Global Trade Station
The GTS, or Global Trade Station is a place where people all around the world may trade Pokémon using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The GTS is only available in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl versions.
How the GTS works
The GTS works the same way as trading in Diamond and Pearl's predecessors. However Pokémon eggs cannot be traded and when seeking a Pokémon on the GTS, it has to be in the player's Pokédex.
The GTS is split into two categories; "Deposit Pokémon" or "Search Pokémon".
Depositing Pokémon
When the player deposits a Pokémon, the Pokémon appears to those who seek it. There are three fields to fill in after depositing a Pokémon; the wanted Pokémon, the wanted Pokémon's gender, and the level range of the wanted Pokémon. Both the gender and the level of the Pokémon can be filled in as "Any" but the desired Pokémon must be chosen.
If a Pokémon that a player has deposited has successfully been traded, the player will automatically receive the new Pokémon the next time he logs in to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
During the time that the Pokémon is in the GTS database, the "Deposit Pokémon" section becomes the "Summary" section. While the Pokémon remains in the GTS, the player can select the summary option to remind him about what Pokémon he had deposited and what Pokémon he is looking for. The player also has the option to take back the deposited Pokémon. If a trade happens while the player is still in the GTS, then the next time the player selects "Summary" he will get the traded Pokémon. The player may also end up getting the traded Pokémon instead of his deposited Pokémon/
Seeking Pokémon
When seeking a Pokémon, there are three fields to fill in. Just like depositing a Pokémon on the GTS, the three fields are the desired Pokémon, the Pokémon's gender, and the level range of the Pokémon. Then the GTS searches for all of the players that have deposited the specified Pokémon, showing up to seven results.
Globe
In the GTS hall there is a large globe. On this globe the player can input their own location, and pinpoint the locations of other players they have interacted with. The Nintendo WFC records this data when the player trades successfully with someone over the GTS or someone in their Pal Pad.
Shortcomings, Advantages, and Glitches
There are some shortcomings to the GTS, such as initially not being able to see the Original Trainer data and ID Number. The Pokémon's nature, stats, and moveset are also unavailable. This prevents players from being able to determine whether or not a Pokémon they are trading for is legitimate or hacked. However, Nintendo has implemented some crude fixes to this problem, and Pokémon with impossible movesets or effort values are no longer allowed on the GTS. Event Pokémon holding the Classic Ribbon, as well as other unreleased Event legendaries such as Arceus and Shaymin, are also banned.
The GTS Cloning Glitch is a glitch performed by entering the GTS, depositing a Pokémon from the PC, and watching the clock in the lower-right. After a certain amount of ticks before it connects, the player resets the game and re-enters the GTS, checking "Status". If "Deposit" shows up, the glitch was unsuccessful. If it worked, the player can withdraw the Pokémon, and he should also have one in his or her PC, giving him a copy of the Pokémon. This glitch has since been fixed and will no longer work.
The GTS Evolution Glitch allows for a player to evolve Pokémon that must be trade-evolved using the GTS. To perform the glitch, the player enters the GTS and places a Pokémon that must be trade-evolved (i.e. Haunter, Kadabra or Electabuzz) up for trade. The player must then find another Pokémon up for trade that he or she can complete the trade with. Once that trade is complete, the player can go back to the Pokémon he or she deposited for trade and take it back. The deposited Pokémon should then evolve as if it had been traded.