<Doctor Oak> - This is how the session will work: what I'm gonna do is let y'all ask a bunch of questions to begin with, then I'll try and answer what I can. Staff can ask too, if they want to help guide some answers out; then I'm gonna put up the first screenshot; peeps can ask what they want about that; I'll put up the second; and y'all can ask about that too; then we'll wrap things up.

So, is it like a Pokemon MySpace or something?

<Doctor Oak> - In the sense that it's a social-networking website at it's core, yes. But it is not an intended replacement; just a more focused way to interact with other pokemon fans.

Can we poke on it, like the original myspace? XD

<Doctor Oak> - At the moment, no. If people are that interested, though, it can be added.

Is it possible for a Mobile adaptation to be made?

<Doctor Oak> - Very possible. I haven't decided on what will be for what, though. Android and iPhone seems pretty certain though. DSi/PSP is also fairly likely, and maybe even Wii, if I can make it work well. Most of this will probably follow the launch though, but iPhone/Android may be priorities to try and get for launch. WAP adaption isn't going to happen, though.

Are we going to be talking about heavy uses of Java or Quicktime to get a constant stream of information? Or are we going to have a point-click-refresh style?

<Doctor Oak> - You will need to have javascript activated, and certain parts of the site will use flash.

Will social interaction be based on Avatars possibly? Like, exploring with a personal character, moving around a map and talking to each other via typing.

<Doctor Oak> - In terms of the 'game' side of things, it's not as complicated as that. You will 'play' by point and click, based on text, images, and some flash games/activities. It's pretty basic and accessible and intended as a distraction, rather than an MMORPG like WoW. Interaction with other people playing is still being worked/decided on.

Is that going to be a major portion of the site, or will it be more about the Pokemon!Facebook?

<Doctor Oak> - It will be a huge factor of the site - but it will be separate. If you only want to use T-S for the social networking aspect, that's all you have to use it for.

So, how AJAX-enabled is the site going to be?

<Doctor Oak> - not -too- heavy, but pretty strongly. You will need javascript enabled to use the site.

Also, for the MMORPG aspect of the site - how much daily activity would you "require" of members? For example, VDex only "needs" a few minutes a day, whereas GPX+ would rather you spend several hours clicking.

<Doctor Oak> - I guess it'd depend what you want to get from it. I'm setting it up in such a way that you can use it as a base distraction for a couple of minutes a day or you could spend half your time online fiddling with it. There will be different classes within the game, and each class will determine what you can do overall.

Can I just click in ever couple of minutes, or would it mean "Kalseng just spent the last two hours scowering Mount Crater and found a pair of green shorts and a Shuckle!  GO HIM!"

<Doctor Oak> - You will never have to spend so much consecutive amounts of time doing anything to achieve anything.

Are we talking full on MMORPG?

<Doctor Oak> - No. I guess GPX is a closer analogy, but it -will- be deeper. It's definitely a game experience, but it's pretty simplified and very much a browser/text/image oriented game.

Will the MMORPG aspect be suitable for playing solo?

<Doctor Oak> - Depends on your class, but, pretty much, yes.

Also, if there are several classes, would you be able to play more than one class at once?

<Doctor Oak> - No. You can, however, change your class, almost at your own discretion, and with a tiny cost. Purely to prevent people constantly switching around, but it wont be a difficult or painful process. Tthe idea is that if you get to the top of one class, you should be able to experience another.

Are there going to be seperate forums for Trainer-Space, and if so, what relation will they have to Pokecharms?

<Doctor Oak> - Hasn't been decided yet. For the testing purposes, there will be a specific board set up. For the final release, we may just have a single forum on Pokecharms for it - but that is something I'm considering putting to a vote closer to the time.

Another point, I want to bring up: your [Pokecharms] accounts will NOT carry over to T-S. You will need to sign up again, but you should be able to link up to your Pokecharms account.

If any of the Admins/Mods from 'Charms join Trainer Space, will they become Amins/Mods on Trainer Space?

<Doctor Oak> - Those working on T-S will, obviously, be admins/mods there, other than that, the staff will be separate and chosen on their merits there.

Can you make multiple accounts, so that you can have different classes at a single time, or is that not allowed?

<Doctor Oak> - It's ill advised and will be frowned upon. If you want to use a different class, you can change to it, otherwise it's too easily open to exploitation.

Also, assuming it's pokemon based, will it be similar to GPX+ - clicks are the only way of gaining experience - or will it use a different system?

<Doctor Oak> - Experience is earned in a large number of ways - and, to some, experience wont even be your driving goal. There -will- be a click system involved, but I'll try to make it as unique and interesting as possible.

You've already mentioned that the MMORPG will be mostly seperate from the social networking side of things - but what links will they have if you choose to use both?

<Doctor Oak> - If you play the game, you will have a load of new options available to display on your main T-S page and people will be able to easily interact with your game play via the main T-S page too. There isn't much traffic going the other direction at the moment though. Obviously your profile is your profile for the game, but your status updates wont have any game implications :).

Will there be a system for arranging battles/trades with other users of the site?

<Doctor Oak> - Trades, very much so, battling, I'm unsure on right now. I'm looking into it heavily, though, and if I can get it in for launch it'll be there.

Are you thinking of advertising Trainer Space after it's release, to get more people involved and more people onto 'Charms? (Not for popularity reasons, of course.)

<Doctor Oak> - Trainer-space will be advertised, yes; google ads and so on. There will also be cross-promotion between T-S and Pokecharms.

On that note, will there be any "premium" features for the site?

<Doctor Oak> - No. You will at no point ever have to pay a penny to do anything on the site - though donations, as ever, are very welcome. Donators will get bonuses but they wont be game-breaking or whatever, not classes but titles, or items, or whatever. I'll tell you more when I've got something to be able tell you :p.

How many classes are there?

<Doctor Oak> - 3 classes at release, each with very specific playstyles and options.

Is the Trainer Card Maker going to be integrated into the site?

<Doctor Oak> - It will be linked, but the TCM will remain exclusively on Pokecharms. Also, when this comes along the link should extend to your Pokecharms account too, depending on how well I can get SMF to play nice, so, in other words, you shall be able to save your trainer-cards to your account.

Will there be any non-pokemon related apps, and will people have the opportunity to make their own?

<Doctor Oak> - 'Apps' in the sense of Facebook wont be occuring. There will be 'widgets' or whatever; 'bits' you can put on your profile, like a blog, gallery, etc - all of these will be official, though, there wont be an API for people to develop their own.

How customisable will the colours/layout of the profiles be?

<Doctor Oak> - Only to a certain degree. There will be official styles to select, and those will -only- appear on -your- page (which is also what others will see when they visit your page), the rest of the site will be presented as default.

Will the widgets be pokemon themed, by any chance? Say a pet Pikachu, or something.

<Doctor Oak> - At the moment, all I've really got planned is generic networking stuff, random stuff like that may come around later on. I do plan on adding widgets to select from over time, so there should be new ones available every so often. Ideally, your progress in the game should also allow you to get some exclusive ones, not all of them strictly related to the game itself and one cool widget I've got up my sleeve is to do with the link to your Pokecharms account, where it lists your most recent posts on the 'Charms forums.

Is that by giving the link to your PC profile?

<Doctor Oak> - You'll be able (hopefully) to link both your accounts together. On T-S you should be able to have stuff like the widget I just mentioned, on Pokecharms, you may be able to have a note of your recent T-S progress in your forum profile or something to that degree. I'll confirm a lot more about that kind of stuff closer to the time when I've tested it works and then begin working on it properly.

How far through is development going? What currently works?

<Doctor Oak> - Bits and pieces from different systems work, none of it is ready for any full use though and wont be until I've had the chance to work on it a bit more, probably after next month.

After T-S launches, is your involvement in Pokecharms going to change?

<Doctor Oak> - Not really, my involvement will be as it is now, really. That's the main reason Katie's now 'in charge' as it were. I will be very much working behind the scenes as far as all the tech stuff goes, for sure, and I'll be there updating the Pokedex (when it finally launches) and the TCM when necessary, but the rest of the site will take care of itself under Katie's care, really.

For Trainer-Space, will there be a facility to enter console-game type things like your Pokemon team?

<Doctor Oak> - Yes. Definitely.

Expanding on what you've already stated, what other ways with T-S link up to Pokecharms?

<Doctor Oak> - Well, there's the TCM linking to your profile in T-S, obviously. Also, T-S will be fulfilling Pokecharms' 'games' section, essentially, instead of spending time writing up what GameFAQs, Bulbapedia or Serebii already has in ample amounts (which is why we killed the game section originally - it just wasn't necessary), we'll be having T-S pages for games with videos, screenshots, information, etc on. Think of them like 'official' pages on Bebo/Facebook/MySpace.

Can you describe roughly how the social networking side will work? Will you have a news feed, for example? And on that note, how much of the site will be RSS-enabled, if at all?

<Doctor Oak> - At the moment, you wont have a list of your friends updates ala twitter or facebook. Not as your primary page anyway. You should have access to it via a widget or whatever but your T-S homepage, is your page on which other people can contact you. RSS feeds will/should be available, though to what full degree, dunno yet, I haven't looked into it.

At this point, the first of two screenshots was released to the chat:

(Click to view full-sized image - will open in new window)

Okay, is Trainer Mail just going to work like a standard private messaging system?

<Doctor Oak> - Yes.

This isn't necessarily what you will see at launch, by the way, even as the default. There's likely to be some general changes, but overall, this is the final look.

Can others comment on your status?

<Doctor Oak> - Yes.

How's the gallery going to work?

<Doctor Oak> - Pretty much like the photos are setup on facebook.

So you wouldn't be able to post artwork and stuff?

<Doctor Oak> - You can put up whatever you like, well, to a certain degree, obviously :p. It will be self-moderated, so you'll have to report porn etc.

Wait, you started working on this around June?

<Doctor Oak> - Earlier than that, but this database has existed since june.

In terms of the game aspect of the site, I'm curious: Is RX the one working the art aspect?

<Doctor Oak> - He was signed up for it yes, he's been a bit slow on getting stuff to me though :p - so I may tap others to catch up the slack too.

At this point, the second screenshot was released to the chat:

(Click to view full-sized image - will open in new window)

Is there a different Pokemon on the bottom right on each page?

<Doctor Oak> - Yes. Each page randomly selects a Pokemon and places it in there.

I see the background is transparent. How's that hoing to work - is it going to be compatible with the likes of IE6?

<Doctor Oak> - IE6 can run and jump. :p. Visually, it'll look a bit bleh on IE6, but so long as you have javascript enabled and the latest version of flash installed it shouldn't be a problem. I wont be supporting any rendering issues IE6 throws up, though.

If you don't have Flash, how much will your experience be impaired?

<Doctor Oak> - You'll miss out on some key aspects. You can still do about 90%, I'd say, it's not used in -everything- but it's definitely recommended.

Can you provide any examples?

<Doctor Oak> - There will be an auction house mini-game that is done in flash, and some other mini-games that will be necessary for progress in some fashion, and others that are just for fun, but will come with the bonus of experience or money or whatever. Game-wise, for each class, there will be one major flash-based activity but the social networking aspect shouldn't really need flash for anything more than optional widgets.

Those pictures from them middle of 09 that you just posted onto the site. What did they mean?

<Doctor Oak> - They are game related, so, you'll have to wait a little bit longer to find out. I'll probably do another Q&A when I can put up more screenshots.