Yesterday, Pokemon.com announced that the Pokémon Video Game Championships return in spring 2010 all around the world!

Returning players know most of the rules will be the same as last year but there are some exciting changes.

Here are the changes that have been made:

Players now using Pokémon HeartGold or SoulSilver Versiongames exclusively

Pokémon Level 51 and higher being automatically graded down to Level 50 for the duration of the battle using a new auto-leveling feature

- Each Pokémon keeps all of the moves it knew before being adjusted

- Pokémon that evolve after Level 50 don't devolve

- Any Pokémon below Level 50 will stay at its current level

Virtually every Pokémon found in the National Pokédex of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilverVersions is eligible, including Pokémon traded in from earlier games, with the following exceptions:

-  Arceus, Celebi, Darkrai, Deoxys, Jirachi, Manaphy, Mew, Phione, and Shaymin cannot participate

- A team cannot contain more than two of Dialga, Giratina, Groudon, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Lugia, Mewtwo, Palkia, and Rayquaza during a battle

Stay tuned for more information about the Pokémon Video Game Championships! Also look for more details around March 14th in the US and March 26th in Europe for the release of Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver!

Source: pokemon.com