The Pokémon Video Game Championship, for those who don’t know, is a tournament where Pokémon trainers from all over the world (and by world, they mean the US, Japan and western Europe) get together and tough it out to see who is really the greatest Pokémon master of all. The Elite Four’s got nothing on this.
Do you have what it takes to be the very best, like no-one ever was?
Not only that, but they’re giving away a shiny Eevee! What more reason do you need to go? I’m sure your teacher/boss will understand (they’ll probably be there themselves). Listed below are the locations for the tournaments. Hit the jump afterwards if you’re interested in reading up on the new rules.
North America
May 8, Seattle, WA—Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
May 15, San Francisco, CA—San Mateo County Event Center
May 22, Phoenix, AZ—Phoenix Convention Center
May 29, Dallas, TX—Arlington Convention Center
June 5, Atlanta, GA—Gwinnett Center
June 12, New York, NY—Meadowlands Exposition Center
June 25, Indianapolis, IN * —Indianapolis Convention Center
*Last Chance Qualifier for Nationals
Europe
May 29, Birmingham, United Kingdom—National Exhibition Center
June 5, Cologne, Germany—Pullman Hotel
June 12, Lyon, France—Cite Centre de Congres
June 19, Madrid, Spain—IFEMA Feria de Madrid
World Championship
August 13, Kona, HI *—Hilton Waikoloa Village
*Last Chance Qualifier for World Championships
Rules
The biggest change this year is to allow the use of legendary Pokémon for the first time to coincide with the release of Pokémon Heart Gold/Soul Silver. This will surely upset some Pokémon purists and those who are opposed to the use of “Übers” but to others it will open up even more strategies available to them. Where do you stand on the issue? Comment and tell us!
Otherwise, the tournaments are split into two age groups – born in 1998 and later / born in 1997 and earlier selected on a first come, first serve basis. The top 16 players from each of the regional tournaments will receive an invitation to play at the Pokémon Video Game National Championships in Indianapolis, IN, on June 26 and 27. This will be whittled down to 32 US competitors at the 2010 Pokémon Video Game World Championships in Kona, Hawaii on August 13–15, where they will do battle with the other top 66 trainers from around the globe. Top finishers will be awarded international travel packages, trophies, and special Pokémon prizes. Everyone else gets to go home with the burden of failure resting wearily upon their shoulders.
U.S. competitors will be required to play with the North American English version of the Pokémon Heart Gold or Pokémon Soul Silver (European events may only use European versions of the games). The tournament will use the Flat Battle and GS Cup rules sets. This essentially means all Pokémon are automatically levelled up or down to level 50. For more information, visit the official website at www.pokemonvgc.com. Do let us know in the comments if you plan to attend/compete in any of these events! Unfortunately nobody at TPC will be in attendance so if you fancy doing some exciting on the spot reporting for TPC drop us a line!
This Is so cool I am so going, I got All game versions (not SS) I'm entering my Two Best Pokemon to bad they will jump back to Level 50 🙁 But Still My Pokemon are ready for Battle.
If you go past me, your pokemon will faint before you can say "ok lets do it" THEY GOT THIS THING THAT WILL BAN HACKED POKEMON FROM ACTION REPLAYS!!!
Good thing I don't cheat. Even if my highest level was a level 2 magikarp, i would not cheat. I am honorable person, and i still have 7 lv 100s, 5 shinys, and 2 mews. I was dissapointed i could not go to the Seattle tournmaent, as I live in eastern Washington. Anyway that anyone would like to do a fan based competion over wi-fi? let me know.
CHARIZARD ROCKS!
wat are the gs cup rules