Pokémon.com: Difference between revisions

[[File:Pokemon_website_logo.png|thumb|200px|right|Logo used for the website until the 2010 overhaul]]

[[File:2000pokemonworld.png|thumb|200px|right|Logo used for the website in 2000]]

'''Pok{{tt|é|Officially uses regular &quot;e&quot;}}mon.com''', known as ''Pokémon World'' prior to 2002, is the official international [[Pokémon]] website, which was first created on 8 January 1998<ref>[http://www.whois.net/whois/pokemon.com WHOIS information for Pokémon.com]</ref>. The website has gone by many different names and used many different Internet addresses throughout its history, such as ''Pokémon-games.com'' and ''Go-Pokemon.com'', though [[The Pokémon Company International]] has finally settled on the simple ''"Pokémon.com"'' nominer. Four [[#Website versions|full versions]] of the official Pokémon.com website are maintained, each focusing on a specific language, country, or region. Several other partial websites are also maintained. The current version of the website, introduced on 27 January 2014, saw a complete reorganization of website content and visual design, as well as seeing the prominent return of the ''"[[Gotta catch 'em all!]]"'' slogan.

With the official launch of the Pokémon.com website on 8 January 1998<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19981202180143/http://pokemon.com/ Archive of the original 1998 Pokémon.com website]</ref>, it was little more than a repository for [[#News and announcements|News and announcements]] about the then current [[#Video Games|Pokémon video games]], [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]], and [[#Attend Events|organized Play! Pokémon events]]. While using the ''"Pokémon.com"'' web-browser address, the website was referred as ''Pokémon World'' or the ''Pokémon Times''.

Between 4 May 1999 and 29 November 1999<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/19991129051351/http://www.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 1999 Pokémon.com website update]</ref>, the Pokémon.com website underwent its first redesign. This update introduced new content such as the first version of [[#Play Games|Pokémon browser-based online games]] and an [[#Online Pokédex|Online Pokédex]] in which users could look up information on then current Pokémon video game versions of specific [[Pokémon]] as well as information about [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon anime]] television episodes and movies.

Between 9 September 2001 and 24 January 2002<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20020124015326/http://www.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 2001 Pokémon.com website update]</ref>, the website underwent a minor overhauled of its design. The only significant changes were the introduction of the [[#Pokémon Center|Pokémon Center]] as a separate online store for purchasing [[Pokémon merchandise]] and the relabeling of the Pokémon.com website itself from ''"Pokémon World"'' to just ''"Pokémon.com"''.

In mid-2002 (sometime between 4 June and 22 July)<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20020604143445/http://www2.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 2002 Pokémon.com website update]</ref>, the website underwent a complete overhauled of its design but largely left the content in place.

Between 19 June 2003 and 19 July 2003<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20030719005154/http://www.pokemon.com/ Archive of the 2003 Pokémon.com website update]</ref>, the website underwent a complete overhauled of its design and content. Content was separate into separate websites. Pokémon.com retained [[#News and announcements|News and announcements]].  The separate sites were ''Pokémon-games.com'' for the [[#Video Games|Pokémon video games]] (March 2003 at least to January 2009) and ''Go-Pokemon.com'' and ''Pokemon-tcg.com'' for the [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]] (from May 2003 to 27 January 2014).

The next major overhaul occurred on 21 March 2005.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050321010132/http://www.pokemon.com/flash.htm Archive of the 2005 Pokémon.com website update]</ref> This update not only included a complete overhaul of design and content but was built using {{wp|Adobe Flash}} technology. The most prominent content additions were the inclusion of the now retired [[#Media player|Media player]] for playing the soundtracks of then current [[#Video Games|Pokémon video games]] and the [[#Mailbag|Mailbag]] question and answer sections.

On 11 January 2010<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20101230035810/http://www.pokemon.com/us/ Archive of the 2010 Pokémon.com website update]</ref>, the website underwent its next major overhauled of content and design. Each section utilized a similar layout with a uniquely identifiable color scheme. To users familiar with the current website, this update seems familiar even though the layout is different due to the primary elements of the current website existing very close to their current forms. The [[#Trading Card Game|Trading Card Game]] section included the addition of a [[#Trading Card Database|Trading Card Database]] allowing users to search for specific Pokémon cards and [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]] and the ability to [[#User profile|centrally manage user Pokémon accounts]] and view organized [[#Attend Events|Play! Pokémon]] information through Pokémon.com. This update also introduced [[Trainer Token]]s and an early version of the [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] system, the ability to watch select [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon anime]] television episodes as well as the ability to look up information about them, and the initial set of three, current [[#Play Games|Pokémon browser-based online games]]. Prior to the 2010 update, only six online games were available (four being accessible directly and two hidden). These initial three online games were adaptations of games originally distributed on the Japanese [[Pokémon Daisuki Club]] website (as was the original Trainer avatar system). The six previous online games were briefly made available on an archive site, which has since been removed.

The current version of the Pokémon.com website was implemented on 27 January 2014 and represented another major overhaul of content and design. The basic layout was "simplified" along with the full incorporation of what had also been separate [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]] websites, including the incorporation of the current user customizable [[#Trainer avatar|Trainer avatar]] system that allows users to define their owner visual look and style. The update also updated the [[#Online Pokédex|Online Pokédex]] by implementing a similar ''Basic'' and ''Advance'' search criteria and browsing options that were originally introduced in the 2010 [[#Trading Card Database|Trading Card Database]]. The update additionally expanded the ability to centrally manage all user Pokémon accounts through Pokémon.com as well as children accounts under the [[#User profile|User profile]]. Later incremental updates also introduced the ability to add and follow ''"Friends"'' and earn additional rewards through the [[#Stamp|Stamp]] reward system.

*Japanese website

* A ''"Shop for Items/Trainer Store"'' feature allowing users to purchase items for their ''"Trainer avatar"'' with [[Trainer Tokens]] (added on 18 March 2014).

* A ''"Friends"'' section for locating and finding "friend" and following their activities online (added on 9 July 2014)<ref>[http://http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/connect-with-friends-in-the-ptc-now/ Connect with Friends in the PTC Now! — 09 July 2014]</ref>, and

A [[Pokémon TV]] mobile application has also been introduced, which can be downloaded for free from Apple's App Store<ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/the-pokemon-tcg-online-comes-to-ipad/ Apps, The Pokémon TCG Online Comes to iPad! — 30 September 2014]</ref> or through Google Play.<ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/fun-pokemon-apps-for-your-new-digital-device/ Fun Pokémon Apps for Your New Digital Device! — 22 December 2014]</ref>

[[File:Funzone logo.png|thumb|200px|right|The Pokémon Fun Zone Logo]]

Stamps represent an additional means of rewarding users for using the website and its various contents. The system was initially introduced on 28 August 2014<ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/begin-your-stamp-collection/ Begin Your Stamp Collection! — 28 August 2014]</ref> and substantial expanded on 30 March 2015.<ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/more-stamps-to-mark-your-way/ More Stamps to Mark Your Way! — 30 March 30 2015]</ref> Stamps may be earned by reading [[#News and announcements|news articles]], looking up [[Pokémon]] in the [[#Online Pokédex|Online Pokédex]], watching [[#Watch Pokémon TV|Pokémon anime]] television episodes, playing [[#Play Games|browser-based mini-games]], and for viewing [[#Trading Card Game|Pokémon Trading Card Game]] cards, as well as by participating in official [[#Attend Events|Play! Pokémon events]]. As Stamps are awarded, 6 [[Trainer Token]]s are earned. Some Stamps are one-time events only. Other Stamps increase in level (1 to 10). The more Stamps earned and the more Stamps with higher levels contribute to the assignment of a user's account level (1 to 20).

* '''Pokémon Researcher: Rayquaza''' — Look up Rayquaza in the Pokédex, check out a Rayquaza card in the database, and watch a Pokémon episode featuring Rayquaza.

* '''Pokémon Researcher: Rayquaza''' — Look up Rayquaza in the Pokédex, check out a Rayquaza card in the database, and watch a Pokémon episode featuring Rayquaza.

[[File:Pokémon Center online.png|thumb|260px|The original Pokémon Center website on its last day of original operation on 31 January 2008]]

The [[#External links|Pokémon Center]] is an online store where user may purchase many different kinds of [[Pokémon merchandise]] over the Internet. It was reintroduced on 6 August 2014<ref>[http://www.pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news/visit-pokemoncentercom/ Visit PokemonCenter.com! — 6 August 2014]</ref> (although some select fans were invited to access it early starting on 2 July 2014). The Pokémon Center online store was originally launched around 4 February 2002 and continued until 31 January 2008. It closed in 2008 in order for [[The Pokémon Company International]] to prioritize the distribution and sale of Pokémon merchandise with local retailers.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080210094936/http://www.pokemoncenter.com/ Pokémoncenter.com has closure Q&A — 1 February 2008]</ref>