The unit is pretty much the same size and shape, but instead of the yellow color the plastic is now completely transparent. The gray/green LCD screen of the Pokémon Pikachu has been replaced with a color, reflective LCD screen (a scaled-back version of the Game Boy Color screen, which means no backlight).
The unit will have newer functions and some new animations of Pikachu, but in design it's nearly identical to the original. The whole idea is to make Pikachu happy with its owner: you. Take him for a walk, earn watt points, gamble them in the built-in slot machine. The unit has the pedometer sensor that recognizes when you take a step (which can be simulated simply by shaking the unit up and down). The more you take Pikachu for a "walk," the more Watt points you can earn. Give these Watt points to Pikachu to make him happy.
At the top of the Pocket Pikachu Color is an infrared emitter/sensor. With this eye, it can transmit data to and receive data from another Pocket Pikachu Color where owners can trade watt points and presents between the two units.
But what's most interesting is that Pocket Pikachu Color is compatible with Pokémon Gold and Pokémon Silver, the new Pokémon games that will be released in Japan on November 21st. You'll be able to trade watt points from Pocket Pikachu Color for certain tools in Pokémon Gold and Silver. These tools will only unlock in Pocket Pikachu Color by transmitting data between the Game Boy Color and Pikachu unit through the two units' infrared eyes.
According to sources, there will only be 60,000 Pocket Pikachu Color units made in Japan ¿ and if you know anything about Japan you'd realize that this means the chances of actually grabbing one of these toys on its debut date is pretty slim.
The Pocket Pikachu Color has only been announced for sale in Japan ¿ it's downright unlikely that this toy will make it to the US this Christmas outside of a few choice import shops that are lucky enough to grab a few and ship them overseas.
The unit will be on sale on November 21st for 3,000 yen (approximately $27).