Try POL the second you hear about it!

POL States:

Pokemon Online (POL) is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, or simply a MMORPG. POL is largely based around the original Pokemon Gameboy games; the only difference being that users play entirely online with other people from all over the world. In simple terms this means POL is like playing the Gameboy games but having hundreds of other players walking around in the game at the same time. This allows for online pokemon battling, capturing and trading with other users online. POL is still in the beta stages of development but can already be played online with other users in a 2D environment. In the current beta you cannot catch, train and battle pokemon yet, but it will be featured in the next beta scheduled for release next week. A screenshot of the current beta v4.2 can be found to the left. The anticipated features of the next beta will be:

• Online battling with other players (in real-time)
• Online capturing of pokemon
• Ability to choose your starter pokemon (a choice of 3 different pokemon)
• Login/Register system including your own personal POL account
• Updated Map Editor to allow the creation of your own custom maps for POL
• Expansion of the current POL world to include houses, pokemon gyms and user created guilds.

The official website for POL is http://www.pokemonol.net. Here you will be able to find all updates/news regarding POL's development. The direct download link of the current beta v4.2 is located at www.pokemonol.net. So please download and try - you will be impressed. Currently you can only walk around and talk to other players but it is still interesting to play, to say the least. As you can see from the screenshot the battle engine is coming along nicely. I have already tested it with the pokemon statistics database and it works perfectly without any errors. The graphical interface of the battle engine simply needs brushed up and the next beta will be ready for release.

The full list of features of POL (when the final version is released) will be:

• Battle other trainers online in realtime, with the exact formula's used in the offical Pokemon games by Nintendo
• Catch, trade, and train Pokemon
• Get a house, apartment, or start a buisness
• Cell Phones - call friends, or keep in touch with others easily
• Over 20 different cities, towns, and landmarks to travel to
• Chat to other users online easily
• Trade items with others
• Sell used goods or un-wanted products to others
• Build your own sprite (character) and use it in the game
• Red/Blue/Green/Gold/Silver/Crystal Pokemon Included
• Fully featured functional Pokedex
• Official gyms one in each town with a cpu controlled gym leader to beat
• Recreation centers to play games and just have fun
• Official league games to enter and battle against the best
• Skateboards, snowboards, bumper cars, amusement parks..
• Every user is assigned a customizable id card, a pokedex, several pokeballs and more
• Players can earn money by working at local shops and poke centers... and many other ways

The POL Map Editor is still in early development but it already includes collision detection and the ability to create warps. Warping is when a player leaves the map (or level) they were on and travels to a new map. For example, when a player in POL enters a house they travel to a new map. We are in need of map designers to create the POL world so please go to the main website and download the Map Editor to start creating your own custom map. We are also in need of sprite/graphics designers to help create the graphics for POL, such as sprite characters etc. If you would like to help please contact me (Haris) by emailing me or using MSN. My email address is haris@pokemonol.net and my MSN is hapaisley@aol.com. Please stay tuned for more updates regarding POL.

Written by: Haris (Webmaster/founder of POL