Pokémon.com
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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: History section |
Pokémon.com, known as Pokémon World prior to 2000, is the official international Pokémon website which was created on January 8, 1998[1]. It has gone by many different names throughout its history, such as Pokémon-games.com and Go-Pokemon.com, though has finally settled on the simple Pokémon.com nominer. Most iterations have had an online Pokédex. On January 11, 2010, the website was overhauled to have full episodes, new online games, and Pokémon Trading Card Game information, among others. The design was overhauled yet again on January 27, 2014, where the basic layout was "simplified" along with further linking the official website with the Trading Card Game site, such as now incorporating the same Avatar Trainer system. This updated also saw the return of the "Gotta catch 'em all!" slogan and updated the Pokédex to contain all Pokémon up to Generation VI.
History
Portals
Four full portals of the Pokémon.com exist, each with largely identical information on them:
- French full portal
- German full portal
- United Kingdom full portal
- United States full portal
Additional partial portals exists for several other countries:
- Brazilian minisite
- Danish minisite
- Finnish minisite
- Norwegian minisite
- Russian minisite
- Swedish minisite
- Sinapore's site currently links to another full site
- Czech Republic's site currently links to another full site
Other unique office websites that do not necessarily reflect the other portal site include:
- Japanese website
- Thialand website
- South Korean website
Sections
Landing Page
The initial landing page of the Pokémon.com is constantly being updated with the links to the latest information and news.
News and Announcements
It includes the only link to all Pokémon News and Announcement information collated in one place. Opening news articles that are categorized as "pokemon-news" on Pokémon.com typically but not always earn a single Trainer Token.
Account Information
- Plus Sign In/Join/account interface on left side
- slideout window = Recent Stamps, My Favorite Pokemon (functionality not reactivated from previous version of site), Trainer Avatar picture, Level # (based on Stamps rewarded), Tokens #, Customize Trainer, Shop of Items
- Avatar/Profile/Settings (Profile Overview – be sure to select “Email Preferences: I would like to receive marketing email messages..." in order to receive the e-mail newsletter with Redeemable codes for in-game rewards for both video games and TCGO; PGL Settings – the video games’ Pokémon Global Link; Pokémon TCG Online Settings; Play! Pokémon Settings; Add a Child account and/or child accounts); Trainer Store/Tokens; My Messages; Friends; My Play! Pokémon; Search
- Connect w/ Friends: July 9, 2014
- Trainer Store: March 18, 2014
Explore Pokémon
This section features the Online Pokédex with the Pokémon updated for each new Pokémon video game release, currently Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
It, like all other Pokédexes, allows the user to search for Pokémon by either Name or Number in "Basic Search Mode". "Advanced Search Mode" allows searched by Type, Weakness, Ability, Height, and Weight. The 27 January 2014 update redesigned Pokédex with a grid-like structure. Without any search criteria, the user may scroll through the total list of Pokémon by either Name or Number (currently 1 to 719). Selecting a given Pokémon from the grid-like list or through a search pulls up details on that given Pokémon, with two versions tied to the current video game release, currently an Omega Ruby version and an Alpha Sapphire version. Details include a brief description, Height, Weight, Gender, Category, Abilities, Type, Weaknesses, Basic Stats bar chart showing relative strength (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed), and Evolution chart (if any).
The Pokédex entry will additionally suggest Pokémon anime TV episodes and Pokémon Trading Card Game cards featuring the given Pokémon, allowing user to explore the Pokémon in other media.
Finally, there is also an options toward the bottom of Pokédex entry to share the selected Pokémon via several social media.
Watch Pokemon TV
Before the overhaul, the television section simply provided a synopsis of Pokémon anime episodes. After the overhaul, a constantly cycling selection of episodes, which may be viewed on-line, are interspersed with synopsis summaries and screenshots for every episode and movie.
Rather than separating the episodes by seasons by default, the episodes are instead categorized by 'region' — the 'Kanto Channel', the 'Johto Channel', the 'Hoenn Channel', the 'Sinnoh Channel' and the 'Unova Channel', as well as an occasional other sorting criteria such as episodes featuring a specific Pokémon. There is also an option to 'Explore All Seasons', if a traditional by season by season search is preferred.
A Pokémon TV mobile application was also introduced, which can be downloaded for free from Apple's App Store or through Google Play.
Play Games
- Main article: Pokémon.com online games
Formerly knows as the Pokémon Fun Zone before the overhaul. This Play Games section presents a large number of browser-based video games. Details about each game is found on Pokémon.com online games. Before the 2010 update, the games were mostly based on Generation III and Pokémon Platinum; after the update the games featured a larger number of Generation IV Pokémon, all translated from the Japanese Pokémon Daisuki Club. Games released after the site revamp are interactive and allow players to earn Trainer Tokens, also brought over from the Pokémon Daisuki Club. The games that were previously available on the site are not available any longer.
Trading Card Game
Before the overhaul, most Pokémon Trading Card Game news was on Go-Pokémon.com. However, after the overhaul, everything accept for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forums were brought to Pokémon.com website proper. The Trading Card Game section of the site includes:
- a card Database providing information on expansions from EX Ruby & Sapphire to the current set,
- strategies guides and news articles dating back to November 2013,
- the downloadable Pokémon Trading Card Game Online for PC, Mac, and Ipad,
- a step-by-step set of tutorials with the Professor, and
- a Product Gallery.
Most news articles and images from Go-Pokémon were not transferred over, and thus have been lost.
Video Games
Before the overhaul, the Pokémon video games section had information about the official video games, most having their own mini-sites and sub-sites. After the overhaul, this section was expanded to act as a central repository of all available games, linking to the individual game mini-sites. This section also provides news articles related to major video game announcements dating back to November 2013.
Attend Events
This section contains information regarding Play! Pokémon organized play Rules and Resources for Pokémon video games and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, locating local Pokémon events and clubs, Parent Guides, and news dating back of August 2014.
Pokémon Trainer Club
The Pokémon Trainer Club is the equivalent of Japan's Pokémon Daisuki Club. Many features have been brought over from the Pokémon Daisuki Club, including customizable Trainer personalities for each user. Outfits and accessories are bought with Trainer Tokens, which are rewarded when playing the online games, reading news articles, and collecting stamps. Users must have a Pokémon Trainer Club account in order to register high scores in the online games or to earn tokens. Anyone who has a Pokémon Trainer Club account can also keep track of their Organized Play statistics.
Stamps
Stamps are a means for rewarding users for using the website, initially introduced in 28 August 2014 and substantial expanded on 30 March 2015. Stamps may be earned by reading news articles, looking up Pokémon in the Pokédex, watching Pokémon TV episodes, playing browser-based minigames, etc., as well as by participating in official Play! Pokémon events. As Stamps are earned, 6 Trainer Tokens are earned. The more Stamps earned and the more Stamps with higher levels (1 to 10) also contribute to the user's account level.
- Online Game All-Star:
- Level 1 — Play 1 minigame on Pokemon.com
- Level 2 — Play 3 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 3 — Play 6 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 4 — Play 10 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 5 — Play 15 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 6 — Play 21 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 7 — Play 28 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 8 — Play 37 minigames on Pokemon.com
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Episode Expert:
- Level 1 — Watch 1 episode on Pokémon TV
- Level 2 — Watch 4 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 3 — Watch 8 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 4 — Watch 16 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 5 — Watch 32 episodes on Pokémon TV
- Level 6 —
- Level 7 —
- Level 8 —
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Looking Good! — Modify the default Trainer avatar on your Pokémon Trainer Club profile
- Pokémon Explorer:
- Level 1 — Look up 5 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 2 — Look up 25 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 3 — Look up 50 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 4 — Look up 151 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 5 — Look up 251 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 6 — Look up 386 Pokémon in the online Pokédex
- Level 7 —
- Level 8 —
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Daily Visitor:
- Level 1 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 3 days in a row
- Level 2 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 6 days in a row
- Level 3 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 9 days in a row
- Level 4 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 18 days in a row
- Level 5 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 36 days in a row
- Level 6 — Sign in to the Pokémon Trainer Club 72 days in a row
- Level 7 —
- Level 8 —
- Level 9 —
- Level 10 —
- Regionals Competitor: 2014 — Play in a regional Pokémon Regional Championships
- Nationals Competitor: 2014 — Play in a Pokémon National Championships
- Worlds Competitor: 2014 — Play in the Pokémon World Championships
- Newshound:
- Level 1 — Read at least 3 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 2 — Read at least 6 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 3 — Read at least 9 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 4 — Read at least 15 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 5 — Read at least 25 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 6 — Read at least 50 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 7 — Read at least 75 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 8 — Read at least 100 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 9 — Read at least 125 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Level 10 — Read at least 150 news articles on Pokemon.com
- Trading Cards:
- Level 1 — Look up 10 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 2 — Look up 25 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 3 — Look up 50 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 4 — Look up 100 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 5 — Look up 200 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 6 — Look up 300 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 7 — Look up 400 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 8 — Look up 500 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 9 — Look up 600 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Level 10 — Look up 700 cards in the Pokémon TCG card database
- Welcome to Kalos — Check out Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie in the online Pokédex
- Super Shopper:
- Level 1 — Redeem 200 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 2 — Redeem 500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 3 — Redeem 750 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 4 —
- Level 5 — Redeem 1,500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 6 — Redeem 3,000 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 7 — Redeem 4,500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 8 — Redeem 6,000 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 9 — Redeem 8,500 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Level 10 — Redeem 10,000 Trainer Tokens in the Trainer Store
- Eevee Evolution Expert — Check out Eevee and all of its evolved forms in the Pokemon.com online Pokédex
- Explorer’s First Steps — Check out a Pokémon TCG card in the card database, view a Pokémon in the online Pokédex, and watch a Pokémon TV episode
- Animation Maven: Kanto Region: Level 1 — Watch 3 episodes from Pokémon the Series: The Beginning
- Animation Maven: Johto Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver
- Animation Maven: Hoenn Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
- Animation Maven: Sinnoh Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
- Animation Maven: Unova Region: Level 1 — Watch 5 episodes from Pokémon the Series: Black & White
- Make a Splash! — View the Magikarp entry in the Pokemon.com online Pokédex once per day
- Minigame Mastery: Pokémon Pulse: Level 1 — Play Pokémon Pulse at least 5 times
- Minigame Mastery: Chesnaught's Spiky Shield: Level 1 — Play Chesnaught's Spiky Shield at least 5 times
- Minigame Mastery: Floette Float: Level 1 — Play Floette Float at least 5 times
- Friendly Rivalry — Overtake one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends on the leaderboard of any Pokemon.com online game
- Pokémon Trainer Club Service Award:
- Level 1 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 1 year(s)
- Level 2 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 2 year(s)
- Level 3 —
- Screen Sharing — Watch the same Pokémon TV episode on Pokemon.com as one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends
- Pokémon Trainer Club Service Award:
- Level 1 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 1 year(s)
- Level 2 — Be a member of the Pokémon Trainer Club for at least 2 year(s)
- Level 3 —
- Screen Sharing — Watch the same Pokémon TV episode on Pokemon.com as one of your Pokémon Trainer Club friends.
Pokémon Center
The Pokémon Center is a separate website from Pokémon.com reintroduced on 6 August 2014, after being closed on 31 January 2008. The Pokémon Center is an online store where people can buy different kinds of Pokémon merchandise over the Internet. The store closed on January 31, 2008. When it was closed, it was .
Some select fans received invitations that lets them access the reintroduced online store 2 July 2014.
Pokémon Global Link
This separate Pokémon video game related site is found at http://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Online Forum
The official Pokémon Trading Card Game Online forum is found at http://forums.pokemontcg.com/. It was overhauled to the Pokémon.com visual style and to increase usability in late 2014.
Defunct sections
Mailbag
The Pokémon.com mailbag was an official source of information from the company directors. Fans could write in and ask questions about the games, anime, and other aspects of the franchise. It had been updated quite regularly, often providing information that was not available in other sources (such as the English name of one character from the eleventh movie), but the last update came in October/November 2009. When the site was revamped in January 2010, the mailbag section was removed.
Media player
The site once contained a media player that played music from the Pokémon X collection. Like the mailbag, it was removed in the revamp.
Errors
Throughout Pokémon.com's lifespan, it has been notorious for errors. Some of these are as minor as referring to Team Galactic as Team Rocket, others as important as stating that Phione was a legendary Pokémon (although this is a subject of debate). Other errors are stated below.
- The blurb in Round One - Begin! uses the one in Bad to the Bone instead.
- After the 2010 overhaul, in the Advanced Generation series's overview in the animation section, Mt. Coronet was noted. However, Mt. Coronet is in Sinnoh, and is in the Diamond & Pearl series. This was later fixed, with Mt. Chimney being noted instead.
- The site once stated that Jessie was 12 years old.
- Pokémon.com also mentioned that the shadowed figure in Unbeatable (and, by source, Pokémon Symphonic Medley) was Red Lightning, although the character did not appear in an episode until after Unbeatable ended its run as an opening theme.
- In an article for Jumping Rocket Ship!, the site referred to Ash's at-the-time Staravia as Staraptor.
- On the subpage for Pokémon Red and Blue Versions, Pokémon.com made these two statements:
- "And if they're really lucky, they might even be able to catch the elusive (and powerful) Pokémon, Mew!" despite that Mew cannot be found in the wild.
- "Catching the Legendary Mew will require lots of luck!" while showing a picture of the Mewtwo encounter in Cerulean Cave.
- Similarly, a comment for an image on Pokémon Emerald Version's subpage states "The Kanto region has never looked better!". Pokémon Emerald took place in Hoenn.
- In the game Gothita's Portrait Panic sometimes a picture of Victini will be displayed, but it will say Foongus in the caption underneath.
- In the Trainer store, a Scraggy costume was labeled "Scrafty Costume," and a Roserade costume was labeled "Roselia Costume."
- The episode guide for An Elite Coverup! identified character of the day Roland as Ian.
- Similarly, the episode guide for New Places...Familiar Faces! identified character of the day Nanette as Natasha.
- The Pokémon section in the preview of Pokémon X and Y shows Spritzee using Aromatherapy and labels the move as Draining Kiss, a move seen in Swirlix's section.
- A Blustery Santalune Gym Battle! was referred to as the fifteenth episode of Pokémon the Series: XY instead of the fifth.
- The blurb meant for To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler! was found in the episode guide for the episode before it instead.
- The card database displayed the image of a print of Lugia on the page for Deoxys-EX (BW Promo 82). It also mistakenly called it Deoxys ex.
Trivia
- Several (but not all) Pokémon namespaces (such as "bulbasaur.com") redirect to either Pokémon.com or Nintendo.com, and others, such as Manaphy.com and Darkrai.com, redirected to their respective minisites. After the update in January 2010, many links became broken as the respective pages no longer exist at the same location. Such namespaces have since been changed to redirect to the website's Pokédex page on that Pokémon.
- Despite the overhaul the site received in early January 2010, the old version was made available for a limited period of time at http://origin.pokemon.com/. This also affected links that got broken with the revamp, making them available again, only at a different address.
- However, since the old version is no longer available, all old links are once again broken.
- A minisite about Darkrai which originally appeared in 2008 was located at http://origin2.pokemon.com, but has since been taken down.
- The only time the site refers to itself as "Pokémon.com" (with the acute accent), excluding logos, is if the user clicks on an external link on the HeartGold and SoulSilver website.