After already having been released in Japan to great acclaim (somewhere in the region of three million units in sales, if Kotaku is to believed), the latest entries to the Pokemon series of games on the DS, HeartGold and SoulSilver, have both had Western release dates confirmed for mid-March.

Also confirmed is that both versions will come standard with the Pokewalker, the special Pokemon-themed pedometer that allows you to train a chosen Pokemon while you walk, while the Western box art for both games has also been revealed.

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are ostensibly remakes of 1999’s Pokemon Gold and Silver with improved graphics and features, and correspond with Japan’s 10th anniversary of these titles.

The Pokewalker device allows players to wirelessly transfer a selected Pokemon from your game to carry around with you while you walk, tracking the steps you take even while the game is turned off. From the release:

“By walking, players earn Watts, which are used within the Pokéwalker to encounter and catch wild Pokémon or search for hidden items, and can be transferred into Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions to unlock new routes.”

“There are even special versions of certain Pokémon that can only be found within routes on the Pokéwalker, giving players added incentive to keep their Pokémon with them wherever they go.”

“The Pokémon in the Pokéwalker will gain experience points as the player walks, and can even go up one level when they are transferred back into the game. Players also can wirelessly connect two Pokéwalkers to trade items.”

Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver are set to release in the West on March 14th.