Et Tu, Shuffle? (Thy Hath Bugs)

I have said and frequently referred that Pokémon games, in particular the main series games, are complex things, with many elements and mechanisms that can go wrong (and do, per Murphy's Law). Unfortunately, the same is true of one of its spinoff games; that game is Pokémon Shuffle, which since its modest beginnings has grown to a complexity that almost parallels the main series. Recently, there had been a serious bug on the 3DS version for one of its Special Stages with a dramatic effect, and I bore witness to the bug itself.

The bug pertained to a Special Stage that involves Mewtwo, specifically for the purpose of enhancing it. When the Special Stage was first added, it couldn't be played; it was able to be selected, but after dismissing its first-time information pop-up, doing anything that caused the screen to transition instantly crashed the game and forced the 3DS to restart. Pokémon couldn't be selected, nor could "Continue" be tapped to start the stage, and backing out to other stages was useless - once the Mewtwo stage was selected, the game was assured of crashing no matter what and taking down the 3DS system with it.

When I experienced this bug, I was concerned that my 3DS was acting up again, considering its previous spate of troubles. After a bit of research on the Internet, however, it became apparent that all other players were having the same issue, and this was a genuine bug, and it had to be rectified somehow. The fix came a day later with the next check-in bringing extra data, and the stage could be played as intended. But the damage had been done; I've read some players had expended a No Hearts Needed (from the Special Shop) prior to try playing the stage, and they effectively wasted it by not being able to play. In any case, players received apology gifts in the form of Hearts and Experience Boosters.

This is not the first time that Shuffle has had bugs, but this is the first bug that I've experienced and quite affected my experience playing the game. I've been told that in the Mobile version for smartphones, there was another serious bug, but it was also fixed and players received compensation for it. This seems to be a standard practice when a bug occurs, which is quite appreciable, even if the compensation may not fully pay off the struggle caused by the bug.

As I've noted previously, Pokémon games will become more complex with added things, and this is a certainty. Within that certainty is an inevitability for bugs when things do not go right. What must be done is to fix the bug and make the situation right; for that, it is fortunate that Shuffle does allow updates continuously and therefore this to occur quickly. With all the complexity that Shuffle has now, I have (and it is not hard) to expect that Murphy's Law might once again come true for the game as another bug occurs.

One year ago: It's Been a Month...

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Series 2 Figures

Along with the hanging merchandise that I got from Sunday's event, I scored a big one in terms of merchandise. I got a set of Pokémon figures for quite a deal, and they just happen to be officially licensed figures, which is indeed very nice. Most interestingly, the set is all about Pokémon creatures, so it's great to see them get some respect.

As can be discerned, the figures are from the Sinnoh saga, though not all of the Pokémon are from the generation that concerns the region. Pikachu is obviously a first-generation Pokémon, and Sudowoodo is a second-generation one; the only fourth-generation one is Carnivine. They're all excellently designed and decently sized, though, and that's impressive. They even include a set of "surprise stickers", though I wouldn't stick them on things, and I would just leave them as they are.

The package seems a bit disheveled, and that leads me to reason that these figures aren't new and are therefore used. Even so, the repackaging seems to have been done well, as it seems I can't attack the package to get at the figures inside - and I won't do so haphazardly, because the packaging is too nice. I may have to enlist a friend who knows about figures more than I do for assistance. From what I gather, the condition of the figures still seem pretty nice.

I must also say, I keep recalling that this exact figure set has floated around in a different event or convention, but I've forgotten which one. The point is that I'm somewhat sure that this is that exact same figure set. Now that it's in my possession, I'm only glad. I'm even more glad that things haven't changed much from when I remembered seeing the figure set, and I intend to keep it that way.

This set of figures still seems in good condition even if the packaging isn't quite in the same state, which greatly pleases me as a Pokémon fan. I'm already planning out how to display them - once they're out of the packaging, that is. I quite appreciate the figures regardless.

One year ago: Always 21 - Memories of 21

More Pokémon Hanging Things

I obtained a few more Pokémon merchandise that could be hanged from the event on Sunday. Hanged merchandise are neat because they can come in all sorts of sizes, and in that way include but are not limited to keychains, many of which I've gotten and discussed before. The same is true of the hanged merchandise that I got.

The big one is of course the knitted mini Pikachu doll. For its size, it's well-crafted; the ears are quite prominent, and so are the limbs of the hand and feet. Even the tail is present in two colors, which is a rarity among mini Pikachu crafts. The face is admittedly expressionless, but that just leaves the intrigue of wondering what exactly Pikachu is feeling. As for its usage, I was informed from the keeper of the stall that it could be used as a decoration for bags and so on; I think it's too cute for that - I prefer to leave it as an ornament for something less mobile, and that's good enough for me.

The little things beside it are of course keychains, which are in the style of the Kanto starter keychains I got a while back. In fact, it was from the very same stall that offered the keychains for sale. I can't help but think, though, that these keychains are slightly off for some reason, which is probably why they were given as a bonus. The Pichu and Poké Ball keychains seem passable, though, and they're definitely a keeper in my collection.

Overall, I'm satisfied with these hanging merchandise. Even though there might be some noticeable flaws, I'm happy to just disregard them for the Pokémon aspect of the merchandise. These are some of the neatest and quirkiest ones I've gotten. Perhaps I will have to think about the best ways to show these off while making use of the hanging aspect.

One year ago: Fire Power!

Cosplay: Japanese World 2018

[AshKetchumMode]

Hey everyone! I've been asked to go to a theme event that's out of town, but it's still fun. I've been here a few times in the past by request of my friend - he says he has special memories with it, and I like that. You might have read when my friend wrote about the event last year - that one happened a little later in the year, and this one happened earlier. It seems that many of the events or conventions this year will be shuffled around from when they were last year, but that's OK. It'll be like a new adventure.

I came today with my Sinnoh outfit. It was the very first one that I wore when I was asked by my friend to come to events and conventions like these. I think it's quite special, and so does my friend. Today was going to be just for fun at first, but then I found out that the character parade was still open, so I signed up. I performed well - I even tried to do things that I don't often do in performance - but I guess we just didn't do enough to win something, Pikachu. Maybe next time.

Pikachu: Pi. [in understanding]

Other than that, well, there's not much that is different. The stands are much the same and everything is in pretty much the same place - goodies are on one side, and food is on the other, all in one road. This time I didn't tag along another character, but another character tagged along with me, up until the journey back to my friend here. And it did get quite windy - I thought a Dragonite was going to come, haha. Also, I met different characters than last year...

... including a mini-me, in my Kanto-Johto outfit! I was slightly down to see that he didn't bring his cap and Pikachu, but he had all the other parts of the outfit, which was so neat. I know other characters meet their mates at events like this, but this was the first time for myself. I'm quite surprised. Maybe he'll become a fine me someday.

Pikachu: Pika-chu! [elated]

You know it, Pikachu. And you know, today I could've been sent to a different event in the home town of my friend, but we talked about it, and we decided it wasn't worth it. I'm sure this will not be in regret, now that everything has happened. My friend tells me he was disappointed he couldn't send me every year to go, so we're happy we broke the pattern of going every other year. This was totally worth it.

Pikachu: Pika pika! [happy]

I had a wonderful time for this event. I've even got some goodies for you, my friend, for such a great day. I think I should be able to go more often, even if things are not too different. Thanks again my friend, and enjoy the goodies - I'll be glad to go to the next one!

[/AshKetchumMode]

One year ago: The First-Generation Bicycle Theme

Changes

Recently I just bought something related to Pokémon Go, but much of it applies to when the game was first released with all its madness. And then recently I've heard of another major bug with moves that was found in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, causing the offending moves to be banned from VGC until they are patched in a later update. This makes me realize that things, even Pokémon, can and will continue to change, and it's something that I as a Pokémon fan have to take part in. The aforementioned things in relation to this are a testament for the former and inevitability for the latter.

For Go, it is understandably not complete in its reach of the Pokémon world. Only three generations of Pokémon have made it in, and not even all of the most recent generation have appeared. The Gym system had even been changed last year, allowing further collaborative efforts, especially through raids for Legendary Pokémon. Even its player base has changed; way back when, it seemed everyone was playing, but now it has boiled down to those who still enjoy the camaraderie and wish to pursue greater achievements together. For that, it is fair to expect that the game will continue to change until it is up to the maturity of today's all-inclusive Pokémon games. It has been a wild ride for those who have played and perhaps it will just get wilder.

For the main series games, they are far-reaching and can be considered definitive of any interaction in the world of Pokémon. The only thing is that this world of today is not like its world of yesterday. It has more Pokémon, it has gotten more complex, and there's just more, more, more of everything. This is all the results of the changes that have been incorporated over time. Like Go, even the players have changed as well as differentiated with the standardization of VGC as a prime format of play. And of course, the VGC rules change yearly, unlike the games which are pretty much set unless there are errors that need to be fixed such as above. Here too, change is imminent and sometimes necessary, even if it doesn't come quickly.

I've been with Pokémon for nearly two decades, and that means I've bore witness to the many changes that have occurred. And there's a lot, from the games that contain the world to the consoles where the games are played. Sometimes they have to be rectified, but otherwise they're good changes, as in what I've noted with the games above. As a fan, I have to welcome these changes as well as expect others further on; while I'm not likely to change fan, things will keep on changing, and that's at least one thing I can expect from this fascinating series and franchise.

One year ago: A Loss Is... A Loss?

Private vs. Public Raids?

A curious thing happened after the successful Ex-Raid on Wednesday. In my raid group, a controversy (if it can be called that) unfolded in the group regarding the usage of the grouping feature in raids, whether to go into the public group or a private group. This was something that I thought was a non-issue, but it turns out to snowball into a different issue altogether. While that issue may not be relevant for my case in playing Go, the merits of public vs. private raids can still be discussed.

An explanation of how the grouping works is in order. When choosing to participate in a raid, a player can choose to go into the public group or create a new private group. Players that choose the public group get lumped with other players that do so. Otherwise, players can create a private group that is identifiable by a "picture password" composed of three Pokémon. Those who are informed of the password can elect to join that group. Whatever happens, the raid progresses in the same way for any group, only of course the participants differ.

Now, I should make the admission that for the Ex-Raid that happened on Wednesday, I joined a private group. The way I perceived it, those who allied with Team Mystic decided that a private group would benefit them, and so a private group was created. I simply followed suit and joined in, and that was it; I didn't think that a debate would later take place. It was my conception that the same would be true for the rest of the Ex-Raid participants, who would be segregated into their own groups, but still having a good chance at making the Ex-Raid successful.

Of course, this still ties to that different issue. My view is that that particular issue was over-inflated and shouldn't have even been mentioned at all. It's also kind of a shady issue, which is why I decline to explain further. What I can say is that when the Ex-Raid happened, I was not aware of the issue, and even if I was, it didn't affect how I played. In that sense, it really was and should have been kept a non-issue.

As for the public or private group issue, I don't see much difference in either method, though it does present a good way to make raids more particularly manageable and successful when more than 20 participants are involved (the suggested for level 5 raids), as in the Ex-Raid I participated in on Wednesday. Considering everything, I then offer the following statement regarding the issue: "It's your raid - do it however you like."

One year ago: The Times They Are a-Switchin'

Performance Critique: ACC 2018 Single Performance

While it's still fresh in my mind, I would like to critique my own single performance from Day 1 of the previous event. Ash has noted some of the flaws, and I'm here to flesh them out further. What really helps to do this is a video recording of my performance; I was going to initiate this myself, but the call to perform was so sudden that I couldn't request a friend to record. Fortunately, a fellow cosplayer, competition participant, and friend took the initiative to record the performance, though he was also caught off guard with the performance announcement and missed the first few moments. Much of the rest of the performance is intact, however, and open for criticism.

First, because of the rush to perform, I had completely forgotten that I still had my event pass hanging on me, which I should have stowed away prior to the performance. I realized this within a couple of moments when my performance began; I tried my hardest to ignore it, but it still interfered slightly with the opening moments. Perhaps the fall at the beginning of the performance lost some naturalness as well.

Note the hanging pass.

Another thing that possibly detracted from the performance was the fact that I kept messing around with my cap, mostly during the latter part of the performance. I also missed the cue to turn the cap around before the "defense". In a perfect world, the cap would stay on as needed, but this isn't one. Next time, maybe I should let the cap lie where it may, but still find appropriate moments to put it back on.

I kept futzing with my cap.

A big thing with this performance is that Pikachu has to move about for the "turning point". However, my Pikachu isn't actually motile - it's a doll, and therefore inanimate. Another friend suggested that this performance is best accompanied with a background video, but alas, this particular competition didn't warrant the use of one. I could also enlist the help of a "black man" (stage hand dressed in black) to move Pikachu, but then this wouldn't be a single performance. I thought I still had to move Pikachu around and I tried to do it in the most subtle way possible.

If only Pikachu could move...

For all the flaws in the performance, there were a few things that seemed to go right. Pikachu did land on the floor after the throw in the right orientation (though on the opposite side) for the next part. And then for the final flourish, my Poké Ball pose seemed perfectly timed. But in the end they couldn't save my performance.

One of the things that went right.

By the way, these images are all frames from the video of the performance that my friend so graciously recorded. Eventually, I'd like to post the entire video on YouTube in a complementary channel for this blog, but that will have to wait. This would also open up the performance for wider and deeper critique than what I have posed here. In any case, I'd like to have as many recordings of my performances as possible so that I'm able to analyze and critique on them myself... and let others do the same, especially for further ones to come. I stand to appreciate both cosplay and Pokémon more in this way.

One year ago: Keychains!

Local Ex-Raid (and More), 1/24/2018

This is it - today is the day of the scheduled Ex-Raid in my area. All the preparations that we have made over the course of the past two weeks or so have come down to this. There was of course the previous Ex-Raid, indicated efforts that may help to summon the next Ex-Raid - which I participated in, and the invitation that I received not long afterwards. After that, it was simply a matter of preparing an arsenal of Pokémon for the Ex-Raid and to come to the location at the given time for it.

And that is what I and my fellow raid group members did. After a week of determining who got the invitations, checking who could actually come and who needed help, and preparing the arsenal and other necessary things, we gathered near the specified time at the location for the Ex-Raid. Then, at precisely the specified time, the egg that contained the Ex-Raid boss hatched, and the Ex-Raid officially began. After a slight bit of coordination, we entered the Ex-Raid with full force.

The Ex-Raid proceeded swiftly and smoothly, thanks to the arsenal of Pokémon that the veteran raid Trainers furnished. Mewtwo, the raid boss, succumbed to all our combined efforts, and that left the bonus challenge of catching Mewtwo. Amazingly, my capture proceeded spectacularly and dramatically; with a little assistance and just one throw of the Premier Ball, Mewtwo was within my possession. A couple of others had the same experience, while it took several throws for others to succeed, and a few also bombed. But when all was said and done, we had a great experience with the Ex-Raid.

An excellent group. (I'm third from left.)

With this Ex-Raid, I have in a way realized a situation that was depicted back when the very first trailer for Pokémon Go came out, which was a congregation of people attempting (and succeeding) to capture Mewtwo. It was a situation that I considered fantastic and almost unreal, but with Pokémon Go today, this situation is very much tangible and real. I caught a Mewtwo, and I did it through a journey in my real world, assisted with technology and a band of comrades.

My First Mewtwo™

After the Ex-Raid, the day proceeded much like the situation after the previous Ex-Raid; it was followed by a couple more regular raids. The primary target was Kyogre, which was boosted by the weather. On the first raid, the Kyogre catching attempt fizzled, but on the second, the attempt succeeded. It was a good cap to the Ex-Raid and a great start for my business in the rest of the day.

Today was an excellent day for raids and especially the Ex-Raid. We couldn't have done this without a coordinated effort. For that, I offer the Japanese phrase my fellow Japanese fans use to thank each other after a good day at an event: otsukaresama deshita ("thank you for your hard work"). All our work really was good work, and we deserve to be proud of it. So thank you again, and may we continue all our raid efforts - perhaps to result in another Ex-Raid!

One year ago: Electricity: Harness, Don't Exploit

Passing the Guard

It's the night before the Ex-Raid that is scheduled for tomorrow, and my raid group is abuzz with activity. For the people in it, it's business as usual, going on raids that are present around town, perhaps also in the hopes of preparing a veritable arsenal against the Ex-Raid boss. Yet there is another kind of activity going on, one that involves other players, specifically those not in my raid group. Lately it seems that some Pokémon Go players in my area have been wanting to get back into the action, and they've (been) turned to me for information. It's almost like I've been "passed the guard", in a way.

Perhaps a bit of history would help. Way, way back when Go first became popular locally, it became quite organized, to the point there were team collectives (which I mentioned in thinking about Go fever) and even local contests (which I mentioned in my initial post about Go). One of the leaders of the team collectives is a friend whom I mentioned in the former post, and in fact his status as a local go-to resource made him practically a leader for many things Go in my local area. However, some time ago he had effectively relinquished his position, as evidenced by him no longer having the game installed. Now that I'm able to play and he can't, the situation is the inverse of before, when I couldn't play and he could.

Yet he remains noted as a reference for Go in my area, though that's a role he can no longer fulfill. Knowing that I now play Go, he refers those who contact him about the game to me; this is where "passing the guard" comes in. I am glad to assist those that have been referred to me and mount a greater collective effort. But even so, there are also people who know more about the game in the time that both I and my friend have been inactive in the game, one of them being the person I met one night and also belongs in my raid group; the fact of the matter is that I then refer my friend's contacts to that person. Regardless, the process is taking place... or has taken place.

"Passing the guard" is a natural thing that occurs where leaders and groups are involved. It has to take place, lest they fade into oblivion. In my case, the transition is from something previously structured by one friend to something structured by another. I'm not fully involved in the process, but being involved as a "mediator" of sorts in the process is good also, which in a way preserves the previous success of Pokémon Go. Who knows - maybe at a later time, I will lead the process and not just become a mere mediator, and I'll be the one taking my group on raids and Ex-Raids together, hopefully with the same intense preparations as of late.

One year ago: Two Pokémon Pillows

Costume and Cosplay Checklists

Costumes for cosplay are complex, in that they often comprise an extensive list of items to wear, even for a single character. My Pokémon costumes are no exception, and they are also made up of lists of numerous items. It would be a challenge for some cosplayers to remember them all, and even I have trouble sometimes. That is why I have made costume and cosplay checklists so that I could make sure I remember to bring all the parts to the event or convention, and on the tail end, not leave anything behind once I'm done and wish to go back.

The problem of forgetting to bring costume parts (and bringing them back afterwards) is one that I sometimes hear about. Last month at a certain convention, I heard one of my friends left his character's footwear at the event, and he's been distraught ever since. And then for the previous event, one of my friends left two crucial parts of his costume, one of which has been previously forgotten before! There are other similar tales over the years I've cosplayed, and I'd like to think these can be avoided in some way. That is why I have these checklists.

I make checklists for costume sets that I deem are significantly different for a character and warrant the creation of a separate one. Consider, for example, the Lucario Prince Ash costume I've worn on previous occasions:

This is the actual checklist I have compiled for the parts of the costume, and it's a long one. They're all necessary (except for the one I've marked "optional" - by experience, I rarely use the ball, especially if I'm already carrying the staff) and it would be a pain to forget even just one of them anywhere. This checklist keeps me in line when I decide to wear this costume.

But that's not the only checklist I make. I also make one for other things I need when I cosplay any character at events or conventions:

A few notes: "essentials" means things like wallets and keys, things that people need to go anywhere; shoes are only needed if the costume requires a change of footwear; "entry pass" and "transport items" may be passes, tickets, and so on that have already been purchased beforehand; and name cards are something that will be discussed in a separate post. And yes, even the checklists are a checklist item, if I keep them on paper.

These checklists are certainly different for every character, and even the "necessities" list will be different from one cosplayer to another. Because of that, I encourage cosplayers to think about what they need and what works for them. But the point is that there will always be things to bring for cosplay, and when those things can be listed, it is worthwhile to make a checklist.

Cosplay is fun, except for the part where cosplayers have to bring things and then bring them back. These checklists are my solution to make that complex effort manageable and less of a hassle to remember. I want to have fun with my cosplay, especially my Pokémon cosplay, and my checklists allow me to do just that, when all the things for cosplay are in order.

One year ago: Pokémon World + Hero's Come Back = ...

Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition 2018, Day 2

Without further ado.

[AshKetchumMode]

So, it's Day 2 of the event from yesterday. It seems like events that go for two days are strange for me, because it feels different on both days. And then for this event, my friend here tells me it's held a little later, but only by about a week. I still like it though, and I'll still come when I'm asked to.

Pikachu: Pika! [in agreement]

Haha, that makes two of us. So with the same event at the same place, not much was different. Even the food and goodies for sale were pretty much the same. For that, I came back with my Kanto-Johto outfit, just because it was easier for me. But I was told that things would start early and end early, so you know I just had to come soon. After that first day I had as a Trainer, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I like seeing the guest performances and the other characters in the parade and team performances. They're awesome too.

And of course, today's the day when the results are announced. It's the time to see if I will be rewarded for my efforts. And... I'm sad to say I wasn't. We didn't make it, Pikachu. I'm sorry. I was kind of hoping we could.

Pikachu: Chu. [very dejected]

At least we had some fun at the event. We met people and other characters, and we hanged out with them while we showed our stuff, just like we always do when we're asked to go. I'm still a little bummed, but there's always another event or convention to go to and do everything again. Thank you, my friend, for letting me have this chance - and I'll come up with something great next time!

[/AshKetchumMode]

Thank you, Ash, for helping me review the event. For the rest of the events this year, I'll let you do it straight away. There'll be some fun times ahead.

One year ago: Dreams of Itasha

Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition 2018, Day 1

OK, for this year I'd like to do something a little different with my cosplay event or convention reviews. Part of cosplay is being able to portray a character, so I thought it would be nice to let the character do the reviewing this time around, and do the portraying in writing. That's how things will be for this year. And I happen to have just summoned him, so... take it away.

[AshKetchumMode]

Thanks! Hi everyone. So I was asked to come again by my friend here to this event. It's actually a bit like a mini-convention, but I'd say it's a full event. I had come last year with the Lucario Prince outfit one day and then my Kanto-Johto outfit the next. It was so much fun that I was happy to be asked to come again. I knew I had to do something special this year, and this year, I had just that.

You remember how things didn't quite work out for me when I started my journey, right? Well, I thought the last part of when that happened was something neat that I could present on stage, and so I did. I signed up for a single performance and presented that part as best as I can. And that means I wore my Kanto-Johto outfit again. Well, that's not a bad thing, I guess.

Pikachu: Pika! [happy]

Oh yeah, you too, Pikachu. I know you didn't move as well as you could, but I think we did fine. It was a bit sudden, but we still did fine. Our friends in the parade and single performance also did fine as well. But we'll have to wait a day to hear about the results, because this event lasts for two days, and on Day 2, that's when they'll be announced. I'm kind of eager to hear myself.

Pikachu: Pikachu. [dejected]

Don't be too sad. I was rewarded for just going around and checking things out. And at least the food and goodies market had quite a bit of things to sell, even though it was kind of small. Oh yeah, and this is a Saturday, so there weren't too many people. Sunday is when things will really get crowded. Seems like it will be even more fun then. By the way, the place where the event is held seems familiar - oh, right! I've been here a few times in the past. That was fun too.

I had a fun day, even though things were somewhat different this year. Everything was still neat and enjoyable, though - perhaps even more than last year. I'll be sure to come back on Day 2 and join in the fun!

[/AshKetchumMode]

Well, there you go. See you on Day 2.

One year ago: All in the Cards

Suspending My Disbelief

When it comes to surrealistic fictional things, there is a term that floats around regarding their perception. That term is "suspension of disbelief". The basic understanding is that the one who perceives those things lets go of common reasoning or realistic ideals to believe that the surreal is in fact real. This very much applies to Pokémon, where many fantastic and even surreal things happen, and especially in my case.

In terms of my case, I feel that I have succeeded. I have no trouble believing that the most surreal things happen in the world of Pokémon, even if much of the rest is real. I accept the fact that Pokémon can do the things they do, and then they interact with people in the ways that they do, whether in the games, anime, or other forms. It's not that different from other fantastic worlds, some of which may be nearer than even the world of Pokémon. I sense that most of my Pokémon friends and colleagues are of the same frame of mind.

Of course, there are certain things that still seem unreasonable, and that a rational mind would ideally like to seek answers for. However, to me, as much as this is interesting and natural for any fan, it also chips away at the suspension of disbelief that I've managed to build. Some of the things I've discussed like the "one ball" matter may qualify as this, and there are other similar things that could be discussed in the same way. As it stands, I won't try to do it too often, but once in a while seems OK without going too much into the details that would wear this state away.

I love Pokémon, and as fictional as it is, there is a part of me that thinks that somehow things are real. That's what suspension of disbelief will do; it makes wonder and fantasy believable. Pokémon has a lot of that wonder and fantasy, and though some of it seems unrealistically plausible and open for debate, which would otherwise wreck the suspension, most everything seems believably realistic for the way things happen. I'll accept it, as would be expected of anyone with an attachment to this series and franchise.

One year ago: Ash, Satoshi, or... Ali?

(Almost) A Pokémon Party

A year ago, on my birthday, I had outlined and desired possibilities for a Pokémon party. I listed what could happen and things that could be in one, in case one actually came to be. Yesterday, for my birthday this year, that almost happened; I invited some of my friends to visit my home in the evening and have a small gathering, which did turn into a party. Not everything had Pokémon elements, but Pokémon was brought up, and it was a party nonetheless. Though it was lacking in some respects, it was still a good one.

First up, my friends brought a cake! Since it was kind of sudden, there was not a lot of time for sophisticated decorations, but there was just enough time for writing a message on top of the cake. The message on the upper part is obvious - it's simply a birthday greeting. The message on the lower part is what makes it special - "Go Pikachu". My friends know I'm a huge Pokémon fan (and of Ash as well), so of course the cake had to be tied somehow to Pokémon. I find it quite an appreciable gesture.

Part of the evening was also spent discussing a few Pokémon-related things. While it never materialized to fully spending time with Pokémon things, we did talk about some bits of the games as well as the anime. Certainly discussion about this blog and some posts that were in it came up. Regardless of how little it was, it was still valuable, as it shed light on some direction where I could take my interest in Pokémon, which automatically goes for this blog.

I should also mention that the ones who came last night were the same people that belong to my clique who I mentioned in a post last year about friends. We - at least the more Pokémon-oriented among us - still haven't gotten back to Pokémon as much as we would like, but that remains as a small hope. Perhaps it could just happen. At the least, with last night we still had the chance to express our interest in it.

This wasn't a full Pokémon party, but it had the makings of one. For that, I thank those who came last night and made it appreciably connected to Pokémon. It made my special birthday this year even more special. I'd love to have such a party again, especially with Pokémon in tow.

One year ago: Pokémon Art Academy - More Than Just Pokémon Art

30 Going on 10... Or Something Like It

Well, let's just get to the point: today is my birthday. As I've noted last year (see below), this year is more special, because this year is indeed my 30^th. And I'm still a loyal Pokémon fan, coming up on the two-decade mark in fact, only separated a few years from when Pokémon came into being. Plus, I adore the spirit of one of its most recognizable human characters, who is only about a third of my age. There's a lot of years involved in all of that, and that's worthy of some discussion.

A good deal of Pokémon fans are of or about the same age as me, and that's understandable - we all could have started liking Pokémon at about the same time, although it could also be later. Certainly a great deal of Pokémon fans are quite younger, liking Pokémon only later, and there's nothing wrong with that. Yet it's also not entirely impossible for fans to be older than me, especially if they've been playing the games of their time. If we share the same sentiments of appreciation, then we like Pokémon, and that's important, no matter what age we are.

As for Pokémon itself, it has its own rich history, but that's better reserved for the anniversary post to come a little later. It's an amazing history that's sure to expand even further in upcoming years. Yet what's important is that Pokémon is as varied and extensive as it is old. I consider myself lucky to be part of that history, and so should other players, no matter how much of that history they've taken in. Everyone's welcome for the ride, whether blasting through the past or into the future.

And then there's the one I adore. Going by the progression of the anime, Ash is only 10 or at the most in his early teens. In a previous post, I've discussed how Pokémon and children go hand in hand; it has always been the case, and it will still be the case. I'm no longer of that age, and it is not my wish to remain of that age, but the fact remains that his character is an inspirational one. In that sense, he becomes a timeless classic for any fan of Pokémon.

I'm 30, Pokémon is 20+ and I've been with it 20- years, and Ash is about 10. It's a neat progression of things. There's been so much of everything through all the years before, and most likely much to see in the future years to come. I'm happy to reach my age with Pokémon, and with all that's happened, I expect to be with it for years and years ahead.

Happy 30^th birthday to me.

One year ago: A Pokémon Party?

Be the Best... or Be Different?

Recently I heard an interesting quote, which goes something like this: "if you can't be the best, be different instead". This quote speaks to me as a Pokémon fan. Pokémon is inherently tied to "being the best", so that's an aim that is quite admirable for anyone involved with it. However, in light of this quote, perhaps this is a good approach as well for Pokémon fans in what they do.

I already know I'm not the absolute best player on quite a few Pokémon fronts, relative to a good number of others who play. My VGC teams are all in disarray in regard to certain aspects. My performance in Shuffle's Competitive Stages is only holding up the upper middle. Even in Go, I haven't been that successful in raids, although that may only be because of the relative paucity of participation. In other Pokémon games such as Mystery Dungeon, I can't seem to attempt the advanced maneuvers that are crucial for the later stages of the game. Some things still work out, just not in the best way possible.

Then again, it seems like I've accomplished quite a few things with regard to Pokémon. I've played a good number of the games, where others might not do so. My Pokémon merchandise collection, though not as hugely extensive as those of others I know, is quite extensive nonetheless. I've even won awards for my cosplay, though not in the recent past. And of course, I now have this blog where I can share everything and anything related to Pokémon and me. Those are seemingly respectable.

In that respect, I've done something different. I've done typical Pokémon things, and I've also done atypical Pokémon things. My attraction to Pokémon is shown in various ways, and not just in any one way, though all the ways can and do shift in the amount of focus. Even liking Pokémon so much may be considered different among the people I know and that know me.

Even so, there's no harm not to keep trying to be the best in whatever I do with Pokémon. It may take some (actually, lots of) time and effort before that happens, but it remains a good thing nonetheless. With that in mind, perhaps the quote could be changed. Instead of "being the best or being different", it becomes "being the best and being different". That may be good too for Pokémon.

One year ago: My Pokémon Anime Epoch

Here Comes an Ex-Raid

Very early this morning, I received a pleasant surprise. When I opened Pokémon Go on my phone, I was greeted with an invitation for an Ex-Raid downtown. On one hand, I was quite surprised, given my relative success with raids in the game. Yet on the other hand, this comes as no surprise, given the effort that has been put into coordinating raid activity in my local area. And of course, some of the effort can be considered to be mine.

There is quite a bit of speculation as much as there is certainty regarding the nature of Ex-Raids. Based on map data, only certain Gyms seem to qualify for an Ex-Raid; they are spaced from each other based on a certain distance, and they may have to be sponsored or otherwise located somewhere that qualifies as a "park". They also have to attract a lot of raid activity, whether low- or high-tier. As well, at least for some time ahead, Ex-Raids are guaranteed to happen, most likely at the same place. It seems all of these have been exploited in the coordination that led to the Ex-Raid being realized.

Recall that an Ex-Raid had already occurred a week ago, for which I took advantage of the occurrence to finally meet the rest of my raid group mates in person for the first time. This next Ex-Raid will in fact take place at the same exact Gym where that previous one took place. Since then, there was a lot of coordinated effort to see if another one can be realized. It was suggested that if a massive raid effort can be coordinated at a different place, the next Ex-Raid might take place there instead, but this ultimately fizzled as neither interest nor raid activity was shown at that place. Meanwhile, my group also kept track of just who has been active at raids in the very same Gym as the Ex-Raid, and as it turns out, raid activity was indeed high at the Gym. This was what drove me to go out last Saturday and raid at that exact Gym, hoping to contribute to the effort. The rest is history.

If anything, this shows that for raids, a coordinated effort is not only appreciable but also quite necessary for higher-level raids, and especially for an Ex-Raid such as this one. For that, we definitely succeeded in our efforts, taking advantage of the situation. Now we have to reap the rewards and take part.

By the way, the Ex-Raid is scheduled for Wednesday next week. There's still time to prepare for that occasion and make sure we're fully ready - I and the other 30+ people who have received the same invitation. I can't wait to see what happens then.

One year ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 2

Playing the Meta Game

In many games, there is a term that gets around. That term is the one I wish to discuss in this post, and that is "meta". "Meta" is Greek for "after" or "beyond", but could also be taken to mean as "high". Thus the "meta game" can be understood as the highest abstraction of the game. This concept very much also applies to the Pokémon games, and in fact has been quite conceptualized in the main series. It's something that I and many players have to wrap our heads around every time we play.

For the Pokémon games, the meta game involves Pokémon and the strategies, techniques, et cetera that revolve around them. In the main series, this resolves to specific Pokémon and how their moves, stats, and so on are set to deal with adversaries. This even leads to another term, the "anti meta", which is designed to counter the meta game. With the changing of the VGC ruleset each year, different approaches come to manifest themselves according to the restrictions. Building a team entails knowing what approaches to use and which ones to expect.

Abstractions and therefore a meta game also appear to exist for other Pokémon games. I play Shuffle a lot, and the Competitive Stages have a large role to play in making a meta game transparent. Though I don't go up against someone directly, my performance is still compared among others who play the stages. Further, each time a new stage comes up, because the ranking and Pokémon usage is visible to every player, the competition practically distills to the best Pokémon that can do the job. This is effectively the meta game for that; the meta game for other stages are disclosed through other means.

Even in Go there seems to be a meta game. While the game still had only first-generation Pokémon, Dragonite was present in many Gyms as a powerful adversary. When the second-generation Pokémon entered, Tyranitar became a second one. It's hard not to expect Salamence to become a third one once its species family makes it in. As for the combatant side of things, my fellows have come up with a way with certain Pokémon to take care of some raids, even when many people can't take part. This too becomes the manifestation of a meta game.

As a fellow Pokémon colleague had said, the meta game is present in pretty much any game. Based on my experience, this seems to be quite the case even in Pokémon games; if things in a game can be coded into a highly systematic abstraction, then that is essentially the meta game. It has been done, and it certainly will happen again as the games are fleshed out further. It's safe to say that as players of Pokémon games, we'll have to continually be dealing with the meta game as something that transcends our games and play approaches.

One year ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 1

My Pokémon Show

I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go; can't do it alone, I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl (boy) lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out; it's bringing me down, I know
I've got to let it go - and just enjoy the show
-- "The Show", Lenka (addition mine)

After what had transpired with VGC and Go, I've realized that in my mastering ways, I still need some help. Further, it seems things - Pokémon or otherwise - are changing in unexpected ways. And in any case, I need to stay strong. That's why I'm suddenly reminded of this song, as it describes my state of affairs. In a way, I hate to admit it, but it's so true. This becomes my Pokémon "show" for me to enjoy.

I went out again with my raid fellows today to try to catch the raid monsters, including the newly unleashed Kyogre; I was able to go on two raids. The raids were successful, but the captures were not. I'll admit, I'm a bit of a clumsy fellow, so that is why in part the captures failed. It's a puzzling thing that I can't seem to get past. They've graciously provided their assistance, and I've accepted it, but things still happen. Whatever happens, there will be more opportunities, as Kyogre has only recently appeared. But most importantly, I contributed in their effort to try to initiate another Ex-Raid. Whether or not it happens, I have to keep my spirits up.

On the VGC front, there is a tournament scheduled for tomorrow, and I am quite unprepared for it. This too is a puzzling thing. I already know I need quite a bit of assistance for this one, and I will need to use the assistance offerings wisely. Still, I also have my own vision for this, and I need to marry this with the assistance offerings. It's just a matter of keeping my spirits up and making sure the preparations are executed as planned. Though considering that now is already crunch time for tomorrow, I will have to simply make do for the next one.

The point of the song is that life is a "show" for everyone included to enjoy (that is, go through). That includes my Pokémon-filled life, where things like these can happen. I may look like a fool for that, but that's because of the attachment I have, which is never enough... just as the song states in another part. I can "ask for my money back" - again stated elsewhere in the song - but I won't, and I'll just keep enjoying the show. It's the least I can do with Pokémon with me.

Welcome to my Pokémon "show". I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

One year ago: Pokémon and Cosplay

Another Big Shuffle Update

Recently, Pokémon Shuffle on the 3DS had a major update that required downloading from the eShop, something that I became alerted to when I tried to check in as usual. The gameplay didn't change, but there were a lot of things that changed that made the gameplay more favorable. I've gone through many of the newly changed or added things, and I can say that they're to the benefit of all players.

The most important new thing is Trainer Rank, which depends on Pokémon that are caught. Each different species of Pokémon caught (and therefore different forms don't count) contributes to the Trainer Rank, and by increasing the rank, all sorts of bonuses are earned, including certain Mega Stones. This means such a bonus effectively replaces Competitive Stages of the past, where the Mega Stones used to be earned. I've been playing from near the beginning, and since I already have the Stones, I got Level Ups instead. The rest of the bonuses are the usual menagerie of items and enhancements, but are still useful.

Speaking of bonuses, the check-in bonus is no longer limited to coins. Along with coins, players can get items and enhancements, which are by themselves indeed useful. They're given out on a daily basis, so players must continue checking in to get the stuff. I check in on a fairly regular basis, so I'm not worried, and in fact this drives me to check in regularly, which could also be expected of other players with this change. It's an excellent one that rewards a lot.

Aside from this, there are even more changes all over the place. There is an "Undo" button next to "Optimize" to select a previous party for a stage. Some Special Stages now detail their rewards or drops so players can expect what they will get. Jewels can now be used to unlock many Main Stages at once. Pokémon List is simplified - now Pokémon are only shown as caught or not caught, and those not caught can be directly filtered as well. Finally, a "Credits" button is added to the menu so that players can see just who are involved in making the game. These are all appreciable changes, no matter how small.

Shuffle is a great game for those who enjoy it. With this major update, that great game just got a lot better. It makes for a more favorable experience whether for players that are just starting out or veteran players like me. I'm excited to continue playing Shuffle on my 3DS because of these changes, and I hope the game gets even better, as does my experience playing it.

One year ago: In-Game Trainer Name Inspirations

A Song for the Lonely, et Cetera

This is a song - for the lonely
Can you hear me tonight?
For the broken-hearted, battle-scarred
I'll be by your side
And this is a song - for the lonely
When your dreams won't come true
Can you hear this prayer?
'Cause someone's there for you
-- "Song for the Lonely", Cher

While on the "raid ride" that I participated in on Tuesday, I carried my 3DS to pass the time while I could not be as active in the game. Unfortunately, as I progressed, I hit something and so did my 3DS. Although the damage was minor and my 3DS could still function, it was still somewhat unfortunate, considering that this 3DS has had its share of troubles. That was what in part led me to think of this song... and it leads me to think about Pokémon as well.

The key word is of course "battle", present in the chorus, which I've quoted above. It is pretty hard not to talk about battles when it comes to Pokémon, at least in most cases. Specifically, my 3DS has been with me through many Pokémon battles, in the main series or otherwise. It has its own "battle scars", most recently the ones that occurred on Tuesday. Yet with all that, it still functions for me; I'm glad that this is the case, and I'm glad that it's always been by my side, as an echo of the chorus. Here's hoping that my 3DS survives for as long as it can.

As for the song itself, it is uplifting no matter what state of affairs things are in. Back on Tuesday, it was that I never found raid companions until that point, and when I succeeded with Porygon and Groudon, my spirits were lifted, almost following the words of the song. I was elated, and that's when the song came to my mind. Now looking at the state of affairs of other Pokémon things, I'm inspired to be uplifted by recalling this song. I even envision the characters of the Pokémon anime (which despite differences are still very much linked to the games) coming together and singing this song, almost like the music video for this very song.

This is such a good song, and becomes an even better song when Pokémon becomes considered. There's a lot of success to be made with Pokémon, and certainly just as many if not more failures. But through them all, there's something to be said for maintaining high spirits. I'm certain that that's what I'll need for upcoming Pokémon things, whether they be in the main series, or in games like Go as what transpired earlier. At the least, I'm not as lonely now.

One year ago: My Path Through the Main Series

A Pokémon-Pikachu Balloon

Balloons make any festive occasion more festive. Of course, they're also festive any time, which explains why they are also sold in certain places. While on an errand today, I saw a really good-looking Pikachu and Pokémon balloon for sale by a balloon vendor. It was so good-looking and decently priced that I had to just pick it up not only for the purpose of making it mine, but also to evaluate its merits in a post.

The balloon is a circular cushion-like balloon, which looks thin from certain angles and round otherwise. The design on the round parts feature the colors of white and yellow, as well as Pikachu and the Pokémon logo. What makes the balloon design neat is that it's double-sided, and each side has a unique design. One side has one Pikachu image, and the other side has a different one. And on one of the sides, the logo is placed in Pikachu's tail. I question this design choice, but it seems to work nonetheless.

At the least the design does not incorporate the Go emblem, in that way appearing more universal. This is also a floating balloon, as may be evident from the pictures; the fact that floating balloons may be hard to come by nowadays brings some concern as to what may be inside the balloon. Still, a floating balloon is a nice touch and lends itself to different settings, at least until it naturally deflates, something that is true of any balloon. By then the balloon could be usable as an ornament.

This balloon has all the makings of a good Pokémon merchandise with an attractive design and a unique appearance, though admittedly this kind of merchandise does not stay in its current shape for a long time. It really is a festive one, considering merchandise of a similar type. Perhaps it really was meant to make that errand that I was on today a little more festive.

One year ago: Where It All Started

Hitching a Raid Ride

If you've been reading this blog, you know that I've only returned to Pokémon Go only a few months back, and I just claimed my team a few weeks back. I've had some fun with that, by working the Gyms normally as much as I possibly can, but I have never been able to participate in what is considered the current supreme activity related to Gyms, which is to participate in raid battles. That changed in the spur of an evening, on this very day.

Earlier, I had made connections in a most unusual manner, and I did so with a local raid group. The people there have been able to participate in raids in a coordinated manner, yet I hadn't been able to, for one reason or another. Over the past week, members of the group had received invites to an Ex-Raid downtown, thereby setting up a rendezvous. It was this situation that I took advantage of, and I set out, knowing that I at least could meet up and still do other things on Go even though the others were focused on the Ex-Raid. Sure enough, it happened.

While I was able to play Go as normal, a more important thing occurred. Thanks to the Ex-Raid, I was able to meet many of my group mates for the first time. They're warm, friendly, and most of all, helpful. Although I didn't participate in the Ex-Raid, I was able to participate in another nearby raid that started just a few moments after the Ex-Raid ended. Cooperation with the others was able to net me a Porygon, an interesting Pokémon in and of itself. It was the first time I succeeded in a raid cooperatively, after failing miserably as an individual.

But that was not all. The group invited me to participate in two level 5 raids with Groudon that happened just off downtown. It was an offer I accepted based on convenience and camaraderie, and their assistance was immeasurable, as this was really a raid that needed a coordinated effort, more so on my end. One of the senior members assisted with transportation (hence, the title of this post is a play on that) and another member assisted to keep my phone going. In the first raid, I made it to the end, but I failed to catch Groudon. In the second raid, I had to use up my hard-earned PokéCoins for a Premium Raid Pass, but it was worth it, because in the end I managed to catch Groudon. This becomes a meaningful experience.

Once again, I'm on the far left.

I would like to say thank you to everyone involved in this evening's raid effort and for their assistance. It's truly been an awesome experience. I too would like to apologize if I became a bit of a burden, though this is now water under the bridge given the awesome experience. This Go player is delighted to have had such an experience. It is my express wish that I can replicate the experience at another point in time, and hitch on to another raid... and possibly a ride as well!

One year ago: A Tale of Two Shirts

The Three-Count

Any Pokémon fan knows that in the games, a Pokémon capture from a battle is not instantaneous, at least in most cases. After throwing a Poké Ball and the Pokémon becomes encapsulated, there is a delay that occurs before the capture is regarded as successful. It is this delay that I have dubbed as the "three-count" because that delay is composed of three short moments that precede the successful capture. This is present in any game where Poké Balls are concerned, including Go.

After the battle has taken place, a Poké Ball is thrown, the Pokémon is encapsulated, and the three-count begins. At any time during the three-count, the Pokémon may manage to break free of its capture hold, even just before or after the three-count has taken place. But if after the three short moments the Pokémon does not resist, then the capture becomes successful. This three-count is in particular emphasized in Shuffle with three spotlights that shine on the Poké Ball and in Go as the view zooms onto the Poké Ball.

This three-count is remarkably similar to what happens in boxing when a combatant goes down, only that it's a ten-count in boxing before the combatant is declared to have lost by knockout. Likewise, the combatant may nullify the count by getting back up, similar to when a Pokémon resists capture. It's an interesting parallel to be sure, not the least of which is because of the combat-oriented nature of Pokémon and boxing; it almost makes them superficially related.

This seems like such a small thing about Pokémon, but it's one that players of different games are exposed to, and possibly on a frequent basis. Moreover, it's something that is linked almost by principle to something that is real. At the least, this helps players of the games perceive something that is only visualized through screens. I say that is a wonderful thing for all Pokémon fans.

One year ago: On the Subject of Go

Rethinking Salt

As one of the Four Notions which I have previously outlined, being "salty" is having a feeling of annoyance or envy toward what has happened. This applies in and to various fandoms, including Pokémon. Every now and then one of my Pokémon fellows comes up with something that makes someone else salty, even me; it's a bad feeling, in a way. However, with certain information I have received, I have begun to reconsider this feeling - perhaps it might not be so bad at all in certain circumstances.

In a social media post, something that a Pokémon fellow of mine (who incidentally is the same one that I wrote about just a month ago) considers salty is the showing off of Shiny Pokémon. Based on the earlier discussion, I don't feel as salty about this one due to its rarity and merits. However, this was then followed by a showing off of Pokémon art. This one I am a little salty about since I cannot really draw to save my life (at least not at this point), but with the "gratitude" post, I am reminded to be thankful that I can still appreciate it. So maybe this is a good thing: I need to feel salty to then be thankful.

Most people who are guided by the Four Notions assume that salt is a bad thing. But in a different philosophy and perception, salt is a good thing. It is something that complements all the other flavors of the world. In that sense, my flavor is Pokémon, and by being a little salty about it, I get to appreciate it a bit more. What may be perceived as "salty" may actually be not so salty at all.

The reconsideration is thus: salt is necessary, as it brings out the good things in life. And Pokémon is a good thing for me, so it is OK to feel salty about what others do with it, so long as I remain appreciative, and I still am. It's almost tantamount to chaos, and as a particular quote can attest, it is necessary too:

"But remember, a little bit of chaos is a necessary part of life, and chaos will always find a way..."

Bring on the chaos - and the salt - and I will maintain my appreciation as best as I can.

One year ago: Tournament: Local Friendly, 1/7/2017

More Odd Poké-Pika Things

After seeing odd things with Pikachu and Pokémon last year, I knew it wouldn't be the last time I saw such things, and I was right. I've been on a tour of my neighborhood lately, and I kept encountering things with Pikachu and Pokémon with them. I wasn't expecting to find them in the places where they were present, but there they were for many people to see, including me. This is what prompted me to take pictures so that I could preserve them visually, and more importantly, present them via this blog in this post.

While I passed a motorcycle repair shop, I saw a motorcycle with images of the Pokémon logo and Pikachu on it. It was almost like an itasha, something I've desired to make, but it wasn't, since it wasn't liberally applied all over, similar to the motorcycle I saw last year. And no, it was not the same motorcycle I saw last year, since this one was mostly red, and the one I saw last year was black. Regardless, I was able to get close to it and take a picture for reference.

I like this red theme and I could foresee expanding it into a full-on itasha, but that is a back-burner dream that hinges on a lot of things. Yet perhaps it could just happen.

After I passed the motorcycle, I then saw a wall painted with an image of a Pikachu, much like a partial version of the wall mural I saw last year. What's interesting is that the image resembles one of the Pikachu stickers in one of the Pokémon sticker packs in LINE.

Whether the specific image was actually involved in its design, even projected onto the wall to assist in painting, I cannot tell for sure, but the similarity is quite evident that it's enough to assume that it was.

In a different place, I saw three trash bins that had the same exact image of Pikachu (and for that matter, color scheme) on them. The painting work is quite neat and I'm envious that it isn't placed anywhere near my home, because they really enliven the places where they are.

The trash bins seem to be designed to encourage people to throw trash in the proper place; this is also supported by the fact that there were other decorated trash bins with other characters. They seem effective in that regard.

Pokémon appeals to a lot of people, in particular in my case. So to continue seeing it in odd places seem hardly surprising. It's the appeal that makes it so, aided with a little inspiration. These are certainly appealing to me and even provide a bit of inspiration to realize similar Pokémon things in similar ways. For now, these appearances in odd places suffice to present a little more of Pokémon in life.

One year ago: A 3DS Story

The Music of Go

In this day and age of electronic games, it is undeniable that music completes a game, no matter the size of its role. For the Pokémon games, and in particular Pokémon Go, this is no exception. Just like its main series brethren, Go also has its share of incidental music for its various situations, and the quality is on par with the main series, which is neat. Many players might not hear the music since they most likely play with the volume turned down, without headphones, or the audio settings turned off, but otherwise, the music is clearly audible and present in many parts in the game.

All the music are unique, but they still share some links with the main series games. The daytime overworld music, for example, shares several motifs with "route" music from the first-generation games, but is otherwise a completely original piece to Go. During Halloween, the nighttime overworld music was instead a full remix of the Lavender Town music, owing to its spooky qualities. Links like these show that Go wishes to deliver the Pokémon experience from the main series, yet still in its unique fashion, which is still appreciable.

I'm personally taken with the "professor" music, the one that plays the very first time the game is opened to the login screen (which also happens if you sign out for whatever reason). Similarly, I'm also taken with the login fanfare, which sounds like it echoes the "professor" music; it also sounds like a certain incidental music for exiting contestants from a certain quiz show, only this one serves to welcome "contestants" into a new world of Pokémon. Other music from Go that I like are the wild Pokémon encounter music and the subsequent successful capture fanfare. The influences from the main series are heavy in the former, while the fact that the latter does not resemble the one from the main series affirms the game's uniqueness.

Few electronic games today are complete without music, and Pokémon Go is one of them. The main series of Pokémon games itself has a rich history of music, and the music of Go attempts to take that history and adapt it to its unique form. It's a small thing that occasionally gets ignored, but it really is a part of what makes the game what it is, as a quite different take on the Pokémon games. I'm glad to be playing the game even just for the sake of its music.

One year ago: Alt+0233 and Its Kin

Team Assistance and Secrecy

The admission in yesterday's post is one thing, and now it's time for another. A lively discussion had unfolded among my Pokémon colleagues recently, and it concerns VGC, something that I have a stake in as a player of the Pokémon main series games. The more specific concern was why some players have not gotten into the VGC spirit, or in other words what is holding them back. My colleagues responded, and their reasons were varied. There were technical reasons such as not having a working 3DS, as well as restrictive reasons due to other things in life. However, many also cited that they have hassles in team-building in general, which is admittedly a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, especially when resources are scant or starting from scratch. It is this that spurred a few others to offer their assistance in the process.

This offering of assistance is certainly noble and should be appreciated, regardless of what state the team is in. And I'm not one to shy away from such assistance, based on my own experience. Two years ago, after going through the team-building process on my own, I was told by a colleague, who was more of an expert in VGC, that there were still a few glaring errors in my team; together we were able to come up with a solution, and although my team still fizzled out, I very much appreciate the assistance. So I'll admit VGC is challenging, and I sense I'm not the only one with a similar experience based on my colleagues' responses. It is at this point that assistance becomes vital, when things are not at their best.

Yet perhaps the one thing that has dogged me about assistance is the concern of secrecy - keeping my team under wraps until it's actually time for battle. Based on my experience and where I am with VGC, this is one concern I'm just going to have to let go. If I were a total expert like some of my colleagues at this point, then it could be fine, and in fact I would be the one providing assistance. I'll have to get a lot better if I want a greater amount of secrets kept, and even then I might still share some. At the least some of my own efforts can alleviate this concern, but that is probably not the point. Based on the discussion and the considerations here, I'm becoming convinced it may not be valid anyway.

If the discussion that took place is an indication, it is that not every Pokémon player is an expert in VGC, and neither am I, at least not at this point in time. Yet from this discussion as well, there is a spirit of cooperation that can be achieved, putting aside our differences and concerns like the one I have - or technically had, after considering it. Given this, I can and most likely will cooperate for VGC assistance this time around. It won't be the first time, and it might not be the last, at least until I make massive strides of improvement.

One year ago: "They can imitate you, but they can't duplicate you..."

Now Accepting Donations

After having blogged for a year, now comes the time to make some other admissions, besides the fact that I'm not perfect (see my one-year link below), which is something I have to reiterate so that it may be something to strive to improve when I can and to understand when I can't be. The fact is that life is hard, blogging is hard, and sometimes Pokémon is hard as well. So for this blog, now I've opened the door for donations to be received.

On the right of the page, there is a PayPal button that says "Donate". If you have access to and can use PayPal, please feel free to use that. If you cannot or do not use PayPal, then things may be a little more complicated. In that case, you can contact me for other ways to donate at my e-mail address, pikapikarefulgenschu [AT] gmail [DOT] com - replace with the symbols to make a valid e-mail. If you came here from social media where I've shared links to my posts, you can contact me there as well.

Opening the door to donations is not without reason. If you've read online game guides by others (and if you play Pokémon, I trust you have), some of them also open the door to donations, because the authors believe what they have written is extensive and useful, worthy of some support. While I've not written much of the sort (except for several posts in this blog, which I have noted as a way of teaching and delighting), I believe that the entirety of this blog is the same way, being extensive and useful. If that is the case, then I hope you'll consider lending your support.

For Pokémon, I've offered my quid pro quo in the form of this blog. It is where all my Pokémon experiences are presented, so that they may become your experience as well. To that end, if you would like to lend your support through donations, I will gladly welcome it. It is my express wish that your donations will allow me to continue to present other Pokémon experiences to your benefit.

I look forward to your support and the future Pokémon experiences it may bring!

One year ago: Confessions and Concessions

What's Next?

I'm still in a mood of commemoration of blogging for a full year, and now I want to outline some of the things I may want to do with this blog in the times ahead. This is in addition to the possible goals I've set in my one-month and six-month commemoration from last year. Those are ideal goals to be sure, but there are also things big and small that I can do on this blog to enhance the experience, both for myself and others. That is important, just as much as those goals should be kept in mind.

One of those things is what I've already done, which is to post links to older posts to keep in mind the old while progressing with the new. Given my blogging pace, it's not hard to believe that it will happen with all my posts even farther ahead. That means more and more memories to be remembered. Another one is to add some kind of title image to enhance the look of my posts; while it's true that this blog is more about my writing than images, there's no harm to do so. However, that would be a greater undertaking, and even more so when retroactively applied. This may have to be a back-burner consideration that has to remain there for some time.

Something that is more easily achievable while I continue to make more posts is re-categorizing old posts. I started this blog with only a handful of categories and have added a few more over the course of the year, but that doesn't mean every post is placed where I would like it to be, especially those created before certain categories were added. And while certain posts are clear-cut for which category or categories they belong in, there are others that may not be as such. I can never be too fully correct about this should categories change, but at least I can try to be. Also of interest is adding a separate explorer for categories in addition to the one on the right. These are all considerable actions to take.

As I've noted in my one-year commemoration, Pokémon is big but also stands to become bigger, and the same applies to my world in connection to Pokémon. What I do in this blog is to to present that to others through my writing. If that presentation experience can be enhanced, then it surely would be for my benefit as well as others. These and other approaches serve to show my deep connections with the world of Pokémon in a better way.

One year ago: ...And a Hoppip New Year