Competition Dates
00:00 UTC, Friday, December 14, 2012, through 23:59 UTC, Monday, December 17, 2012
Registration Period
00:00 UTC, Thursday, December 6, 2012, through 23:59 UTC, Thursday December 13, 2012
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To participate, you must first register for the competition at the Pokémon Global Link (PGL).
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Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the participant limit is reached, registration will be closed.
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No one can enter the competition after it has begun. You must register for the competition at the PGL during the registration period.
Participant Limit
50,000 (limit subject to change; first come, first served)
Ranking Results Announcement
00:00 UTC, Thursday, December 20, 2012 (announcement time subject to change)
Prizes
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All participants who enter the ranking will earn a Custap Berry.
Custap Berry
The holder's move is more likely to strike first during the next turn when its HP becomes low
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In each of the three Play! Pokémon age divisions, 128 North American players and 128 European players will earn Championship Points, which will contribute toward qualifying for the 2013 Pokémon Video Game World Championships
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Additionally, the top 16 North American players will earn a first-round bye to an upcoming Pokémon Regional Championship. Bye qualifications for European players are still to be determined.
Compatible Game Cards
Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2

Competition Rules
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Battle Format: Double Battle
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Rankings will be decided based on player ratings at the end of the competition.
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Players may use Pokémon found in the Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2 National Pokédex, from No. 001–649.
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The following Pokémon cannot be used in this competition: Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Chatot, Celebi, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Jirachi, Deoxys, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Phione, Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Reshiram, Zekrom, Kyurem, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect.
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Pokémon may not hold the item Soul Dew.
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Nicknames you have given to your Pokémon will not be displayed.
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For details, check the Rules section.
Participation Requirements
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A Pokémon Trainer Club membership
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A wireless Internet connection
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A Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2 Game Card with a Game Sync ID registered in the PGL
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If you have registered both Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 to a single PGL account, please choose only one version to use in this competition.
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To earn Play! Pokémon Championship Points or byes, you must have a Player ID already registered to your Pokémon Trainer Club Account
Age Divisions
Players competing in the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle will be divided into two age divisions:
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Junior/Senior Division: Born 1998 or later
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Masters Division: Born 1997 or earlier

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Please check the following for detailed information about the competition regulations.

In Wi-Fi Competition Battles, players can't see each other, so be considerate.
Follow the proper battle etiquette and play fairly.

Once you are matched with an opponent, do not turn off the power or disconnect until the match is completed and the results have uploaded. Turning off the power or disconnecting before a match is completed may result in penalties.

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If you absolutely must forfeit a match, choose the Run command on your turn and then select the option to forfeit. Forfeiting a match counts as a loss. Please avoid forfeiting as much as possible by only playing matches when you have enough time to finish the match.
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Be considerate of your opponents. Do not harass, insult, or slander other players on Internet message boards, blogs, or anywhere else. Show your excellent sportsmanship even after a match ends.
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Players who behave inappropriately or attempt to obstruct the competition may be penalized.
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Players with a significant number of disconnects may be removed from the final Rankings. Read the "Once you have an opponent, finish the match!" section carefully, follow the rules, and avoid disconnecting during a match. Play matches using a stable Wi-Fi Internet connection, and fully charge your system before beginning a match.
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If a player is found to be behaving in a way not befitting a Pokémon Trainer at any time, he or she may be disqualified from participating in all current and future competitions.

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About Ranking Details

The conditions for entering the ranking of the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle are listed below:
① Players must complete a minimum of 10 matches that end in a win or a loss.
Players who do not complete a minimum of 10 matches will not be included in the Rankings.
② Players who consistently play in matches that are interrupted or disconnected may be restricted from future GBU events.

Please check the "Once you have an opponent, finish the match!" part of the Wi-Fi Competition Etiquette section for more information about disconnections.

Outside of the criteria listed above, if a player is found, by The Pokémon Company International, to be behaving in an inappropriate way that harms the environment, he or she may be excluded from the Rankings.

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After logging into the Pokémon Global Link (PGL), go to Wi-Fi Competitions to enter the competition.

*Caution:
No one can enter the competition after it has begun.

Set Up Your Battle Box!
Once in the game, go to a Pokémon Center and access the PC. Choose "Amanita's PC" or "Someone's PC," then choose "Battle Box." Choose up to 6 Pokémon and move them to your Battle Box, then close the PC menu.

Download Your Digital Player ID!
From the main menu of Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2, select "BATTLE COMPETITION," then "To the Wi-Fi Competition" and choose "Participate." Follow the prompts to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and download your Digital Player ID. After downloading, do not turn off the power until your game has saved.

Register your Battle Box!
After downloading your Digital Player ID, confirm that the Pokémon in your Battle Box are the ones you want to use in the competition and then register your Battle Box.
*Once your Battle Box has been registered, it will be locked until the competition is completed.

Participate in the Competition!
Once the competition starts, go to the main menu of Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2 and choose "BATTLE COMPETITION," then "To the Wi-Fi Competition," then "Participate." Follow the prompts to connect to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and then choose "Battle" from the menu to be matched with an opponent.

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This Wi-Fi Competition will be held on the Pokémon Global Link. To register for the Pokémon Global Link, you first need a Pokémon Trainer Club account and password. To register a new Pokémon Trainer Club account, click the Pokémon Trainer Club Registration button.

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After registering for the Pokémon Trainer Club, you will see a Pokémon Global Link registration page.
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If you already have a Pokémon Trainer Club account, use your Trainer Club user name and password to log in to the Pokémon Global Link. You'll be prompted to register a PGL account.
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If you have a copy of Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2, have your Game Sync ID ready when you log in to the Pokémon Global Link. To obtain a Game Sync ID, click the button to the right and review the "Steps before signing up" section of the "How to Play" page.
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If you do not yet have a copy of Pokémon Black Version 2 or Pokémon White Version 2, please only register your PGL nickname.

Detailed Registration Information

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For questions about the Pokémon Global Link (PGL), please click Customer Service or How to Play.

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