Tuesday, April 1, 2025

April Fool's Day 2025: Balls for You and Me

Things are back to that one day a year where a few things go crazy, including some Pokémon things. That would be April Fool's Day, and already some realms of the world have their own shenanigans for this very day - including for Pokémon (and specifically Pokémon Go), but that's to be explained shortly. Now, a key part of the Pokémon experience is being able to capture Pokémon in special capture balls in the range from Poké Ball to Great Ball and beyond, so the concept of "balls" are inherently tied to Pokémon in this case. Of course, that's in part a formality derived from the main series games, and capture balls may or may not be needed in other cases. Yet the "ball" concept may still manifest itself in other ways.

Perhaps in close relation to the ubiquity of Poké Balls specifically, some Pokémon species have developed appearances that resemble that ball. Then, when they're interacted with - in both intended and unintended ways - expected and unexpected consequences may result. That may still be exceptional, though, and it is likely in the usual cases one will interact with them in good ways, or as in the older main series games, be able to find balls containing items in their place and not have to deal with them at all. The species and mannerism of getting items may be somewhat idealized, but they're still what they are for their worth.

In situations where the capture balls are not pertinent for their actual usage, it may still be nice to have a bit of whimsy with them - like having beach balls in their motif, as some anime episodes have demonstrated, or having figures that closely replicate the look and feel of the capture balls. Both are quite perfectly suited for real-life applications, although the latter is more admittedly so and the former could be considered a bigger whimsy of the Pokémon world itself, but if they can work out for fun, they'll work out nonetheless.

Me: What do you think?

Ash: Poké Balls or any kind of balls or fun!

Goh: Fun and functional. I recall you two demonstrating it last year.

Ash: Oh yeah! 

Me: Of course, that happened. (See below.) 

Ash: But then, Pikachu prefers being outside with me, so it doesn't really care for balls. Right?

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["Right you are."] 

Goh: What's the story on that?

Ash: It's kind of long - it might take a journey for some people to understand.

Me: And now's not the time for that.

Goh: Well, I gotcha.

Me: Anyway, I don't have anything special for Ash this time - I thought I'd just call you up to talk.

Ash: That's fine - hey, is that an Amoonguss over there?

Me: Looks like it. I'll go catch it real quick... What do you know - it's a perfect one.

Goh: Very nice!

Pikachu: Pika! ["Nice!"] 

Ash: Now you have a ball Pokémon you could really deal with.

Me: That's very true. It'll be fun trying to make it work somehow.

All things considered, there's a place for Pokémon balls somehow and somewhere for everyone that enjoys them. There will be ones that are functional for the capture of certain species, while certain species function to duplicate the look of the capture balls, and look-alikes of the balls will be abound in one form or another. It's a ball-filled life for those who fancy and deal with Pokémon, and there is just no substitute for that.

Happy April Fool's ...and have a ball (that is, fun).

Eight years ago: It's April Fool's Day!
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Monday, March 31, 2025

Thinking About... Us

We must be truly clear and absolutely clean
Pure in our bodies and in our souls
Look inside yourself before you start to speak
Cast away the dust that's still present there
Oh, cast away the dust that's still present there...
-- "Untuk Kita Renungkan (For Us to Think About)", Ebiet G. Ade (free translation)

Like in past years, there's that certain special time of year - which seems rather coincidentally (or not) placed close to a certain "break" - that I want to touch on while incorporating some things related to Pokémon. In the past couple of years, I did that rather indirectly and almost vaguely with the mediating aspect, but this time, I have a clear song that I can use as that mediating aspect. It's one from a local artist who also has another song that I used in the past as an end-of-year song, and it seems pertinent for all matters of concern. 

Both songs were in fact once used by a certain party to promote contemplation for this certain moment of the year many, many years ago when the actual moment was during a different time of year - clearly as it shifts throughout the year. Furthermore, both songs were actually conceived after disasters, this one after a natural one and the previous one after a human one. In any case, it is their contemplative nature - specifically for the current song for the current discussion - that becomes importantly pertinent.

"Contemplation" is also indeed relevant for this specific song, as the translated title contains the word "think". The song itself, beyond the first verse, is a call for reflection when terrible things happen, and to keep in mind that there is a supreme power about that keeps things in line. What that supreme power might be might depend on the person - and in the case of Pokémon matters, it might involve a certain four-legged beast - but the key is that the supreme power continues to hold sway, while people still contemplate what it means.

Now, to relate all this to Pokémon, it has been plain to see that my Pokémon relations have been on edge lately, and the causes of this may be both external and internal. I've done my share of self-contemplation (that is, introspection) to try to figure it out where and how things went wrong, though it's still a difficult process; I'm not sure if the others have done the same or not sufficiently enough. What's for sure is that the matter will still need to be dealt with in the short term for the better of us.

Perhaps at this time, Pokémon may need to contemplate a few things as well, particularly given the shift of Pokémon Go management to be under Scopely and the continued problems with the physical TCG out there, in order to find possible solutions to rectify matters or make sure things always proceed as possibly as they can. Given that next year is somewhat of a big anniversary year, this also becomes a bit of an imperative in some ways, along with whatever else is to come in the lead-up to that or whatever will become closely associated.

This certain yearly special time always makes itself out as a time to think about things, which makes sense given the song above and in particular its quoted verse above, especially now personally and in some ways for Pokémon itself. The latter is regardless composed not only of those who enjoy it but also those who make the enjoyment happen, and thus the "us" element is manifested in more ways than one. All that seems to be ever important to be put under the scrutiny of thought, even at this moment.

Three years ago: Consume and Create
Seven years ago: Mauville's Progress
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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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