I Need More Rumble World Players

After a long absence, I've gone back and replayed Pokémon Rumble World on my 3DS in my spare time while I wait for the Hearts in Shuffle to recover. The only problem is that progress is not going much faster than it was before the long absence. One of these is due to the fact that my Poké Diamonds are limited to what I can get without having to spend eShop funds for them, which I still cannot do. As I've mentioned in my Rumble rollup, more Poké Diamonds means more leverage to obtain more stuff in the game, not the least of which is Hot-Air Balloons to open up more areas and catch other Pokémon.

Getting Poké Diamonds without spending eShop balance is actually somewhat simple. The game allows "visitors" to drop into your game - these are other players you meet by StreetPass, SpotPass, or the "Call Someone" option. And each time you meet five visitors from any of these, you earn a Diamond. The "Call Someone" option, which nets three random players from the Internet, is free for the first time you use it each day, and then costs 10 Play Coins thereafter, exactly the maximum you can earn in a single day. Afterwards, the visitors may sometimes offer gifts of Diamonds when interacting with them.

Big batches of Diamonds are obtainable through "King's Requests", the mission mode of the game. By clearing the missions and completing the objectives, many Diamonds can be earned, though this takes some dexterity and patience. Finally, in the in-game shop, you can also grab one-time bundles of 10 Diamonds for fulfilling certain objectives, mostly related through incoming visitors as above. Even so, all of these methods require efforts that are not very little in dedication and/or time.

So the crux of the matter is that I could use the help of more Rumble World players around me. I find that I'm not quite a dexterous player, so it can be hard to complete the missions in order to obtain Diamonds, and I find it preferable to just venture and catch Pokémon while hoping to have stronger ones to aid the missions. For that, new Pokémon areas really help, but the last few Hot-Air Balloons require an immense number of Diamonds that is hard to obtain in a short time, except with some help from visitors and the Diamonds they provide. And thus I need visitors to keep the Diamonds rolling in.

Getting Diamonds, if you don't or can't use eShop funds to get more, is definitely a challenging part of this game aside from the gameplay itself. So much of the game is designed around them that it's hard to progress further with just a small amount. Yet, getting Diamonds through other methods is a gargantuan effort that requires patience and skill. It seems in my case I'll have to settle for gathering up a lot of those in addition to the Diamonds themselves.

Ad Astra per Aspera... and the Third Games

"Ad astra per aspera" is Latin for "to the stars through hardships". So it means to go through difficulties first before achieving greatness, which is practically true everywhere, including in playing the Pokémon games. Nowadays, however, when it comes to Pokémon and stars, it's mostly about speculation about the third game complement to Sun and Moon, which many players think it will be Stars. Speculation is loud and rife, but nothing is set in stone yet due to many uncertainties.

Historically, the main series of games had third-game versions up to the fourth generation; these offered the same gameplay as the primary pair of that generation, except with a few different twists and turns. It is this fact that I appreciate that kept me playing all the third-game versions rather than playing the other game of the main pair. However, none of the remade games came with a third-game version, and in the fifth generation, the paired games were followed up with a second pair of games rather than a third game proper, while the sixth generation nothing was ever realized.

Considering this history, the future of "third-games" seems bleak. Back during the time of the sixth generation, speculation was also plenty, but nothing ended up appearing, though it looked like a third game or a second pair was a natural. In current times, this is exaggerated further because the 3DS does not have a successor set for it, though most players already assume that the Switch is poised to take up this role, even more so since the Pokémon games are starting to lag (cf. my post about 3D and 2D). If a third game is coming, the name is a consideration in addition to the platform - we might not even have "Stars" as its subtitle, as possibilities like "Earth" are also intriguing. Everything is up in the air.

The history of "third-games" for the Pokémon games is both established and uncertain, due to their past succession for the former and recent happenings for the latter. Speculation is fine for hoping that one may come, but until one is announced, speculation remains only trading figments of imagination about what and how the game will be. In the meantime, thinking about "Stars" is a fine thought, for it also rings true in Pokémon that greatness is a follow-up to hardships. We can only hope it will turn out in this manner.

A Hero Looks to the Sky

Every night I look at the sky
Call your name
And wonder where you are
Every night I look at the sky
Baby, miss you
Won't you come back
-- "Look to the Sky", SySF. feat. ANNA (Sota Fujimori feat. Anna Quinn)

It's rare that other game music reminds me of Pokémon, but this one does. Nowadays music for music games is just as good as some mainstream music, and that's saying something. This one that I've quoted is actually a song from DanceDanceRevolution and it represents the composer's debut. The song's been since removed, but the memory of it still sticks in my head, particularly with a figment of imagination that I associate with Pokémon.

For this one, the imagination refers to the Mystery Dungeon series. In the first three games, the protagonist represents a human transformed into a Pokémon, and this memory remains. Taken a step further, it could be plausible that the protagonist misses some aspects of human life, and so the chorus of this song as quoted above represents what could happen with the protagonist between fulfilling all the duties in the main storyline; the protagonist could awaken in the night, look out at the stars, and contemplate. A similar thing happens at the end when the protagonist disappears to return to the human world and the partner is left alone to do the same thing until the protagonist returns to do more things. Either way, it's a romantic imagination.

Game music and especially music for music games tends to be short, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in other musical qualities, and this one does so by virtue of lyrical content. The romance that is evoked in this song is a good one, and good enough to remind me of something Pokémon, even if in the end it's merely an imagination. Still, the imagination is reasonable, and it might as well be true; it's a fantasy situation augmented by the romantic feelings of the song.

Takara Tomy Pokémon XY Pikachu Plush Doll

Remember that camera+doll offer that I saw the other day? To be honest, I already have a high-quality Pikachu doll, minus the camera of course. This one is a rare find among fans in my area, and for a good reason: this doll came directly from the Land of the Rising Sun by way of one of my relatives, who knows that I am a big Pokémon fan and got it specifically to satisfy that reason. It's something that I welcome and appreciate so much, even considering the quality and appearance of the doll.

The doll is not quite big; it's about 25 x 25 x 15 cm all around. Even so, the details of the doll are excellent. I like how the digits on the hands and feet are easily visible and tangible in addition to the curvature around the limbs. The facial and body proportions are aesthetically pleasing; the elements of the face are big enough to make the face look cute and the stripes on the back fit the body. The tail is not fluffy, but then again this is an official merchandise and therefore the standards have been set. Even the left ear is slightly offset on the vertical as a quirk. Every detail makes this doll what it is.

This doll came attached to a paper base, but as with anything Pokémon, I like the base as much as the doll. So the base is not leaving this doll; it'll remain to be a part of the display for this doll. I say "display" because I do not intend to use this doll for actual doll purposes, at least not for much of the time. It's just too pretty and too cute for the latter, but this works great for the former. That the base and the doll remain intact together serves this purpose well.

Such a rare doll is totally worth having, with or without a camera in tow. In that regard, I'm pretty blessed to have just this doll with all its visible features and quirks. I can't hope to have every single Pikachu doll there is, but to have something as great as this is just plain wonderful. For those who do go to Japan and like Pokémon and/or Pikachu, it is highly recommended to pick up a doll like this on the way back; it can be an expression of gratitude later on, as with this one.

A Test of My Resolve: I Still...

I still need you
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you
-- "I Still...", Backstreet Boys

I don't know everything about Pokémon. In fact, I don't know everything about everything. So there are always things I don't know in addition to things I know. And recently I discovered something about Pokémon that if I were any more foolish, I'd turn away and give it all up. But I won't, and there is a reason why... and there is a connection with the above song.

As I've said in the very first post on this blog, inspiration is one of the reasons why I started this blog. Many things that I've posted about in this blog show that Pokémon has a lot of inspiration going into it as well as going outwards. Inspiration is the driving force behind why so many regions in the world resemble real-world ones, as well as creations like pillows and shirts. In short, inspiration is everywhere when it comes to Pokémon.

To turn away from this inspiration is tantamount to denying that it isn't. It would additionally deny my own inspirations that result from Pokémon, not all of which I have divulged in this blog. So here is my resolve: I won't turn away regardless of what I know or don't know, and what I am capable or not capable of doing in regard to Pokémon. I can only regard it in a better light, the same way as Ash becomes a better Trainer.

This is why the song above came to mind. Even for Pokémon, things happen sometimes without my knowledge until I find out what, how, and why things are the way they are. Irrespective of that, inspiration still flows in and out of it, and this is something to be appreciated. I still think Pokémon has a place in my heart because of that inspiration, no matter how things play out. It's one that I need, and it's one that I care about.

What's Appenin' (Mobile Games)

Thanks to the runaway yet momentary success of Pokémon Go, Pokémon has also fully embraced mobile gaming in some ways. And just recently, another mobile game app with Pokémon has been released. There are now a total of four official mobile game apps with Pokémon, all of which are attractive, though with the situation and load on my phone, I'm not in the position to download them; should I get a new phone, I will definitely download the game apps to play them. Here are my takes on the three current other mobile games aside from Go:

Shuffle Mobile. As I've mentioned in my earlier post about Shuffle, Shuffle Mobile is the exact game as its 3DS brethren, except it started later than the 3DS edition. That means the mobile edition is great for those who want to free up space on the 3DS and/or delegate it for other games. Since I started playing on the 3DS, I'm not interested in migrating to Mobile, more so since progress is not transferable and I really do not wish to take care of two progresses of the same game. If I do download this game, it will be to tinker with and opine here about it. Otherwise for me its role is limited.

Duel. I'm told by my friends that this game is like a board game with abstract strategy. Back when this game was released, a bunch of my online Pokémon friends really got into it and talked about it quite fervently as they played. Looking at the game, it looks like a typical mobile game with all the frills and challenges. I am interested in downloading and playing this, although I'm also concerned that I may become addicted to it as with Shuffle. I'll reserve judgment after I play.

Magikarp Jump. This is the one that has just been released, and it's quite an odd one because it features what most fans recognize as the most pathetic Pokémon there is. But within the realm of this game Magikarp appears to be venerated for jumping and looking different. The cartoon graphics just add to the differentiation of the experience. As with Duel, I will give it a try and hope not to get addicted.

Pokémon mobile games seem to run the gamut from the iconic (Go) to the innovative (Magikarp Jump). They're nothing like the main series of games on the Nintendo handhelds, but at least they take Pokémon into new directions of gaming in which longtime fans can take interest and non-hardcore gamers can enjoy. I for one welcome this and other new takes to come on Pokémon mobile gaming.

A Camera and a Pikachu Doll

I went down to the mall today for an errand, and a Pokémon-related thing caught my eye. As I passed by a camera shop, I noticed that the shop displayed Pikachu dolls along with the cameras. It turns out that the shop has an offer going on: by buying a certain model of camera, a Pikachu doll is given as a gift. This is a really, really nice offer indeed because the camera is from a popular excellent brand and the bonus is something that I love. However, I'm not likely to get it - even if the doll is tempting enough - for the practical reason that I need to save my money and spend it elsewhere, which is why I'm discussing it now.

Even so, a camera is something that I would like to have, though not desperately. I have a separate camera which is a hand-me-down from a relative, but the sad thing is that it is now challenged to work well in regard to its various aspects. First of all, the camera is old, so the resolution is not as good as today's cameras. Second, the battery is old, so it drains quickly, and even on various occasions I've had trouble charging it. While I have a camera on my cellphone, which works for general picture-taking and social media, it's not workable enough for specific photography purposes and with the load on my phone, which is why I'm interested in separating this function from my phone and lighten my phone's load. Regardless, the camera phone is what I've used to take pictures of objects that I've covered in this blog so far, and it's useful enough for that. A separate camera would be even more useful for taking pictures for this blog.

As for the doll, the quality is excellent. It's a step up from even the best dolls that are available in local doll shops. If I can get the doll on its own separate from the camera, I may do just that, but then it would also depend on the price; if the doll is quite expensive, which I suspect it might very well be, then I might just refrain altogether. At that point I'd settle for the doll as being the bonus for the camera rather than getting both separately, and that brings me back to square one.

In the end, a camera is somewhat desirable, and a Pikachu doll of great quality is just plain awesome. To get both at the same time is an exciting prospect, but only if I had the funds to allocate to them, which I don't at the moment. I suppose that I'll have to get by with what I have for now, and perhaps when time passes by, there might be an even better camera and Pikachu doll waiting for me.

Retro Rendezvous

Pokémon by now is over two decades old. So for some people, to see things that hark back to the early days of Pokémon, this becomes a blast from the past, or even a nostalgic experience. Pokémon came about just before the Nintendo handheld gaming world fully transitioned into living color, so it has a similar legacy that only a few game series or franchises have. Anything that brings back memories and experiences of this legacy can then be considered retro, and this is not a bad thing.

In Pokémon Rumble World, if you encounter Mewtwo, the background music changes to something that resembles the wild Pokémon battle music from the original games. Even as Mewtwo is being shown, the alert sound for the battle is played. In X and Y, Mewtwo is found in a secluded cave, reminiscent of the situation of the Cerulean Cave in the original games. As the one of the first Legendary Pokémon, Mewtwo is emblematic of its generation and is fondly remembered as such, though it is rarely prominently displayed. In duplicating all these experiences, retro becomes the flavor when Mewtwo is involved; the nostalgia is evident and enhances the current experience.

Speaking of duplicating experiences, the first-generation Game Boy games are available as virtual emulated games for play on the 3DS using the Virtual Console. For those who have never owned a Game Boy and the games, no longer own them, or still own them but not in a working state, this is a great way to play the games. I personally welcome this as I fall into the third camp, having little interest in getting my old game stuff to work, and especially welcome that these are slightly enhanced for modern conveniences such as wireless trading and even import into Sun and Moon. It's thus a great way to evoke a retro Pokémon experience.

Even the messaging and social app LINE has gotten into the retro Pokémon vibe. There is a sticker and a theme featuring Pokémon and associated things from the first generation as they appeared then, pixels and all. In addition, the sticker is a sound sticker, which means that on un-silenced phones, it can be tapped to play relevant sound clips from the first games, including the bicycle and Poké Flute themes. I'm interested in obtaining the sticker, though less so with the theme just for practical reasons at the moment. In both cases, they look good and deliver that retro feeling for any fan that seeks it.

When it comes to Pokémon, retro is a natural thing, given how old the series or franchise actually is. Those that long for the feeling when the series or franchise was much simpler can evoke it in various ways, with and within games or otherwise. It's truly a legacy that early players are nostalgic to revive and current players can revel in. This will certainly help to preserve the retro feelings for generations and players to come in later years.

Becoming a Connoisseur

If you've seen the BW series or the Unova saga of the Pokémon anime, then you've most likely gotten acquainted with Cilan, one of the main characters in Ash's company and part of the leader trio of the first Pokémon Gym in Unova. Now, Cilan is a real character; he has a lively personality and is very knowledgeable about many things, not the least of which is Pokémon. In fact, he states that he is a great Pokémon connoisseur, someone who evaluates the Pokémon compatibility and battling styles of other Trainers. Indubitably, someone who does so needs to possess a lot of knowledge. In some ways, I too can be considered a kind of connoisseur and have gone through my process of becoming a connoisseur.

Cilan states that connoisseurs have to earn recognition as such with what they know. In a similar fashion, I have gone through two processes of recognition for what I know best. If in the case of Cilan that would be in relation to Pokémon, in my case that would be in relation to languages and their related science, or better known as linguistics. Now I'm undergoing my third process of earning recognition for something that I do that is not too distantly related to languages, and when that is done, I can call myself a connoisseur of three areas related to languages. What I do is really not that much different from what Cilan does, only in my case it results in a product rather than a response; all the same, our lines of work require much knowledge.

In order to do his work, Cilan needs to know not only about Pokémon, but also people's personalities so that he can evaluate how their battle styles work for them. In order to do my work, language knowledge is important, but so is knowledge of other things. The point is that we make use of extra information to make sense of our world and to deliver results. He does it by understanding the people he evaluates; I do so by understanding how other things work. In the end, we make sure that knowledge benefits us by contributing to the grand picture (his case) or grand design (my case).

Cilan is someone that I admire not just because of the way he acts and his qualities. I do believe that I see a lot of myself in him. On the surface what we do may be perceived as wholly and totally different, but deep down there is an inherent similarity in what we do; we're both recognized for what we do and we use lots of knowledge to aid us in our efforts. It's an amazing similarity, truly. I know I would appreciate what he does if I were in the Pokémon world, and perhaps he'd do the same if he were real.

To Japan and Beyond

I've been to a few places around the world, but likewise and conversely, there are also a few places that I haven't been to. Among those places, there are several that are also connected with Pokémon in some way. I like to go to new places to see and enjoy them, but it would also be fun to go to places that evoke connections to Pokémon as well. I know I'm in great places if I am able to visit them and enjoy Pokémon at the same time.

One of those places that I haven't been to is Japan. It is natural for anyone who loves Japanese things, including Pokémon, to have the desire to visit Japan. It is, after all, the birthplace of Pokémon. I would want to visit to not only take in the sights, which is obviously a part of the inspiration for the appearance of the world of the early games, but also to experience Pokémon in different ways and grab as many things Pokémon that I can get for my collection. This is also in addition to a plethora of things I want to do in Japan as I am also a fan of many things Japanese. It would be a challenge to do all of these in a single visit, but at least I can try.

In today's modern times, Pokémon is known in many places. To that effect, certain places have Pokémon Centers, which instead of being a place to heal Pokémon, becomes a place to get Pokémon stuff. Some of these places are in Japan, which would be precluded in my desires above. But there is also a prominent place outside Japan with a Pokémon Center of its own, and that is New York. It is this that I would like to visit if I ever have the chance. Also, every year, the Pokémon World Championships are held in a particular location; while I hardly will ever qualify for such a prestigious tournament, perhaps it would be nice to visit and drop by as the tournament progresses.

As I've mentioned in this post, the regions in the main series of Pokémon games are based on some real places, including Japan and New York. A visit to the places as desired above would also preclude seeing the inspirations for the regions, as would be the same for the other regions I mentioned in the other post. Though the visits would be primarily uncharacteristic of Pokémon in the latter case, it would still be pleasant to take note of how they fit in, Pokémon-wise. The same would be true of other places that provide partial inspiration for other Pokémon things, like Venice for a feature film.

As a Pokémon fan, my desire to travel is similar to that of the ones who travel most in that world, the Trainers. So to be able to travel to those places where relations to Pokémon are present would be a wonderful opportunity. It would feel like I really am a venturing Trainer going there to catch Pokémon... or at least the experiences thereof, in addition to satisfying my travel desires. It really is a Pokémon world out there, and I possess the desire to see them all.

Cosplay: East and West

Finally, I made it to the fifth event in five weeks one after the other. It's a little tiring to be sure, but it's a lot of fun as well. Now, this event is the second one held by what I believe is a local association of Japanese fans after the one they held one a year and a half ago; this effectively acts as its sequel. As for the name of the event, I had some trouble deciding how to call this event (by the way the logo was written) until it was announced and I saw it written clearly that the event was titled as you see in the title of the post.

How would you call this event, by this logo?

After much self-debate on what to wear, I chose to go with my original plan and cosplay as Ash BW. Typically, when I know there will be several events over several weeks, I make plans as to what I will cosplay at which event so I can structure costume usage appropriately. But sometimes, I may change plans suddenly due to specific circumstances, and that was one part of the self-debate. The other part was because I wanted to look my best so I could stand to win the prize in the cosplay walk or parade... which I didn't win. There were only two prizes and 20-plus cosplayers registered for it, so the chance of winning was already small from the outset. I still had a good time though, so that is what matters most.

I have to say that while there were fewer people than usual for a cosplay event on Sunday, they did try an innovative stage layout: the stage is a box in the center, visible from four sides, rather than a single side for the audience. Even so, most bands and dance cover groups did not make effective use of this arrangement and continued to perform facing one side, leaving the other mostly empty. It did, however, benefit cosplayers in the parade or walk to give them a place to pose as the parade proceeded. I would like to see this done more effectively at future events as well.

By the way, the title of "East and West" really means what it says: this event is designed to try to bring in Western influences, including animation, characters, and so on, to local events, which tend to remain on the Japanese or Eastern side. To that effect, all bands were asked to perform one Western fandom-related song in addition to the usual helpings of Japanese (Eastern) songs. I personally applaud this effort of bringing in a different flavor, although I also think Pokémon could be placed in this framework as well, as it can be considered to transcend the two sides.

As I've said, this is the fifth event in five consecutive weeks, and I think we all deserve a break. We're getting one, in fact: for approximately the next month and at least one week after, we are pretty much assured of not having any events; it is in effect our cool-down period. Thus as a closure to the five-event period, this event works out despite being underwhelming in some aspects. I am glad, though, to have participated in all events in the week prior, and I can't wait to partake in the next one after the break.

Oddest Things with Pokémon

Earlier in this blog, I discussed odd things with Pikachu that I found. As it turns out, there are not only odd things with Pikachu; there are also odd things with Pokémon, or elements thereof. Like the odd things with Pikachu, these may be considered odd to different degrees, and much of this has to do with the relationship of the "things" to Pokémon. The things that I've found just recently might surprise you.

Yet again, one of those odd things is a food stall. See for yourself:

Sounds yummy!

Now for a little bit of explanation. This food stall sells - or is supposed to sell - fried "monster" cheese-flavored cassava treats, which is described below the Pokémon logo. In Indonesia, people love acronyms, even memorable ones, so if people can bend words to make and suit a particular acronym, they will. However, I've never seen this particular stall open, whether in the daytime or at night, so I remain curious. On the other hand, this kind of treats is available in other places, so I might go to those instead if I really do have a hankering for them.

Then, just the other day, I found this in a local TV show:

What is THAT??

The show is supposed to be a showcase for local cultural items, but in the introductory segment for this particular episode, the host spoke in a space where there was a Poké Ball in the background. It was the only time when the Poké Ball appeared, as the rest of the show, including the closing segment, took place elsewhere. I'm sure this appearance is incidental, but it warrants a mention nonetheless.

How odd is too odd? As I've mentioned in the post about odd Pikachu things, it's about the relationship. The "Pokémon" food stall is amusing although being only related to Pokémon by a language phenomenon, so it doesn't seem that odd. The appearance of the Poké Ball in a national TV show, though, is just quirky no matter what the case was, so it could be considered as odd. In other words, the former is understandable to the point that it's an ordinary gimmick, while the latter is an extraordinary circumstance that is not expected to happen, making them less odd and too odd respectively.

So once again, whether something is odd or not so odd, this time for Pokémon in general, can be judged by its impressions; if it works with it, then it's not so odd, but if it conflicts somewhat, then it is. In any case, oddness is relative depending on the thing and the circumstance. I suppose it's only right to prepare myself for the next odd thing with Pokémon that comes my way.

On the Mystery of Dungeons

I've mentioned the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon spinoff game series a few times, but I've never discussed about it specifically. If you've never played it, the gameplay involves controlling Pokémon to move through labyrinthine dungeons while fending off other enemy Pokémon in turn-by-turn fashion similar to the main series. Mystery Dungeon games exist for several game franchises, so the concept itself is by no means unique, but obviously I'm attracted to the Pokémon one because it is what I love.

I've been attracted to the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games ever since the first ones - the Rescue Team sub-series - came out. In fact, I tried to "jump the gun", so to speak, by playing the Japanese version first even though I had no knowledge whatsoever of the language. The result was that there was much I didn't understand as I played the game while winging it through; eventually I hit a wall and couldn't progress further. When I finally got the English version and played it, I finally understood the workings of the game and could play the game all the way to the completion of the main storyline. Regardless, at that point I was hooked to this new spinoff series.

Of the first three sub-series, which I have played at least one game each (or the only game, in case of Gates to Infinity), I find that I like the Explorers sub-series on the Nintendo DS the most, because the story is enjoyable and it improves the mechanics from the first sub-series without adding too much, though the complexity remains the same - it truly feels like playing an expanded version of the first series. Even so, it is also this complexity which ramps up after the main storyline is complete that keeps me from tackling the most difficult portions of the games; this applies for just about any game in the series.

Interestingly, I've also developed relations based on Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. Back when a good part of communication on the web was still done on forums, I met a user in a forum that also liked the first sub-series, though it was a little hard to communicate with the user because at that time I believe he was the same age as I was when I started to like Pokémon in the first place, and at that point in time our imaginations were really far out. I wonder how that user is doing now. On the other hand, years later, I met another user in another forum that liked the second sub-series, and as I found out later, Pokémon in general. The best part? I got to meet him in person a few years ago - though it wasn't for Pokémon - and we've been friends ever since. He's famous in some ways and has left a certain legacy in a music game I now rarely have the chance to play.

As for Super Mystery Dungeon, I'm still interested to play it, though I have not been able to devote efforts for procuring and playing the game. Since I've played all generations of the previous games, it's only natural that I continue with Super Mystery Dungeon. It'll just have to come later.

I have my moments with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. It's a challenging yet attractive game that doesn't stray too far from the main series, and it proves to be popular among fans as well, if my developed relations are any indication. It's definitely an established part of the Pokémon franchise, and it makes me very pleased to have played it.

Pins and Pins

From the same event last Sunday, I also picked up a small bunch of pins. There were actually two sizes of pins on offer, small and large, but the price ratio was 6:1, which means that you could get 6 small pins for the price of 1 large pin. Considering this, I picked up the small pins, which were more numerous in quantity and variety. Fortunately for me, there were more than quite a few Pokémon-related pins, of which three I picked up for my collection.

Looking at the pins - Charmander, Alakazam, and Zapdos, all of which are first-generation Pokémon - the influence of Go seems to be still strong, as the game initially featured those Pokémon during its boom. The Charmander one also complements the stickers for which I couldn't find the one for Charmander. However, looking at the Zapdos pin, I can't help but notice that its image seems a little jagged around the edges, which could be an indication that the image used for the pin was low in resolution. Regardless, I like the use of the official images on the pins, though the pin itself remains indie.

Pins aren't exactly my first choice for collectibles of anything, since you can only put them effectively in so many places - namely wherever fabrics are involved. That's not to say you can't put them in a case, but they are better shown when they are stuck on something. One of my relatives put a collection of pins on a fabric tapestry and hung that on a wall. This is something I can foresee doing, though it would be a challenge to make the fabric tapestry Pokémon-related also.

Still, if pins are available in later events, I might just get a few more to add to my collection. I might also consider the larger pin, though this will mean shelling out a little more money and sacrificing a little more space. The tapestry approach remains intriguing, though, and it's something I want to do should I have a lot of pins later on. In the meantime I can think and rethink its concept while I collect more and more pins.

A Pokémon Pencil Bag

Pokémon is all about its variety of creatures, so it would be right to respect the varieties by including as many of them as possible in anything, and this includes merchandise. When done right and in an appropriate style, the results can be pleasant to look at and even more so to have. Such is the case for a pencil bag that I had also picked up from last Sunday's event:

A good variety of Pokémon appears on this pencil bag. There are the first-generation starters as well as Pikachu. Snorlax and Eevee are present for those who like Normal types. For Fairy fans, there are Clefairy and Jigglypuff. There are even second-generation Pokémon, as Marill and Togepi are also present. Mew, Oddish, and Psyduck round out the rest, and the scene contains a smattering of Poké Balls to round it out. It's an interesting scene to be sure for anyone who likes a variety of Pokémon.

The art style for the pencil bag tends toward child-like drawings, but that's not a bad thing. On one hand it can evoke cuteness for younger users, and nostalgia for older ones. Not only that, some Pokémon in the scene - including Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Snorlax - are repeated with a variety of expressions. What this does is to give life to the scene; if the Pokémon were just as they are in one expression, it would feel kind of drab and dull. Fortunately that doesn't happen, and there is a sense of action that occurs among the Pokémon in the scene.

Variety is reflected in all the species of Pokémon, and thus to try to include many of them - without going overboard - is an honorable thing, especially if it can be done in a lively, active manner. Even though it may appear childish, the scene on this pencil bag does certainly just that, as there is just enough of the variety of Pokémon species depicted on it, and they all embody their spirits in their depictions. That makes me like this bag and want to use it for its intended purpose, or even any of a variety of other suitable purposes.

Pastrana and Pikachu

While on the subject of motorcycles and alternate personalities for Pikachu, I've got one that puts them both together. Recently I got a chance to watch Nitro Circus Live, which - for the uninitiated - details the efforts of a crew of action/extreme sports athletes in putting on a live show full of excitement and thrills, and that does include the freestyle branch of motocross. And the leader of this pack is none other than Travis Pastrana, who is considered a legend when it comes to extreme sports, in particular freestyle motocross. After watching the show a few times, I've come to believe that Travis Pastrana and Pikachu are spiritually connected.

All through the show, Travis becomes a supporting figure for all the athletes involved, in addition to doing a few things of his own in the live shows and even outside of it. Travis also appears to have a jolly yet firm disposition, and this resonates with all the athletes involved. I'm immediately reminded of what goes on in the Mystery Dungeon games, where it may be that the player or even the accompanying character is a Pikachu, and part of the objective for the player (with guidance from the accompanying character) is to assemble a team of Pokémon that can go into dungeons to do whatever it needs to be done. In a way, this could also be considered extreme. Yet through it all, whichever Pikachu is cast as (though this is seen more when Pikachu accompanies), the story is helped to move along in a similar way as Travis moves the shows, with a lot of friendship and drive. So there is that similarity.

Another similarity deals with the nature of Pikachu. Pikachu doesn't quite have a legendary status as other Pokémon that are classified as such, and certainly pales to the "legendary" label that is often attributed to Travis. However, Ash's Pikachu, or for that matter any primary character Pikachu (as found in PokéPark), might as well be because of its speed, agility, and moves. It is these characteristics that I think of when Travis himself gets on a bike and does his stuff, which was indeed shown on certain portions of Nitro Circus Live. The beauty of this similarity is that Pikachu can do it all without a mechanical device like a bike, yet the elegance is all the same.

This is all imaginative, fanciful, and may look like I've gone off the deep end. But thinking about it all does make sense - Travis and Pikachu share a number of characteristics that make them who or what they are: they're swift and agile, and they can be motivational to boot. I can almost imagine Pikachu holding its own "Nitro Circus" with a bunch of other Pokémon; it may not have motorcycles or bikes or any of the things in the real-world Nitro Circus, but if Pikachu also performs, then there's guaranteed to be some fast times. 😁

Adventuresome Pikachu

It's no secret that I like Pikachu just as much as Pokémon itself; by virtue of me liking Ash, I have come to like Pikachu as well. In fact, I like anything where Pikachu becomes a prominent main character and/or portrayed in a different manner. As a sidekick (and faithful friend of Ash's), Pikachu is powerful in its own ways. But on its own, Pikachu is a total character, and can seemingly adapt and be adapted to almost any situation. This versatility of character is something that I enjoy and appreciate.

In the games, this becomes a natural thing when Pokémon become main characters rather than people. The PokéPark series does it, and I have great fun as I play it; I haven't played it in some time and I miss this experience. Another game series that does the same is Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, although this doesn't happen each and every time. In the first two sub-series of the game, the player character is determined by a personality test, which you would have to answer in a certain way to get a certain Pokémon. I don't try to do this, and instead I prefer to choose Pikachu as the accompanying character, which is indeed a free choice. Of course, in the third sub-series, both were free choices, so that was the one time I chose Pikachu as the player character. There is also a game where Pikachu becomes a detective, but a friend of mine, who also informed of its existence, says that it is Japan-only, with no English localization foreseeable for it, which is a shame, since it might be intriguing to play. In all of these games, Pikachu becomes more than an ordinary Pokémon and actually helps to move the story along.

In merchandise, this becomes an area of wide interpretation. One such (official) interpretation has already been done by Pokémon Center, which has offered at one time Pikachu plushes that are dressed like a member of the villainous teams from across generations. These are stylishly evil and I'm tempted to get one, though not in the near future, and only if it works out for me. Other interpretations tend to be indie and unofficial, but they can be as interesting. Consider the Pikachu illustration on this hand fan that I got from one of the stalls of yesterday's event:

On this hand fan, Pikachu is illustrated as an aviator, with a distinctive cap and scarf. It might be a little hard to imagine Pikachu as an aviator, since Pikachu normally stays on the ground. However, there is always the possibility of Pikachu riding along on Flying-type Pokémon and going to places across the world. It might just be what some Pikachu dream about.

Pikachu is popularly recognized as a result of its close association with Ash, but arguably on its own there is a great deal of character personality that is associated with it. Thus it becomes unsurprising that Pikachu can take a primary role in the games or become associated with personalities that are often ascribed to its human counterparts. I think there is nothing wrong with that; it enhances the experience, develops the character, and most importantly, makes me like it and Pokémon even more.

Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 12

I like many cosplay events around the region where I live, but I have to say that I have quite a personal attachment with this one. That's because this event is actually an event of my alma mater - my faculty or school, even - and so I feel like I'm "playing on home turf" for this one. Moreover, as evidenced by the "12", this year is the twelfth time this event is being held; this event can be said to be a pioneering event for events around the region when it started 12 years ago. Cosplay at the event itself came a couple years later, but it has grown ever since.

This event practically demands me to bring the best I've got, so I chose to be Ash XY this year... again. I've had a history of repeating costumes at this event when I was requested a few years back to be a character I've previously been the year before, so I'm OK with this precedence. As well, I'm not really satisfied with how I was last year with Ash XY, so I went at it again. And now I'm satisfied enough that I can do something different next time.

This event is actually a two-day event, but most people, including me, don't attend on the first day and only consider the second day as "the event". The first day is mostly for high school-level events, while the second day all the events are for the general public, including cosplay. I must say, though, for all the times I've attended previously, I've never participated in the cosplay competitions for one reason or another, and this year, the reason is that I couldn't fulfill the registration requirements due to other things I had going on. I really, really want to change this next time, and I want to see to it that this does happen.

Other than the presence of exhibitions, which are tailored for the setting, this event is pretty much standard. There were bands (as well as an indie band competition), dance cover groups, and food and merchandise stalls. This year, though, the organizers also stepped up the guest star scale by inviting not one, but two of the country's most well-known cosplay stars to meet and greet fans, as well as to judge the competitions. They say they've been doing this effort - scaling up the guests and therefore the event's prominence - since a couple years back, and I believe them; I also trust that they can create further breakthroughs next time.

One last word: "isshoni tanoshimimashou" means "let's have fun together" in Japanese, and they've held on to that premise, even this year. I got to interact with all my friends and beyond as well as to take in the event in its entirety, so I certainly had fun. I'm hoping for even more of that fun next time; it's an event that is near and dear to me, and I want to keep it that way.

Cosplay Photography

There are a lot of things I like and want to do with my Pokémon cosplay. One of them is to participate in cosplay photography. Cosplay photography can be considered to be an important adjunct to cosplay: it's where many character moments are realized and preserved. Cosplayers can act out poses of their character as well as preserve their cosplay state in front of the camera. This is an area where there can be had a little creativity in cosplay while considering my character, which for the most part are Pokémon characters.

Casual cosplay photography is the kind that occurs most often when mingling with visitors or with other cosplayers. In these situations, I don't have a lot of time to think about my poses, so I usually act the first pose that comes to mind. Further, the pose is often dictated by the situation and the space, as in whether the picture is being taken of me alone or with others, whether the picture is a selfie or being taken with the help of others, and/or whether there is a lot or not a lot of space to take the picture. In the case of my Pokémon cosplay, it means relying on a Poké Ball or my feature Pokémon, which in the case of Ash or Red is Pikachu, to help me with the pose.

Special cosplay photography is the kind that occurs when I'm dictated by a cosplay photographer to help with replicating a certain pose or to follow their direction in posing for a picture. This is the kind that I've mentioned in regard to the pose of the Ash and Pikachu keychain. In either case, I relinquish some creative control with the pose involved or because of their direction. This kind doesn't necessarily happen at cosplay events, as sometimes a group of cosplayers or even the cosplay photographers themselves can request an ad hoc photo shoot outside events. I've long since participated in one of these, though I hope it will happen in the near future; if it ever does happen, then I would certainly go for replicating the aforementioned pose.

Cosplay photography is what makes a cosplay worth its while, as the cosplay experience is preserved in a photograph and it draws out the acting or roleplaying skills of cosplayers. This is certainly true even for my Pokémon cosplay, where as I am dressed as Ash or Red, I try to act out moves and poses for the enjoyment of others as well as to display my passion, and this is all encapsulated in pictures. In doing so, I realize my character's moments and preserve them, fulfilling the "play" aspect of cosplay. It's something I'm only happy to do with my Pokémon cosplay.

You Are Blessed

And you, you'll be blessed
You'll have the best
I promise you that
I'll pick a star from the sky
Pull your name from a hat
I promise you that, promise you that, promise you that
You'll be blessed
-- "Blessed", Elton John

It's been a month since I've discussed a song that reminds me of Pokémon, so I feel that I can discuss about another. This one has been on my mind for some time now, so now is a good time as any to discuss it.

All fans of the Pokémon anime know that in the very first episode, a Pokémon flew over the sky as Ash embarked on his journey and met the first difficulties along the way. That Pokémon is commonly taken as Ho-Oh, and this event is commonly taken as a sign of greatness-to-be, fitting in with Ash's desires of being the best Trainer there is. It's a fantastic goal that unfortunately has not been achieved yet, but I (and Ash) have no doubt that it may very well happen.

Now, in regard to this song, I feel compelled to think that Ho-Oh has the words of the lyrics in its mind when observing the world of Trainers, including those that have yet to become people (the first verse), hopeful Trainers (the second verse), and the most hopeful of Trainers (the third verse) where the last of these groups include Ash. The chorus, which I've quoted above, just simply refers to any Trainer but most particularly Ash. While I'm sure the lyrics all refer to a single person, this is a fanciful interpretation that is not hard to be imagined to be appropriate.

The point is that all Trainers are blessed for greatness, even if they don't witness Ho-Oh directly. Yet the fanciful thought of Ash witnessing Ho-Oh and being destined for greatness remains the most fantastic, even if this has a hard time of being realized. At the least Ho-Oh knows it, and maybe through the views of this song, we know it too. You are blessed, and that is a wonderful thing.

A Shout-Out to a Fellow Blogger

There are different kinds of bloggers on the Internet. There are "conventional" bloggers like me who use the power of words to discuss different things. There are also vloggers, who instead make videos to encapsulate their thoughts and get a good view of the situation. And then there are motovloggers, who are vloggers that do what they do while riding a motorcycle. It is this particular type of blogger that I derive some entertainment from, and there's one person with a particular Pokémon connection that I want to address and make a shout out to.

But first, a little confession. As I've explained in a follow-up post to my desires of making and having an itasha, I live in a place with many, many motorcycles around; in fact, I grew up with them and have witnessed how they evolved (pardon the pun) and how they now fill up the roads. So naturally, I became interested in motorcycles and perhaps in owning one. However, the reality is that I still don't have one, and if today's prices and lifestyles are any indication, I might just end up not owning one, yet the irony is that a majority of my friends own one of some sort. So I don't know about this - but what I do know is that I'll continue to have some attraction to motorcycles in the same way I'll continue to be fully attached to Pokémon...

...which brings me back to the point of this post, to address and make a shout out to a particular motovlogger with a Pokémon connection. And that motovlogger goes by the name of Chase. A year or two ago, I happened upon his motovlog channel on YouTube; at that time I did not think of it much other than it was purely entertaining from a motorcycling standpoint. It was only when the vlogs started to dip into a look at the rest of his life that I found out he liked Pokémon as well, to the point that he also showed off his collection of plushes as well as his 2DS... I think. It's been a long time. As if that wasn't enough, he also dropped in one of his vlogs that he cosplayed as well, though it was more of a Western cosplay for him.

Unfortunately, I fell off the "wagon", so to speak; when a series of unfortunate events befell his motorcycling escapades, I became disillusioned and found it hard to remain attentive to his motovlogs, so I stopped watching. I suppose it wasn't because I no longer cared - it was just because I didn't know how else to express my care, especially in regard to the unfortunate circumstances. Before this happened, though, I had the chance to write up an e-mail to him, and the way that he responded was really nice. Thus I also really want to say I'm sorry that this became the case. As fans of Pokémon, I think we should try to be close; it is, after all, something we have in common, and perhaps able to be combined with our motorcycling interest, as I considered with itasha.

So Chase, if you're reading this blog and this post in particular, I want to say thank you for letting us (and me in particular) peek into your life and to find out you like Pokémon, even if it's a minor focus than motorcycles. It is exactly what I'm doing here, only that is the primary focus. Regardless, we're also bloggers in our different ways, and I hope that we can stay close in that aspect, in addition to with Pokémon.

Site Design

Discussing the colors of the international Pokémon logo reminds me of something else that's blue and yellow, or at least close to it: this blog's site. Ideally I should have discussed this early on when I started this blog, but now it's a good time as any, especially when I have discussed a part of its inspiration. And yes, I still consider the design a creation, even if Blogger only provided the bones and I provided the rest.

The background of the site is blue with a pattern, and the text background is yellow, or rather a different shade of those colors (light for the latter, dark for the former). While blue and yellow are fine colors, I am aware that if I used the same shades as that of the international Pokémon logo, it would be way too strong, so that is why I used different shades of those colors, but still with a contrast that is reminiscent of the logo. The reason why I have Pikachu in the background was because I was going for a monochromatic look yet still wanted to incorporate it, which is why I also shaded Pikachu in the same shade of blue.

The title graphic uses the same blue pattern as the site background with a title that is reminiscent of the Pokémon logo in font and design, and the sub-text was chosen to complement and contrast the style of the blog content - the sub-text is white while the content is black, but with similar fonts. I designed all the graphics on this site with the graphic design abilities that I had; I am by no means an expert graphic designer, but it's sufficient for everyday needs, and in particular the needs of this site.

Will I ever change the design of the blog site? Content-wise, this will likely happen, but graphic-wise, I feel that I'm all set. Since this blog is all about my connections to Pokémon, I want to keep the design related to what I feel evokes the strongest connection, which is the logo, and specifically the colors of that logo. This doesn't mean I'm not open to new ideas, so if anyone out there has a better idea for the design and can execute my ideas better than I did, I might just implement it. Until then, I'm OK with this design because it works and it helps convey that I really, really like Pokémon, a feeling that is as strong as the colors of its international logo.

Blue and Yellow Philosophy

I've mentioned the colors of the international Pokémon logo earlier when I discussed about logos, but I haven't quite discussed the philosophy of those colors. Every color has meanings associated with it, so even the Pokémon logo would carry meanings based on its colors. And based on those meanings, I can tell what philosophy I should (or already do) have as a Pokémon fan.

The primary colors of the international Pokémon logo are blue and yellow. In the most common interpretations, blue is taken to be a calm and peaceful color, while yellow is taken to be cheery and energetic. By these meanings, I can tell that Pokémon can arouse as much joy as it can pacify feelings. Meanwhile, to take cues from nature, blue is the color of the sea and the sky, while yellow is the color of the sun. Thus Pokémon evokes the imagery of a beautiful day, which is always something good to think about regardless.

So how does this apply to me? This tells me that I should be grateful to have encountered Pokémon as it has brought much feelings of joy in my life, but I should also keep in mind that I shouldn't go overboard with it - I should remain humble but with gratitude. And considering the natural cues, I can say and should remember that Pokémon is my heaven, my refuge. Whenever I'm feeling down, this is what I need to have in my mind. In any case, Pokémon is a joy for me and I should keep it that way; it's something that I strive for, including with this blog.

Anything that has color has meaning based on the color, and the international Pokémon logo is no exception. For that, it carries calmness and joyfulness, and to some extent, beauty as well. I have no problem abiding by these connotations and making them a philosophy; in fact, it should be something any fan of Pokémon will want to do, and it's only rightful to keep them in mind, no matter what we do.

Ash and Pikachu Keychain

I love anything with Ash and Pikachu, so it's no surprise that when I came across this keychain, I just had to have it not only to discuss about it but also to use it somewhere in the place that I live. I used to have a different character keychain for my room's key, but then that came off (though not damaged); this will certainly be a great replacement for that. Plus, it is Pokémon, so it will really reflect what I like this time.

I've discussed about keychains before, and I stand by the fact that not only does it not break my bank, you really get your money's worth with this kind of merchandise, since they can look really nice. Looking at my previous keychains, I'm also noticing that it looks and feels like the Charizard keychain that I got then. The details and colors for the most part are accurately shaped and colored, and that makes it really nice to have.

What I also can't help but notice is the pose in which Ash and Pikachu are depicted. I'm pretty sure this is an official image since I've seen it on certain official media, but then I've also seen the image plastered at a couple of Japanese events in the past. Because I cosplay Ash as well, I'm also tempted to replicate the pose with the help of a few cosplay photographers in town. I don't know how open they would be for that at the moment, though, since I've heard less and less from them ever since they banded together a couple of years ago. I'm still interested.

I like this keychain a lot. Even if it's not 100% accurate in detail and color, it's still plenty accurate to the pose that it depicts. It pleases me to have it, especially when I can think up of an immediate use for it. Any Ash and Pikachu keychain as good as (or better than) this definitely belongs in any fan's collection.

Cosplay: J-COSHOKAI 2 - Utsukushii Hana

Here's one more event that's happening for the second time around. This event is a creation of Japan Corner students from a local technical college so that they could cater to fans of all things Japanese in town. The fact that they've only started this event the year before tells me that they've only started to understand that Japanese things are well-liked locally and they want to add to the event calendar. As a note, this is the third event in three weeks that I've been to, and there will be two more in the two weeks ahead. It used to be the case that local events were once every month or couple of months; now they can be every couple of weeks or even on back-to-back Sundays. It's hectic and fun at the same time.

Today I chose to cosplay Pokémon Trainer Red, the old version, as a change of pace. This time, I've also chosen to participate in the cosplay walk or parade. After not participating in last event's competition, I feel that I had to enliven this one. And... it was a riot, but in a good way. I still didn't win anything, though. I'm just thrilled that I got to participate, and maybe I'll get something next time. I've already got plans in mind that I can't wait to execute.

The one thing that is certainly different about this year's event is the venue. Last year, the event was held in the grand arena of the college, which felt very roomy, and perhaps a bit much. This time, the event is held in a smaller hall, which is less roomy but still somewhat comfortable, though this time the venue has its own stage, whereas last year the stage was brought in. Since this year some stands were outside, those that were had to face weather problems, something that didn't happen last year since it was fully indoors back then. Maybe they can reconsider holding it there again if they really plan to expand, but otherwise the current venue is OK.

Aside from this, the event is somewhat standard. There are bands, dance cover groups, and other Japanese entertainment. There wasn't anything extremely special for those. Regardless, the event is somewhat a step up from last year's edition. Even the event staff were very friendly and informative, something I noticed even before I entered the event; that alone made it worthwhile to come. For the most part, it has been a perfect day for a perfect event, and I appreciate it all.

Shuffling Stages

Pokémon Shuffle has come a long way since it was first released. Its stages have also, for lack of a better word, evolved, though many of the mechanics remain the same. With the way I play the game, however, I don't spend on Jewels to get extra Hearts to play through the stages. So I've developed my own guidelines on how to deal with the stages that appear in the game using purely the Hearts I obtain as replenished by time or occasionally from bonus gifts.

Main Stages. Since I've played from the very beginning, I've caught up with the main stages, except maybe for a few of the more recent ones. In recent times, some Main Stages have had repeated Pokémon as a way to furnish personal Skill Boosters; other than for this, clearing them for an S Rank, catching Pokémon I haven't caught, pursuing Missions on Mission Cards, and other rare cases, I don't replay them. I also defer clearing new stages should they appear until I feel that I have caught up on Special Stages, since the latter only appears for a limited time.

Expert Stages and ordinary Special Stages. Expert Stages appear as you clear Main Stages with an S Rank, which is why that becomes important. However, there is no apparent bonus to clearing them with specific ranks, so once I have caught the Pokémon for that stage, I refrain from replaying them. The same is true of ordinary special stages (which include those that only appear for one day or even once a day); once I have caught the Pokémon, I don't replay them except in rare cases.

Special Stages, "weekly bonuses". The weekly bonuses are an Eevee booster gift stage, an experience stage (previously Victini, now Magearna), and a Meowth coin stage. All of these I play once to get their associated bonuses, but not more than that as after the first play each week, the stages need to be unlocked with Jewels, something I'm not interested in doing. Previously these stages only appeared once per week. The experience stage (and to a lesser extent the Eevee booster stage as well) gives out lots of experience points, so it becomes important for Pokémon that I haven't raised or used much.

Special Stages, Pokémon Safari and Escalation Stages. These stages are important because there is a bunch of Pokémon lumped together as one stage for the former and there is a bunch of items that can be obtained in the latter. In both cases, I devote as many Hearts as possible until I have caught all the Pokémon (the former) or I feel that it's not worth the effort to obtain specific items (the latter). At those points I stop playing them and move on to something else.

Special Stages, Competitions. This stage is important for getting as many bonus items as possible based on ranking, but even more important if it's for a Mega Stone. Typically I don't pursue playing these stages until I'm at the top of the heap of players; I just play them as best as I can to get the items, then I stop. Should they reappear, then I might try for larger bonuses, but that is not terribly important.

These are just my own guidelines for treating these stages; if I had a fortune, I would not hesitate to spend Jewels for them, but I don't, so these are what I do to make up for that with only the Hearts I have. In any case, all of these stages reflect how far Pokémon Shuffle has come. And as things go, they may change again, so these guidelines may change as those stages change.

The "Me Thing" vs. the "We Thing"

Pokémon Trainers are like people. Or rather, they are in fact people in every sense of the word, just somewhat removed in a different world. So that means they exhibit the same characteristics as people in our real world. This includes the natural tendency to group together or to remain solitary. These are the things that we - including I myself - do on a regular basis, and it's not too far of a stretch to think that Pokémon Trainers do the same.

The most exemplary situation where Trainers band together is obviously Ash and company from the anime, which has been the case in the previous regions' sagas. But that doesn't mean there couldn't be other Trainers that group together; the ones in the side story for "Raikou: Legend of Thunder", which also became the first batch of episodes for Pokémon Chronicles. And of course, all the villainous groups can be considered a big faction of Trainers. The advantages of this grouping together are numerous as they are obvious, many of them strung together to a word called "assistance": Trainers together can help each other out in Pokémon and non-Pokémon aspects. On the other hand, it's perfectly fine for Trainers to be solitary, since that's how it is in the games as well as in many depictions of the Pokémon world outside the main realm of the anime.

I think of myself as being individualistic most of the time, so I would fit with the individualist paradigm of many Pokémon Trainers. I'm fine with scouting, catching, breeding, and raising Pokémon by my own efforts and the aid of the people that help Trainers in general. Yet by this token and in general, no one can live in total isolation, so that is why I interact and band together with friends in the real world; I would be glad to do the same thing in the Pokémon world with other Trainers and only be willing to help them as I do to others in the real world. While I can't hope that the experience would be the same as I've seen it in the anime, I would be up for seeing other unique experiences with a group of Trainers, though hopefully to do good deeds rather than bad ones as with the villainous groups.

It's a fact of life that people do things on their own as well as with a group, and for both our world and the Pokémon world, this applies equally well. It's what we do, whether to achieve our personal or collective goals, which any person has, real or imagined, including me. This is just one of the many things that make our world and the Pokémon world closer to each other despite being fundamentally removed by existence.

3D, 2D, and Everything in Between

Recently Nintendo just announced the New 2DS XL, which is essentially a New 3DS XL without the 3D function. Unlike the old 2DS, which has a unibody design (which could be considered retro and evocative of Nintendo's handhelds prior to the GBA), the New 2DS XL has a clamshell design like its 3DS siblings and contemporaries. While this is an interesting move on Nintendo's part, it becomes a prompt for consideration of whether 3D still has a place in today's games, in particular Pokémon games, which are my interest.

First up: a little admission. On my 3DS, I leave the 3D setting on the screen on all the time, at the maximum in fact. So that means I get a strong 3D effect whenever I'm on the Home screen or play games that utilize the 3D function. On the other hand, most of my friends who have a 3DS don't turn on the 3D effect, or maybe at the least put it at the minimum setting. The reasons for these are varied; one says the 3D effect is dizzying, and another says it's to save battery life. Personally, I don't experience the former and the latter is a less important concern. I bought the 3DS so that I could take in the 3D experience in full; had I had the same opinions as my friends and the 2DS didn't exist, I would have done the same thing as they did, while with the existence of the 2DS, I would have bought that instead.

In considering the case of Pokémon games, 3D is only present in some games and not in others. X and Y as well as Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire had 3D in the battle sequences but not in the overworld. The Rumble series are full 3D games, and so is Mystery Dungeon Gates to Infinity. Most of the other games are 2D only, including the latest members of the main series, Sun and Moon (except in one particular case). However, in the case of the main series, this is also because the games are pushing the system to its limit, as evidenced by the lag. So it seems that 3D is appreciable in some contexts and not others, but also that 3D may become a burden to the game's system.

The future of 3D seems limited. Nintendo's latest console, the Switch, doesn't even have a 3D function, yet its small stature makes it poised as a possible successor to the 3DS, though they have repeatedly said that the Switch is not a successor for it. But if breakthrough games are made for it, then it might as well be true, especially if the Pokémon main series decides to migrate to it - as rumors say it might very well happen - given how it currently burdens the 3DS system. Meanwhile, the appearance of the New 2DS XL seems to be about to become the "nail in the coffin", so to speak, for the 3D function.

It seems 3D has become an enigmatic part of history for Nintendo. On one hand it is a total visual experience that is hard to equal. On the other hand, it also demands a lot of resources, both in development and at runtime, and people have opinions about the experience. So it's no wonder that 3D appears to be (about to be) deprecated with recent developments. With that being the case, I may have to consider experiencing a 3D-less world of games while still taking in the current 3D experience as much as I can, especially with Pokémon games. To that end, I might just get that New 2DS XL if I'm fortunate.

Gender Mismatch Detected

With the arrival of seventh-generation Pokémon in Shuffle, this brings to mind three particular Pokémon of this generation known for having (perceived) issues related to gender. They are Incineroar (which is currently available as an escalation stage), Primarina, and Lurantis. Their gender issues are such that they have placed people in camps that believe they should be as the gender which they appear to belong to by way of how they are illustrated. This presents an artistic yet imaginative issue.

Incineroar is the final evolutionary stage of Litten, the generation's Fire-type starter; it looks like a bulky, brawny wrestler - fitting in with the newly added Battle Royale - and definitely evokes a masculine appearance. Primarina is the final evolutionary stage of Popplio, the generation's Water-type starter; its appearance suggests that of a feminine sea lion. Lurantis is a regular Grass-type Pokémon, the evolution of Fomantis, and it's very pink and girly; a friend of mine who is a girl has remarked that Lurantis is even girlier in appearance than how she usually dresses. And all of these Pokémon have people that support their gender being true to how they appear, even making efforts to do just that.

The issue of "gender mismatch" is not only limited to these Pokémon or their particular generation. Earlier for the third generation, a similar issue arose with Gardevoir as well as its direct predecessor Kirlia, which appear more feminine than masculine; the issue was mediated in the fourth generation by letting male Kirlia evolve into Gallade. The same could be said of the sixth-generation Braixen and Delphox, the further stages of Fennekin's evolution, both of which look feminine.

What is my take on this? While the opinions of people regarding these Pokémon may be strong and supported by appearance as well as the game mechanics (where certain Pokémon stay a certain gender), in the end they're just that: opinions. If a certain Pokémon can be of one gender or the other, then there is not much of a point making them conform to a particular gender to purely satisfy appearance concerns, unless it is to satisfy other gameplay concerns (i.e. breeding). At that point the appearance-gender link becomes a trivial cosmetically artistic issue and shouldn't be much cause for concern.

In a world of imagined creatures, it's inevitable that some Pokémon might be imagined as being more suited of one gender than another by their appearance. All the Pokémon that I've mentioned certainly do have suggestive appearances of particular genders, but that's where they really end. They're just suggestions that are purely posed by looks and not indicative of their worth. While this won't stop people from ascribing the apparent genders of the Pokémon in question to the Pokémon, at least it doesn't question the artistic and imaginative capabilities of the people that perceive as such.

Cosplay Laundry

Yesterday afternoon, I found that the laundry where I go to get all my fabric costumes washed, including my Pokémon costumes, is closing up. They'll still be open up to the middle of the month, but at this point they are effectively not allowing anyone to get a wash. They say it's because they're moving to a faraway town. And this is regrettable since they do such a good job with my costumes, and they know that I am a fervent cosplayer too. This has prompted me to discuss about the laundry that is related to my cosplay.

I like having fresh costumes for an event, so I get my costumes washed the soonest chance I get after an event. This permits two conditions to occur: one is if there are multiple events within the span of a few weeks, I can stay on top and have options for fresh costumes for later events, and two is if there won't be any events for a while, at least I can safely store them until one comes. I'm blessed to be able to cosplay Ash, since he has gone through several attire changes over the years, so I can rotate to another while one is being washed. This is hardly doable with most other characters.

As for what gets washed, that depends on the part and the situation. Shirts, pants, and outerwear get washed with rarely an exception. Caps are almost always washed, but if the cap is delicate, as in the case of my old Red cap, I leave it to dry and only wash it every so often. Gloves are only washed if I plan to store them; if I plan to reuse them soon again for costumes that share the part (as third- and fourth-generation Ash), then I only wash them after they are reused to reduce wear and tear. The same is true for belts, socks, and doll-like items, which include Pikachu and Poké Balls, which are washed every so often.

Part of cosplay is appearance, so there is nothing wrong (and in fact it is practically required) to wash fabric costumes to make them look better. That is surely the case with my Pokémon costumes, and it makes me happy and proud to do so. I know I'm doing a favor for the characters I cosplay, as well as for other cosplayers and visitors of the events that I cosplay in, and that pleases me even more.

Now I have to find a new place to get my cosplay laundry done.

Indie Pokémon Stickers

The event that I went to on Saturday and Sunday had as one of its descriptors as an "indie comic market", and looking at the stands, that was very much true. The merchant stands all peddled original indie wares, or at the very least original indie creative takes based on well-known things. Pokémon was certainly included in the mix, although in this event this was somewhat minimal. So minimal in fact, that the most interesting items I found were also minimal in shape, and they were in the form of stickers.

The four stickers on the left and right were obtained from one stand, while the one in the center was given to me as a courtesy. In regard to their artistic qualities, I have to say that these stickers are accurate to the way that the Pokémon that are illustrated are conventionally depicted, so that makes them pretty to look at and to put on. Even so, I find the one in the middle amusingly attractive because of its comical appearance and pose, in comparison to the other four, which are more standard and typical in appearance. (By the way, I tried to find Charmander, but I couldn't, so I went with Jigglypuff instead of Poliwag, which was also present.)

Now, stickers are to be peeled off and stuck on something. However, I haven't found the perfect place to do just that with these one-of-a-kind stickers. I have to consider carefully on what and where to stick these stickers that I obtained, because I might as well consider them permanently stuck on wherever they stick. So instead of sticking them to an object which I may not continue to possess, I can create an art piece with them by sticking them on an appropriate background, and once I'm satisfied, then I can frame the work. In this way, I'm almost ascertained to still have these stickers while using them as per their intended function.

Though these stickers are indie, they are still cool enough for any Pokémon fan to have since they are pretty close to - or as in the case of the center, reimagine a little further - conventional depictions. For any sticker that is good enough as these are, I say it's well worth getting them to support their efforts. Certainly I will be doing so when the indie merchants re-appear, especially the ones that peddled these.