Reunions!

It has been announced for the Pokémon anime that Brock and Misty will appear again and be reunited with Ash for a couple of episodes. What's more, they will appear in their classic appearance that fans of the anime recognize from the early days. Many fans have found this exciting, not the least of which are fellow fans in my area, who recognize the early days of this anime as being tantamount to "legendary". I am of the same opinion, though I'm just as excited whenever the anime offers reunions such as this one.

Reunions are not a strange concept to the Pokémon anime, as these have happened before. One of the most memorable is when Misty reunited with Ash and Brock (and met May and Max) in Hoenn, which resulted in a three-part story arc that featured Togepi as a central point. And aside from the slightly sour ending, it was a worthwhile reunion for those involved.

I like reunions as much as any other fan that does, but I also like if they're structured well. I don't like to see a lot of characters reunited unless the situation really, really warrants it. I'm also not a fan of prolonged reunions unless the story is intended to transform to something new; the couple of episodes here and the three-episode example above seems sufficient for a change from typical stories for the saga. Of course, whatever happens, I'll still appreciate any kind of reunion.

And this reunion? This one will mean a lot. It'll be a testament to the staying power of Pokémon and its anime. It straddles the old and the new - the old characters with their old appearance in a new saga and a new art style. And they are the characters that many recognize as being emblematic of the anime's legacy and legend. I like that, and I hope through reunions or otherwise this anime continues to create more of those.

Stories That You Don't Know

Since when have I chased you, I wonder?
Please, just don't be surprised - 
Listen to that which I feel.
-- "Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (The Story That You Don't Know)", supercell (interpreted)

I know next to nothing about the anime for which this song is featured as an ending. But what I do know is that this song is an extremely popular piece of J-pop in any case, being featured in quite a few music games. And yet, it also encapsulates how I feel when sharing Pokémon things through this blog. My intent is so that you understand what I perceive - so that you know my stories, which you likely don't know.

I would argue that a part of these stories is the experience playing the games. Pertaining to the video game aspect, video games, including Pokémon, are often discussed in terms of their hard-and-fast tidbits, like gameplay, features, and so on. However, the ones who make all of these tidbits work are the players, and surely their experiences are different from one to another. All these experiences are hidden stories if they are not so divulged, and so it becomes my desire and intent to make mine known to others. In my view, it takes experience to know experience; I've got quite a few of these and I'll continue having them as I play the games, ready to be made known.

Of course, Pokémon is nowadays more than just games; it encompasses many other areas and many other forms. While they can involve experiences, they also involve something else: feelings. These too can remain hidden unless they are revealed. A lot of Pokémon things can incite a variety of different feelings, from merchandise that captivates the mind, to Ash's adventures in the anime. If the song I mentioned above can be considered a revelation of feelings, then this blog attempts to do the same for me and my relations to Pokémon. Like experiences, I'm prepared to show and make known many of these.

As I've mentioned in my six-month post, there is not really a point where Pokémon becomes absent from my daily happenings. However, in those daily happenings are experiences and feelings that others won't know if they remain concealed. It then becomes my task to expose them and share them with others so that they may understand and remain captivated with Pokémon. These are truly the stories that you don't know - and that is exactly what I wish to overturn, so that you do know.

Catching Up

During the time I sent in my 3DS for repair from back at the end of June to early August, I've missed out on some quality time with my 3DS, and that automatically means the Pokémon games on them as well. Now I find myself having to catch up on some of these games, which does and will involve some effort on my part. However, it's not all hard work, as I can be relaxed about some aspects as I put in intense efforts in others.

There is one game that I'm somewhat loath to catch up on, and that is Pokémon Rumble World. This is primarily due to the hobbled state of my 3DS, for which I am very concerned. To that effect, I am wary of playing high-intensity games like Rumble World on my freshly repaired 3DS. Such games are and will be better suited for a New 3DS, which I plan to get soon but perhaps not soon enough as other concerns take priority. I'm still interested in making further progress, though not at the moment.

The most captivating (action) puzzle game for me in recent memory has to be Pokémon Shuffle, and this is something I'd like to continue. Fortunately, even though I missed the special events of the several weeks where my 3DS was out of commission, my Shuffle achievements are more or less thorough, assisting in several efforts through the current special events. Even so, I still need to make way through newly added main stages and continue to check in as normal and watch for the return of the special events I missed. Special events have returned in the past before, so I'm a little unconcerned about the ones I missed. It's the new ones that are now the problem, as well as the unplayed main stages.

Perhaps the most concerning is my team-building progress in Pokémon Sun. By way of not being able to play for several weeks, I've missed out on various team-building opportunities, some of which could have been utilized for that faraway tournament, although this became moot for a different reason anyhow. Still, any team-building effort is a good effort, and now I have to somehow make this up before the onset of the Ultra games.

There is something to be said about spending good time with the newest Pokémon games, and in some sense these games really do need plenty of that. To be in the position where I have to make catch-up efforts is therefore not an extremely fun one, but I can still have fun during the process of catching up and even more afterwards. I have faith that everything will turn out fine over time.

After the Faraway Tournament

If you recall, I posted in this blog two months ago about a major VGC tournament that was also held in a faraway location. Well, that tournament has concluded, and it could be said to have been a success. If I had more time and flexibility, I probably would have tried to take part somehow and with whatever team I can muster - which is only right that I do so, as an avid fan of the Pokémon games. Instead, I can only put in some of my money to help the tournament proceed as well as it should. I think that I did a good thing for this matter.

An interesting story happened as I was contributing money to the tournament. Out of all the fundraising options, there were quite a few with additional merchandise and bonuses. However, I wasn't interested in and couldn't quite afford the merchandise, so that left the fundraising options with no bonuses or just a few bonuses. I chose the option that also had a ticket for the Last Chance Qualifier, since I felt the one with no bonuses was lacking and the one with both the LCQ ticket and event ticket was a bit much. I was then informed that I could still register for the LCQ, but I turned this down because of my unpredictable schedule... which turned out to be true, not allowing me to come down and participate. Regardless, the contribution was appreciated, and that's all that matters.

In any case, I know well some of the participants of the tournament, not the least is because I dropped by to meet them last year (as I've mentioned in my post about friends) and got in a tournament with them too. The experience was more than wonderful, even if I didn't get to speak up much during the tournament. In addition to becoming good friends, they became good advisers in providing some important team-building information, and they also made for good "sparring partners" to put theory into practice. Now I'm just wondering if and when I'll be able to meet them again.

Seen from the success of this tournament, in the future there might be further developments to the tournament series (as a whole) and format. If it means the chance for more people to participate, including myself, I'm all for it. Even if I can't actually come down for the live portions of the tournament, I might still be able to participate in a different way. And if there is a fundraiser like this year, I'll definitely take part too and contribute to ensure continuity of the tournament.

I would say that this year's tournament series has been well-organized and drawn quite a large interest. Now it's just a matter of keeping this momentum going in later times, even increasing it. And I want to do what I can to that respect.

In-Town vs. Out-of-Town Events

I love bringing my Pokémon cosplay to any event, whether in-town, out-of-town, or if there is a chance, really out-of-town ones. I've already missed two recently in the last category, and they're events where I've had the chance to bring in my Pokémon cosplay in earlier editions, but that's all right, since they were replaced by a number of great local, in-town or out-of-town ones. This leads into the consideration of the priorities of going to these events.

Now, I like going to local in-town events very much. Sure, they're not as big and flashy as events in other places, but at least they are somewhat lively, easy to get to, and I think deserves some support; the organizers have done their work to get things going, so it is only right that they be attended. Still, if they happen to be popular enough in the region, they would also happen to be big enough. Some of the events I've covered on this blog are as such, like Daisuki! Japan back in March and Isshoni Tanoshimimashou back in May. So if there is a local in-town event, then that is the one I prioritize before any others.

I also like going to out-of-town events as they appear or come to my attention, and if there are no local events scheduled at the same time. Many of them are also quite popular among my fellow cosplayers, so those are the ones that I try to prioritize. Small events like Tomodachi earlier this month are OK too if I happen to have close personal connections with them; otherwise, I'd rather go to fewer big ones rather than a lot of small ones. Transportation is really the key issue here: if I can't contrive a way to easily and comfortably get there, then it's not an event that I would probably try to attend. Fortunately, many big events are still relatively easy to get to either on my own or with a group, and this is appreciable.

As for really out-of-town events, I'm not interested in going there unless circumstances really allow it to happen. They need transportation and stay plannings that are even more involved than for just out-of-town events; this is something I can attest to after having been able to come to a couple of them. I would be extremely lucky should I have the chance to go to one again in the future, though this would for the most part be uncertain.

Thus I would rather go to a local in-town event if one is available, but just out-of-town events are quite possible and probable, while really out-of-town events are kind of hazy though not out of the picture. All of these events have different characteristics and require different efforts to get there. However, as long as cosplay is offered and/or welcome, and I can attend, I'm only too happy to bring my Pokémon cosplay for others to enjoy.

Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2017 - Yume no Tobira

I mentioned in this blog earlier this year for a different event that Saturday events are not as popular (or does not draw as big of a crowd) as the ones on Sunday, except for one. Today's event is that exception. This event seems to have been around even before I started cosplaying, which makes it one of the oldest, if not the oldest of, Japanese events where I live. It's also yet another school event that is hosted by the school's own Japanese community. Further, I'm told that I have a family connection with the school, so I feel compelled to come year after year. It's always a spectacular event nonetheless.

In terms of my cosplay, this is also one of the events where I've exclusively cosplayed Pokémon characters, in particular Ash. This year was no different; based on previous years, I chose to cosplay Ash BW from the fifth generation. The selection was made on the consideration of varying things up this year. I once had to repeat a costume in an earlier year for this event due to strange circumstances, but I don't expect this to happen again until later, and by then I may probably have something really new. That still remains to be seen.

As for cosplay competitions, this year was fairly limited, and the participants were few as well. The only two competitions were cosplay performance and street cosplay. Even for the former, this was limited to only four entrants: three teams and a solo performance, the latter of which involves a friend that I know well. Street cosplay was the one I took part in since it was more generally open to everyone. Surprisingly, I took second place in the street cosplay competition, while my friend's solo performance beat out all the team performances for first place! Now I'm inspired to conjure up a performance for next year (next time, even) and see if I can do the same - certainly with my Pokémon cosplay.

The event itself was fairly standard, but this event has a notably more diverse set of competitions in addition to cosplay, which includes bands and dance cover groups. Competitions take place over the morning to the afternoon, while the evening is reserved for general entertainment, including guest bands, groups, and so on. In the past there were also out-of-town guest bands, but there weren't any this year, which could be considered regrettable. Perhaps next time there would be.

This year's event is themed "Yume no Tobira" (dream door), and it really was that in a sense. Certainly I'm inspired to open doors into my own dreams for later events, and I hope that they turn out as pleasant and exciting as this one.

Wallpaper: Ash XY Tribute Style

Recently I've wanted to have a new desktop wallpaper because it's been a long time since I've made one, and I finally just realized it. Also recently, I've been on a "new age" music kick, in particular those of Yanni, of which I have discussed one track of his four months ago in association with a Pokémon memory. So I thought I would use this inspiration to create a Pokémon wallpaper, and I managed to create something that looks pretty enough to be plastered on my desktop.

Now for some explanations. This wallpaper is a mashup of Yanni's Tribute album cover with the Pokémon anime; it could be thought of as a parody, but I prefer not to think of it that way. Instead, it really is an homage - a "tribute", if you will - as per the title of the album in question. To that effect, I changed up the text in their respective places; instead of the artist's name, I put in the name of the character shown in the center, and instead of the album title, I put in the statement "Always in My Heart". All the elements in the wallpaper echo elements present in the album cover, from the orange-yellow sky, central character focal point, and even the red and black decorative border. And for embellishment, there is the Pokémon logo with appropriate disclaimers. The text is off-center unlike in the album cover, but that is more for a balance in the composition than anything else.

Part of the tribute here is the "Always in My Heart" statement. It is well-known and somewhat of a public secret by now that the Kalos saga (sadly) ended on an anti-climactic note, yet that climax is also a pinnacle for Ash in some ways. But no matter what happens, I still think highly of Ash and his team at that point. Thus he fully deserves to be such: always in my heart. It was this recollection that fused into the memory of Yanni's album that led to the creation of this desktop wallpaper.

This is the first wallpaper creation of mine that I've divulged; typically I keep my creations for my own use, but with this blog, I have to dare myself to share what I can. In any case, the above image is only a small but still somewhat detailed preview. If enough people ask for the wallpaper so they can use it, then I'll find a way to adapt it to different resolutions and share it.

I have to say that this wallpaper turned out pretty well. I think I'll be using this one for a good long while before I can think up of another different wallpaper idea that will really drive me to change my wallpaper. It's an excellent tribute to both a strong character and an album of delightful music.

Pokkén Downturn?

While there is still some attention on Pokkén Tournament, I want to point out a recent observation. It has come to my attention that some arcades in particular are taking out the arcade Pokkén machines since they are not doing well as expected. However, Pokkén seems to be doing just fine for the Wii U and is expected to get a boost next month once the DX version comes out for the Switch. So on one hand the arcade version could be experiencing a downturn, but on the other hand the console version may be its saving grace.

It has been stated that the downturn in the arcade version is due to long play times, which translate into not enough revenue. I've stated this in my "thoughts" post and must say it again: I have never seen an actual machine and will probably never actually interact with one, but if the game is anything like the console version, then I can see why this could be understandable. It's also been stated that a game of arcade Pokkén takes the better part of an hour to play; I'm not sure I would spend that much time at an arcade game, let alone wait the same amount of time to play. Even if the game were priced reasonably or even appropriately/proportionally to its length, I still wouldn't play it for the reason above.

This kind of gaming lends itself well to console games rather than arcade games, so it then becomes fortunate that Pokkén Tournament is available for consoles. In this way, I can spend quality time with the game while sidestepping the possibility of disrupting others (playing the game). It seems the developers agree, which is probably why in the upcoming DX version, just about every Pokémon from the arcade version will be present along with new ones. This might signal the demise of the arcade version unless somehow it can provide an experience unique from the console version, and therein lies the possible downturn.

A game like Pokkén would surely have many fans, especially since it features the highly popular Pokémon franchise. However, this means nothing if the game cannot be pleasantly enjoyed by everyone, for which the arcade version seems to indicate, especially in regard to the arcades themselves. It seems the console version could have a brighter future by the fact that it will receive something that the arcade version does not have. It's still a downturn for the arcade version, but it may bode well for those who like to play the game on their personal consoles.

Local Hangouts and Pokémon

As evidenced by the multitude of Japanese and cosplay events held in my town over the course of a year - many of which I've detailed here and several of which are still to come - Japanese interests are (heavily) present among many people in town, and that includes me, for which Pokémon is my greatest interest. It would then be expected that some people could take advantage of these interests and open up hangouts that cater to fans of Japanese things... and they do. I've got a couple of hangouts in town where I can somehow show my interests for Pokémon.

The most frequent hangout I go to is a café that was originally designed so that people could read comics (both western and manga) as they have bites to eat, but it has since expanded to have board games and console games as well. Certainly, Pokémon is a part of the action; one of the sets of manga present is the early Pokémon manga. On the console games front, which is partially hosted by the local game community, included in the consoles they have available for play are the Wii U and Switch, the latter of which they recently acquired, and this means these consoles are open for Pokkén Tournament. In fact, they do possess the game for the Wii U. It is this console and this game that formed the basis of my initial experience as detailed in my thoughts on the game. They also possess a Pokémon figure on their shelves, which adds to the welcoming quality for Pokémon things. Even that first (...and only one so far) local tournament was held in this very place. As if that wasn't enough, I've even brought my Pokémon cosplay to this place on a couple of occasions when cosplay became a part of event proceedings. Overall, I'm pretty happy to go and come to this café to do and enjoy Pokémon things.

Less frequent is another café that was conceived somewhat differently; instead of comics, this café is influenced by anime. Fans of anime are welcome here, and that would include me as a fan of the Pokémon anime. This café can and does lend itself well to cosplay, but I've only come close to doing this for different reasons, unlike at the other hangout where I've actually cosplayed. This café started later than the above and it's also much smaller, only offering food and places to sit, but that doesn't mean things can't get lively, especially when its owner also allows get-togethers related to anime and cosplay. I have high hopes of this café, and I look forward to the moment when I can actually cosplay here. In the meantime, I think I can still bring other Pokémon things and have fun at this place.

It's always a pleasure to be able to take my interest in Pokémon to different places, and these two local places are the ticket to that. They've become great hosts for people with Japanese interests, of which Pokémon is certainly included. In turn, they become great places to share Pokémon as something that I like very much with other places. I'm especially thankful for the people who have as much Japanese interests as I have and started these places, and it is my hope that we continue to have good relationships that also allow us to exhibit our respective major interests - Pokémon, in my case.

Connection Issues?

It's no secret that the best part of the Pokémon games is being able to interact with other human players to trade and battle with others' Pokémon, and that this can be done even when human players aren't physically present, through connections over the Internet. It's also no secret that I currently reside in Indonesia, which is still considered a developing country, which means that Internet connections may still be iffy at best and lacking at worst. This can and does wreak havoc when it comes to playing Pokémon or other games on the 3DS over the Internet.

Now, it should be said that high-speed Internet has gained popularity in the country; a decade ago there was really only one accessible provider, and now there are a handful to choose from. However, not everyone has this, and the people that do have this are mostly on the lower end of the spectrum of speed. Fortunately, the age of smartphones have given another option to the people: accessing the Internet through cellular networks, which has vastly improved in speed. Further, with the aid of tether functions and portable wireless routers, this connection can be enjoyed by devices other than smartphones, which includes things like the 3DS, wherein the current Pokémon main series games are played.

Yet here lies the rub: even with these options, sometimes not all is well when playing games on the 3DS over Internet connections in the country. Sure, those who have high-speed Internet are blessed to have good facilities for playing with others, unless these are plagued by problems. One provider had frequent problems when using the 3DS to access online services, and this by my experience forced me to use the tether function on my phone - and my phone's network - to play (in particular for the daily check-in of Shuffle). By others' experiences, a different cell network, which a good deal of people use on their phones and sometimes to play with, is very unreliable when dealing with 3DS connections. Yet another high-speed provider seemingly times out at random times, which could potentially cause problems if the time is wrong. So the experience can be either reliably mediocre or quite hit-or-miss, no matter which approach is chosen; this might become problematic for connection-critical games such as Pokémon.

I love playing the Pokémon games to a great extent, but what I don't love is having problems each time I wish to go to play the games over the Internet. And I'm not the only one; others have complained and attempted to seek solutions, but have found none, other than to have multiple approaches on hand. It's still a miracle that we're able to play Pokémon and other games over these iffy-or-lacking connections, and that is quite appreciable on the basis of interaction as well as passion.

Futureproofing Transfers

A long-standing tradition in the main series of Pokémon games is the ability to transfer Pokémon from one generation to the next. With the exception of one transition, this tradition has occurred in all transitions to a new generation in some way. Like any tradition, the challenge is to keep this going for successive generations. While it appears that there is a particular way to futureproof this tradition, this topic still merits a discussion in light of things that always change.

The first time Pokémon were movable from one generation to the next was from the first generation to the second; Pokémon could be moved back and forth between the games so long as they weren't new ones or didn't contain new elements. The break then occurred from the second to the third generation, for which the factor of new elements added then played a part. The third to fourth generation involved importing of Pokémon via Pal Park and its kin, and which was also only achievable with an original NDS or an NDS Lite with their GBA slots. The fourth to the fifth involved the Poké Transfer via wireless and two NDS. It was after this point that a kind of futureproofing was developed.

That futureproofing is called the Pokémon Bank. Its first use was for holding fifth-generation Pokémon after being imported via the Poké Transporter software, which could then be transferred into the sixth generation games. This was followed by the Bank holding sixth-generation Pokémon for entry into the seventh generation games. It has been said that the Bank will continue to be the solution and in a sense the gateway for Pokémon from older games to enter new ones. If so, some considerations need to be kept in mind.

Currently the Bank is available for the 3DS... and only the 3DS. But then again, that's because all the currently playable main series games are or can be so played on the 3DS, including Virtual Console versions of the first generation games and the soon-to-come second generation games. Should a new console succeed the 3DS and the Pokémon main series migrates there as a result, the Bank has to be made available too for the console. The Bank has shown persistence by becoming updated along with the games; it is this persistence that needs to be maintained if the Bank is to continue to serve as a movement facility for players' Pokémon.

Change is inevitable, especially in gaming and related technologies. This applies equally well for the main series of Pokémon games, which has had to adapt to changing consoles and its associated technical advancements. But along the way, continuity for the most part has been able to maintained in the fashion of a tradition by letting players somehow move older Pokémon to new games. It's a laudable effort and one that can stand to be maintained with the appropriate means (the Pokémon Bank) and the efforts to keep the means available when things change. Doing so would ensure that this tradition lives on in future Pokémon games, and that is certainly a good thing for players seeking to preserve their legacy.

Cosplay: Nimatsuri 2017

Last week, I mentioned a cosplay briefing for an event to come; the event I went to today is that event. Now, the explanation and review for this event could be a little convoluted, but bear with me. First up is the name of the event. The name of the event is short for "NIGOSHA no Matsuri", where NIGOSHA is the name of the Japanese association of the school hosting this event. So it's another school event, literally meaning the Japanese festival of the school. The origins of this event could be said to be the same as the school event from about a week ago; the school hosts an outside event, then the school hosts its own, and the rest is history. It's a good progression to be sure, but there's always something to say about the execution from year to year.

As for cosplay today, I chose to go with Classic Ash for the same exact reason as the event from last month, incidentally with the same costume: I wanted to redeem last year's experience with this one. Admittedly last year didn't go quite as well as it should, so I'm doing it again and going to great lengths to do it, and that includes signing up for the cosplay walk. I always want to have the best experience possible when cosplaying (in particular with Pokémon costumes), so if that means having to repeat last year's costume, then by all means. It means forsaking variety, but at least there is still some worth to it.

I did say that the cosplay competition - and the only one today - is a cosplay walk. However, in its execution, it could also be turned into a cosplay performance. They offered participants to send in background music to be played while they appear, and I took up the offer; I sent in a cut version of "OK!" (one of the second-generation anime opening themes, but also works with Classic Ash) which was one minute long, half of my allotted time on stage. This was what allowed me to structure my performance, and I thought I did well enough on stage. Unfortunately, I'm only one of 14 entrants, and of those 14 entrants, only two were chosen as a winner. At least it's been fun to do something more structured on stage.

Outside of cosplay, I got to interact for quite a while at the event with a couple of close friends that also happen to like Pokémon in some way. One of them likes the games quite as much as I do, and we got into discussions about what could be best for us in terms of the games. The other, in addition to being a fellow cosplayer and competition participant - also didn't win - could be considered a closet fan of the franchise, showing appreciation for a good portion of the anime and the games; this was where stuff got good and we could update each other on what's happening. It's interactions like these that make me glad to be a Pokémon fan, and I want to continue to be able to have these.

The event itself was shorter than usual, only 7 hours from start to finish. Food stands were a little short as were community stands, but it was fine. Perhaps that is a blessing in itself as it means fewer things to manage, but then again last year's stands were quite more varied. Still, the event attracted lots of people, maybe just as much as last year, and that's a good thing.

Overall, I redeemed myself plenty today even though I didn't win the cosplay competition. I did have a good time at the event and got to interact with friends, especially in regard to Pokémon. I would gladly re-live every moment of the event if I could - and hope some might turn out a little differently - but I think I did just that today compared to last year. In any case, I'm completely satisfied and highly expectant of events to come.

Pikachu Image Pillow

I like any merchandise that displays the image of Pikachu in a pleasing manner. So it's no surprise I was taken by an image pillow that I recently saw that does this very well, which I just had to have. I consider myself somewhat lucky because the first time I saw this pillow, I didn't have a chance to get it, and it instantly disappeared for some reason. It was when it surfaced again that I decided to get it, and now I'm glad to have it.

Actually, this pillow happens to have a connection to the "wanna splurge" story I detailed a few days ago. It was then that I saw this pillow, but in a larger size and with an official tag (though this was not the very large object I referred to in the story). The price for that was a few times the one for the pillow I have now, owing to its size and its official-ness. Thus, this tells me that the pillow I have could have been made as a replica of this pillow, but I suppose that is not a bad thing since this pillow is reasonably close to that.

As I've said, I really like the image of Pikachu on this one; it's cute, welcoming, and just pleasant to look at again and again. The color scheme is not too shabby either; yellow as a dominant color is befitting for any Pikachu thing, and I like red as an accent color, befitting its cheeks. One last thing is that this pillow has a loop on top, which means I can also use it as a hanging pillow, though maybe it's a little too precious for that kind of use.

In any case, I seem to have redeemed a part of my "wanna splurge" story by spending a little money on this pillow, even if it's not one of the exact things that I actually wanted to splurge on back then. It's still considerably lucky that this pillow was present when it had to be, and I like that now it's part of my Pokémon collection. Splurging is still in (the back of) my mind, but now it has become a currently lesser concern with this pleasing pillow.

Battle of the Masters

The masters of Pokémon battling are congregating in one place to see who's the best of the best... as I write this. The Pokémon World Championships this year are being held in Anaheim, California, for both the card game (TCG) and the video game (VGC). For players who have perfected their skills and have been recognized as such, this is a great occasion to test their skills with and against the best of the best. It's surely a lofty goal to aspire to, but it is by no means impossible either.

Some of my compatriots (though I don't know them that well) have made some strides in the past to achieve entry to this supreme occasion. I recall a fellow VGC player who had to go through competitions in other countries to even qualify for the Championships because of a lack of a means otherwise. On the TCG side, a few made it to the Championships and did fairly OK. So it's a hard thing to get to the Championships and imaginably even harder to do well.

I'm ill-suited to participate in the Championships in any way due to a variety of reasons, but at the least I can note the progress of others (close to me) as they make efforts to be able to participate in this hallowed event. I can also further increase my skills in both areas of the Championships, though it would probably not reach the levels - or not anytime in the near future - of those who have truly mastered the games enough to be able to participate. And that's what these Championships truly are: they're the "battle of the masters" designed to see who are the most ultimate among ultimates.

I still stand behind anyone who wishes to and does make efforts to get to these Championships. Whether or not these efforts are realized, and in the positive case, whether or not great progress was made in the Championships, any effort is respectable. I'm no master myself in the ways of these Championships, but to support others' effort somehow is masterful in and of itself as much as making own efforts to become one for Pokémon, which is great no matter what.

Red and White Philosophy

I've already discussed about the colors of the Pokémon logo and the philosophy behind them, and now I want to discuss another pair of colors: the red and the white of the Poké Ball... which just so happens to be the colors in the Indonesian flag, the country of my birth and where I've come to reside again. And they're in the right order too when the Poké Ball is right side up. It must be some sort of divine order that this is the case, and in some sense this is appreciable.

The colors of red and white themselves in popular (Indonesian) symbology are associated with a few connotations. It has been said that red is the color of bravery and white is the color of purity; it could be construed as making up the soul of fallen heroes in their struggle. Further, red is the color of blood and white is the color of bone, thus lending greater credence to this symbolism. Any way you cut it, these two colors and their associated ideas are very much connected to heroism.

Applying this symbology to Poké Balls and by extension Pokémon results in a few considerations. In a way, it could be thought of that every Pokémon Trainer, in particular those who use Poké Balls for their Pokémon, are heroes; they exhibit the bravery to face one another and the purity to remain determined to their life (bone+blood) objectives. This would extend to each and every one of the Pokémon they use, since they have to share the same visions and missions of their Trainers to realize them. There is a universality that is present among both Trainers and Pokémon as heroes - none are more special than another, because everyone is.

I personally find the spiritual elegance that is shared by both the colors of the Poké Ball and the Indonesian flag to be a wonderful thing. There are positive values to be taken from each, and this is not a bad thing, because only with positive values can everyone move forward, whether it's real as in this country or imagined as in the world of Pokémon. It's a divine order that any fan of Pokémon in the country can and should appreciate for all its inherent qualities.

Happy Independence Day, Indonesia.

I Want to Splurge

Yesterday I was out all day to fulfill a few errands for personal goals, only one of which succeeded, and neither of which involved Pokémon. However, along the way, I did see quite a few Pokémon-related things that were quite appealing and that I could personally stand to have. In doing so, I would have been incurring one of the Four Notions, the one for "splurge". However, I stopped myself or was stopped from doing so due to a few reasons. And yet if I could I'd gladly do so.

As I've described in the other post, I do set limits on myself from incurring this notion, and this is one of those times where those limits are not to be transgressed. Under the current situation, I could be said to have already incurred this notion with something I needed to possess to keep things in continuity... actually two things, in fact, as the 3DS XL issue fits into this as well, and a future New 3DS would necessitate this notion to be incurred. The limits are also caused by pure practicality, which would "go out the door" should they be transgressed this time around. For these reasons I decided to keep myself in check.

What were those things? Let me give you a taste of them so that I may return for them one day. I saw a big - and I mean really big - Pokémon thing that if I were to get, I would have a problem carrying and transporting home, though this would be a problem that would be interesting to be able to be solved easily and cheaply. Another thing is something I already have in a different form and have no particular need for another one of only a different appearance to no effect. Yet another thing is one of potential use but is not really urgent. Lastly, I saw things in two actual gacha machines, for which I would additionally be incurring the second notion, but I couldn't because one was out of order and cannot be turned, while the other was sold out. All of these things are great to have for sure, but they are neither practical nor can be cheaply gotten at the moment.

Splurging is great when there are funds to do so and when they can be justified somehow with particular attention to practicality, at least in my view. But I cannot find much reason (yet) to justify these these splurges at the moment, especially knowing when there are a few splurges incoming that are more necessary. All the same, I still have the itch to splurge and commit to incurring this notion for a few more Pokémon things, but the occasion is just not right. It will surely be a great one when the occasion becomes just right for the notion to be incurred.

Pokémon Desktop Wallpapers

I like Pokémon a whole lot. So naturally, I want to see it in many places. One of those places is on the background of my computer desktop as a wallpaper image. Since I use my computer for a lot of things, not the least of which is to manage Pokémon stuff, a wallpaper image is a perfect place to put a reminder of something that I really like so that I may be able to come back to it every so often. This also becomes an area where I can get to express my creativity when I decide to make ones of my own.

That's not to say I don't like the wallpaper creations of others. I in fact like official wallpapers as those on the main Pokémon web sites, because more often than not, they are aesthetically more pleasing than indie designs. Of course, there are also indie wallpapers that are just as good as official designs, but they're not as often found as official ones. In any case, both of these serve as partial inspirations of what I like to do more, which is to make my own wallpapers.

The wallpapers that I design and make myself come in two flavors. The first is totally original designs that cannot be found anywhere else, at least to my knowledge. I try to create these as much as I possibly can, though sometimes I draw a blank. That's when the second one comes in: I also like to make crossover designs that evoke other things, sometimes to an extent parodying them. As I've stated in my post on crossovers, I think of myself as a "remix artist", so I also find it pleasing to mash up and combine other works, so in this case it would be doing so to represent Pokémon graphically in a different way. Whichever flavor I desire, it still takes quite a bit of effort to realize them.

What kinds of things do I like seeing on Pokémon wallpapers? I'm partial to Ash, certainly, so I like seeing him on a wallpaper. I also like to see distinct Pokémon such as Pikachu as well as objects such as Poké Balls. Even more so, I also like seeing the Pokémon logo in some way on a wallpaper. Sometimes I like to see the logo as a small part of the wallpaper, but other times I like it as the major feature of the wallpaper; most of my fairly recent creations have been for the latter case. The intermingling of all of these elements remains a definitive part of the appearance.

Desktop background wallpapers are important because they are often the first thing to be seen after booting up a computer. I don't see how they can't reflect things that are considered important, which in my case is Pokémon. To be reminded of it whenever I go to do my business on my computer is simply a wonderful thing and keeps alive something that is truly a world of mine.

All in Good (Life)Time

A Pokémon-playing colleague of mine recently remarked on how he spent a lot (and I mean a lot) of time on the Pokémon games that it makes a recently played but different game insignificant, especially when it comes to "life". As a huge Pokémon fan myself, I can understand. Any time-wasting thing takes something off of life, but if that time wasted can be considered time well-spent, then it really does mean "living".

That said, time merits some consideration, but it is not the only thing. My colleague stated that he spent so much time on the games that on one of the games, he maxed out the play time clock. I must say that my time spent playing the games somewhat (read: very much) pales in comparison, and for that matter, perhaps the same would apply to another friend of mine, the one who bestowed his 3DS Pikachu LE upon me, who is also a huge Pokémon fan himself. So the time that we all spent playing the games are unequal - but what is equal is that we're equivocally fans of Pokémon; we wouldn't play the games and take in all Pokémon-related things if we weren't fans.

There has to be a few things that makes spent time good rather than wasted. One of those is definitely result. If similar results as more spent time can be gained in less time, then some of that time is at least worth something as a produced outcome. If not as results, then it may be experience; if in that spent time experience is at least elevated, then that is a good value as well. Lastly, there is also enjoyment, which could be considered to have lesser value than the other two, but it's a good value nonetheless as well. So there are many ways of how time can be valuated.

All this leads into the consideration of "life". One of the things I always say is that Pokémon is my life; if I'm not playing or doing or thinking up of something Pokémon, I'm not living - or rather, I'm living less, not as much as I can. This is where much of my enjoyment lies, as well as a good amount of results and experience. And it pervades many aspects, not just the games. But in consideration of Pokémon, the games are where a good portion lies. I'll still (need to) do and (want to) enjoy other things, but without Pokémon it just seems that there is something missing. Pokémon is then an overarching part of where my life lies, and I can imagine the same is true for my colleague and my friend.

So my friend, fear not about what they call "no life". It's your life - and if it works like the way Pokémon works in my life, then that's a worthwhile piece of it. In that sense, time spent on and with Pokémon is truly a good life for you and me, and for anyone else who's a fan at heart.

Cosplay Briefings

Today I attended a briefing for a Japanese event held next week, which will include a cosplay competition in the form of a cosplay walk or parade. I'm already set to bring my Pokémon cosplay to the event, so I might as well sign up for the competition and test my skills. And to sign up, I could do so as I attend this briefing and obtain information on the competition as well. In any case briefings (or what people around here like to call "Technical Meetings", TMs for short - not the ones for moves, mind you 😉) are useful, even bordering on important, for cosplay and its associated competitions.

One obvious benefit of these briefings is knowing what the ground rules are for the competition. For this one, it's nothing offensive, no sharp weapons, nothing that makes a mess, and no dangerous maneuvers (e.g. leaping off the stage), which basically boils down to "keep it appropriate", something I should have no problem doing with the Pokémon costume I plan to use. Another benefit is knowing the cues for the competition - when to be ready, when to appear, how long to appear, and so on. This will allow me to structure my performance (or at least give a semblance thereof) when I go to appear. These are all helpful, even vital information for such a competition.

Even when these tidbits are not given at a briefing, they are in any case helpful and necessary to be explained at least during the course of the event (especially for those who missed or couldn't attend a briefing for some reason). I've been at quite a few events where this didn't happen and some entrants missed some crucial pieces of information regarding the competition, perhaps to their detriment. The staff also needs to know these as well so they can "keep their word" in addition to keeping things orderly. All these tidbits can shape or guide performances, so it would be better to understand and make use of them.

That said, now I know what I think I want to do for next week's competition and I can start to prepare for it while staying within these guidelines. The event staff gave all the options and guidelines needed for the performances, and I'm free to exercise quite a few of them while working within their limits. I can already see my performance happening, and I'm sure it will be a memorable one.

Cosplay: DANOBU 4

Today's cosplay event is a good one that has become a mainstay of local events within the time I've cosplayed. It's a local high school event that could be said to have taken root as Japanese and cosplay events became ever more popular. In the past, the school became the host to a Japanese event, though it wasn't the school's own; in a way, the school was "introduced" to the concept, so they held one of their own, and it has taken off ever since. They chose to name it "Daikyuu Koukou no Bunkasai" ("High School Culture Festival" - loosely), which eventually just got shortened to DANOBU, which is the commonly accepted name today.

It also happens that I have some personal memory connections to this event. The first time this event was held, I was having some issues with cosplay, specifically whether I wanted to continue this activity. As it so happens, at that point I had also finished my second Ash costume set; I decided it was worth being used instead of letting it sit. The costume turned out to be well-received, and I made quite a few relationships through the cosplay. I decided then that it was well worth it to continue cosplaying, and the result is that I'm still cosplaying to this day.

Based on the progression of my costumes in the past years this event was held, I chose to cosplay Pokémon Trainer Red. As much as I like keeping things the same, I also like to vary up my costumes from one edition to the next, and I thought this one would provide a slight change of pace. This is one of the few events that I haven't repeated a costume from one edition to the next consecutively, so I'd be delighted if I can keep it that way. But I'm happy to come and cosplay regardless.

Regarding cosplay, street cosplay and cosplay walk were put up as competition offerings. I signed up for the former, though somewhere along the way things got mixed up, which resulted in entrants from both groups performing on stage, including me. This still didn't work in my favor and I ended up getting nothing, but then again so did many of my fellow cosplayers. Perhaps it'll have to be for another occasion.

As for the event, there were a lot of people that came, so it was a bit crowded for a Saturday event, which typically is not as popular as the Sunday counterpart. There was the usual menagerie of food and merchandise stands, which offered plenty of options for both. Community stands were few but satisfactory. In terms of these and the usual entertainment (bands and dance cover), the event was pretty lively.

Not to forget, I met two girls and another friend who brought their 3DS today! I'm always glad to meet people with their 3DS so that we can interact and possibly play. Due to the demands of the event, though, we weren't able to spend much time playing. But then there's always the StreetPass hits, which are important by themselves. Maybe we can play another time.

There were lots of hits and a few misses today, but this event still turned out good. I'll still continue to have good memories of this event with my Pokémon cosplay.

Cosplay Scrapbooking

I think many cosplay/Japanese events are special, especially when I come with my Pokémon cosplay. As a result, I collect a lot of mementos from cosplay events so that I could keep their memory. Of course, if I just keep them as is, they eventually pile up - and they do; I've got a drawer full of them. So instead of letting them fill that drawer cluttered as they are, I want to do something creative with them: I want to turn them into a scrapbook that chronicle my cosplay journey.

Scrapbooking is a highly creative activity that many people like to do. One of my relatives actually did it for special events and times, and I've seen the end result of this - the scrapbooks are really nice and aesthetically pleasing in the arrangement of items. I'm personally inspired to take up the style of scrapbooking as was presented by my relative in the scrapbooks that were made. However, I certainly would like to add my own personal touches, so that I could truly make them reflect what I do.

There are also a few things to consider regarding what I want to put in the scrapbooks and how I want to lay things out. For the latter, I'm certain that as I don't have enough material to make one scrapbook for every event, it would be better to confine each event to a scrapbook page, and then I can compile all the events of a year and put them in a single scrapbook. As for what to put on the pages, I'm sure that I want to put little things like entry passes and event tidbits on them, as long as they're sufficiently small to go on a page. Cosplay photos from the event is a good possibility, since my relative also puts photos on pages, and they're the most perfect reminders, if anything. Then there are also embellishments, which I will really have to be creative about. There are so many possibilities of things that I can put on the pages to consider and explore.

Since cosplay events are special, their memories are special as well by extension. It is those memories that I want to keep as special as the events, and what better way than a scrapbook of the things I brought back from the event. It's a really good way to keep memories of events alive, especially when those memories concern Pokémon cosplay, which has become my claim to fame in my cosplay journey.

Snorlax's Awakening

I've been losing sleep over the past few days due to several goings-on that have kept me awake into the wee hours of the day (fortunately though, not this blog). This unusualness reminds me of Snorlax, who recently was noted to have an unusualness of its own: it "woke up". Based on the evolution of its in-game images, Snorlax could be said to have woken up in battle and become prepared to fight its opponents. This is in contrast to its supposed biology, in particular its sleeping habits, hence the unusualness of the situation.

The in-game image evolution itself is somewhat fascinating. In the early days, Snorlax first appeared belly-up and lying down. In the next games within a couple of years, Snorlax appeared to sit up, even lying on its side once, before lying back down. Ten years after the first sprite image, Snorlax sat up again, and this time it was set this way for the next eight years' worth of games, until the games finally switched to 3D models and Snorlax stood up, seemingly wide awake and ready. Altogether, this evolution occurred within a span of about a decade and three-quarters.

The supposed biology of Snorlax is that it eats a lot, and then goes into a long slumber, with few disturbances (e.g. save the occasional Poké Flute prod). So an awake Snorlax is a rare thing, let alone one that's awake and eating all the time, as the one that Ash found and captured in the Orange Islands. But then again, once a Snorlax is captured, it has to do its Trainer's bidding, full or not, sleepy or not. So there's something to be said about how a Snorlax acts up based on what it's supposed to do and how it actually behaves, which may not be unusual given certain circumstances.

A Snorlax's apparent biology is to sleep, so to see it active in mid-battle might seem unusual. Still, Snorlax is to do what all other Pokémon do in any battle - face up to the brunt of opposing Pokémon - and that is nothing out of the ordinary in this world, irrespective of its biology. And that alone is worth seeing Snorlax appear active rather than the slouch that it's purported to be. I'm no slouch, but I'm not one to reject sleep either - yet it looks like I'm going to be losing a bit more of it in the coming days.

Historical Pokémon

Our world has been around for ages, and so many things have happened in the past that has shaped our present. The same could reasonably be expected for the world of monsters that is Pokémon. Everything that we know of this world couldn't have just come out of thin air. There has to be a characteristic history behind all the things we know and love from this world, and a rich one at that, given how modern the world appears. This history also becomes something that presents the possibility of its exploration.

Indeed, some of this history has been attempted to be explored in some ways in both game and anime forms. Pokémon Conquest attempts to do this by showing what the world could have been like in feudal times, with an enigmatic storyline to boot. In the fourth feature film or movie, there was a moment when Sammy (a.k.a. Professor Oak in the making) showed how a Poké Ball looked like in his time; heck, the entire movie is a crossing over of times. So the games and the anime can really show how Pokémon history comes alive.

Of course, there are other means by which Pokémon history may be explored. Some time ago, a series of wood block prints was released, portraying Trainers in period style and garb. This is a very strikingly illustrative manner to explore Pokémon history. It's not hard to believe that other forms of merchandise could be made to do the same; dolls could have a period style as well, and objects that reminisce the past could be made to have Pokémon connections. It seems that illustration and art play a key in many period representations of Pokémon.

Different time periods could be explored as well. There must have been other times before the world of Pokémon mechanized, so it would be fascinating to understand how this was realized and develops into the modern Pokémon world we know. Expanding on the world of Sammy above could also be a useful further insight into this process. Nothing stands alone, so exploring these precedents would show the dynamics of the Pokémon world in addition to offering fun and enjoyment.

In any case, a world as rich and modern as Pokémon must have started out and developed from somewhere as a beginning. It is these beginnings that present something intriguing to be fleshed out in further detail. It has been said that a world without a beginning is one that is unexplainable; I'd say that would be very much true for the Pokémon world as well. It too must have a history which is or would be fascinating to explore.

Pokémon Wrapping Paper

Another thing I came away with from last Sunday's event is a pair of wrapping paper sheets. Now, you might think wrapping paper is somewhat of a common thing to find and that this is not something worth bringing back from a remote location as this event. By my experience, this isn't so. Some time ago, I passed a child who held a roll of Pokémon wrapping paper, which I thought could be found in a nearby store, but when I tried to find it, I couldn't. Since then, I've tried to find Pokémon wrapping paper in a local shop, but without success. It was only when I came to this event and stopped by a craft shop that I finally found Pokémon wrapping paper, and even then I almost missed them. So I'm glad to have come away with them.

It should be noted that the two wrapping paper sheets have certain similarities. They were sold in sheets, not rolls, although the shop offered to roll them up for my convenience in bringing them back. They're also apportioned to a size of about 48 x 64 cm, which may be good for a small present but lacking for a bigger one. Further, the sheets are slightly rougher in texture, compared to more typically found wrapping paper which is glossy. Beyond these remarkable characteristics, the sheets have quite different yet striking appearances.

One of the sheets of wrapping paper has an orange background and the graphical elements are quite eclectic. In addition to the Pokémon logo and a Poké Ball, it also has Pikachu, Piplup, Snivy, and Ash as he was depicted in the first and second generations. The art style is gaudy and childish, but it's a unique interpretation, which is OK. What is maybe not so OK is the fact that the "m" in the logo is inverted, making it read as "w"; I discovered this just as I was writing up this post. It's a little bit of a shame, for without this flaw, the art is interestingly designed otherwise. Had I realized this flaw, I might have thought twice about buying it. Oh well.

The other sheet of wrapping paper has a purple background and the graphical elements are of a more conventional design, but they're still eclectic. It has Pikachu, Squirtle, Tepig, and Ash as he was depicted in the fourth generation. The Poké Ball and the Pokémon logo is also present, but the logo also has the Go emblem below it, making the overall design odd, but not as odd as the other sheet. Were it not present, it would have made for a more spectacular look, considering all the elements and composition. It's still a spectacular sheet of wrapping paper nonetheless, especially compared to the other one.

So both of these sheets of wrapping paper have something that keeps them from being perfectly designed in appearance. On the other hand, these two sheets of wrapping paper seem to be pretty good quality-wise, and that makes me able to appreciate them. On that note, I'd like to use them in such a way that they remain nice-looking and mostly intact - perhaps not even to wrap gifts as is their suggested use. In that way I can keep the memory of the event alive, which could be considered as great as these sheets of wrapping paper.

Metal Unova Cap Pikachu Keychain

I have to say that yesterday's event took place in a somewhat remote location, more distant than where I usually venture out of town for events. I really enjoyed the event, so I couldn't bring myself to come away without some sort of merchandise. So that is exactly what I did, and one of the things I came away with was this nifty little thing.

While spending time with a friend, we happened upon a shop that sold all kinds of anime(-inspired) stuff, including Pokémon, and I discovered this little gem of a keychain. It was the first thing that caught my eye when I walked into the shop, and it was also decently priced compared to other Pokémon things in the shop, and that was what prompted me to purchase it.

I've advertised this thing as a keychain, but it's actually a bit more than that. The shopkeeper said that this item more qualifies as an ornament that can be placed in various places, but that does not preclude it from being used as I advertised it. To that effect, the shopkeeper graciously provided a connector ring so that it can be used as such. Looking at the craftsmanship of the item, though, I might be a little loath to use it as a keychain and simply keep it as an ornament. The Poké Ball is neatly designed and Pikachu is a little exaggerated, but it works. The colors are fairly limited but at least they're fairly close to accurate, and that adds value to the item.

Overall, this is a fairly neat item that has potential for different uses, though I would really keep it to one use. If I were to use it as a keychain, I'd love to use it for a key that doesn't see much movement, like a key for something at home. If I were to use it as an ornament, I'd want to use it where I can view it conspicuously as it is somewhat small. In any case, I'd say that this is a worthwhile purchase that also doubles as a souvenir and a memento of this remote event.

Cosplay: Tomodachi 2

Considering all the cosplay events that I've been to, this one has a strange personal history. As can be discerned by the title, this event is the second iteration of an event that started out only last year. It's actually the anniversary event of an out-of-town Japanese community, which is kind of unique. Not many communities hold events open to the public such as this one, so to have and to go to an event like this, and especially bring my Pokémon cosplay, is a great thing. But last year it almost didn't start that way.

Last year, I wasn't even planning on coming to this event. There was another event slated on the same day, but that event was suddenly canceled for technical reasons, yet I had already made plans to go to the canceled event. So instead I shifted gears and went to this event instead, which was fortunate because a few friends also went to the same event. That made all my efforts worthwhile and they did not go to waste. More importantly, I got to take my Pokémon cosplay to places I hadn't been before.

As for this year's edition of the event, it was better in some ways and not as better in others. It was better this year because the event was held in an open space rather than a cramped hall, but still in a shopping mall. It was not as better this year because the cosplay competitions were somewhat delayed from their scheduled time, but I can understand this since they wanted more participants in them. In any case the event was limited in scope and time - only cosplay and dance cover were included as competitions - but the lack of these items was made up by content, which indeed was spectacular enough to draw quite a crowd.

I myself decided to participate in the cosplay walk or parade, with my Ash XY costume. Now, they told me that I had up to a minute to perform on stage while it was my turn, and I tried to make the most of it. I've been told once in a different cosplay walk that I didn't fill time enough, so I also tried to make up for that. One of the ways I did so was to put down Pikachu on the floor while I acted, though this ultimately backfired as Pikachu keeled over backwards. I still thought I did good on this, considering that others only used up not even half of their allotted time, and that I tried to show off my character as much as I could. Further, the cosplay walk was split into armor and non-armor, so I didn't have to be pitted against a vastly different type of costume. Ultimately though, I didn't win as there was only one winner for every pool, and my pool had 15 entries. Tough luck.

As with the event from the previous week, interaction with other cosplayers and people was also the big thing today, even going as far as meeting a few of the same people from the previous week. Then, I also spent extended time with certain people that I met today. That cosplay allows me to do this is purely and simply wonderful. Beyond the differences in characters, approaches, and inspirations, cosplay seems to have the power to allow connections and relationships to exist. Once again, this is something that I'm only delighted that such a thing can and does happen.

For an event that has strange personal associations, it's been a truly great one. I feel like I'm a part of their community, and I'm not even a member. I'll be sure to try to come back for the third iteration if and when it happens. If anything, Pokémon cosplay is also in order too. Why not.

Perfection and Excellence

I came across a great quote recently, and as with so many things, it immediately brought Pokémon to my mind. Here is the quote:

"...we will chase perfection, and we will chase it relentlessly knowing all the while it can never be attained, but along the way we shall catch excellence."
-- Vince Lombardi, as quoted by Alton Brown

Actually, I've heard this quote before, but I didn't pay much attention to it, until I came across it again and discovered that it can somehow tie to Pokémon. This is what I wish to expound on now.

In many ways, this quote applies to Trainers of all sorts. The objective of a Trainer is to find the best Pokémon possible for battling, and in many cases this will be imperfect. But that's not a problem, since in many cases Trainers will search and search again until they find what they consider the best. Perfection is actually something that's attainable in regard to Pokémon, but it's a very rare thing indeed. In any case, excellence is the one thing that all Trainers strive for, on and off the battlefield.

This is such a wonderful and inspirational quote for any Trainer. It's wonderful because it encapsulates the universal spirit that all Trainers have or at least should have, which is to become the best they can be. It's inspirational because it drives them to maintain that spirit if they possess it and to attain that spirit if they don't already have it. Whether it's searching for perfect IVs in the main series or a high CP in Go, the end result is the same - it's all about making sure that only the best possible things are possessed so that Trainers may achieve the best results possible.

I, as a Pokémon fan, am impressed with this quote. I know I need to strive for the best I can get, and this is what I am trying to do as much as I can. I also realize that my skills or experience may be lacking in comparison to others, but I shouldn't be down because of that. What matters is that I've tried with all my best efforts and that it bears my best results; it doesn't have to be fully perfect, but if it bears excellence, then it is a very good thing. I'm sure any Trainer will agree with me on this matter - we all deserve only the best by our best efforts. And we can't ask for anything better than that. ☺

Pokémon on My Bed

My room is filled with Pokémon stuff. It's on my table and in my drawers and cabinets. But the only thing that hasn't gotten a Pokémon makeover is my bed, aside from a few of the stuff that has spilled onto my bed, but that can hardly be called a makeover. So now I'm interested to see if I can do just that: I want to give my bed a Pokémon makeover in some way. Actually, in the past there was an attempt to do this, but I never made it all the way.

Over a decade ago, I saw a Pikachu fabric that featured Pikachu in many forms on a red check pattern. I thought it was interesting and I wanted to have it. One of my relatives thought of a better idea: instead of just having it as it is, it was better to turn it into a bedspread for my then-smaller bed. And this actually happened... but that was the only thing that happened. I didn't deal with the pillows or the sheets, though in the back of my mind, I was thinking of doing those as well.

Fast forward to today, now I have a larger bed, and that bedspread is inaccessible; even if it was accessible, it wouldn't fit my current bed. So now it becomes clear that I have to make a new bedspread to fit my larger bed. While I'm at it, I might as well make pillow cases, since all my other bed coverings include those as a set. The fabric, however, will be the tough part; I can't hope to find that Pikachu fabric again, but maybe I can find an alternative. Another idea is to print Pokémon images on a certain fabric and use that for coverings, but this isn't practical and I would save it for a last resort - this would be true for the sheets as well.

What about the two pillows I bought some time ago? While they look attractive, I wouldn't want to put them where I actually sleep. I want to keep them decorative and put them away from where I sleep. I'm also not interested in a huggable bolster pillow (also known as a dakimakura), though it could be fun to have one. I like simplicity in the actual area where I sleep, so all I need is the pillow for my head and sheets, and I'm all set. All decorations like these can stay at the foot of my bed or another portion where I don't sleep on.

Putting actual Pokémon touches on my bed is still something I occasionally think of, given that I've had an actual history of an attempt to do so. Yet there are also a few things to think about should I undertake this right now. Even so, simplicity is a good thing and something I'm in favor of, so I consider that only a few things are really needed for my own attempt at doing this. In any case, I believe that I can do something even greater and better-looking this time around.

A Hobbled Pikachu... 3DS XL

Well, I hate to admit it, but that 3DS story that I posted about way back in January may be coming to an end pretty soon. I left my 3DS for repair at the end of June with a very, very good friend - actually a friend of my friend from whom I bought the 3DS - who handles many local console repair needs, and only today I was able to pick it up from my friend's shop. It was a grueling repair process and it was slightly fraught with the uncertainty of whether I would be able to continue playing with what I have. Yet it turns out, I could... but not without a catch.

First it would help to review the problems I had with it. One of the problems was as I mentioned in my Circle Pad digest, the broken Circle Pad, for which the solution is easy - just crack open the case, install a new pad, close it, and off you go. At least it would be easy, if not for another problem; I hinted about this in my "limited editions" post. You see, a week before I sent my beloved 3DS in for repair, I found a different problem: sometimes my 3DS would mysteriously turn itself off when the lid was moved in a certain way. This presented the concern that should this happen while saving, I could stand to lose many of my hard-earned progresses on my games. Clearly it was time to get the console repaired.

Initially the console was to be repaired as I had detailed above. However, during this process, it was found that the lower screen had become corrupted, possibly as a result of the lid problem. A supposedly easy repair job just became harder as now the lower screen had to be repaired as well. A new lower screen was placed on order, came, and installed within a span of a few days. Now it seemed like everything was back to normal, but that was not fully the case. Even though the lid problem is alleviated, I was warned that I can no longer flip the lid so that it is flat when I play, lest the lid problem return. The screen too is not as bright and vivid as it was, and the colors seem a bit off, something that I've noticed going back into Shuffle. While I can still play quite a few of the games I play, I now know I have to be gentle with the console, which also means leaving behind the most intensive of games. It is for this reason that I now consider the 3DS "hobbled".

Every great story has an end, and for this one, the end seems to be nigh. It's clear that I can't stay on this hobbled console for the long term. However, some stories also have an epilogue, and this one may have such. I plan to get a New 3DS very soon, and once that happens, I would like to transfer everything to that and make it my primary console; I then want to make this 3DS as a secondary console for my other less-played cartridges, thus facilitating the "epilogue". Whatever the case, I need to come to terms that my time on this 3DS is slowly running out, but at least I can continue the story in other means, if I take action now.

Pokémon Is Everything

And in this crazy life,
And through these crazy times
It's you, it's you,
You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word,
You're everything.
-- "Everything", Michael Bublé

This might be one of the most relatable songs to Pokémon that I've found so far. I've been listening again to quite a few of my favorite songs lately, and I chanced upon this gem. At that moment I found that a lot of the lyrics of this song could be relatable to Pokémon. It is this that makes me delighted to have been listening to the song and to discuss it right now in this post.

In the song, a lot of things are listed that speak of the qualities of someone; those same qualities could be used to relate to different Pokémon. I can already identify Jirachi as the "falling star", the Gastly family for "mystery", and Deoxys for "outer space". The other qualities are a little abstract and have wider interpretations, but I still can suggest a few connections. "swimming pool on an August day" makes me think of Wailmer on a beach, which would be greater than a pool, but it kind of works. Also, "perfect thing to say" - why not Smeargle, that says things in pictures? I'm sure others would have different interpretations.

The only part I would slightly adapt is the second half of the second chorus. Instead of "kiss", it could be "catch", and instead of "love", it could be "bond". These adaptations then make the second half as being relatable to catching and battling. Otherwise, the song is pretty neat as it is - it's just that the interpretation is a bit open. And I don't think that's a bad thing when it comes to Pokémon, as it is a great, big world with many facets.

I say, if Pokémon can be everything, then why not. It is already a lot of things, and it can be many more with some fanciful interpretation. And if you like it as much as I do, then maybe you'll like it enough to sing, as the chorus above would suggest... this song, in fact. In that way, Pokémon really is everything.

Fun at the Beach... or Water Park

A few of my friends and I decided to have some fun at the city's local water park today. The motivation for this activity was that we will probably become somewhat busy with our separate activities that we probably will not be able to see each other as often as we used to, or even at all. All that fun reminds me of a particular Pokémon feature, a pre-movie short which in English is entitled Pikachu's PikaBoo, as well as its associated music pieces. That one is a whole lot of fun too.

This short is the "pre-show" for the fourth Pokémon feature film (which in English is subtitled as 4Ever). In the short, Pikachu and a group of Pokémon - many of which happen to be part of the main characters' teams at the time - are having fun in a mansion and a beach, and this results in a game of hide-and-seek with the local Pokémon. Unfortunately, there's also quite a bit of mayhem as the game of hide-and-seek results in chaos that wreaks havoc all around. Ultimately, all the Pokémon work together to tone down the chaos and turn up the fun. It's a total blast; I really recommend watching it.

The music pieces of the short are also pretty good, though they're cartoony in style. One of them, which in fact is also the first one featured in the short, is titled as the first four words of the title of this post. It was the reminder of this music piece in particular that helped to connect this day to this short. All the music pieces are incidental in nature and in title; they suit the various situations in the short. Other pieces I like from the short are titled "The Lawnmower Chase", which is very obvious as to where it goes in the short, and "Let's PikaBoo Again!" as the closing resolution piece.

In some sense, I do kind of wish that we could have more fun together again, as the final concluding piece of the short suggests. Unfortunately, things are what they are, so I've prepared myself for the fact that we will be separated most of the time. Regardless, this is one of those times I'll remember fondly, especially aided by a Pokémon connection. It just makes the memories of the day more fun, perhaps as fun as the Pokémon connection to which I've related this day.