Sunday, March 30, 2025

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/30/2025

Continuing on, there is the rollup of Pokémon Go events for this month, which are admittedly made a bit later than usual (in at least one respect). As I had discussed earlier, the game's current season has seemingly provided a challenge by packing it full of events. This then translates into the challenge of (re)packing them into summaries like these rollups, which might be as challenging as going through them in the first place. But it's one to be handled regardless, so this is the time.

This month kicked off with Pokémon Go Tour, which is the "remnant" of last season. But it had other "remnants" as well, like Enigma Field Research (which rewarded a Pokémon with a rare special background), and for those who bought the Tour Pass Deluxe, the Lucky Trinket to make anyone a Lucky Friend as long as they're Great Friends or better - which also needed to be used within the week after the event. Rewards could also be claimed in the week after if Trainers didn't do so during the event. They're all veritable "remnants" in some way.

The first real event of the season was the Powerful Potential event from March 5 to 10. It introduced the "seed" of a highlight Pokémon of this season: Kubfu - one per Trainer from the season's Special Research, with another from an extra set for a fee; it also introduced Shiny Charcadet, with bonuses (including from Research) geared for that purpose. It was also during this event's weekend, March 8 and 9 - including Community Day - that the "Max Battle Weekend" for the Dynamax Kanto starters took place. Other complementary Pokémon appeared in Field Research encounters and raids, and they definitely indicated that the season's power is going to be unlike most others.

Following a brief break, the Festival of Colors event happened from March 13 to 17. Pokémon of all colors appeared at this time through usual means, but the highlights were the debut of Shiny Bruxish and the return of Shiny Smeargle (also through its usual means). Bonuses were geared for more encounters - longer duration tools and more for the two Pokémon above - as were some Research rewards, including a paid one. Those in India, where the celebration originated, enjoyed unique extras as well. Its weekend, March 15 and 16 doubled with a Max Battle Weekend for Dynamax Raikou with preparations the week before (and tripled on the latter with a Catch Mastery featuring Archen to complete Timed and Field tasks). It seems the colors were abound in more ways than one.  

After the celebration, it was time to go deep with the Deep Depths from March 19 to 24. The featured Pokémon were (Shiny) Clauncher and the Nickit family as a debutant, suggesting "deep sea" and "deep darkness". They appeared in the wild along with other Pokémon but were more focused on 7 km Eggs, with hatching bonuses for that purpose. Research had encounters and item bonuses, and Collection Challenges upped the "deep" ante. This event's weekend coincided with the occurence of a Raid Day for Mega Absol on March 23 with all the usual perks plus a paid extra, Brutal Swing for Absol (as a Charged Move), and a Timed Research set giving bonus Stardust. The latter definitely gave the Pokémon much-needed darkness power, and so did the event in general.

Finally, skirting the month's end was the Bug Out event from March 26 to 30. This edition turned up the heat by introducing the Sizzlipede family, while other Bug types returned in all the wild, raids, and Research (Field, free Timed, and paid Timed) task encounters to herald it, plus new avatar items and a few Collection Challenges to "crawl" through. As bonuses, Lure Module appearances were augmented, as were XP, Candy, and Candy XL chance. Things cooled down a bit on March 29 with the Fuzzy Buddy Research Day, which featured four bear Pokémon from Field Research task encounters plus a few other fuzzy Pokémon in the wild to complete the tasks. Overall, for a short period there was both heat and cold.

Also, it's worth noting that March 29 and 30 was the City Safari weekend, which took place in four cities simultaneously: Singapore, Mumbai, Santiago, and Milan, representing all regions. The perks for all are the same and similar to previous editions with a few things changed up, and the Research Day event became highlighted on its day of execution. It's a big external event that at least deserves a little mention if it can't be all rolled up.

Convincingly, the first month of this new season already shows that it's going to have a lot going for it, as seen by the runs of periodic events, weekend day events, and even an instance of a big-time paid event. As challenging as they are to go through for many Trainers, including me - and personally for me to roll up in a post - there is a sense that one just takes them as they see them, and then there will be something of Pokémon Go for everyone.

Seven years ago: Lugia Raid Burnout
Eight years ago: Ice Is Nice with Pokémon
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Saturday, March 29, 2025

The State of Nominations, Part 33

It is a given by now that I want and need to update my progress on nominations for PokéStops and other points of interest in Pokémon Go, even with the game having shifted ownership and this update being made in an inopportune manner... but only I need to know about the latter. With that, overall progress has been inopportune as well with only minor advancements in some ways.

Numbers would certainly tell the tale. Presently, I now have 168 Accepted nominations, just an increase of 2 from last time. Not Accepted nominations decreased by 1 to 66, helped by a couple of Appeal efforts. As well, I've inadvertently created another Duplicate nomination, increasing it to 12 for the first time in some years. I don't have very many "pending" nominations presently, but that may change soon.

Further, I've also managed to narrow down the Accepted nominations that I haven't checked to just 4. The completely absent ones are now just 6 (down by 1) while those that became Power Spots are now 7 (up by 1). I'm sure with time that the former will become resolved, just as I've made the effort to check the Accepted nominations, though in either case, some getting around may still be needed.

The next course of action would certainly be to continue to make more nominations and to scout for places as usual. Yet there is also the imperative to check over older nominations and note which ones can be Appealed. These would be mostly to build up stock for both and keep myself on top... again, perhaps unlike the inopportune manner in which this nomination update was made.

Many installments of these updates on PokéStop nominations have been made, even covering what happens after the nominations have been decided and how they actually manifest within the game. In that sense, both the process and the results are wide-ranging, strangely just like how the game itself has progressed. Continuing the updates thus also seems sensible - even if the current states of affairs may not be so.

Eight years ago: Pokémon Mechanical Fan
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Friday, March 28, 2025

Real Deal Myst for Pokémon T-Shirt

The last time I made a custom Pokémon shirt was actually a year ago, but it's something special - one that I haven't made particular preparations for exhibiting on this blog. However, since that time, I've made another one that I can and do want to exhibit... although doing so might be construed to "break the mold" in more ways than one. Regardless, one of those ways is that by the title of the design, it clearly involves not only Pokémon but also Myst, another series that I've also indicated my attraction toward; further, it fulfills the "quota" for mentioning that annually on this blog. It still makes for a fascinating discussion.


For the Pokémon part, that is all that can be seen, including the structure - more on this shortly. There is Pikachu on the left as a favorite Pokémon of mine, Entei as a "special guest", lots of Unown in the middle, and Sun and Moon elements in the background, including a very faint silhouette of a Pokémon characteristic to those games. The mood of the design not only evokes the seventh generation games as above but also the third movie, given Entei and Unown. The Myst part lies in the words, the ones formed by the Unown and the actual text below; the former is the most famous quote ("the ending has not yet been written") associated with a central character, while the latter are phrases used in promotional materials for a spinoff. The Myst elements are very few, but they give the Pokémon elements credence - hence the title of the design.

Observant readers will note that the structure of the design resembles that of the shirt for the previous anniversary of my raid group - and that's the intent. I would publicly claim that the design was made in tribute to that anniversary and what happened during it, and that's where I'd draw the line. Still, with the way my raid group is and has been, and in particular much of of the recent happenings with them, I wouldn't rule out certain reactions if this becomes presented to them.

As for the actual T-shirt itself, that was made with the design in front, following the shirt for the group, and the logos of the involved series on the back in a simple arrangement, also following how the group had its logo in the back as well as my previous other designs. The same shirt maker made the shirt, albeit with a slightly different material, and the results came out very well - almost as if it was made along with the group in the first place.



Indeed, for me, Pokémon is the "real deal", but then so is Myst to an extent. Having the latter to provide some perspectives on the former (and then vice versa) at times becomes helpful... and incredibly inspirational for creations, as is the case of this new T-shirt. As stated on the shirt, when "you are you", that makes for a mold-breaking yet realistic opportunity.

Eight years ago: A Pikachu Wall Hanging
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Thursday, March 27, 2025

When Two's a Crowd...

There is a topic pertinent to Pokémon affairs that I really do want to discuss, but it's a bit of a sensitive topic, and discussing it directly and blatantly may make my relationships with other Pokémon fans more difficult - if it isn't already is at present. So, after much thinking, I've decided to touch on it very, very indirectly while still providing my considerations. That topic, as suggested by the title of this post, is a situation where having two of a certain something becomes a bit of difficulty despite the utility it brings to the table. And it evidently applies across several Pokémon segments and associated fans.

Being that one of the "pillars" of Pokémon (by my consideration, at least) is friends or friendship, there are naturally some things that can only be done in twos or more. When they're had separately, that's the intended scenario, but when they're had together as one, that may be problematic for those who are involved, whether the possessor or other people in connection. Obviously, the situation is not for everyone - in more ways than one. This would be even more so in a formal setting, where it should be not evident that the situation is in fact the case for the people concerned.

At any rate, there is not much that can be done to prevent a "twos" situation from occurring, and it's pretty much a cat-and-mouse (or Meowth vs. Rattata) game for who might or might not incur or have incurred the "twos" situation. For them, it might be that wisdom is necessary to deal with the situation if it's already apparent, or not to deal with it if that isn't the case. Pokémon conditions keep evolving (ahem) and eventually someone or something would be able to discover the situation of the "twos", and it might make it more difficult for someone to keep it up.

It may be that what I've explained above may be somewhat abstract, but the concrete situation is that it happens if one looks hard enough for it; it may even occur in certain Pokémon realms that one may think it doesn't occur - and yet it does. Whether that may be as clear as day or as obscure as a Gastly in the shadows, some Pokémon affairs will always need "two" or more to deal with, but it may be that only "one" is in control. In that sense, as referred in the title of this post, when two's a crowd... it may just be that one is behind it all, and the "company" that one has in the situation is a neatly crafted illusion.

One year ago: On Pokémon Valuables
Six years ago: Ingress and Out
Seven years ago: Pokémon in Common Terms
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Wednesday, March 26, 2025

TCGP: A Battle in Space and Time

So, I might as well make that discussion, as I had indicated. Prior to the addition of the Triumphant Light "mini" expansion as a Themed Booster Pack in TCGP, there was the addition of a semi-major expansion that as noted also and altogether effectively dealt with the Sinnoh region. Pokémon originally from this region, as well as ones already known from elsewhere, are rather recognizable, including the two main "box Legendaries". In fact, it is them who would lend their namesake to this expansion, as it's called "Space-Time Showdown".

The expansion is composed of two sub-expansions, which feature Dialga and Palkia, owing to its name. Both of them also have their own immersive cards, which are likely targets for collection... at least until one possesses them. The rest of the expansion, also as stated for its addition, concern the Sinnoh region, but that doesn't mean all the Pokémon species are of the associated generation (fourth); there are adjacent species, many of which are also in said region, making the expansion rather filled.

Compared to the game's first major expansion of Genetic Apex, there are only about two-thirds as many cards ("common" ones at least), which makes sense as there is one less sub-expansion compared to the former. Yet, the effort to collect all of the "common" cards as well as however many rare cards - including the immersive ones as above - may be similar to the former; even now with the Triumphant Light addition, some will certainly keep going back to Space-Time Showdown for getting certain cards.

With this expansion, Pokémon Tool cards are also introduced. These are also present in the regular, physical TCG and themselves constitute an "expansion" of sorts to cover cards that are attachable to Pokémon in battle - more on this in general will be covered in a separate post. Two of them were introduced with this expansion, and they immediately found usage in various decks by various players, sometimes to the chagrin of others. They may just keep on finding uses, even if (when) new ones are introduced later.

Long after it was introduced to Pokémon fans, the Sinnoh region still piques the interest of many, and this expansion, as well as the "additive" expansion that follows it, is only a further affirmation of that. For the TCGP specifically, it's also expansive in yet other ways and may just help pave the way for later expansions. That's a "space" that has become well-defined, and the battles that will take place in "time" are to be just as enigmatic as the two Legendary Pokémon in control of these realms.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2025

TCGP: The Triumphant and Divine Light

As mentioned, for the occasion of Pokémon Day this year, TCGP had celebrated in its own way by adding something new. That something new is a Themed Booster Pack, called "Triumphant Light", in the same vein as the one that preceded it, also the first of its kind. It too acts as an add-on to an expansion... which I've actually yet to cover but will likely need to after this. Regardless, it seems just as well to cover this one first.

The "mini" expansion is nevertheless similar in size, although there may be a few more "common" cards (those of the Diamond rarities) compared to the previous. Now, it's a "divine" pack because the pack focuses on the "god" of the Pokémon world, which is none other than the venerable Arceus. As expected, it has an immersive card of its own here, becoming the prime card to collect among other cards in the mix.

In fact, some of those cards - of the Pokémon kind - are directly connected to Arceus itself, as they have Abilities that require the presence of the Pokémon on one's side for them to do certain things, some of which are quite beneficial. Players will still need to figure out how to make them work with the cards for that species as well as other cards to do the things they want and need to do by taking advantage of them.

With the expansion that this one acts as an add-on toward, they are mostly representative of the Sinnoh region, if the presence of Arceus isn't already a clear indication of that. That expansion has other and more unique properties of its own, but again, that needs a separate post to explain. This Arceus expansion is nonetheless the complement to that expansion and more or less makes everything about it more complete.

Considering the expansion's title, there's a certain clarity that the "mini" expansion needed to provide alongside the expansion to which it complements - particularly in the realm of "working and playing well with others" - and the cards that it provides as above seem to do just that. By all means, that's a "divine" way of making things happen, perfectly suitable with the Pokémon that is at the heart of the expansion.

One year ago: Who's on Who's Side?
Three years ago: Weathering with Politoed
Five years ago: The Difficulty of Sickness
Eight years ago: "Grow Old Along with Me..."
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Monday, March 24, 2025

Revision Roundup

Every so often, a current Pokémon game - necessarily of the spinoff type - will include a "revision" of some sort to something that I've covered previously, some of which is to my chagrin and others being to others'. It just so happens that three games that I have quite a bit of stake in at present have all recently included something to that effect, so I thought I'd "round up" the revisions and cover them all at once instead of making separate "treatises" for each when the matter becomes majorly pertinent.

The first one comes from Pokémon Unite, where Theia Sky Ruins returned as the map for Ranked matches after a temporary soirée with Remoat Stadium right around the time of the franchise anniversary. The situation thus perfectly described that state of affairs, as it became a perfectly designed throwback. Meanwhile, the latter's (re)incarnation as the "First to 500" play mode is persistent as of yet... but this could be due for a "revision" of some kind in the near future, hopefully for the better rather than otherwise.

Café Remix also has a "revision" to the now-regular event structure. Instead of the same two team and individual point events during a major one, just one of them occurs, and that is followed by a minor points event that extends to the end of the major event, overlapping with a Cook and Collect event for Gholdengo. This has the effect of allowing other older Pokémon featured in past events to come back, which is definitely a good thing for those who missed them or didn't get as much as they could for them.

And then, there is Pokémon Go. The recent Go Tour event had been advertised to include a pose, but this didn't materialize, and the mention was removed. However, fortunate Trainers caught the mention of the missing pose, and ultimately compensation had to be made - though not in the form of a pose. It's a "revision" that's typical of the way things have been done for the game, and in its second life, there may just be other "revisions" that further characterize the (future) happenings of the game.

"Revisions" are common - and part of the norm - for continuously updated games of the present, including some Pokémon ones. Depending on the effects and quality of the aspects involved in the "revisions", as well as the results of the "revisions" themselves, they may be anywhere from pleasantly acceptable to necessarily repetitive, if the above instances illustrate as such. Yet it's hard not to expect at least some "revisions" in current games, and people on both sides of the gaming table need to deal with them wisely.

Five years ago: Virulent Impacts
Six years ago: From One Path to Another
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