GDC: Pokémon Wii announced

By Robert Purchese Published 8 March, 2007

First game to use Wi-Fi.

Nintendo has confirmed that Pokémon Battle Revolution will be the first Wii title to make use of Wi-Fi connectivity when it's released across the U.S. on 25th June.

Speaking at GDC, the publisher revealed you'll be able to wirelessly connect your DS to the console to use as a controller, or to import characters from the handheld Pokémon Diamond or Pokémon Pearl games.

All the usual monster-battling mayhem is expected as this new game adds a fresh chapter to the 155 million unit-selling franchise.

Unfortunately Nintendo was unable to comment on when we could expect the game in Europe.

Pokémon Battle Revolution will join the line-up for Nintendo's new console, which expects to boast more than 50 titles by the end of June. Though that figure is for America, naturally.

Among the upcoming first party titles are Super Paper Mario, Mario Party 8, and Big Brain Academy. Prince of Persia: Rival Swords from Ubisoft will join them, as will Bionicle Heroes from Eidos, and Tamagotchi Party from Namco Bandai.

Pop over to our gallery to see the latest GDC screenshots of Pokemon Battle Revolution.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (24) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • HyperShadow #1 5 years ago

    Nice to see someone making comments about games on their system.

    Just a shame that Europe is being overlooked for a solid date,

  • mazzl #2 5 years ago

    so no online multiplayer then.. AGAIN ..'.
    arg.. common rubbish nintendo get a move on give me multiplayer burnout and farcy and fifa.. ow hit.. need to buy a diffrent console for that

    this is just getting stupid we want online multiplayer games!!!

  • richardiox #3 5 years ago

    We need a firm release date for Super Paper Mario - just seen the new videos from GDC and it looks wicked. Although I can already pre-empt Nintendo and guess that, despite coming out in the US in April, it wont emerge in Europe 'til late summer. Fuck it all.

  • Steroyd #4 5 years ago

    ack!! This sounds Pokemon Stadium/Colliseum esque.
    I want my damn fully 3D adverture goddamnit.

    Pokemon Diamond seems to go half way there mind you.

  • ryohazuki1983 #5 5 years ago

    Wii mario kart online please!

  • Pac-man-ate-my-wife #6 5 years ago

    Have they decided not to use in game friend codes yet?

  • aine #7 5 years ago

    sorry, what? You can't "announce" a game then "reveal" it's going to be the first Wii game using Wi-Fi and DS connectivity when it's been out and using Wi-Fi and DS connectivity in Japan since December. Bloody PR types.

  • WillTheSecond #8 5 years ago

    Couldn't care less about this. BWii online please (without game-specific friend codes)!

  • chupachups #9 5 years ago

    "you'll be able to wirelessly connect your DS to the console to use as a controller"

    What's the point of that, if the DS has no motion sensors?

    Either this will be some completely pointless extra for people who have a DS and Wii, or else it will be a very important part of the game which shuts out Wii owners who don't have a DS.

  • Steroyd #10 5 years ago

    What's the point of that, if the DS has no motion sensors?

    Pokemon games don't need motion sensing, it's more like a Menu based RPG although i can see Nintendo adding stuff like petting your pokemon or something.

    Either this will be some completely pointless extra for people who have a DS and Wii, or else it will be a very important part of the game which shuts out Wii owners who don't have a DS.

    If we go by previous Handheld > Home Console connectivity with Pokemon Battle Reveloution version then it'll just be to import whatever pokemon you catch in Pokemon Diamond and send commands in multiplayer.

    I'd love to be wrong but Nintendo have stubbornly not evolved their home console versions above being a peripheral to the Handheld Pokemons.

    So basically this game will only be worth it if you have a compatible handheld Pokemon game otherwise it'll be a very very weak Pokemon game on as a stand alone home console game.

    /tries to muster excitement for pokemon.
    /fails.

  • Talha #11 5 years ago

    I tremble with excitement

  • spongebob #12 5 years ago

    Europe is the last place to be if you're a Nintendo fan.

  • Daryoon #13 5 years ago

    I don't believe there's any need for the motion sensing stuff. The game is pure Stadium.

    But I'm pretty sure it's also online as well, since Diamond and Pearl are.

  • Freelancepolice #14 5 years ago

    Isn't the japanese version online?
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/07 @ 14:04

  • aine #15 5 years ago

    yes, yes it is.

  • chupachups #16 5 years ago

    "Pokemon games don't need motion sensing, it's more like a Menu based RPG although i can see Nintendo adding stuff like petting your pokemon or something. "

    No game NEEDS motion sensing, but it would be pretty stupid of Nintendo to release a flagship franchise game on the Wii that didn't use motion sensing. It would be like releasing Pokemon on the DS and not using the touchscreen.

    I just don't buy this idea that there's anything good about using a handheld as a controller for a console. What's the point?
    Edited by 1 at 08/03/07 @ 14:58

  • Daryoon #17 5 years ago

    Erm, because it allows the Wii game to connect to Diamond/Pearl?

  • #18 5 years ago

    I just don't buy this idea that there's anything good about using a handheld as a controller for a console. What's the point?

    I'd have to agree with that.

    And in the case of the DS, as if two screens isn't enough!

  • smelly #19 5 years ago

    *meh*

    GIVE US A PROPER 3D POKEMON DAMMIT!!!!

  • Steroyd #20 5 years ago

    [/i]No game NEEDS motion sensing, but it would be pretty stupid of Nintendo to release a flagship franchise game on the Wii that didn't use motion sensing.[/i]

    That would make the existence of Super Smash Brother Brawl meaningless.

    Okay how would you implement motion sensing in battle commands for your pokemon?

    I'm not denying that Pokemon won't implement motion sensing in some way but sometimes you've just got to take a long hard look and say Motion sensing can't be implemented in any meaningful way in this area, in which case Pokemon battles.

    It would be like releasing Pokemon on the DS and not using the touchscreen.

    By not using do you mean not use the stylus touchscreen or not use it as in look at the tactical data while your battling i.e a second viewing screen?

    I just don't buy this idea that there's anything good about using a handheld as a controller for a console. What's the point?

    I don't know but it didn't stop Nintendo doing it on the Gamecube. ;)

  • smelly #21 5 years ago

    As for new announcements, they've been banned from making them until the japanese government sales them their shares back.

    So dont expect to hear anything new from nintendo at this years gdc.

  • aldo_14 #22 5 years ago


    I just don't buy this idea that there's anything good about using a handheld as a controller for a console. What's the point?

    To use the touchscreen.

    :)

  • Kazzahdrane #23 5 years ago

    "I just don't buy this idea that there's anything good about using a handheld as a controller for a console. What's the point?"

    You're right of course. Why on earth would you want the abilty to play in the same room as a friend without seeing what moves they were selecting for their Pokemon? Without this everyone can see what you're doing, so the person choosing their moves 2nd would be at a big disadvantage (I would imagine, I've never played any of the previous Stadium-esque games in the series).

    Nice addition to the Wii version, rather than just looking away people can do tactical stuff on their DS and leave the screen UI-free (assuming that's then way it works).

    Also, yes Super Paper Mario looks teh sex. And yes I'm sure we won't see it til August/September, as Nintendo hate Europe even more than Sony do. We get the consoles but wait 6 months for the games (where the FUCK is Trauma Center???)

  • smelly #24 5 years ago

    >No game NEEDS motion sensing

    I can come up with a load of game ideas which NEED motion sensing... (or would be crap without them)