Sunday, October 4, 2026

Cosplay: Tanoshii Matsuri 2026 @ Thrift Festival

Me: Now here's one that hasn't appeared for some time.

Goh: Oh, it was there last year, but at the beginning of the year.

Ash: I guess that's why it seems so long ago.

Goh: But this time it seems different... "thrift festival"?

Ash: Uh... I guess that's for later.

Pikachu: Pi... pika pika. ["Yeah... We'll get to it."]

Goh: Well, if we're talking about the same festival, then it's got to have the same things like last time.

Ash: Like a character parade and singing competition!

Goh: And did you get in either or both of them?

Ash: Um... no...

Goh: Well, our friend?

Me: Actually, I was about to put Ash in the singing competition, but when I went to do that, it turned out it was already full.

Goh: Oh. That does sometimes happen.

Me: And... I was preoccupied this week, so it would have been a problem for Ash to recall and practice the song.

Ash: Yeah, I get that.

Goh: But what about the character parade?

Me: Well, I think that has more to do with the festival itself.

Pikachu: Pika... ["So..."]

Ash: Yeah, so they put this one inside a cheap clothes festival, and people kept getting held up at the entryway to get into it even though it's free.

Me: Right. I don't trust that a bit. So... that's why no competitions for us, then.

Ash: I got inside for a little bit, and all the clothes are nice - for you, I hope. But yeah, it was a little cramped inside.

Goh: I'll bet that was also the case during the competitions.

Ash: Yeah. The people watching the stage were all close together - and the MC kept telling them to move.

Me: See, that's what I was afraid of.

Ash: But the singers all had some nice tunes!

Goh: I'll bet. So, if you weren't on stage, then...

Ash: I just met our friend's friends all day long.

Me: Well, that's not half bad. We get to see them, and they get to see us.

Ash: I mean, that's always something our friend wants me to do.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu! ["Certainly!"]

Goh: I'd like to think that the "thrift festival" wanted this festival to get people to come... just like so many others.

Me: Yeah, I think that's about the gist of it.

Goh: By the way, where was this?

Ash: It was at the usual mall near our friend's place. 

Goh: Oh, that also explains a lot of things. Perhaps your outfit did too.

Ash: I had my special journey outfit. But it's nothing too special for our friend right now.

Me: It was just what I had available for Ash at the moment.

Goh: Well, OK then. And I'm sure you'd want to have Ash sing something neat.

Me: Of course. But we'll discuss that if something actually happens. Well, now-

Ash: Wait! Before we leave off, I did get something special from the festival for being the last character around. It was a small pouch. 

Goh: Neat! A little memento for today, at least.

Pikachu: Pika! ["Good!"]

Goh: But maybe our friend could have used the clothes?

Me: I guess I'll deal with those some other time.

Ash: You definitely don't need a festival for that.

Goh: And you can make sure things fit. Maybe the festival that's ours can consider that.

Me: Certainly, we all have something to fit into our future...

Three years ago: Item Drops in Pokémon Go
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Saturday, October 3, 2026

Hitting the Big Time: Pokémon Unite at the Asian Games

For the uninitiated, some regions of the world have their own smaller but no less grand version of the Olympics... er, actually, I did go over that very many years ago for when my local place played host to it. Now, in fact, it's the same event (Asian Games) but with a different host this year: Japan itself. Their sporting events can and do change over time, more so for the latter, and for that, the latter added eSports with various game divisions - and one of them is indeed the team game of Pokémon Unite, which becomes something very notable.

With its inclusion of in the sports competition as above, it can be said that the game is "hitting the big time" insofar as major sports competitions are concerned, and Asian Games can be considered just a step away from the Olympics by the above fact. While eSports may or may not eventually make its way into the Olympics, the "big time" that is the Asian Games is big because, well... Asia (as the continent of said Games) is big. That makes it big enough for a consideration, especially for its competitive aspect that the above duly demonstrates.

Certainly, for that matter, Pokémon is big too. It is obviously big enough to generate the movement that led to the inclusion of this game in the Asian Games, and its following in the countries who sent their teams to compete in this event is also big enough for that purpose. Though the in-game commemoration was minimal (with a free and no-frills Unite License for Toxtricity, and a watch party), the effect was still surely maximal for those who kept up with the happenings of the game and especially for this purpose.

Now, as for how the national teams fared, Japan took home the gold medal - no surprise for that, since Pokémon hails from the country. But the strongest showing other than Japan - that is, for the silver medal - came from Indonesia, becoming Japan's opponent in the final. That too came after fending off other Southeast Asian countries, also effectively putting Indonesia as the best from and for this sub-region. Much may still be on the table if Pokémon Unite can be ensured to survive for this and other eSports competitions, especially those with countries.

Pokémon Unite being in a major tournament outside of the competitive Pokémon vernacular is still a pretty big thing, especially if national pride is at stake like at the Asian Games, this year becoming a "big time" for it. That "big time" should become an inspiration for everyone - the players who keep the game going, the developers who keep the game fresh for them, and the supporters who keep things lively whether on the playing or non-playing side - that they too can hit the "big time" as this game has, with this or even other Pokémon games.

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Friday, October 2, 2026

"You Little Ingrates" - The Ungratefulness of Pokémon Fans (and Gamers)

Previously, in my continued Mewtwo discussion, I had also brought up the observation that certain Pokémon fans and specifically gamers may not actually be angry at the situations that unfold in Pokémon gaming and beyond (in particular, that one), but may in fact be ungrateful about them. It's a profound impression that has important implications for the people that represent this state of affairs, and I had said that I would discuss that separately; as such, it needs to be done when it becomes possible to be done, and that time is now. 

Quite a lot of the outcomes in Pokémon games (for example, Pokémon with very good IVs as captured from raids, or having all the cards necessary to build certain decks) are favorable, so why players are (still) unhappy or angry about them is the big question - one also posed by a certain BT91. The answer would be that they're not satisfied with the efforts that have been taken and the results that have been gotten. It is known that dissatisfaction and discontent in life is a marker of not appreciating what one has, and thus ingratitude becomes obvious.

More generally, making comments or critiques about some Pokémon things in certain realms with reference to another realm when they're not expected to work in necessarily the same way (by way of lore or associated principle) may also constitute ingratitude. And then there have been the "doomscroll" of comments in past Pokémon Presents (originally Direct) that may in part have been caused by fans expressing their dissatisfaction or discontent... which then goes back to the above as other fans use the forum as an "echo chamber".

The state of affairs for Pokémon mirrors the state of affairs for other game realms, which also may have fans that are as equally disgruntled and ungrateful about their goings-on. They may be frustrated with the states of their games as well as their outcomes in them to the point that they can't enjoy them as the "art form" that they're supposed to be. While some things can and may be fixed to help the states and outcomes a little (just as with Pokémon games), if the fans still can't enjoy them for whatever they're worth, then ingratitude still persists for them.

Whatever the situation, ingratitude is a "disease", for which the "cure" is to be able to find the good in them and to work with that for the best life. Even now and with circumstances that call for gratitude, some people in certain fandoms (including Pokémon) are apparently still quite ungrateful about what's going on in them. It's a hard thing to fix - even if the fix seems to be the best possible solution like for Mewtwo - and the only hope after that is for the people to be able to fix themselves, realize their ingratitude, and keep their (Pokémon) spirit.

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Thursday, October 1, 2026

New Legendary Raid Battle Music

One of the most interesting (yet also perhaps lesser noticed) recent additions to Pokémon Go is new battle music for certain raids. The lesser noticed part certainly comes from the fact that most players (Trainers) have sound and music either turned off in the settings for the game or completely silenced - as in, the device muted in volume. As with most posts on this blog explaining gameplay aspects, the point becomes to elucidate the aspect and in this case make "lesser noticed" become "more noticed".

With that, the new battle music concerns raids of the Legendary kind. Specifically, the new battle music is for the supreme kind of Legendary Pokémon, among which are the "box Legendaries" (like Kyogre and Groudon, which do indeed have the music as taken from their generation's games) as well as Mewtwo (the most recent addition to the lineup). Meanwhile, other or less supreme Legendary Pokémon (like the Titans, "Regi") have the universal raid background music instead of a unique one.

Having a different background music for raids is nothing new; the first kind of raids to have different music was Mega raids, with a unique background music piece. Later on, there were the Shadow raids, which have Team Go Rocket battle music instead. In a way, the former kind established that the idea of having unique music for some raids is feasible, which was then ultimately manifested for the Legendary raids.

That said, further expansion of raid music in the scope of this post may be limited, with only a minor potential identified for the future for Pokémon that have yet to be added to Pokémon Go... or even discovered. That means it may or may not even happen, but if it does happen, that would become a testament that the possibility of having more raids with unique music is truly expansible with consideration of the situation.

Expanding the coverage of raids in Pokémon Go is one thing, but expanding it and applying unique music pieces to certain raids is quite the effort, one that has wonderful results that deserve to be known more broadly. And in particular for Legendary Pokémon, that is a further affirmation of their commanding presence and battle power.

Two years ago: What Do You See?
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Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/30/2026

Since the rollup of events in Pokémon Go have all occurred on this day somehow in the past few years (see below), I thought I'd continue the pattern and do the same for September of this year, which I've managed to schedule conveniently - also a "somehow". The schedule calls on this month to start traversing the "path of least brightness" that becomes the title for the new Pokémon Go season, and the event offerings have to be understood in this context... or at least try to be somehow (there's that word again).

But first, it is necessary to backtrack to the previous season for one of its events, which despite being in this month is part of the last season since the new one started later - or was made to start later. The event was called Mega Ascension, with proper dates of August 31 to September 4; it was, in fact, the accompanying event to Go Fest Mega Finale, which also furnished the Go Pass for them both. As a "lead-up" event, each day featured different Mega Raids (mostly) of those that were featured in earlier Super Mega Raid events in quick succession, while the wild had encounters with the basic and/or unevolved versions of the Pokémon species that became the featured raid bosses. Aside from increased remote raids and chances of captures having backgrounds, the rest essentially transitioned to the big event ending the previous season.

Meanwhile, as the new season kicked off, the Mega Squads event from September 8 to 14 led the way with debuts of the Maschiff species family and Shiny Flamigo, particularly from 5 km Eggs. It also unlocked the Super Max Mega level for Beedrill and Houndoom (plus their additional Charged attacks), who also appeared in Mega raids and whose basic unevolved forms were the subject of two Spotlight Hours, one on Thursday (for Weedle) and another on Sunday (for Houndour). Naturally, the latter were also present in the wild - as well as Field Research - along with Flamigo and a few other relevant Pokémon. The event came with a Go Pass (60 ranks) that had bonuses relevant to Mega Energy and Egg hatching, along with other niceties that might have prompted Trainers to take a bite out of their lives for this event.

Yet another edition of the Pokémon Horizons Celebration event appeared from September 16 to 22. This edition brought about the Charmander species family wearing Friede's goggles, which appear in the wild, Field Research, and a Timed Research set by a code. Its fully evolved version of Charizard appeared in raids along with the evolved ninth generation first partners and the earlier Cap's Pikachu. Other species from the series complemented the event in many places, even Kecleon. Its other features were daily showcases, photo bombs with Liko, Roy, and Cap's Pikachu, and the Go Pass of 60 ranks featuring bonuses of capture aids. Coinciding with it was the Staraptor Super Mega Raid Day on September 19, which had a "fly high" aspect to it as well as for this edition of the event in general.

Capping of the month is the Harvest Festival from September 29 to October 5. The focus this time is on Applin with a Shiny debut and its related apples from Mossy Lure Modules, though other "delicious" Pokémon (including Smoliv) also appear in the wild and Field Research. Timed Research, meanwhile, furnished those same apples and some encounters, and the 60-rank Go Pass have Applin-related bonuses. That's pretty much the "core" (ahem) of the event, but it also has something "rotten" about it... to be detailed as it pertains to the next month. 

The path of the events in Pokémon Go this month is somehow (ahem, again) rather bright in contrast to the given title of the season which the month kicks off. But as anyone who is familiar with the goings-on of the next month, the real situation of "least brightness" will be upon then, and that would present the real test of contextually understanding the season's title along with the events that will take place in the month. For now, at least the starting point of the path and some of its course are already set.

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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Card Flair in TCGP

Cards in TCGP, as noted when I explained about the game's currencies close to a year ago, may have special effects that are called "flair". Aside from the "immersive" cards, this is one feature that sets the game apart, although it is arguably lesser-known than the other feature that has just been mentioned. Given that apparent fact, I thought I'd bring up the feature for a little bit of a discussion - and perhaps to make it less of a lesser-known aspect.

Generally, and as noted, flair is obtained by exchanging Shinedust for an instance of flair to be applied to specific cards. Different cards also have different flair that can be applied to them depending on the Pokémon and their types, and they can be downright cheap or somewhat more pricey to obtain. For those who have lots of Shinedust to spare, they can certainly obtain whatever flair they may desire to make their cards look attractive.

Flair also has two main types: cosmetic and battle. The former type applies to the cards themselves, while the latter type applies to when they are used in battle, particularly when they are placed in specific positions over the course of a battle. Before exchanging Shinedust to obtain them, the flair is also demonstrated with the specific card a player uses to obtain the flair, so they can see how the flair looks like before they make the exchange.

Somewhat related, though not completely, is the gold frame for cards, which do appear right next to flair. In the past, these (for individual cards) were obtained by exchanging 10 duplicate cards, but now they are obtained when 10 duplicate cards are collected in any way, including card point exchanges and Wonder Picks - which seems to be a fairer trade. Though it's not flair exactly, the fact of its appearance and enhancement makes it a worthwhile mention.

TCGP could be said to be keen on the visual aspect and using it in various ways for making itself different from the regular physical (and Live) TCG, as well as emphasizing its electronic nature. The feature of "flair" makes all of that evident; it takes a little bit to understand - hopefully so with the help of some of the pointers above - but once understood, the visual appeal of this implementation can be brightly seen.

Six years ago: The Leek and Pokémon
Seven years ago: Cosplay: Isekai
Eight years ago: A Merchandise Dream
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Monday, September 28, 2026

The State of Nominations, Part 42

The number 42 is well-known in some circles to be a number with certain "answers". Those "answers" don't really apply to Pokémon, although some might also argue that Pokémon could be the "answer" to those "answers". In any case, that's not the focus of this post; rather, that would be on updating the progress of my PokéStop nominations, for which this edition is also coincidentally the 42nd. Still, a lot of it might involve divulging "answers" related to that.

Regardless, there are still other numbers to deal with. From last time, the number of my Accepted nominations increased by one to 196, and that for my Not Accepted nominations also increased by one to 72. Granted, I've been focusing on other things, so nominations for PokéStops were not quite on my mind in the past two months, but I can make up the slack whenever in the time of the next two months - an answer in itself.

Meanwhile, there are the monthly impact numbers for July (32591 visits by 1791 players) as well as August (30362 visits by 1882 players), which are always for the preceding months since those are the numbers I get for particular months. July was a happening month since it was the main Go Fest month, and August kept up the momentum. They're the big answers to the big numbers in those two months, and quite acceptable ones at that.

Some answers have also been given by Scopely Explore, which has also replaced the Niantic name appended to Wayfarer, made the nomination process completely separate from the games (redirecting the in-game process to the web site), and added even more nomination possibilities, more than what may perhaps be reasonable for my needs. All of these may affect the answers that I provide with the actual nominations to come.

Whatever answers may be given by my PokéStop nomination progress, the final answer is still to try to expand the overworld of Pokémon Go - not to mention other Scopely Explore games - so that other players (Trainers and so on) can then provide their own "answers" according to what they do in the games with them. For this edition of my nomination progress update, it seems then that I'm reminded that all the answers are around me to collect and present.

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