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Published on December 5th, 2012 | by Evan

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Full Details of the 2013 NA VGC Season Released: WiFi Tournaments, Championship Points, and Nationals Dates (Updated)

Hot on the heels of the VG Modified format update, TPCI has just issued a press release detailing the entire remaining North American VGC circuit for the 2013 season. This release is packed with information in three main areas: WiFi Tournaments, Championship Points, and Nationals Dates.

WiFi Tournaments

WiFi Tournaments, which we had previously reported would count for Regionals byes before the text was removed from pokemon.com, are now confirmed to count for both a first round Regionals bye and for Championship Points towards an invite to Worlds. Those of you worried that our counterparts in Japan were receiving too many WiFi tournaments can rest easy, as we’ve got a packed schedule coming up including the 2012 Winter Battle, the first WiFi Tournament of the season with sign-ups beginning today, December 5, at 4 PM PST (7 PM EST) and lasting until Thursday December 13th at 3:59 PM PST (6:59 PST). You can sign up at the Pokemon Global Link, with the tournament beginning December 13th at 4:00 PM PST (7:00 PM EST) and lasting until December 17th. This is the only WiFi Tournament on the circuit that is not explicitly listed as an “International” challenge so no word on whether the Winter Battle will be available for non-North American game carts.

In an attempt to curb disconnections, players with a low disconnection rate will also receive a Custap Berry at the end of the tournament. There is no word on the rules used for the tournament, but since these WiFi tournaments are now part of the VGC circuit, they are more than likely to use the updated VG Modified format.

Full details on the 2012 VGCS Winter Battle available here.

Full WiFi Tournament Schedule:

  • Wi-Fi Event: 2012 VGCS Winter Battle (December 13th-17th, 2012)
  • Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge January (January 24th-28th, 2013)
  • Wi-Fi Event: 2013 Pokémon International Challenge March (March 21st-25th, 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)

Update! Europe to compete in 2013 VGCS Winter Battle

Looks like Europeans won’t have to wait until January to compete in a WiFi Tournament as the European PGL has updated with registration for the Winter Battle. Good luck, Europe!

Championship Points

As mentioned in the last section, these WiFi tournaments will also count for Championship Points towards a Worlds invite. This is a confirmation that players who place well in Regionals, WiFi Tournaments, and Nationals will be rewarded with Championship Points and an alternate path to Worlds in Vancouver. So upgrade your internet and book your plane tickets because it’s going to be a long season!

North American Nationals Dates

The last remaining piece in the 2013 North American VGC season puzzle was the confirmation of the dates for the North American National Championships in Indianapolis. As expected, Nationals will be held 4th of July weekend beginning on Friday the 5th of July and ending Sunday the 7th. For an event to decide the best in North America, what could be better? (Sorry, Canada)

This makes our full North American VGC 2013 Season look something like this:

  • 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)
  • Live Event: 2013 Pokémon World Championships, Vancouver, Canada (August 9th-11th,2013)

Full Release

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.

Be sure to Like the official Pokémon Facebook page at facebook.com/pokemon and follow Pokémon on Twitter at twitter.com/pokemon for the latest Pokémon news and fun!


About the Author

is the Editor-in-Chief of Nugget Bridge and author of the arts and pop culture blog Preposterous Uncle. From his home in Washington, DC, he ensures that content posted to the site is up to snuff. Evan is known for his strict deadlines and wants you to have your article on his desk by 5.


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