Solidarity Making

In all my life, I've heard many terms - some good, some confusing, and some intriguing. The latest term that I've heard seems to be a mixture of all three. That term is "solidarity maker". This is a term that has rich and enigmatic meanings behind it. And of course, I wouldn't discuss it on this blog if I couldn't relate it with my adventures with Pokémon.

Let's start with the history and explanation of the term. This term was coined in 1962 by Herbert Feith, who used it to describe the characteristic of leaders that attempt to gain support through emotional connections and feelings. This is in contrast to "administrators", who gain support through technical proficiency - at least, this is how I understand this, as I'm not quite an expert in political science. Interestingly, I've researched the term, and it seems to apply to only really one context: Indonesia, as Feith had coined the term as part of his research on democracy in Indonesia; the term does not seem to apply outside that context. So it appears to be an English neologism about an Indonesian state of affairs. The goodness, confusion, and intrigue is now apparent.

As for the connection of this term to my Pokémon adventures, the application seems to be no different. I and some of my other fellows seem to have to be positioned to fulfill this role. During raids in Pokémon Go, for example, it seems that I have to attract those that raid separately, as if attempting to merge emotions and feelings. The national group of main series players seems to not be above and beyond this style of leadership... at least initially, until the more serious stuff needs to be carefully managed. This style of leadership seems to have a place, as does the other style, though this is still localized after all.

Though this term has a lot of political ideals behind it, there is a sense that this may also be needed beyond politics. For something as rich and broad as Pokémon, it may be necessary to get others involved through emotion as much as through technical aspects. Someone who is a "solidarity maker" seems to be suited to do this, and I seem to fit as such a person at certain times. As good, confusing, and intriguing this term seems to be, it may very well just work when tied to Pokémon.

One year ago: Reunions!

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2018

It's been another month, more or less, so it's time to recap some of the things that have gone on in Pokémon Go. And there has been quite a bit of fascinating events. A keyword of a couple of these events is "Johto", as they do indeed concern Pokémon that hail from this region, or in other words the second-generation Pokémon. Another keyword might be "social" as some parts of the events do concern the newly added interaction features in the game. These can be said to make up that fascination.

Earlier, an event involving the trading feature ran for a couple of weeks, so this satisfied the "social" keyword. During that time, trades were discounted by 25% from their normal Stardust costs, no matter the trade. All trades were also given an additional bonus of three Candies in addition to the ones earned on the basis of distance regarding where the Pokémon came from. Lastly, experience points gained from a trade that added a new PokéDex entry were tripled, making this particular Special Trade rather desirable. By my experience, this event was so attractive to members of my raid group that some even made plans for trading what to whom each day; I didn't, but at least I became a backup on a couple of occasions when someone's plan to trade fell through that day. Due to other things I had going on, I didn't thoroughly partake in the event, but it seems good enough that if it's ever repeated, I'd like to take further advantage of it.

Meanwhile, this month, Field Research became interesting again as its reward returned to a Legendary Pokémon, specifically the Electric beast Raikou, thus satisfying the "Johto" keyword. I appreciate this since I missed the moment when this Pokémon appeared as raid bosses, allowing me (and many others in the same boat) to have the chance to capture it. Along with Raikou, a bevy of quests related to Electric-type and second-generation Pokémon also appeared. This sweetened the deal for many players, but since I'm not a particularly aggressive research player, it was generally business as usual. I'm just glad that Raikou is the big deal.

Just a few days ago, an event had ended, and that event is the Johto Festival. The big thing was increased appearances of Pokémon from this region, but the biggest thing was the introduction of the Celebi Special Research for everyone else; the Special Research was first available for those attending the Go Fest event, but in a different format. This does not replace the Mew Research, and it is concurrent and permanent... at least until it is completed. What is notable is that certain tasks of this research require usage of the newly-introduced interaction features, such as friends and trading, and some tasks are "bottlenecks" that force Trainers to do things over consecutive days, which meant that it took over a week before any Trainer was finally able to capture Celebi. Meanwhile, there was a bit of drama over a weekend as Ho-Oh reappeared as a raid boss, in particular for capturing its Shiny form. Overall, this event satisfied both of the keywords above.

Perhaps the most important thing about the most recent events in Pokémon Go is relevance. The three events above fulfilled one or both of the keywords presented above, and by doing so, they've maintained relevance with them. They're both inherently important to the game as well as Pokémon in general, in a way. There is no doubt that this will continue over the next month and the rest of the year with the events to come. By then things surely will become as big as they are relevant.

One year ago: Stories That You Don't Know

Media Master

Here's a fun recently-discovered fact: according to one source, Pokémon is now the biggest-valued media franchise in the world, ahead of four others that have been around for (a lot) longer and even one other of Nintendo's own. The value is quite staggering too, at nearly 60 billion dollars, while the other five are separated only by about tens of billions of dollars. I find this quite fascinating and quite meaningful too, for both myself and everyone.

Since the first time I became attracted to Pokémon, I felt that it has a certain sense of popularity, and I'm even more certain about it today with this revelation. There's something attractive that compels me to spend some of the money I have in Pokémon things, whether by careful deliberation or impulsive action. I've even read a magazine article that indicated that the valuation of the franchise has existed since a long time ago, though perhaps not at the same level as today. I too feel like I've contributed to this by what I get from the franchise. To hear about this is thus hardly surprising but quite reassuring as well.

For everyone, we have to be glad that we've made Pokémon what it is today. This is the result of us investing our hard-earned money on something we really like. It means a lot of people can stand to do the same, and do it on a consistent and continuous manner. People wouldn't do this if they don't regard Pokémon with a high value, so the fact that this is so means that people place a high value on Pokémon in ways that go beyond numbers and money. Even so, that high value still translates into higher earnings for the franchise, and that's a good thing.

I'm glad that I've become attracted to Pokémon and see that it is indeed as valuable as it is popular. In all the two- plus decades that it has existed and I've been with it, it is amazing to see it on the top of the global financial ladder of franchises. It has always been popular through its existence, and this only affirms that this is in fact the case. If many people dream about becoming a Pokémon Master, today Pokémon itself has become a Media Master.

One year ago: Catching Up

PokéVerbalisms

A verbalism in one sense is a verbal expression, as the words used and their arrangement. In regard to Pokémon, this would mean verbalisms that are particular to and characteristic of the franchise. Any particular subject, field, or realm tends to have its own set of verbalisms, and quite possibly many of them. Pokémon too has its share of verbalisms, also to a great number. At the moment, though, I can point out three such verbalisms that are most popular and most relevant, at least to myself personally.

"It's Super Effective" - Anyone who has ever played Pokémon games know that some types are superior to others, and when Pokémon of those types inflict hits by moves to the less superior types, it's called a "super effective" hit. In the main series games, this is succinctly expressed as in this particular verbalism. Even the Pokémon Pixel Artwork sticker pack for LINE contains this verbalism in one of its stickers, exactly as a battle scene. What is important about this one is that this is probably one of the most well-known verbalisms in and out of Pokémon, having a general interpretation of "superiority or success over something". It becomes a particularly Pokémon way of saying that things happened as such.

"But Nothing Happened" - This verbalism can be considered the totally opposite counterpoint to the one above. Those who deal with Pokémon that know the move Splash will recognize this verbalism, because these are exactly the words that are incited after the move is executed, as the move does absolutely nothing. This can then be interpreted as "failure, being unsuccessful, not working", and it is likewise a Pokémon way of speaking about it. This too is immortalized in the same sticker pack as above, with the humble Magikarp as its symbol. As I play Magikarp Jump quite a bit nowadays, I am frequently reminded of this verbalism.

"Next Time... A New Beginning" - While this one is less well-known than the other two above, it is still quite tied to Pokémon, and more specifically the anime. These words replace "To Be Continued" upon the ending of a particular saga. It becomes a strong and poignant reminder that things have come to a close, and something new will open up and present itself. Hence this too becomes a verbalism that is quite intricately connected to Pokémon, as much as it is representative of endings and beginnings of life in general. This is something I have been thinking about quite recently.

The individual words that make up these verbalisms are nothing special. However, when structured as above, they are indeed special, because they become relevant to and invokes Pokémon. That's the power of many verbalisms like these, whether for Pokémon or otherwise. Personally, it amazes me that such expressions are both meaningful in their own ways and at the same time meaningful for involving Pokémon.

One year ago: After the Faraway Tournament

My Pokémon Groups on Facebook

Even with all its issues, Facebook is a good social network. Many of my friends are on it - old ones, new ones, and everyone in between. That includes many who also like Pokémon just as much as I do. With the use of the Groups feature, we can even keep things relevant and talk about specific details. Thus it would be expected that I'd be in certain groups related to Pokémon, and I am. There are a few that I am a part of.

One of those groups is a national group for the main series games, which is also managed by the same group of players I ally with. Here, news and latest information are posted about the games, including beneficial news about VGC battling. There are also occasional posts about questions on gameplay, surprise happenings, and Mystery Gift code giveaways. Every so often something interesting gets posted, so it becomes worthwhile to check things out. This is certainly something I can't do without.

Another group is a group for Pokémon Go. Since some players in the main series group also play the game, they manage the group too, but this tends to be a bit hands-off. The group has gotten quite a bit of activity as of late thanks to the new friend system and Community Day, but on the whole there doesn't seem to be any activity of real interest recently. This may change as old and new players get back into the game and start to enliven the group again.

Yet another group is a special group for Pokémon figure collectors. I was actually "scouted out" to join this group by someone who saw me with my Pokémon cosplay, so I joined by request. As it turns out, many of my fellow players are also in this group, so it doesn't feel too unfamiliar. As expected, information about all kinds of Pokémon figures are posted here, including periodic gatherings for local chapters, which was how I got the info about the first local gathering I attended. Through the buying and selling group feature, there are also posts on figure sales, which becomes advantageous for those seeking new figures or letting go of portions of their collection. I'm glad that I'm a part of this group too.

There are additionally two smaller Pokémon-related groups that I'm a part of. One is an alternate game group for Pokémon, but I'm practically an observer in the group. Another is a Pokémon cosplay group, though I'm relatively disconnected from the others in the group in terms of space. I still consider the connections valuable, though, and I seek to peruse them at a later time.

All these Pokémon groups show that the franchise is appreciated in different ways by different people, though many also share the same interests. I find them all very neat, as an expression of attachment to the franchise. Of course, social networks like Facebook are big, so I may just be able to find more people who are attached to Pokémon and all related things... as well as link up with them in groups as I happen upon them.

One year ago: In-Town vs. Out-of-Town Events

Figure Gathering, Again

On this Sunday, I had a bit of time to spare, so I decided to attend another gathering of figure collectors, which happens to be the same group that I met the last time. Since then, they've graciously accepted me as part of their extended connections, which allows me to partake in the gatherings when able. It just so happens that this time I was somewhat able, so that was what I did.

More and yet more figures.

This time, the gathering took place indoors at a local Japanese eatery, which also allowed us to sit on the floor from a height, and eat at low tables. More people also came to this one - 10 at its height, albeit only one more from the previous one. Naturally, this also meant that a more diversified array of figures were contributed for exhibition. I brought in four of mine: the two Pikachu figures from a convenience store, and the Pikachu and Slaking figures I got out of a draw of Poké Balls. They are either new enough or innovative enough, and most importantly able to be conveniently brought for the occasion. This also lent itself well for photography of the figures, which some of us did, taking advantage of the figures present.

I call this "a composition of four Pikachu".

As before, a game was in order, and someone came up with a good one: using a web site and service on the Internet, a quiz was created and administered to the people willing to participate in it. The quiz was mostly about Pokémon descriptions in the PokéDex, including their stated species identifier (as in Wailmer being the Ball Whale Pokémon), which I have to say that I only remember bits and pieces. Yet the results of the quiz show that most people also remember only bits and pieces too. The quiz also acted as the only giveaway of this gathering, and it was won by someone I made friends with from the previous gathering. I myself took third in the quiz, which isn't too shabby; perhaps I could have done slightly better.

The lucky soul received... this!

The gathering that occurred this time personally served as a kind of validation. I know that there are Pokémon fans in the right places if I know where to look, and I knew where and who to look for. To seek their company is a good thing, in the case that alternative gatherings with other people are infeasible. In this case, they like the figure aspect, which I do too, to a fair extent. I'm certain that as long as I collect the figures, I can still connect with them. Hopefully they can accept my paces and strides as well.

After a hard, good day.

I'm pleasantly amused to be part of this gathering. I'm taking back home an experience in more ways than one, and for a Pokémon fan like me, that means a lot of things. As always, the next one will be wait-and-see, but at least I'm inspired to see if I can conceive something to bring to the table (literally) next time. As long as it relates to figures and Pokémon, there should be no problem and a whole lot of fun.

One year ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2017 - Yume no Tobira

PokéMusicians

I've discussed how Pokémon Trainers may resemble or be likened to musicians, so I can't shift discussion topics without discussing the other side: how some Pokémon are actually musicians too, and not just resemble one. As far as musicians go, they're fairly rudimentary; they don't have much going for them, but what they do is more or less what musicians do.

Of these, the most famous has to be Jigglypuff, which is famous for the hypnotic melody that results from the use of the Sing move. If it weren't for its hypnotic qualities, this could indeed be an interesting melody to listen to, but as it stands, people and most Pokémon won't be able to listen to it without falling asleep, with the exception being Pokémon with the Insomnia and Soundproof abilities. All told, they might just enjoy it. As a side note, Jigglypuff is not the only Pokémon that can incite the Sing move; others can, but admittedly Jigglypuff is the one most associated with the move, and therefore the most representative example.

Some Pokémon appear to have a penchant for using certain musical instruments, and Ukulele Pichu is one of them. For those not in the know, Ukulele Pichu is the companion Pokémon to the protagonist in Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs. Ukulele Pichu possesses a blue-colored ukulele that is played when it is summoned by the protagonist to aid in the capture of certain Pokémon, in addition to providing an electric shock of a sufficient duration. The melody of the ukulele is short and simplistic, but it seems to be a wonderful one. Though its development in the game is limited, it might not be hard to surmise how its instrument skills can develop - with a possibly brighter sound. Yet it's still Pichu after all, which means that its development may be restricted in this form; it's still enjoyable regardless.

Other Pokémon appear to suggest that they might have musical capabilities. Chatot is one of them - its head in part looks like a quaver (eighth note), and if its appearance in the second Mystery Dungeon series of games is of any indication, it is that it has a rather sufficient musical capability, vocalizing its expressions, and helped by its songbird appearance. Another one is Meloetta in its Aria form. An aria is a musical piece with prominent vocals, so it's not hard to expect that it can measure up to the qualities of such pieces. Other Pokémon may not have the qualities that suggest they're musical, but they could indeed be so in certain circumstances.

Music seems to not be limited to the Trainers, the people who make Pokémon be all that they can be. Pokémon too have some roles to play in musical endeavors, even if these are not as complex as what people do. They might be simple, but they still have great effects, musical or otherwise. They are truly PokéMusicians in that regard.

One year ago: Wallpaper: Ash XY Tribute Style

Trainers and Musicians Alike

There's something fascinating about this year's Pokémon World Championships, which is being held this year starting today and over the course of this weekend. That's because this year the host city for it is Nashville, Tennessee, which is known for being the origin and thus "home" of country music. That prompts me to think about how Pokémon Trainers and musicians are a lot like each other. This seems to be an analogy that is not too outlandish.

If musicians work with instruments, Trainers work with Pokémon in their teams. The objective of the former is to create a pleasing melody and harmony, not a discordant one; this is similar to the latter's objective of creating a team that's balanced in roles and compositions. Musicians don't really need to battle with one another, but in certain settings, they do need to put on a show, while Trainers put on a show all the time with their battles, evidenced by the spectacle of past World Championships and the anime, among other things. There's much to be lauded about the work that both do in their respective areas.

Of course, the two don't have to be in opposition - they can also be in synergy, as in Trainers who make music and musicians who battle with Pokémon. This is immediately evident in the games, where there is a class of Trainers called Guitarists, and they do exactly that - strum up good music and work up a good battle. I can imagine that some at this year's World Championships (or for that matter, any Pokémon championships) are also good musicians to boot who can produce awesome tunes and just as awesome battles, which makes them doubly awesome. It would be neat to see how their musical works compare with their battle performance. Then again, I'm certain they're just as good as the other.

Meanwhile, this year, I'm told that on the TCG side there are none of my fellows "on tour", so to speak, but on the VGC side, there is one, the first one ever to be able to make it there, courtesy of winning a championship down south. This presents an interesting situation for me and my fellows, who eagerly expect a great performance over the course of this weekend. It might just "rock the house" and "drum up" interest among my other fellows.

Whether musicians or Trainers, those who enjoy Pokémon should be proud right now. Good luck to the participants for this year's championships, and expect some good vibes too.

One year ago: Pokkén Downturn?

A Mascot Reinterpretation

I should note that currently, Indonesia is staging a very big event. That event is the 18th Asian Games, which is the all-Asia version of the Olympics. And like any major sporting event in modern times, this one has its representative mascots - three of them, to be exact. Of course, hard-wired as I am in regard to Pokémon, I can't help but regard the mascots in the point of view of Pokémon, and this seems to be a worthy point of view for any fan.

The three mascots of this edition of the Games are named Bhin-Bhin, Atung, and Kaka. They're named that way because their first syllables, in that order, are "Bhin-A-Ka"... that is, "Bhinneka... Tunggal Ika". The animals of the mascots are the cendrawasih, deer, and one-horned rhinoceros, respectively. They reflect diversity and different origins from different parts of the country, and also have different qualities, therefore being representative of certain sports in the Games. Of note is that these mascots, as I recall, replace a prior concept, which was deemed too drab and old-fashioned for today's Games. But that is indeed a good thing, because it really makes them appealing and fitting for a modern implementation. They have caught my attention as well.

Now comes the Pokémon part of this. Spiritually, they resemble and can be conceived as certain Pokémon. Bhin-Bhin's generally yellow plumage and proportion is a lot like Oricorio with the Pom-Pom Style. Atung is a deer, therefore it bears resemblance to Stantler - or even, Sawsbuck Spring Form, even if it's a bit forced. Finally, Kaka is a rhino, and the clear analogue is Rhydon. They may not be able to do the same things that the mascots do, but their resemblance is superficial, appearance-wise; it almost makes me think they could do the same. They too hail from different regions and have different aspects, leading to considerations of diversity as well. This is as seen from the eyes of a fan, which in this case is me.

And that is what it is. These interpretations don't replace the mascots, but they are instead complementary, for someone who is a Pokémon fan. Through them, I develop appreciation for the actual mascots, as well as for this year's Games as a whole. Any fan can do the same, and that's a great thing. May it bode for success in this year's Games and for our Pokémon efforts to come.

One year ago: Local Hangouts and Pokémon

Cosplay Events, Wherefore Art Thou?

As I've browsed through the posts of the previous year on this blog, I've noticed that nearly two-thirds of the year has passed, but a good number of the theme events or conventions that I've come to expect or were present last year have been strangely absent, dashing my hopes of returning to them with my Pokémon cosplay and covering them on this blog. While this is not strictly a Pokémon issue, because my cosplay involves Pokémon to a major part, it does become such an issue.

And yet, the fate of some of these theme events may be known. The DANOBU theme event, which was in its fourth edition last year, is seemingly absent this year, and the reason may be that the students couldn't secure approval for it, according to reports. As I've written last year, this is one of the local theme events that I feel rather deeply connected to due to its role in my cosplay efforts, so I'm sad that it's not around. The Nimatsuri event, which is usually held this time of year, appears to be absent too, though the reasons are unknown. It may be scheduled differently, in which case it might be held later, but otherwise there has been no word. This is a little unfortunate because of the cosplay connections I have with the event.

The pace of events or conventions have also been relatively tame; while there was a three-week run before the really long break, there has not been a weekly run of them recently, though I heard things will pick up soon enough. On one hand, this is a good thing, because it lets me have a break. On the other hand, it means that there's a possibility and liability of events or conventions stacking up in the next few weeks to come. That means I may be looking at events several weeks in a row, or events that are scheduled on the same day, forcing me to only be able to come to one. The former is tiring and the latter is annoying since I have to set priorities and decide which one I want to attend. While things may be good regardless, they still remain issues to deal with.

I should note that locally, there have been efforts to increase and promote theme events, and this was what a local organizer did with a series of three events, two of which transformed into the two events I mentioned above, before it settled and became the Daisuki Japan convention. The efforts could still be described as successful because they spawned the two specific events and could also be described as a progenitor to others, even without having been present. It seems it would be wise to take note of this for future events, and the organizer would be one to refer to for planning out new ones.

As I've said, Japanese theme events or conventions are not limited to Pokémon, but because the bulk of my cosplay involves Pokémon and that cosplay is welcome in them, they become relevant. Through them, my objective becomes to promote Pokémon through cosplay. But of course, I can't do that without their presence. It would really be to the benefit of everyone, including me, to have more of these events or conventions.

Here's to hoping there will be quite a few more later on.

One year ago: Connection Issues?

Do Unusual Things

Most of the time, Pokémon becomes something ordinary for me. It means I do things that are typical and expected as far as Pokémon fans go. However, at other times, it also becomes an extraordinary thing, and it prompts me to do sudden things, even unusual ones. This last one seems to be something that is as great as it is enigmatic, in and even out of the games.

The decisions I've had to make in Magikarp Jump may be considered as something unusual, especially for the ones I always risk or even suddenly decide to risk, even if the consequences may be less than savory. Meanwhile, in Go, I confess that I always try to play it when I'm going somewhere, so the unusual thing is when I have to diverge from my intended path to do something in the game, and the more I have to diverge, the more unusual things get. Not focusing too deeply on VGC in the main series could be considered another unusual turn. This is at least subjectively how I feel.

Going to theme events or conventions for the purpose of my Pokémon cosplay also holds an unusual quality. This is often the result of a whim as it is the result of prior planning. Participation in whatever competition may be present is either expected if it is a walk or parade, or bordering on crazy if it's more directed to performance competitions, especially when such a plan is essentially cobbled together. Win or lose, I often find myself in fruitful as well as unusual interactions, though they're more on the good side than bad. All of these may become (even more) unusual in different ways.

All told, many unusual things might grace my interactions that involve Pokémon, prompting me to do them. The way they are, they're already quite dynamic; when things get unusual, they just become more dynamic. At least in that way, they particularly exhibit extraordinary effects that engage my interest in Pokémon, beyond what is simply ordinary and usual.

One year ago: Futureproofing Transfers

The Apple and Pokémon

When many people think of the word "fruit", one of the fruits - if not the fruit - that they think of is the apple. It seems fair enough; it's hard not to consider the apple as the archetype of fruits. For anyone who is involved with Pokémon, though, this particular fruit may be considered differently. As much as it is a real-world fruit, it also has Pokémon connections. And that is in more ways than one.

Five months ago for a particularly mathematical celebration, I mentioned that the apple has a Berry analogue, which happens to be named the Leppa Berry - "Apple" sort-of backwards. This is present among different games with different effects among those games. However, the apple itself also appears as an actual fruit, which may be considered either confusing or redundant, or both, due to the presence of the respective Berry. Fortunately, the appearance of the apple seems to be restricted to certain cases, precluding however the namesake Berry is utilized, and that seems to dispel the considerations.

In the anime, certain episodes (including one I discussed last year) portray Pokémon consuming apples rather than Berries for sustenance. In a way, this makes sense considering the mostly "journey" setting of the anime; Berries like the Leppa Berry are mostly battle-specific enhancing items, if nothing else, so it wouldn't make sense to consume them in large quantities outside of battle-related contexts, though this could help every so often in regard to battles, which occur from time to time. The bottom line would be that there has to be something that sustains Pokémon other than food with battle effect properties.

In the Mystery Dungeon games, apples are much more fleshed out as food items, because they are a vital part of the Belly system. This system governs how far Pokémon can go and what they can do in dungeons. The Belly of Pokémon are filled by eating Apples and Big Apples, more so than even Berries, which do exist as well. This lends credence to the previous idea of Pokémon also being sustained by food not having battle effects. Battle-enhancing food is good, but Pokémon can't seem to live on them alone.

Whatever the case, it's hard to separate the apple from Pokémon. Though rightfully realized as a Berry, it is also realized as the actual fruits themselves, with a greater sustaining effect. The confusion and redundancy seems to not matter at all once this is understood. At the least, it's helpful to think that an exemplary real-world fruit that alleviates hunger of people and animals would and could do the same for Pokémon too.

One year ago: Cosplay: Nimatsuri 2017

Local Ex-Raid (and Changes), 8/19/2018

Every Ex-Raid seems to have their own concerns, and this one is no different. I've tagged this one with "changes" because it indeed may have some of that. This time, it occurred at the first place before new Ex-Raid Gyms became available. For this one, I tagged along with a friend for the initial "qualifier" raid, knowing that he wanted to go, so I could make his gas mileage count. The initial raid was also a Houndoom raid, which also filled my PokéDex entry for it, and that was a big change. However, it was also the first of many changes.

For this Ex-Raid, many of the regulars who often usually qualify for an Ex-Raid didn't qualify. This includes not only a good number of players at Level 40, but also a smattering in the 30s and upper 20s. Worse yet, a good deal of those haven't experienced (many) Ex-Raids. Some in my raid group theorized that the Ex-Raid distribution had returned to an older, hard-to-confirm methodology where everyone didn't qualify. Personally, while it may seem OK to see some of the Level 40 seniors "sit out" to let the juniors have a chance, it's really not fair to see the latter in the same boat. Fortunately, I was one of the many that earned this Ex-Raid, but it's still a bit worrying that this has happened and may happen again.

A good change this time is that some returning players and many new players were able to participate in this Ex-Raid, including a few of my friends. What wasn't a good change was that because of the relative paucity of participants, the battle flights tended to stack up on each other. Worse yet, because of certain celebrations that concern something of two days ago (and the fact that they're forced to stack up on Sunday, when people are likely to be free), the streets were a bit clogged, leading to some coming late or even canceling participation altogether. This is unfortunate, as is not being able to catch Mewtwo after the raid had progressed, which happened to a few.

Due to difficulties, a picture didn't work out, so here's the Mewtwo I caught instead.

Another good change this time is that the other Gym which previously hosted an Ex-Raid almost or nearly at the same time, and which I went to last time, did not host one in conjunction; instead, it will host one next week - but I didn't qualify for that because I didn't have a chance to do so. Meanwhile, that leaves the other Ex-Raid Gym in my locale, which has not hosted one since the Gym hosted its first one a month ago. This is a drastic change, given that the Gym is frequently raided, and it's an open question if it will host another. It may be a change in the making.

All told, many changes occurred for this particular Ex-Raid. Many seem unwelcome, but there were some OK ones too. It has been said that Ex-Raids are enigmatic and susceptible to future changes, and this one confirms them, presenting them as concerns. It might take one or a few more before seeing how things work out, and by then more changes could be expected as well.

One year ago: Pikachu Image Pillow

Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2018 - Subarashii Maboroshii no Sekai

[AshKetchumMode]

I wanna say, some theme events mean a lot to my friend, so that's why he keeps sending me to them. This one is one of those. As my friend said last year, he has some links to it, and I think that's great. It's hard not to return to one when you know there's something special in the air.

As before, the theme event today is held in the school yard, and it has everything: good music from bands, good dances from cover groups, good food from the people that make it, and good stuff from the communities. They're all good, and I enjoy every bit of that, and so does my friend. We like everything.

There is also the reason I came, which is to meet others for my friend... as me! I came with my XY outfit again from the last time I was sent to an event since I had been here with all my other regular ones, except my Alola one. That'll be for next time, hopefully. I also got into the character parade, which is something different this year. I and my friend were hoping there would be a single performance this year so I could do something different, but there was only a character parade. My friend decided that we should get in anyway, so that's what we did.

I'm a little sad, though, since it turns out I didn't win anything. There were 14 or so in the parade and only three won. Last year was great because I actually won something, but this year I didn't. Honestly, maybe something in the parade didn't really go right for me, but I'm really not sure.

Pikachu: Pika? [questioning]

Maybe this is not our day, Pikachu. Maybe this is not our day. But I was told that we might be in for something really good next time. We'll have to see.

The theme for this year, my friend says, is "The Amazing Fantasy World". For my friend, I'm sure Pokémon is his "amazing fantasy", which is why he keeps sending me into theme events and conventions. Keep up that amazing fantasy, and we might just get to greater things. That's gotta be it.

[/AshKetchumMode]

One year ago: Battle of the Masters

United in Diversity

As I've noted in my post about worldly reverence, Pokémon is something I appreciate from a different part of the world. It's something that has enriched this world and made many lives brighter, including mine. Yet through Pokémon, I'm also able to appreciate down-home values, that is, the values I grew up with. One of those values is diversity, being that everyone is of different characteristics and has different abilities. But through them all, everyone is also united by the fact that we are fellow people. This leads to an extended value.

That extended value is "unity in diversity", which in Sanskrit is "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" and is the national motto of Indonesia, as my birth country and current residence. Literally, everyone is "different but also one", as people and as a nation. It's a bit analogous and also an adjunct to "E Pluribus Unum" (Latin: out of many, one) of the United States, which I value as well, having resided there for several years, also as the place where I was introduced to Pokémon. The spirits are more or less the same: everyone is not (completely) the same in regard to individual characteristics yet the same as collective beings.

The creatures of Pokémon are the same way. Pokémon are all different; they're big and small, natural and elemental, animal-like and humanoid, with a stunning variety of types, habitats, capabilities, powers, and so on and so forth. That is diversity right there. But no matter what they are and what they do, they're all called Pokémon. That is unity in at least one sense of the word. And thus the motto is realized here too, being that Pokémon are individual creatures as well as the entire spectrum of all of those creatures; they are diversely united.

Through this, I'm reminded that people are all the same way. They are all different, but they are also all people, in particular part of a single nation. The extended value is one that is appreciable for being part of a single nation; if it can be evident through the creatures of a highly popular franchise, it should be evident for a nation too. I'd say I'm enlightened and enriched through Pokémon in this way. Together they're united, and together the people of this country are united, even with all their differences. We're united, and we show unity in diversity.

And yes, today is that day. Happy Independence Day to Indonesia.

One year ago: Red and White Philosophy

Getting Lucky with It

Some weeks ago, Pokémon Go introduced a new kind of Pokémon. That new kind is called Lucky Pokémon, and it's a marvelous one indeed. It becomes an unusual case of a spinoff game introducing something completely new to the table, which seems to be made even more special because of Go's proximity and parallelism to the main series Pokémon games. Yet like other things in these games, it has its own details.

Unlike most Pokémon in Pokémon Go, Lucky Pokémon are not caught... at least, not initially. Instead, Lucky Pokémon are the results of trading Pokémon that have been caught. Any Pokémon that can be traded, including Legendary Pokémon, have the chance of becoming Lucky after a trade, though it's been suggested that older caught Pokémon have a better chance of becoming so. Lucky Pokémon are even counted separately in the PokéDex, and the entry for the Pokémon turns darker with visible glowing bubbles, while information for individual Pokémon superimposes the glowing bubbles on top of their "type backgrounds".

As for the advantage that "Luckiness" confers, there is but one: the Pokémon takes less Stardust to power up than others with similar CP. This is an advantage for those who are not extreme hoarders of Stardust, being able to power up Pokémon at a lower Stardust cost, though the Candies required are still more or less the same. As far as other things go, they are like other Pokémon with their variable stats, especially after the result of the trade. The advantage of a Lucky Pokémon is akin to that of Pokémon being boosted in experience when traded to and trained by someone else. The allure of a Lucky Pokémon is still too good to pass up.

I've only gotten one of these since they were introduced, and it happens to be an Eevee caught by a fellow player from the recent two-day Community Day. My other fellow players have obtained more, but that is most likely because they have traded more often. Even so, this still speaks to the chances of obtaining one, since I've traded older Pokémon to no avail, and yet my only Lucky Pokémon so far is a relative newcomer. To continue to trade (more often) is really the only option to try to get more.

Though Lucky Pokémon seem a minor thing based on their properties, they're also a major thing because of their esteemed status by appearance, as well as something that shows a parallel to the main series games in any case. They're unusual, but marvelously motivational too for encouraging players to trade to get one. With luck, they might just be a fine addition to the collection of Pokémon that any Pokémon Go player has.

One year ago: I Want to Splurge

Don't Look Back... in Anger

So Sally can wait,
She knows it's too late
As we're walking on by
Her soul slides away,
But don't look back in anger
I heard you say...
-- "Don't Look Back in Anger", Oasis

Today I was reminded by a certain happening that anger is not always the solution. It might also have involved Pokémon Go, or it might not. What is clear is that anger wasn't necessary and could have been sidestepped. That reminded me of another Pokémon situation which might also involve anger but not necessarily as a solution, as well as this classic song.

That Pokémon situation is in the game Magikarp Jump. Sometimes, after training Magikarp, the "Slacker Magikarp" event may appear; in it, Magikarp is cast to appear to have not been putting great efforts in training, and the player is given two options: scold it or not. As I've mentioned in my post about decisions in the game, I tend to choose by my feelings, so sometimes I choose to scold and sometimes not to. However, by my experience, most times I've decided to scold, Magikarp ends up sulking, undoing some of the training efforts. It is this experience that reminds me that anger doesn't solve everything.

That seems to be part of the point of the song as well, if the title isn't already clear enough. Good things are present if one knows where to look, and there is - or was - no need to be angry about what has taken place. Sometimes it's best to just ignore and proceed with life. Anger can be saved for another day, or even shelved indefinitely. It seems that's true whether it's this life or the life within the Pokémon games.

It seems I may have to take an extra reminder not to get worked up when I play Go, and I have to exercise restraint in Magikarp Jump as well. The point is clear - anger is likely unnecessary. And it's probably even more so in hindsight, as the song suggests.

One year ago: Pokémon Desktop Wallpapers

Worldly Reverence

As someone who is worldly in thoughts, I'm also worldly in my interests as well; I like things from around the world. Pokémon happens to be one of those things, and I like that it is so. What I like even more is that though it is Japanese or Eastern in origin, it is also well-liked or revered all over the world (or at the least in most parts of it, particularly the West). The inverse is also true for other things, being Western in origin but well-liked or revered in the East. The two situations become something to consider, especially in regard to Pokémon.

Pokémon was designed to capture a piece of Eastern childhood fantasy, as the collection of critters and other things for duking them out and even swapping them with others. Its initial in-game region was even based on a little piece of Eastern Japan, which then progressed to pretty much almost the entire Japanese archipelago in later games. But even with all these Eastern influences, this as a whole seems to resonate with other players and fans beyond the East or Japan; that's a good thing, because it means they like it, and very much so - they revere it. It becomes evident with certain things that Western players and fans do.

One of those things is to implement a "Pokémon hunt" on Google Maps. Though this was only an April Fool's joke, it proved that Pokémon has a place among many in the West. This helped to sow the seeds for what would become Pokémon Go, a game developed in the West, but with Eastern blessings. And yet, the primordial concept is good enough that it became a hit all over the world, including the East and Japan, where Pokémon began - and it still is today with a more developed concept. The reverence is also true there.

It's fascinating that in the current global era, lots of things can become worldly and revered beyond their places of origin. Pokémon is included in that, and this has to be a blessing for whoever enjoys and plays this franchise. Personally, I'm proud to do so and of Pokémon in general. Among other things, it has helped to shape my views of the world. I'm sure that a good number of Pokémon fans around the world can say the same thing too, and that should be a great thing.

One year ago: All in Good (Life)Time

Toy Block Pokémon?

At a certain event that occurred a little over a week ago, I also discovered a mini toys exhibition, and one of the toys exhibited there is for a certain kind of toy blocks. I found that there were many themed sets of these toy blocks, but alas, I found none for Pokémon. It appears that despite the popularity of Pokémon, this has not been an area where Pokémon has been majorly incorporated, though some strides today have shown and may be considered to show an inclination for this.

At best, currently anything that involves Pokémon and (that specific kind of) toy blocks is unofficial. They may be exhibited as pictures and videos, but not as something that can be replicated directly, as is meant to be done with the actual toy blocks. Yet admittedly they are highly creative and show high adaptability of the existing sets of toy blocks for this purpose. The effort that goes into these must not be very little as well, at least for the exhibition aspect. The replication is another matter.

Some parties have undertaken efforts to create toy block sets for Pokémon. However, these too are unofficial, though also highly creative. While this solves the replication problem, they are also quite different from what could be imagined or has been exhibited. The quality may also be further questioned due to their unofficial quality in regard to both the Pokémon and toy block aspects. It might be interesting to play around with them, but it has to be kept in mind that they're unofficial, and that may affect satisfaction as well.

Perhaps as a consolation, there is one thing that does involve Pokémon in toy block form. That would be the recently-released game Pokémon Quest, which was first released on the Switch before also being released on mobile platforms. In it, Pokémon appear in block form as if they were made out of toy blocks. I have not played this game yet due to other time-consuming matters, and further details about this game are best saved for a separate post, but it's helpful to know that this is pretty much the closest official thing that involves toy blocks and Pokémon.

Whether or not Pokémon will end up having more stuff in toy block form, even something as official as a featured toy block set of the particular kind I saw, is an open question. The new Quest game may provide an incentive, but that's not a sure thing. What is sure is that the idea of combining Pokémon with toy blocks is a neat idea (though not novel) that has been realized in various forms. The only thing that remains is to take things to the next level.

One year ago: Cosplay Briefings

Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/11/2018 and 8/12/2018

If Community Day for Pokémon Go couldn't be thought to get any more surprising, it just got really surprising for this month. First up is the schedule; instead of one Community Day this month, there are two Community Days - this month, it is held on both Saturday and Sunday over the course of a single weekend, in a way breaking the pattern of previous days. They are still counted as a single event, however, which is why I've chosen to summarize everything today.

The next surprising thing is the featured Pokémon for this month. The Pokémon for this month is Eevee, which is not obtained through 10 km Eggs (it comes out of 5 km ones), but could be considered a "pseudo-starter" due to its role in games like Mystery Dungeon and the upcoming Let's Go, Eevee! game due later this year; it could be considered a prelude for that. And that becomes yet another pattern broken. The bonuses are typical, being its Shiny form, and thus Shiny forms for all of its (current) evolved forms too, with triple Stardust and the Charged move Last Resort. What is not typical is that the move is obtained upon its capture within the three-hour capture window, but is also kept for its evolved forms, and the evolution window is much longer, lasting for one and a half days even after the event is over. Now it makes sense why this month's edition has two days: Eevee has plenty of evolved forms, and therefore there needs to be greater time to prepare.

Despite all of these changes, the local progression of the event remains the same as some of the previous iterations: spread Lure Modules, walk, and capture. On the first day, a good deal of my group did just that, and I got a great deal of Eevee with high CPs and quite a few Shiny ones; the weather boost helped in this regard, I must say. On the second day, a greater portion of my group did the same, but there was no weather boost, so everything was all over the place - including the Shiny forms, of which I only got one. Thus I was rather lucky on the first day and not as lucky on the second. We are all also lucky that the event proceeded smoothly without the need for extensions, although this month it could be said that the extension has already occurred, officially and with no problems to instigate it.

As for evolution, because of the way Eevee evolves in Pokémon Go, this becomes the first Community Day where I'm hesitant to evolve the Pokémon I've captured. Last Resort is a good, powerful move, but it doesn't do much justice to Eevee and its evolved forms. Nevertheless, I've already evolved an Eevee that I have as my buddy into Espeon, and I'm preparing one more to be evolved into Umbreon. They would at least complement the Espeon and Umbreon I already do have. I'll also be evolving one of my Shiny Eevee into one other form.

As I've said for last month's edition, Community Day seems to be something expansible, and this month has just proven that it is indeed so. One day being turned into two days, an expanded evolution window, and a Pokémon with a good bit of a starring role makes thing extra surprising and extra spectacular this time around. It's hard to expect that all future Community Days will be like this, but if the occasion is worthy enough, then it might just be befitting. I'm already looking forward to the possibilities.

One year ago: Cosplay: DANOBU 4

Pokémon Go Personal Feature Wishlist

Pokémon Go is a great game because it gets updated with new features every so often, which can often be a great thing. However, along with those new features, there are also some features that are still desirable but have not been implemented. Every player has them, and I do too. At the moment, and based on my experience, here are some features I'd like to see implemented in Go, as expansions to current features or otherwise:

Viewing Gifts outside of Friend Lists. Gifts are a great thing from when they were first introduced, since they allow Trainers to bring back keepsakes from different places, give them to others, and benefit in return. However, I'm a terribly forgetful lot, so I often forget which Gifts I've gotten from where, so I would like to be able to view them directly. Currently, the only way to view Gifts is through the Friend List by way of the Send Gift feature, just before sending one; tapping the Gift item in the Bag simply displays a popup with a repeated explanation, which isn't all that helpful. Direct viewing is surely more helpful than this.

Expanded Poké Ball Menu. The Poké Ball Menu - the one summoned by tapping the icon on the main game screen - has a useful feature in that it can be swiped to the direction of the menu item to be opened, to directly open it without tapping twice. Alas, the Settings and News items, of which the latter has become even more important due to it holding notifications of Pokémon and friends, cannot be opened in this manner and require two taps to open. I would like to see the Poké Ball Menu expanded to accommodate these two items, as I frequently use them too and wish to access them with a single swipe rather than two taps.

Pokémon Markers. In the main series games, a series of markers are available for visually tagging certain Pokémon with certain abstract symbols, which often correspond to their stats. I would like to see such a system implemented in Go as well. I dare say it's just as important, because many Trainers in Go have more Pokémon than even those who play the main series - at least if they do not utilize the Pokémon Bank - and will possibly have even more soon. Also, as I've said, I'm a forgetful kind of person, so I would like to use this to mark Pokémon after they've been appraised so that I forget less.

The nature of the game means that new features are constantly being added and old ones are constantly improved. The above feature wishlist captures what seems to currently be features that could make for better experiences. Other players will perhaps have the same desires as I do right now. With any luck, these features may hopefully be added for all to enjoy, including me.

One year ago: Cosplay Scrapbooking

Ode to Magikarp

As the Magikarp Jump mobile Pokémon game was first promoted in the online Pokémon newsletter, there was also a promotion for a music video about Magikarp. The music video can be seen in its entirety on YouTube. Although the music video is described as "catchy", I happen to think it's quite odd as well, not the least because of the subject matter. It's also got a few other peculiarities that make it unique.

In the music video, all kinds of things about Magikarp are addressed. Its weakness is continuously mentioned, being something that can only splash, jump, and not do much damage; this is affirmed several times by a background with the words "No. 1 The Weakest".  Other characteristics of the lowly Pokémon are also mentioned, such as where it's found (just about everywhere) and how it's fished up (with an Old Rod), as well as its Shiny form, relation to Gyarados, and even a reference to its 500-coin purchase. The video ends with a statement of love to the Pokémon. This entire video could almost be considered an adjunct to the Magikarp Jump game for all its content and also because of its promotion alongside.

What is interesting about the video is its length; it's nearly four minutes long, which might be unbearable for some people. Notably, the song is in English, making it part of the global Pokémon vernacular, though this is to be expected as it is promoted in the English/international newsletter. The art used in the video is ragged, childish, and dull, unlike typical Pokémon art which has been cleaned up and is more vivid. Even the song itself is sung in a childish voice, which only further affirms that the song and music video is geared for younger audiences, though of course anyone is free to view and regard it.

In all respects, this is a fairly unique content in terms of subject and execution. Out of all the Pokémon things that could be creatively developed, this one could be considered the most inane. And yet it's somewhat enjoyable too, especially for those with a liking to the lowly Pokémon that is Magikarp. At least this music video can turn some heads to the pathetic Pokémon and might make them empathetic about it instead.

One year ago: Snorlax's Awakening

Evolution Is a Change

A frequently discussed aspect and issue regarding Pokémon is evolution. It's a process that many Pokémon go through in the stages of their life. Those who undergo the process effectively become a different Pokémon. Based on this, evolution can definitely be considered a change. Yet that seems to be only a simple description, as the change is also far-reaching in some respects.

It's true that the most striking change that evolution brings affects the appearances of Pokémon. The evidence for this is numerous and extensive, so there is no need to mention every single one. However, it may also be kept in mind that some changes are drastic and others are not so drastic. The drastic ones are like what many Bug Pokémon undergo in their larval (as Caterpie), pupal (as Metapod), and fully grown (as Butterfree) forms, while the less drastic ones are like what Slowpoke and Slowbro undergo. Yet for the Pokémon that do evolve, they invariably go through some changes in appearance.

What may not be apparent is that evolution can also be a change in behaviors. As an example, when Magikarp evolve into Gyarados, they become more temperamental, which is not only evident by appearance (facial expressions) but also their actions in general. People - both in the real and the Pokémon worlds - may not necessarily realize that this is the case, but some Pokémon may; this is why Pikachu and Bulbasaur in the anime reject evolution, because they are aware of this change. Of course, some Pokémon like Charmander are also unaware of this change, and when it already became Charizard, it was too late, and it took some time before the damage was repaired. The change in behavior when a Pokémon evolves can indeed be an important one and thus one to know about.

There are certainly the usual changes in capabilities, such as gaining new types, abilities, moves, and so on, especially as dictated by their appearances. Their biology may change as well, such as regarding their diets and how they react to their environment, which may also be the consequence of behavioral changes. These are as important as the other two big changes.

Evolution is evidently a change in many ways for the Pokémon that experience them. It's not a simple thing by any means; there are many parts to this change, aside from being the important one of transforming to a different Pokémon. It's a complex one to describe, as complex as there are many Pokémon, but it's assuredly something that remains a relevant and big aspect of Pokémon no matter what happens.

One year ago: Historical Pokémon

Making Decisions in Magikarp Jump

Most random events in the Pokémon mobile game Magikarp Jump are straightforward and/or automatic; they proceed without player input and the results can be quickly seen by tapping the "Skip" button. However, quite a few of them do require player input, in which case this is presented during the event's progression or after tapping "Skip". When that happens, the player is forced to make decisions of what to do. These decisions have repercussions for the player and the Magikarp, not all of them good.

In the case of a decision, the player is presented with two buttons representing the possible options that can be taken. The button on the left is the "safe" option, which is always good, but the outcome may seem mediocre. The button on the right is the "risky" option, which may result in a really good outcome, but also some really bad ones - in fact, even "fatal" ones, and in the case that the outcome may be "fatal", a confirmation needs to be made with a second set of buttons, allowing the player to back out if the need arises and in some cases preventing an accidental misstep into a wrong decision. After making the decision, the event proceeds without further input and with the respective outcomes.

Personally, I make my decisions based on practicality and circumstances. For the "All That Glitters" random event, for example, I always choose the "risky" option, because it is one of the few ways I can stand to earn Diamonds without purchasing them, and I consider the bad outcome negligible. For "Slacker Magikarp", I'm ambivalent and tend to choose by how I feel at that moment. As for the possibly "fatal" events like "Out of Nowhere", I take the "safe" option if I have a really good Magikarp or it's late in the raising cycle, preferring to raise Magikarp until maxed out; otherwise I may risk the "fatal" outcome if I'm not satisfied with my Magikarp. The only one which I may risk more often is "Macho Karp", which with a good outcome lets me have a chance to get ahead. These are, of course, my own preferences in doing things, and other players can choose to do or not do the same.

The random events in Magikarp Jump may seem simple, but when it comes time to make decisions, that's where things get a little complicated. All the same, it gives the game a dynamic quality in its progression, one that players can take advantage (or not) in order to progress. It's up to them to determine how dynamic things should go with the random event decisions, which may allow a departure from the usual overall straightforward quality of the game.

One year ago: Pokémon Wrapping Paper

Poké Ball Mini Pokémon Figures

In the post I wrote yesterday, I detailed some Poké Balls that I recently newly received, which turned out to not be so new after all. Yet that's actually half of the story. The Poké Balls didn't come empty, for they were filled with mini Pokémon figures. Since I received two balls, it means I also received two figures. And in fact, there's a lot more to it than that, as these are not the only figures, therefore not making the balls the only ones.

I got the balls along with three others when I and three of my friends placed an order for them; they each got one ball, while I had requested to get two. As a result, there are also five figures, one for each of the balls. The Pokémon featured are not too shabby either; within the balls, there are Virizion, Luxray, Machoke, Pikachu, and Slaking - four generations represented in all. The fact that even Pikachu is present is quite surprising, considering that the figures that go inside the balls are picked at random, as the seller informed us.

As for the figures that I have, I got Pikachu and Slaking. Actually, I had requested to have Pikachu, and this request was honored. The rest of the figures and balls were distributed with a lottery, much like that time I met a group of Pokémon figure collectors. Also much like that time, I ended up trading with one of my friends; I originally got Machoke, but a friend who got Slaking did not express much interest in the particular figure, and so we ended up trading. In a sense, the trade is considered to be welcome, as I think the Pikachu and Slaking figures are the best of this set.

Some things could be said about the state of the other figures. The Machoke figure, though accurate, might not be to some people's tastes. The Virizion figure could be considered a little drab, depending on who is asked. The Luxray figure is perhaps in poor condition regarding to its colors. I was able to contact my figure fellows about these, and they suggested that a repaint (painting the figure over) may be possible, but it depends on their tastes as well. That seems to be a fair enough suggestion.

The fact that these figures are included as part of the Poké Balls is still appreciable. I and my friends were only aiming for the Poké Balls, but we got something more than that. In effect, we all were given a demonstration and affirmation that these Poké Balls are really meant to hold Pokémon, as is their imagined purpose. The figures may be a bit subpar in my view, but the Pokémon spirit remains with them. I'm only happy to add them to my collection.

One year ago: Metal Unova Cap Pikachu Keychain

(More) Plastic Poké Balls

I love things that are not just pretty, but also functional at the same time. That is the case with two plastic Poké Balls that I received just recently. They could be considered "working" Poké Balls, in a sense. They're part of a special Pokémon project that I'm planning to realize, but it won't be happening any time soon. Further, these Poké Balls are not new to me, as I also have some history with them. They're all worthy of some discussion, particularly in relation to each other.

These Poké Balls "work" because they can actually be opened and filled with things; they are composed of two plastic shells held together by a metal hinge and a latch. To open the ball, the "button" is pressed as if it is a real Poké Ball, which releases the latch and frees the top shell from the bottom, allowing the ball to be filled or its contents to be removed. The ball only opens partway, so some care is needed in manipulating its contents, and certainly the shells cannot be forced to open greater than what the hinge will allow.

As I've mentioned, I've had some history with these balls, and the history goes back all the way to last year. At the second day of a certain two-day event, someone gave me one of these plastic Poké Balls, because the person had many of them lying around and wanted me to have one, with the possibility of getting more if permitted. I appreciated the courtesy, but then I wasn't able to contact the person for more of them. Now with the ones I just received, I have three of them.

When I initially got my first one, I thought I could use it for my cosplay efforts, particularly on stage, in lieu of the fabric Poké Ball I use. However, I wasn't convinced it would hold up on stage, as these balls have a tendency to pop open given sufficient force, so I wasn't willing to take the risk. I may still be able to use these for cosplay, though I won't be throwing them all over the place; I'll just be holding on to them for poses and not much else. It may be worth a try.

I love the "working" aspect of these Poké Balls, even if other aspects come up slightly short. Their resemblance is extremely accurate, and they look great for exhibiting certain Pokémon things. They're surely a great part of my merchandise collection and they're sure to provide benefits for that project I'm planning. It's got both prettiness and functionality that aids for that, as well as for any other purpose.

One year ago: Cosplay: Tomodachi 2

Cosplay: YASUMI

[AshKetchumMode]

I gotta say, sometimes my friend can really find the most one-of-a-kind events to send me to, and this one is it. My friend says this is supposed to be a small afternoon event, but it turns out to be more than that. It was still just made up of things on stage, and there wasn't a big festival around it. But I guess it's fine.

So my friend found out about this event from his friends, and he thought it would be great for spending the day, I agreed, so I went. The problem was we couldn't tell at the start that it was supposed to be an afternoon event, so I ended up coming early. I didn't have to worry, though - other characters started to show up, and that's how I knew the event was on. As always, there were a lot of people and characters, so it really became crowded. But that makes it fun too.

I brought my XY outfit. My friend and I thought it would be fun to show it off to other characters and people, and he wasn't too wrong. There was a character parade which was totally free, so that helped. All the other characters also want in, of course, so we all ended up being a group of more than 50. The trouble is, there are only three winners in three groups, and I could win only in two, which I didn't. I'm just fine.

I guess the big thing to take away from this one is information. Maybe it'd help to know when it starts so I don't have to come early. And then for the character parade, I want to know what I can and should do, so that I'm not confused and the hosts are not confused too. I should know also where to sign up for the parade so that my character friends don't miss it. Those are all pretty big pieces of info to know.

I did meet a lot of friends while at the event for my friend and my character friends. I'm always happy to see them and my friend will be happy to know I see them. It seems even more important this time. Right, Pikachu?

Pikachu: Pika! [agreeing]

Pikachu seems to agree. Well, this event has been small, but there was some big-time fun. I'm glad my friend sent me to come. It makes for an interesting day. Maybe my friend can find a few more of these, and we'll have fun no matter what.

[/AshKetchumMode]

One year ago: Perfection and Excellence

(A New) Local Ex-Raid, 8/4/2018

As I've discussed in my previous Ex-Raid opportunity, another Gym in my local area "broke through" and became able to host Ex-Raids. The one that I participated I today is "new", because I indeed got my Ex-Raid Pass for that Gym. I earned mine off an opportune Marowak; to be honest, I wasn't sure that I would get it because the raid for the Pokémon was a Level 4, which required at least a few players, but thanks to opportune players, I was able to complete the raid and capture the Pokémon, and get the Ex-Raid Pass thereafter. That's a great thing.

The only thing that wasn't so great was that there were far fewer participants in this Ex-Raid than in the previous ones I've participated in, excluding a few of the initial ones in which I took part. On one hand, this is understandable since the Ex-Raids here only started to happen two weeks ago. On the other hand, it may mean that the place only hasn't been seriously considered as an alternative to the usual place where I've had my previous Ex-Raids. Hopefully with this one, it may become more considerable.

The others... well... (I took the picture.)

With very few participants, the battle flights were also few - two in all, plus an extra one if necessary. However, during the course of the battles, many were found to be going off their flights, which destroys the entire point of coordination. I do wish things had gone according to plan. Fortunately my battle flight went just fine, even without the ones who weren't supposed to be there. Yet due to the situation, I only got a bare number of balls for my Mewtwo capture - seven - which made this capture particularly challenging. Luckily, with only three balls remaining, a well-executed throw resulted in a successful capture, and I was pleased.

Now, as with the previous Ex-Raid, this one also happened along with the Ex-Raid at the other usual place, only this time it didn't happen concurrently at the same time, and this one was instead separated by three hours. Yet in any case, this seems to affirm that the two places will have the Ex-Raids at the exact or nearly the same time. At the least, this will still allow options for different places to have Ex-Raids in, so both can and should be supported. I am also interested to try different things of my own in regard to these places with Gyms open for Ex-Raids, so these two places will definitely help for that.

I'm thoroughly satisfied with this Ex-Raid, even if it seems different, minimalist, and out of the ordinary. But then, that's the way it seems with Pokémon Go every so often, making for a dynamic experience. This dynamic quality will surely be what will keep me coming back for Ex-Raids in my local area, whether in this place, as usual in the other place, or perhaps even other places. For now, this one is just great.

One year ago: Pokémon on My Bed

Divergent Anime?

Anyone who watches the Pokémon anime up to the most recent iterations know that there's an oddity between the episodes and movies (feature films). The two are now "differentiated" from each other; the movies are not stories that take place within the current progression of the anime episodes, and they amount to something almost completely new. In a sense, the two can be said to be "diverging".

It should be noted that there is actually a proper term to describe what has happened in regard to the movies. They have undergone what is called a "reboot" because they have started over. And it's quite the reboot; last year's movie really did start at the very beginning of the journey, and then some. This year's movie, which has already been released in Japan, continues the reboot with a different story. Even with the reboot, it does feel like it really features the same Ash fans know and love.

As for the anime episodes, the artistic style for the current saga - Alola - is quite different than for previous ones. It's enough to make many wonder whether it really features the same Ash. There have been reassurances that this is the case, but the difference is salient enough that it may keep some fans wondering; I'm one of those, though the wonder is a small one in the back of my mind. This belies the "divergence", being that the episodes are one thing and the movies are another.

The next thing to wonder is whether in the future the divergence should be kept or not. On one hand, this is a totally new paradigm, and it would be fascinating to see them develop; after two decades and 1000 episodes, this is a refreshing change, in a way. On the other hand, this is a divergence after all, and that means the two are inconsistent with each other. The view for both maintaining this divergence and removing it (that is, making them "converge" again) seems valid.

It's hard for any fan to not notice the divergence due to the complete differences of the movies and episodes. To keep the two divergent seems to be as valid as making them re-converge. Whether or not they are different and divergent from each other, though, it still becomes a given to watch and keep up with both, especially for the most dedicated of fans like me. The only issue left is to see how both develop in contrast to each other.

One year ago: A Hobbled Pikachu... 3DS XL

The Music of Magikarp Jump

Aside from being a pleasant game to help pass the time, Magikarp Jump has something else that makes it pleasant. And as can be surmised from the title of this post, that something is the music made for it. Though not a significant part of the game and it can be considered to be rudimentary as well, it's still a part of the game, and it's a treat for anyone who keeps the music settings in the game on and is equipped to hear things from the device used to play the game.

All the music in the game are somewhat simplistic. Each one is about half a minute to a minute long, and they all play in a continuous loop for the relevant situation. The music may be light and mellow, bouncy and anticipatory, or fast and tense depending on the situation. Also due to to the game's repetitive nature, players may hear certain pieces more than others, and certainly over and over as players go through the situation again and again. Given the way of things, it's not hard to see why some players might turn off the music, because of the ever-repeating and changing nature. Yet it has to be admitted that all the music are interesting to some degree.

The music that most players will expect to hear often is the music that plays for the pond, which is the first thing that players are taken to at the typical start of the game and after completing training and battles, and this is one of the light and mellow tunes; the same is true for the training music - a bouncy and anticipatory one - as players will likely need its services again and again to raise Magikarp to greater levels. League and league battles have their own music as well, the latter being fast and tense, though it is likely that players will go through these as needed rather than continuously. Other situations that have their own music include buying things in the town, when something new happens, and upon having to start over with a new Magikarp upon the demise or retirement of one, though these are relatively occasional.

The repetitive nature of Magikarp Jump means that players will be exposed to the same things many times over, and this includes the associated music. Despite this, the game still has an addictive quality, and the music can be considered to contribute to this. It's up to players whether they'll want to hear the same music yet again as they perform the necessary repeated actions, but it's certainly a given if they want the full, pleasant experience to pass the time.

One year ago: Pokémon Is Everything

Type Logic

Type matchups are a common thing to remember across many Pokémon games (and beyond), from the main series to Go. Many of the relationships seem reasonable, making them easy to remember. Others, however, seem to make a little less sense and thus may be a bit harder to keep in mind. Their logic becomes something to be pondered.

I recently discussed one of these relationships with other Pokémon fans. That relationship is Flying-Fighting, which is super effective in the forward direction and not effective in the backward direction. What becomes the question is the logic in how this is so. An "illustrative" image suggests that Fighting-type Pokémon may be scared to death of Flying-type ones, therefore the strong and weak relationship, though this does not appear to jive with the others. I happen to think that the "illustrative" image more resembles a Machoke being bothered and pecked on by a Pidgeotto, which seems to make more sense to me. The discussion was then left hanging.

Though the discussion became inconclusive, there is still the sense that some relationships of types appear to be hard to grasp. The fact that Dragon-type Pokémon can't hit (or at the most are not effective against) Fairy-type ones appear to be extraordinary, given the physical nature of both beings. Ghost types and Dragon types appear to be good at vanquishing others of the same type, and yet their physical entity - or lack of it - does not seem to suggest as such. It may be that these aforementioned relationships are somewhat abstract and therefore challenging to make sense or understand, yet that is the way things are.

Even so, many type relationships are still quite easily understandable. Water types wear away Rock and Ground types, Electric types zap Flying and Water types due to conduction by power lines and fluid, and Flying types munch on Grass types and Bug types, and so on. These relationships, in comparison to the others, appear concrete enough for anyone to agree on, facilitating easy memorization and understanding. These are the ones that cause less doubt for any fan, and I'm sure my fellow fans would agree.

No matter how concrete or abstract they may seem, the relationships are still something that makes the Pokémon games what they are. Altogether, they make up the entire body of type logic that governs how Pokémon interact with one another. Fans and players can make what they will of the type logic, but all its particularities continue to apply regardless.

One year ago: Fun at the Beach... or Water Park