Why doesn't Ash get a Poke Gear/X-Transceiver/Holo Caster etc.?

[matt0044]

You'd think having phones in an emergency would be a must when you and your friends are traveling and separation's a common occurrence.

 

[KenzeyEevee]

He got one from Clemont during the Team Flare crisis.

 

[Kirby4ever]

He got one from Clemont during the Team Flare crisis.

They only got used once by Clemont and Ash, no one else used theirs.

 

[Gabo2oo]

He didn't get a Pokégear because Brock got one and he always was the group's map.

The Xtransceiver and Holo Caster are pretty useless even in-game, serving no much purpose other than a standard cellphone. And I remember someone from the staff claiming recently that they do not want to give the main characters cellphones or similar stuff, because it doesn't fit with the whole journeying-through-nature feel, to which I agree. Half of the anime's episodes would be resolved in a couple of minutes if the group had that sort of easy communication.

They only got used once by Clemont and Ash, no one else used theirs.

Serena used hers right after Ash caught up with Clemont after Clembot's demise.

 

[Rath]

Same reason why cellphones never work in horror movies; the plot would be resolved too quickly if characters could just call for help.

 

[Sakuraa]

I mean, none of those items had much relevance in the games anyway. The weren't necessary for Ash to have so that's most likely why he never got any of them.

 

[Hidden Mew]

Yeah, they wouldn't want something that could make it much easier to resolve problems like friends being separated. It would promote the newest games, but it wouldn't really fit that well given that Ash doesn't tend to get items like maps and such when it's usually one of his friends that lets him know where they're going. The items aren't even that important in the games either, so I don't think that the anime is missing anything important in this regard.

 

[matt0044]

The Xtransceiver and Holo Caster are pretty useless even in-game,

Yes, but the Anime ISN'T the games and how they use concepts from the source material is up to them so theycould make them useful.

Half of the anime's episodes would be resolved in a couple of minutes if the group had that sort of easy communication.

Yet their willingness not to get such easy communication when it could solve their reoccurring problems is a pretty big plot-hole. Are you telling me that none of them thought that, "Hmmm, maybe something like a portable phone would help if we got lost from each other."

Considering how, say, Clemont is when looking after his little sister, I doubt he'd want the worst to occur while he's not around to keep Bonnie safe. For a man of technology, communication seems to elude him.

There's suspension of disbelief and then there's blatant aversion from the smartest decision they can make. Hell, it might actually help break the mold of how a lot of the stories tend to be told (though SM is doing a lot of that already).

 

[Gabo2oo]

Yet their willingness not to get such easy communication when it could solve their reoccurring problems is a pretty big plot-hole.

No, a plot-hole would be them having phones and not using them. Again, Pokémon is not an anime where phones could be fitting, if they gave phones to the main cast the writers would force themselves into a situation where no character could get lost and they could always ask for help. It might break the mold for storytelling, but it would be totally unfit for the whole "rural travelling" feel the show is usually about. That or they'd have to pull off the "no signal" trick all the time. Leave cellphones to shows with contemporary urban settings, not this one.

 

[matt0044]

Pokémon is not an anime where phones could be fitting, if they gave phones to the main cast the writers would force themselves into a situation where no character could get lost and they could always ask for help.

As an aspiring writer myself, that really sounds like a major cop-out from giving a legit internal reason at least. Technology exists in-story to help them in many situations but they don't use it. Not even when one of the characters' shtick involve (faulty) technology.

 

[IncineROAR]

Because if Ash had a Pokegear, Delia would be a hoarder and calling Ash every five minutes telling about the latest "gift" she bought for him WITH HIS OWN MONEY LOL.

In many ways I'm glad Ash doesn't get involved with some of the game gimmicks.