Local EX Raid (and Rain, Again), 11/30/2018

The previous EX Raid that I participated in was plagued by weather problems, specifically those related to rain. The EX Raid that I participated in today was plagued by much of the same problems, even though the rain during the EX Raid was not as intense as it was in the previous occasion. And to an extent, the problems that occurred today could be anticipated. Even so, the results could still be considered to be less desirable.

This time, the EX Raid was scheduled for 3 PM. A few of my raid fellows theorized that this is the time when rain was most likely to happen, and they were right; though things were dry in the moments leading up to it, the sky was already a dreary gray by that time. Knowing that this would be the case, I made sure to arrive as early as possible. As it turns out, many of my raid fellows - the ones that also received the EX Raid passes - made sure to do so as well, likely because of the same earlier experiences. I also brought the biggest umbrella I had, taking cues from that previous EX Raid.

Shortly after the EX Raid began, the rain also began. Predictably, the scheduled battle flights went into disarray, particularly as many desired to complete the EX Raid as quickly as possible. Thus, some made alternate arrangements to try a limited private group, while others, including me, joined the earliest formed groups. My battle flight was originally supposed to be 13 minutes out from the start of the EX Raid, but that wasn't going to happen with the way things were going.

A quick shot, before capture.

Since this EX Raid happened at a Gym that is pretty much out in the open, there was hardly any covered place to stay under while the EX Raid proceeded. Fortunately, that big umbrella helped me to stay relatively dry... as well as a few of my raid fellows. Unfortunately, this and the rain also made things pretty hectic, if the EX Raid itself hadn't already been; the Gym was changed to a team that wasn't mine, and the group that served as my battle flight was pretty well-mixed in terms of people and teams. This resulted in only 10 balls for capture, 2 of which were provided courtesy of an Ultra Friend. After several failed attempts, I finally caught Deoxys on the second-to-last ball; it could be said that the 2 Ultra Friend balls saved this effort. This is clearly undesirable.

This EX Raid seemed to work out well enough, even with all the problems that the rain caused. It seems fair to say that many of us took note of many things that happened with the last rainy EX Raid and prepared. It also seems fair to say that a lot of things could have been prepared much better, such as alternative arrangements and support for those who brave the rain. We all (at least the ones who came) barely scraped this one, but that's OK. It'll be the next ones in the rain that will be of great concern.

One year ago: Feature Film 20 - "Pokémon The Movie - I Choose You!"

Multiple Pathways to Evolution?

I've already discussed a particular evolution treatment that was recently introduced in Pokémon Go, and now I want to discuss something that's on a tangent to that. In the main series games - or for that matter, any Pokémon game where evolution is possible and becomes a concern, such as in the Mystery Dungeon games and even Go - Pokémon evolve in a single, definite way, depending on the game. But then there's a question: could Pokémon be made to evolve in multiple ways for the same next-stage species in the same game? The most likely answer requires a bit of reasoning.

It is notable that most Pokémon already evolve through a convenient manner: by leveling up in the games where levels are relevant, and by Candies in Go. Not only is this convenient (more or less), this is also pretty much standard and assured. Therefore, given a multiple approach or pathway that involves this manner, this manner is most likely to be selected, precluding other alternative approaches. In fact, after four generations of Pokémon in Go, this is assuredly the only approach, notwithstanding necessary items or other requirements for certain evolution processes. Thus, Pokémon with the standard no-frills manner can be ruled out to have multiple methods.

This leaves the Pokémon that evolve by other means, such as evolution stones and other external methods. These may conceivably evolve through multiple ways, but this also depends on the circumstances. As an example, though evolution stones are obtainable in the games that have them, they may become prohibitively difficult to obtain; another method could provide an alternative. And yet if it turns out a method is actually easier, that may become the preferred method instead, making the multiple-pathway moot. Both approaches then would have to be on par in difficulty of effort to execute, for example requiring either one of two items to evolve to the next-stage form.

The current situation also bears some consideration. There is actually one Pokémon for which the answer to the question above is "yes", and that is Feebas; in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Feebas can evolve by leveling after maximizing its Beauty contest stat, or by trading while holding a Prism Scale, the former being the GBA game method and the latter being the post-GBA method. Clamperl is the next-closest, though this is for two different next-stage species with two different items. This indicates the possibility of different circumstances for multiple pathways. To move this into Go territory, Eevee currently can evolve into Jolteon by way of random chance; a circumstance may be created so that it can assuredly evolve into Jolteon rather than a random chance, in effect becoming a requirement. The Prism Scale could also be mimicked in Go using a certain item, but this would have to be difficult to obtain to encourage its present method of walking first before using Candies.

With the reasoning above, the answer is indeed "yes", but only in limited circumstances. Pokémon that evolve in non-standard approaches are the most likely candidates for being able to evolve through multiple methods, especially for ascertaining evolution in the inconvenience of other methods. By and large, Pokémon evolution is standardized with certain methods, but for those beyond (or not conforming to) the standard, multiple pathways may just provide alternatives that are preferable when others aren't.

One year ago: The Words of a Pikachu

Sinnoh Stone: Agglomerating Evolution

Recently, Pokémon Go introduced a new evolution item for allowing a select number of Pokémon from earlier generations to evolve to their fourth-generation evolved forms. The item is called the Sinnoh Stone, and it applies for a number of Pokémon that in the main series games would utilize an evolution stone or another specific evolution item. This means that the Sinnoh Stone effectively consolidates or agglomerates those specific items into a single item. This becomes something that bears some discussion, given the specifics of evolution for particular Pokémon species.

Six months ago, I wrote a post on the limits of evolution items, and it is perhaps this limit that has been realized. Most evolutionary items only really go so far, being able to only evolve a handful of Pokémon and lacking much purpose elsewhere. From a practical standpoint, it is not really feasible to add a new item when that item is only specifically related to a couple of or just one Pokémon. It is perhaps for this reason why the Clamperl family has not been seen in Go even as of this post, despite being from the previous generation. To overcome limits like in this particular case, the Sinnoh Stone is created and instituted in lieu of several different items.

This solution appears both practical and smart, even if it does seem deviant to the order of how things are supposed to proceed in regard to evolution. But then again, Go has been deviant in this regard from the very beginning. Eevee, for example, evolves to Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon by a single random chance rather than being determined by the stones characteristic to each species. Most recently, Shedinja has been separated from the actual Nincada to Ninjask evolutionary process and can actually be captured on its own, albeit only via a Field Research breakthrough. It seems it may not be fair to compare Go against the main series games considering how other Pokémon games address evolution, which may be not at all. This makes the Go treatment respectable.

The Sinnoh Stone is thus a unique solution to regard how limited evolution items actually are in actual and typical (main series) usage. Even if it's not actually what would be used by certain Pokémon to evolve, by taking the place of a few other items, which may or may not make sense in Go, the solution seems fair enough in consideration of how the other items work. The agglomeration suffices for this purpose, and it simply becomes another new order of evolution specific to this game.

One year ago: Journeys and Adventures

Poké-Pareidolia

Pareidolia is what happens when someone sees (or hears) something that is not actually there. Thus, "Poké-pareidolia" is seeing (or hearing) something related to Pokémon when it isn't there. Now, nine months ago, I wrote a post that detailed how I seem to have an "eye" for many things Pokémon, being able to instantly recognize things that are related to it. On the flip side, I may falsely perceive that I saw something Pokémon. This post essentially details the inverse of that.

Sometimes, I see yellow blobs that are as brightly colored as or resembling a body part of Pikachu, but on closer and more detailed inspection, it's actually not. In another instance, I saw red, white, and blue that are similar to and arranged like Red's outfit, but it is neither an outfit nor belongs to Red. And then there are various occasions where I see blue and yellow, the colors of the international Pokémon logo, juxtaposed in such a way that they almost invoke that logo. In all of these cases, I'm seeing something that isn't really there, and that's pareidolia. Since this is related to Pokémon, it becomes "Poké-pareidolia".

Pareidolia is actually important, as it is the consequence of our minds being able to instantly recognize and react to the things that are important. For example, faces become important as they are something that the human mind reacts to in feelings; this leads to the perception of shapes and lines that don't even make up real faces to actually be construed as faces. The same is what happened above, only it involves Pokémon things as specific cases, and in particular being related to my perception.

What this means is that this affirms the exact same thing that I discussed in the other post: that I am a dedicated fan, and that Pokémon is "hard-wired". In a sense, I consider Pokémon important, being able to recognize something belonging to it at a quick glance. However, this sometimes also backfires in cases of pareidolia, where the perceptions are false. My perception of Pokémon is thus as innate as, say, the perception of faces and the situations of pareidolia that occur from that.

The thing about pareidolia is that it highlights how acute the human perception is regarding certain things, insofar as it also leads to the false perception of them. For many people, including me, it would involve something as common as faces. For my case in particular, it involves Pokémon and related elements. In either case, it becomes an indicator that something is innately important and provokes reactions, even if it's just a perception that only falsely exists.

One year ago: The Pacing of Types

Individual Appearance Variations Among Pokémon Species

When Pokémon - as in the creatures themselves - are presented to people, they are often shown through a "standard image". The image conforms to how a Pokémon species typically appears. And this is true, to some extent. But it's also true that some Pokémon species could appear quite different than normal, even if this is not immediately evident. The things that make them different constitute their individual appearance variations, which Pokémon species could conceivably have.

Anyone who's well-versed in the Pokémon games know of the Shiny forms, and that's certainly a specific individual variation, and a commonly known one at that, especially as Pokémon Go is exposing this variation to its players. Another specific individual variation that's commonly (but perhaps not broadly) known is the anatomical differences between male and female or other forms (such as a "heart-ended" tail for female Pikachu compared to a pointed tail for male ones); these are admittedly more complex, not as noticeable, and highly particular for certain Pokémon. The existence of these variations indicate that Pokémon already have significant individual variation.

Looking at the entries of individual Pokémon in the Pokédex, each is noted with a certain height and weight. These are acceptable in general, but it's not hard to surmise that individual species may vary in these too. Variations in these properties are already noted in Pokémon Go, additionally with size tags for comparison. Elsewhere, this is not a significant variation concern, but it could become as such, if the setting demands it and this becomes a crucial determinant, as in a game. The specific heights and weights are thus simply an abstracted "average", and variations in these may be more apparent than they seem.

And then there are styles that may be possessed by individuals of a certain species. I've already discussed this to a certain extent with the possible existence of a variety of patterns for select Pokémon species, and that's certainly a part of that. What may also be possible is actual variations of minute details, for example like certain Pikachu having hair that resembles a cowlick (thus validating its furry appearance in the Detective Pikachu trailer), or horned Pokémon with slightly longer or smaller horns than normal. This could potentially venture into "abnormal" territory, but it may be something that has to be accepted.

There's nothing wrong with the presentation of Pokémon species having characteristic appearances; these effectively constitute "norms" for them. But beyond the norms, there are possibilities that affect Pokémon appearances. And all of them make sense and are conceivable, considering how Pokémon are vividly alive in their settings. Surely beyond their characteristic presentations, there is a more varied world of Pokémon to discover, based on their possible appearances.

One year ago: Popularity

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 11/25/2018

Pokémon Go certainly has a lot of events, if my previous rollups are of any indication. Having written about them for the past five months - and this month would be the sixth - I'd say that's pretty standard. That said, each event is still significant for progression as they offer various incentives, and to look back upon for their highs and lows, which is why I have continued to write about them. Some events may also be good indicators of what is to come, as with a few recent events.

First up is an event that in some ways I have prophesied to come true in a way. Two months ago, I wrote about the event concept of "Community Raid Days" based on the Legendary Bird Days that occurred as part of the Summer Tour, but extended to other (non-Legendary) Pokémon. Three weeks ago, this was realized, only it wasn't called that; it was just called a "Special Raid Challenge". The featured Pokémon was Gengar, which led to the other accepted name, "Gengar Day" based on the other naming pattern; it came with its Shiny form as well as the exclusive move Lick in tow. Uniquely, the exclusive move could also be obtained by evolving a Haunter into Gengar during the event period, likely as an effect of this event being held for regular Pokémon. I only raided a handful of Gengar, and none of them were Shiny; I did, however, evolve a Haunter with max stats and obtained a bottomed-out Gengar from the raids. It was still fun to do so with a handful of others from my raid group.

Recently, there was also a couple of events that are as different as they are alike. The first was titled "Stardust Blast", which increased the amount of Stardust that could be obtained for a period of time. Incidentally, the November Community Day, which also featured an increased Stardust bonus, ran concurrently with this event, allowing for massive Stardust bonuses. The second, which is actually still currently running, is titled the "Hatchathon"; by its title, this event involves Eggs. Though the number of Eggs that can be hatched is not increased (through reducing Egg distance), one thing is increased: the number of Pokémon in a certain Egg pool, the 2 km one. The Pokémon added happen to be the baby or first-stage forms of some Pokémon that could evolve into newly added Pokémon from the fourth generation. Like the "Stardust Blast" event, this one is also concurrent with (though not related to) another event...

...and that event is called the Let's Go event, because it celebrates the recently-released Let's Go games on the Switch. As part of this event, Meltan becomes available to all through a set of Special Research tasks, as well as when the game is linked to the Let's Go games. To that end, the most commonly appearing Pokémon are Pikachu, Eevee, and other Pokémon of the first generation (as they are featured in the Let's Go games), as well as Pokémon that would assist in completing the Special Research tasks for Meltan, which are the sine qua non for this goal. Event-related Field Research tasks are also available to aid completion of this. Further, the evolved forms of Eevee that are thus far available also appear in raids as Level 3 bosses, adding to the festivity. This should augment the interest of players to obtain the Switch and one of the Let's Go games; mine surely has.

It's hard to not expect the "Special Raid Challenge" to be repeated some time in the future, now that this is more or less standard like a Community Day event. Stardust and Egg events too will certainly occur in the future, though perhaps with different twists, like amounts for the former and other varied pools for the latter. And while it's hard to expect a replay of the Let's Go event, much fun seems to await with further interactions between Go and those games. All these events seem to indicate great things in store for the game, and I'm already looking forward to further developments.

One year ago: Late Launch Party... Minus the Party

Cosplay: Art and Culture Exhibition 2018

[AshKetchumMode]

Sometimes you just need a break. My friend needs to take a break from his stuff, and I need to take a break from Pokémon training. So then there's this theme event. It's kind of odd, but familiar too.

My friend tells me that this theme event pops up every now and then, and it's a way for some students to show off what they like about some groups of people. That happens to include characters like me. The ones that had to come today are to perform on stage, but that doesn't stop other characters like me from coming and having some fun. That's the way it has been since a few years ago, when my friend started to send me to events and conventions like and including this one.

There were no competitions - at least, not for us - so I came as I am. I was sent with my Kalos outfit, which is fine, because I and my friend couldn't and didn't want to prepare much for the event. And it shows - most of the stands were food stands anyway, along with the stage performances. A few other characters came, so I wasn't totally alone, and I was glad.

Pikachu: Pika pi! Pika pika chu? [inquisitive]

Oh yeah, how'd you like the performances, Pikachu? There were Pyroar dancing, the group of characters that performed on stage, and some really rockin' bands. There was also a fashion show, but I can't help but think some of the people in it look like characters that I know - maybe I should have been in it. They're all still awesome with what the people do. I think all this has been great fun for today. But what do you think?

Pikachu: Pika chu! [approves]

I'm glad - it's what we came for, right? My friend sent us here for a good time, and we had some of that. Even if in the beginning it looked dicey, and the rain was really heavy in the afternoon, the theme event turned out to be great - maybe this time is even the best for this event. That's a good thing, so we had a good break too.

OK, the break's over. Now we've gotta get back to doing what we've gotta be doing.

[/AshKetchumMode]

One year ago: Catching Them All

The Amazing Pokémon Race

When I went last Tuesday to a gathering of my raid group, there was a quite remarkable on-the-spot challenge. Teams of players started out going from the gathering spot to a Gym to raid, then came back after capturing the raid boss Pokémon. It is quite similar to something that would be done in a certain kind of grand race. In fact...

Well, let's just go straight to the point, shall we? I'm a bit of a fan of The Amazing Race TV series ever since the first one aired, and even though I haven't watched the more recent iterations, the series has left a mark on me, though not as big of a mark as Pokémon. That said, with the advent of Pokémon Go and all its newer features, it might be plausible to combine elements of the game into the format of the series, in similar fashion to how the on-the-spot challenge worked.

Based on what I've been informed about the most recent iterations, there are elements that are opportunity-based rather than skill-based, and those can remain as they are, without inclusion of Pokémon Go elements. For the skill-based elements, that's where Pokémon Go elements can be worked in. They're also the ones that have been with the series in all incarnations from the very start. They are:

Detour. I foresee this using Field Research tasks collected from a certain area of PokéStops. One scenario could involve the completion of all tasks in an area as opposed to another, while another could be to complete a number of certain tasks that reward a specific kind of reward, either items or Pokémon. The key is still to choose wisely between tasks that demand one thing versus another, which is the point of this element.

Roadblock. I foresee this involving raids. As some raids may need more than one person to complete, the assistance of a local raid group or a set of willing players may be required. To make things easier yet more interesting, this could involve a limited set of nearby Gyms and only needing to raid only a portion of that, where a time penalty would be instituted if this goal is not met.

Fast Forward. I foresee this using a Special Research that is to be completed over the course of several legs, and if this can be completed, the Fast Forward is awarded. To account for the possibility of multiple teams earning the Fast Forward in one leg, the Fast Forward could be restricted in usage to one team per leg, and the Special Research could be suspended for all after one team uses the Fast Forward, resuming on the next leg.

The Research tasks have to be made harder and raid challenges may have to be specially instituted, of course, but otherwise, the premise remains the same: to have teams to go through all of these and see who comes out on top and on the bottom.

It's not hard to tell that the on-the-spot challenge may have been partially inspired by the TV series, and it has been admitted, in a way. That does lead to the prospect that these may be combined even further. As a major Pokémon fan and a minor TAR fan, it would make me glad personally. It would be fascinating to see just how The Amazing Pokémon Race could unfold.

One year ago: Thankfulness

So Little and So Much

Today is Thursday, and today is the fourth one of this day in this month of November. That means the people in the U.S. are celebrating the day of Thanksgiving, something that has left an impression in me since I stayed there. Though I'm displaced from the actual celebration, it doesn't mean I can't contemplate on some related things on this day... with a Pokémon twist, of course. And this year, based on how things are going, I've got one such thing. It concerns something called "quantity".

Near the beginning of when I started this blog nearly two years ago, I noted that there are some Pokémon things that I lack in. My collections are not quite plentiful, my knowledge of VGC is lacking, and there are some anime episodes I've yet to watch. And yet I went ahead and started this blog. It's all because I'm highly deeply appreciative of Pokémon and all its related things, which is something that I noted in my celebratory post for this day last year.

It is quite true that since then I've added quite a few more Pokémon merchandise to my collection, but then again, my VGC knowledge has barely improved, and the anime episodes are still an ongoing matter. Regardless of these things, I am still a fan, if all the posts in this blog up to today are any indication. I find that this is still a good thing, and moreover, it's an appropriate thing to be thankful for, which is in line with the spirit of this day.

I will surely be having more and more Pokémon things with me, but at the same time, I know that I can't get everything. I can try for a lot of things, but that depends on different factors. The number of Pokémon things present out there in the world far outnumber what I have and even what many of my fellow Pokémon fans have. But I know for as long as we like Pokémon, there's not much to worry about, and this too becomes something to appreciate and for which a sense of thanks is in order.

Quantity is an ever-changing thing, especially for Pokémon, which continues to lead to more things. But that's to be expected, of course. I and other Pokémon fans can only deal with it, taking in what we can take in. However much the amount, it becomes something respectable and appreciable. No matter how little or how much we end up with, the only thing left to do is to be thankful, which is particular on this day and general for all other times.

Happy Thanksgiving, for those celebrating.

One year ago: A Pokémon Menu

Traveling All the World

Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like personally to travel the world unfettered and unrestricted. I'd like to be able to go to one part of the world, sustain myself and others through odd jobs, then move on to another part when the time is right. It's actually something that certain people have done and have detailed about their experiences doing so, though I sense I would like to do it too, if I wasn't so fixed in my life. But then I think about Pokémon, and this is something that quite a few people in this world do regularly.

Trainers are obviously a part of this; their objective is not only to make their Pokémon strong, but also to venture to look for partners and opponents, to spar with or otherwise. In doing so, they'll likely have to travel to many parts of the world to effectively realize the goal. They sustain their experience and progression, as well as those of others; they also do so more or less freely, insofar as their experience and progression necessitates them to stay or go. It's a wondrous thing in this world.

Beyond Trainers, a few other people would be expected to do the same. Those who deal with Pokémon on a very close level would need to go everywhere to deal with different Pokémon, like Breeders with Eggs and photographers with the pictures they take. This would also involve the scientists and professors in this world. What they find out about the world can sustain the knowledge of everyone. The only real difference would be that some of these people would possess an actual home base, unlike Trainers who are more like vagabonds. Their travels could still potentially hold great stories for others.

As much as it might seem pleasant to go on these travels, there is yet the possibility that the journey might fail. If Trainers can no longer travel, they might settle somewhere and lead a new Pokémon life there. For the others, it would be a matter of getting back to home safe and sound. In a way, to travel all over the world may not be something for everyone, at least to sustain it, in which case it's much wiser to settle instead. It's something to consider, whether it's Pokémon or real life.

If I didn't already have many attachments in life, whether to play or to be productive, to freely travel all the world would be something I'd consider, even with all its pitfalls. To see the world and learn about it firsthand could be unlike any other. At the least, Pokémon and its world provides an indication of who might make this happen and what happens along the way. I'm able to think about me traveling all the world through those characters who do just that.

One year ago: Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Uptake

A Raid Group Gathering

The members of my raid group often meet for raids, which is a given, considering that's the main purpose of this group. But we don't often seem to meet... to gather, socialize, and do things that may or may not involve raids all at once, and the last time that happened was when the group celebrated its first anniversary last July. On that note, a gathering was scheduled today, taking advantage of this day, which happens to be an off day for most people. And so the gathering was on.

The agenda for today's gathering involved the announcement of winners and awarding of prizes for a previous raid competition and challenge, which I didn't participate in due to other constraints. But to increase the incentive for the gathering, there was also an on-the-spot challenge for everyone that came, which I consider to be in lieu of that other challenge. And of course, there was the other objective as above. Though there was nothing too special about this day specifically, many contributed food and drinks, so it evoked the previous anniversary gathering.

Since the gathering took place next to the Gym that is the original EX Raid Gym in the area, it was natural that the activities would involve that Gym. Actually, just as the gathering was about to start, there was an opportune Giratina raid in that Gym, which led to many raiding the Gym to start the festivities. It is almost assured that those who raided the Gym today will earn EX Raid passes sometime this week. From then on, it was onward with the rest of the gathering.

The gathering started off with some introductions, then it was on to the on-the-spot challenge. The challenge was to subdivide those who came into teams of five players, have them raid a specific Gym in the area, capture the Pokémon, and come back with everyone in tow, like a race; the winner was determined by which team came back the earliest and with all of the team members capturing the Pokémon. I was part of the "Totodile" team, and we raided a Level 3 raid in a Gym just off the area, which was for an Alolan Raichu. Remarkably, all of the members in my team captured it and made it back just in time to take second place, though I was the slowest to come back.

Team Totodile took second place! (I'm second from right.)

And then there was the announcement of the winners for the previous challenge, as well as the awarding of prizes for all the challenges, including the on-the-spot one for today. This made things fun and celebratory. The gathering was finished off with more eating and drinking, as well as some interactions, including a certain special one. After that, it was back to business as usual.

This gathering has proven to be quite successful. At the least it should show that the members of my raid group are also interested in gathering en masse in addition to small groups for certain raids in certain areas. In fact, plans are in the works for another gathering, perhaps next month, before some people have to go somewhere for other matters. I surely want to take part regardless, if it means it could be as festive as today.

One year ago: On Cosplay Props and Prop Makers

Fans of Fans

The great thing about Pokémon is that many people like it. Those who like it, like me, become fans of everything and anything that is begotten from the franchise. However, some Pokémon fans can develop so influentially that they themselves can become liked by other fans. Those fans are who I would call "fans of fans", and this can happen for quite a few types of fans. I can recall quite a few fans and just who becomes fans of them.

Some of my VGC fellows know about a few supreme VGC players who can really do what they do, and they effectively become fans of them. It's hard not to believe that those VGC players are fans as well, enjoying not only the Pokémon games they play, but also a few other Pokémon things as well. By the same token, some of my raid fellows know about some supreme Pokémon Go players, and they too become fans of them; if anything, those players are expected to like Pokémon stuff as well. There is a good indication that this is so, with my fellows meeting the players and linking up with them. They are indeed fans of fans.

Meanwhile, among my VGC fellows, there's one person in particular who's the de facto leader. He's quite respected as a leader, but we know him for his quirks as well. But we still like him no matter what, so we're fans of him too. On my raid group front, everyone seems to know each other for their quirks, so we seem to be fans of each other for whatever we do. Yet through it all, we still enjoy what we do with Pokémon. That seems to make all of us fans of fans.

Personally, on the cosplay front, many people, cosplayers or otherwise, have recognized me as being a Pokémon fan who cosplays Pokémon character. So in a way, they have become fans of me... but this is better reserved for a much more extended discussion that I'm not quite sure when I'll be able to get to. Recently though, I've been in extended contact with one of these "fans", and we find that we both really like Pokémon as well, especially the Pokémon anime. We met a couple of events ago, and we've connected ever since. It's something that I appreciate, as well as that other matter.

I'm obviously not the only fan of Pokémon; many people around the world and even locally are. It's when we link up with one another that wondrous things happen: we find out about each other, what we like about Pokémon, and even something to like about each other. In the process, we become fans of each other, and thus "fans of fans". It's fair to say that our liking for each other as well as for Pokémon generally will continue to drive us to continue to like.

One year ago: Cosplay: MINORI 5

Trough of Disillusionment

While I was researching further info on 3D printing for my post on it, I happened upon a fascinating term. That term is evidently the exact title of this post. The term seems apt for describing some of my current Pokémon experiences, as well as those of others. It becomes something that may be worth discussing as well, because it involves mixed emotions in response to them.

To understand how this can be the case, it is necessary to explain how the term comes about. When an innovation makes itself present (such as 3D printing), people may become highly excited up to a certain fever pitch, and then this excitement drops when they realize it may not prove apparently useful. However, then the excitement rises again over time as they realize how it can be useful, which may or may not reach the previous high. The drop in excitement from the high peak is what is called the "trough of disillusionment", because when seen on a chart, it looks like a narrow gap between the quick fall and the slow second rise.

Something Pokémon that I personally still feel that I'm in the "trough" is VGC battling. It's been about four years since I've dabbled in this mode of battling... and I'm still dabbling. I passed my peak of excitement about a few months after I started dabbling, and I've barely moved out of the trough. Time doesn't help matters much, and it has to be the greatest restriction; I can barely even keep up with, say, the three series for VGC 2019. I suppose as things progress, I won't be disillusioned, but first, I've got to get things right.

Outside of VGC, the biggest disillusionment for me and anyone else that plays Pokémon Go is probably getting a Nintendo Switch to play the Let's Go games, which had just been released a couple of days ago. It's surely exciting, but I suppose many of us haven't been enlightened enough to justify getting one, even based on what has been revealed about the games before the release. But as more information rolls in, I'm sure many will take the plunge. This too seems to be a matter of time for me; I remember having the same sense of disillusionment right around when I got my first 3DS, but then over time it became one of my indispensable gaming tools, especially for Pokémon. The same story will potentially repeat with the Switch.

There is also a sense that some people may have entered the "trough" with the release of the Detective Pikachu movie trailer. I say it's rather exciting, and it is, but with this as the only information available regarding the movie, it's somewhat of a disillusion for them as well. For this one, there is not much that can be done; it just has to be waited out for more information up to its release.

If things are any indication, it seems that the "trough of disillusionment" can occur with just about anything, including Pokémon things. But then that's what really happens when excitement is on a collision course with reality. After the collision, what's next is picking up the pieces and molding them into a much better excitement. It's something that I (and some other people) hope to happen with these Pokémon things as well.

One year ago: A Little Teaser... and Guessing Game

PikaPool

With the release of the trailer for the movie version of the game Detective Pikachu, there's something that becomes relevant. So those who play or have played the game know that in the game, the protagonist Pikachu talks understandably to the main human character, which is also the case in the upcoming movie. In it, Pikachu is voiced by Ryan Reynolds. Of course, Ryan Reynolds is also well-known (and more identifiable) for playing another, much dirtier role: Deadpool, the anti-hero with his own movie series. Putting together the two phenomena, this results in the term "PikaPool", which becomes odd and yet fascinating.

This term is both objective and satirical. Anyone with sufficient knowledge and appreciation for both series will likely cross them over, and in fact, this has happened at least once. Arguably though, Pikachu being voiced by the very person that plays Deadpool is one step on the path of this crossover. And yet, the choice of Ryan Reynolds for the role may seem questionable. Why would someone with such a well-known mad role fill in a role that is well-known for being affectionate? And wouldn't it lead to this linking, which it has?

Looking at Ryan's filmography, though, he has had experiences playing different characters in different genres. He has played roles in action, thriller, comedy, fantasy, and science fiction movies, and has even done voice work for a couple of animated films as well as a documentary. That's an impressive resume, and the voice work is a total plus for something like Pokémon. The game itself, based on what little I've played so far, is action-adventure with some fantasy and comedy thrown in, and this is pretty much the case for the movie, so it makes perfect sense. Also, many of Ryan's characters are quite adult-oriented, so it would seem nice to satisfy younger audiences at times. He has children, after all.

Jokes aside, I have to say that I really enjoy Ryan's voice as Pikachu. I don't see anything too wrong with that, and I dare say that there couldn't have been a better English voice actor for the specific character context. Detective Pikachu isn't like any other Pikachu; it has its own personality and quirks that a voice profile like that of Ikue Ootani, the standard voice of Pikachu, wouldn't suffice for. Detective Pikachu in the game is quite bossy and serious, which is in contrast to the cutesy profile of the standard voice; even so, the trailer concedes that what other human characters hear is the cutesy voice, and what the main human character hears is the serious voice. With Ryan Reynolds, this character just went to the next level (some pun intended).

Through the success of Deadpool, Ryan Reynolds has become inextricable from the character, much like how Pikachu is inextricable from Pokémon. And now, these two inextricable elements meet in a single movie which has become a phenomenon of its own. I say there's nothing wrong with that; Ryan's history supports this to happen, and as the trailer has shown, the results can be hilarious and yet still great. Given that the movie may prove to be a potential big hit, if its trailer and responses to it are any indication, we'll likely be having "PikaPool" on our minds for quite some time.

One year ago: Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Unleashed

The Detective Goes Live!!

It might seem like I've missed the boat on this, but I've been observant instead and waiting for the best time to write about it - and that time is now. Three days ago, a movie teaser trailer took Pokémon fans (and many movie fans as well) by storm. That teaser trailer is for Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, which - as you might be able to guess - is a movie based on the game of the same title, something that I've briefly discussed previously. It has sparked many reactions based on what has been shown in the trailer, which holds some major significance.

First up, and most important, is that this is the first ever live-action Pokémon movie. A long time ago, there was a live theatrical adaptation of Pokémon, but that's in a quite different context. This movie is the first screen adaptation that uses real people in its scenes. Of course, Pokémon themselves aren't quite real, but through the magic of imagery, they can be made to come to life and coexist on screen along with real people, which is what happens here. And that leads to an issue of its own.

The Pokémon in the movie, as shown in the trailer, seem realistic enough for many, but on the other hand, it could be hyper-realistic as well. Fur on Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and even Jigglypuff appears quite noticeable and perhaps a bit unnatural; the treatment of Pikachu also recalls a certain live-action movie with an animated doll. Even so, as Pikachu is technically a mouse, and mice have fur-like hair, this seems to make sense. Other Pokémon like Greninja and Charizard appear to be depicted as reptilians, which also make sense to some extent, though also slightly forced. The general consensus is that they appear good, but perhaps a bit too good.

Comparing the game and the movie, both appear to have roughly similar premises: the protagonist tags up with a Pikachu that only the protagonist understands, in a quest for the protagonist's missing father. In fact, the setting (Ryme City) and the protagonist's name (Tim Goodman) are the same as they are in the game. Comparing plot details to a finer level will require me to buy the full game and play it pronto, before the movie comes out. As well, there is one more detail that is odd, finicky, debatable, and controversial, and is a hallmark of the game that is upended in the movie... but that deserves a post of its own.

Personally, ever since the trailer came out, I've been replaying it to see what hidden details I could find, in addition to simply enjoying the trailer. And there are quite a bit of those, trust me. The fact that I have been replaying the trailer many times now means that I've taken a liking to this movie, no matter how it will play out when it's released. Naturally, many of my friends know that I'm a Pokémon fan, so I received word upon the release of the trailer from them, and I even forwarded the word to one of my Pokémon groups. It may potentially become something that we can all enjoy together.

If things look good now, then it might be worth waiting six months, because summer next year is when this breakthrough movie is released. Until then, there might be a few more details released, and that will likely spur greater interest in this movie. And then there's also time to get and play the game that becomes the basis for this movie. By the time this movie comes out, I will likely not miss the boat, but be in the same boat with the Pokémon fans and movie fans who are highly expectant of this very different take on Pokémon.

One year ago: Go My Dear One, and Pursue Your Dreams

Seeing Red: Cosplay Teaser for 12/2/2018

You know, it's been some time since I cosplayed Pokémon Trainer Red. The last time really occurred over a year ago at a certain theme event that seems to be absent this year. And this year, I haven't formally worn the costume for the character at all. That will all be about to change, as I've decided to wear the costume for a convention that will happen next month, and participate in the cosplay parade or walk - plus put up a teaser about it. And yes, like the teaser that I posted ten months ago, this one is also necessary, as outlined by the organizers.

Actually, Red has two variants. The one I had cosplayed last time at the event is the old version. The new version has an interesting story behind it. I had it made for a different convention some years ago, and I did wear it... but then after looking at the pictures from that convention, I didn't feel satisfied (even almost to the point of "seeing red" - in other words, rather angry), and so I never wore it again afterwards. However, I did wear it on two EX Raid occasions again this year as a test, and this time, I'm satisfied enough that I've decided to wear it again at the upcoming convention. Consider it a way to make up for that earlier time... and a "repeat debut".

By the way, for this one, I'm using - or instead, the organizers allow me to use - a different teaser approach. Last time, I had to include a specific text passage along with a slew of hashtags; that's why the teaser had or was forced to be bilingual, and yet even then, I managed to transform it into something of my own. This time, they said all the teaser has to contain is an invitation to come to the convention, information that I will be in the parade or walk, and a single hashtag; everything else is up to me. That said, I've opted to keep things simple in one language... and for the character to do the teaser.

Of course, as is the norm for this year, when the day of the convention comes, you won't be hearing about things from me, but from Red instead. There will be a lot to see - I can already assure quite a bit of this from whom I've been in contact with - and Red will tell you then. I'm told, there might be many Pokémon things as well, not just me or the character I cosplay. With everything that's to come, I hope that they won't make you or me be seeing red (very angry), but instead be Seeing Red - the Pokémon character, that is.

I end this post with the teaser, as posted on Facebook:

[Red] My name's Red. I'll be coming to you live in person in Chibi Daisuki Japan Fest on December 2, 2018. I'll be part of the character parade, ready to dazzle on stage. Let's meet up and have lots of fun - I'm sure you don't want to miss this one! 

#ChidaiCoswalk

One year ago: Ma? Ma? Ma? Marshadow...!

GTS and Wonder Trade in Pokémon Go?

One of my raid fellows recently brought up the issue of how hard it is to keep and keep track of Pokémon that need to be traded in Pokémon Go. It was said that there needs to be a system that helps to manage these Pokémon and get them traded where they need to be traded. This reminds me that Pokémon Go is missing two systems of trading that have become a mainstay of the main series, GTS and Wonder Trade. This also leads to the question of whether they can actually be implemented in Pokémon Go as well.

The key issues for the implementation of both of these systems are Stardust costs and the proximity requirement for a trade. As I've noted in my initial post about trades in Go, trades aren't free, varying on the Pokémon being traded, and the trading players need to be nearby to initiate the trades. These are strict controls, but they're also understandable to keep things from becoming unsavory. GTS and Wonder Trade will have to be radically different to take account of these issues.

In the main series, GTS - short for Global Trade Station - allows players to deposit Pokémon to be traded, which may catch the interest of another player, initiating a trade with that player's Pokémon. In regard to the issues above, GTS might work by a password system: a player deposits a Pokémon, distributes a password to another player, and the other player enters the password to select a Pokémon to trade, and then the two confirm the agreement to trade along with the Stardust costs needed - both players then need to get close as usual to actually initiate the trade. This allows the GTS to be decentralized and fully controlled by the players.

Meanwhile, Wonder Trade allows a player to deposit a Pokémon for a trade immediately with another deposited Pokémon, in a way being similar to a gacha. It would be hard to implement this on a massive scale like the main series games, but for a small group of gathered people, this can work with some added restrictions, in particular disallowing Shiny and Legendary Pokémon, and distributing Pokémon only to those who have registered entries in their Pokédexes. In this way, the system still works, but with consideration of the above issues.

In the meantime, my raid fellow was thinking of other systems that would still allow trades to be kept track to be facilitated to occur as efficiently as possible. Someone could keep track of who offers what and others that are interested, which might be considered an "offline" version of the GTS approach above. The person could also remind others when they meet to perform the trade to make the system fully work. This might become a temporary solution until an actual GTS approach is implemented.

I agree that even for me, it's hard to manage my own Pokémon that I (eventually) desire to trade. In that regard, it may be time to bring in the GTS and Wonder Trade systems from the main series Pokémon games into Go. They'll have to be reworked somewhat, but if it'll get Pokémon traded, then it may just be a good thing. For now, it seems low-tech solutions will have to suffice in lieu of these systems. But perhaps once these systems can suitably make their way in, they'll amp up the allure of trades and get players to do so as intended.

One year ago: 1000 Episodes!!!

Marshadow and Mimikyu Keychains

As a general rule for many of my life experiences, I try to come away with good things and new things. The theme event on Sunday was quite far away, so I decided that I couldn't come away without some sort of novelty, especially Pokémon novelties. Fortunately, I found Pokémon novelties at the event in the form of keychains. Actually, there were many keychains offered for sale, but I couldn't possibly purchase them all, at least under current conditions, so I came away with only two.

The first keychain that caught my eye is a Marshadow keychain. I have a soft spot for Marshadow ever since I saw it in last year's feature film and a close friend traded his to me. So to have a keychain of this particular Pokémon is a pretty neat thing. In this one, Marshadow looks quite expressive and pleasant that it's hard not to imagine it coming to life at any time. But that's a good thing, because it means the art is well-designed.

The same is true of the Mimikyu keychain, maybe to a lesser extent. It looks rather cutesy, slightly impressionistic, and more resembling of its intended lookalike of Pikachu, but it still appears pleasant. Mimikyu is one of those Pokémon that's in the middle of my list of favorite Pokémon, but I still find it likable. It's appreciable no matter how it looks, and this is just another form.

Incidentally, both of these are Ghost-type Pokémon of the seventh generation, as the current latest generation. I didn't fully intend for this, and it just happened to work out this way. There's also a bit of contrast between the tall image of Marshadow and slightly wide image of Mimikyu. And as for the keychain itself, it seems it may be insecure with a pin joint along the chain, but I can see this working out for keys that don't move around a lot, even mostly hanged to see the actual form of the keychain, which may be a good point.

These keychains are quite attractive. The vendor of the keychain had said that I'd think of them even if I didn't buy them (and therefore regret doing so), and I can see why, by their designs. It's hard not to put them outside one's mind, even more so if I didn't purchase them. While keychains themselves are not novel, I say these ones are still so. They are at least a good takeaway from that faraway event, as something physical that remains with me even after the particular experience has passed.

One year ago: Cosplay Assistants

Rediscover Cosplay

During the event that happened a little over a week ago, I partook in an interesting discussion. That discussion concerned the state of cosplay among local cosplayers. This resulted in one conclusion: the cosplayers here are lucky to be able to efficiently and superbly cosplay what they cosplay - which means for me, I'm lucky to be able to cosplay Pokémon characters. It's almost like a rediscovery of sorts for local cosplayers, perhaps in more ways than one.

One part of the rediscovery concerns the materials used for making cosplay costumes, which tend to be cheaper than in other regions. For someone who's used to making costumes with materials that are more expensive, finding materials that are cheaper and work just as effectively is quite a blessing. It makes certain cosplayers want to load up on materials, especially to take to different regions, where they might find the same materials but are more expensive - and in fact, I've been told that this is the case. I have to say that I quite agree; I like minimizing cosplay costs but still having things look good, and that's quite a rediscovery.

And then there are the events and conventions. Yesterday's event could be considered to be "hot" off last week's, and in the past, there have been a series of weeks where there were consecutive events. It does seem like it would be tiring, but it would be rather fun; this is indeed true as well. Someone who might be used to only one or two events or conventions a month could now expect a run of them over several weeks. Sure, some can only cherry-pick the events to go to, but others may be more fortunate to go to more, like I am. With my Pokémon cosplay, I'm rather glad that I can choose different costumes for different events. It is still quite a rediscovery for those that are able.

Personally, cosplay for me is its own rediscovery. As I've noted way back on Halloween, back when I could participate in full swing, I didn't have my costumes; back then I wasn't fully immersed into cosplay either. It was only when I came and resettled where I am that later on I finally got really immersed into cosplay and brought Pokémon in the mix. This is a significant rediscovery, which allowed me to be more well-known today, and to some extent also sowed the seeds for this blog. The other two rediscoveries above certainly helped as well.

"Rediscovery" seems to have a broad scope, especially in regard to cosplay and the state of it in the local area where I am. Yet the results of this "rediscovery" is quite amazing for any cosplayer, who can stand to do more, do better, and be more focused. That includes me and my Pokémon cosplay. Looking at the way things go, I stand to discover more and more about my Pokémon cosplay, in the meantime rediscovering things as well.

One year ago: Cosplay: Japan Pop Culture 2017

Cosplay: Manga no Kiseki & Japan Pop Culture 2018

[AshKetchumMode]

Hey guys. I've got a great story to tell about two events today and yesterday. Yes, two. My friend suggested that we do something different every so often, and this is just right for that. There's another reason why the two events are combined in this post, but I'll get to that in a sec.

Yesterday, I was sent to the first event, "Manga no Kiseki", which my friend tells me it means "Miracle of Manga". As you can tell, the event is about manga, which I sometimes appear in; it's not specifically about characters, but then many of us do come from manga, so I guess it's OK. The thing is, the people there did open the door for characters to come, so my friend sent me in, and so did a few of his friends with their characters.

The event was pretty small, and many things are really about manga. There was a talk and speed drawing competition, plus a small exhibition and a couple of food and community stands. I thought it was great, but I guess it just wasn't too interesting for many people, which is why there weren't many people who came. Even my friend had also asked for my help in catching Cyndaquil rather than getting too deep into the event. It was still good, but a bit too in-depth for us. And on the other hand, it wasn't deep enough to discuss by itself.

So that's why there is the other event, "Japan Pop Culture 2018", which I was sent to today. As my friend said in his review last year, in the past, this was an event that my friend had always wanted to send me to, and last year was the first time! I'm glad. This year is the second time he could, and I'm only happy to go. It's an out-of-town event, and it's kind of far away, but my friend thinks it's worth it to go there, and I've gotta say he's right.

My friend wanted me in the character parade, but we couldn't deal with it in time, so I could only come as I am. It's still good to meet people with links to my friend and the characters they send in. Today I went with my Kalos outfit, and that's something that people always like. And something that everyone always likes is when it's not raining and we can all gather outside, which is what happened today, unlike last year! That's really awesome.

And you know what's even more awesome? I met someone who my friend thinks of as a real great guy. He can really sing some tunes in two languages, and he's popular with my friend and his friends. Oh yeah, I've actually seen him a few times before (and the last time I forgot to mention), but we never got to really meet... until today. Can you guess who he is?

Guess who?? 😁

He's Hiroaki Kato, and he can really do what he do. I had the chance to actually meet him instead of just passing by, and so did other people. Incidentally, this happened while the character competitions were on, so I guess this makes up for that. Whoever is really great for my friend is really great for me!

I had a great two days being sent to events by my friend. Yeah, sure, the first event wasn't too, too great, but the second one is amazing even though some plans fell out. I'm sure my friend really wants good things to happen, even if things turn out not as planned. And if that does happen, that's great! Right, Pikachu?

Pikachu: Pika chu! [approves]

This is the kind of story that will stick in my and my friend's mind for some time. It's really something different for us.

[AshKetchumMode]

One year ago: Heroes, Veterans, and Special Ones

Pokémon Go Community Day, 11/10/2018

Well, the Community Day for this month came rather quickly. Of course, that may be because the "previous" Community Day is actually a repeat of the one from the previous week, and the fact that this is still early in the month. Each Community Day is still a thing of its own, including the one that happened today. And today's thing is the usual menagerie of excitement and problems.

Two months ago, the Community Day featured the Grass Pokémon Chikorita, as the first of the second-generation starter Pokémon. Predictably, this month, the turn passes to the Fire Pokémon Cyndaquil. That means the special move of Blast Burn became available for its final evolution, Typhlosion. The other unique bonus is increased Stardust for each capture, which means this becomes lucrative for those seeking large amounts of this. The Shiny forms and extended Lure Modules go without mention, of course, as was what I did today, following most of my workflow.

Before getting to the excitement part, it's time for the problems part. A few moments after the start of today's Community Day, everything ground to a halt as no one could capture the Cyndaquil that newly appeared, which is the key point of Community Day. This happened for pretty much everyone in my raid group and others in different areas as well, and this was quite severe. This incident lasted for about an hour, after which things more or less normalized, but then the damage had been done; some players, including my raid fellows, had used a Star Piece, Lucky Egg, or both to deal with the event and other happenings, and the incident nullified that. The incident was acknowledged, however, and Community Day was officially extended, thus using the old solution, for two hours after the time it was supposed to end, including the window for the special move.

For the excitement part, this one is quite neat. Prior to Community Day, I only had caught a handful of Cyndaquil, and none of them have really good stats. After Community Day, I have a few more Cyndaquil with higher CP and better stats, after having cherry-picked my way through the ones with not very good stats and low CP; I evolved the strongest one in terms of both CP and stats, plus the second-best during the extension. As always, I also evolved one of the Shiny forms that I got, using the same criteria. Speaking of Shiny forms, I caught six of them this time, which is a good turnout, considering others have either more or less. I'm thinking of trading away a few of them to others who may be interested.

It does seem like Community Day may not be much different from month to month due to their mix of good results and bad issues, as it was today. But then again, each Community Day has different Pokémon, different bonuses, different problems, and different circumstances if the occasion permits. That's certainly also the case today, and it will likely be the same for the next month. Whenever it comes, I and the other players will have to be on our toes once again to deal with everything, including the Pokémon.

One year ago: Mission Cards in Shuffle

3D Printing and Pokémon

Technology has come a long way. One of the things that shows how far it has come is 3D printing, which a few decades ago was barely a figment of imagination. Today, with a 3D printer, it is possible to make certain physical objects with one, given the appropriate model. Of course, these physical objects also might include things that are related to Pokémon, so that should make many Pokémon fans glad, including me. 3D printing may just be able to help realize some Pokémon objects in physical form.

And in fact, it has. One of my figure fellows who has access to a 3D printer recently printed out a miniature model of Beldum out of resin. It was teased the night before the reveal, while the model was still being printed, with an image of the printer console; others were wondering just what it was, while I guessed right that it was 3D printing. That little story aside, the model turned out rather great; it is highly accurate with all the details that a Beldum should have. The resin material itself is red, but there's no stopping anyone resourceful from painting it to resemble an actual Beldum. I'm thoroughly impressed.

Because 3D printers have the capability to realize 3D objects in actual form, they could conceivably be used to realize Pokémon that aren't (often) modeled. Some of my figure fellows are already in fact considering this lucrative idea for certain figures. Outside of figures, a 3D printer may be useful to visualize some parts that may be needed for my cosplay efforts, or even to fix particular parts, though currently I have only the faintest idea of how this might work.

The current problem is that 3D printers are not (yet) commonplace; they're only available to select people like the figure fellow I mentioned above. Really good printers cost really good amounts of money as well, something I don't necessarily have, though the printing material may be a bit more reasonable. And of course, to print something, I need to have the model, either made by myself (difficult) or made by someone else (reasonable, but still a bit difficult). Those are major hurdles for me to get into.

3D printing is a quite novel and relatively recent technology with benefits that already manifest themselves. But unlike its paper brethren, it does not seem like it's something for everyone. Nevertheless, its relation to Pokémon is already apparent, in making something that is only imaginary appear in a more realistic and tangible form. Without a doubt, this becomes something that I and many Pokémon fans desire.

One year ago: (Mid-)Generational Updates

A Raid Dream

I've had dreams about all kinds of things related to Pokémon. I've had an anime dream, a cosplay dream, a merchandise dream, and even a dream that's somewhat cohesive of many elements. And now, last night I had a game dream. The game involved in the dream is Pokémon Go, which is something that is often discussed on this blog due to its many events. It also has lots of potential for interaction, and it would then be natural for it to lead to a dream.

In the dream, I was raiding Tyranitar with select groups of people. At first it was with some of my friends who weren't in my raid group, then it was with the fellows in my raid group; what was initially a few people raiding became tens of people raiding. The raid occurred twice in two Gyms that were set some distance apart from each other. There were some issues on the second raid, but then everyone including me were able to get past them. Overall, the raids produced mostly good results, but that was about all I could see, as with the prompt ending of the dream, I had to note about it so I could interpolate and post about it here.

Tyranitar is one of the more popular raid bosses outside of Level 5 Legendary bosses. In many Pokémon games, it's considered a "pseudo-Legend" - it has stats that measure up to a Legendary Pokémon, though it's not one. It's especially pronounced in Pokémon Go, so it has its followers there too in that game. Incidentally, I had previously raided Tyranitar just the day before, a few moments after the EX Raid had ended, with some of my raid fellows; I too ended up with good results. It may be this that was reflected in the dream, and it may also be an additional reflection of how I may need to be involved in more raids, as well as involve others that I know that (re)play the game.

As with any dream, this dream is a bit foretelling. The fact that it involves a Pokémon game  front and center is neat as well. I can only play the game in my dream as well as it would allow, but in actual play, I can stand to do just as great or even better, barring any other possibilities that might occur. On that note, I'm sure that I will be raiding Tyranitar at least once or twice more; whether or not this happens as in the dream is unknown, but if it does, it will be a great thing with all the interactions that occur.

One year ago: Too Much Information, Too Much Excitement?

Local EX Raid (vs. Rain), 11/7/2018

It seems inevitable that any raid, including EX Raids, may become subject to weather conditions. It has happened once, nine months ago, and it has happened once again today. Today's EX Raid, certainly still for Deoxys, was quite affected by the weather to the point that it was almost impossible to continue, but luckily, things somehow worked out for most players that were able to make it.

The exact schedule for today's EX Raid was 3:30 PM. At around 1 PM, it rained quite hard, which led some of those who received the pass for today to question whether the EX Raid would proceed as intended. One hour later, the rain stopped and everyone seemed in the clear to come; I intended to complete a couple of errands first on the way. At around 3 PM, the rain started up again, just as hard or perhaps even harder than before. This led to most players again having trouble to get to the location, including me. As well, I ended up wet, even with an umbrella in tow.

When I got to the location of the EX Raid, I was late from its start by 10 minutes, but just barely on time for my scheduled battle flight... or would have been. Those who had come bypassed the battle flights and went all in, messing up the schedule. Fortunately, there were others who were delayed in coming but could still come nonetheless, so everyone that came should have been able to participate, including one of my Ultra Friend fellows, whom I invited using the new invitation feature for EX Raids. That's at least a good thing, as is the Deoxys caught, which is of a high CP.

The actual EX Raid Gym is across the street.
It is still nicely reachable (and covered) from across.

What isn't so good is the ones who weren't able to come, which included the player who planned out our supposed battle flights. It becomes apparent that in situations such as these, alternate coordination may become necessary. Since Deoxys is much easier than Mewtwo in terms of raids, it may be better to schedule flights of no more than 10 players, preferably with a mix of high-level and low-level players. And if things get out of hand with rain like this one, then close contact may be necessary.

Even with the rain, many players including myself did brave the rain for the brief opportunity to encounter, battle, and catch Deoxys. That's quite the tenacity that is possessed by them. Of course, great coordination might also help that tenacity to be realized as the effort for the EX Raid. This particular one is rather enlightening of that fact. It is something to be considered as EX Raids in my locale face the threat of downpours.

One year ago: Closer and Farther PokéStops

Let's Rule the World, Together

One of the games I have played and recently been able to replay just put in a certain statement as part of one of its features. That certain statement is exactly what I've put down as the title of this post. It's a fascinating statement, though it may or may not be linked to Pokémon. But perhaps that's something that needs to be explored, which is the intent of this post - to see the relation of this statement and Pokémon.

If this statement is related to Trainers, no Trainer really rules the world together, but there are collectives of Trainers that are really good in what they do. They are, of course, the Elite Four, a group that seems to be always present in some way for certain regions. More than just really good, they can be influential in what they do, if their stories suggests so. They become someone that other Trainers want to be. They don't really "rule the world", but at least they may be considered to do so indirectly.

On the other hand, "rule the world" is exactly what the villains and their organizations approach. They have a radical view of the Pokémon world, and their actions do show that. Efforts to clone Mew as Mewtwo, make land or sea superior, and even resurrect an apocalyptic weapon don't happen without a cause, and that cause is to unite everyone under their banner. Obviously this is undesirable to a great deal of others, so this may be resisted so that their rule does not occur.

Back to Trainers, they of course have their individual Pokémon with them. If this is construed as the "together" part, then "rule the world" is effectively analogous as "being the best", or as is more characteristic, "being a Pokémon master". This is surely a wonderful goal, which makes this interpretation wonderful as well. Whether it is realized sooner or later, it remains a pleasantly excellent ideal.

This statement captures my fancy when I'm playing that other game where the statement appears. And yet, it also captures my fancy in relation to Pokémon, even if it wasn't related to Pokémon to begin with. It turns out that it can be interpreted in some ways with Pokémon involved, at least by my reasoning. With that, I'm only happy with this statement, whether I see it while playing that other game or thinking about Pokémon.

One year ago: Triplets and Pairs

Dexterity, Pokémon Games, and Me

With the multitude of Pokémon games today, each one offers something different for the player to enjoy. Each one also requires skills that other games may not have. One of them is dexterity, which is present in quite a few non-main series Pokémon games. It's a neat skill to be implemented and to execute, but it's also something I have some problems with, sometimes no matter how many times I try to accomplish things in the games. There are (or were) a few such happenings for a few Pokémon games in my case, especially strong cases.

Shuffle is the current Pokémon game I play that involves a lot of dexterity. Expert and many Special Stages in the game require to be played under a time limit, which means dexterity is necessitated as a lot of things happen all at once in those stages. My problem is that sometimes I attempt stages and miss a few things here and there, enough to even not complete the stage within the allotted time limit. It's no surprise - the obstacles in the playing field and sometimes other Pokémon than the ones in my party appear in order to trip up even the best of players, and they require dexterity in the timed stages to get past. In my case the problem seems more aggravated.

An older example would have to be PokéPark, for both of its iterations. I've mentioned one difficulty I had with the first iteration last year, which happened to take up more time than it should have; it could be said that it almost made me unable to finish the game. Another difficulty occurred in the second iteration, where I got to a particular minigame that required positioning the Wiimote in certain ways to earn a good score and advance; understandably, this one took many tries as well before the game satisfactorily let me advance. The dexterity required for these aren't necessarily fast, but they did cause some problems nonetheless.

Though I have not been able to play it much, Pokkén is one other game that I did experience dexterity problems. As I've mentioned in my first discussion about this game, at the one time this game was exhibited, I did play it, and lost almost miserably. I had seemed to do well at the beginning, but then I sunk rather quickly. Pokkén is a true fighting game, unlike the main series games, so the dexterity that applies with fighting games would also apply here. I've seen this game's fighting brethren - Tekken - in action many times due to a popular exhibitor, and I'm sure much of the dexterity that applies to that game would help here.

I'm a Pokémon gamer, but I'm not a particularly dexterous one. These are just some of the issues that I personally have with certain Pokémon games. Given the breadth of Pokémon games, it is almost assured that new games requiring dexterity will appear; it's just something that I will have to prepare for. In the meantime, I can still try to play the existing games that take a good bit of dexterity and work with or around my issues in them.

One year ago: Team Harmony

Cosplay: Art and Cosplay Stage "PANSOS"

[AshKetchumMode]

Hi everyone. If you see me appear on this blog, then you know it's time for another event that I got sent to by my friend. The name of this event is a bit strange, but my friend tells me it really is what it means. It's about performances on stage that might involve characters like me, doing all kinds of things. My friend at first didn't think about sending me here, but he got word that it is the real thing, so we decided it was worth the effort to join in.

This event is really an anniversary event for another local group of people who also send in characters like me. So in other words, it's a lot like one that I was sent to two months ago and one month ago. But compared to those two, this one has a lot less. There aren't many competitions, not like the other two, and it's only on one day, not like the last one I went to. The stuff in the event is still pretty good. And you know, the place for the event is similar... oh yeah, I was here for another event this year too! Haha. What a surprise.

I gotta say, I and my friend weren't really pleased with how things went one month ago at the other event, so we agreed that I should wear the Unova outfit again. This time everything was smooth, not like the last time when I was late and things got quite out of hand. I got to enjoy everything well, and others enjoyed me... I think. I got to connect with characters and people linked to my friend, and that's always a good thing. Always.

My friend didn't think there were going to be any competitions for me, but then I told him that there was a character parade, so my friend accepted, and I got in. 22 other characters also joined in the fun. I think I even made some surprises. But the results aren't for me to know directly, as I needed to leave before I could find out. But I still always hope for good things.

Pikachu: Pika pi! Pika chu. [encouraging]

Thanks, Pikachu - every day is a good day when I'm with you. And there is at least one good thing that every event or convention that my friend sends me to, when we can also enjoy it as much as we can. Today, everything on stage is all real and all good.

[/AshKetchumMode]

One year ago: How Many Is Too Many?

The Joys and Sorrows of Raid Marathons

I've been in a few Pokémon Go raid marathons now, mostly as part of official events (the Legendary Bird days a few months ago), but also sometimes out of those events. I'd say this is a fascinating thing, being able to participate in many raids over a certain segment of time. However, I'm also mixed in my feelings participating in this effort. On one hand, it is a lot of fun to partake in them and go through many raids. On the other hand, they entail quite a bit of not-so-pleasant things that hinder my participation in them.

The most important thing, and the factor that hinders the most, is preparation. As a reminder from my post on raids, any Trainer can raid once a day with a free Raid Pass (or twice by withholding the previous day's pass), after which Premium Raid Passes need to be used to raid further. Though the official events above are an exception and give out five free passes during the event, five (plus one) may not be quite enough for a raid marathon, and a Trainer has to spend for Premium Raid Passes regardless. The most intense marathons demand 20 or more of these, which could become rather costly in terms of PokéCoins, whether or not they're free or paid.

There is also the problem of pace. I'm not exactly the most speedy of Trainers capturing Pokémon after a raid, so this also affects how many I can partake in. Thus, spending for 20 or more passes would be quite unnecessary, nor would I be able to use them up within the short period of time for the raid marathons. Moreover, I wouldn't exactly be able to stand up to some of my other raid fellows, who have shown that they could raid 20 to 30 Gyms during the Legendary Bird days, about 7-10 an hour given the three-hour event. Meanwhile, in the last Legendary Bird day, I (and others) only raided about that many within the span of the entire event. This is by no means a personal problem, but it's still a problem nonetheless.

All that aside, raid marathons do seem to bring together a number of Trainers, and that's a great thing. Many of the ones who have returned to Pokémon Go did so during the ones on the special events, which brings me joy to no end, as I can have an adventure with them physically as well. And since raids can bring together many of the friends in my friend list, I can interact with many of them through raids without much effort: just join and raid. That bodes well for their friendship levels and mine. Raids are really perhaps the "in" thing in Pokémon Go, which could explain the participation of so many returning players. With intensification, whether through events or otherwise, surely many will join in.

With all the upsides and downsides of participating in raid marathons, it's hard not to not join in and be a part of them. The potential for fun them is high, as is the potential for possible problems. Whatever happens, I'll still participate in them as they are a major current part of the game. That should mean a lot more joys (and hopefully, a lot less sorrows) to discover with all the raids I battle in and all the Pokémon I catch from them.

One year ago: Late-Night Lure Party

Balance of Topics

The good thing about Pokémon is that these days, it's more than just games. It spans a wide variety of things that are just as diverse as the eponymous creatures themselves. As a Pokémon blogger, it means that I can write about different things each time. That said, there's a certain balance of topics that either occur naturally or I try to keep on this blog. It's partially a given, considering what is involved with Pokémon and what I actually do with it.

No matter what, Pokémon games are mainstays among its fans, and they naturally make up the bulk of my posts on this blog too. As of this post, posts that I've tagged with "Game" number to 230, more than any topic on this blog that is directly linked to Pokémon itself. Part of getting into Pokémon is of course playing their games, and it's something that I do as well - from the very beginning, in fact. With more and more games released (and more that I haven't played), in addition to updates for those games, it's something that I'll continue to do, and they may certainly be discussed on certain posts on this blog.

And yet, I feel that I shouldn't let certain topics go out of hand for a short time, so I try not to discuss many similar topics within a short period of time. Notably, since I happen to play Pokémon Go a lot these days, it's something that I want to stagger in my discussions, lest this blog be considered a "Go blog" when it's much more than that. Exceptions occur, of course, such as the "Go week" that occurred last month, and a certain week in April of last year about songs that remind me of Pokémon though they aren't linked to it. There's a certain balance that I seek in discussing many different topics and not making certain topics too prominent.

Even with all the topics that I discuss, one thing remains prominent: this blog has a more personal nature. As of and including this post, there are 307 posts tagged with "Musings", nearly half of what I've written to this day. Much of this blog, after all, is about me and my personal interactions with Pokémon; it's something that sets this blog apart. Sure, there are discussions on certain Pokémon happenings, but they're also framed with my personal views. This is also why there's quite a bit of discussions about things that don't seem to be related to Pokémon, but in my book actually are in some ways. Still, I try to strike a balance between these and actual Pokémon happenings.

Given everything that is discussed on this blog, there are many things to be balanced. There is game vs. everything else, specific things vs. different things, and personal vs. general. The commonality of all of these regarding this blog and me is of course Pokémon, and that's something that will be maintained for as long as I have this blog. And with all the developments going into Pokémon, I'm sure that I'll always have something to discuss, against other things that deserve the same.

One year ago: Kids (...or Trainers, Fans) These Days

Hardcore (Dis)United

My local Pokémon groups are abuzz with activity. They've scheduled all kinds of things based on what has transpired or about to transpire. It's a great thing for the fans or players who say that they are "hardcore". And yet, as much as I'm interested in participating, in particular for the demands of this blog, I have to admit that I won't be able to take part in quite a bit of it due to one concern or another. That somewhat calls into question the word I've mentioned.

Here's a taste of what's happening. My main series group is holding a series of tournaments again to coincide with the official VGC schedule, though to join, one has to commit up front with payment, which is somewhat different. Meanwhile, my raid group is holding or has held a variety of raid competitions, for individuals or minimalist groups alike, and all of them require video proof by the participants. And in a month or so, my local figure group, the one I've met on two occasions, is planning to exhibit at a certain convention, but the details are still being worked out - a certainty is that the members will all have to contribute something, including monetary payment. All these may be considered "hardcore" in certain ways.

For quite a few Pokémon fans, the word "hardcore" is often associated with the main series games, as a "hardcore RPG". Personally, I've always avoided this usage because it gives the impression that the main series games are for those willing to dive deep. In fact, even Pokémon Go can become "hardcore" in some ways for those who are willing to devote time, money, and effort to seek really good Pokémon, and then to use them in Gym battles and raids, especially minimalist raids. As for figures, it's all about money... and the space to hold on to the figures that makes things "hardcore". Given the above reasoning and my situation, it may be said that I'm not "hardcore" enough.

In general, I prefer not to think of myself as being "hardcore". I prefer to use the word "dedicated" because I'm attracted to many things Pokémon, including the main series games as a starting (and possibly returning) point, and then to everything that makes Pokémon what it is among its many fans. And for as long as there are things to seek, I'll remain dedicated. In the future, I might just nurture a "hardcore" aspect, but at the moment, that is something that has to remain in suspended animation.

All the same, the current activity buzz of my local Pokémon groups is something that appears great to get into. I do want to insert myself somewhere, though I may not be "hardcore" enough for it, at least not currently. In the meantime, I still have dedication, and that should still be enough to take me to places with Pokémon. The manifestation of "hardcore" may then just reveal itself.

One year ago: Duff Knows Pokémon