is a separate website dedicated to the downloadable Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. It was overhauled to reflect the Pokémon.com visual design, to improve its usability, and to reintroduce the temporarily removed Trainer avatar system in late 2014.
Defunct sections
Mailbag
The Pokémon.com mailbag was an official source of information from the company directors. Fans could write in and ask questions about the games, anime, and other aspects of the franchise. It had been updated quite regularly, often providing information that was not available in other sources (such as the English name of one character from the eleventh movie), but the last update came in October/November 2009. When the site was revamped in January 2010, the mailbag section was removed.
Media player
The site once contained a media player that played music from the Pokémon X collection. Like the mailbag, it was removed in the revamp.
Errors
Throughout Pokémon.com's lifespan, it has been notorious for errors. Some of these are as minor as referring to Team Galactic as Team Rocket, others as important as stating that Phione was a legendary Pokémon (although this is a subject of debate). Other errors are stated below.
- The blurb in Round One - Begin! uses the one in Bad to the Bone instead.
- After the 2010 overhaul, in the Advanced Generation series's overview in the animation section, Mt. Coronet was noted. However, Mt. Coronet is in Sinnoh, and is in the Diamond & Pearl series. This was later fixed, with Mt. Chimney being noted instead.
- The site once stated that Jessie was 12 years old.
- Pokémon.com also mentioned that the shadowed figure in Unbeatable (and, by source, Pokémon Symphonic Medley) was Red Lightning, although the character did not appear in an episode until after Unbeatable ended its run as an opening theme.
- In an article for Jumping Rocket Ship!, the site referred to Ash's at-the-time Staravia as Staraptor.
- On the subpage for Pokémon Red and Blue Versions, Pokémon.com made these two statements:
- "And if they're really lucky, they might even be able to catch the elusive (and powerful) Pokémon, Mew!" despite that Mew cannot be found in the wild.
- "Catching the Legendary Mew will require lots of luck!" while showing a picture of the Mewtwo encounter in Cerulean Cave.
- Similarly, a comment for an image on Pokémon Emerald Version's subpage states "The Kanto region has never looked better!". Pokémon Emerald took place in Hoenn.
- In the game Gothita's Portrait Panic sometimes a picture of Victini will be displayed, but it will say Foongus in the caption underneath.
- In the Trainer store, a Scraggy costume was labeled "Scrafty Costume," and a Roserade costume was labeled "Roselia Costume."
- The episode guide for An Elite Coverup! identified character of the day Roland as Ian.
- Similarly, the episode guide for New Places...Familiar Faces! identified character of the day Nanette as Natasha.
- The Pokémon section in the preview of Pokémon X and Y shows Spritzee using Aromatherapy and labels the move as Draining Kiss, a move seen in Swirlix's section.
- A Blustery Santalune Gym Battle! was referred to as the fifteenth episode of Pokémon the Series: XY instead of the fifth.
- The blurb meant for To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler! was found in the episode guide for the episode before it instead.
- The card database displayed the image of a print of Lugia on the page for Deoxys-EX (BW Promo 82). It also mistakenly called it Deoxys ex.
Trivia
- Several (but not all) Pokémon namespaces (such as "bulbasaur.com") redirect to either Pokémon.com or Nintendo.com, and others, such as Manaphy.com and Darkrai.com, redirected to their respective minisites. After the update in January 2010, many links became broken as the respective pages no longer exist at the same location. Such namespaces have since been changed to redirect to the website's Pokédex page on that Pokémon.
- Despite the overhaul the site received in early January 2010, the old version was made available for a limited period of time at http://origin.pokemon.com/. This also affected links that got broken with the revamp, making them available again, only at a different address.
- However, since the old version is no longer available, all old links are once again broken.
- A minisite about Darkrai which originally appeared in 2008 was located at http://origin2.pokemon.com, but has since been taken down.
- The only time the site refers to itself as "Pokémon.com" (with the acute accent), excluding logos, is if the user clicks on an external link on the HeartGold and SoulSilver website.
External links
- http://www.pokemon.com Pokémon.com
- http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokedex/ Online Pokédex
- http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/ Collated News and Announcements
- http://www.pokemoncenter.com/ The Pokémon Center (separate website)
- http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/ Pokémon Global Link (separate website)
- http://forums.pokemontcg.com/ Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum (separate website)
- http://www.youtube.com/user/pokemon The Official Pokémon YouTube Channel
- http://web.archive.org/web/19981202180143/http://pokemon.com/ Archive of the original 1998 Pokémon.com website
- http://web.archive.org/web/19991129051351/http://www.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 1999 Pokémon.com website update
- http://web.archive.org/web/20020124015326/http://www.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 2001 Pokémon.com website update
- http://web.archive.org/web/20020604143445/http://www2.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 2002 Pokémon.com website update
- http://www.engine.ca/alicia/anime/pokemon-old/pokedex-old/Loader.swf Archive of the 2005 version of the online Pokédex