I know that Pokemon is a pretty big deal. So big in fact that countless millions of fans could rattle off stats and evolutions for the minature monsters like I could for Major League Baseball. Now, getting excited about rereleases with long unobtainable Pokemons is understandable, but having never really gotten into the "Gotta catch 'em all" phenomenon, I have to admit being a little perplexed why anyone would be stoked for the just announced, bundled with the game peripheral, the Pokewalker.

According to the press release, players will be able to wirelessly transfer monsters they've captured to the Pokewalker, where you can "walk them through virtual routes as the player walks around in real life." Wha-huh? Forgive me for being ever so slightly confused, but who the hell lets a press release as convolutedly worded as this go out? Is this thing like a pedometer (heh) that builds up your Pokemon as you walk, or do you have to be playing this game as you're walking around? The screen's not that complicated, and there are only three buttons, so I can't imagine you'll have to do too much. The thing looks like one of those old Tamagotchi keychains the girls I was in middle school with fawned over. I hope that's not a thing that's coming back into popularity. Those things were retarded. At least with Pokemon, there's a bit more to it. I think. I actually have no idea.

Anyway, the Pokewalker will be available with the HeartGold and SoulSilver when you purchase them on March 14, but in the meantime, you can check out the full press release below.

For more than a decade, millions of Pokémon^™ fans around the world have enjoyed training their Pokémon within their video games. The March 14 release of thePokémon^™ HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version games lets players continue to enjoy the world of Pokémon away from their Nintendo DS^™ or Nintendo DSi^™ systems, taking their favorite Pokémon with them wherever they go with the new Pokéwalker^™ accessory. This new accessory will come included with each copy of these games.

In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions, players can wirelessly transfer any one of their Pokémon from one of the two games to the Pokéwalker and walk them through virtual routes as the player walks around in real life. By walking, players earn Watts, which are used within the Pokéwalker to encounter and catch wild Pokémon or search for hidden items, and can be transferred into Pokémon HeartGold andSoulSilver Versions to unlock new routes. There are even special versions of certain Pokémon that can only be found within routes on the Pokéwalker, giving players added incentive to keep their Pokémon with them wherever they go. The Pokémon in the Pokéwalker will gain experience points as the player walks, and can even go up one level when they are transferred back into the game. Players also can wirelessly connect two Pokéwalkers to trade items.

Letting players return to the beloved Johto region first introduced in Pokémon Gold Version and Silver Version for the portable Game Boy^™ system, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions introduce several new enhancements for the series that enrich these timeless adventures. Created exclusively for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi systems, the games feature detailed graphics that spotlight the unique environments and hundreds of Pokémon that players can encounter and catch. Players can even see and interact with their favorite Pokémon outside of battle, selecting one from their team to follow behind their Trainer as they travel through the Johto region. The games also include robust touch-screen functionality, allowing for smoother control and seamless navigation by the player.