Thursday, January 16, 2025

My "Missing Pieces" in Pokémon Go in 2025

As for the game that predominates my Pokémon affairs at the moment, which would be Pokémon Go, things are progressing for me as they are expected to proceed. However, it has to be admitted that there are (still) "missing pieces" in those progressions, some of which affect portions of those progressions. As such, it seems pertinent to mention those "missing pieces" and how I'm apt to deal with them presently.

One of those things is my total XP, which at the moment is only a few million away from the hallowed peak of Level 50. Granted, if I'm really serious about it, I could wrap it up within a few days... but that would mean forgoing pretty much everything else, which I don't want to do and can't anyway for reasons of practicality and impossibility. As it is, to go slow and steady about it is still a good approach, and one that allows this missing piece to fill itself.

Then, there is still the intricacy of PvP to worry about. As previously stated, I've recovered some footing in it, though not completely. I can still battle in the GBL sometimes on some days, but not as much as I could devote to it as in the past. I'm also observing "community" PvP and its formats, but I'm finding myself unable to devote time to delve into or battle in them for much of the same reasons why XP progression above is the way it is.

Speaking of "community", it's been the case that things haven't always progressed well for me alongside my local community, and recently, I've been made aware of that fact yet again. And now that "community" is at the forefront more than ever, it's an even harder matter to solve. After speaking with certain people about the matter, I believe that it may be time to take the matter into my own hands - though as with the others above, it's not always on my side.

Pokémon Go will still be on my agenda throughout this year, but it's only the start of the year and some "missing pieces" are already - if not having done so for some time - making themselves evident in the general picture of the affairs for this game, at least some that are personally related to me. It would seem that I'd have to continue seeing the bigger picture while minding some of the current "gaps" in it.

Two years ago: I'm a Legend!
Five years ago: Only Women Like You
Six years ago: Pokémon Conversations
Eight years ago: My Pokémon Anime Epoch
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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

My Team Status in Café Remix

Meanwhile, on the front of Pokémon puzzle spinoff games, on my personal end there is the presently popular Café Remix. Specifically for my personal discussion, I'd like to bring up the matter of teams, which are so important for many happenings in the game. Regarding this, I've had to go through a process that I didn't think I'd have to go through, and that is reflected in the current status of my team and what it was before today.

I'd been happy with the team I initially selected, but lately, many of the members had been underperforming (in fact, not at all). The team had been continuously going through inactive member turnovers - ones who hadn't logged in for 30 days being removed from it - and this even involved one of the players who had been tops in the past along with a "friend" of that player. Clearly, it was time for drastic measures.

For that, I elected to leave the team voluntarily and seek a new one. This, however, had the caveat that I wouldn't be able to join one within a span of 24 hours, which meant not being able to contribute to a team-based event if there was one - and in fact, there was. The game gave a warning and confirmation regarding this matter after viewing the team info and tapping "Leave". Luckily, that gave time for me to find a prospective new team.

After the 24 hours had passed, I joined a new team, which I chose according to the progression of most of its members as seen in the team search preview. The progression of the current team event was also evidently much further along than my previous team. While it remains to be seen how I will fare with this new team in general, at the least I am in good company with the team's current state.

So it is that my current team status is one that is formerly of one team and now another through leaving and rejoining. It's a last resort, but it just might be necessary for things to improve in the game, especially if the situation above happens. Given its caveats, it's also necessary to recognize when one should undertake the process if needed. Regardless, it also means that teams are just as necessary for the good of progression here.

Four years ago: I Need Good Energy
Six years ago: Keeping Up with VGC
Seven years ago: Here Comes an Ex-Raid
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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

My Pursuit of Unite Licenses Thus Far

Next on the personal discussion agenda is something related to the battle royale that is Pokémon Unite. To battle with and against others in the game, one needs Unite Licenses to be able to use certain Pokémon. Any deserving player Trainer will certainly try to obtain them whenever possible, and that's also what I've done. For that, it can be said that I've made good progress on this front based on what has happened.

The best progress of all on this front is that I have obtained all the Unite Licenses for all Speedsters and Defenders that are in the game up to this point. While I may not use all of them right away, this can make for adaptability in certain situations, with one example being me joining a team and having either of these as dedicated roles. Of course, I'll also need to be on the watch for new Pokémon with these roles in order to continue completing them.

As for other roles, I have a good collection of the Pokémon in each despite not having all. I'm only missing a few for Supporter and Attacker, and a few more for All-Rounder. Likewise, using them all will take time and effort, but the adaptability is nice to have. Furthermore, in the process of doing so, I might just develop new occasional usage favorites - a recent one being Azumarill for All-Rounder. Eventually, I may or may not have all Pokémon for these as well.

How did I come to obtain the Unite Licenses for these Pokémon? I actually obtained some of them through a set of gift boxes that were distributed back in the game's usual holiday event, one for each role; for example, I used the Attacker box to obtain Dragapult because it was the most expensive of the ones I don't already have. For the others, I paid for them with Aeos Coins, practically the only other "free" way of obtaining them. 

Continuing the pursuit of Unite Licenses thus means looking out for the events that allow me to obtain them freely (like the above, or certain Legendary Pokémon events) while also considering which ones I can afford and are pertinent to my battle needs. The former might not come often and the latter might not always be easy to determine, but both will certainly have some kind of results when I go through them.

It's not always an easy matter to battle with the Pokémon that are now and will be present in Pokémon Unite, so obtaining different Unite Licenses might be one way to make the matter easier. That is regardless a key point of the game, even if one has settled and become familiar with specific roles by necessity or preference. With that, my pursuit of Unite Licenses for Pokémon of concern keeps on going for what might come next.

Four years ago: "Post-Shuffle" Activity
Five years ago: Fusion without Confusion
Seven years ago: Playing the Meta Game
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Monday, January 13, 2025

My Next Pokémon Figure Targets

Well, it seems that I might have to get rather personal with my posts on Pokémon things over the next few days, but I think that might be appropriate for a certain reason, to be detailed. So here I go. First up, I'd like to deal with something that I haven't touched in a long while, which would be the specific kind of merchandise that is Pokémon figures, something that fervent fans like me do collect and have (quite) a few of. Regarding this topic, I'd like to pose a few of my next targets for this should I be able to procure some of them.

Something that might be rather certain for this is that I'm not really interested to get full-size (or larger) figures at the moment. Predictably, this is due to a few constraints, mainly those of space and funds; the latter is especially crucial for any figure, but even more so with full-size ones, while the former is also tied to the interest of being able to show them off in the best way possible, something that I'd need to figure out for all figures regardless. Of course, I'll still accept those that are given to me, and perhaps I can work with them.

My interest (and thus, targets) would currently lie in figures of a smaller scale, like those of the Moncolle line, for which I only have one exemplar at present. I could foresee expanding my collection to more figures in this line, although the primary constraints as above would still apply. Therefore, I'd either have to pick and choose which figures I actually want... or else accept any giveaways that are directed to me, which is incidentally how that one Moncolle figure came about. Some considerations are still needed in this regard.

For other Pokémon figures that I'm open toward, I'm also interested in unique ones like the Pikachu character ones that I obtained some time ago. More figures along this concept would be something fascinating to obtain, especially if I can make them work according to the constraints as given above. Still, other figures that are cleverly crafted or originate from unique sources are also fair game, for which my sources tell me that there is actually such that are about to come soon - or in fact may have actually come for able fans.

Though I don't plan on expanding my Pokémon figure collection in the near future or even at any time adjacent to that, it's still great to be able to set a semblance of targets - personal ones, at least - for what I'd like to obtain next. That way, when the time or chance to obtain another Pokémon figure comes along, I'll know exactly what to get, although the "how" is still unknown at present. Personally, even anything beyond my targets would be appropriate, yet it's just as appropriate to develop a vision even at this moment.

Three years ago: Goh's Workstation Setup
Four years ago: The Rain and Pokémon
Seven years ago: My Pokémon Show
Eight years ago: Pokémon and Cosplay
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Sunday, January 12, 2025

Cosplay: Atarashii Sekai

Me: Welcome back, for real this time.

Ash: Somewhere for me to go!

Pikachu: Pi! ["Yup!"]

Me: Sure! Though... it'll be slightly different today - we'll get to that soon.

Goh: What's different? It looks like your run of the mill, um...

Me: Festival, I'm told this is.

Goh: Oh, OK.

Me: But I'm sure Ash will recognize the place. 

Ash: Oh, it's the mall rooftop! But... the people running it are different... and there was another festival too?

Goh: Would our friend care to explain?

Me: OK, so it seems that this is a business festival by one of the colleges in my area, but they've chosen to have a second half with a Japanese theme. And well, you know, people will come to that.

Goh: Well, of course. But outdoors? This time of year where you are? Won't it rain?

Ash: I had the same thought... and it did in the afternoon, right after the character parade.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu. ["You were spot on."]

Goh: There you go. Since you brought it up, how was the parade? 

Ash: All the characters were great! But I wasn't in it. 

Goh: Oh? Something else to explain by our friend?

Me: OK, so I decided not to put Ash in on this one because it's paid, and I wanted to save for a better time. That's what's different.

Ash: Sure. We understand. Right? 

Goh: Right.

Ash: Also, I think my blue shoes need a bit of a fix, but my special journey outfit is fine. 

Me: Noted. Another good thing we skipped out.

Goh: So, what else was at the festival? What did the booths have?

Ash: A lot of food and drinks! And some communities too. 

Goh: It's a business festival, so it makes sense. And the entertainment must have been standard.

Ash: Yup! I think I've seen all of them in other places. Dance groups, singers, bands, and the karaoke group.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika! ["All of them there!"]

Me: I'm pretty sure you have.

Ash: Oh, and I got to see the parade winners. And... I know some of them and their characters.

Me: So we may or may not have had a chance.

Goh: You'll want to try for next time.

Me: That's something to consider.

Goh: Well, if Ash didn't take part in the character parade, he must have spent the day with our friend's friends.

Ash: Yeah! One took me there, another was for character things, another one was for Pokémon things, and a few more were for other group things. 

Goh: Sounds to me like our friend is involved in a lot of things. 

Pikachu: Pi pika pika? ["Maybe too many?"]

Me: Hopefully not too many, but just enough to keep me and Ash going.

Ash: Hey, and maybe they can keep this festival going next time!

Goh: That's a thought.

Me: And after this festival and "break day", (Pokémon) life goes on.

Six years ago: These Sides of Paradise
Seven years ago: Another Big Shuffle Update
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Saturday, January 11, 2025

Searching for New Pokémon Meetups

I've experienced - that is, been able to participate - in various meetups (also, gatherings) for different Pokémon things, and they've mostly turned out great, incrementing all the experience that I've had with them. All the same, I'm also interested to take part in new kinds of Pokémon meetups and gatherings, particularly for Pokémon things that I don't deal (or haven't dealt) with. These would constitute new kinds of Pokémon meetups and gatherings, and they could be rather incremental in that regard.

The meetups or gatherings could be for games that I play now but I don't often touch, like for Pokémon Unite; for this particular case, I've recently heard of certain local meetups that involve the game though not necessarily playing it, but even with that, I'd love to take part if only for the experience. Even something as remote as Café Remix could conceivably have a meetup or gathering for it if the players have their will and way, and given my current interest, I'm going to have to participate if it does happen.

Meanwhile, there could be other remote areas of Pokémon for which meetups could be made and I could participate in them. As an example, a gathering of artists that have a passion for Pokémon wouldn't be too out of the ordinary, and even with my meager artistic skills, it's totally something that I could participate in. Further, I'm aware that Pokémon cosplay is somewhat of a disorganized thing in my local area, and if it could be organized somehow, then a meetup for it can happen - and I will definitely have to participate.

Anything about Pokémon could seemingly and conceivably have meetups attached to them, especially if the people involved with those things have the will and way to make them happen. They would likely become meetups that have a certain novelty for me, and I would want to search for them and participate in them if at all possible. With all the meetings I've taken part in thus far and how they've turned out, the ones that are new to me would be ones that I would want to seek out to get into, and then add to my experiences.

Five years ago: Faults in Some Stars
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Friday, January 10, 2025

The (Personal) Importance of In-Game Trainer Appearance

It is recognized that two current and popular Pokémon games (Go and Unite) have a way of representing the player Trainer in those games along with an array of customizations for that representation. They do so with "avatar items" for the former and "fashion items" for the latter, though they refer to much of the same (or similar) things and some players (like me) may have the tendency to interchange the terms with or without intent. Of course, as a player representation, it has a certain quantity of importance for every player, though this quantity will surely differ from one player to another. I thought I'd take a post to discuss this aspect, especially how it could pertain to me personally.

Undoubtedly, for some players, this would be important. One of my fellow Pokémon Go players (Trainers) immediately took to customizing the Trainer appearance to put on some weight to it - a feature recently introduced in that game - to make it more representative of the player's actual appearance. Others, meanwhile, had jumped on the latest "punk" hairstyles that were introduced along with the Wild Area event that featured Toxtricity, even though they themselves do not possess such a hairstyle. So, the importance could be for either true or idealized representation, or something within the gamut in between both. That seems to ring familiar with the current season of the game.

Meanwhile, the options in Pokémon Unite are more idealistic and may be considered more reflective of what players see in themselves as a Trainer. Still, there is a degree of players being able to customize as they see fit, perhaps to align slightly more with their real selves rather than their imagined ones. Evidently, hair and contact lens color options - also recently introduced much in the same way as appearance options in Pokémon Go - somewhat play into this. Many of the outfits (notably the "animal" ones) in the game, however, could still be considered to be out of the ordinary and less realistic.

As for me personally, I might be able to say that Trainer appearance in the games mentioned above is important, but not to the point that, say, I'd expend actual in-game currency to make my appearance fit what I want to show in the world. In any case, I've established (in a way) its importance by basing the outfit I use in the videos on the YouTube channel for this blog according to selections I made in Pokémon Go, being ones I've made freely for that purpose... which is something that I still need to get back to, as an aside. Yet I might want to keep the appearance updated as I see fit with the situation.

The great thing about customizing Trainer appearances in both of the games mentioned above is the ability to put oneself (or a representation of such) within the game, and that is important if nothing else. For those who jump on the latest customizations, it might very well be very important for them, while those who are more conservative - like me - might see a lesser degree of importance. Any appearance of the self is still important in certain ways, and an envisioned Pokémon Trainer can be shown as such.

Seven years ago: A Pokémon-Pikachu Balloon
Eight years ago: Where It All Started
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