Mobile System GB
- This article is about the Mobile System GB. For more general information on the Mobile System GB, see Mobile Game Boy Adapter.
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The subject of this article has no official English name. The name currently in use is a fan translation of the Japanese name. |
The Mobile System GB (Japanese: モバイルシステムＧＢ Mobile System GB) was a paid online service used by the Mobile Game Boy Adapter. It was used by the Japanese versions of Pokémon Crystal and Pokémon Stadium 2. The service could be used by connecting to a compatible Japanese mobile phone using the Mobile Game Boy Adapter.
The system was never implemented outside of Japan. This may have been due to the lack of standardized and cheap mobile phones available overseas at the time, and the fact that most younger players could not have access to such devices.
In May 2002, Nintendo announced that it would shut down the Mobile System GB service by December 14, 2002.[1][2] This impacted all players since the functionality became inaccessible.
Access
To unlock the Mobile System GB in the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal, the player would have to connect their Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, or Game Boy Advance SP to a compatible Japanese mobile phone with the Mobile Game Boy Adapter. Connections were made to the now defunct gameboy.datacenter.ne.jp server, hosted by Nintendo Network Service Development. This initial connection causes the MOBILE (Japanese: モバイル Mobile) and MOBILE STADIUM (Japanese: モバイルスタジアム Mobile Stadium) entries to become accessible from the main menu, and grants the player access to the Battle Tower, Mobile Stadium, and the services within the Pokémon Communication Center.
Features
Any of the services required the player to set up their profile in the Mobile (Japanese: モバイル Mobile)[3] menu, and this data would be used for purposes such as Battle Tower data and Pokémon News. It was accessed from the aforementioned MOBILE entry in the main menu. Within the Mobile Center, the player could use the Card Folder (Japanese: めいしフォルダー Name Card Folder) to check their profile and manage a Pal Pad-like contact list, which also allowed phone numbers to be shared with a number of friends.
Mobile menu
Card Folder
Mobile Stadium
- Main article: Mobile Stadium
Players could hold trades and ten-minute battles via the second floor of any Pokémon Center. The battles could be saved in the Japanese version of Pokémon Crystal and later uploaded to the Mobile Stadium service of the Japanese version of Pokémon Stadium 2.
Facilities
The Pokémon Center in Goldenrod City is replaced by a larger building called the Pokémon Communication Center, which includes the facilities that take advantage of the Mobile System GB: Trade Corner and Pokémon News Machine. The Battle Tower near Olivine City also takes use of the Mobile System GB in the Japanese version.
Costs
The services provided by the Mobile System GB had additional costs to players.[4][5]
| Service | Launch date | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Egg Ticket | January 27, 2001 | Free |
| Trade Corner | January 27, 2001 | ¥10 |
| Battle Tower | January 27, 2001 | ¥10 |
| Mobile trades | January 27, 2001 | Carrier service fees only |
| Mobile battles | January 27, 2001 | Carrier service fees only |
| Pokémon News | January 27, 2001 | ¥100/month |
| Mobile Stadium | February 8, 2001 | Ranged from free to ¥20 |
Downloadable content
Pokémon News Machines at the Pokémon Communication Center operated with the mobile system to download additional content. At least 12 news segments have been documented, most including a mini-game to win various items. One news segment distributed the GS Ball item, which could then be used to obtain Celebi in Ilex Forest by visiting Kurt.
Event distributions
- Main article: GS Ball
In the original Japanese release of Pokémon Crystal, players could obtain a GS Ball as an event item from the Trade Corner attendant through the Mobile System GB and the Pokémon News Machine at the Pokémon Communication Center in Goldenrod City.
Legacy
The Mobile System GB and its related features were Game Freak's first attempt at providing wireless linking to players. This experiment, along with the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter in Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, and Emerald, helped the company shape the now standard multiplayer features of the current core series games, which are now more practical due to the use of the built-in Wi-Fi in Nintendo's modern handhelds.
External links
References
- ↑ モバイルシステムＧＢ (earliest archived copy)
- ↑ Nintendo to withdraw Mobile System GB service - Telecompaper
- ↑ Pokémon Crystal Version: Mobile Guide (ポケットモンスター クリスタルバージョンモバイルのてびき), page 44 (Nintendo, 2001)
- ↑ Shonan Cable Network - モバイルアダプタＧＢ通信
- ↑ GBClover - サービス終了 モバイルアダプタGB
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |