We have been waiting for some time for some more information on this much anticipated DS game, and finally it has come. Announced on the official Pokemin site, Nintendo gave away some more secrets about it's up and coming DS games, Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl. Obviously, we all know about the connetivity links between Wii etc, but here is some solid news on plots and features.
The game will be set in a completely new area known as the "Shinou Country" and will again allow you the choice between a male and female character. A welcome return is the time feature, which means that certain events will be regulated by the time of day. This is controlled by the DS' in built clock. According to the Web site, "the types of Pokémon you'll meet and how they evolve will be affected [by the time of day]."
Another addition is the clear distinction between male and female Pokemon. Previous games had male/female Pokemon, but they were often identical. In the new game, there will be physical differences so players easily can identify the gender of the Pokemon. Some of the examples given were spots on the wings of a Butterfree and the size of Scizor's abdomen.
The Pokedex has also had a redesign, so it now looks like the DS. The Pokedex will be accessed on the touch screen, allowing quick access to features.
The newest and most interesting feature for this game is the Pokemon watch. It will always be shown on the lower screen, and will be upgradable throughout the game. It will show the time and has a few other helpful features. There will be a calculator, a monitor that will allow you to check up on your Pokemon at the breeding center and a function that automatically calculates the effect of one type of Pokémon's techniques on other types.
So, it looks like quite a good game.