Feature Film 20 - "Pokémon The Movie - I Choose You!"

...which brings me to the point of all of this. Yesterday was this feature film's official premiere in theaters in Indonesia, where it is shown with the subtitle of "Aku Memilihmu!" (which does mean "I Choose You!", again, literally translated from Japanese). I just had the chance to view the movie, and I can say that it is amazing. Bar none.

From the movie's poster, this movie appears to be a rehash of Ash's initial adventures, for those who have been with the anime long enough. And it is, to some extent. But it is also a unique journey that is so deep and so wonderful that it is truly a special one. Without going into too much detail, I can say that the movie involves the quest of Ash (and two other characters) as they discover all the things that are meaningful in their Pokémon lives, intertwined of course with the legend of Ho-Oh, the Legendary Pokémon that is also featured on the poster and marks the beginning of Ash's journey and adventure.

As well, this journey and adventure is about Pikachu, as Ash's ever-faithful companion. It obviously entails their first experiences, as well their experiences on this quest. And as can be attested by the particularity of the movie I discussed in the previous post, it's a close one. Real close. It's almost reminiscent of a certain other Pokémon movie, but that's starting to go into it a little too deep. Trust me: it's close, and perhaps closer than it's ever been.

There are so many profound moments in the movie that I cannot even begin to describe them all (with maybe the exception of that previous one), and I won't. What I can say is that as much as they are profound moments for the characters, they are also profound moments for myself. They've made me realize how much I really, really love Pokémon since nearly two decades ago, and it makes me pleased and delighted, almost to no end. For that, now my creative juices have begun to flow for ways to honor this.

As I've said, this movie is one to watch for any Pokémon fan. It's the 20^th, so it has to be very special, which it is. But don't take my word for it - just go see it for yourself. I promise, it'll be great.

Oh, and I've said that I use it for episodes, but it can also be used for the feature films too. So... Three-line summary:

This is the story of a journey
of a boy and his companion
on their path to greatness.

The Words of a Pikachu

By now, most Pokémon fans will have known about the 20^th Pokémon movie or feature film, which is subtitled "I Choose You!" in English (which is a literal translation of the Japanese "Kimi ni Kimeta!"). There is a highly-publicized peculiarity regarding a part of the movie, and it concerns Pikachu; in that part, Pikachu's voice is not of its usual Pokémon-name utterances, but instead of human language. The following is the excerpt of that part in the English dub of the movie:

Ash: Pikachu... why won't you get in your Poké Ball?
Pikachu: It's because... It's because... I always want... to be with you...

It was documented that this part caused some furor among those watching the movie. And why not? For 20 years, fans have been accustomed to the fact that in the anime, the Pokémon (commonly, with only one very notable exception) speak using their names as utterances, and only in very rare cases this is actually deciphered into human language, and practically never in their actual voice... until this happened. It is thus very surprising and a bit maddening.

This situation is almost identical to someone speaking a nearly completely undecipherable foreign (or fantasy) language who then suddenly speaks an understandable human language. In fact, this has happened in an English novel I once read; in that novel, it is understood that the characters continue to speak the fantasy language for which the novel is concerned, but the speech is transparently presented in English for the purpose of understanding, though later on this issue becomes sketchy with the introduction of outsiders. The situation in the movie could be thought to be a one-off version of that, returning to the usual norm afterwards.

It has been suggested that at that point Ash was in delirium (supported by the situation) and what Pikachu said is what Ash thought Pikachu was saying. This is a plausible explanation given that Ash seemed to comply, though it's not the one I favor. Of course, what doesn't explain the situation is that in the old Pokémon manga, some Pokémon actually spoke human language. This is a totally different canon and thereby doesn't apply to this, but it is worth mentioning because of the similarity.

In any case, this is the 20^th movie after all, so to pull a maneuver like this is hardly surprising. It's a special milestone to be celebrated, not the least of which is because of the setting. Such a maneuver, however odd it seems, only makes the movie even more special. It is a totally, absolutely must-see movie for any Pokémon fan...

Journeys and Adventures

- Where have you been?
- Everywhere.
(moments pass)
- So where are we going?
- Everywhere else!

There is an adventure game that never got off the ground that featured this specific interaction. The setting of the interaction was someone who was late to meet two people because the person was "everywhere", but then they all decide to venture to "everywhere else". It implies that the world is a big place, but then there is always something to explore. I like to think that this applies as well to the Pokémon world, especially in the journey of a Pokémon Trainer.

It has been said that beyond the confines of buildings and towns, there is a vast amount of land to explore and seas to approach, and to go through them would be a wonderful thing. Many travel writers and visual reporters of this world have done just that, showing different facets of this world that we may not be aware of. Their stories make up the possible journeys and adventures of this world, and there is always the hope that others may take up these journeys and adventures.

A Pokémon Trainer can be said to do pretty much the same, except that maybe their journeys and adventures are less publicized, save by word-of-mouth or the occasional media appearance. It is still inspirational nevertheless for those who are strong-willed in taking part in them, like Ash. It's something amazing to be able to go places like these people, and then just when "everywhere" seems to have been explored, "everywhere else" opens up for exploration, and the process starts all over again.

I like that. And I like how all this can tie into Pokémon too.

The Pacing of Types

A characteristic that makes Pokémon unique is types. They are part of what makes the games of the series what they are, as I've also illustrated in a song about them. As is true of any expanding game series, Pokémon types also have expanded, though not at a constant rate or pace. Still, this becomes a valid consideration, given that there is always the possibility of new types coming in the future, however small.

Pokémon started out in the first generation with 15 types, which are Normal, Fire, Water, Electric, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock. Ghost, and Dragon. This is a fairly large number to start out with, perhaps a bit mind-boggling in some sense. And yet with only 151 monsters of those types, it works, and they're all mostly in harmony. Many of the types are well-represented, except for the elusive Dragon type, which only ended up as a very small fraction of that 151 Pokémon. Even so, the Dragon type managed to become a standout strong type, with Psychic as a runner-up of sorts.

The second generation then quickly came with the new Dark and Steel types, and at that point the types totaled to 17. The former could counter the standout Psychic type, while the latter just appeared as another strong type, which it did, with all of its resistances. New Pokémon had the new types, but no old Pokémon did, and for three generations afterwards, Steel and Dragon held the post as standouts. The sixth generation added only one type to even things out, the 18^th Fairy type as an intermediary for both, and for the first time, many old Pokémon gained the designation. Compared with the suddenness of Dark and Steel with no prior changes, this took quite some time.

Will any new types ever come? Given that the games seem quite stable with 18, it doesn't seem likely that new types will come, though there are still some loose ends. For example, Electric is weak to (and only to) Ground, while Dragons themselves can only counter another Dragon, and Normal cannot counter anything, the only one of the 18 types that cannot. A new type can maybe rectify these loose ends, but that may or may not happen, and if it does, not for a long time, as with the case of the Fairy type. The fact remains that anything is possible.

The expansion of Pokémon types have not been steady or regular, but it seems it doesn't try to be or have to be so. Notwithstanding the standout strong types, the other types have been more or less harmonious for playing the games, and expansion is as much a "minor fix" as it is a "major new thing" that plays into the logic of the game. Whether or not this unique logic will expand again in the future is something to be seen.

Popularity

It's been over 20 years since Pokémon officially came into being and nearly 18 years since I became a fan. Along the way, it seems Pokémon has undergone periodic surges and dips in popularity, shining one moment, fading the next, and then shining again. Yet despite this apparent situation, the Pokémon games remain a big seller; the numbers don't lie and the games always show high sales figures. And beyond the games, there is a big world of related Pokémon things. There must be something to be said about this situation of popularity.

What this indicates to me is that Pokémon is appreciated regardless, whether by gamers or otherwise. The basic formula of the main series games can be considered almost uniform, even after six generations of looking somewhat alike and one generation of looking somewhat different. But this hasn't stopped gamers from snapping up each game as if they were something completely new - which in a way is in fact true - and making great things out of them, of which a part is realized in the VGCs. Meanwhile, the spinoff games practically serve as a respite from the main series games and are enjoyed as well. Gamers' interest in the games seemingly hardly wanes, maintaining a sort of popularity.

Even for those who don't play the games, Pokémon is a universe of its own that is open for interpretation in various ways. This leads to things like the anime, manga, merchandise, toys, art, and so on and so forth. For these segmentations, the appreciation the people have in them is considerable, and that for as long as the things persist, interest will too. As well, it is expected that the non-game fans can cross into game territory and vice versa; if anything, this just increases appreciation further due to their enjoyment. It's an amazing exchange that speaks to the vastness of Pokémon, with some maintained popularity as a result.

What about those surges and dips? While they do seem apparent, it might as well be that they don't seem to occur. The fact is that the games continue to sell, the world continues to expand, and the popularity persists. If these didn't happen, it's possible that Pokémon wouldn't have lasted as long as it has, or would have become totally obscure. Pokémon seems to be popular in its own right, and this is something that's appreciable by myself as well as my fellow fans, especially with two decades of history behind it.

Late Launch Party... Minus the Party

You know, I'm so enamored with the late launch party that's scheduled for today, even though I can't go since I'm so far away. I like the concept, no matter the timing, as it lets players discuss and play together the latest games, which are in this case Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. I'm sorely disappointed that I can't go, but at least I could take to celebrate for a reason and with other means.

First up is the reason. Remember how I noted that I may or may not receive my copy of Ultra Moon by the time of the late launch party, which is today? It turns out the day after the post was made, I was told that my copy of the game was ready for me, and that all I had to do was to pay off the rest of the pre-order (earlier, I had made a small down payment) to have the game delivered to me. I was glad to hear this, and I soon paid off the game; the game was delivered to me on the same day using the local courier service.

What I'm even more glad is that this time, my pre-order has a bonus, and that bonus is a code for Shiny Silvally, which is on the sheet as you see here. However, the code is for the previous games (Sun and Moon) rather than for this game. Still, it is totally worth it to enter those games and claim the code, and in my case, there might be something to do as well. I appreciate the bonus regardless.

As for the means to celebrate, the festivities are way too far away for me to enjoy. However, what is not too far away is the menu for the party, which had been divulged ahead of time. It's such a neat Pokémon-inspired menu that I'm also inspired by it... enough that I ended up making three of the items featured on the menu for myself to enjoy as the festivities proceeded. It has been said that food can take people to different places, so what better alternative than to make the food, as if to take me to the party.

The three items I chose to make were the pandan tea, mushroom pasta, and mini doughnuts, as seen in the photo. The first was easy to make - just brew tea with pandan leaves and off you go. The mushroom pasta I made with the exact ingredients listed, though I added aromatics and herbs to balance the culinary logic. For the last one, I took some help by buying fry bread bits from a hawker stall (which are more akin to beignets) and made the spice-sugar topping myself. The filling wasn't present, but that's fine. The important thing is that I think I got somewhat close.

I can sense that this late launch party was a hit, especially since I heard that some of the others took to staying well after the party was supposed to be over, and that the food was excellent, especially the dessert. I also do believe that despite the distance, I was able to share at least some of the merriment through what unfolded above. I would really love to come and physically share the merriment next time something like this happens and I'm close enough to do so. 

Catching Them All

The slogan of Pokémon (at least on the English side of things) from its inception is "Gotta catch 'em all!", and this has persisted to this very day. It implies that one goal of a Trainer is to indeed possess all the monsters or creatures, as demonstrated in a very old advertisement for Pokémon showing many Pokémon gathered under a net. However, with today's Pokémon situations, this slogan may be called into question. Specifically, the question pertains possibilities and opportunities in relation to the games and otherwise.

In the main series games, prior to the seventh-generation games, "catching them all" is a manageable matter, though admittedly as the games expanded, many Pokémon became segregated to one game or another, necessitating knowledge of which ones are in which games to be able to catch them all optimally without having to have all the games of a single generation (but still relying on trades from others). All of these games are complemented by the presence of the National Dex, which has the collective set of data from Pokémon from all generations, as well as the necessary transfer mechanisms to grab Pokémon from earlier generation games, which can serve to favor the slogan. In the seventh-generation games, the National Dex does not exist, but the games themselves and Pokémon Bank can still carry older Pokémon for use in battle. Still, this situation might make a real disincentive for realizing the slogan.

Meanwhile, in other games, Pokémon are limited to a certain set, so not all of them are found in a game, thus not supporting the realization of the slogan, except for those existing. On the other hand, games like Shuffle and Go can be and are being updated to (gradually) support all Pokémon, so the realization is very much possible, though only if all the features are utilized, like Special Stages in the former and raid battles in the latter (and therefore joining a standard team). Thus in these games, "catching them all" is not a priority, but still a possibility given the opportunity.

As for Pokémon in other forms, like the anime, "catching them all" is not the norm. Ash only has a subset of the hundreds of Pokémon from all generations, but they're definitely not all. Additionally, I'm quite certain that while memorabilia for many Pokémon exist, it doesn't exist for all of them, making the slogan moot when considering the entire breadth of Pokémon, but likewise supported for those existing.

So, the idea of "catching them all" doesn't seem to be a universal thing given the limits of situations and the opportunities they present. Yet the idea is quite possible within those limits, no matter what the (dis)incentives are. In that sense the idea is never fully moot and still applicable in certain ways depending on the situation. The persistence of the slogan can only be a testament to this view - it's an appreciable accomplishment regardless.

Thankfulness

Today in the U.S. is what is known as Thanksgiving Day. It has origins as a harvest celebration, but it has become more or less a secular holiday that is celebrated in different ways. In Japan, notably, it becomes celebrated as a day to thank hard work and one another. I won't disagree with this interpretation, and I'll consider it as my prime interpretation. Of course, for me, I owe a big thanks to the harvest, hard work, and happiness bringer (for people alike) that is Pokémon.

While Pokémon was conceived thanks to the ideas of a single person, it always has been (and always will be) realized by a team of people. It is their collective effort that leads to the impressively immersive games as they are. Thus it is befitting to call the games as a "harvest" of sorts because they are the results of work put in by those people, and certainly a good portion of that work is hard work. This then further results in happiness that links all of us together. All of this is worthy of thanks, especially on a special day like this.

But of course, I have to thank Pokémon in other ways. Many things that make me what I am today are related to Pokémon. I've made friendships because of Pokémon, by playing the games or enjoying its varied media forms. I've taken Pokémon inspiration and made it into different things or works. I also took interest in other things such as cosplay because of Pokémon. It can even be said that I've kept on living because of Pokémon. Pokémon is so pervasive in many parts of my life that it's hard not to show great appreciation for it. For that, I have Pokémon to thank.

On this special day, there is traditionally a harvest to thank, as the original inception for the day. In modern times, that universally extends to people and the efforts that they make in life. All these are worthy to be appreciated and therefore thanked. And yet, Pokémon can also apply as and in all three areas, and so in a way, it is also worthy of thanks, especially in my personal case, where Pokémon is present all around. It goes without saying, then, that on this special day, I am deeply thankful for the existence and presence of Pokémon.

By the way, the Japanese celebrate their Thanksgiving on November 23... hold on, that's today! What a nice coincidence for this year's celebration, and what a nice blending of worlds for this Pokémon fan. Happy Thanksgiving.

A Pokémon Menu

In my previous post on this blog, I mentioned that this Saturday, there will be a late launch party for the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games for some of my fellow fans over yonder. I've also stated that I can't go primarily due to the reason of distance. However, as a promotion (and teaser) for the party, an interesting piece of information was given out: the menu for food that will be served at the party. What makes the menu even more interesting is that it's Pokémon-themed, which not only makes it appropriate, but also unique to the occasion.

This is part of what I was discussing when I discussed about possible Pokémon parties, way back when I was hoping to have one of my own on my special day. Food can be named after Pokémon things or contain ingredients that reference Pokémon things. Here, there are dishes with certain items as well as facets from the Pokémon world. If a food item can be rationally and justifiably connected to something Pokémon, it's probably well worth it for a Pokémon party.

That said, these menu items look pretty good. The pandan tea is definitely tropical and good for evoking an Alolan feeling; I love pandan and don't mind it in my tea - I had some the other day, in fact. The nachos and salsa are logical, though the Tamato Berry, for those in the know, does evoke images of extreme spiciness - though if anything, the real salsa could be toned down for those who can't stand such an extreme. The pasta dish is a given based on its ingredients, while the special curry rice is... well, special because of its justifiable connection, which is what matters. And Alola can't be had without malasadas, Hau's favorite food, which actually exist and are the donuts as offered for dessert. All of this menu is a great lineup for an Alolan celebration.

No party is complete without food, and no Pokémon party is complete without its tie-ins. This menu is an excellent representation of that. It's quite a shame that I won't be able to try out these menu items in celebration of the newly released games, but a celebration is a celebration nonetheless. The food fan and Pokémon fan in me are pretty pleased with this menu.

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Uptake

As I've said in my release day post for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, with the release of the games, it becomes a great time. There are, of course, some snags as the games make my way to me and my fellows, but once they are resolved, it will become an even greater time, which is augmented as the people also start to play the games. That is what appears to be happening as I write this.

I've mentioned that the distribution of the game for us is delayed, but that is slowly becoming resolved. Some of my fellows have started to receive the games, which is a good thing. Within two to three days after the official release of the games, my fellow players who are closer to each other than they are to me finally were able to pick up their pre-ordered games or had the games sent to them. The ones who are actually closer to me as well as I myself have not been able to get the games, but this should change soon enough. Hopefully once we all get the games, we should be able to get rolling.

As for how quickly we'll get rolling, that depends. A couple of my fellows have rushed through the game so they can tinker with possible VGC 2018 teams, and that's understandable. A few others have stated that they're in no rush and that they'll take their time to enjoy the story as they play the games. It seems I may fit into the latter camp rather than the former, based on how I proceed through Sun, but depending on how things go, I might just try to make as much progress as possible. It might just become ready for a tournament.

In the meantime, to celebrate the coming of the games, some of my fellows are holding a late launch party set for this Saturday. Sadly, I can't join because it's mostly for my fellows that are closer among themselves, and it's just too far away. Even by then, I am not sure I will be able to obtain the Ultra Moon game I pre-ordered. The celebration is still welcome, so I may take to celebrate remotely in my own fashion.

The uptake of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is slowly but surely increasing, and the same goes for the excitement, so it seems. With fewer snags remaining to hold back from the game, all that's left is to enjoy the games as soon as they are in possession. At that point, that will indeed be an even greater time with the games, one that I'm happy to contribute towards.

On Cosplay Props and Prop Makers

Props or equipment are essential for cosplay of certain characters. In the case of my Pokémon cosplay, I've already detailed two of them that I need. However, sometimes I need to have a certain prop or equipment than my usual needs; with my Ash SM debut the other day, I needed to have such a prop or equipment, and that was the Z-Ring. For that, I asked a good cosplayer friend of mine who is also a good cosplay prop maker to make the Z-Ring. It's something that I appreciate, yet it goes with a few things.

Now, cosplay prop makers are often, but not always, cosplayers that have lent their services in making props and equipment for fellow cosplayers. They are often very experienced in creating props and equipment themselves that this practically comes as second nature for them. They know what materials to use, where to get them, and how to assemble them in a good way to create the requested props or equipment. If they're good, the result isn't too shabby, as with my Z-Ring; if they're excellent, the results can be even better. This automatically means different prices as well for their services, but that's understandable.

Of course, I can't exactly peruse their services for super-competitive (or high-level) cosplay competitions, but I'm not really cut out for competitions at that level anyway, so I'm not worried. In any case, they've willingly (and those with proven track records, at least legitimately) offered their services to make cosplay props, and they deserve to be perused and supported. They in most cases have the materials, knowledge, and craft to make the props, not to mention space and time, and these are things I don't often have in great quantities and/or all at once. I'll throw support for them in those high-level competitions, and I'll offer them to make props I actually need, in an effort to support their efforts.

For as long as there are cosplayers, props will surely be needed for certain costumes of theirs, and for cosplayers who are often occupied, cosplay prop makers may provide the help that they need. As long as they are supported and respected (and are themselves credible), it seems reasonable enough to ask for their assistance, much as those who can't sew can ask a tailor to help. In the future, I may just ask my friend again for aid on a certain Pokémon prop for my cosplay so that both of us may maintain the respect we appreciate and receive for our cosplay efforts.

Cosplay: MINORI 5

Remember how there was an event in May that I went to that I said was of my alma mater? Well, it's actually not the only one. The event that I went to today is another one. It is likewise an event of my faculty or school, though evidently it's a fledgling event as this time is only its fifth iteration, having only started five years ago. Regardless, to me it's a "home turf" event, which is why I have continued to go to it.

While cosplay is not a main attraction (and has never been as such), cosplay has been welcomed since the first iteration due to a featured performance, and that seems to be fine for the cosplayers in my area as it is for me. Wherever I can express my adoration for Pokémon, especially with cosplay being involved, that's a good place for me. In the case of this event, it was only during the first iteration that I didn't cosplay a Pokémon character; from then on, my cosplay was all about Pokémon.

And that brings me to the main point of today. With this event, I officially bring to you the debut of seventh-generation Ash with his Alola outfit. This was something I teased yesterday with the photo of the Z-Ring, which is indeed the answer to the question I posed in that post, and becomes a focal point of the cosplay. This costume debuts along with an implementation of my cosplay-in-a-bag concept; I bought a bag that purposefully resembled that which Ash uses in Alola, and now it will be used to carry all my cosplay things whenever I decide to cosplay Ash with this outfit. It is as fun as it is convenient.

I have only one thing to say: "Alola!"

With no cosplay competitions of any kind, this event is purely for enjoyment from a cosplay standpoint. That's not to say there weren't any competitions; they just were for other things than cosplay. One of them just happens to appeal to one of my friends, and it's a frequent one he often takes part in wherever it's held, so kudos to him. I've offered the suggestion to the organizers that cosplay competitions be included in future iterations; whether this will be taken is another matter, but if it is, I'll be sure to try to take part with my Pokémon cosplay.

Unfortunately, I must say that this year, this event conflicted with another event that took place out of town, and to which many of my other friends decided to go. Worse yet, that event was announced first, and last year also conflicted with a different event in the same locale. On the other hand, that event has paid entry, which means that I'd need to spend to enjoy it. After much deliberation, I decided to go to my faculty's event for reasons of closeness, convenience, and cash (or lack thereof for the last one), in the process having more time spent at the event, though I and the others lost time anyway due to the outdoors part of the event getting rained out. The event was still successful nonetheless.

Like many local events, there is a meaning behind the title of the event. The title is an abbreviation of "minna no matsuri", which means "everyone's festival" in Japanese. On that note, I end this review by saying that today was really a festival, and it really was meant for everyone, especially me. I'm proud to make it what it is with the help of my Pokémon cosplay.

A Little Teaser... and Guessing Game

(This post might sound a little cryptic. I don't usually do cryptic posts like this, but I want to try something a little different.)

The world of Pokémon is filled with many objects that do wondrous things. If they're not related to facilitating the capture of the monsters, then they enhance the monsters in some way. Recently I got my hands on a certain object that pertains to the latter, and it's a good one. Moreover, I plan to use it tomorrow for a certain happening.

The object is something that is worn by a Trainer, but that's not unusual since certain enhancing objects are worn anyway. It facilitates the use of other objects that specifically pertain to certain Pokémon in certain ways. Further, the usage of both of these objects necessitates certain motions that are performed by the Trainer and, on occasion, the Pokémon as well. At that moment, amazing things will happen in the battle in which the Pokémon is involved.

I should say that the object, if it were to actually exist, would be quite animated or in other words would appear to be "alive". I opted for a form of the object that is less lively, but still indicative of that object. This was purely for cost reasons rather than anything else; at the least the appearance of the object is still maintained, despite sacrificing some of the "functionality" of the object.

So what is the object that I describe? Maybe a picture would help:

If you're a big fan of Pokémon, now you should know what this object is. I can't wait for tomorrow! 😁

Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Unleashed

Today is a really great day for Pokémon fans, as it is the day Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are released, or in fanciful terms, unleashed upon the wider world. Release days like this often holds many stories, and this time it seems no different. They are often enigmatic, in either adding or detracting from the experience of playing the game. But it seems that is what makes that very experience itself unique and a story worth telling, especially now that I have this blog to do so.

The story of today actually began just over a week ago when my fellow players discovered much info about the games way before the games officially came out today. This caused quite a stir among them, whether it was for the better or worse. In any case, this was most likely a side effect of the most enterprising of players getting their hands on the games even by that point, something which a fellow player showed that it in fact happened. While the concern is now behind with the games' official release, it is also lingering in that it may just happen in the future. Dealing with it is another matter entirely.

Meanwhile, a small number of my fellows have gotten or are getting the games officially on this day. This has caused all sorts of emotions, from gladness to amazement and even ire. Obviously many players are glad to be able to obtain possession of the games today, but for many of my fellows, that translates to amazement for them as they are held back from getting the games today for one reason or another. Some are even angry that this is the case, putting a hitch in their enjoyment plans. Further, the fates of my pre-order as well as those of my fellows seem to be dependent on a different issue.

I'm told that last year for Sun and Moon, a number of my fellows' pre-orders were received somewhat later, whilst my pre-order for Sun was received much later, though in my case it was partially because I am distanced from the economic hub where everything gets received. There is reason to believe that this may be because of customs clearance; in recent times, customs have gotten more stringent on checking what goes in, and it may not be hard to believe that our games will be checked with greater scrutiny. It's a hassle, but we'll have to put up with it.

Regardless of whatever happens, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon are here and now. All the times of waiting since the first announcement five months ago have paid off in what seems to be an excellently designed game to cap off a wondrous run on the 3DS. The stories that run alongside it, even on its release day as today, only augment the wonder of the games. I'm excited to play the game whenever it comes my way.

Go My Dear One, and Pursue Your Dreams

Go, my dear one,
Pursue your dreams
While there's still time;
Don't worry about me -
I'm willing to part
For your own good;
May they be achieved,
All your dreams.
-- "Pergilah Kasih" ("Go, My Dear One"), Chrisye (translated)

While on the way home from the event from Sunday, my friend and I discussed some of the episodes of the Pokémon anime, including the 1000-episode situation. Certain episodes came up in the discussion, and one of them was the Butterfree episode from the Kanto saga. It's a high point for the series, as Ash releases the first Pokémon that he had caught, and it's an emotional one. It is as emotional as the song that I quoted above, and I find that this song does make me think of this episode.

The message of the song is of saying goodbye to a loved one so that the loved one may pursue dreams for the greater good. It's a breakup song, in a nutshell. However, in another sense, it's not a total breakup, as the two people may still be in love, or at the very least maintain some kind of a bond. It opens the possibility that the two people may be able to be reunited in some manner.

The same is true of Butterfree, or for that matter, many of the Pokémon that Ash chose to release. They were released so they could fulfill their desires to make them better, while they are separated. Yet for Ash and his Pokémon, separation is not total, as on occasion Ash has reunited with those that separated. While this has not yet been realized for certain ones of his Pokémon, it's not hard to believe that it just might happen in the future.

This song is deeply poignant, which is just about true for any song about breakups. When Ash let go of Butterfree, it was an extremely poignant breakup as well. Still, the reason for the breakup was for pursuit of good things, which this song does speak of. It's only natural, then, that the episode and this song go hand-in-hand; the emotions that arose in the episode are perfectly encapsulated in the song. And just perhaps, Ash would agree.

Ma? Ma? Ma? Marshadow...!

Three months ago, I remarked on the merits of time and life, based on the thoughts of a fellow Pokémon player on much of the same issues in playing the games. It was a worthwhile post for me and an even more worthwhile post for him. As another token of appreciation, he would trade me a Marshadow that he received. After quite a long wait, I finally received the Pokémon a few days ago, and now I'm so glad.

From its particulars, Marshadow seems to be an oddball. Its type is a dual of Ghost and Fighting, which are not exactly complementary types in opposition. Despite this, it also seems pretty powerful and sufficiently speedy. As a Mythical Pokémon, I can't really use this in VGC, but a combination like this could be useful in a team. If I can craft a team with at least partial analogues to the Pokémon, I would do so.

It is plainly obvious that the Marshadow I got is from the Japanese promotion. The Marshadow has its "signature move" of Spectral Thief, which deals damage and takes away stat boosts from the opponent. As a matter of fact, the moves, nature, and ability are the same as for the U.S. Marshadow promotion. What is missing is indeed the Marshadium Z crystal, which does knock off some of its value, in particular because it is specially obtained by way of the promotion. Ah well.

The backstory behind Marshadow is that it's a shadowy replicant of sorts, being able to move and have the same strengths as others, which explains the Spectral Thief move. I wouldn't call myself a "shadowy replicant", but I do share many of the same concerns as my fellow friends, players, and fans regarding Pokémon, as in the previous post. This symbolism seems legit and highly appropriate considering the circumstances; on that note, I thank you again, my friend, for the opportunity to have this Pokémon.

(P.S. The title of this post comes from... Ma? Ma? Ma? YES!)

1000 Episodes!!!

Believe it or not, the Pokémon anime is now at an important milestone, and that milestone regards the number of episodes. That's right: the Pokémon anime is at 1000 episodes, as hinted by the title of this post. 20 years and many adventures later, and it has come all the way to this pinnacle. It is surely something important to note and perhaps even to celebrate by those who are big fans of the anime, and that includes me.

I remember times when the number of Pokémon anime episodes were only in the lower three digits. The number seemed like a lot, but then it had to be, to try to showcase the Pokémon of the current generation at least once (although the Legendaries would be mostly present in the movies and specials instead), as well as to make sure progress through the region is steady. Through all the episodes I've watched, it seems that this has been kept in mind, and the result is the number that they are now. It might seem overwhelming, but in it there are adventures of diverse moods in diverse places.

That said, achievement of this milestone now is also a bit of a surprise, something hard to believe. I passed the word of this milestone to a friend, and he thought that this milestone had already been achieved sooner. On the other hand, I personally thought this milestone would be achieved later. I suppose this difference of perceptions may be related to how we take in the episodes - it's slow when we're slow and it's quick when we're quick. With the onset of this milestone, perhaps it may be time to slow down or speed up our respective paces.

Speaking of diverse moods and places, it seems everyone has some quibbles over what goes on in the episodes. While understandably they can't all be resolved, it may be fair to say that what we feel is our ideals abstracted into the situation of the episodes. We're not necessarily happy, but we'll accept whatever goes on. Maybe, in the future, there might just be a reason to rejoice in the stories of the episodes, to a much greater degree than today.

For now, 1000 episodes is a good enough reason to rejoice. It's an amazing milestone, and it speaks to the staying power of the anime among its fans. It can almost be considered... legendary, much like certain Pokémon that bear the same attribute. Here's to all 1000 episodes, and here's to the possibility of a 1000 more. 😉

Cosplay Assistants

One of the the things I like about cosplaying Ash or Red is that I don't have to carry many things, nor are the things too big, at least in most cases. However, if I decide to pursue other Pokémon costumes, it might be necessary to bring costumes or props of a greater scale, in addition to the things I normally bring. At that point, things might get out of hand for just one person - me - to deal with and take care of. So I propose a different idea to handle this issue, which is that of cosplay assistants.

A cosplay assistant would help to carry cosplay things to and from the place of the event or convention (or at least near them) where the cosplay would be. The assistant would also help the cosplayer in putting on the costume, especially if the costume has a great deal of parts that also may need to be put on in a specific way. Finally, at the event or convention, the assistant would help to carry anything else important that may be part of the costume but cumbersome, or may not even be desirable with the costume. For this last part, the assistant can take advantage of the benefit that the assistant can also enjoy the festivities, not necessarily alongside the cosplayer, and only regrouping when there is the need. There is quite a bit of work involved for the assistant, but the benefits may also be attractive.

In yesterday's event, I saw how this idea could be applied and be useful. One of my friends had a minimalist costume, and though it fit in a bag, the bag was less desirable (and didn't really fit) as a part of the costume, especially during serious photo ops - yet he had to carry his bag, since it was not desirable to leave it around without being watched. I myself had not gotten around to implementing my cosplay-in-a-bag idea for the costume I wore yesterday, so the same was true for me. On the other end of the spectrum, another friend had a sword replica that was almost as tall as he was and weighed as heavy as you'd think it was, which was very heavy. I discovered this fact when I was tasked to watch the sword as he went to retrieve stuff; I'm amazed that the sword even made it to the event, considering its size and weight, not to mention transportation issues, which I'm nearly certain of. Cosplay assistants can help to resolve most of these issues.

Being a cosplay assistant may not necessarily be desirable for everyone, especially if the assistant is a cosplayer or also wishes to cosplay. A lot of efforts go to assist any cosplayer, so it's a role that should be fulfilled well and wisely. Of course, that can't and doesn't stop cosplayers from playing assistants to other cosplayers; it can be and is in fact possible for a group of cosplayers to assist in each other's burden, depending on who designates whom for what task. This is certainly an advantage for groups of cosplayers, who may have others that can assist the way designated assistants do so. It's something that's not to be missed.

Cosplay in the end shouldn't be (very) burdensome, even if the costume itself took a lot of burden to make. Cosplay assistants, therefore, can help in easing the burden of individual cosplayers or even collectively as a group. It's a worthwhile opportunity for those who can do it and a beneficial one for those they assist. I myself might just need to peruse this for a future expansion to other Pokémon costumes of differently greater complexities.

Cosplay: Japan Pop Culture 2017

I went to an interesting Japanese-themed event today. This event (for its prior editions) has been on my go-to list ever since I started cosplaying, but for a variety of reasons, I never got to be able to go to it... until this year. A friend suggested that we go so that we could share some of the burden of going there, and I agreed. Now I can mark this one off my list.

Back when I started cosplaying, I had only my Ash DP (fourth-generation) costume, so I would use that for every event or convention I went to. It is this experience that I wanted to replicate, so I chose this costume for today to honor those times. However, the cosplay competitions had been fully booked by the time I decided to come, so I could only do non-competitive street cosplay. No matter - maybe next time there will be something for me.

I was glad that I was able to meet many of my friends from the recent times I've cosplayed. I was not glad (and I sense others were also not glad), however, to be caught in the rain. What's worse, it was also stormy, and it put to halt the mostly-outdoors event for a good two hours, effectively delaying the schedule by the same amount of time. It was perhaps even more difficult for the food and merchandise stands, who were fully exposed to the wrath of the weather. By this same token, I am glad that I was not a participant in the competitions and didn't have to worry about delays. So there were ups and downs.

I found the event to be like a miniature version of the event held at my alma mater earlier this year, with much of the same attractions. The differences are that one, it's not my alma mater, though it's some other people's alma mater. Two, it's out-of-town and yet somewhat distant, which became a reason I've used in the past for being unable to go to it. Three, it has paid entry; the event at my alma mater has always been free, except for one time when they attempted to do something different. It's still a passable event any which way.

Overall, I'm satisfied that I finally went to this event and saw what I missed, which is quite a bit. Next time I go, I will have to involve my Pokémon cosplay even more, perhaps a little like my friend who came with me. I'm already getting ideas on just how to do so. I'm still earmarking this event for the future, no matter what it takes to get there and to do stuff there.

Heroes, Veterans, and Special Ones

Some parts of the world celebrate Heroes' Day for people who have been awarded the title of national heroes and their stride in making a nation what it is today. Some other parts of the world celebrate Veterans Day for people who have served in the military and their contributions to the nation. Pokémon has neither, because there are really neither (or not many of either) kind of people to speak of, and thus the two special days above might seem irrelevant. Yet, perhaps some of the spirit of those special days might still be applicable to a few special people in that world.

Let's start with heroes. If the English title of the fifth movie (Pokémon Heroes) is any indication, as well as the term for Ash and co. in many episodes of the English dub ("our heroes"), then it stands to reason that heroes may be commonplace in the Pokémon world, and in the form of Trainers, or whoever works with Pokémon - instead of any distinct ones important to the world, except maybe for major champions. It's a bit like the argument that in the real world heroes are also commonplace, as those who work with and help people. It seems, then, that commonplace heroes can be celebrated any time in the Pokémon world, as is true in the real world, without having to wait for a specific day.

Veterans is a little harder. There are Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys all over the world, and there also might be the possibility that some of them are no longer in active service. By definition of the word, they then qualify as "veterans". In that sense, they could then be celebrated as such, though such a celebration could be considered superfluous, as they could also be celebrated any time as per the "heroes". Other than these people, not many people in the Pokémon world seem fitting for this kind of celebration, which makes a celebration harder to justify.

There may or may not be any justification for these kinds of special days in the Pokémon world. Yet there are indications that some people could qualify to be celebrated in this manner, making them special no matter how far and few between they are... and whatever time of year it is. On that note, for those people in the Pokémon world, it may just be that for them every day is Heroes' Day or Veterans Day, and that's special and spirited enough.

Mission Cards in Shuffle

In a previous update, Pokémon Shuffle added a special feature, and one that is quite beneficial as much as it is exciting. That feature is called Mission Cards, and as the name suggests, it's a collection of cards with specific missions on them. The feature is accessed by the "card" icon just to the right of the "Check In" button. Once inside, players can expect some neat surprises.

The objective of the Mission Cards is, of course, to complete the missions stated on the cards. Each card has a certain number of missions on them that are rated from one (the easiest) to five stars (the hardest). To start, players navigate to one of the cards and select the "Choose Card" button; the button then changes to "In Progress". Only the missions present on a chosen card may be attempted, and other missions will not be credited even if accomplished; however, players may change cards at any time to attempt other missions. Once all the missions on a card are accomplished, the cards are marked as "complete". New Mission Cards can and do come in updates, so the challenges can renew.

The missions on the cards are diverse and varied. Players may be asked to complete stages with certain conditions, like having certain moves or time left, or even to use Pokémon with certain Skills. Players may also be asked to do specific things in the stage like remove rocks and barriers. Certain missions also restrict or specify what kind or species of Pokémon to have and/or whether that mission entails a specific Pokémon stage or not. In any case, clearing the stage (by defeating the Pokémon) is a must; missions are not considered accomplished, even if the conditions are met, if the Pokémon is not defeated (i.e. a Game Over).

Once players do complete missions, however, they will be credited for the number of stars for that mission, and by collecting certain amounts, they will be rewarded with items or Enhancements. Some Mission Cards even have Mega Stones available for a reward, and as a result, they replace the limited-time Competitive Stages that were previously used to furnish the Mega Stone; now all players are guaranteed to be able to get those Mega Stones, whether they missed out on the stage or they are new players, as long as the missions are completed. Players that already have the Mega Stones will still be specially rewarded, so there is no reason not to achieve missions.

I do suggest to all players that they take heed of what the missions stipulate and keep track or follow that. There are some missions that might be hard to accomplish due to how the stages in question are structured, so they'll have to be completed with a specific strategy. Regardless, these Mission Cards provide a useful outlet for players seeking a different challenge from the typical stages, and the rewards are quite excellent too. It's a worthwhile opportunity for all players of Shuffle for its specially beneficial quality.

(Mid-)Generational Updates

A fellow Pokémon colleague has reminded me that an interesting thing about the upcoming games of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is that there are new Ultra Beasts, and therefore new seventh-generation Pokémon. This is a somewhat unusual modus operandi for the main series games, as Pokémon are usually added at the beginning of the generation and no more are added mid-way through the lifetime of the generation. This situation brings to consideration the possibility of Pokémon games updating to include new Pokémon for a generation or even an entirely new generation.

The latter occurrence has, in fact, already happened with a different Pokémon game. Back in April, Shuffle updated to have the seventh-generation Pokémon available for play after a previous major eShop update provided an indication that this could happen, and it did. Now many seventh-generation Pokémon are available for play, including the Ultra Beasts. It is practically a given that with the main series "update" to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the new Pokémon introduced will be folded into Shuffle, though it will probably happen well after the release of the new games.

Such an update is quite possible for Shuffle because it is comparatively simpler than the main series and Shuffle is designed for updates; the game started out with only the 150 most popular Pokémon and gradually added the rest through updates. For other games, including the main series, this could be considered a massive task almost tantamount to a new game, as there are many more elements than the Pokémon themselves to be considered; the main series, for example, might need to consider regional additions. A minor mid-generational update such as the new Pokémon added to the upcoming main series games might be feasible, but may still need significant work.

Thus it seems possibility is just one-half of the issue; the other half seems to lie on whether it can be acceptably done. For some games like Shuffle, this is a matter that is not too huge and fits with the game, but for other games, like the main series, this is a huge matter that may not fit. It is nonetheless an unusual maneuver for Pokémon games, many of which are generationally limited and further so by species. But with updates being possible and regular, this maneuver might seem not too unusual anymore.

Too Much Information, Too Much Excitement?

One of my Pokémon groups is suddenly abuzz with "excitement". It's no wonder, because there are now only days to go before Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is unleashed upon the wider world. However, it seems it might be the kind of excitement that is not necessarily warranted, as quite a bit of the excitement concerns inside information for the games - actual and deep inside information, and a lot of it, which has suddenly come to light. This leads me to wonder that it all might be a bit too much.

I'm all for good excitement for a game, and even more so if it's a Pokémon game. I've been following (though admittedly not too very closely) the games ever since they were first announced, and I can say that I'm sufficiently excited based on what has been divulged prior to this. All those details have been intriguing enough that I have not regretted pre-ordering and start playing early on when I get the game. In other words, all the excitement that was generated before now has been of what I feel is an appropriate amount.

So with all this new information, I'm not only concerned about prior excitement dwindling because of it, but also massively increased excitement that then crashes with the onset of the games. Either of these is not good, before or after playing the games. The intrigue is lost in both cases and the game seems normal afterwards. As a really big fan, I'll admit that it's great to know a lot about the games, but much of that information also seems to be on a need-to-know basis, which means not everything and not at once, and only when it is pertinent. The great quantity of information that has just been made available appears counterproductive in that regard.

Good excitement is good, and lots of moderated excitement is great. It's when it's too much and fueled by too much knowledge that it's just... too much. I'm still enthusiastically excited for Ultra Moon, the game that I'm getting of the pair, but I'm also wary about this mass divulging of the games' secrets before the time is right. I can only hope that my fellow Pokémon colleagues can maintain the same level of excitement that I have, and that we can let things roll when the games roll out.

Closer and Farther PokéStops

A fascinating phenomenon occurs when I open up and play Pokémon Go close to home. In the area where I live, PokéStops are neatly arranged. In one place, there is a large cluster of PokéStops that are easily gotten to from one to another with not a lot of walking. In another place, PokéStops are sparse and it takes a good bit of walking to get through them all. While it seems the former has more good qualities and therefore more desirable, both actually have good and bad things going for them, though these are also relative depending on what needs to be done.

Now, that area with a large cluster of PokéStops is indeed fun. You could literally stay in the area and keep on encountering new Pokémon and getting items with almost no effort. It is almost like there's a indefinitely present Lure Module in the area. However, as you might expect, walking distance credits (for Eggs) are fewer than it would be just going to places with fewer PokéStops. And if you don't know the area well, or you get confused or disoriented easily, it could be hard to see which Pokémon is where, especially if the PokéStops only provide the vaguest hint of their locations through their titles. So it's fun... until you get bored of going in circles about it.

Then there's that other area. For that one, you don't expect to stay put in one PokéStop and hope to see a lot of Pokémon, unless you use a Lure Module. You'll have to move about and really see which Pokémon is where, but that also means a good bit of walking distance credits for Eggs. Of course, with fewer PokéStops, it means it should be clear where things are and where Pokémon may be. The problem is that "fewer" really does mean "fewer", so expect some work to be done in going around the few PokéStops to find Pokémon and grab items. This may just be the fun of this area.

Both areas seem to be fun in one regard and not so much in another. They present their own challenges in regard to getting Pokémon and items, though they're also offset by their benefits. It makes sense, then, that both areas could be enjoyed for what they are and depending on the desired challenge to take on and the intended benefits to reap. It presents a little dilemma each time I open up Pokémon Go and play around my home area, but it's a dilemma I'm happy to solve every which way and the best way possible.

Triplets and Pairs

While discussing about "Team Harmony" in the previous post, I happened on a certain realization. Quite a few Pokémon things can be grouped into triplets or pairs, with some depending on the interpretation. They seem to be in many places, whether or not they are immediately evident. It seems to make for an interesting bit of numerology, considering that many other Pokémon things also deal with numbers.

For triplets, the most immediately evident are the starters. They are always a trio of the same three types, and their evolutionary stages (save for some Mega Evolutions) are always three. Three also seems to be the maximum stage - again, not considering Mega Evolution - for many Pokémon, even if it's not immediately apparent; as an example, Vileplume and Bellossom evolve from Gloom, so they're technically third stage evolutions. And then there are trios of Legendary Pokémon scattered across the generations, one of the most famous being the birds of the first generation, which are also prominent in Go for their symbolism to the teams. For the first four generations, the paradigm of their generational games are also a trio of games, though a pair is released first. The number three is apparently quite pervasive.

Then again, the number two, as pairs, seems to be just as pervasive. Many Legendary Pokémon, notably the "box legends", can be considered as pairs and nothing more (Lugia and Ho-Oh), though some may be considered to have a third complement (Rayquaza for Kyogre and Groudon, Zygarde for Xerneas and Yveltal). A great deal of Pokémon also evolve in two stages rather three. And most notably, new generational games come in pairs, something that is still consistent even today. So too the number two is involved in many Pokémon things.

I'm not an expert in numerology, but I can at least sense some of the significance of these two numbers. It is easy to place the number two as "polar opposites", so anything consisting of a twosome is easily opposable: one can be of one thing or the other. For those who don't like to be polarized like this, they can state their preferences for the elements that are set as triplets. In that way, it makes us realize that not everything is simply one or the other, and that our choices make us a diverse lot, even when it comes to Pokémon.

Elements in twos and threes seem to be a hallmark of the Pokémon series. Their presence is so wide and so consistent that it's not implausible to expect that they will remain this way in the future as well. And why not - number-wise, they are strong and definitive ones. They certainly say and tell many things about Pokémon and everyone associated with them.

Team Harmony

Pokémon Go is well-known for its three teams of Instinct, Mystic, and Valor, which take after the three Legendary birds of the first generation. Any Trainer that wishes to enter a Gym to challenge its resident or to participate in a raid battle (the new feature introduced last June) must become affiliated to one of these three teams. However, as early as the game's release last year, a discourse was put forth of a different team, dubbed as "Team Harmony". Though not an official team, it remains a fascinating discourse nonetheless.

"Joining" this team essentially entails not joining the other three teams, and thus never entering a Gym. This is because any Trainer unaffiliated to a team, that enters a Gym still in this state, is immediately confronted with the question or request to align with one of the three teams. The implication of this is certainly, aside from being unable to test the mettle of other Trainers, being unable to participate in the raid battles and therefore unable to receive Legendary Pokémon such as the birds of the first generation and the beasts of the second generation, the currently featured Legendaries as of this post.

Also as of this post, I still have not claimed my team, though I have said that I lean in favor of the efforts of Team Mystic in my first "thoughts" post, and the incentive is greater now thanks to the connections that I've made recently. In effect, I've already become part of this team, having not entered any Gyms and therefore not being a part of the other three teams. It's a course of action that has worked well since the first time that I played, but it may not be the case for much longer. Unless somehow Trainers of this state are conferred certain unique (but not too unique) benefits, which is not likely to happen, that becomes an additional incentive to align to a team.

The idea of a "Team Harmony" as an equalizer for the other three teams is a neat one, though with the way things are in Pokémon Go, it will likely remain an idea. The fact is that the most exciting businesses in Go practically involve the other three teams, which means all Trainers have to align to them sooner if not later. As much as I'd love to remain a part of "Team Harmony", it may soon be time for me to leave this team and bring myself to the standard alignment of things in the game.

How Many Is Too Many?

A few days ago, I and a few colleagues had a discussion on the possible future for Pokémon. Part of it involved how many more generations Pokémon can support and in effect how many Pokémon there could be. Some said that even now it may seem mind-boggling that there are so many, let alone later on with future generations. So the question I pose as the title of this post becomes relevant with this discussion.

It was said that Pokémon could support possibly up to 10 generations, and even up to 12. The rationale for this was because there may be unexplored directions for the monsters and there may still be room for some unique additions. One has said that there haven't been 12 versions of all the starters yet, perhaps to accommodate the 12 months of the year or the 12 signs of the zodiac (Western and/or Chinese). This is a totally valid reckoning, and I'm all for it if it can happen. I personally think future generations could do something that hasn't been done recently, which is to furnish evolutions for older-generation Pokémon. Anything is certainly possible with a later generation, especially when it complements existing Pokémon well.

The problem is as I've presented with the question. At present there are 800+ species of Pokémon, and even more forms than that. That is not a small number; that is a big number, one that may be a bit too big for some minds to comprehend. Even if one can comprehend it all, there is always the question of physical (system) limitations. When the main series games go on the Switch, how many can be supported, and in what way? What about other games, like Shuffle for instance, which can and does support generational updates? Such questions arise naturally from the question in the title, and they may need their respective answers.

I don't mind big and bigger numbers of Pokémon species, as it does lend the credence that the world of this series is indeed as big as ours or all outdoors. But some people may mind this, especially when the number goes beyond what they can take in. It may be fully dependent on the wills of those committed to the series. So as to this question that involves the matter of enormity, perhaps the question may always be situationally debatable, as I and my colleagues have done, and it may not seem as big as it seems.

Late-Night Lure Party

Late last night, I was looking to expend a little of my cell phone's power so that I could charge it up in the morning to prepare for my day's activities. Playing a little Pokémon Go was perfect for that, and especially so last night during the final moments of the Halloween event. When I opened the game, I was surprised to see that someone had set Lure Modules on three closely distanced Poké Stops near my home. I decided to head to that place in hopes of seeing more Pokémon in one place and meeting the person who set the Lure. It turns out, both of these hopes were answered.

At the location, I met the person, though I didn't recognize him immediately because I couldn't tell if he was playing Go or not. It was only when I greeted that I realized he was playing Go. So we set ourselves up for a little late-night Lure party. We had quite a fruitful discussion on what's been going on in the world of Go, and through the interaction we also prepared ourselves for later connections and interactions. But the best part was that I was able to close up what I can muster from the Halloween event with a bang, by catching none other than the Spooky Pikachu. It was a great end to the night about to turn into day, and a good end to the event overall.

An experience like this shows off a unique side of Pokémon Go: because it practically requires going out into the world, playing the game at night becomes something of a wonder. All the usual precautions and warnings apply to playing at night, yet also with an increased sensibility of safety. You never know what might happen at night; I certainly didn't in the experience above, so I knew I had to keep my guard up. Fortunately, it bode well and became a good one. Safety is first and foremost, whether playing Go in the daytime or at night.

Also, this is actually not my first time playing Go so late. The first time I played, I actually started in the dead of night, since it was then that I managed to get the game set up. I then went out, chose my starter, and briefly encountered a person playing, though everything was not as glamorous as last night, nor did it involve Lure Modules. Yet even so, the experience playing Go at night is one that is irresistible and too significantly unique to pass up. I might just do it again in the coming times, certainly with the inclusion of Lure Modules for another edition of the Late-Night Lure Party.

Kids (...or Trainers, Fans) These Days

Along with Duff Goldman mentioning Pokémon, there was something else that he said that is somewhat fascinating to discuss, especially in connection to Pokémon. The phrase that he said forms the parts of the title of this post that aren't in parentheses. Coincidentally, this phrase has become all the rage among my colleagues in a different form, one that seems mixed up among languages. All oddities aside, this phrase merits some consideration in regard to Pokémon.

One key implication of this phrase is that Trainers of yesterday are different from Trainers of today. Back in the early days of Pokémon, the way of being a Trainer was only one, through the main series games. Today, it is possible to become Trainers in different ways through different games (like Shuffle and Go), though the main series games (by way of VGC, and to some extent the TCG by its own championships) still carry the most prestige. The point is that the way or experience to be a Trainer has diversified from those early days, making it quite different.

Even in the main series games, Trainers' concerns are different. Back then there were less detailed stats to contend with, and data related to Pokémon were fewer. Now there are many stats to deal with and much data to process, making it seem almost impossibly huge. The expansion of these could be considered mind-blowing. Yet whatever the case, for Trainers, these are just things to be dealt with in the most efficient manner possible; many have demonstrated this for games both old and new. Certainly the processes do differ.

The fandom of Pokémon is certainly different as well. In older times, fans likely played the main series games and then they work their way from there. In more recent times, there are fans of the games, anime, merchandise, et cetera, though many do crossover from one area or another or are involved in many areas at once, like me. This is where the word "kids" of the phrase comes into greater involvement; many adult fans today were kid fans back then, and now there are cadres of new kid fans. There are many different things for many different people to like, which has changed over time as well.

These days, Pokémon is big, even bigger than in the past. So kids, Trainers, and fans these days have to contend with Pokémon in all its different forms in different ways that may or may not be similar to the past. It's not necessarily an easy thing to do or to keep in mind, yet in these days, they are what needs to be done, for Pokémon or otherwise. Pokémon these days are... Pokémon these days, for people of these days.

Duff Knows Pokémon

I've discussed about Food Network and one of its (super) stars, certainly in light of my attraction to Pokémon, and now I want to talk about another one of its stars. He typically deals with cakes (and to some extent pastry), but not just any cake. He deals with cakes that are beyond the ordinary, even considered... masterful. He is none other than Duff Goldman, the one to whom the title "Ace of Cakes" belongs. And he also seems to know a thing or two about Pokémon, which makes me glad as a fan.

One of the ways I know this is because recently I've been watching the third season of Kids Baking Championship. In the third episode, there was a discourse that went like this:

Duff: When I was younger, you know, chips and salsa was like a thing. Is it something different now?

Valerie: OK, I don't know.

Duff: Some sort of Pokémon snack or something they eat?

Valerie: I don't know.

Duff: Kids these days. [laughs with Valerie]

-- Duff Goldman and Valerie Bertinelli (Kids Baking Championship S3-3, transcribed)

I was quite surprised when I heard the direct mention of Pokémon. I'm pretty sure that Duff is older than me, so to hear Duff mention Pokémon tells me he's been "around the block" enough to know something about it. It may not be a lot, but it may also be just enough for him to understand what it is and what it involves.

As crazy as it sounds, there is something else that backs this up, the other way I know about Duff knowing Pokémon. In another show titled Cake Masters, which involves the creation of cakes that are indeed masterful, one of the cakes on display at Charm City Cakes West (Duff's cake studio in California) is a Pokémon cake with a Poké Ball base and a Pikachu top. I'm not quite sure of the history of this cake, but what I'm sure is that if Duff had a hand in it, then he must have gained some understanding of Pokémon. I had been fascinated by this cake when I watched the show, but I felt that I couldn't make heads and tails (and a discussion) of it... until Duff mentioned Pokémon in Kids Baking Championship. 

Duff's passion is cake, evident from his many appearances in relation to cake. My passion is Pokémon, which is why I have this blog now. I don't necessarily know much about cake, though I've gained some knowledge about them through these shows; similarly, Duff may not know much about Pokémon, except perhaps what knows while working it into his cakes. In that sense, we're a little like polar opposites of one another along the spectrum of Pokémon and cake. It would be fascinating if we could put them up to a certain middle ground.

So Duff, you're a great guy, and I like you a lot, even more now with the evident connections to Pokémon. You're a master of cake, and I'm a (to-be-)master of Pokémon. Our respective passions are strong and extraordinary, yet also very much able to be combined. I look forward to having this realized, which would bring us closer from them.

(P.S. Duff, I think you might make a good Wattson! 😄)