Netbattle / The National Championships, as you may already know...

http://www.pokemon.com/flash.asp

Another Pokemon National Championship is being held. An entirely new mall tour is going around the country starting this Saturday in Miami.

The main points; 21 different pokemon will be downloadable from an official Nintendo machine. These 21 pokemon include:

Celebi
Charizard
Blaziken
Articuno
Pikachu
Dragonite
Zapdos
Latios
Latias
Entei
Blastoise
Moltres
Typhlosion
Espeon
Umbreon
Raikou
Absol
Bulbasaur
Tyranitar
Alakazam
Suicune

How were these decided? Apparently there was a poll but weeks ago on Pokemon.com I realize some of the download picks are pretty sad; but it's a safe be t that you will feel content enough with their unique Nintendo IDs that you won't mind that you can catch most of these under your own power.

Anyhow; the other big news. At 24 locations in this country these mall tours will meet. There is going to be a 64 person tournament for two age-groups at each one. As such, first 64 people in age group to the mall get to compete (you also have to complete an online pre-registration that is not updated to the site yet, even though it is past due).

You're either in the under 13 bracket, or the 13 and up.

From these 64 local poke-masters will be determined one champion. If you are the winner, you win a trip to New York for you and one other person. You will fly to New York in August to compete with the remaining 23 pokemon trainers in your age bracket to become the National Champion.


Synopsis: I'm going. You should too. Maybe we'll meet in the finals.

I would love to check out the Chicago one, that's the closest where I live. But I dunno if it might happen... :x

Yeah so, PokeHero, myself, and Press Start made it. March 18th we will battle for the local championship, a seat in the National tournament, and other cool prizes including:

- a trip to NYC to play in the nationals
- Hotel stay for 2 nights 3 days
- $500 spending cash
- GameBoy Micro
- Nintendo branded clothes, bag, and a plush toy woooo

h8 living near south bend. >_<

You can still enter the "Second Chance" online quiz when it opens up. If you win, you get the trip to New York.

And if you win out there of course (while there are other prizes I will only list the top one as it includes all the sub-levels)

You get:

- $2000 spending money
- Trip for 4 to Tokyo
- 6 nights hotel stay (two double occupancy rooms)
- $500 gift certificate for the Pokemon Center in Tokyo
- Gameboy Micro
- Nintendo DS
- 5 Future pokemon games
- Nintendo clothes, bag, plush toy
- Pokemon 10th anniversary Jacket, watch, and phone (with 5000 prepaid minutes + pokemon content)

Miami, huh..

I dunno, my parents aren't too big on video game tournaments, especially if it's miles away

BUT I'D GET TO MEET YOU GUYS11

There's going to be one in Oregon later this month, so i'll get ready.

Well; the Miami sign-ups have come and gone, your chance to compete in them will be dependent on your ability to be like; first in line to replace anyone that doesn't show up. But if you go you still have the downloads/whatever else they give away at this thing.

I can't wait; it's such a scary and fun prospect... the mall tour in 2000 was so long again

Here's my report from GB on the event: names edited to screennames you'd recognize.

Congratulations to PokeHero; I know we didn't get this thing to work out nearly as well as we hoped, we shoulda split up in line; the brackets were stacked against us anyway, etc. etc... but at least this way you came away with a sweet new Micro, that I know you must be enjoying already.