Pokémon Pikachu
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Pokémon Pikachu is a series of portable Pokémon digital pets featuring the famous electric mouse Pokémon, Pikachu. This product was intended as an exercise toy and mentioned by Guinness World Records as the most popular fitness toy of its time. The first release of the device was simply called "Pokémon Pikachu." A yellow unit resembling a Game Boy, it features a black and white LCD screen used to display animations of Pikachu's activities. The second release, Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS, was available in clear and silver casing with a color display featuring more animations. Both of the Pokémon Pikachu incarnations differ slightly from more traditional 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 step it counts, the Pokémon Pikachu credits its user with "watts," which are a sort of currency used to buy Pikachu presents. As the player grows closer to Pikachu, more activities become available. However, if neglected, Pikachu will become angry and eventually refuse to recognize the player. Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS features an infrared port for interacting with Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal via the Mystery Gift option, which uses the Game Boy Color's built-in infrared communication port. This mode allows players of the Game Boy titles to trade their Pokémon Pikachu's watts for items to use in the Game Boy game. 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. Watts can also be sent to other Pokémon Pikachu 2 units.
Trivia
- A Pokémon Pikachu is one of the items given to players when doing a delivery for a villager in Animal Crossing, though it is not possible to obtain and keep in one's house.
- One of the many treasures in Wario Land 3 is a Pokémon Pikachu.
Versions
There are, in total five versions of Pokémon and Pocket Pikachu. First you need to know that in the US, it is known as the Pokémon Pikachu, in Japan it is called the Pocket Pikachu. In November 1998 (US), Pokémon USA came out with the original Pokémon Pikachu, in a Pikachu-yellow case. It had features like and alarm, presents, and a slot machine game where you can gamble your watts. Watts are points, for every 100 steps, you get 5 watts. The Pokémon Pikachu (US) and the Pocket Pikachu (JPN) are exactly the same just with different names, and languages.
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Original Version
The Pokémon Pikachu Color and Pocket Pikachu Color were the sequels of the originals. They added more features like an alarm composer and a new 'hi card-lo card' gambeling game. In Japan it had a clear case, but there were limited edition ones with clear blue cases, blue, silver and gold ones. They also had an IR port on the top so you can communicate with Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions using 'Mystery Gift'. You can also link same-language Pikachu to trade watts.
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Showing how the IR port works.
The Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS was the same as the (US) Pokémon Pikachu Color, but updated to better go along with Crystal version, and Gold, and Silver.