The Pokemon Challenge

I have lots of Moms who read this blog. This is some information for those who will be carting their kids around to Pokemon events. This is my experience and maybe you can take something away or think outside the box making your own plans.

Last spring, my daughter qualified to be in the 10th anniversary National Pokemon Challenge.
We downloaded papers and waited till July for her to participate.
She went on a Pokemon Forum and listened to others tell of their experience so we could have an idea what to expect. My daughter is very trustworthy and naturally, we went by what others were reporting from the other events in other cities. I completely forgot that most of the comments were by kids not parents, so here is my take.

-- We had to travel to the big city for this event, a two and a half hour drive for us.
Weather -- It was hot, hazy and humid -- 100+ degrees.
Traffic -- all backed up because it was around the time of the Big Dig bridge collapse in Boston.
Problem -- Got a map off the internet with directions a week before the event and told my husband to look them over. While on the road, he missed the exit and we were out of the way by 44 miles, he then admitted he did not look at the maps we provided him.
Problem #2 -- My daughter was extremely upset she would miss her battle time with this news. We got there 4 hours later due to the lost factor.

We entered the Mall on one end which was actually where the end of the line was. The line was now in a U shape, the other end of the Mall was where all the set up was.
It was mobbed. There were a few thousand people there.
As we were waiting, and the line moved slow, a couple of Pokemon custodians and line Keepers came by, I asked about the battling for qualifers. I was told we would have to go register. So my daughter and I headed up to register at the other end of the Mall while my husband and son waited in line.

Even though she had her downloaded papers, that was not enough. It was a good thing I went with her to register because they made parents sign a permission slip. This was never mentioned not even on the qualifying papers. Once it was signed, she was given an official shirt to put on before she began battling.

Although we were late, the battles had yet to begin since they organized the battles by those who registered with the parental signature, thank goodness for that flub. There were two groups: 12 and under, and 13 and over. Each group had subgroups.
The of the set up was in front of Macy's and worst of all -- the perfume counter was at the entry of the store and it was very difficult to breathe. The Mall also had overhead skylights so we were also exposed to all the sunlight and HEAT it produced.
This was a very trying situation for anyone with allergies, like me.
We went into Macy's and used a dressing room so she could put on her official battling shirt.

She waited in line while I ran back to the other end of the waiting line to tell my husband and son she would be battling. They left the line after I told them this to watch the battle, although we could not see anything, it was more a wait and see what happens issue.

Finally after a 30 minute wait, the battling began in assigned groups.
Gameboys were hooked up to computers/TVs so that games could be seen on larger screens.
People who used a GameShark (loads Pokemon onto their GameBoy without earning them) were automatically eliminated.
Most were eliminated from the competition within 15 minutes.
Making it on to the next round within the group meant you had to win with the original partner, move onto another partner until there was only one left from the group.
Each group winner battled the other group winners until one person was left and declared the winner.
The one winner got lots of goodies.

My daughter did well within her group but she ended up losing to another kid who she says, did not groom his Pokemon properly and abused some of the Pokemon's powers in order to win.
Evidently, Pokemon have to have balance and his did not. We later found out, that this was common however, not right.

So after a few hours at the Mall. It was over BUT we found out that since my husband and son left the line, we would have to go back to the end of the line so she could get her Pokemon loaded up on her GameBoy, the real reason for the event and the whole purpose for going there. The line now was longer than when we first went which meant staying several more hours waiting in line.

Why could the battlers get their free Pokemon uploaded at a special table AFTER they completed their battling as a consolation prize? Move from the battling table to a checkout table for the upload versus getting into the long line AGAIN.

I was going crazy. We had already travelled several hours, we had been there for hours, and it would be another few hours in the line then to go home. The two small dogs were at home and I was very concerned about them. My husband and I thought this was enough and we left although my daughter was extremely disappointed. We left early am and got home around dinner time, all in the heat.

So here are some tips and information:
1. Know that if your child is officially battling and you have to wait in line, bring a second adult to stand in line as a place holder so you can collect the free Pokemon giveaway after a battle is over.
Bring crackers and bottled water. Be prepared to stand for a long period. Some people brought those portable folding chairs in a sack.

2. Bring a spare GameBoy and Pokemon games in case you get to the front of the line for the trade while your child is battling and get the transfer/trade or gift. Make sure you get the instructions from your child which Pokemon in what game they wish to give up for a trade. Write it down.

3. Know that parents must sign permission forms depending on the event, especially if there is battling involved. Immediately go to the registration table with your downloaded official papers.

4. Depending on the , most of these events are mobbed and crazy. There are long waits. It is NOT a good idea to bring children under the age of 6.

5. Not all players are on the same level. Kids with GameBoys can battle in line however, my daughter found out, that most were not advanced players making her choices limited. She was also planning on battling with others from her online forum but it was nearly impossible to find them so you need to develop some sort of plan.

6. More boys do this than girls, there were young adults/college kids playing also.

7. At smaller events, like at designated stores (example: ToysRUs), they do occasionally have free exchanges or downloads of Pokemon that can be added to a game. These events are usually advertised in the store only.

There is a time limit (a few hours) but also, each store is given so many Pokemon to give out based on their sales. So if you get there early, you will have to wait in line (we have waited an hour to ninety minutes) and the exchange (giving one Pokemon up to get another) or "gift" (getting a new Pokemon), can take 5-10 minutes per person. Most smaller events, there is only ONE official Nintendo person doing the exchange/trade/gift.

If a store has the gift giveaway, and a time limit, if all Pokemon are issued (the number issued to each store based on sales), that is the end. If there are still people in line at the end of the time limit, if there are Pokemon left, the line is cut off at the time end, and you just wait your turn, hopefully there are Pokemon left for you to get one. No one can get into the line after the specified end time limit.

I hope I have explained this and shed a little light on the time consuming process.

My kids love the Pokemon GameBoy games. My daughter says they are the best buy because you can keep on playing them, adding to them (like what she gets at events), and go up levels or challenges depending on how you take care of and groom your Pokemon.
She only has Pokemon games and has had them for years and plays them over and over on various levels. She got a second GameBoy (used) to trade within her own games. She even got some used games.

Other games, you play, you reach the end, and that is it, no more levels, no more challenges and you are out $30. These games can be traded in for cash/credit at game shops. We have also seen them selling for $5.00 per game at yardsales.

Best regards,
"Pokeymom"