Pokémon Global Link
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This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. |
| Pokémon Global Link | |||
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| Provider | Pokémon.com | ||
| Launched | Generation V
Generation VI
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| Shutdown | {{{shutdown}}} | ||
| Service provided | Manages various online services content from the Generation V and VI games. | ||
| Accessible by | Nintendo DS* (Lite, DSi, DSi XL) Nintendo 3DS* (XL, 2DS) | ||
| Website | Generation VI English main page | ||
The Pokémon Global Link is a multiplayer feature in Generation VI which is run using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. It used to provide service to games of the previous generation, and is analogous to the Global Terminal in Generation IV.
In Pokémon Black and White, the option of connecting to the Global Link is activated with an item called the Dream Mist. This is obtained early in the game from a Munna. If the Dream Mist is given to Fennel, she will give away the C-Gear and activate the menu option that would allow the player to set up the Global Link.
The Generation V Global Link allowed players to enter the Pokémon Dream World where they could catch Pokémon otherwise not obtainable in Unova.
In Generation VI, despite the absence of the Pokémon Dream World, other features are introduced, such as the PokéMileage Club.
Website
Generation V
In the early days of the Black and White release, the website was temporarily closed because of traffic concerns. The site was originally set to be back up September 29, 2010, ten days after closing down, but this was moved to October 4. Due to maintenance the Pokémon Dream World did not open to the public until October 13.
To fix the site for the international release of Black and White, planned to be released March 30, 2011, the previously Japanese-only Global Link was disabled of certain features on certain dates. From March 18 to 22, no Pokémon could be obtained from Pokémon Dream World. From March 22 to March 30, Global Link, as well as Game Sync, was made unavailable. This however was extended due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Despite delays, Play to Befriend a Pokémon!, a game that allowed players to obtain one of the Eeveelutions with their respective Hidden Abilities, was made available on March 28. On the other hand, Global Link itself again became available on April 12, 2011, which was also the premiere of the international versions of the Global Link.
In June 2012, the website underwent another revamp in both appearance and to accommodate compatibility with Pokémon Black 2 and White 2; it was down between June 5 and June 20. During this time, the Global Battle Union was inaccessible and the Game Sync function was inoperable.
Closure
Between October 1, 2013 to October 12, 2013, the Pokémon Global Link was closed for maintenance in preparations for Pokémon X and Y. Following this maintenance, users were temporarily unable to sign up for new accounts, add additional games to existing accounts and lost access to the demo. On December 10, 2013, players were no longer able to tuck in new Pokémon, but could still play with and awaken those already asleep until January 14, 2014. Once the deadline had been reached, the service was closed down and with it the ability for players to change their C-Gear skin, Pokémon Musical song, or Pokédex skin. Currently, players who have yet to do so may still awaken their Pokémon.
The GTS was not affected by this closure, except that the trade history became no longer viewable. Random Matchup Rating Mode was shut down, although Free Mode is still available.
Generation VI
The Generation VI version of the Pokémon Global Link launched on October 12, 2013. Players who registered on the Pokémon X and Y Global Link with the same username as on the Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 Global Link until January 14, 2014 got a certain number of Poké Miles on the PokéMileage Club, depending on the quantity of Dream Points obtained on the other version of the website. This bonus was applied to all of the registered Generation VI games, without a split in the reward.
Maintenance
The Global Link site undergoes routine maintenance every week. During maintenance all features of the website, as well as the in-game Game Sync, cannot be accessed; maintenance may interrupt those currently using Dream World. Despite this weekly maintenance, the site may undergo additional maintenance when the need rises. Prior to the site closing down to accommodate international versions of Black and White, maintenance was done every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. JST. Prior to the site closing down to accommodate Black 2 and White 2, maintenance was done every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. JST. Currently, the schedule for maintenance is as follows, according to the website:
- Japan and Korea: Tuesdays 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. JST/KST
- US: Tuesdays 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT
- UK: Tuesdays 7 a.m. to Wednesdays 1 a.m. UTC
- Australia: Tuesdays 3 p.m. to Wednesdays 9 p.m. AWST
Occasionally, the amount of time for the maintenance may change. In addition, players who use Pokémon Trainer Club accounts may not be able to access Global Link if the Trainer Club is under maintenance (i.e. if Trainer Club is under maintenance, players may not access the English-language Global Link, but they may access the Japanese-language Global Link).
Generation VI Global link features
Game info
Game info lists the player's Game Sync ID, when the registered game was last synced, the home region, the number of Pokémon seen on the Pokédex, the date when the game started being played, when the player first entered the Hall of Fame, their current Gym Badges, and their trainer message.
Logbook
Every time the player syncs their game, the logbook will show information about either the achievement of an important milestone on the main storyline, or about other important happenings, such as a trade in the Global Trade Station, a recently won Medal, or a recently taken Photo.
PokéMileage Club
The PokéMileage Club is an online item shop where players can use Poké Miles to purchase in-game items that will be transferred to their game next time they sync their game. There is also an Attractions feature, which lets players spend Poké Miles to play in attractions and receive items by doing so.
Rating Battles
This contains the player's online battle records, including international rankings.
Global Trade Station
Records of Pokémon the player has traded over the Global Trade Station.
Medals
A list of Medals the player has earned for actions in the game.
Photos
Any photos taken at Photo Spots around Kalos are transferred for download here.
Friends List
This is a roster for friends the player has currently registered on their 3DS.
Generation V Global Link features
Pokémon Dream World
- Main article: Pokémon Dream World
The Pokémon Dream World allowed players to befriend a Pokémon, as well as find items, using a Pokémon they sent using Game Sync by playing various mini-games, as well as exploring the Island of Dreams.
Global Battle Union
- Main article: Global Battle Union
The Global Battle Union or GBU recorded statistics obtained over the Random Matchup feature found in Black and White. Participating players were given ranks that were tallied every season. The GBU also hosted tournaments through the Random Matchup feature.
Profile
The profile allowed players to see various pieces of information, such as the most-recent six Pokémon they had befriended on Dream World, the Pokémon they had sent via Game Sync, their neighbors on Dream World, the number of Dream Points they had, the Badges they had earned in the game that was synced to the Global Link website, the people that had been traded with over the GTS, and people registered in their Pal Pad. They could also edit their avatars and input a code corresponding to their favorite Battle Video.
Accordingly, per account, a player could only have ten Dream Pals on their Dream Pal Roster. This total counted toward registered neighbors as well as pending requests the player had sent. The received requests made by other players did not count toward this number. While the total was ten, a player could not accept a request made while inside the Dream World, unless either a Dream Pal or a Dream Pal request was deleted from the roster on the Global Link profile, to a number less than ten. The Dream World site referred to this as "organizing," as requests can only be accepted while playing in the Dream World.
Customize
This option allowed players to customize certain aspects of Pokémon Black, White, Black 2, or White 2. These included the Pokédex and C-Gear skins, as well as Pokémon Musical shows. These customizations could be set in the game after using the Game Sync feature to wake up a Pokémon from Dream World.
E-Z Mail
The E-Z Mail option let a user send and receive messages called E-Z Mail with Game and Dream Pals over Pokémon Global Link. The letters themselves were preconstructed, with users only able to fill in the blanks.
Promotions
- Main article: List of Pokémon Global Link promotions
The Pokémon Global Link occasionally had promotions players could participate in for a certain period of time. Promotions granted players access to various things. These included Pokémon, Décor, and catalogues obtainable at the Pokémon Dream world, C-Gear skins, Musical shows, and Pokédex skins accessible through the Customization part of the site, as well as special homes players could access in the Dream World. Promotions were usually done in collaboration with other parts of the Pokémon franchise, such as merchandise like books, the TCG, and the anime.
Some of these had passwords players had to input before being able to participate in the promotions. Passwords could be of one-time use, requiring players to purchase merchandise.
Trivia
- The English, German, French, Spanish and Italian websites can be used regardless of the language of the game.
- The art style used for the Pokémon Global Link is not exclusive to the site; it has been used in various other parts of the franchise, including Pokémon Center stores and Pokémon Channel, before the Global Link even emerged.
External links
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This game mechanic article is part of Project Games, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon games. |
