Pokédex
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pokédex (ポケモン図鑑 Pokémon Zukan in Japan) is a fictional electronic device designed to catalogue and provide information regarding the various species of Pokémon featured in the Pokémon video game and anime series. The name Pokédex is a portmanteau of Pokémon (which itself is a portmanteau of pocket and monster) and index, as well as a play on Rolodex
In the video games, whenever a Pokémon is first captured, its data will be added to a player's Pokédex. In the anime or manga, the Pokédex is a comprehensive electronic reference encyclopedia, usually referred to in order to deliver exposition. There are four differently numbered Pokédex lists to date: the National Pokédex, introduced in Pokémon Red and Blue; the Johto Pokédex, introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver; the Hoenn Pokédex, introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and expanded upon in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen; and the Sinnoh Pokédex, introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
The device itself takes on a new appearance with each generation of Pokémon games, often with more advanced features compared to previous versions. For example, later versions of the Pokédex have been able to sort the list of Pokémon based on internal numbering or alphabetical order. However, all Pokédexes have the ability to sort the list of Pokémon based on a National Pokédex numbering, as well as the numbering for their own region. The voices of the pokedex vary, too. The first two pokedexes (Kanto and Johto) are male, while the two newer ones (Hoenn and new Kanto) have a female voice.
In the Pokémon continuity, the Pokédex was invented by Professor Samuel Oak ("Ōkido Yukinari-hakase/Dr. Yukinari Ōkido" in Japanese), a respected professor in the science of Pokémon. However, the information provided therein is often provided by other sources.
Each game has a different style Pokédex, based on the type of Game Boy it was released on. In Pokémon Red and Blue, it was held vertically, like the Game Boy. The Pokédex in Pokémon Gold and Silver was also held vertically like a Game Boy Color. In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, it was held horizontally, like a Game Boy Advance. The one in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen was horizontal and had a fliptop, like a Game Boy Advance SP (although the GBA SP is actually vertical in design). The new Pokédex in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl resembles a Nintendo DS Lite, with two screens, and a microphone on the hinge.
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[edit] In the video games
In the video games, a Pokémon Trainer is issued a blank Pokédex at the start of their journey. A trainer must then attempt to fill the Pokédex by encountering and at least briefly obtaining (by capturing, trading, or evolving) each of the various different species of Pokémon. A player will receive the name and image of a Pokémon after encountering one that was not previously in the Pokédex. More detailed information is typically available after the player obtains a member of the species, either through capturing Pokémon, evolving Pokémon, or through a trade. This detailed information includes height, weight, species type, and a short description of the Pokémon.
The reward for filling the entire Pokédex is a special diploma from the in-game Game Freak staff, who makes a cameo appearance in each of the games. Additionally, by finishing the Hoenn Pokédex in Pokémon Emerald, by obtaining all 200 Pokémon that appear in Hoenn, the player earns a Totodile, Cyndaquil, or Chikorita from Professor Birch.
Also, in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, there is an Unown Pokédex. This is an extension of the regular Pokédex, which shows the player's progress in catching all of the various Unown Pokémon. Completing the Unown Pokédex allows you to print messages displayed in the Unown alphabet using a Game Boy Printer.
In the games, there is a National Dex, which was introduced in "Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire". It allows the capturing or evolution of Pokémon not naturally found in one region.
[edit] In the anime
In the Pokémon anime, unlike the games, the Pokédex does not start blank and fill after encountering and catching Pokémon. Instead, the Pokédex acts as a portable reference tool, able to give information about a certain species of Pokémon even if a trainer has not seen or caught it. It can also give detailed descriptions of various trainer tools, such as the Poké Flute. The Pokédex also acts as a form of identification, allowing trainers to partake in the various Pokémon League competitions. Unlike the Pokédex of the video games or the merchandise based on the video games, the Pokédex in the anime has a color screen, a statement to the lacking color capabilities of the Nintendo Game Boy.
A Pokédex in the anime also appears to have either a speech synthesizer or a method to play prerecorded sound. Although the Pokédex is not nicknamed in the original version, the Pokédex is nicknamed Dexter (for Kanto and Johto Pokedex) or Dextette (for Hoenn Pokedex). In the Pokémon Live! stage show, "Dextette" was also used as the name of Dexter's various assistants. Dexter is voiced by Eric Stuart in the English adaptation and Shinichiro Miki in the original, while Dextette is voiced by Rachael Lillis in the English adaptation and Megumi Hayashibara in the original.
The first pokedex also in one episode showed a small camera used to take a photo of the pokemon to scan the pokemon to identify it, this also explains why trainers point the pokedex towards a pokemon.
[edit] Merchandise
Because of the popularity of Pokémon, among some of the pieces of Pokémon merchandise is a toy Pokédex, similar to the ones found in the video games or anime.
The first model of Pokédex, corresponding to the Pokédex found in the first generation of Pokémon games, was manufactured by Hasbro in 1999. It was a correct scale device which included a small black and white LCD screen and contained information on 150 Pokémon. A slight error in the original version was that the Pokemon Pidgeot would not be indentified by the 'Dex and could only be found via the Manual Search function. This is probably down to the shortening of Pidgeot's name from its pre-evolved form, Pidgeotto - unlike most Pokemon whose names commonly become longer with each evolution. The device allowed for password protection and featured a small keyboard to allow users to input information about their favorites or species they captured. It also has a digital calendar, clock, and basic calculator.
In 2004, Hasbro offered an updated Pokédex which featured the 386 species of Pokémon that exist in the third generation. This device features multiple advancements along with a four color greyscale screen with a higher resolution.
