Starting from April 13 -- that's this Wednesday -- Pokémon trainers from all over the world will be able to come together via the website, interact with their Pokémon, play minigames and check their worldwide rankings.

The new site makes use of the Game Sync function in the Pokémon Black and White games. This allows players to sync their progress via the Internet and makes use of the synchronized data in various ways.

Two main features are planned for the site's launch. The first, Pokémon Dream World, allows players to "tuck in" a Pokémon and build them a customizable home. There are also minigames to play, and these will allow players to unlock a number of Pokémon not normally found in the Unova region of the two handheld games. Items discovered in the Dream World can also be transferred back to Pokémon Black and White along with any unlocked Pokémon.

Global Battle Union, on the other hand, allows players to view weekly statistics and rankings. It's also possible to unlock "new battle features" via the Global Battle Union, though exactly what these are isn't clear as yet.

The site will also be a source for special Pokémon character and item distributions throughout the year, allowing players easy access to time-limited Pokémon and items that they won't be able to get their hands on anywhere else.