Stanwood teen heads to Pokemon world competition

Josh Ferris, 12, of Stanwood, placed first at the San Francisco regional Pokemon Video Game Competition. This Friday and Saturday, Josh Ferris, 12, of Stanwood, will be competing in the Pokemon Video Game World Championships in San Diego.

Josh's dad, Phil, saw a story about the 2008 competition in a magazine. He and Josh found out the Seattle regional competition was in a week, and Josh decided to give it a shot.

To prepare, Josh chose a team of six Pokemon, video game characters from a Nintendo game, from the 493 possible.

Competitors bring their copy of Nintendo's recently released Pokemon Platinum game to the competition, and plug it into the provided DS systems, a hand-held game, Josh said.

He placed eighth in Seattle, but needed to make it to the top four to be able to compete at the national competition in St. Louis.

Josh did well, Phil said. One mistake kept him from making it to the top four. His parents decided to give him another chance at the San Francisco regional competition.

A

t the time, they didn't

think about the fact that Josh wasn't even guaranteed a spot in the tournament, since the competition only accepted 128 players, and did not permit pre-registration, Phil said.

"It was a big, big gamble," said Melissa, Josh's mother.

It was a gamble that paid off, since Josh won first place in his age division, earning not only a spot at the national competition, but free airfare and hotel for himself and his dad.

That time, Josh said he and his dad did more research, and he switched out his Pokemon team to improve his strategy.

At nationals, in the pool play, Josh said he won all five of his games. That put him in the top 16, which meant an invitation to the world championship.

Josh, his parents, and his sister, Tristin, 17, will go to San Diego, with airfare and hotel paid for a five-day trip.

"Who knew video games would lead to family vacations?" Melissa said.

Josh, who is starting seventh grade at Stanwood Middle School in September, said he started playing Pokemon six years ago. He mostly plays it by himself.

"I've learned that it's very strategic lately," he said.

Josh said he didn't realize how much little details can make a huge difference.

Josh has developed good sportsmanship through the Pokemon Videogame Championship Series, Melissa said.

"He's always shown good character in anything he does," she said.

It's a game he's always loved to play, and playing it has helped him make new friends, and earn a place in a world competition, Phil said.

Phil said he's noticed how much memory is developed while playing the game. Players calculate percentages and decimal points.

For internationals, Josh said he has changed his team up. Until the competition, the six Pokemon are top secret.

He is one of 32 competitors, and will play against other teens from the U.S., United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and France.

Josh said he hopes to play well at the international competition. Some of the players he is up against have become friends.

Hopefully, Josh will be happy with how he does at worlds, wherever he might place, Phil said.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.