To Watch a Movie

It is pleasing to watch movies, and for a Pokémon fan, it is pleasing to watch Pokémon movies (that is, the feature films). And yet, there are quirks for any fan wishing to do so. The quirks are in turn affected by location and preferences, especially of other dominant fans. It's something I've certainly had to deal with in all my years of having watched them.

Back when I was in the United States, I was lucky that the first five Pokémon movies were shown in theaters, but I only watched the second and third one. For the first and fourth ones, I "missed the boat", and for the fifth one - to extend the idiom as a metaphor - "the boat never came". Even so, I was happy that I could watch them (at least eventually) and in a language I can naturally understand, which would be English for this case. Even with most subsequent releases directly on home media, it's still great that many fans are facilitated to do so.

Now that I'm in Indonesia, things are seemingly less great. I'm aware that many of the feature films have been shown televised (in Indonesian) and accessible to many, including children as the intended target, and at least that's a good thing for those who manage to watch them. As for theatrical releases, the one for last year's film was great thanks to its promotion and spread, but the previous ones seem spotty or unpromoted; even I only discovered them after a friend mentioned about them. Things seem to be up and down.

It would be great to watch them in Japan in theaters as they are released, especially if for those who happen to be there at the right time. The chance to obtain a bonus Pokémon for the games in some cases is pretty nifty too. But since it's Japan, Japanese language skills are certainly in order for the full experience, and this might not be desirable for those who are lacking (comprehensive) knowledge of it. This too has its upsides and downsides, yet they also may depend on the person.

It seems Pokémon fans anywhere may have to deal with certain quirks before they get to watch the movies they so enjoy, at least if what I experienced is of any indication. Still, for any fan, any and all the movies are great, no matter where they are. There may be some worth getting past the quirks to watch one, but at least the movies remain to please once they get to be watched.

One year ago: Like a Fierce Double Battle

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Much of the things that I and my colleagues do with and around the Pokémon games are directed for the here and now, to make effective use of resources to succeed at the current time. But what about a later time, when we're not going to be necessarily around to do more Pokémon things? That's where the process of leaving a legacy comes in. Of course, the real issue is doing it in a way that it continues or lasts. And that is likely the real challenge.

As I've mentioned in yesterday's anniversary post for my raid group, the group has experienced an influx of new members, some of which have returned to play after a long absence. The problem now is what to be informed to them and how to inform them, since they're likely to carry over the things that we've done. A few people have taken to create and revise FAQs and lists that they can use for reference. This is good, but whether they can make or are making full use of the information is another thing entirely, and this may or may not be happening. It looks like we need to instill all the information so they can process it now and then even pass it on to others later, therefore making the legacy last.

Information is great, but then there are also the efforts that have been done in the games, and those are real legacies to be preserved as well. Thanks to trading in Pokémon Go, now there's a real outlet for lasting legacies to be given to other players, with the hope that they remain as such. I've been given a few of these legacies by a couple of other players, so it becomes my task to keep them as such. Similarly, I've got a few legacies strewn around across older main series Pokémon games, so I've got to remember that I have these and need to keep them as such in some way. Meanwhile, my fellow VGC players have their teams, and while it may be hard for them to be physically preserved for use later, at least every single detail can be recreated somehow, and that's at least a legacy.

For other games, the gameplay is more personal, but there's no reason the same can't be done. I can be considered to be doing it through this blog with the specific tidbits of information that I've detailed. I'm also trying to keep the game progresses alive, though in good condition at the same time. If at all possible, I do want them to be able to be taken up by someone else. This is my legacy, and I do think they could be made to last in the hands of someone capable.

At the least, there are some things that we can do to make sure what we've done in the games last for others to take over once the need arises. Information is a big thing, because what guides players now will be likely to have some use in guiding others later. Then again, it may just be possible to make sure that the actual game progress becomes preserved for someone else, and that would be a good thing too. Legacies are everywhere in the games; the next step is making sure that they're well-left and they last.

One year ago: Cosplay: ACOLYTES 2017

First Anniversary of My Raid Group

The feature of raids in Pokémon Go has only been in for a year and a month, so it would be understandable that any fully organized activities that pertain to the feature would appear only shortly after it was introduced. My local raid group would be no exception, as it recently celebrated its first anniversary. Today I went to the anniversary celebration for it; the actual anniversary was on July 25, four days ago, but no one was free to celebrate on that day, so the celebration took place the following Sunday instead when most people are free.

From what I've been told, this group started out with only a handful of players (as does any group) raiding a select number of Gyms. Today there are over 200 members spread out over a good portion of my area, though many are admittedly inactive or currently active only in select places and times. Even today there were only about 30 people that could come to celebrate, and quite a few senior members ("generals") and junior members alike could not come, citing one reason or another. The good thing is that many of the current regulars were still able to come.

We have a cake!

Today's celebration focused on the aspects of food and fun, and first was the food. Though the food is typical of common celebrations in my area, it still made the occasion special, especially as people could take what they like and however much they like. The final food spectacle of the day is a cake complete with a printed image of the emblem of the local raid group. The print was only a covering, sadly, and not an actual print over the cake, but the cake was great nonetheless.

It's a picnic and a celebration.

The fun element is what happened before and after the celebration with the game. Thanks to the addition of trades, players hit up one another to get a few special things while still gathered. After that, the fun was doing the activity this group is known for, which is raids. Many ended up hitting up a certain group of Gyms that are usually raided, with or without special events. I dare say that this really made players closer.

The ones who joined in the fun. (I'm in blue, near the middle.)

It's hard to believe that my local raid group is one year old, but it is. Though I wasn't in it for about half that time, it still feels special to relate to one another within the time I've been in the group. A lot of things have happened in and out of the game, and they'll continue to happen; it's a blessing that I and the other players have connected with and supported each other through the group.

I look forward to future milestones that I and my local raid group will have.

One year ago: Under 100 Hours?

Figure Photography

Figures, in particular Pokémon figures, are not just meant to be displayed like an exhibit. They can also be photographed by those wielding cameras and photography skills to result in stunning views of the figures. I should note that during last Sunday's figure meeting, this was an activity that was done on the side by some of those who gathered. This leads me to discuss the activity to acknowledge it and point out its merits.

Admittedly, the approaches that are utilized in figure photography are as varied as the figures themselves. Some might try to photograph a single figure from different angles and with different backgrounds. Others might try to take pictures of figures in different orientations and arrangements. Still others might try to intricately arrange and set a number of figures so that they look to scale from one specific angle, photographing that in the process. These are all certainly doable with Pokémon figures as well.

Since I have to show the figures that I get or have for the purpose of this blog, I automatically have to be involved with this activity whenever possible. And in fact, I've done it for a few of the most recent figures I've gotten. I've taken a picture of the Mimikyu figure I got from Sunday's giveaway, and I've also done it for a couple of Pikachu figures I got some months ago. The process and results were simple, but this may also be because the intent is just to focus on the figures, nothing more and nothing less. They suffice in that regard.

That doesn't mean I don't have prospects for what I might be able to do with this in the future. I will certainly take pictures of my figures when I get them and need to show them on this blog, barring anything that makes this prohibitive. A friend had stated that he might be interested in a Pokémon photo project which may be made to involve Pokémon figures, and I'm interested to take part in this as well. And of course, if the figure collectors gather again and I'm able to make it, I'll have to see if I can get in some quality photo time. These are all prospects I look forward to.

Pokémon figure photography is certainly a fun activity, and it's also one that is practically inseparable for any collector of Pokémon figures. I'm certainly happy to participate in it, however the results might turn out. As I collect more and more Pokémon figures, I will be apt to take part in it further. I'm certainly anticipating the future figures that I'll get, as well as whatever approach I'll use to take wonderful pictures of them for this blog and beyond.

One year ago: Modern Games, Retro Flavor

Online Pokémon Newsletters

Having mentioned one of the online Pokémon newsletters that I subscribe to in my post yesterday, I thought it might be worthwhile to review them as well. Since I am a Pokémon fan, I elected to subscribe to them with the expectation that they would be useful, and indeed they are. I've gotten quite a bit of Pokémon information from them than I would if I hadn't otherwise, and I'm glad.

Here are the ones I subscribe to:

PTC Newsletter. This is probably the key newsletter for all Pokémon fans, whether or not they play the main series games - although I'm sure that those who play Go by creating a PTC account will desire it as well. Even so, the newsletter contains info on any and all Pokémon games, as well as occasional anime and merchandise features. There are also interesting tidbits and extra information inserted into the newsletters from time to time, and these are good to know too. Given all of its contents, it really is a key newsletter to subscribe to.

Pokémon Center Newsletter. This one, which I mentioned in the previous post, can actually be considered a supplement to the PTC newsletter, but since the contents are different and more focused, I tend to treat this as its own separate newsletter. As expected, its contents are about a variety of Pokémon merchandise, including but not limited to the games; apparel, figures, dolls, and other kinds of merchandise are often featured in the newsletter. Sometimes, I'm captivated enough to almost make me want to buy them all, which is probably the point of the newsletter. Receiving it is still good even though I may not be able to buy the merchandise.

Pokémon Go Newsletter. Though special events in the game are announced as they happen upon launching the game and can be reviewed through the "News" section in the Poké Ball menu, it's helpful to also obtain information that is accessible outside the game, which is likely the point of this newsletter. I agree, and that's why I also subscribe to this one. It's helpful to have a different and conveniently viewable record of events in the game. Plus, the newsletter contains bonus features, so that is another incentive for subscribing.

These online newsletters are quite helpful. They contain lots of well-presented information for anyone who's really into Pokémon like I am. Certainly, I've become informed through them no matter their content, though obviously they're all related to Pokémon in some way or another. That's a good thing for any fan, so I can't help but recommend them to be subscribed to. I'm sure that I will continue to do so and receive the latest word on Pokémon happenings.

One year ago: Sprites, Models, and Evolutions

Two New Pokémon Center Merchandise Lines

I subscribe to the online Pokémon newsletters that are delivered to my e-mail, so I'm somewhat in the know about more recent happenings, which may be useful for this blog as well. One of those newsletters is the Pokémon Center newsletter, which has some information on the latest Pokémon merchandise. Recently, two new lines had just appeared, and they're fairly eye-catching to me, so I can't help but discuss them.

The first new line has actually been out for a bit of time, and I was thinking of discussing it on its own, but I didn't feel like I could discuss it enough, until now. That new line is the Destination Pokémon line, and this represents a neat blend of classic art and Pokémon sensibility. The line is based on "suitcase stickers", the ones that people stick on their suitcases to show where they've been; in the case of this line, they would be all the regions of the main series games. What is the neatest part of the line is the art, because they all have a retro Art Deco style, even though Pokémon wasn't around when Art Deco was in vogue. It seems anachronistic, but it also works excellently. Everything emblazoned with the art specific to this line seems to make fans get up and go somewhere... or at least revisit and replay the games with certain regions. This line certainly deserves appreciation.

The second new line has just been out, and this one is a little bit (or a whole lot) louder in terms of style - literally. The line is the Electric Rock line, which as can be guessed, is based on rock music in combination with Electric-type Pokémon; even the promotion logo for this evokes a certain classic rock 'n roll band (hint: its name is tied to electric currents - as if the symbolism couldn't get any more deeper). This line also has a base art involving, yes, all the Electric-type "mascots" of all seven generations of Pokémon (Pikachu, Pichu, Plusle/Minun, Pachirisu, Emolga, Dedenne, and Togedemaru) with a few sound-related Pokémon (Zubat, Woobat, Loudred, and Audino) and "metal" ones (Litwick, Magnemite, and *drumroll* Roggenrola) thrown in. It's hardcore, eclectic, cute, and loud all at the same time, which just might be enjoyable to a number of people.

These two lines are cleverly and creatively designed, bringing together pop culture and Pokémon. No wonder I'm attracted to them, as might be the case for a number of Pokémon fans and even those that like things like these but not necessarily Pokémon. I owe thanks to the Pokémon Center newsletter for informing about these merchandise lines, because I might have not known about them otherwise. They're certainly won't be the last ones that will capture my fascination, as long as I'm informed about them.

One year ago: Supporting Doujin and Indie Stuff

World of Pokémon... Media

On various occasions on this blog, I've noted that the world of Pokémon is quite similar to and in some sense parallels the real world. The same could also perhaps be said of media in this world, and it's not hard to see how. Both the games and anime have depicted various forms of media, which are very much alike to, if not exactly the same as, media in the real world. This might seem obvious, of course, but it also deserves some discussion.

Anyone who has seen the very first episode or the 20^th movie knows that the initial battle turns out to be a televised battle, which means that television networks exist in some form; in the first episode, there was also a clip of a documentary. The games also show TVs and TV stations, and the programs are either informative or entertaining. In any case, it can be construed from both that TVs have much the same purpose as the real world in informing and entertaining, though much of television may be Pokémon battle-oriented; lots of them do take place after all in tournaments or otherwise. Yet anything else related to Pokémon is still plausible to be shown.

Radio is another kind of media depicted in Pokémon. In the second-generation games, radio is depicted as a way of delivering verbal information, and also music in a rare case. In the anime, there is one case where radio was involved to deliver information - in a rather different way, but information nonetheless. So while music is quite possible but rare, radio of the Pokémon world is evocative of news and talk radio of the real world; it may be aimed to provide mostly information, though in some sense it may also be entertaining as well or perhaps both at the same time.

It's not hard to expect that there may be print media as well in the Pokémon world. Their contents are not likely to differ from that of the real world, being details on the latest happenings. Newspapers would be apt to discuss deep information and issues on Pokémon, while magazines could cover more fun and lifestyle-related things. Once again, it's all about both/either information and/or entertainment, only it would conceivably concern life as people share it with the monsters and creatures in typical and atypical ways relative to the real world.

Information and entertainment seem to be a core purpose of any media that exist in the real world. People know about and are made pleased by things by way of media. Being that the world of Pokémon is similar to or a parallel of the real world, the media there should do the same, and they appear to do so. Their media appear to be important for matters of creatures as our media appear to be important for our humanly matters.

One year ago: Videophones and Pokémon, Then and Now

The Greatest, Everyday

With good combination
And great communication
Always, high tension
Whoa-oh shalalala, it'll all be all right
With good vibration
Tomorrow, congratulations
Always, revolution
On this road, we'll become a Pokémon Master!
-- "Saikou Everyday", Akiyoshi Fumie (interpreted)

One of the Japanese opening themes for the Pokémon anime that I like is the last one for the Sinnoh saga. Its title, "Saikou Everyday" can be interpreted as "the greatest, everyday"; saikou in Japanese means "best", "highest", "supreme", and so on - it's even part of Japanese slang on the Internet which is tantamount to "cool" - and thus the interpretation is fitting. Its artist, Akiyoshi Fumie, also sung the first opening theme for the saga, so that song and this one "bookends" the saga.

The lyrics of the song are basically an invitation to experience everything and become great in this world, no matter what happens. Good things will happen, and those are surely great. Not-so-good things can happen, but they may also turn out good. In the end, everything is on the path to greatness, especially that of a Pokémon Master, of which this reference is included at the end of the chorus, which is repeated three times. There are quite a few other Pokémon references such as moves and evolution, but then that's normal for a Pokémon song. There's still a unique inspirational quality about this one.

I took that inspirational quality and made a desktop wallpaper with the cover of the single for the song. Actually, this was almost a complete accident. I was playing around with the image of the single cover and stumbled upon a web site that could manipulate images to some extent; I decided to put in the single cover through one of its manipulations, and lo and behold, it looked good - too good not to develop into something further, like a desktop wallpaper. So I ran with the idea and made one.

The middle part is of course the manipulation of the cover; I added the wooden sections on the left and right. Symbolically, the manipulation is like a preserved memory, and the knotted rope is like a bond, both of which may lead to great things. The other additions that I put in are the Pokémon logo on the lower right and the text on the top right; the latter is supposed to emulate the text of the single cover, which due to the image manipulation is cut off, but I consider that a happy accident on the way to greatness.

I say, that's all right, much like the chorus which I've quoted as my interpretation above. I consider Pokémon to be a path where I can achieve greatness, in the same way that Ash took the path of training to become great. I take this inspiration to seek different ways to become great with Pokémon each day, and this is certainly something that any Pokémon fan can do. May it become an inspiration for anyone to become the greatest, everyday.

One year ago: Pokémon School

Pokémon Style Figure Sun & Moon 2 - Mimikyu

As I previously posted on this blog, yesterday I came to a gathering for local Pokémon figure collectors. Aside from coming away from a good meeting with great people who like Pokémon, I came away with a figure courtesy of the giveaway at the end of the meeting. I received a figure that was part of a set of four figures, though in the giveaway there were five, which meant that one in the giveaway was a duplicate. I initially received Primarina, but someone else got Mimikyu and wasn't fond of it and I was less fond of Primarina, so we agreed to trade. As it turns out, the Mimikyu figure isn't half bad.

What I love about this particular figure is that it appears dynamic. The inside part of Mimikyu appears to shoot up on its left and right, and this becomes a "motion" element. The way that it appears as well as its tail sticking out in the back, and to some extent the way its head is tilted, becomes elements of "balance". All these are accomplished although the figure has no movable or detachable parts of any kind, though the fact that its base is flat and wide also helps in this regard. I can see why this series might earn its "Style Figure" moniker.

The colors, as expected from any official figure, are accurate as well as appropriate. If they seem a little drab, that seems OK given the mysterious and spooky characteristic of Mimikyu. As for the size of this figure, it's only about as tall as my pinky finger, but what it lacks for in height, it makes up for in appearance. Again, this might be one thing that contributes to the name "Style Figure", and that's appreciable. This figure looks good from many angles, notwithstanding the fact that the photo above is taken from only one.

I have (mostly) no regrets about coming to yesterday's gathering, and I definitely have none about obtaining this figure, especially since it came as a result of a giveaway. As for the other three figures in the series, I might try to obtain them should I be presented with the opportunity. If they're as every bit as expressive as this one, then I'll be really pleased, as pleased as I am just to have Mimikyu.

One year ago: Cosplay in a Bag

A Gathering of Figure Collectors

I'm always in the search for new Pokémon experiences, and I just had one of those today. I came to a gathering of Pokémon figure collectors in their area. After having seen the promotion for the gathering, I had debated on whether or not I should come, and at the last minute, I decided to come for primarily the reason above. It's a good thing, because it became a pleasant surprise for them. One person in particular had been expecting me to come and meet again after we had met at a theme event last year, so it was just the perfect time.

Nine people came to the gathering, including me. The gathering took place in a quaint meeting place with a mini artificial lawn in the middle of the city, which is neat because it provides an opportunity for all of us to display figures attractively. Since this was a figure meeting, I was prompted to bring something of my own, and I chose to bring Pikachu from the movie mini-figure set, as it was the only one I can conveniently bring without bringing too much. Everyone else brought in a few things from their impressive collection, which becomes more impressive all together.

All the figures lined up.

The gathering revolved not only around Pokémon figures, but everything about Pokémon as well. We discussed the games slightly, including Go, and we also talked about the anime, which is not only a source of entertainment, but also some of our beloved figures. As well, games were also held in order to test our Pokémon knowledge. One of the games was charades to guess the names of Pokémon based on acting; I was surprised to get a few right. Another was picture chains, to guess the names of Pokémon based on what others drew. For that one, I was hit or miss when it came to drawing or guessing. All the games were a riot and revealed how much we enjoyed Pokémon.

Dolls were also guests to the figures.

At the end of the day, there was also a giveaway of certain Pokémon figures. There were eight figures up for grabs, and we decided who got what with a lottery. I was fortunate to get one of the figures, though I did ended up trading with someone who didn't want theirs, and because I wasn't fond of mine as well. I was lucky that my scheduled time to leave was delayed by a few hours, for if it weren't, I wouldn't have been able to participate in the giveaway. It's one thing I'm thankful about for participating in this gathering.

Stuff for the giveaway.

With this gathering, I didn't only meet collectors of Pokémon figures. I also met a bunch of Pokémon fans, some of whom have been with the franchise for as long as I have. That's quite significant; it means that Pokémon has touched the lives of many people, not just mine. Even if they don't play the games to the fullest extent, or even if sometimes the anime seems a bit out of touch, at least they enjoy it because it's Pokémon. I'm inclined to do so as well and I enjoy being in the company of such people.

The ones who gathered. (I'm first from left.)

Overall, this gathering was simply amazing. Due to its far distance, necessitating me to take time out of my day and week, I may or may not be able to attend the subsequent ones. If it so happens that I can do so, then I most likely will. It still constitutes a Pokémon experience that is novel and out of the ordinary from the ones I usually have.

One year ago: I Love Cheap Pokémon Thrills

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 7/21/2018

I have to make a bit of admission. Things have actually been big (and wild) in Pokémon Go lately, but I haven't covered them directly. At the same time, they're also repetitive and can be considered side effects of bigger things. All things considered, they're worthy of some discussion regardless, which is why it's a perfect time to make one of these rollups to regard what has gone on.

The big thing now is the Pokémon Go Summer Tour, which is a series of three events held in three major locations for Pokémon Go and includes this year's edition of Pokémon Go Fest. The first event was a Safari Zone event in Germany that served Europe. That's big for the ones who can come, but so are the side effects for everyone else. As Trainers around the world and in the event complete Research Tasks, they also unlock experience-related bonuses for an entire week and a special raid event: Articuno Day. After previously appearing as Field Research Breakthroughs for June, the Legendary bird returned to raids... for a three-hour period and in a special manner - ALL Gyms were locked for three hours for Articuno raids. This was the event that initiated the raid marathon two weeks ago, and it really did catch me and my raid group off guard. Even then, it was successful and provided a clue for the next one.

The second event of the Summer Tour was the Go Fest for North America. Similarly, by the completion of Research Tasks all around, bonuses related to Candies and Eggs are unlocked for an entire week, as well as Zapdos Day, which was in fact today. Zapdos likewise was Field Research Breakthroughs in May, so it was another return. The mechanics were exactly the same as Articuno Day with all Gyms locked for raids for three hours. Knowing this, my raid group made plans and routes that would cover as many Gyms as possible for raids. Some were more successful than others, though, and while I caught all of the Zapdos I raided, I was limited by how many Raid Passes I could devote to them, among other things. What was even better was that this raid united new players that recently joined and even reunited me with a friend, who also returned to play Go. The third event has not yet happened, but it will certainly reward Moltres Day... which would be for another event rollup.

Speaking of Field Research Breakthroughs, while April was Moltres (as I mentioned when they first appeared) and May and June were as above, this month is somewhat different: the Breakthrough is for Snorlax with a "legacy move set", including the move Body Slam. This is both questionable because it broke a run of three Legendary Pokémon, and understandable because it does give a break to some extent. I still manage to complete them to reap the rewards while hoping the one for next month will have a more excellent reward.

It really has been big and wild in Pokémon Go, and yet that's not all of it. The wild run will continue for at least the next month, and it may even be wilder still. So before things get too wild, they have to be pinned down for at least the current time. They'll at least be insightful however big and wild things in the game progresses.

One year ago: My Favorite LINE Pokémon Stickers So Far

(Routine or Special) Local Ex-Raid, 7/20/2018

Depending on how players perceive them, Ex-Raids can be a routine thing or still be a special thing. It can be routine once a player has experienced many of them, yet it can also be a special thing since even players may or may not regularly experience them due to the effort needed for partaking in one. I myself have been in 10 of these since I started to partake in them, and I can say it's both; it's routine because it's trivial to get to participate in one and special because it doesn't always happen for me (notably, including one for this game's second anniversary). The same can be said of today's Ex-Raid for both qualities.

There were a number of things that made the Ex-Raid this time routine. The "qualification" for this one was a simple one that occurred while I was out doing some errands and made some time to play; I only needed to raid the place where the Ex-Raid happens to get one, and sure enough, I got my Ex-Raid Pass off of a fortunate Manectric. From then on it was only a matter of reporting to my raid group that I got one and the division of battle flights with the rest of the players that got one as well. And then when the day came, I only needed to battle as scheduled before having the chance of capturing Mewtwo; both were smooth and successful, though it seems I got the short end of the shaft again as my Mewtwo was not very strong. Given all of these, it really does sound like it's a routine thing.

The Mewtwo in question.
(Sorry, no photo. Everyone quickly disappeared.)

Yet this Ex-Raid was special in a number of ways. Prior to this, my raid group had quite expanded with a handful of new members, so they were informed about Ex-Raids and how to "qualify" for one, and indeed some of them did, which made this their first one. While I wasn't able to oversee their performance, I can only assume that it went well. Another thing that made this one special is that this was not the only Ex-Raid in my area; a Gym some distance away which appears possible for hosting an Ex-Raid "broke through" and hosted one, at exactly the same time. Thus some of the players who would usually participate in the usual place got their Ex-Raid Passes and participated there instead. This seems to bode well for the expansion of Ex-Raids in my area, and that is a special thing indeed, as are the other things.

Ex-Raids will continue to happen for a fact, and that alone makes them routine, especially for those in the know, like most everyone in my raid group. But then again, efforts have to go into one to partake in one and make them successful, and this evokes a special quality. However they're regarded, they're still something to deal with, and if they're dealt with properly, the results can be amazing, no matter how routine or special they are. May they remain both, especially in my case.

One year ago: On Pokémon Promotional Toys

Fast Moves and Charged Moves

Those who play Pokémon Go will have realized that every Pokémon has only two moves, which is quite a departure from the games that allow up to four. The two moves are actually quite distinct, and they have their own terminology. The first of the listed moves is what is known as a "Fast Move", and the second is what is known as a "Charged Move". I've actually mentioned these two terms on two occasions of past Community Days, so it would help to elucidate about them.

Fast Moves are the moves that Pokémon primarily use to attack. In Gyms as regular battles and raid battles, as currently the only two situations in Go where Pokémon can battle, Fast Moves are executed by tapping almost anywhere on the screen. Continuous tapping leads to a barrage of the Fast Move, which also fills up a gauge. When the gauge is filled up, the Charged Move can be used by tapping its button. The gauge does not need to be completely filled to use a Charged Move, unless the Charged Move is a one-segment gauge, in which case it does; a Charged Move of two or three segments can be used as soon as a segment is filled. Usage of a Charged Move drains the gauge by a segment, which can then be filled again by executing the Fast Move - multiple segments mean multiple uses. Usage of Fast Moves and Charged Moves determines how a battle plays out.

As with the game's main series counterpart, Fast Moves and Charged Moves of Pokémon may be changed through the use of TMs, of which two kinds exist, Fast TMs and Charged TMs respectively. Unlike the main series games, there are no specific TMs for specific moves; instead, the two types of TMs change the moves of a Pokémon randomly out of a specific pool of moves. This means that it may be necessary to use one kind of TM multiple times until a Pokémon learns a desired move. In the case of Community Days and certain events, the two TMs cannot be used to teach a Pokémon the special move, and thus the Pokémon must have been evolved or otherwise caught to have the special move - accordingly, the special moves are lost forever if a TM is used on them. The two kinds of TMs may be earned out of raids and more recently out of certain Field Research tasks, necessitating efforts in either if one wishes to earn them for use.

Moves are important in any Pokémon game that features them, and Pokémon Go is no different. Though the moves in the game are no different than that of the main series games, the way they are implemented is different enough that they warrant some understanding. They're what makes the gameplay in battle distinctively rapid and unlike other Pokémon games, lending them a quality of importance, especially for anyone who wishes to achieve success with the game.

One year ago: Movie Times

The Eevee Identity

One of my raid fellows in my raid group asked a neat question today, to say the least. The question was "Is Eevee a dog or a cat?" Or, to elaborate the question further, is Eevee doglike or catlike? Though there is not really an official answer, the best answer seems to be that Eevee (and its evolutions) have traits of both. It seems to be a good answer, considering how this is evident in the forms.

In regard to Eevee itself, there are some things to consider. Eevee has traits that are similar to its four-legged counterparts in real life: paws with pink pads, big pointy ears, big beady eyes, and a fluffy body and tail. Some of these, like the fluffy tail and ears, are evocative of the family of cats, while the paws and pads plus eyes seem evocative of the family of dogs. And yet, the pointy ears may also evoke rabbits and the fluffy tail may also evoke raccoons. With this mishmash of similarities, it might seem hard to pin anything down, until it is realized that Eevee begets a number of other forms that more resemble one animal than another. It would seem that it becomes appropriate for Eevee to have this mixture of anatomies.

As for its evolutions, they appear to start to differentiate into feline and canine groups; Espeon, Flareon, Glaceon, Sylveon, and Vaporeon notably appear more feline, while Umbreon, Jolteon, and Leafeon seem to appear more canine. The differentiators are once again their respective body parts, where the ears become more lobed and tails become longer in the feline group, while the ears remain pointy and tails remain short in the canine group. Given Eevee's relative ambiguity, it makes sense that the evolutions would resolve the ambiguous parts and present more indicative creature forms. The ambiguity just affirms that Eevee is a creature that can change in different ways to become different creatures.

Eevee remains a thing of wonder with all its possible evolutions. It can become something that's more like a cat or more like a dog, even more so than what it originally was. This becomes something to keep in mind if Eevee's anatomy seems ambiguous and indicative of different animals. Out of that ambiguity, there comes other creature forms that are just as wondrous as the original creature, and that's a neat thing indeed.

One year ago: Only One Save File

Rearranged Pokémon Music

As I am a fan of all things Pokémon, I am automatically a fan of its music as well, as some previous posts on this blog can attest. Pokémon music spans the gamut from the games to the anime, in a variety of moods and genres. However, as much as this is a great deal of variety, I also like that it can be even more varied. One of the ways that it can be made to be so is to rearrange existing Pokémon music with different characteristics like instrumentation and style.

It should be noted that a good deal of Pokémon music has been rearranged and exists on the Internet as remixes. While it is true that the remixes are rearrangements as well, the term "remix" tends to connote the involvement of electronics like computers and devices to make music, which isn't bad. It's a given, considering that Pokémon started life as an electronic video game. The rearrangements I'm considering are those that utilize physical musical instruments rather than electric or electronic ones.

One of the ways that the music can be rearranged is with an orchestra. This has happened at least once in the past with a certain video game concert featuring, as one of the pieces, a Pokémon medley. The medley is well-arranged and representative of Pokémon as a whole. It also exceptionally stands out on its own as a separate piece. It does, however, seem to face stiff competition from other pieces featuring other games. What I would enjoy is a concert featuring all Pokémon music, but separated into specific arrangements for specific pieces. It might seem a bit hard to conceive, but the results might be excellent.

Another way of rearranging Pokémon music is with a marching band. This too has happened at least once with a marching band at a halftime show of a (gridiron) football game - which is exactly what I envision. The only thing is that like the video game concert, it was also as a medley, this time with other music from other games. This situation is conceivably shorter than a full concert, so a medley is almost a necessity. Yet it is here too that the Pokémon element can be increased, even to occupy the full period of the halftime show. It would be something to behold.

Pokémon is undoubtedly also rich in musical content, but like other things that feature a great number of musical pieces, the music may be rearranged in various ways, even outside of an electronic context, for which Pokémon is so inherently connected to. That's a quite exciting prospect for a greater variety of things to listen to, especially if they can be well-crafted like the examples above. I'm personally ready to enjoy and listen to 'em all.

One year ago: How Far Do People Know Pokémon?

Daily Tasks

Every game has certain things that need to be done in order to succeed. In some games, there are even things that can and should be done on a daily basis as a daily task. Pokémon games have these kinds of thing as well, in particular the more recent mobile(-oriented) members. Since I play these games, I'm inclined to complete them as well so that I can further succeed.

The simplest daily task is for Shuffle, and that is its check-in task. By checking in each day, 500 Coins can be obtained, although every 10 check-ins, this reward is doubled to 1000 Coins. Originally, this task only gave out Coins, but since a big update earlier this year, this task gave out useful items as well. There is a list of 15 items, and each one is stamped as they are received. When all the items have been received, the next check-in clears all the stamps and the items are given out again starting from the first one. It was incredibly useful in the past, and it's even more useful now, which is why I make the effort to check in every single day.

The most complex daily task would be for Go, since this one actually consists of a series of daily tasks. A streak is kept for catching at least one Pokémon each day as well as spinning a PokéStop or Gym; the streaks are kept for seven days, at which point they give out major bonuses and are reset. Since the addition of Research tasks, there is another kind of daily task, which is to claim a single Field Research task every day for seven days in order to be able to catch a special Pokémon (a "Research Breakthrough"). As an implication of this, there is also the practical necessity of spinning a PokéStop to get a Field Research task that can be completed either the same day or a later day to maintain continuity. All these daily tasks stack up on each other, which makes them as complicated as they are convenient.

Though these daily tasks are for the games that explicitly have them, the concept could be considered to extend to other games. Magikarp Jump does not have a daily task per se, but many parts of it "recharge" at least once a day, which makes it necessary to "deplete" them so that they may be available again the next day. For those engrossed in VGC, there may be the necessity to partake in Battle Spot battles each day, if only for the reason to practice and see how a team progresses. These aren't really daily tasks, but they could conceivably be ones for those who play.

For those who like playing Pokémon games, many of the parts are attractive to be played every day. Daily tasks like these make them even more attractive (even, addictive) to be played. They're only a small part of success, but over many days, they can lead to big successes, especially with regular gameplay. At the least, they're incentives to play Pokémon each day, no matter what game is played.

One year ago: Flying Quirks of Charizard

Mew @ Everywhere

One of the great things about Pokémon Go is its AR feature, which allows a player to actually catch Pokémon as they appear in the real world with the help of the device's camera. The feature also allows pictures to be taken of Pokémon with their actual surroundings. With a little patience and some effort, one can conceivably build up a collection of pictures. One case in particular is helped by the addition of research tasks, in particular the first Special Research task set featuring Mew.

It was theorized by someone on the Internet that one could, after completing all research tasks and obtaining the chance to encounter Mew, keep Mew not captured for an indefinite period of time and use it as a "virtual photo box", taking a shot of it in many places and various settings. Because of this, I have dubbed it as a project titled "Mew @ Everywhere". This was a project that I and another person in my raid group took on after we both had completed all the required tasks leading up to the Mew encounter. To say the least, it's an interesting project to take on after all the previous challenging research tasks that we had to complete.

For other Pokémon, AR mode is optional; they may be captured with or without AR. Mew, however, is different: it must be captured with AR mode on, and will initiate AR upon encounter, regardless of prior setting. This wasn't really a challenge, so much as what happens afterwards. Within a few seconds after encounter, Mew turns "invisible" until the Poké Ball provided for its capture - the only one, which never disappears - is thrown in its direction, which isn't exactly the point of this project. Therefore the best way to capture a shot with Mew visible in it is during the first few seconds of initiating the encounter, which takes some quick motions. Of course, the encounter may be restarted by running away, then going into the capture challenge again, which might be necessary in some circumstances. This was what we took advantage of for the project.

After taking on the project, I was able to take shots of Mew in 20 places that most represent the point of this project, which is to go to many places to take photos of Mew. Mew seems at home in a hut I found:

Mew also likes a quaint local park in the neighborhood:

At a post office, Mew is content to hang out:

The market is a cool place for Mew:

As well, Mew seems to show an interest in some books:

These are 5 of those 20 places that I took pictures of Mew in. The rest of the shots I took can be seen in a photo gallery at this link, as hosted on my OneDrive. As for this project, it has ended; shortly after I took my last photo, I threw the Poké Ball at Mew, capturing it and completing the Special Research. The next Special Research is most likely for the Mythical Pokémon Celebi, and the same technique should be perfectly applicable, so this will likely lead into a "Celebi @ Everywhere" project.

This kind of project is by no means limited to Mew, but it does seem very special to do it with Mew, given that it appears in a unique manner and only one can be obtained. It's something unique that can be done using the AR feature in Pokémon Go, and helped by research. With a little luck and some know-how, it really might not be hard to think that Mew is actually everywhere.

One year ago: What Kind of Pokémon Are You?

Spending on Pokémon

A stunning fact was revealed recently on how people play Pokémon, in particular how people spend for Pokémon. Data for in-game purchases on Pokémon Go indicate that the top two spenders for items are the United States and Japan - being first and second respectively - while all other countries spend one-fifth of what they spend, or even less. While this spending data is only limited to Pokémon Go, it may help to give an indication of how people spend for Pokémon in general.

If anything, this helps to indicate that Pokémon is big not only in its home country of Japan, but also the United States. People and players in both countries will spend a lot on Pokémon games and stuff beyond those games, due to its sheer popularity. This massive spending also sustains things like tournaments and merchandise, which leads to even more spending. It seems that this cycle will remain as such, as long as interest remains high.

But even outside these two areas, there is indication that spending on Pokémon is considerably high. Australia wouldn't have its VGC tournaments if it weren't for spending by players, which would also be the case for non-Japanese East Asian countries. Germany, which took a distant third in Pokémon Go spending, similarly wouldn't have its special event if it weren't for the money raked in. Here too, there is high interest which leads to high spending.

What does this mean for countries on the lesser end of the scale? It does seem to mean that spending is low, but it's a relative thing, because there are not as many people and there are not as many fans of Pokémon. Interest may be high, but only among Pokémon fans. So they may spend a lot, but the paucity of people makes it seem low. This may only become significant if the numbers of fans increase.

Thus it may not be the amount of spending that's important, but the people and interest that contribute to that spending. Anywhere in the world, there are sure to be fans of Pokémon, in particular those of high interest in it. Those fans will be sure to furnish high amounts of money no matter what. It's just a matter of how they relate to each other, and how this relates to Pokémon in general for everyone.

One year ago: A Pokémon Forum Persona

Losing and Finding Links

Today, I almost lost a friend. That friend of mine had been showing signs that indicated depression of some kind, which would not be the first time, as I recall from conversations I had with that friend a long time ago. After a few attempts to get in touch, I was relieved to hear that my friend was fine and well, though in a slight quagmire. Now, while my friend also likes Pokémon to some extent, it's more of an appreciation rather than an immersive enjoyment like mine, which is why I cared in part. This also led me to consider other situations of losing and finding links, in particular in relation to Pokémon.

Some time ago, I was presented with a hypothetical situation: what if a person could go to the fantasy world of their dreams, but lose all connections - friends, relatives, and so on - from the real world? For myself personally, this situation would entail the world of Pokémon. Yet it's also a weighty situation, were it to be realized. It would almost be like what could have happened to my friend in the case that I wouldn't have known about it. Actually, it's not hard to think about this situation, as this is almost the situation that becomes the pretext to the Mystery Dungeon games: someone gets lost and reappears as a Pokémon, though the origin is unspecified, whether from the same world or another. In any case the loss still occurs, which must be (and in fact is) a bit painful to bear.

As the games progress, though, it becomes evident that links are easy to find with other Pokémon. This perhaps offsets the prior loss to a certain extent. Thus if the hypothetical situation were to occur to me, things might turn out in the same way, as I'd find new links in place of my old ones. But there is still the indication that things are weighty on either side, especially if the situation appears to be about to happen again. It seems the hypothetical situation is not something one should wish to forcefully happen or anyone wish to happen on someone else. But when things just have to happen and they are not preventable, then it's time to let them take place.

Today's situation could be considered a more severe predicament than one that occurred two months ago or one that occurred almost a year ago. Even so, they're all sentimental - they concern people and the relationships and feelings between them. Pokémon adds further spice to these situations and makes them more perceptible.

Things would be different if my friend and I didn't connect even in a small way through Pokémon. But we do - or at least I do perceive it - and that's what led me to address it. It may very well be a good thing that we found each other. A loss, even a forced one, would be likely tough to bear for either of us.

One year ago: Strategy Guides and My Pokémon Experience

Exploring Dual Types

In many Pokémon games, many Pokémon are regarded as having two types. It means that the Pokémon concerned have qualities that allow them to have the capabilities of both types. This is a unique characteristic, and yet, it's something that isn't fully fleshed out in some respects, especially considering the entire breadth of all Pokémon species to date. It's a characteristic that is worthy of some exploration and consideration.

Currently, there are 18 types of Pokémon. Since a Pokémon cannot have more than one of the same type, there are thus 153 possible dual-type combinations. It seems that this number might be covered by all the 800+ current species, but the reality is that this isn't the case. Many Pokémon are of a single type, and quite a few are of a common dual type combination. It might take a fairly long time to explore all of these possibilities, but at the same time, the sensibilities of the combinations might hinder this.

Many dual-type combinations seem reasonable, which might also explain their popularity. Grass/Poison is a common one, being possessed by Bulbasaur and its kin, Bellsprout and its kin, and Roselia to name a few; some plants in real life may be toxic, and so this combination makes sense. Flying/Water is another reasonable one as many things that (can seem to) fly have relations with water, though in the case of Wingull it might be more of the former, Gyarados might be of the latter, and Ducklett is neutral. Rock/Ground combinations are also well-known through the Geodude and Rhyhorn families, making sense due to the close association of both.

Then there are combinations that are odd and make less sense, seemingly explaining their paucity. Water/Fire is an odd combination due to their opposing qualities, yet Volcanion represents this combination; it wouldn't have been the first had some Pokémon in the GS beta version survived to the final version. It's hard to imagine Grass/Steel being a combination due to the former being organic and the latter being inorganic, but this is exactly what Ferroseed and Ferrothorn has. There's a certain physical contrast between the Fighting and Ghost types, and yet they are one in Marshadow.

Dual-type Pokémon are still useful, at least for their way of adding variety to the breadth of Pokémon species. Some of the dual-type combinations might also excel in battle one way or another, no matter how sensible or odd. It may be safe to say that this is still something to be explored, perhaps until every combination has been encountered. At that point, it can be said that this characteristic is truly unique, as if it isn't already so with existing possibilities.

One year ago: "Don't Fear Failure!"

The Wonders of Weather in Go

One of the more enigmatic of features currently present in Pokémon Go is dynamic weather, which I've only mentioned indirectly in an earlier post, and as I've mentioned in this year's anniversary post for the game, is something which has not been discussed at length here. And yet, it's one that affects gameplay, perhaps to a significant effect in certain circumstances, so it does deserve such a discussion to point out what happens and what it means for gameplay in general.

Weather in Pokémon Go is roughly based on the local weather that is displayed in the Weather app of a smartphone (which is most likely from accuweather.com). Weather in the game is also updated hourly, which also means it may change at the same rate. In rare situations, a player may happen upon the boundaries of two areas with different weather, but this is indeed rare. The current weather is indicated at the top-right of the screen with an icon, which gives more information when tapped; the information screen also gives access to a "report weather" feature should the weather appear inaccurate to the real-world weather.

Weather affects the game by primarily affecting certain types of Pokémon. The possible weather and affected types are Sunny (Fire, Grass, Ground), Partly Cloudy (Normal, Rock), Cloudy (Fairy, Fighting, Poison), Rain (Bug, Electric, Water), Windy (Dragon, Flying, Psychic), Snow (Ice, Steel), and Fog (Dark, Ghost). During certain weather, Pokémon of the affected types tend to appear in greater number and are also "boosted" - they are stronger to be captured and also in battle. This last bit is important because weather may be exploited so that certain Pokémon may be used more effectively in battle and that raid bosses are stronger during the bonus capture.

Because of weather, it may be possible for a well-designed team to lay waste to a number of Gyms while in a specific weather, or deliver a significant amount of blows during raid battles, perhaps enabling greater results to be achieved with fewer people playing. In turn, certain events (like Water Festival and Community Day) may also be benefited with certain kinds of weather, increasing the number of available Pokémon to be captured as well as their strength. How players can take advantage of certain weather situations is up to them individually as well as their groups.

The weather system in Pokémon Go is simple, but it has far-reaching consequences for gameplay, one that players may take advantage of in order to obtain the best possible results. With the system being of such nature, it becomes an important one for any player, especially to keep in mind as they play. It's a useful reminder, even for myself. The system remains as a source of enigmatic wonder for all players involved in the game.

One year ago: Going Back to the NDS

The Currencies of Magikarp Jump

Many mobile or mobile-like games (like Pokémon Shuffle) feature in-game currencies of some sort, which players can accrue in order to spend for useful items and power-ups in the game. The same is true of the game Magikarp Jump, which I've found to be particularly addictive. It too has its own currency system for items and power-ups - two of them, in fact. The two have their own intricacies over the course of the game's progression.

The first of these two systems are Coins, which are purely obtained in-game as a result of progression. Notably, these are obtained after league battles, as level-up bonuses, and from certain random events. Coins that are accumulated can be used to purchase (or rather, unlock) new Berries and treats as well as training regimens, which are themselves made available after reaching certain Trainer Ranks. After they are purchased, they can then be upgraded by spending more Coins, making their effects more significant. These purchases are useful and border on necessary for swifter progress later on.

The second of these two systems are Diamonds, which can be obtained in-game by progression or by spending real money through the game's shop. Although opportunities for the former do exist, they can be few and far between, and may not reward much, which then leaves the latter as an option. And yet, spending of real money for Diamonds is also limited: the game no longer allows it after reaching 5000 purchased Diamonds, leaving the rest to be obtained through progression. Diamonds, meanwhile, are used to purchase friendship items (which then attract assist Pokémon), decorations, and other helpful items (including Coins), or to pay a "retry fee" to fish for another Magikarp while obtaining a new one. Their paucity and necessity makes careful spending a must.

Although not really considered "currencies", there are two items that almost act like one. One of them, Support Candies, which are earned through item upgrades and progression, may be used to upgrade Pokémon skills. The other is Exchange Tickets, which are only obtained through purchase of Diamonds at a 1:1 rate; these are used to get bonus items and Coins, as well as to unlock the Diamond Miner feature, which allows to get 100 Diamonds a day. They are otherwise items to be used.

Any player that wishes to get ahead in Magikarp Jump has to take advantage of these two currency systems, managing them well in the process to ensure that the greatest possible benefits are obtained. Depending on their willingness and cash reserves, a player may also spend to obtain helpful advancements through the two systems. In either case, players are guaranteed some fishy times while making progress through the challenges of the game.

One year ago: My Trusty NDS and Pokémon Games

Cosplay Cards

Last week, I came away from what is arguably one of the biggest events for cosplay in the country. Thus, it also becomes a venue and occasion where cosplayers from various places can interact with one another. Knowing this was so, I had to take advantage of this to interact with as many cosplayers as possible. One of the ways I do this is with the help of a "cosplay card", which is essentially a name card used by cosplayers to identify themselves. In the case of my cosplay, I can make it relevant with a Pokémon theme as well.

My personal history with this goes back to when I was frequently in contact with a certain group of cosplayers. One of them mentioned the use of these cards when interacting with other cosplayers, and how this helps in that regard: all the connections that were made were assisted with the information on the cards, whether given to or received from others. It was this that got me inspired to make one of my own to assist in my cosplay efforts, especially my Pokémon ones.

My card has gone through a few versions. The first one I made featured photos of the only two costumes I had and a fair bit of the contact info that I had, in a monotone design. The second version had even more photos of my costumes and a more refined design. By the time it came to make a third version, I knew that with all the Pokémon costumes I have, I ought to make a Pokémon-oriented one, and the result is the one as seen here. The intent was to have this slightly resemble the Mystery Gift screen of the main series games, though I have to say it turned out a little darker than I thought. I intend to revise this slightly in the next one and add the SM version of Ash as well, the only one I did not have at the time I made this one.

For these cards to really work, I need to have my most-frequently used contact methods so that others can contact me through various channels. As for the usage itself, I find that these cards are best reserved for other cosplayers as the primary targets of the cards, photographers or other people connected to various media, or any other people that I may want or need to get in touch with. People other than them tend to not make use of the cards, which in a way is quite a shame and counter-intuitive to their function. The fact remains that I have to be quite selective of the people I give these cards to.

On the whole, these cards are still useful for myself as a cosplayer in that they help to establish contact wherever I go with my cosplay and to whoever I choose to relate. I find that all the things I was told about these cards are true, after having created and distributed them. It's also just another thing through which I can express my appreciation for Pokémon, which for me is a good thing indeed. I do and will continue to support the use of these cards in all my cosplay efforts, in particular when they involve Pokémon.

One year ago: Ghosty and Me

Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/8/2018

Community Day for Pokémon Go this month returned, and this time it had some surprises. First up is the schedule of the event: if Community Day is typically held closer to the middle of the month, this time it was held closer to the beginning of the month. Thus the preparation that usually happens within a comfortable few weeks just after the previous one is cut by about a week. At the same time, thanks to the Water Festival event a month ago, the preparation was helped somewhat. A minor note is that Community Day was back on Sunday, which makes it somewhat clear that there is a bi-monthly cycle of the Community Days being on Saturdays and Sundays.

The reason that the Water Festival helped prepare for today is that this Community Day featured the Pokémon Squirtle, the last of the three first-generation starters that haven't been in one. Since the Bulbasaur and Charmander Community Days featured their "super moves" as exclusives for their final evolution forms, it wasn't hard to guess the move for this month, which would be Hydro Cannon for Blastoise. This comes along with the bonus of reduced Egg hatching distances, as well as Shiny forms and extended Lure Modules as usual.

This time, things were also a little different. In addition to the Shiny forms, some Squirtle caught during the timeframe of the Community Day wore sunglasses, in a nod to the Squirtle Squad of the anime - though the sunglasses remarkably looked like normal round glasses instead of with jagged edges. In particular, these Squirtle were obtained through research tasks, which changed: instead of "catch-3", they became "catch-5", with the reward being said Squirtle; some research tasks also weren't "catch-5" for added variety. Thus, there were now four forms to look for, which were normal Squirtle, normal with sunglasses, Shiny Squirtle, and Shiny with sunglasses.

The changes in details really benefited those who sought quests and walked, as in the case of a few of the past Community Days I participated in. The plan was thus no different than those: spread Lure Modules, walk, catch Pokémon, seek research tasks, hatch Eggs. It was quite fun this time around too, as there was an even larger group of people participating, helped by recent inclusions into my raid group. The nature of the Community Day, though, led many to scatter before meeting up again, which seems to be fine. Aside from a few hiccups midway, the event also seemed to progress just fine, which meant no extensions were necessary. I wasn't able to catch just a plain Shiny Squirtle, but I did catch many of the other three, managing to evolve four into Blastoise with the exclusive move.

With all of the things involved in this month's Community Day, they show that the event is surprisingly expansible and can be made to be more worthwhile. It's hard not to expect that the same things may be included in future editions to make them even more so. In the meantime, I'm happy with my stock of starters from this and the other Community Days featuring them, and the others stand to feel the same way with good participation. The next ones should be great as well, if not greater.

One year ago: Pursuing Shiny?

...However Things Turn Out

Pokémon is quite appealing for me, to be sure. It's something I'm involved with, day in and day out. However, sometimes things don't turn out as well as they should, and I end up in a less-than-perfect position. But I assuredly will still be in a position to enjoy Pokémon no matter what happens, because of my attraction to it. This is the case with a couple of things that took place today.

This weekend is actually the big conclusion to the local series of VGC tournaments, of which the previous online tournaments are a part of. Of course, the big conclusion shouldn't be online, so it has to be a live one where people actually meet. And it is, but it also has to take place in a major setting in a major city, to which I can't really go - or rather, I just went to for a different big outing, and I've returned since then. It would be prohibitive to go back, and in fact, things were generally that way: I had sudden business to attend to, which in effect prevented travel or any useful effort to prepare for the tournament. Unlike last year, there wasn't really a way for me to personally contribute financially, so the only thing I could do is to participate, if at all able, and I wasn't. I'm bummed that I can't, but things are the way they are. VGC remains of some interest to me as a key part of Pokémon, and I may see this fulfilled later.

Luckily, Pokémon Go was able to fill the void today with an unusual case of a raid marathon that lasted for three hours. There had been much speculation beforehand on how things would go, but all speculation was eliminated once the unusual case revealed itself. On the whole, the raids themselves were quite successful, but they did overload my item storage and took out a good chunk of my reserved Premium Raid Passes. Moreover, the raids allowed the possibility of a Shiny form to be captured, and although I did capture one, it wasn't high enough - even, low enough - to win a contest of my local raid group. This too is disappointing, but it can't be helped either. Go remains a dynamic and sociable Pokémon game, and I did enjoy some of those today.

The turn of events I had today may have not had appealing results, but at least they have not done much to decrease my appeal for Pokémon. Perhaps the appeal I'm looking for isn't found here, but elsewhere. Things may have turned out the way they did today, but I can't say the same for the next. What I can say that is the same is that I'll still be attracted to Pokémon for a considerable time, however things turn out.

One year ago: Shiny Stories

Pokémon Go 2nd Anniversary

Last year, I wrote about the first anniversary of Pokémon Go (see below). Back then, I wasn't able to play the game - or rather, was in-between plays - so I wrote about my experiences instead. Fast-forward one year to its second anniversary, and I'm not only back to playing the game, I've also advanced much further along the way, and have even written quite a bit about it on this blog. A lot has happened since then, and it's always worthwhile to recap things.

Perhaps the most successful feature added has been raids, although this one came just a little before that, and it's something that I've already discussed in greater depth. The addition of the third-generation Pokémon and Alola Forms is just as big as well and something important, thanks to the way that they radically expanded the game; weather too plays a part in that, even though it's something I haven't fully discussed. If new Gyms and raids were last year's "fledgling features", for this year's anniversary, that honor would belong to friends, gifts, and trading - it remains to be seen how far they'll advance the game. It might just very well be a lot.

Meanwhile, because I'm playing the game, now I'm aware of special things that are in place for this special time. What is certain currently is that Pikachu is in on the action with increased appearance, and with special accessories for it: a straw hat and sunglasses. Pichu and Raichu don't seem to be far behind as well. Pikachu-themed fashion is also available in the game's shop as well for those who wish to get lively with the occasion. And the good part is that things will last up until the end of this month, so there's plenty of time to take things in.

Speaking of taking things in, this occasion could be personally a bit more festive for me; there was a local Ex-Raid today, but I didn't qualify for one because I couldn't get a chance. It might have been for the better anyway, because the Ex-Raid was an evening one (6 PM) and by absolute coincidence, the night is also somewhat cold, so it was perhaps not so good to be out and about in the evening and into the night. Plus, the next couple of days are going to be busy considering what the game has in store, and many of my fellow players seem to be locking down for that.

Everything is still good. In last year's post, I was hoping that I'd re-encounter and play the game, and that has come true. It would then be expected, of course, that I write about it on this blog, but that's OK; this blog is about satisfying Pokémon experiences and telling people about them, and if some of those come from Go, then that's no problem. It's just as Pokémon as anything else that comes up on this blog. For an all-around fan like me, it's quite pleasing, and that's certainly true with all the things involved in this anniversary of this particular game.

Happy 2^nd anniversary to Pokémon Go.

One year ago: Pokémon Go One-Year Anniversary

Variegated Pokémon Patterns

Here's something good that may be considered: despite their seemingly invariant appearance, Pokémon may be more varied than they actually appear, and may be so in a variety of patterns. I've already discussed the big word in the title before, and what applies there applies here too. Some Pokémon may - and in fact do - allow for a greater variety of appearances, but this may conceivably apply generally as well.

Insights can be taken from the Pokémon that already do vary in patterns. The Pokémon Spinda has only one pattern, being beige with brown spots, but the brown spots vary in size and shape from one to another. Vivillon is the one that is perhaps best known for its multitude of patterns, some of which are radically different from others. If Magikarp Jump is to be believed, then Magikarp too can be considered to have its own multitude of patterns, mimicking those of a real koi fish. And while not strictly a natural occurrence, all the cuts of Furfrou could be considered different patterns too.

These specific considerations lead to overall considerations for other Pokémon species. One is that a Pokémon need not have specific patterns to vary, but may vary in the typical coloration of or features present on its body, as with Spinda. May's Bulbasaur in the anime hints at this with a vaguely heart-shaped spot on its forehead; other Pokémon like Electabuzz (with its stripes, as a specific example) could have the possibility of at least slightly varied coloration and features. Another is that some Pokémon may just be able to adapt and generate totally different appearances, as with Vivillon. There may just be a possibility of a Voltorb adapting, for example, and changing its appearance to look like a Great Ball rather than a Poké Ball. The former might seem more likely and the second might seem more remote, but both seem reasonable nonetheless.

Not all Pokémon have to vary among themselves, of course, but based on the state of things, a few do, and it's not hard to think up of others that could do so in various ways. Much depends on their appearances, but the possibility for variegation may just be there, even if it's not immediately evident. It would perhaps be spectacular to see even more of these variations - it would just another way that they demonstrate how further different Pokémon are, in light of the way they typically look.

One year ago: I Side with Pokémon

Metal Reversed Cap Pikachu Keychain

As a fan of Pokémon and related things to it, I love getting all sorts of merchandise. One thing I'm a little less keen about is getting duplicate merchandise, and if it did happen, I'd have to figure out what to do with it. That was almost what happened when I got a certain piece of merchandise, again from Sunday's big event. I got it almost without thinking, and I realized after I got it that it bore similarity to one that I'd previously gotten. Fortunately, I checked my records - this blog - and found that it was only similar, not an exact duplicate. All the same, the item also deserves some discussion.

The composition of the item is nearly identical: Pikachu is present wearing a cap, and it is present attached to a chain along with a Poké Ball. The most important detail, however, is that the cap is worn reversed instead of with the visor forward, obscuring most of the design on its front. Yet the design is perhaps easy to deduce; given only two of Ash's caps (Original and Unova) have the same cap design on the front and back as this cap, it is most likely one of either, though given the similarity of this merchandise to the other, it most likely means that the cap is meant to be the Unova cap.

The identical qualities of both items go all the way to the design. The Poké Ball looks much the same way and the metal trim is very much similar. It would be no surprise, then, that the two items were created by the same maker. Another thing that supports this theory is that the packaging is totally the same, even down to the image of Ash in the background, though the only difference is the addition of the Pokémon logo. Because of this, the two items are expected to have the same functions, either as a keychain or as an ornament, though this time I wasn't given a connector to make it the former. It's too impeccable, and it's got to be true.

I'm still pleased to have gotten this particular piece of merchandise. Its uncanny resemblance to the other one I got is not something to be worked up over, but instead something to be impressed about. It's almost like the two are meant to be, one being the front aspect and one being the back aspect. Of course, the key aspect is the Pokémon aspect, something that I didn't ignore when I obtained it. I will still need to be attentive and make sure that I don't get something duplicate when that is definitely not the intent.

One year ago: The Subdued Hometown Themes

Pokémon Yellow Pikachu Shirt

One of the things I got from the big event of two days ago is a particularly attractive Pokémon shirt. I already have some Pokémon shirts, as if I need more. But in all honesty, this shirt is attractive because it looks quite aggressive. It so happens that at the stand where this shirt was sold, there was a photo of a girl promoting this same exact shirt, yet I was taken not because of the girl, but very much because of the shirt. It was also lucky that the shirt was being offered for sale, which became the initiative to grab one.

The aggressive design comes from the art used for the shirt. The art features Pikachu with Ash's cap from the Kanto saga (thus, Original Cap Pikachu) as well as a Poké Ball set against a brick wall pattern. Above this image is the international Pokémon logo, and below are tidbits about Pikachu, including the name in both Roman and Japanese script, and species-specific details. What makes this striking is that except for Pikachu, its cap, and the Poké Ball, everything else is in pure black and white - or rather, yellow, as the whitespace is colored yellow. The colors and design are thus particularly aggressive.

Apart from that, this shirt is pretty much standard. There's not really much that I don't like about the shirt, and in fact, I like it more and more as I keep looking at it. I can foresee wearing this shirt for any occasion that involves Pokémon, including playing Go; it should be noted that the Go emblem is not present on the shirt, which makes it attractive universally. The shirt even comes with care instructions, so now I know how I can preserve this shirt for as long as possible as I wear it.

Overall, I'm not too disappointed that I dropped some money to purchase this shirt. I am in fact very happy that this was the case, because now I have another option for Pokémon wardrobe when I want to make it fit the occasion. The design is distinctively wild, but it's also quite attractive, regardless of how it was promoted. It makes for a great memento of the previous event and a particularly expressive way of stating that I'm a fan of Pokémon - an intense one, at that.

One year ago: Spicy Tamato