So what does the PokeWalker, the portable pedometer/play-device thing that"s set to come with every copy of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, exactly do? That question"s answered in this week"s issue of Famitsu magazine, and it turns out the Walker"s about what you figured -- a dinky little novelty that potentially makes monster raising a little easier for you.

Like the Pokemon Pikachu exercise toy of a decade ago, the PokeWalker is meant to be carried around in your pocket, measuring your movements as you walk around. You are allowed to take one of your in-game Pokemon and "take it out" to the PokeWalker via the Nintendo DS"s infrared port, which beams the creature to the Walker"s little black-and-white screen. You choose a virtual "course" for this Pokemon to walk (some available from the start, others unlocked later), and as you go about your daily business, you earn "watts" with the steps you and it take together. These watts can be exchanged for all kinds of things: extra experience, items (found via Dowsing Machine), or even the ability to catch new wild Pokemon with the Walker.

In tandem with this, HeartGold/SoulSilver also lets you walk around with a Pokemon within the "real" game. Starting with this pair of titles, you"ve got the option of letting the lead Pokemon in your current hand walk behind you on the game map, instead of simply having your Pokemon in balls all the time. Any creature, from starter to Legendary, can join you in your travels, and it"s apparently not just for cosmetics, either -- you can talk with them, and sometimes they"ll pick up secret items for you.