Many of you have likely seen today's unfortunate news about the upcoming termination of all Wi-Fi services for every Pokemon game falling outside of Generation VI. My question is, how do the members of this forum feel about this announcement?
Personally, I feel it has echoes of the closure of the Dream World; I would have loved to have received news of a similarly phased shutting-down period. Wi-Fi is such a large part of the Pokemon games now that I feel like the inability to use it will make the older games feel "empty" (for those older fans who still play them, or those newer players who discover them upon entering the franchise).
Across Generations IV and V, there are entire areas (such as Join Avenue) where full access is essentially contingent upon continued access to wireless. Granted, things like Wi-Fi battling do have viable/ enjoyable in-game alternatives (such as the Battle Tower/ Frontier). However, at least one core facet of the games will be utterly crippled. Due to the spreading-out of catchable Pokemon across many different titles, the pending unavailability of the GTS in Generations IV and V will likely make it impossible for the average player to ever complete the Pokedex in the older games. For those who want--or will want--to "Catch 'Em All," one could argue that this announcement is akin to an ultimatum.
EDIT (3/3/14):
In light of certain players' inherent enjoyment of special in-game events, I have compiled a master list of event Pokemon needed to unlock such features, subdivided by generation and game. If you would like to partake of these events, but do not already possess the necessary Pokemon, you will need to trade for them before May 20th in order to ensure access to these components. It may be risky hinging everything upon local wireless trading, so I would not recommend that route myself. Please note that the following is only applicable to the Generation IV and Generation V titles (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver; Black, White, Black 2, White 2). Other fateful encounter Pokemon of the same species may work as well, but I am unable to test this myself. If you see I have missed anything, please feel free to let me know.
Generation IV:
Platinum:
- Toys 'R' Us or Pokemon Movie 08 Regigigas (I have personally tested both): Unlocks the Regi trio and fully unlocks their respective in-game locations.
Link: http://www.serebii.net/platinum/regigigas.shtml
- Toys 'R' Us Arceus: Unlocks an essentially inconsequential, text-based storyline event (you will also be given an extra Flame Plate).
Link: http://www.serebii.net/platinum/arceus.shtml
-The Member's Card (Darkrai), Oak's Letter (Shaymin), and Secret Key (Rotom forms) events are long passed and completely inaccessible through normal gameplay.
HeartGold/ SoulSilver:
Main link: http://www.serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/events.shtml.
- Toys 'R' Us Arceus: Unlocks the Ruins of Alph event, where you will be given your choice of a Lv. 1 Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina.
- Pikachu-Colored Pichu (GAMESTP Pichu): Unlocks the Spiky-Eared Pichu and its respective event; as this particular Pokemon is un-tradable, this is the only was to obtain this Pokemon in your game.
- GameStop Celebi: Unlocks a time-traveling storyline event where you can visit Giovanni in exile and have a battle with him.
- Any Jirachi: Unlocks the Night Sky's Edge Pokewalker course (only applicable to those of you who plan to use the device).
- HeartGold/ SoulSilver ONLY Groudon and Kyogre: Unlocks Rayquaza within the Embedded Tower. Please note that in order to get Rayquaza to appear, one must have the Jade Orb in-hand; this can only be obtained via the acquisition of a HeartGold Kyogre and a SoulSilver Kyogre and the exhibition of these specific Pokemon to Professor Oak. A pairing of a Generation III Groudon/ Kyogre and a Generation IV Groudon/ Kyogre will not work. More information can be found here: http://www.serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/legends.shtml. (Credit to Excitable Boy for bringing this up)
- The Enigma Stone (Latios/ Latias) event in Pewter City is long passed and completely inaccessible through normal gameplay.
Generation V:
Black/ White:
Main link: http://www.serebii.net/blackwhite/ingameevent.shtml.
- GameStop Celebi: Unlocks a small Zorua event in Castelia City.
- GameStop Raikou, Entei, or Suicune: Unlocks the Zoroark event in Lostlorn Forest.
- Keldeo: Only needed if you wish to see the Secret Sword event.
- Meloetta: Only needed if you wish to see the Relic Song event.
- Genesect: Enables you to obtain one of two different sets of Drives from the P2 Laboratory. (Douse and Chill in White; Shock and Burn in Black).
- Tornadus and Thundurus: If you bring both of the aforementioned Pokemon to the Abundant Shrine, Landorus will appear and challenge you to a battle. Depending on your game version, you will need to trade for one of the two. More information can be found here: http://www.serebii.net/blackwhite/legendary.shtml. (Credit to Excitable Boy for bringing this up)
Black 2/ White 2:
Main link: http://www.serebii.net/black2white2/ingameevent.shtml.
- Victini: Unlocks a small Liberty Garden event.
- Dream Radar Landorus (necessarily caught by you, so this can be done anytime): Receive the Reflecting Mirror at the Abundant Shrine.
- Keldeo: Only needed if you wish to see the Secret Sword event.
- Meloetta: Only needed if you wish to see the Relic Song event
- Genesect: Enables you to obtain one of two different sets of Drives from the P2 Laboratory. (Douse and Chill in White 2; Shock and Burn in Black 2).
Personally, I feel it has echoes of the closure of the Dream World; I would have loved to have received news of a similarly phased shutting-down period. Wi-Fi is such a large part of the Pokemon games now that I feel like the inability to use it will make the older games feel "empty" (for those older fans who still play them, or those newer players who discover them upon entering the franchise).
Across Generations IV and V, there are entire areas (such as Join Avenue) where full access is essentially contingent upon continued access to wireless. Granted, things like Wi-Fi battling do have viable/ enjoyable in-game alternatives (such as the Battle Tower/ Frontier). However, at least one core facet of the games will be utterly crippled. Due to the spreading-out of catchable Pokemon across many different titles, the pending unavailability of the GTS in Generations IV and V will likely make it impossible for the average player to ever complete the Pokedex in the older games. For those who want--or will want--to "Catch 'Em All," one could argue that this announcement is akin to an ultimatum.
EDIT (3/3/14):
In light of certain players' inherent enjoyment of special in-game events, I have compiled a master list of event Pokemon needed to unlock such features, subdivided by generation and game. If you would like to partake of these events, but do not already possess the necessary Pokemon, you will need to trade for them before May 20th in order to ensure access to these components. It may be risky hinging everything upon local wireless trading, so I would not recommend that route myself. Please note that the following is only applicable to the Generation IV and Generation V titles (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold, and SoulSilver; Black, White, Black 2, White 2). Other fateful encounter Pokemon of the same species may work as well, but I am unable to test this myself. If you see I have missed anything, please feel free to let me know.
Generation IV:
Platinum:
- Toys 'R' Us or Pokemon Movie 08 Regigigas (I have personally tested both): Unlocks the Regi trio and fully unlocks their respective in-game locations.
Link: http://www.serebii.net/platinum/regigigas.shtml
- Toys 'R' Us Arceus: Unlocks an essentially inconsequential, text-based storyline event (you will also be given an extra Flame Plate).
Link: http://www.serebii.net/platinum/arceus.shtml
-The Member's Card (Darkrai), Oak's Letter (Shaymin), and Secret Key (Rotom forms) events are long passed and completely inaccessible through normal gameplay.
HeartGold/ SoulSilver:
Main link: http://www.serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/events.shtml.
- Toys 'R' Us Arceus: Unlocks the Ruins of Alph event, where you will be given your choice of a Lv. 1 Dialga, Palkia, or Giratina.
- Pikachu-Colored Pichu (GAMESTP Pichu): Unlocks the Spiky-Eared Pichu and its respective event; as this particular Pokemon is un-tradable, this is the only was to obtain this Pokemon in your game.
- GameStop Celebi: Unlocks a time-traveling storyline event where you can visit Giovanni in exile and have a battle with him.
- Any Jirachi: Unlocks the Night Sky's Edge Pokewalker course (only applicable to those of you who plan to use the device).
- HeartGold/ SoulSilver ONLY Groudon and Kyogre: Unlocks Rayquaza within the Embedded Tower. Please note that in order to get Rayquaza to appear, one must have the Jade Orb in-hand; this can only be obtained via the acquisition of a HeartGold Kyogre and a SoulSilver Kyogre and the exhibition of these specific Pokemon to Professor Oak. A pairing of a Generation III Groudon/ Kyogre and a Generation IV Groudon/ Kyogre will not work. More information can be found here: http://www.serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/legends.shtml. (Credit to Excitable Boy for bringing this up)
- The Enigma Stone (Latios/ Latias) event in Pewter City is long passed and completely inaccessible through normal gameplay.
Generation V:
Black/ White:
Main link: http://www.serebii.net/blackwhite/ingameevent.shtml.
- GameStop Celebi: Unlocks a small Zorua event in Castelia City.
- GameStop Raikou, Entei, or Suicune: Unlocks the Zoroark event in Lostlorn Forest.
- Keldeo: Only needed if you wish to see the Secret Sword event.
- Meloetta: Only needed if you wish to see the Relic Song event.
- Genesect: Enables you to obtain one of two different sets of Drives from the P2 Laboratory. (Douse and Chill in White; Shock and Burn in Black).
- Tornadus and Thundurus: If you bring both of the aforementioned Pokemon to the Abundant Shrine, Landorus will appear and challenge you to a battle. Depending on your game version, you will need to trade for one of the two. More information can be found here: http://www.serebii.net/blackwhite/legendary.shtml. (Credit to Excitable Boy for bringing this up)
Black 2/ White 2:
Main link: http://www.serebii.net/black2white2/ingameevent.shtml.
- Victini: Unlocks a small Liberty Garden event.
- Dream Radar Landorus (necessarily caught by you, so this can be done anytime): Receive the Reflecting Mirror at the Abundant Shrine.
- Keldeo: Only needed if you wish to see the Secret Sword event.
- Meloetta: Only needed if you wish to see the Relic Song event
- Genesect: Enables you to obtain one of two different sets of Drives from the P2 Laboratory. (Douse and Chill in White 2; Shock and Burn in Black 2).
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