I sent Pokemon USA an email a few days ago, mainly because I wanted to get some things cleared up.
Original email:
Okay. I've got a few questions:
Are Pokemon from Pokemon XD allowed? (I believe so as under this clause: * Already learned by a Pokémon, which was downloaded from another Pokémon game (such as the Pikachu, which knows Surf, from Pokémon Battle Revolution)}
Are Japanese, or other foreign Pokemon allowed? Say you have a Garchomp with the default Japanese name. Will you be checking the nicknames of these Pokemon to make sure they are not obscene if they are allowed?
Are Japanese event Pokemon allowed? For example, there was a Japanese Pokepark event Absol with the move "Wish". Is this allowed?
Are US event Pokemon, such as the Wish Lickitung that was distributed at the New York Pokemon Center, allowed?
Are Pokemon that learn a certain move earlier on third generation (say, Porygon-2) able to have moves that they do not learn until later on (tri attack, learned at 38 in ruby/sapphire, and 51 in diamond/pearl) allowed, if they did learn it on previous generations? Will you be checking for this on player's Pokemon?
What kind of cheat checking will you be checking for? I have several Master Balls I've received legitimately from the lottery (I have a total of 4) and many battle tower items I received legitimately from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald. While I realize it is in your best interest to not completely reveal how you plan to check these things as to avoid people putting up counter measures, I am wondering if the tournament staff will be well versed in the difference between "fairly earned" and "gotten with an action replay." As an example, the difference between 4 master balls, and 999 master balls.
What are your plans for people who send their friends out to go check out opponent's teams? Is this counting as being disruptive, because it gives them an unfair advantage to what they know before?
Will people be monitored while using the Special DS systems to make sure they cannot tamper with slot 2 (for example, to use a cheat device in it?)
Are "stall" strategies allowed? These are NOT the kind that keep your actual opponent distracted from the game in order to prolong the match, but the teams that rely on spikes/sandstorm/toxic and other disruptive moves, along with healing moves (roost, recover, rest, so forth.) I'm wondering about this especially because something in the rules (on the qualifier rules, under "Tournament Rules") states "Players who are found to be intentionally delaying the pace of their match will be disqualified from the event."
Thank you.
Their response:
From:
customerservice@go-pokemon.com
Subject: [ #ZMJ-34732-777]: Video Game Showdown (Question): Pokemon Eligible for the Video Game Showdown
Date: May 30, 2008 1:32:57 PM CDT
To: [my email]
Reply-To:
customerservice@go-pokemon.com
Your best bet is to only use Pokemon that you have raised yourself and items that you have received through normal game play.
Pokemon who have learned a move through legitimate means, whether via an earlier Pokemon game or as an event download, are permitted at the event.
We cannot and will not discuss the extent of verification that will be used at the Showdown or the Qualifier Tournaments. Additionally, we cannot provide you with any information about checking your own Pokemon by yourself.
Only players who are competing will be permitted in the area where matches take place. Additionally, per the tournament regulations, players are permitted to switch with Pokemon they're using between rounds, so scouting will be less effective against players that have more than 4 Pokemon ready to compete. Additionally, staff will be on hand to monitor matches as they happen.
In regards to stalling, we're talking about taking too long to pick your next move. Spikes/Sandstorm/Toxic teams are legitimate strategies, though any player using them should be aware of the time restrictions on each match. However, a player that takes an unreasonable amount of time deciding which Pokemon to switch in, or what their next attack will be.
[name]
Pokemon USA, Inc.
333 108th Ave NE Suite 1900
Bellevue, WA 98004
www.go-pokemon-tcg.com/op