After Six Months: Poké-Paradise in a Blog

Well, I can't believe it. It's been six months and I've posted something every single day on this blog. As I've mentioned in the very first post of this blog, Pokémon has been such a great inspiration that really, there is not a day that it's missing from my experiences. Even if it's just a little bit, it's still not missing - and it always comes back. It is precisely this experience that I wish to share with others, and what better way to do it than with words in my case.

My intent is to share as many things as I can in regard to Pokémon. This does obviously mean the games as I play, the anime as I watch, and merchandise and related things as I get them. But Pokémon is related to so many things, big or small, and it even begets other things by way of inspiration. These too are worthwhile to share about in the hope that others may in turn be inspired by Pokémon as well. In the end, everything is an experience with Pokémon for me, and I hope that it may be this way too for others.

In the future, I hope to have a greater variety of content, still related to Pokémon. I'm not very experienced in creating videos of myself, but perhaps I can collaborate with vloggers who do this in and out, and the results will definitely go on here. Collaboration can also be done with other Pokémon people on the Internet, and this is one thing I would like to achieve. I'm open to comments on my posts with some discretion, so in the future I may take those comments and interact with them in another post. As well, I will certainly cover things that I haven't covered before and present different directions of Pokémon. I want to take others through my journey of Pokémon experiences through this blog - I want to take others through my Pokémon "paradise", in a way.

And that is what it really is. My Pokémon experience is a "paradise", and it's only right that I allow others to share it, which is what I wish to do with this blog. Granted, occasionally things go wrong in paradise, but that could become the seeds for a better part of paradise, so I'm not ashamed to share some of those experiences as well. The point is that if something is related to Pokémon, it may be discussed as part of my "paradise" so that others can partake in it. On that note, I welcome you to my "paradise".

3DS Circle Pad and Pokémon Games... Plus My Experience

I haven't been able to get back to playing Sun lately, and there's an important reason why: I broke my Circle Pad. The fragility of the 3DS Circle Pad has been well-known since Super Smash Bros. 3DS was released - which coincidentally also does feature Pokémon in part - and has claimed many victims. For me, however, it seems the story played out in a different way. That leads me to think about and consider how the Circle Pad is used in the various Pokémon games that I've played.

One Pokémon game in particular that I've most played recently does not use the Circle Pad, and that is Shuffle. That is because Shuffle is completely touch-based, and as a matter of fact does not use buttons either. This makes sense since Shuffle has a mobile counterpart which started later than its 3DS counterpart, so it can be said that Nintendo was "testing the waters" on the 3DS by making Shuffle completely touch-based so that the controls translate perfectly when it went mobile, which it did. This is somewhat of an unexpected paradigm by Nintendo but is also reasonable given the rise of mobile games; perhaps it may happen again with a future game.

For a good number of other games, the Circle Pad is optional; it can be used but it is not necessary for progress. The sixth-generation games, Rumble, and Picross fall into this category. For Picross, the Circle Pad may be used in puzzle play to switch marking modes, which is necessary to manage progress. For the other games, movement in the overworld is aided with the Circle Pad... perhaps too easy, in the case of Rumble. When I explained my conundrum to my fellow Poké-friend, he noted that I played Rumble a lot, which might explain how I put stress on the Circle Pad until it broke, much in the same way as players of Super Smash Bros. did. If I knew this, perhaps I might have eased up on Rumble to focus on other games and saved the Circle Pad usage intensity for those games instead that benefit from its use, however optional it may be. It's still a good thing to have.

And then there are the games for which the Circle Pad is necessary, and this includes the seventh-generation games, Sun and Moon. I discovered this fact startlingly back when I played the SM Demo, that I thought I could simply use the D-Pad to move my character, when I couldn't. Back then I had already detected signs that my Circle Pad was falling apart, so I was concerned what would happen with the actual game. Now that the game has been long in the pipeline and my Circle Pad finally fully gave in, I'm somewhat concerned about making further progress, and especially for later when Ultra SM are released, which may as well be Circle Pad-necessary and would mean nearly impossible to make progress with a broken Circle Pad.

So for some Pokémon games, the Circle Pad is sufficiently usable for movement or control aid or even not needed. For others, the Circle Pad is absolutely needed to progress. Whatever the case, a working Circle Pad is a good asset to have for Pokémon games or otherwise. Thus my next step is clear: I'm setting out to repair my Circle Pad so that I can have this asset for SM and its Ultra relative due out later this year. I'm hoping for the best.

LINE Pokémon Themes

The primary method of personalization in LINE is through obtaining stickers and using them in chats. However, there is another method of personalization, and that is through themes for the app. In addition to the standard blue theme, there are also many themes obtainable, both indie and official like the stickers. Pokémon too is included as the latter, and it has two official themes. I grabbed them during the same sale as for the other four stickers I previously obtained, and I was fortunate to do so, because they look awesome. These are the two themes:

Pokémon - This theme has a predominant color of yellow, owing to the series' de facto mascot Pikachu, which does appear on some parts of the theme. A few other Pokémon appear on the tab headings of the main screen (when active) as well as on certain profile pictures, but the most dominant are the Poké Balls that appear in the tab headings as well as the default chat background, though. It's very yellow and very bright, but it also pairs well with most of the sticker packs; it's a good, all-purpose Pokémon theme.

Pokémon Pixel Artwork - This theme has a predominant beige color and monochrome appearance based on the overworld of the RGBY games; the tab headings are the creature images from those games and even the tab and default chat backgrounds have the cityscape from the overworld. Obviously this is meant to go together with the corresponding Pixel Artwork sticker pack, but it can be enjoyed regardless of whether the pack is present or not. The most important is the retro feeling that is present, if desired to be experienced by obtaining this theme.

These two Pokémon themes really exemplify how they make the LINE experience personal by presenting a different cosmetic touch to the interface. They're not absolutely necessary, and they are somewhat pricey to get normally, but if a LINE experience with Pokémon is desired, then by all means. In any case I do highly recommend them if you can't get enough of Pokémon like me.

A Little Dream

Remember how I said that in the attempt to not miss a thing, I sometimes end up dreaming about Pokémon? Well, that happened to me just last night. When I was asleep, I dreamed about something that could have come from the Pokémon anime. I was truly carried away by it that when I woke up, I had to note the dream down so that I could share it in this post for all to read.

My dream last night was something from the Kalos saga (XY), though it was quirky considering how the actual XY storyline went. In the dream, it was apparent that somehow to resolve the Kalos conflict, Yveltal was to be needed, as well as the three first-generation legendary birds, which would aid in that effort and somehow attract the help of Yveltal. Two of the birds (Articuno and Zapdos) had been sought, while the third, Moltres, was to be sought, though it was in captivity. Ash was to free Moltres, and in the dream my vision followed him as he succeeded in doing so, though in the process an alarm was also triggered. In the end, Ash and a few comrades took to the sky for the next phase of the effort, and at that point... the dream ended, and I woke up. It was as if there was a "To Be Continued" message present then and there.

What makes this dream odd are how the elements are interrelated. The three first-generation legendary birds are not really involved in the Kalos conflict at all, so it's odd to find them in this manner, let alone all three of them, since in the game only one is present at any given time according to the chosen starter. And then there's the issue of Yveltal; Yveltal is clearly positioned as an antagonistic Pokémon, unless it is somehow to be related to Zygarde. This could make for a possible "Z storyline" that could have been realized during the sixth generation, but wasn't.

It has been said that a dream is the vision of an intermingled and jumbled up set of memories. If so, then this dream fits the bill, as the elements of the Kalos conflict were muddied up with the presence of other elements. Regardless, the dream ran so well that I believed everything while I was in the dream, and realized I couldn't continue and missed the vision when I woke up. Now I'm even more inclined to find a time when I can watch an episode or two again of the anime to alleviate my longing.

More LINE Pokémon Stickers

As I've discussed in my first post on LINE Pokémon stickers, they are lively and enhance the Pokémon mood of any chat on the app. Back when I reviewed the three that I had, there were five packs, but now it's up to seven. As it so happens, there is now a sale on all Pokémon stickers - they're all half off - so I took advantage of this sale to get all the packs released up to now.

Here then, are the rest of the sticker packs:

Pokémon Pixel Artwork and Sounds! - I've dropped hints of this pack when I discussed the bicycle theme and the Poké Flute theme, and this is the pack that contains the stickers that play sounds containing these themes. As the fourth pack released, this was also the one that I was previously torn over which one to get. As the title suggests, all the stickers here are pixelated; they're all art from the RGBY games with their appropriate theme music (or cries, since there are a few Pokémon images too, and they all have their classic cry, including Pikachu). They all deliver a retro vibe that is fun to invoke every so often.

Pokémon Chat Pals - This was the first pack of stickers that featured the seventh-generation Pokémon, and it's great in that regard, since quite a few are featured in this sticker pack, the fifth one to be released. Even Exeggutor-Alola is featured as its three segments, facilitating a hilarity that occurred way back during its reveal. I also like how the text captions are also upfront and highly appropriate, owing to the sticker pack title of "Chat Pals". This pack is truly useful to aid that purpose.

Team Rascal Pikachu - I and several of my other Poké-friends learned of this sixth pack of stickers when one of us had acquired it as soon as it came out. Now, one of my friends think this sticker is extremely cute; I think so as well, but I also think it is extremely quirky. Though the title might suggest this is a pack of Pikachu stickers, this actually has about as many Pokémon as the Chat Pals pack. The art is from a guest illustrator, and the style is quite exaggerated and humorous. Even the text captions are filled with lots of emotion, and they really say something. I'd love to spring these whenever the mood gets heavy to lighten things up.

Pikachu's Lively Voiced Stickers ♪ - This seventh pack was just recently released and it has captured our hearts, since it is the first pack to both be animated and have sounds. As expected from the title, this sticker is all about Pikachu, with the characteristic voice as provided by Ikue Ootani. It is really fun to invoke just to see the animation and hear the voice. I'm really taken with this sticker pack, as are some of my friends who had seen the pack and bought it instantly. I'll be using the stickers quite often to elicit different impressions.

All the Pokémon stickers are impressive, so it's well worth to have them any way they can be obtained. There's something for any Pokémon fan to like, not just Pikachu, though a great deal does involve Pikachu. If these four packs are any indication, future packs will also be great to have and use in chats. I'll be looking forward to all the future packs and obtaining them as I can.

Four Notions

In the world of Japanese fandoms, there are things that fans do or have in pursuing their passions. Some of these can be encapsulated in what I call notions, or concepts. Among these, there are four popularly recognized ones that people talk about - or rather, what I and my local fellow friend fans talk about, as these notions could be said to have been popularized by a local web comic series that pertain to Japanese fandoms. They too apply to the ways of my life with Pokémon. Here, then, are the four notions:

"Waifu". I've already discussed waifu somewhat with the Pikachu marriage that I found out about. Many of my friends subscribe to this notion, but I have a hard time doing so. Consequently, I can't say that I do have one, not even ones from Pokémon. There is hardly anything out there that I can refer to as my waifu; there are things and characters I like, but I wouldn't call them as such. Besides anything that I've discussed about this concept, it is pretty much safe to say that my relation to the notion is non-existent.

"Gacha". This notion refers to the act of randomly drawing for something, whether game elements, collections, or the like, taken for its resemblance to certain toy vending machines in Japan. Most of my friends realize this notion in the games that they play, and I do too. The Pokémon Safari found in Pokémon Shuffle is essentially this, as there is no telling what Pokémon may be encountered, as is the selection of the balloon area in Rumble World. I have yet to play another Pokémon game with this concept realized, but I will likely encounter one soon. One other thing: I feel that my friends take this notion too seriously, so I only wish to maintain a level head in regard to this one.

"Salty". This notion is the feeling of being annoyed, even envious, of what has been accomplished. My friends often say they have this feeling and I have to say I do too, even with Pokémon things that others have exhibited. (Likewise, if I've committed this to others, then I'm sorry as well.) I'm trying my hardest to not let this feeling come over me, but sometimes things just happen. It's just something that I don't want to feel all the time.

"Splurge". This notion is popularly known among my friends as "khilaf", a term that is borrowed from Arabic which means "to err". For that, I respond in Latin with "errare humanum est" - "to err is human". So yes, that means sometimes I fall into the same pit. Still, I set limits on myself, and this has worked well in preventing this notion to be realized, though I do sometimes violate it, not the least of which is for this blog that I have now so that I can bring Pokémon stuff to light.

These four notions seem to shape me and my fellow fans' passions, and that means for me Pokémon is included and relevant. They're not all bad, but they can be controlling at times; thus the trick is being aware of the controlling situation and escaping that control. In doing so, we're all constantly developing regard and becoming better fans.

P.S. I realize this post is made on a blessed day for some people; I guess it's kind of cathartic in a way? What a blessed day it is.

Married... to Pikachu?

A friend has alerted me to one of the more quirky ways Pokémon is realized in life. In Japan, you can now apply to have a marriage certificate with Pikachu by filling out a special form. As with any application process, you then would expectedly receive the certificate after the form has been processed. It's quirky because it presents an unusual situation, but it might actually be something that a number of Pokémon fans welcome.

They would welcome this because it plays into the notion of a waifu, a fictional partner that in a way one is romantically attached to. The partner could be human or non-human, which in this case would be the latter. This also reminds me of a Pokémon friend who I have, who has a Pokémon waifu and is proud of it. The only difference is that my friend's waifu is Sylveon rather than Pikachu, which I'm certain doesn't have a marriage application of its own, unlike Pikachu.

To me, this is a playfully official take on the notion, as it lets you be recognized and approved to have a waifu of your own, namely the de facto series mascot. Of course, like actual and real marriages, there's a sense of commitment to be upheld with the official recognition. To have Pikachu as a waifu could be nice, but unless one wants to test commitment, perhaps that should be the limit. I have to say, though, that I'm not well-versed in the realm of the waifu, so you might differ with me on this.

All waifu concerns aside, this is a creative way to celebrate and realize Pikachu and especially Pokémon in real life. If I was in Japan, I might pursue this just for the novelty of showing that I like Pikachu - which I do and don't mind showing. But that's where I'll keep it, just to keep things from "going off the deep end", to put it lightly.

Pokémon Go Gym Rework

Even though I haven't played Pokémon Go in some time due to reasons that I've explained in my Go post earlier, I still have the desire to play. Its dipped popularity doesn't keep it from new features being added and overhauls of existing features. One of the more important ones of the latter just came recently, and that is the reworking of Gyms. From the start, Gyms have been lauded as an important competitive feature, but they've been somewhat mediocre. With the recent updates, now it seems Gyms can become more lively.

One important change is Gym composition. Now Gyms are limited to six Pokémon, and they all must be different. This, I'm told, eliminates "squatter tanking" gyms that are full of a single Pokémon like Blissey. I think this does one more thing, which is to make the Gyms parallel the main series Trainers and the VGC "species clause"; this in turn may increase interest back into the main series. In any case, this is a welcome change that helps increase the diversity of Gyms and deters those taking advantage of the game's mechanics.

Two other changes are raid battles and "Gym stops". Raid battles are cooperative battles against a powerful (Legendary) Pokémon, allowing Trainers to encounter them, but the Trainers must be of a high enough level. The latter meanwhile lets Trainers obtain Gym Badges and items like Pokéstops, though this also entails working the Gyms. Both of these are great additions, though the first one is admittedly exciting to partake in and experience.

Not all games are perfect from the get-go, and Pokémon Go is included as one of those games. This gym rework and subsequent improvement confirms that the previous deficiencies were recognized and now have been alleviated. This may or may not help Go regain some of its former popularity, but it surely helps those who are still engaged and may draw back former players like me. Should I play again, I might just now go into a gym and claim my team - something I haven't done since the beginning - and enjoy Gyms, which is the whole point of this improvement.

Technology, Good and Evil

A few days ago, I paid attention to a talk on technology, and the talk discussed the merits of technology and the people that use them. The conclusion of the talk was that technology is not what makes people become one way or the other; people are what make themselves one way or the other, and technology is neutral. As is true of so many real-life things, the same applies to the world of Pokémon. Technology is something that shapes this world, but the people are what make themselves good or evil through it.

I've mentioned in my sympathy for villains post some of the technologies that the villains used in order to carry out their objectives, and it really is true. Team Rocket's genetic engineering, far removed from their efforts in giving rise to Mewtwo, could be utilized to improve the lives of the Pokémon and people populace in general. And for Team Flare, instead of resurrecting an apocalyptic weapon from the past, the energies could be devoted to less hazardous objectives in the present. The technology can do what it does, but the intent by the teams are malicious.

Closer to the general populace are Pokémon technologies such as the Poké Ball, restore machines at Pokémon Centers, and transport devices. In doing what they do, these are all neutral; they're only good or bad if they support intents that are such. For typical Trainers, these are all indispensable in fulfilling objectives to become the best, making them feasible and accessible. For the villainous teams, they only serve to provide facilities to progress their not-so-good motives. The technologies don't have anything to do with the end result of the intents, but they do help them along.

Technology is in many places in the Pokémon world, but what it comes down to is how it is used by the people. Good motives beget good use, and likewise on the other end. Technology in our world is not quite as sophisticated, but the result is the same: good makes good and vice versa. The takeaway isn't that we are only as good as our technology, but that we are only as good as our motives, and technology is purely assistive. As a Pokémon fan, I feel like I've gained insights on both the real and the imagined by way of this consideration.

Resets and Redos

I'm in the middle of creating something Pokémon-related which is (or should be) spectacular, but I've found that I need to take a step back, and it's a big one that undoes efforts that I've put in over several hours. Such an occurrence can happen in the main series games as well should one forget to save before an important event and the irreversible happens, though mitigated if the save happened. So it seems that resets and redos are part of Pokémon as well.

In the main series of games, before a soft-reset function was implemented, if the irreversible happened, one needed to turn off the console and turn it back on to reset. From at least the sixth generation games, a soft-reset function was implemented: to soft-reset the game, press the L + R + Start buttons at the same time. This takes players back to the title sequence and the main menu as if the console had been turned off and on again, without the hassle of doing so; all unsaved progress is lost and need to be redone. This is incredibly useful when attempting to catch Legendary Pokémon and/or ones with certain attributes, where the irreversible (no longer being able to catch them) is a real possibility.

I've used this to my advantage in the first situation as every now and then I lapse and make a mistake, resulting in the irreversible. Some of my friends have used this to catch Shiny Legendaries, though this is a hard proposition with its low chances, or battle-ready ones, which is more practical but still hard. Recently, though, I've used this function for a different purpose, but not far off from its intent; I use it to "exit to the main menu" to make sure that I don't fiddle after I save the game with the intent of finishing play. In a way, I'm anticipating a reset that could happen if I continued playing and something happened that required one.

Resetting and redoing are thus inevitable for the main series of Pokémon games. The finicky nature of catching Pokémon may present a few challenges of its own, and sometimes the best course is to just reset and redo the catch until properly done; it is fortunate that this has been made easier with a distinct function. And now I've got to execute this function in real life for something else Pokémon until I'm satisfied with my efforts.

Pokémon Exclusivity

I've just opened the drawer where I keep all my 3DS game cartridge cases and realized that all of the game cartridge cases are of Pokémon games. It seems that once again, cartridge-wise, I've become a Pokémon-exclusive player on my 3DS. This is not a bad thing if you're a big fan of Pokémon like me, but it does make it look like that is the only thing I play. The truth is, I'm interested in many games (with some reservations), but for the purposes of playing on my 3DS, I just focus on Pokémon rather than any other game.

As I've said, this Pokémon exclusivity is not limited to my time with the 3DS, but has also occurred several times in the past. On the Game Boy, I wasn't Pokémon-exclusive; there were many games I played other than and prior to knowing Pokémon, though once I knew, I did spent most of my time on Pokémon. On the Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance, I was Pokémon-exclusive, as I only had cartridges for Pokémon games, much as I do now. On the DS, I wasn't Pokémon-exclusive, as I played many games in addition to Pokémon. Whether I was or was not exclusive seemed to depend on the situation.

As for the current situation, the current prospect is that save for the situational mini-games outside of the Pokémon games, I foresee still being a Pokémon-exclusive player as these games are the only ones I can muster up to get at the moment. As well, I (always) have some unfinished business with these games, which becomes all the more reason to stay Pokémon-exclusive. If the situation and time warrants it, then I wouldn't hesitate to get and play a few other games which I have desired to play. Otherwise, only Pokémon games remain on the table.

It is natural for any major Pokémon fan to get as many Pokémon games as possible and play them, so it is welcome for them to stay playing those games. But at the same time it is foreseeable that many Pokémon fans are also fans of other games, so they're as welcome to branch out to those other games. In the end, though, everything is situational, and any player is welcome to do what is appropriate with their state of conditions. And for me, that would be to continue delving into Pokémon games at the moment.

The Badge Arcade Hit Its Limits

I've discussed about the 3DS Pokémon badges on the Home screen and where they originate, which is the Nintendo Badge Arcade game/app. Every app or game on the 3DS, however, has limits, and unfortunately the Badge Arcade has just hit that limit. Coincidentally, the Badge Arcade now has 8800 badges - or rather will have that many in three days, on June 22^nd. That will also be when the effective final update on badges for the Arcade will be delivered.

What does this mean for Pokémon badges? It means there won't be anything new past this point, which is a given, and a bit regrettable, since Pokémon that haven't received badges now never will, and those that already have badges can't be taken in new directions. Even so, there's the realization that not all Pokémon can have a badge and certainly not in all art styles. If that happened, then of those 8800 badges, at least a third would be Pokémon badges, as a rough estimate considering the hundreds upon hundreds of Pokémon species and stuff, including objects like the Poké Ball, and a myriad of art styles. All that would make an incentive to create a "Pokémon Badge Arcade", but this would be a pipe dream as well, given the limitations.

As for the Badge Arcade itself, the effort by Nintendo is certainly laudable. We get to rake in badges, and Nintendo gets to rake in some cash - remember, if you want more badges quickly, you'll really have to pay for them by your eShop balance. The only problem is that "Nintendo" as a whole is broad, so everything including Pokémon has to have a fair share, and the result is those 8800 badges for everything. Again, a subset like "Pokémon Badge Arcade" would be simple to conceive to deal with this but hard to execute and manage, so it's not a really desirable solution. What does exist is pretty good, though, and that is at least what matters.

All that's left is to say "thank you" to the Badge Arcade for providing us with the seeds of inspiration to help to make our Home screens totally unique, totally pretty, and totally who we are. And who I am is Pokémon, which has been quite accommodated with the badges from the Badge Arcade. The glory of the Badge Arcade lives on in the badges we collect and the Home screens we decorate.

There Is Only One Ball

In many Pokémon games, there are a multitude of Poké Balls that can be used to catch Pokémon. Each one is tailored to some aspect of the Pokémon that is targeted to be caught. However, despite this fact, other games and the anime (most of the time) only exhibit one ball, the very ball for which this class of tools is named. Thus I propose that in some understanding that the classic red-and-white Poké Ball is really the only thing that is needed for the purpose of catching and keeping Pokémon.

In contrast to all other ball types, the Poké Ball is only a basic ball. It makes no regard of the size of the Pokémon being caught nor does it regard the location. It doesn't enhance the happiness of the Pokémon upon a successful catch, and it doesn't restore their vitals either. Finally, it pales in catching probability compared to its Great Ball and Ultra Ball brethren. Given all this, it would appear that the Poké Ball is made out to be a weak ball, akin to a "Magikarp of balls", so to speak. Yet it still works for catching and holding just about any Pokémon.

So then, this mediocrity is not really a liability for the Poké Ball. Instead, it becomes an asset that plays into its ubiquity. By not making distinctions based on the characteristics of the Pokémon to be caught, it affirms its universality in that all Pokémon are simply caught and held in the same manner, and there is no reason that this can't happen. All other balls then only serve as backup varieties. The Poké Ball is therefore the equalizing platform for catching any Pokémon.

In the end, the Poké Ball is a simple yet elegant solution to catching and keeping any Pokémon. While its basic qualities don't ensure that catches happen quickly and efficiently, it doesn't mean that it doesn't work either. It just means that this is the typical and universal solution which works even if other balls can do a better job, a good thing when this doesn't matter much as in the anime and certain games. The Poké Ball just works, and just that is already a good thing.

Hounds and Hyenas, Canines of the Dark

My friends and I are gathering to eat, drink, and have fun. For the last point, we're also playing a game that involves canines and the dark of night. Pokémon has those too, as one embodiment, in the form of two two-stage Pokémon that look fierce as the first stage and even fiercer as the second stage. To my observation, we look as fierce as those Pokémon when we assume those roles.

The first of these Pokémon are Houndour and Houndoom. The two Pokémon are known for being a hybrid of Fire and Dark types. The latter even received a Mega Evolution in the sixth generation. This is understandable given that Mega Evolution seems to be given to the most popular Pokémon, and they're definitely popular given they're the first to appear along with the rest of the second generation. They almost look like they set the standard for the other two Pokémon, with their looks and capabilities.

Those other two Pokémon are Poochyena and Mightyena. Unlike their second-generation predecessors above, these two are purely Dark types. While I feel that they look just as fierce and powerful as the predecessors, to everyone else these two don't appear as popular. It may be because Poochyena is popularly known as the Pokémon that gave trouble to Professor Birch at the start of the third-generation games, setting the stage for the course of the games. On one hand they could have been what Houndour and Houndoom have been, but on the other hand they don't seem to measure up to the predecessor's standard.

Canines and the dark of night are two things that go together in many world folklore, and they also happen to go together in the world of Pokémon. This concept is popular enough elsewhere, so it may as well be welcome with Pokémon - and it is. I don't know if we truly resemble these Pokémon when we play the game, but at least we do show enough resemblance to them as we do.

Limited Editions

I've noticed lately that I've hit a slight issue with my 3DS, which as I've detailed in my story, is the Pikachu Limited Edition. That same friend has suggested that I go see someone in town to look at it, and that is what I will do as soon as I am able. This issue does prompt me to discuss about limited editions of things, of which Pokémon also has. It's kind of a love-hate thing based on specific considerations, although admittedly considering Pokémon, there's a lot more love than hate involved.

When it comes to hardware and devices with Pokémon on them, I'm a bit on the fence. The issue concerns whether I can use them while maintaining their integrity and therefore "limited-ness". If I think I can't, then there is no point. At this point I have to come clean and say that before I decided to grab my friend's 3DS Pikachu LE, I was divided on whether I should get one of the other Pokémon 3DS limited editions (the Xerneas and Yveltal ones) or go with a regular one. If I back then knew all the things that a 3DS could do, I would have gotten a regular one rather than an LE as integrity would be a lesser yet still important concern. As it stands, though, I don't regret grabbing my friend's 3DS Pikachu LE because it has brought me lots of good things rather than bad, but I still feel slightly ashamed that I couldn't keep its integrity as above. In the future I will keep this for consideration.

Now, most games don't have a programmed limited edition, so a game with a limited edition most often means it comes with special things. These I will truly get if things work out, allowing me to get them; the special things can simply become collectibles, which I don't mind. For example, the European limited editions of Pokémon games often come with a metal case, which is intriguing to be able to get as the case makes a nice collectible. However, my 3DS is not European, so it would be a waste of my money getting something that I can't play (without making extra effort). Had I had a European 3DS, then things would be just dandy. Then again, the final determinant would of course be money.

So I have nothing against limited editions, so long as I can make them stay that way and it is not prohibitive to get them. Otherwise, if things don't work out, I'm just fine with the regular editions. This applies equally to Pokémon and elsewhere, but the drive is greater for me in regard to Pokémon stuff, and that's where the love lies. I'm going to need to show that love for my 3DS as well in getting it looked at.

15th Feature Film Mini-Figures

When I walk into my room, just before I turn to my bed, I'm greeted by a set of mini-figures. These mini-figures are from the 15^th Pokémon feature film, which in English is titled Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice. I have to confess that I haven't yet seen this film, but friends assure me that it is great. I will have to make some time to see this, but in the meantime I'm satisfied with looking at these figures.

The figures are composed of Pikachu, Piplup, Snivy, Oshawott, Meloetta-Aria, Meloetta-Pirouette, Keldeo, and Keldeo. Wait, two Keldeo? Yes - the figures came in a set, and the set happened to have two Keldeo. When I showed off the two Keldeo to one of my Pokéfriends some years ago and he was intrigued because of that fact. If the other Keldeo was of the Resolute Forme, it would be a different world. As for the figures themselves, another one of my Pokéfriends told me they're original figures, and that makes me happy to have them. I still have the wrappers for these figures in case I need them for some odd reason. In any case, they're well-crafted, plus they are cute and pleasing to look at.

If you'll notice, the figures are sitting on a mini table. That's not a wooden table; that's actually a papercraft table from the same place that I got all my papercraft figures. The table is meant to have Poké Doll models to be placed on top of it, so instead I've repurposed it to have these figures on top of it. The table is actually the second one I built, and for a good reason: the first one fell apart because the weight of the table, being made out of lighter paper, couldn't hold the weight of the figures, so I scrapped it. For the second build, I printed the parts on the heaviest art paper possible, and this time it works out pretty well and hasn't fallen apart since.

While I don't advocate quantity over quality, this is one instance where quantity and quality go together. I love having these eight figures as a set that go together with a theme (the feature film) and I especially enjoyed not having to hunt for each one individually. The only thing left is to watch that film. But as long as I have these figures, it's a perfect reminder of what I need to do next.

Poké-Crafts Made out of Paper

Papercraft is an amazing thing. To turn paper into lifelike creations is impressive and almost unreal. That is exactly what I felt when I was introduced to the craft a few years ago at a local Japanese event, and of course when it was displayed, it came with Pokémon in tow, which delighted the Pokémon fan in me. It was also this that inspired me to actually use papercraft in my cosplay efforts as the complements of my Pokémon cosplay.

At this point, I have to give credit where credit is due. The papercraft that I used then came from a site called Paperpokés, and they have lots of great Pokémon papercraft models. Interestingly, the models are not just of the Pokémon themselves, but also objects such as Poké Balls and even Poké Doll replicas. Their Pikachu v2 model is what became the basis for the old Pikachu I used and its translation into a doll form. As for their other models, I've tried building Pichu, and it's real nice; I also built Jolteon for an online friend, who appreciated the gesture. I already have Charmander printed out and ready to build anytime, though it is waiting for time and space. It seems those two things hinder me from making their models, for which otherwise I would have a lineup of paper models by now.

It wouldn't be a craft if I didn't apply my own spin, my modifications to their models. That is what I did when I worked with their Pikachu v2 model. After trying a test build at the original size, I doubled the size for my old paper Pikachu, and quadrupled it for the translation into a doll. An interesting thing happened when I printed out the parts for my old Pikachu; the print shop made an error and accidentally printed the parts on translucent paper before they printed the parts correctly; I took the mistake prints and built the model anyway, which resulted in a purely translucent Pikachu. Additionally, for the paper models for cosplay, I strengthened them with a foam backing on the inside. For my paper models, I also asked for the parts to be printed on art paper, which made for a glossy appearance. In the future, I could foresee experimenting further with their models.

I have to thank papercraft (and more specifically, the Paperpokés team) for taking my Pokémon attraction in a wildly different direction. This is really an area where I could express some creativity in changing up existing models to suit my purposes, as I did for both cosplay and display. Papercraft may appear seemingly unreal in realizing fantasies, but when Pokémon is involved, it might as well be the most accessible way to make things real.

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

Don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream would never do
I'd still miss you, baby
And I don't wanna miss a thing
-- "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing", Aerosmith

Recently, I haven't been able to get back to watching the Pokémon anime due to other things taking up my time. So you can say I'm on a withdrawal right now. Even so, I'm interested to get back to watching as soon as possible, and that is where the memory of this song comes in. Forget about the end-of-the-world situation for which this song is often associated with; for me, the song always evokes Pokémon, or at least its anime adaptation.

This song to me speaks of the experiences I get when I watch the anime. There are happy times, sad times, pleasant times, unpleasant times, and times of just about any emotion that can be felt under a rainbow. They're all something that I feel as I watch certain episodes of the anime, and most of the time they're something to be cherished and experienced again and again, which ties into the "inescapableness" that the verses of the song suggest.

As for the chorus, it really does capture how I feel, in a way. When I'm not watching the anime, I long to watch it again. And occasionally I do imagine and dream about the anime, but the fantasy is not enough, resulting in a greater longing for the reality of it. The point is that the anime is something that I want to watch time and again since my feelings are carried away by it. It's truly something that I don't want to miss, at least before I have to.

Now I want to find that sliver of time when I can watch the Pokémon anime again.

Red on a Bike

I like bicycles as much as I do motorcycles. I'm fortunate to be able to ride the former, which obviously gives a leg up on the latter. I also like the character Red for his proximity to and duplicity of Ash. So when I see the illustration of Red riding a green bike, I get a sense of delight and excitement out of it. It is something that I can really see myself doing, in part because the vibe is really appropriate for the character.

Bikes (and by extension motorcycles) demand a serious nature, so this definitely befits the character of Red. It's hard not to be serious when riding something with two wheels, and I speak from experience. The focus needed to ride something with two wheels is close to that needed for a Pokémon battle, so I can understand Red being on one. To show the same drive and determination in a Pokémon battle and on a bicycle is quite admirable and is a total inspiration.

As a matter of fact, I'm inspired to replicate the illustration in cosplay, since I have the costume and can ride a bike. The only thing is that I have a bike, but it's not green, so this would be the hardest part to replicate, since I'm not compelled to go out and find (and own) a green bike. The alternative is that I could play with this concept and use a different kind of bike: a dirt bike, which coincidentally certain ones are also often green-colored in my area. This would also mean having the chops for it, which I don't mind having, but it would take time. These are still interesting prospects.

That this illustration of Red and his bike was made is a wonder in itself. I can't help but feel the way Red does when he is on that bike. It makes me want to have the same feelings for Pokémon (in part by replicating the illustration) as well as in whatever else I do. I'm really taken by this illustration; it really does satisfy my inner Pokémon and bicycling spirit, both of which I am fortunate to have.

On Skateboards and Pokémon

As I've mentioned in my post about Pokémon and conventional sports, it is not strange to think that both can go together. Skateboards too belong in that vein of sports, so there is no reason that the two can't go together. Trainers represent the most natural people in the Pokémon world to ride skateboards. Of course, with the recent developments in Alola, it might seem apt to think that some Team Skull members are riders of skateboards. Even so, the most hippie of Trainers might have a penchant for this equipment. One of them is not exactly that, but nonetheless is very familiar.

That Trainer is Ash. In the Johto saga episode for which its English title is "Extreme Pokémon", he divulged that he had some boarding experiences on the grassy hills near Pallet Town. It is this experience that led him to win a sled-skateboarding challenge in the very same episode with Bayleef. I think this is nothing short of impressive and admirable. Though I can't ride a skateboard, I'm interested in owning one and learning how to ride it because of this. It would seem like I'm getting to know his character more.

As for skateboards themselves, I don't mind riding any old plain skateboard. But based on the above, it would be thrilling to have and ride a Pokémon skateboard. I can already think up of possible Pokémon that could be on one. Pikachu is a given, of course, but some of the more down-to-earth Pokémon could be put on a skateboard. Treecko could be one of them, as could be Chimchar and Totodile, for example, to round up the starters. It could very well be exciting to ride a skateboard with motifs of these Pokémon.

Skateboarding tends toward the extreme side of conventional sports, but it is one nevertheless and therefore could still be complemented with Pokémon. There's already a precedent for it in the anime with Ash riding a skateboard, and to have a skateboard decorated with Pokémon is an intriguing prospect. All these connections are seemingly affirmative that skateboarding belongs in the world of Pokémon as any other conventional sport, enough to make me want to ride one right now and realize a "Pokéskateboard" fantasy.

Pokémon and Sports

There are many things that go well with Pokémon. Photography is one of them (Pokémon Snap) and art (Pokémon Art Academy) is another. But I would also argue that sports - in particular conventional sports - also goes well with Pokémon. After all, in a world that is similar to ours, sports could also be similar. Granted, there's a line of reasoning that states Pokémon battling is a sport, or rather the sport. But when closely considered, it is actually possible that conventional sports are also present in the world of Pokémon.

The most telltale sports equipment in the world of Pokémon is, of course, the bicycle. Anything that a bicycle can do in the real world, bicycles in the Pokémon world can do. This is no more true than in the third-generation games, where there are two bikes to choose from: the Mach Bike and the Acro Bike. The Mach Bike goes fast, akin to the real-world road bike, and the Acro Bike goes anywhere, akin to the real-world mountain or trials bike. It is not too much of a stretch to think there could be competitions with these bikes in the Pokémon world, much like we do in ours.

The sport that isn't a sport, which is spectator sport, would conceivably also be present alongside conventional sports. Certainly Pokémon battles are shown live in front of an audience and broadcast all over (if the very first episode of the anime would have you believe), and that makes it a spectator sport as well. Again, what holds true in the real world and is (or could be) similar in aspect in the Pokémon world might very well be true, so all the conventional sports may similarly become spectator sports.

So it seems that sports are a given when it comes to Pokémon. Battling itself could be considered a sport, and the prime one at that. The existence of equipment that is typically used in real-world sports like the bicycle practically hints at other sports in the Pokémon world. And all of these can be viewed and watched by everyone, making them spectator sports. I'd say it wouldn't be hard to believe that Pokémon lends itself well to sports, just like it does to many of our real-world things.

A Faraway Tournament and a Charitable Spirit

While my VGC skills are somewhat lacking, I try to participate in as many tournaments as possible. Unfortunately, with all the business I had going on, this meant that I could effectively participate in only one, and that was the one at the beginning of this year. All the other tournaments were either held in a faraway location, which made it impractical for me to go, or clashed with something that I needed to do. The result was that I had little choice but not partake in them, lest I abandon my business, which would be far worse than giving up the tournaments.

Many of those tournaments that I could not participate in were organized by the national group of which I am a member, but as I've noted in my post about Pokéfriends, "national" is only half of the description. And they have plans for holding one more major tournament to cap off what has been a thrilling ride in the eight-plus months since the release of Sun and Moon late last year. That tournament will be a live one, and it automatically means I will be far removed in location from it. Moreover, you have to qualify for it based on the previous tournaments or by a pre-tournament "last chance" qualifier. If you're familiar with the Pokémon World Championships, you'll no doubt note that it's quite similar to that.

The tournament is not for another two months, but due to my unpredictable schedules, it adds to the impracticality. However, in order to support the tournament, the national group has decided to hold a fundraiser in a way that is reminiscent of Kickstarter-style campaigns. And the best part? I don't have to attend the tournament after participating in the fundraiser. Plus, as it so happens, the current time of year where I live is in a merry kind of mood where giving is just one part of the equation that makes it merry. So you know what? I'm going to contribute and put into the fundraiser some of my money.

I don't have VGC skills on par with some of the players that will be in the tournament, but that doesn't mean I enjoy Pokémon any less than they do. At this point, I'm happy to throw some of my money to support those going into the tournament and make sure that the tournament proceeds for them. The timing is also right with a time where it is important to make other people happy, one way of which is through giving. Thus I have nothing to lose by putting some of my money into this fundraiser, and unlike a Pokémon battle, we would be all winners. I hope that in the future I can do the same on the VGC battlefield.

Poor Zygarde

Discussing third games and how things are changing brings to mind one particular Pokémon whose fate appears destined but instead meets a demise. That Pokémon is Zygarde, the "odd one out" of the XYZ trio of the sixth generation. Although it is almost as well-known as its X and Y counterparts, Xerneas and Yveltal, Zygarde has remained secondary to the other two. This is quite odd given its complementary role and intriguing development.

Like Rayquaza outside of Emerald and the remade third generation games, Zygarde is not really part of the main storyline proper. Zygarde is found in a cave with the three orbs for the fourth-generation "box legends" and only in the post-game. Zygarde's ability is Aura Break, which makes it obvious that it is meant to counter the Fairy Aura and Dark Aura abilities of Xerneas and Yveltal respectively. Zygarde gained new Formes by way of the anime and this soon appeared in Shuffle and Picross as well, but not in the main series.

Zygarde seemed to have things going good, and everything was pointing to signs of a "third game" (Z) or at least a second pair of games (speculated as XZ, YZ). But then this didn't happen, and Sun and Moon were announced instead. Instead of being put in the spotlight, Zygarde was relegated only to a Pokémon that was just purely obtainable in those games. The consolation was that it was possible to obtain the new Formes in the main series of games as well for the first time. Zygarde's role by this point was closed up.

Zygarde could have been the fodder for an epic third game like Rayquaza or a fusion-style game like Black 2 and White 2 (and most likely the upcoming Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon). Coincidentally, Zygarde and Rayquaza are both green, pitted against other contemporary legends that are red and blue, so Zygarde's roles could have been envisaged in the same way as Rayquaza. Therefore, the relegation of Zygarde in Sun and Moon seems like a total waste of effort and not giving enough "credit where credit is due", which is disappointing. Of course, this could all be changed in the future should Generation VI be revisited, though it would have to be a long one indeed for a Pokémon whose game fate is pretty much set.

Poor Zygarde. Here's to wishing that your honors may still be received in the future.

New Paradigms

With the reveal of the new upcoming members of the Pokémon main series of games - Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon - in yesterday's Direct, this raises questions and wonders for the progression, direction, and paradigm of the main series of games. While it's true that this progression has changed several times, there are also a few things that can be gleaned from how things have progressed. This also provides hints for what the future may bring.

Now, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon at first glance are a lot alike to Black 2 and White 2; in fact, they're too alike. They still have what looks to be Solgaleo and Lunala, but they're rendered in a fusion style as with Reshiram and Zekrom + Kyurem. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, however, have the premise of an "alternate story" rather than a "sequel" as with Black 2 and White 2. In any case, they're established as a new pair of games rather than an expected "third game" or a prior generation remake, the latter of which had also been speculated in some circles (for the fourth generation) prior to yesterday's reveal.

Based on this, it seems that there are two ways to consider the "third game" concept. One way to think about it is that the "third game" has been cast aside, as a proper one has never been made after the fourth generation. On the other hand, the other way to think about it is that the "third game" concept lives on in the "second pair" games as well as new prior generation remakes starting from the third generation remake for the sixth generation games. This leads to wonder if the fourth generation remakes are really just being shelved for a successor console, for play with the eighth generation.

"Third game" futures are not the only speculation. The planning of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon for release on the 3DS and not on the Switch effectively extends the lifetime of the handheld console. This and the slated Pokkén DX on the Switch also appears to affirm that the Switch is not the successor to the 3DS despite its nature of partial portability. Thus a successor to the 3DS would be truly portable and have new capabilities that would make it desirable for playing the main series of games as they are and (hopefully) will be.

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are not game changers, but they do present a change-up to people's expectations of the Pokémon main series paradigm, which has changed over time as well. Then again, this means that any paradigm for the main series is not set in stone, and we may be due for another change years down the road. Until that happens, prediction through speculation and reasoning is useful to consider how and what we will play.

Pokémon Direct, 6/6/2017

So today, a Pokémon Direct appeared on Nintendo's online video channels. I almost never watch the Direct for the simple reason that... I always miss it. Luckily, thanks to my network of Pokémon friends, I received word yesterday that the Direct was going to be about Pokémon, and so I decided to take a look into it when it went on. It's also perfect now that I have this blog, because anything Pokémon that appears is well worth it to write up on. And this Direct is especially important for that reason.

Along with word about the Direct yesterday, there was a bit of a furor yesterday about what would be the contents of this Direct. The furor was mostly caused not by the announcement of the Direct itself, but a rather telltale image that someone posted as to what could be the future for the Pokémon main series, which could very well have been divulged in the Direct. Needless to say, plenty of speculation followed, with some people taking sides should the image be true or false, and then even more provocative images came to light. As the furor calmed down, it became obvious that whatever was going to happen was going to be straightened out during the Direct, and the mood became anticipatory - at that point everyone simply waited for the Direct to happen.

And then it happened. The Direct started innocuously enough with a preview of Pokkén Tournament for the Switch, which would be dubbed Pokkén Tournament DX (read: Deluxe) and takes advantage of the new features of the Switch. But it turns out this was only the bomb; the bombshell was when the Pokkén preview moved into a preview of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon for the 3DS, which is dubbed as an "alternate story" to the Sun and Moon games; memories of Black 2 and White 2 suddenly come to mind. And just to sweeten the deal, it was also announced that the Gold and Silver games from the GBC era would be made available for the 3DS Virtual Console. And that was it: three games, two continuances, and one lively Direct - or maybe disappointing for some.

Oh, and those images? They've been proven false, at least for now. Other things still may happen, though.

In any case, all the games don't come until later in the year, which certainly keeps the excitement bottled up for now. I can't wait to unbottle it when the time comes.

Sympathy for Villains

The Pokémon world is made up of not only the protagonists, the everyday Trainers that go about their business becoming the best they can be. A part of it is made up of the antagonists - villains and the villainous teams - making their plot to seize Pokémon power and have the world to themselves. In some sense, as dastardly as their plans are, they mean well as their intent is for a better Pokémon life, though ultimately there is an oversight that costs them their plans. It is this that leads to a feeling of sympathy for the villainous teams.

Granted, this sympathy does not have to be to the same degree for all the teams; it depends also on how they treat Pokémon. The effort conducted by Team Galactic, for example, which involves stripping the jewels off of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, is definitely inhuman and should not be condoned. The effort of Team Flare in resurrecting an apocalyptic weapon is inherently risky and hard to justify. And then there are Team Magma and Team Aqua, whose goals conflict and overlap with each other. Fundamentally, it's hard to have a greater feeling of sympathy when these teams' efforts are just headed in the wrong way - at least as I discern it.

Even so, I do feel a sympathy for a particular villainous team. And my choice goes to Team Rocket, the original and most well-known team. They still have committed actions that are not exactly able to be condoned (petty thefts, Silph takeover), but I feel theirs are most benign than the others. And if the anime is any indication with their genetic engineering of Mewtwo, then this is at least a laudable effort, as what they undertake can certainly be devoted to better purposes. Considering these, my sympathy is sizable enough for them.

There are two sides to every story, and Pokémon is not excepted. For this, one of those sides is definitely the antagonistic villainous teams. Their purpose is to wreak havoc in this world, but considered further, that purpose is really to let them have a good place in the world in some way. Some sympathy for their efforts is therefore not unexpected and in fact may be acceptable. Just perhaps, in their vision, the world may really be a better place in some respects.

Ball Redesign?

As I've mentioned in my last event review, I'm now in-between cosplay events, as the event schedule is practically on a break that will last pretty much up to the end of this month. However, that gives me time to think about what I might do with my cosplay for my next event. Part of this for my Pokémon cosplay involves the use of Poké Balls, which I consider necessary for that purpose. Lately I've been considering if I should revise and redesign the concept for its use so that it is pleasing and/or can work better based on several considerations.

In the other post, I said that I'm open to different concepts for Pokémon presentation, and this is true for the Poké Ball as well. During the ComiCamp event, I received a plastic, spring-loaded Poké Ball courtesy of a friend who said that he had quite a few at home and I could feel free to have more if I wanted or needed. However, I lost his contact information, and I haven't talked to him since, which is a shame, since I am interested in taking one or two more, especially in regard to the subject of this post. As for the ball itself, it's nicely designed and perfectly sized, and a big plus is that it's hollow and can be opened, which means I can put a Pokémon figure in there to enhance the effect. But in the end, it is a plastic ball, and it could be fragile; I tested the ball at a later event and I felt wary about tossing it around, especially since it's the only one I have. I'm likely not to replace my current ball with this one.

As for my current ball, it's fabric and plushy, and it's well-designed. The only problem is that it's not quite mine. All my other balls are my own design, but then they are a little flawed with the design, which is why I gravitated to my current ball. I'm interested in re-making the ball so that I could say it's mine, but I have not figured out how to design it so that I could make it properly. One way or another, I'm siding with a fabric ball because it's something I really could toss around with less worry, which is what I need to do if I perform on stage or otherwise.

Technically, I have this break if I want to redesign my ball, but it's not really a break at all considering other things I need to do. Based on this and the considerations above, I might just hold it off altogether. As the old adage goes, "if it isn't broken, don't fix it"; I definitely don't have anything broken here except for the minor flaws in my other balls, and they're essentially fixed with my current ball. It's still a nice thought that I will occasionally revisit when new developments appear.

3DS Pokémon Themes

While on the subject of changing the looks of the 3DS Home screen, the most striking and quickest way to do so is with themes, which I only briefly mentioned in the post about badges yesterday. Themes change the look of the Home screen and even come with distinct background music. These are available in many choices of appearances, not the least of which is Pokémon. Most themes, however, are not free, requiring purchase with eShop credits, and this includes the Pokémon ones. Even so, they remain attractive to have.

Themes are obtainable and selectable through the settings for the Home screen, as with badges. The settings screen for themes allows access to the theme shop, which is a totally separate shop just for theme purchase, and allows selection of particular themes that have already been obtained. The wonderful thing is that you can select not just one theme to use, but up to 10 themes in a cycle. So that means if I have 10 Pokémon themes, I can select them all to be cycled each time the Home screen appears. This is incredibly pleasing.

Speaking of Pokémon themes, there are now lots of them to purchase. While I'm still not able to purchase any of them, there are still a few that I desire. I've been eyeing the Pokémon Hanafuda theme for a while now as it recalls a piece of Nintendo's history, back when the company used to make Hanafuda cards. Pikachu is an obvious theme fodder, and there are a few Pikachu themes, so I want some of the best-looking ones. The Shuffle theme is elegant and therefore also nice to have. Finally, there are extremely awesome themes like the Red & Blue and Ash-Greninja ones, also nice to have. All the themes are great and satisfy different Pokémon experiences.

If you've got a few dollars to spare in your eShop balance, I recommend getting a theme or maybe two to change up the look of the Home screen. If you're a big Pokémon fan like me, it's even more worth it because of all the Pokémon themes. Personally, I praise the effort that goes into these themes and like how they create different ambiances. I would definitely spend some of my eShop balance for these should I have some.

3DS Pokémon Badges

I have Pokémon badges on my 3DS. No, not the physical kind, but the virtual kind. They're present on my Home screen along with all the app and game icons that I have. These badges take up the square spaces where the icons are present, which would otherwise be empty if they don't belong to a game or an app. And all of these badges come courtesy of a game/app called Nintendo Badge Arcade.

As its name implies, Nintendo Badge Arcade allows you to get badges for many of Nintendo's popular franchises, including and not just Pokémon. The game/app is constantly updated and as such every time it starts it has to connect to Nintendo's servers and log in; you can't "enter the arcade" if you cannot connect for whatever reason. Once you do enter the arcade, however, you are able to grab badges in a crane game-like approach, which can be tricky at times. You get a few free plays each day, but after that, you have to spend eShop balance for more plays. What you can and do get, however, are artsy badges that can help liven up your Home screen.

The Pokémon badges are quite attractive to have as well. They run the gamut from Pokémon as they are commonly illustrated to ones in specific art styles, such as pixels. One unique set I have and have fully collected is the Spring Selection with Pokémon that are squeezed into an egg shape; there are seven of these and I have them all laid out on one part of my Home screen. Granted, I haven't touched the Badge Arcade in a while and haven't updated my collection, but it would always be nice to have a few more.

As for decorating, all the badges you collect are integrated to the Home screen, which means you don't need to run Badge Arcade to decorate. At the Home screen, the option to decorate is available in the options on the upper-left or once you've placed at least one badge and have it selected; your badges will then be available for placement anywhere there is an empty space on the screen. Also, these badges go great with certain Home screen themes, some of which are also obtainable through Badge Arcade. The decorating possibilities are literally endless.

I like how Nintendo took advantage of the fact that the Home screen is not necessarily filled up with icons for every player and made the empty squares functional for a different purpose, which in this case is to make it pretty. In return, the badges provide another way of showing what I like and allow me to express my creativity. Considering these functions, I think it's high time to see if I can get new ones and change up the look of my Home screen.

(Self) References

Pokémon has expanded so much ever since the first games were released. As with anything that expands, new additions not only bring new things into play, but also information and data. In this way, Pokémon is not only a world of objects that are interrelated to each other, but also a repository of tidbits and details. So it makes sense to collect all these tidbits and details, and store as well as present them; this is exactly the task of sites such as BulbaPedia in keeping track and enabling the viewing of any information pertinent to Pokémon. However, it also makes sense to be able to have portions of this information on hand and able to be quickly processed, which is why I think it is absolutely important to keep and organize some information in different ways.

I play the main series of games, so I have to delve and dabble into the art known as VGC. VGC in and of itself is highly data-sensitive, so data on stats, moves, and so on is highly desirable and in fact necessary. In light of this, I keep a spreadsheet with as much vital information as possible on things that might be pertinent to VGC-style battling. The reason why I have a spreadsheet is that it makes calculations and filtering that much easier, since the data is numerical (in the case of the former) or repeated (in the case of the latter) or both. This in effect also makes comparison that much easier; this is something I have trouble doing when all the data are purely textual.

The only problem with this scenario is updating and management. With my own devised spreadsheet, I'm responsible for updating it myself and maintaining its organization. I regret that I haven't done so with everything that's new regarding the seventh generation. As a result, now I'm challenged to use it in my VGC efforts. What would be great is if the spreadsheet was managed in a collective manner like BulbaPedia, but that is a little too much to hope for, and that leaves me back at square one. It seems my solitary fending will continue.

Pokémon is a truly amazing world of monsters and things, but behind all those monsters and things also lies a wealth of data that if well-collected and organized will allow efficient perusal for any purpose, whether it be for the main series (and specifically VGC) or any other game in the franchise. Expansion is a certainty for Pokémon, and with expansion there will surely be more data on everything; keeping this data well-maintained is one way to help enjoy this expansion.