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

Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/14/2026

First off, for those who recognize it, today is Pi Day (for the mathematical feature), so it would be rightful to serve up pies (the culinary treat) on this day. It seems Pokémon Go had also decided to serve up the "pie" that is Community Day on this day, both the one that represents this year's helpings as well as this season's helpings. There is also a helping of the "pie" that represents the first partner Pokémon species in this edition, and now comes the time to explain all of that and how tantalizing things are.

Having said all of that, this month's featured Pokémon is the veritable Scorbunny, the first partner Pokémon of the Galar region. It evolves twice into Raboot and then Cinderace - and the latter will certainly be able to learn the move of Blast Burn, which is true for this month. It can also learn its signature move of Pyro Ball from this point onwards with the help of a TM, which may be useful as an alternative to the above. Meanwhile, the main bonus of this edition is quartered hatch distance, which means a time to get Eggs hatched on and out.

As usual, the regular bonuses of double Candy and Candy XL chance, three-hour Incense and one-hour Lure Modules (plus extra appearances), trade discounts and extra Special Trades, photo bombs, and special backgrounds apply. Then there's Field Research, Timed Research (for those who check in to community meetups), and the paid Special Research entitled "Hoppily Ever After" - a suggestion that may be taken for granted nowadays.

On this occasion, I chose to go with the local community meetup due to the prevailing "break" - which also prompts reminders of why I should and shouldn't deal with it. I caught a sizeable number of Scorbunny that were Shiny, had backgrounds, or both, and I evolved the best of the best out of my usual roster of things to evolve for Community Day. Now I have a game plan for what to do with the resources I obtained today... and for future Community Day meetups.

This family of rabbits that can deliver fiery kicks might be relevant to those who play soccer for that very reason and association, but with regard to the species themselves, there will always be a place for them somehow in battle with how they've been involved in Pokémon Go, including today. With that, the "pie" piece has been served to satisfaction.

One year ago: 100 Years, 1 Million Memories

Two years ago: Cook and Collect in Café Remix

Three years ago: Serving up Paldea with a Twist

Four years ago: To Share and To Care

Five years ago: Berry Cuisine

Six years ago: Pokémon Anime Song Remixes?

Seven years ago: Profits on the Side

Eight years ago: It's Pi Day!

Nine years ago: Pokémon and Puzzle Games

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?