Ten Points of a Pokémon Life

Going back to that certain time I mentioned a few days ago, today's kind of the prime time for that, so I want to go over it again and certainly with Pokémon in tow - moreover since in previous years, I've done just that (this one being last year). For the occasion this time, I've decided to reflect things with a song... but it's kind of obscure - at least to most readers who would be expected to read these posts - so I'm not going to use it directly in the reflective discussion. I can, however, use the central idea that is posited in the song, like what I did a couple of years ago, to get my points across. In fact, there is a multiple of them.

 

Now, the song that I'm thinking of discusses "ten points", at least for the version I'm closer to and enjoy more. The other version of this song has "five points" instead, which means that it is also simpler in that regard, but then the one with "ten points" can be considered to "subsume" the one with "five points", so regardless, I'd like to use the one with "ten points" to deliver my views. And as I've said above, the song is kind of obscure, including with respect to the content of those points - but I can extract their essences and make them relate to Pokémon for the purpose of this discussion, which is essentially the point (ahem).

For the ten points, the first two concern respect for the (created) things in this world and their sources, which when Pokémon becomes a concern, the likes of Arceus and Mew become relevant somehow along with all other Pokémon species. The next three points then concern respect for people who educate and bring up others to be what they can be (here Pokémon Professors and families fit the bill), as well as for the land, for without the land neither people nor Pokémon would be able to survive. Those are all great points.

The next five points would concern "spiritual" matters, but in the context of Pokémon, they can be made "semi-spiritual". For that, the first four of these could be construed as each of the individual "four pillars" that I had explained such a long time ago, and respecting and making relationships according to these pillars. As for that last point, which perhaps might be the most important one, that would be to smile whenever possible - and obviously Pokémon can help in that regard, to make all of its fans as happy as possible every time.

Despite being taken out of their original context, all of the ten points above seem perfectly applicable to and reflective of Pokémon matters. That is a great thing regardless, but even more so for a special time that becomes the context that frames this post. With that, it also seems that no matter the number of points (ten or five as in the above), the whole point is still to celebrate life, happiness, and Pokémon in all their best and greatest glories.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Social Impact

Two years ago: The Charm of Open-Air Pokémon Markets

Three years ago: Tournament: Arcaviary Tournament - Ionic Cup

Four years ago: The Route Themes of Journey Beginnings

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Waiting Games

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Toxic Cup

Seven years ago: Gender Appeal

Eight years ago: At a Loss... in Lavender Tower

Nine years ago: GSC Nendoroid Series #425: Red

TCGP: The Wonders of Paldea in Packs

As I mentioned in the previous Pokémon Presents edition, the matter of a new expansion for TCGP is something that I need to get to, and now I'm finally able to get to it. After several of these that are oriented to Mega Evolution, the newest one provides a respite from that and has the setting of the most recently recognized region and generation in this world. That would be Paldea, certainly, and the expansion is thusly called "Paldean Wonders" to reflect all that is fascinating from this region and featured in the expansion.

For that, the expansion is a minor one (a Themed Booster Pack, as it is so given) with nearly all of the Pokémon in the expansion being ones from said region, including the first partners and a few others that are emblematic of the region. The pack image indeed contains these Pokémon species and presents them as potential targets for players opening the packs for this expansion. As with other expansions, that may take a good bit of time to fulfill.

Since Trainer cards have grown in diversity of kinds, I thought I'd discuss the ones contained in this expansion as well. This minor expansion also introduces 1 Item card, 1 Pokémon Tool card, 5 Supporter cards, and 1 Stadium card. That's a good number of selections to have and go through, so some players will be rummaging through packs for them just as much as they'll be rummaging for the Pokémon that they will want and need to use in the battles.

Meanwhile, the expansion itself has 93 cards in the numbered section and 38 cards in the overnumbered section, making it come out to 131 cards in total. That's somewhat more than most other minor expansions or Themed Booster Packs, so the "rummaging" potential is also somewhat greater as a result. That would be especially true if full art and/or Shiny cards are a concern, for which the 38 overnumbered cards are still quite a bit and rare too.

If this minor expansion or Themed Booster Pack is an indication, the most recent species entrants to the world of Pokémon are still fair game and of interest even in this virtual TCG form. This new one then encapsulates the most essential aspects and presents them as "true" wonders that might just show dominance on the card playfield.

One year ago: Monopoly Pokémon Edition, Then and Now

Two years ago: Can-Do with Pachirisu

Three years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Pallet Town Ruby (SA Factions)

Four years ago: ASMR with Pokémon

Five years ago: All I Can Do, with You

Six years ago: Sad Music from Kanto

Seven years ago: A Girl and a Fan

Eight years ago: The Place to Be

Nine years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki Japan 7 - Wanderlust!

The Legendary Flight, Unite License Style

Players of Pokémon Unite will recognize the "Legendary Flight", as the three Legendary birds of Kanto and the first generation, in their appearance in "legend pits" on certain maps and for their partial playability in the Catch 'Em map. Now, though, and as a part of commemorating the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, players can (or will) be able to enjoy them in full playability, certainly through the game's system of Unite Licenses and by earning them through a game event... aside from paying them outright and immediately with Aeos Gems, also as usual.

The three birds are given the roles of Defender for Articuno, Attacker for Zapdos, and All-Rounder for Moltres. At present, the Zapdos event is about to end in a few days, having started a couple of weeks ago, and the Moltres event is in full swing with it having started just a few days ago; the one for Articuno will certainly start in due time. The game's login screen is also showing these three birds above Theia Sky Ruins for the purpose of promoting the events and occasion of getting them to be able to play with them in all the game's modes and maps.

Having the three birds in fully playable form certainly increases the number of fully playable Legendary Pokémon in the game, and by quite a bit with the successive additions as in this case. As for the three birds having the above roles, they are the "standard three" that are expected in a usual five-on-five battle, so any of them can be used to meet the expectation; obviously not all three at once are expected in the same battle for a team (especially if other restrictions are in play), but any or all of them could be handy for players with role experience.

With their presence now in full playability and not just partial as with the presence in the Catch 'Em map, the "Legendary Flight" takes to a much greater height in Pokémon Unite, particularly with the potential that they hold, if the partial playability (for Articuno and Zapdos) is already an indication of that. Moltres then completes the trio and its dimension in actual gameplay, and players will have to prepare themselves for the potential tricks that they may hold in that regard. Yet that may be a good (and major) thing for the context of the major anniversary.

One year ago: 3000 Posts!!!

Two years ago: Rethinking Pokémon-People Relations

Three years ago: Cosplay: Culture Festival

Four years ago: Pokémon of Overlapping Roles?

Five years ago: The Post Malone P25 Virtual Concert

Six years ago: No Sight, No Mind

Seven years ago: Fashion Statements by Pokémon

Eight years ago: PokéTerminology

Nine years ago: Cosplay Hair

Life Is Bright, Light Up Your Life

I have a certain discussion topic in mind as a tangent that I still wanted to discuss but with still some relation to Pokémon, and I had wanted to discuss it today. However, the more I thought about it, the more I felt unprepared to make that discussion. So, I've decided to shelve it and prepare another discussion instead (in a way, rather on the spot as well). Now, in considering that the discussion topic is fading in its "light", I thought about bringing up another topic that is related to "light" and certainly will be brought up with inclusion of Pokémon references.

That topic concerns a certain saying that is more or less represented by the title of this post. It's relatively obscure in origin, but the meaning is bright - literally. In a surface sense, it means to bring light into life as light brings brightness into one's life. In a deeper sense, though, it means to make contributions to life to make it a brighter place (than ever) and then bring back that brightness into one's own life. That seems evocative of many things, including Pokémon.

Perhaps the brightest thing in Pokémon is the spectacle that is presented by the various battles that take place involving them. They often present light play by way of the moves and resulting attacks, but most importantly, they can also show how far the contributions of others, including the Trainers associated with them, have influenced outcomes. In this way, the saying as presented above manifests itself in a somewhat extraordinary manner through Pokémon.

Of course, light doesn't have to be always present in Pokémon battle; it can also be present outside it, like in the fleeting glimmer of a passing Jirachi or the glow of a Pokémon using Flash to illuminate the darkest of areas. As for their contributions, with regard to people or Trainers and whether they're in front of or behind them, all of them have certain roles that translate into influences for and from what the Pokémon do as they bring their light to them.

Light is never in short supply, also for as long as certain bright things are present, and by the saying above, people and Pokémon can bring their own "light" in different ways. For that, it seems that its discussion alongside Pokémon seems to be warranted intermittently (especially if another topic is on hold), to present any semblance of related and possible contributions.

One year ago: Trading Cards in TCGP

Two years ago: New Controls in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/18/2023

Four years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: "Over" Time?

Five years ago: New Pokémon Go Bonus Hour Experiments

Six years ago: On Blogging and Microblogging

Seven years ago: Character Songs

Eight years ago: "You Shall Not Pass" - Hard-to-Access Gyms and PokéStops

Nine years ago: Alton : Food :: I : Pokémon

The Department Stores (of My Life)

Early main series Pokémon games featured an in-game place called the Department Store, located in one of the major cities in the games' regions. These could be thought of as a substantially expanded Poké Mart in those places, where the Mart is not a part of the Pokémon Center as it is in later games and thereby regions. I thought I'd carry this topic for an actual post - after having only mentioned it as an aside in some earlier posts - and bring in some philosophical musings, given that in some places of the world, this current time would be the time when some people might be rushing to real department stores for what they offer.

Like their real counterparts, the place is divided into floors with staff selling different items on each floor. Getting to each of these floors and then getting the items needed for continuing the adventure is an exercise in reading into what's there, how much one can spend, and what it takes to get the items - especially from the vending machines on the rooftop. It's an exercise that the people as mentioned above might have some familiarity with (and so do I), and when it comes time for that, people (and Trainers) might just have the power to go all out.

As mentioned in a very old post, a later iteration of the Department Store also featured sales of certain items on the rooftop at certain points in time. The items that can be obtained from these sales may or may not be what Trainers need, but it may still be fun to make the effort to obtain them. So too do occasions occur at the places where the real people (and I) shop - as I perhaps can attest all too well - and there is the fun to be had out of that, which means going to them whenever the occasion strikes and to take advantage of the visit for many things.

While the Department Stores only had an early presence in the main series games, those who interact with the games, then and now, will realize that dealing with them in the games may not only be necessary at certain times but also can present an outing opportunity of its own. With the ways that they are as described above, as well as their parallels to reality, they make for places that will certainly supplement Pokémon goings-on in more ways than one.

One year ago: The Legendary Challenge in Pokémon Unite

Two years ago: Pokémon Plush Dolls of All Kinds of Sizes

Three years ago: Tools for Solving Pokémon Go Problems... and Life Problems?

Four years ago: Quickies: Trees, the Symbol of Life

Five years ago: The Sentience of Pokémon

Six years ago: There Are Monsters Outside

Seven years ago: "Monkey Trio" Keychain Figures

Eight years ago: What's Played, What's Not, and What's Next

Nine years ago: Pokémon X Food Network ...?

The Three "Peculiars" of Pokopia

While I can't cover Pokémon Pokopia directly due to a few reasons that I've outlined in a post that also apply to other fans who are likely also interested in the game, I can cover a few more things about the game in a somewhat indirect manner. One of those things is the presence of several Pokémon that have established themselves as a part of the game (even by now) and to be quite identified as such - three of them, in fact. They're also quite odd by species standards, and for that, I've applied the term of "peculiar" to them.

One of these is a different take on Pikachu, which goes by the name of "Peakychu". It still resembles Pikachu by many respects, but instead of being brightly colored, it is instead very pale in color - in a way, quite "ghostly". Its ear and tail are also considerably "limp", almost affirming its "ghostly" perception. Yet a Pikachu by any other name is still lovable even if peculiar, and that fits the bill for this entity of the Pokopia realm.

Then there's "Mosslax", which is evidently a take on Snorlax. Instead of the familiar blue-and-white coloration of that species, it is mostly a shade of mossy green, with white still showing on its face. Its sitting position is quite indicative of it staying in that position (perhaps unlike a normal Snorlax), allowing moss to grow on it and making it what it is. It's a Snorlax lookalike that is rather receptive to nature, even peculiarly on its own body.

As the last of the "peculiars", there is "Professor Tangrowth" - for which the species name is obvious. That also goes for its appearance, being differentiated from a normal Tangrowth by its white tufty vines on its head. Like the human professors of the main series games, it is expected that the player Ditto will interact with it for some sage advice... which isn't totally weird, except maybe for the circumstances of this strange world.

Getting ahold of a chance to deal with Pokopia and its strange realm will automatically mean getting a chance to deal with the "peculiar" creatures above that resemble (or take off from) some popularly recognized species. That may be the strangest thing yet, aside from not being able to play the game at present, but goodness and strangeness will come in due time.

One year ago: Too Many Events for Pokémon Go??

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/16/2024

Three years ago: Starting and Restarting Pokémon Go

Four years ago: On the Intricacies of the Battle Pass

Five years ago: Localized Legendary Pokémon

Six years ago: Brushing Up on Pokémon Mythology

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Neko-Neko

Eight years ago: Our Glory of Love

Nine years ago: Multilingual Pokémon

I Want to Play Pokopia, But...

So, the newest Pokémon game, a spinoff title entitled Pokémon Pokopia, had been released some days ago on March 5, also as I mentioned in the latest edition of Pokémon Presents. The game 's life simulation aspect is by no means unique, though the game itself is as the first of its kind for Pokémon. Further, the challenges that preclude one from being able to play the game are unique as well, and a lot of players share the same challenges... including yours truly. For that, I'd like to discuss those challenges and dealing with them.

First and foremost, the game is only for Nintendo Switch 2, so those without the console are obviously challenged in this regard. Even with the fact that the game supports Game Share, a feature of that console that allows others (even on just a Nintendo Switch) to play, it still takes someone with the former console to get things started - and of course, they'll need a copy of the game, but I'll get to this shortly. Regardless, a console remains a necessity, and the prospective Pokopia players will need to get that going somehow.

Then there's the game itself. By certain reports, the game costs around 70 USD, making it on par with a main series game of modern times. Furthermore, it's too big to fit on a game card, so even physical purchases will provide a key instead to download the game. Prospective players will thus need to have ample space on their consoles' internal storage, a daunting one if they already have filled it with many games. It seems that players will not only be filling the spaces of their worlds but also the spaces on their own consoles.

Most importantly, even if the above prerequisites are met, players may not be able to spare some time to actually play due to other commitments, including for other (Pokémon) games and especially if competitive matters are at hand. Even so, one of my VGC friends have taken time out of whatever schedule there may be and has played the game, proving that it's quite possible for that friend. For others (like me), that may not necessarily be the case. As I've said, the game itself is a "timesink", and that may not be ideal for some.

With all of the reasons above, many of which also apply to me, it seems it could be hard for me and other players with similar reasons and applicability to justify being able to play the new Pokémon life simulation game anytime soon. But for those who can fulfill everything above and make their way to live in Pokopia, that might be a lucky break, something that other fans and players hope could happen to them. As they say, where there's a will, there's a way, and the will to live in Pokopia might just lay out the path for that.

One year ago: From Niantic to Scopely

Two years ago: Loot (or Not) from Pikachu's Indonesia Journey in Bali

Three years ago: Quickies: Flying With Lugia, On Demand

Four years ago: Investing in a Battle Pass?

Five years ago: A Year of Living Dangerously

Six years ago: Cosplay: IAM COSPLAYCON

Seven years ago: The Pokémon Search Bar in Pokémon Go

Eight years ago: Ash and Pikachu, DJF 2018 Style

Nine years ago: A Psyduck Headache