Pokémon Global Link
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The Pokémon Global Link is a multiplayer feature in Pokémon Black and White which is run using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. It is analogous to the GTS in Generation IV.
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 set up the Global Link for the player.
The Global Link allows players to enter the Pokémon Dream World where they can catch Pokémon otherwise not obtainable in Unova.
Website
Like with the GTS, the Global Link has an accompanying website. 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 allows 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.
Routine 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. Currently, the schedule for maintenance is as follows, according to the website:
- Japan and Korea: Tuesdays 4 p.m. to Wednesdays 10 a.m. JST/KST
- US: Tuesdays 3:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT
- UK: Tuesdays 7:00 a.m. to Wednesdays 1:00 a.m. UTC
- Australia: Tuesdays 3:00 p.m. to Wednesdays 9:00 a.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).
Features
Pokémon Dream World
- Main article: Pokémon Dream World
The Pokémon Dream World (Japanese: ポケモンドリームワールド Pokémon Dream World) allows 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
The Global Battle Union or GBU (Japanese: グローバルバトルユニオン Global Battle Union or ＧＢＵ) records statistics obtained over the Random Matchup feature found in Black and White.
Profile
The profile allows players to see various pieces of information, such as the most-recent six Pokémon they've befriended on Dream World, the Pokémon they sent via Game Sync, their neighbors on Dream World, as well as the number of points they have. They may also edit their avatars and input a code corresponding to their favorite Battle Video.
Accordingly, per account, a player may only have ten Dream Pals on their Dream Pal Roster. This total counts toward registered neighbors as well as pending requests the player has sent. The received requests made by other players do not count toward this number. While the total is ten, a player may not accept a request made while inside the Dream World, unless either a Dream Pal or a Dream Pal request is deleted from the roster on the Global Link profile, to a number less than ten. The Dream World site refers to this as "organizing," as requests can only be accepted while playing in the Dream World.
Customize
This option allows players to customize certain aspects of Pokémon Black or White. These include the Pokédex and C-Gear skins, as well as Pokémon Musical shows. These customizations will 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 lets a user send and receive messages called E-Z Mail with Game and Dream Pals over Pokémon Global Link. The letters themselves are preconstructed, with users only able to fill in the blanks.
Promotions
- Main article: List of Pokémon Global Link promotions
Global Link occasionally has downloads known as promotions (Japanese: キャンペーン campaigns) available for players. These include things players may use in the customization part of the site, as well as Pokémon players may obtain via Dream World and new catalogues with new Décor players may place in their homes in Dream World. Some of these have passwords players must input before being able to obtain the downloads.