Pokémon Pikachu
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Pokémon Pikachu is a series of portable Pokémon digital pets featuring the famous yellow 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.
[edit] Versions
There are, in total five versions of Pokémon and Pocket Pikachu. In November 1998 (US), Pokémon USA came out with the original Pokémon Pikachu, in a Pikachu-yellow case. It had features like an alarm, presents, and a slot machine game where watts, points earned through walking, may be gambled. Except in regards to name and language, the Pokémon Pikachu (US) and the Pocket Pikachu (JPN) have no differences.
The Pokémon Pikachu Color, Pocket Pikachu Color, and the Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS were the sequels of the originals. This version included features like an alarm composer and a new "hi card-lo card" gambling game. In Japan it had a clear case, but there were limited edition ones with clear blue cases, silver and gold ones. Communication with second generation Pokémon games was possible through an IR Port and the "Mystery Gift" feature in the game. Additionally, watts may be traded between two same-language units.
The Pokémon Pikachu Color (EU) was the same as the (US) Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS.
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