Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Channel (Japanese: ポケモンチャンネル ～ピカチュウといっしょ！～ Pokémon Channel ~Together With Pikachu!~) is a spin-off game developed by Ambrella for the Nintendo GameCube.
| Pokémon Channel ポケモンチャンネル ～ピカチュウといっしょ!～ | |
|---|---|
 Boxart of Pokémon Channel | |
Basic info
| |
| Platform: | Nintendo GameCube |
| Category: | Virtual pet |
| Players: | 1 |
| Connectivity: | None |
| Developer: | Ambrella |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Part of: | Generation III spin-off |
Ratings
| |
| CERO: | All |
| ESRB: | E |
| ACB: | G |
| OFLC: | G8+ |
| PEGI: | 3 |
| GRAC: | N/A |
| GSRR: | N/A |
Release dates
| |
| Japan: | July 18, 2003 |
| North America: | December 1, 2003 |
| Australia: | 2004 |
| Europe: | April 1, 2004 |
| South Korea: | N/A |
| Hong Kong: | N/A |
| Taiwan: | N/A |
Websites
| |
| Japanese: | Pokémon.co.jp Nintendo.co.jp |
| English: | Official site Pokémon.com Nintendo.com Nintendo.co.uk |
|
Japanese boxart
 Japanese boxart of Pokémon Channel | |
The player and their Pikachu have been asked for help from Professor Oak. Play varies between the television programs and exploring Mintale Town. Gameplay usually lasts for at least a week as new programs are unlocked each day (the game is played in real time). However, the purpose of this game can be thwarted by adjusting the GameCube system's date and time settings.
Most of the Pokémon have their anime voices, including Meowth, and the game includes a unique anime episode titled Pichu Bros. in Party Panic.
The game includes an in-game Pokémon mini emulator. Most of the games are from its existing library, though there is one new game, entitled Snorlax's Lunchtime.
After completing the game by watching all the episodes of Pichu Bros. in Party Panic, Jirachi can be downloaded from the European and Australian edition of the game. Although originally intended for download from a bonus disc related to the game, Jirachi's distribution method in other countries ended up having nothing to do with Pokémon Channel.
Blurb
Professor Oak needs your help!
Pokémon Channel is a TV-broadcasting network that airs a variety of Pokémon programs, and he's selected YOU as the initial test audience! With the help of Pikachu and other Pokémon, you can make Pokémon channel the highest rated channel on TV!
- Pokémon News Flash - Watch Psyduck deliver the news while Meowth reports on-location. Pay close attention for hints on where to meet Pokémon.
- Featuring an all-new animation: Pichu Bros. in Party Panic! exclusively for Pokémon Channel!
- Smeargle's Art Study - Paint your favorite scenes and have them evaluated by Smeargle!
- Shop 'N Squirtle - Use purchase points to buy items for your room and make it more Pikachu friendly!
- Play with Pikachu outside and meet many different Pokémon!
- Pokémon mini - Play a virtual version of Pokémon mini and select from a variety of mini game titles!
Mintale Town
Mintale Town is split into four areas. The house is located in Springleaf Field, while the other three areas are reached by bus.
Through exploring the world, it is possible to interact with wild Pokémon, most commonly through them asking questions about themselves. A correct answer will earn the player a collectible card. What Pokémon appear in each area depends on the time of day and weather. The weather is changed by watching Slowpoke's Weather Report, while the day is split into the following time periods:
- Morning: 5:00 AM – 9:00 AM
- Day: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Evening: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Night: 7:00 PM – 5:00 AM
Channels
| Channel | Details | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Oak Report | This is where the game is saved. | 
|
| Pichu Brothers | The Pichu Brothers episode. There are many channels for this, giving the choice each of five parts, the full version, or foreign language versions. In the NA version of the game, the foreign language of the channel is Japanese. In the European version of the game, if the game language is set in English, the foreign language will be Spanish. If the game language is set in Spanish, the foreign language will be English. In the English version of the game, there is also a special "Kasumi version", which is the Japanese version but with Kasumi (Misty) as the narrator. | 
|
| PNF (Pokémon News Flash) | Psyduck tells the news with Meowth giving reports from the scene. Sometimes Psyduck falls asleep and does nothing, in which case the show ends. Meowth basically interviews random Pokémon in random locations. | 
|
| Shop 'N Squirtle | The game's shop, hosted by Spencer the Squirtle (wearing the Squirtle Squad glasses). Most items are room decorations, though cards and Pokémon minigames can also be obtained. Items will be delivered by Delibird the following day. Bus passes must be obtained to travel to each of the three regions, though Delibird will deliver these immediately. | 
|
| Quiz Wobbuffet | A quiz show hosted by Wobbuffet. After watching three Pokémon answer questions, there is a "Present Quiz" where the player can earn money. Then, after watching the Pokémon answer more questions, the "Present Quiz" will begin again. | 
|
| Smoochum Shape-up | An exercise program hosted by Roochu the Smoochum. | 
|
| Slowpoke's Weather Report | Slowpoke gives the weather forecast for one of the regions. This physically changes the weather, changing the Pokémon found in the area. | 
|
| Eggzamination: Hatch Up! | An Egg is viewed until it hatches. The player can guess the Pokémon inside and will win money if correct on hatching. Eggs can take from five minutes to 24 hours to hatch. | 
|
| Mareep Farm | A number of Mareep are counted as they jump over a fence. Pikachu will become sleepy watching this. | 
|
| Smeargle's Art Study | Smeargle rates the picture hanging on the player's wall. | 
|
| Chansey's Fortune Cookie | Chansey offers five fortune cookies. One message can be chosen each day. | 
|
| Chum Chum Ranking | Moochu the Smoochum, who is the twin sister of Roochu the Smoochum from Smoochum Shape-up, hosts the ranking channel. First, five Pokémon or things are put in popularity order. Then, Pokémon are asked which of two items they prefer. Finally, some statistics about the player are given. | 
|
| Odd One Out | A number of Oddish come onto the screen and the player can bet on whether there will be an even or odd number. | 
|
Jirachi
Players can obtain Jirachi in both the European and Australian versions of the game. It can be downloaded onto a version of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. After unlocking the full version of Pichu Bros. in Party Panic, Jirachi will appear, and the mini-movie will be shown above the campfire. The Berry Glitch in Ruby and Sapphire can also be fixed. Due to a bug, this Jirachi can be Shiny. The player must have entered the Hall of Fame and have an empty slot in their party in order to receive Jirachi.
| Pokémon Info | Trainer Memo | Battle Moves | Ribbons | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 JIRACHI
|
Dex No. | 0385 | Random nature. | Normal | Wish | None | ||||||||
| Lv5 | Type | Met in a fateful encounter when | Psychic | Confusion | ||||||||||
|
Steel | Psychic | at Lv 5. | Psychic | Rest | |||||||||
| OT | CHANNEL CHANNEL |
-- | -- | |||||||||||
| ID No. | 40122 | There is no limit to this Pokémon's availability. It may be obtained on any date, beginning from when it was released. It was available in Europe and Australia. | ||||||||||||
| Item | Ability | |||||||||||||
 Salac Berry or Ganlon Berry
|
Serene Grace | |||||||||||||
| This Pokémon can be Shiny. | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
e-Reader
Exclusive to the North American, Japanese, and Australian releases, it came with three e-Reader cards to be used in Smeargle Paint, but only in earlier releases:
- North American release included Line Art Card: The Pikachu Star, Line Art Card: The Kyogre Constellation, and Paint Pattern Card: Poké A La Card on a single sheet, and players are required to punch the cards out of the sheet in order to use them.
- Japanese and Australian releases included Line Art Card: The Pikachu Star, Line Art Card: Jirachi, and Paint Pattern Card: Poké A La Card as standalone cards.
After the e-Reader was discontinued midway through the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance's lifecycle, due to its unpopularity outside Japan, later printings of the game excluded the cards, but the e-Reader compatibility still exists. Line Art Card: The Kyogre Constellation was included in the Summer 2003 issue of Pokémon Scoop, which was distributed in Pokémon Festa 2003.
| Card ID | Card ID (JPN) | Card Name | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-A101 | 11-A001 | Line Art Card: The Pikachu Star | Provides a picture outline for drawing Pikachu and paint colors. |
| 11-A102 | 11-P001 | Line Art Card: The Kyogre Constellation | Provides a picture outline for drawing Kyogre and paint colors. |
| 11-A103 | 11-A003 | Paint Pattern Card: Poké A La Card | Provides paint patterns to be used in Smeargle Paint. |
| 11-P101 | 11-A002 | Line Art Card: Jirachi | Provides a picture outline for drawing Jirachi and paint colors. |
Program Expansion Disc
Exclusive to the Japanese release, it came with an expansion disc (番組拡張パック) that read the save of Pokémon Channel from the memory card. It provides the following extra channels to watch.
| Channel | Details | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Movie Channel 1 | "Pikachu The Movie Story" Plays a short movie detailing the history of all the Pokémon movies. | |
| Movie Channel 2 | Provides a trailer for Jirachi: Wish Maker. | |
| Event Channel | Shows a fireworks show. | |
| Nintendo Channel | A trailer for various Pokémon merchandise including e-Reader, Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire, and Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. | |
Pokémon mini
- Main article: Pokémon mini
Pokémon Channel also includes a virtual Pokémon mini. Pikachu must find it under the bed before it can be played. The virtual Pokémon mini comes with a Pokémon Channel exclusive game, Snorlax's Lunch Time. The player has to buy other Pokémon minigames on Shop 'N Squirtle.
Snorlax's Lunch Time
This is a bonus game exclusive to Pokémon Channel. The goal is to keep feeding Snorlax until it accidentally tries to eat a Pichu.
Pokémon Mini Petit and mini versions
Additionally, certain Pokémon minigames to be played, albeit stripped down and renamed, or broken up into multiple games. The Japanese version has 10 games, while the International version has 6.
| Pokémon Channel | Pokémon mini |
|---|---|
| Slowking's Judge | Pokémon Party mini |
| Chansey's Dribble | Pokémon Party mini |
| Pokémon Pinball Petit | Pokémon Pinball mini |
| Puzzle Collection Petit | Pokémon Puzzle Collection |
| Pokemon Race Mini miniJPN | Pokémon Race mini |
| Hoppip JumpJPN | Pichu Bros. mini |
| Skateboard PichuJPN | Pichu Bros. mini |
| Togepi's Great Adventure PetitJPN | Togepi's Great Adventure |
| Magby Hot Air BalloonJPN | Pichu Bros. mini |
| Pikachu's Rocket StartIntl | Pokémon Party mini |
Localization changes
- The language that plays in the Pichu Brothers channel changes depending on the regional version of the game, as described above.
Staff
- Main article: Staff of Pokémon Channel
Reception
Pokémon Channel received a "Meh" score of 5.0 out of 10 from IGN, stating that "There's plenty here for the Pokemon fan, but it's only skin deep," and although the game does have "interesting aspects," it "makes watching TV boring."[1]
Trivia
- In the instruction manual of the English version, Psychic is misspelled as "Physic".
- The title music of Snorlax's Lunch Time is a remix of Snorlax's theme in Pokémon Zany Cards.
- The dolls obtainable in Pokémon Channel are the same dolls obtainable in Generation II, and use the same models from Pokémon Stadium 2.
See also
References
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This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |