Pokemon Dream World not a Nightmare

When the public relations machine for Pokemon Black and White began to build steam its focus in the games meant that when aspects that were outside of the game were brought up, many gamers mistakenly assumed that they were all game-related, which goes a long way towards explaining the confusion felt by Trainers who have been unable to find the Dream World in the game!

Living on the east coast of the US means that there is never a shortage of Pokemon events to attend any given weekend when the feeling strikes -- from informal battles held in the edges of the regular TCG tourneys to the more formal Pokemon Battle Clubs at Harvard University and MIT, where some very serious Trainers create finely honed and raised teams that literally eviscerate the teams of any casual Trainer so foolish as to issue a challenge!

Last weekend at the Harvard Pokegathering I enjoyed a few battles, and traded for some of the Pokemon White version exclusives that I needed in my Black game, but for the most part being there was about drinking coffee and chatting with other Trainers.

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-- Dream World is not the Dream Yard --

As I sat at the table chatting with a half-dozen Harvard Trainers, I mentioned that I thought that the new Dream World was rather cool. Instead of hearing them agree with me -- which is what I expected -- I got blank looks.

"I have not reached that part of the game," one of them said.

"What do you mean? It is not in the game, it is on the Global Link website," I replied, and suddenly I had their whole attention.

"You've been there? You know how it works? How do you get there?!" another Trainer asked in rapid-fire eagerness.

It quickly developed that none of them knew what the Dream World was -- most thought it has something to do with the Dreamyard zone near Striaton City.

As they intently listened I explained the Dream Yard, and for the first time in my life I lectured to students at Harvard!

-- Accessing Dream World --

Gaining access to the Dream World starts with visiting the Global Link website at http://en.pokemon-gl.com/ where you need to create a Trainer Account, and then link your game -- Pokemon Black or Pokemon White -- to that account.

Once you have done that, using your DS and game, you use the Game Sync option in the game to connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection site and tuck one of your Pokemon into bed there! Seriously!

You pick a Pokemon and you tuck them in -- they go to sleep -- and you exit the Wi-Fi Connection and go to your PC, where you load your web browser and visit the Global Link website.

After you log in, you simply check the Dream World box at the lower part of the screen to see if it is currently available -- it is sometimes down for maintenance you see. If it is available it will say "Currently Accessible" and when you click on it, the Professor is there to welcome you -- and to warn you that you are only allowed to play in the Dream World for one hour each day!