Bemoaning the Fate of Spotlight Hour

With the new Pokémon Go season and its structure of "daily activities", it has become evident that one of the long-standing ones in this regard has met its demise and has been eliminated from that structure. I'm of course talking about Spotlight Hour, and this is even after how I had noted its apparent persistence several years ago. Though this is not a Tuesday (it's a Friday, which has a different "activity" as above), I'd still like to discuss this change, the factors that might have gone into that, and the current situation after the change.

For the factors, it seems the "disgruntled" individuals like someone who had commented on one of my old posts might have grown in number, and thus the demise satisfies them. Or as an alternative, the turnout for the weekly activity or sub-event might have decreased, even gradually from the point where I had noted that persistence. These are certainly only theories, since Niantic-Scopely have the final say on what led to the change, besides trying to make things more regular for Trainers, the substance of the body of changes.

Personally, I've always found Spotlight Hour (and its added bonus since that experiment) a useful part of the week's run, especially if it could be integrated into an ongoing event as has been the case several times over its course. It becomes an opportunity to get resources for some hardly appearing Pokémon and sometimes even others through its bonuses - or even just Stardust by catching, if the opportunity presents itself. For me, therefore, it's a bit of a loss that other event kinds may or may not be able to make up by their content.

Speaking of, what about its "substitute", Showcase Tuesday? I don't find it an "elegant" one as such, and it would work better if Spotlight Hour was still present but integrated with it. The sparseness of Showcase PokéStops, even in my area, makes this activity not too useful: in fact, the nearest one to my home is several hundred meters, and it's not practical for me to walk back and forth to that Showcase in order to take advantage of the activity. Again, if Spotlight Hour was still around, then it might be somewhat of an incentive for that.

Now that Spotlight Hour is for all its essence "gone", Trainers may have to rely on and take advantage of ongoing events in order to build up the resources that used to be able to be so conveniently gained from the activity or sub-event. Even its substitute may be better off being in tandem rather than separate from it. In that sense, I'm really "bemoaning" the loss of the activity or sub-event and the fact that now it seems it's not too persistent after all. With that, only persistence remains in seeing how Pokémon Go can progress without it.

One year ago: The Lightning and the Thunder

Two years ago: Let's Talk About A Break for the Light

Three years ago: Here Comes a Factions Cycle

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/13/2022

Five years ago: More Pokémon Go Quality-of-Life Improvements

Six years ago: The First Hoenn Saga Japanese Opening Theme

Seven years ago: The Poké Ball Classics Merchandise Line

Eight years ago: Yes, Even More Pokémon Stickers

Nine years ago: Every Day We're Shufflin

Dreamy Visions... in Plush Form

After discussing three songs with certain dreamy visions, now I want to discuss some actual Pokémon dreamy visions... albeit in merchandise form. Many fans are of course familiar with Pokémon evolution, by which some species "upgrade" into other forms. Some people have visions of the process for their Pokémon, and it might also be construed that some Pokémon species themselves might have the same visions. Those visions are perfectly encapsulated in a new and recently released line of merchandise.

The line is called the "Little Daydream" plush, and the concept is that the featured Pokémon in plush doll form are themselves holding miniature plush versions of what will likely be their evolved state. Kicking off the line is Charmander, Pichu, Wooper, Togepi, and Munchlax, all of which hold their ultimate evolution forms - save for Pichu, who holds a Pikachu instead, which can be construed that Raichu is an optional and/or undesired objective for it. All of them also look in a dream-like state, befitting the line's name.

Even the first three of these are available in a more miniscule keychain plush form, which looks just as charming as the bigger plush versions (and certainly more affordable, given the state of the world nowadays). If I had the option of getting any of these, I'd love to have the one for Pichu, Charmander, or both, in either the regular or keychain form. I'd also love for the line to be expanded in the future, with more first partner and/or baby Pokémon, as I'm sure many fans also have the same interest for this plush doll line.

Dreams always have ways of manifesting themselves in certain realities, and the most recent certain reality for Pokémon merchandise is the line above with some cutesy Pokémon species holding cutesy visions of what they'd like to be. The concept is rather fascinating and fits the views of those who always have dreams on their minds, and the expansion potential is not only apparent but could be somewhat desired. Given those "dreamy visions", some fans may just have this line of plush dolls on their minds for some time.

One year ago: To Hold Hands and Love

Two years ago: What Lurks in the Pokémon Night

Three years ago: Cosplay: Unity, The Story of Us

Four years ago: Let's Talk About Challenges in Connecting

Five years ago: Making the Case for Open-World

Six years ago: Possibility of a "Basic League"?

Seven years ago: Beta Testing

Eight years ago: Taking the Go Train

Nine years ago: Worldly Inspirations for a Small World

Clear Shades of the Past

Now, it seems it's real for me

The farther away you go

The closer you are to me

I will keep and let it grow

This love you gave to me

So deep within my heart...

-- "Nuansa Bening (A Clear Shade)" (interpretive lyrical translation)

OK, OK, one more song for Pokémon experience - this time because it's rather important and close to the moment. The song now is a local song for which I've quoted the chorus and gave it a translation that one (you) can sing to if that's the choice. The relation to Pokémon will certainly be interpretative, but it also has an indirect link that ties into the importance and the moment as I've mentioned. All of those things now demand explanation.

The song has the title as such (even if only mentioned in one place) because it's about the feeling of attraction one person that is unbounded and leaves a certain feeling in that person's heart - the "clear shade", in a manner of speaking. It's a very romantic feeling, whether one has gotten close to a significant other or perhaps even separated. And it seems that this point may be relevant to the situation that applies to the song and its associated artist.

As for fitting this song with Pokémon, "moments of everlasting togetherness" would fit the bill given the above interpretation. As suggested by the title of this post, perhaps they could apply not only to moments of the present but also of the past, ones that are likely to be quite fondly remembered and whatever mix of entities is involved (people and Pokémon).

Now, this song has been sung by a different artist in the more distant past, but in modern times, it's known for being one of the signature songs of Vidi Aldiano despite being a cover - which is why I didn't tag the artist in the quote. Vidi also happened to be one of the featured local artists in the big local Pokémon event from one and a half years ago, on Day 1 - the day before I (Ash) went there. With that, the Pokémon relation is evident, and...

...I'm sorry to say, said artist passed away a few days ago after a long battle with cancer (which also strikes a chord for me personally). Due to the Pokémon ties, the importance and the moment become evident as well. Many of the artist's fans have been grieving, and I'm sure those who saw his Pokémon performance then may also be in such as state.

With the song's imagery, clarity is certainly something that many people would wish to see for all their current and past moments, especially romantic ones. Some of them would certainly have this song to thank for being able to do so, and even now after the passing of the modern artist, some of those clear moments - including for Pokémon - will remain.

One year ago: Here on My Mind, Here in My Dreams

Two years ago: To Be a Jumpluff

Three years ago: Postcards in Pokémon Go

Four years ago: On the "Grass Divas"

Five years ago: Quickies: Surf's Up, Surf's Down

Six years ago: The Wonders of the PokéRap and Beyond

Seven years ago: Quantity and Quality

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest 2018

Nine years ago: Have You Seen My Childhood?

Come Sail with Me (Us) (and Pokémon)

I'm sailing away

Set an open course for the virgin sea

Cause I've got to be free

Free to face the life that's ahead of me

On board I'm the captain, so climb aboard

We'll search for tomorrow on every shore

And I'll try, oh Lord, I'll try to carry on

...

A gathering of angels

Appeared above my head

They sang to me this song of hope

And this is what they said

They said come sail away, come sail away

Come sail away with me...

-- "Come Sail Away", Styx

I'm in a song-and-experience mood to discuss about Pokémon matters, so I'm going to throw in another one. This rather old song seems to come across to listeners when the circumstances present themselves, whether they're relevant to the themes or situations involved with the song. The same is (or was) true for me personally, and being a Pokémon fan, things revolved back to that, making it worthy of a discussion with that relevance and on this blog.

The song is by a rock band and consists of a soft part and a hard part, which could be construed as the "verse" and "chorus" respectively. It brings up the virtues of sailing on the open sea... and sky, if the "chorus" is of any suggestion. It's slightly melancholic yet optimistic, which may explain its association by some people to memories of both qualities. And then there's the association with some facets of pop culture - Pokémon for this purpose.

Even if they don't actually sail on the sea, every Trainer can be considered to "sail" on their Pokémon journey - to meet Pokémon of the land, sea, and sky, all of which can be made to fit the premises of the song in some way. Certainly, not all of the memories may be happy, but as the "captains" of their journey, the Trainers will deal with them in the best ways possible, and they'll go wherever they go for the experience - something familiar to many.

Meanwhile, the song is similar in spirit but somewhat different in message and radically so in genre to another song I brought up some years ago, which has an alternate (but commonly mentioned and recognized) title of... "Sail Away". Yet for Pokémon Trainers specifically and fans of the franchise in general, they'll certainly take all that in however it's possible for them to do so, and the message of being able to go places remains relevant in that way.

As a footnote, this song may have something to do with, erm... some actual (new) "seafaring" business that also happens to coincide on this particular day, albeit one of the imagination and one that last year had forged a link to Pokémon (in an alternate form). But that's not really for me to deal with on this blog; that's for myself to enjoy later. Regardless, it's another pop culture facet that can now be an "adjunct" to Pokémon in some ways.

"Sailing away" is a common prospect where boats, ships, and other vessels of their kind are of concern, and this can apply very much for Pokémon and other realistic realms as much as it does for real life. Much is to be found in the effort of doing so, even if the vessels and the media they're on are only figurative. There's a "song of hope" in all of those cases, and there's always the call and the answer to go through it as much as possible.

One year ago: You, Me, and All People (and Pokémon)

Two years ago: The "Reject" Terms

Three years ago: Zacian, the Sword-Wielding "Menace"

Four years ago: "Plus Moves" in Pokémon Games

Five years ago: Thundering into the Vortex

Six years ago: A Taste of the Poison Paradise

Seven years ago: Everybody, Polkamon

Eight years ago: Action or Strategy?

Nine years ago: Thank Heaven for Little Boys

The Pearls of My Experience

And so I've made up my mind

I'm gonna be yours this time

I'm gonna give all I've got

And get your love in return

And so I've made up my mind

I'm gonna be yours this time

I'm gonna teach you to trust

And learn how to burn

Experience pearls (pearls of experience)...

-- "Experience Pearls", Ace of Base

Since the "hidden theme" of this year's Pokémon anniversary is the "pearl anniversary", I thought I'd give out some additional "pearls of wisdom", specifically by a song that has the precious item of concern in its title. Many of the songs I bring up in this way are specifically related to (my) Pokémon experience, which in a way explains the category label that I give to the posts - but this one seems to be as relevant since it has that word in the title.

For that, the song is a lesser-known one of this once-popular pop group. The lyrics of the song itself tell of a person who wishes to become a (romantic) partner of someone who is down, even to the point of shedding tears - perhaps because of heartbreak from a previous partner. The allegory is that those tears can be converted into "pearls" that show the value of that person as a new partner, or maybe even a "true" partner, after all that's happened.

Then comes the interpretation with Pokémon. Though the species themselves do not really connect through romantic attraction to people (except in one very specific case and in light of certain facts - not to be discussed here), they can connect through social relations, and those social relations may just have the power to convert tears into "pearls" as much as romantic attraction can, in all the same ways that the song lyrics suggest.

With that in mind, it seems the recently released Pokémon Pokopia game (a few days ago, which I haven't covered) might be a venue where things are converted into "pearls" in a figurative sense. Its "dystopic" initial setting and its premises of interacting with Pokémon to build a better world both align with that sense, which makes this song able to cover that game interpretatively. It's a fascinating thought at the very least.

In general, Pokémon makes many people (including me) happy and content, no matter what goes on in the world around them, so that becomes a "pearl" in itself. That has been true for me in my long history with Pokémon and what I've observed with other fans and what they do with Pokémon, so the song's message still holds in that regard.

Experience is a strong shaper of the things that people do, in and out of Pokémon. If this song has anything to say about that, it is that the good and not-so-good ones alike can be turned into wonderful things ("pearls") later on, whether that applies to romance or otherwise. That's a "pearl of wisdom" for Pokémon experience and beyond.

One year ago: Cosplay: Weeb's Break Party

Two years ago: Winds of Changing Unite Teams

Three years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys - "Camping Series", Selections

Four years ago: The Support of Fans

Five years ago: Tags and Tagged Search in Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Toxic People and Fans

Seven years ago: Interpretative Soundtracks

Eight years ago: Father Figure?

Nine years ago: Tonight, We Honor the Hero

New Takes in Pokémon Unite

Recently, Pokémon Unite has introduced a few new elements in the game that change up existing ways of doing things in the game. Consequently, for the purpose of this post, I'm referring to them as new "takes" for all their ways of offering novelties - and of course, the post serves to discuss them to allow players like me to take advantage of them. The new "takes" may also be considered significant in their regard.

One of those is the addition of a "Solo Mode". This is essentially an expansion of the previous iteration of Solo Challenge, and now it consists of many challenges arranged in paths and stages. Each challenge has a battle with one player and the rest CPU players, to be played like a regular five-on-five battle; each challenge also has tasks to be completed and might even restrict the selection of Pokémon. This new mode becomes a diversion from the regular all-human battles while also presenting players something to grind.

Because of the addition of Solo Mode, battle selection has been changed up. Now there is a mode selection screen with six buttons, for which Ranked play and Solo Mode are made front and center. The rest of the battle modes (Quick, Custom, Standard, and Practice) are all half-size buttons beside the two buttons for Ranked play and Solo Mode, the former also showing the current rank of the player and the season deadline. The new battle selection process now becomes a way of showing the game's diversity of play modes.

As well, move selection in battle has been changed. Now most Pokémon with branched move selections (often two at certain levels) will need to have their moves pre-selected from the available options prior to the start of the battle. This gets rid of the chance that a move may be wrongly selected - even if the other is already pre-selected - and may even allow for making considerations in the selection, although this means more effort in setting up the Pokémon. It may just be something welcomed with the way the game is now.

These new "takes" do have their ways of changing things up for the game, with some benefits to be had while keeping a lot of things relevant. While other efforts still need to be made in order to set one up for playing the game, the new "takes" can help the setup in other ways, and that may be the most important thing right now - aside from making sure that the players can still play the game as intended in all of their ways.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/8/2025

Two years ago: Taking Pokémon "Sabbaticals"

Three years ago: Pokémon Tidbits from Different Places

Four years ago: On the Planning of Posts

Five years ago: At (and Beyond) the Beginning

Six years ago: Pokémon Conferences?

Seven years ago: Add Hope and Tears...

Eight years ago: Cultivate or Gather Berries?

Nine years ago: Pokémon and Music Games

What Would I Spend for in Café Remix?

It is known (or at the least could be understood) that Café Remix can and does demand some monetary payment for great(er) success, especially with some recent facets. With that in mind, spending for some of the paid aspects may be desired or in order, and perhaps that could also apply to me personally. I've decided to take up that discussion topic as such and to put forth the possibilities of what I'd spend for in this game with money.

One likely possibility is the monthly Premium Pass, which as I've mentioned does have an exclusive Pokémon in many of its editions. Since I enjoy having additional Pokémon to play with, this becomes a sensible spend; moreover, the additional score bonus that it affords for the events in the period is also lucrative, particularly with regular play. Therefore, for me and others with the same situation, the Premium Pass may just be a go-to spend.  

Besides the Monthly Pass, some paid pass tracks have additional Pokémon and/or associated outfits, so these could also be potential spending targets - again, to satisfy my inclinations for additional Pokémon as above. They also often come along with additional bonuses, but the primary bonus will remain the additional Pokémon and/or outfits. The spending may be justified regardless, if that is the primary thing to be obtained.

Recent game events have included paid elements in the form of the Mighty Menu and/or High Score Skip, and they are of lower priority for me to spend on, but their usefulness may be warranted in some cases. For example, the cheapest Mighty Menu to unlock its benefits and an occasional paid High Score Skip might just help to earn other bonuses associated with an event. As such, they also become potential yet occasional spending targets.

While spending on paid aspects in Café Remix might still be something that's not yet in my future, I can still identify some of the paid aspects that I will likely spend on if the opportunity might present itself. Those paid aspects, which comprise the above, are the ones that are the most relevant to my needs with my continued playing of Café Remix, and therefore paying for them might just be justified, especially if it becomes possible.

One year ago: Rotations in Pokémon Games

Two years ago: Quickies: One Day on a Pokémon Ranch

Three years ago: Factions Battlefields, Season 2 Cycle 4

Four years ago: Working for Pokémon?

Five years ago: Outsourcing Pokémon Development

Six years ago: Cosplay: Robotto no Sekai + SUCOFEST 2020

Seven years ago: The Marketing of Expectations

Eight years ago: How Many to a Raid?

Nine years ago: To Be Continued... maimai ORANGE (PLUS)