The Pokéwalker – Pedometer, Tamagotchi, Peripheral

Those of you looking forward to picking up Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver next week might be surprised to find a small hokey-looking plastic device included with your purchase.  Do not be alarmed.  It is Nintendo‘s new Pokémon-themed peripheral for the DS, the Pokéwalker.

It allows you to store one pokémon within its confines (much like a pokéball), where it will gain experience with every step you take.

Oh, did we mention that it’s a pedometer? 

Steps are also converted into “watts,” a currency that can be used to find, battle, and catch wild pokémon.  There are even some rare pokémon that can only be found by using the Pokéwalker, just so that Nintendo would be sure that you’d be interested in it.

Hasn’t Nintendo explored this idea already?  I distinctly remember my little brother having a Pikachu device.  Instead of running around getting exercise, he would sit on a couch and shake it up and down.

Via Border House.