Pokémon Adds Wi-Fi Tournaments to It's 2013 Video Game Championship Series Season

BELLEVUE, WASH.-December 5, 2012-The Pokémon Company International announced today it is adding Global Battle Union (GBU) Wi-Fi tournaments to its North American 2013 Video Game Championship Series season, making it easier than ever for video game players to step down the road to the Pokémon World Championships. Beginning with the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle, taking place December 13th through December 17th, top finishers of the Wi-Fi tournament will earn byes at live tournaments, including January's Pokémon Winter Regional Championships. Top participants will also receive Championship Points, bringing them one step closer to potentially earning invitations to the 2013 Pokémon World Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 2012 VGCS Winter Battle is the first time results from a GBU Wi-Fi Competition will count in a North American Pokémon Video Game Championships Series season, adding to an already exciting year that kicked off with the Autumn Regional Championships this October. Players can register for the event between Wednesday, December 5th at 4:00 p.m. PST and Thursday, December 13th at 3:59 p.m. PST at pokemon.com/pgl with gameplay beginning December 13th at 4:00 p.m. PST. Adding to the fun, players who maintain a low disconnect rate in the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle will be awarded a Custap Berry. The powerful Custap Berry gives the Pokémon holding it a better chance to strike first the turn after its HP gets low.

"Incorporating Wi-Fi tournaments into the North American Play! Pokémon Video Game Championships Series provides opportunities for players to battle more often," said J.C. Smith, director of Consumer Marketing for The Pokémon Company International. "The upcoming GBU Wi-Fi Competitions are an easy way to battle competitively and take a step down the road to the Pokémon World Championships."

The 2012 VGCS Winter Battle is one of five GBU tournaments scheduled for the Video Game Championship Series season, joining live events taking place throughout North America. Numerous casual GBU tournaments will be announced soon. Upcoming GBU Wi-Fi and live Video Game Championship Series tournaments include:
Wi-Fi Event: 2012 VGCS Winter Battle (December 13th-17th, 2012)
Live Event: 2013 Pokémon Winter Regional Championships, North America (January 20th, 2013)
Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge January (January 24th-28th, 2013)
Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge March (March 21st-25th, 2013)
Live Event: 2013 Pokémon Spring Regional Championships, North America (April 14th, 2013)
Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge April (April 18th-21st, 2013)
Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge June (June 20th-24th, 2013)
Live Event: 2013 Pokémon U.S. National Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana (July 5th-7th, 2013)

The 2012 VGCS Winter Battle runs Thursday, December 13th at 4:00 p.m. PST through Monday, December 17th at 3:59 p.m. PST (Start and end times listed in UTC-time on the Pokémon Global Link website). Players wishing to compete need a copy of the Pokémon Black 2 or Pokémon White 2 video game, a Pokémon Trainer Club account, a Nintendo DS or Nintendo 3DS system, and broadband Internet access. Registration and battles will take place in the Global Battle Union (www.pokemon.com/pgl).

For more information about the 2013 Video Game Championship Series season, including rules, regulations, and registration details, please visit pokemon.com/play. To create a Pokémon Trainer Club account, please visit www.pokemon.com/us/account/signup.

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