D-tector Version 3
Zee Palmer
The D-Tector (branded as the D-Tector Digivice in Bandai Asia releases) is an LCD quest game device that was produced by Bandai America and Bandai Asia for the North American, European, Asian (excluding Japan), and Oceanian markets. It is a tie-in to various foreign dubs of Digimon Frontier, and is based on the D-Scanner model of Digivice that is featured in the series.
Each new D-Tector version expands on the Digimon roster of the previous version, but the quests and map are significantly different between each, and each version from Revision B onward features one new minigame unique to itself. Revisions C and D are an exception, as they only have minor differences and identical Digimon rosters between them.
When the device is first turned on, the player is prompted to select one of the DigiDestined (Chosen Children) to play as. Next, the player names the selected child (there is a five-character length limit; by selecting "OK" without typing anything, the child's default name is filled in automatically, even if the default name is longer than five characters, e.g. "TAKUYA, KOICHI").
When the pedometer shakes (either by shaking the device, or walking with it), steps are recorded and the player character walks toward a destination Area on the map. The game measures the Distance remaining until the player reaches the Area; it is displayed when the player presses the B Button while on the home screen. Once Distance reaches 0, the player enters a boss encounter, and if the player defeats the boss, the Area is completed and the player is prompted to select their next Area destination.
Unlike other Digivice toys, the Digimon that appear in random encounters are determined by the player's current Level, so a wide variety are available. Because of this, the below listing of random enemies is not comprehensive.
Spirit Off option is not available. Escape is possible, but incurs a Spirits Power penalty. No random enemies of the original Area will be met until Kerpymon is defeated. Spirits Power is automatically refilled upon entering the battle. When Kerpymon is defeated, a cutscene plays where Lucemon and the Royal Knights scan his data and attack the player. Kerpymon is not added to the Digi-Database upon defeat. At the end of the cutscene, the player is injured.
While viewing the first set of menu options, the player may toggle to the second set ("Digi-Commands", according to the manual) by pressing the Motion Sensor Button. They may toggle back to the first set by pressing the Motion Sensor Button Again.
While on the home screen, the player may also press the B Button to review several key stats: current Distance and steps recorded, current multiplayer win statistics, current Spirits Power stat, and the D-Docks and Digimon who are assigned to them.
The top-right corner of the D-Tector is fitted with a Motion Sensor that is used for inputting D-Code: binary sequences made up of two instances of sensed motions (e.g. waving one's hand) that are used to decide outcomes in battle. The Motion Sensor works by detecting changes in light levels: if the light levels change, e.g. by blocking the sensor with one's hand, that triggers the sensor and registers as an input (1). The LED to the right side of the screen lights up red when the device is awaiting a Motion Sensor input.
Digi-Digits are five-letter/number codes that can be input into the D-Tector's Digi-Digits menu to automatically obtain Digimon. Each Digimon is associated with at least one Digi-Digit. Digi-Digits were distributed in two major ways:
Certain Digimon (e.g. bosses, the Warrior Ten and Susanomon (Susanoomon)) are considered off-limits to obtain using Digi-Digits before a certain point, so if the player attempts to input the respective Digi-Digits, the Digimon will briefly appear as normal, but will immediately disappear and an "ERROR" notice will be shown on screen.
Energy attacks always beat Ability attacks, Ability attacks always beat Crush attacks, and Crush attacks always beat Energy attacks. If two attacks of the same type are used at the same time, whichever attack is stronger (determined by the individual Digimons' stats for that attack) wins; if they have the same strength stat, they will cancel each other out and neither Digimon will take damage.
When the player defeats a boss that cannot be scanned after defeat, they are added to the Enemy (Version 1)/Other (Versions 2-4) gallery in the Digi-Database; their stats can be viewed, but they cannot be used in battle. The player also moves on to another Area.
The stats of Hybrid Digimon are determined by the child character's own stats and the stats of the selected Spirit. Each Spirit has a set of flat stat bonuses that are added to the current stats of the child, whose stats increase whenever their Level increases.
All D-Tector models can be booted into a hidden debug menu by holding down the A and B Buttons while either pressing the Reset button, or inserting batteries. After doing this, the device will eventually display a black screen, from which different debug functions can be accessed depending on what buttons are pressed next. The control scheme and available functions differ between firmware versions.
In addition to its main purpose of trading Digimon between D-Tectors, the Trade function, when set to "Data In", can also receive incoming Scan connections from the earlier Western/Asian D-3 Digivice and European/Asian D-Power Digivice. However, if a Digivice (D-Tector or otherwise) attempts to send a Digimon that does not exist in the receiving D-Tector model, there will be a connection error.
The roster of Digimon available in the D-Tector series expanded with each successive firmware revision. At its peak in the Revision E firmware, 177 Digimon appeared. Digimon stats and availability vary between versions.
In this version, some new Digimon have been added, including the Advance form of ALL DigiDestined:RhinoKabuterimonDaipenmonRaihimonJetSilphymonAldamonBeowolfmon These two appeared in D-tector 1.0 and 2.0
c80f0f1006