OK, there is still that something important that needs to be discussed from Pokémon Day yesterday. But I can't discuss it yet - there's something else I need to get out of the way, lest I'll forget. So two days ago, there was an anniversary: my cosplay anniversary. And then yesterday was rather obvious. I figure I'd continue the trend and discuss a different kind of anniversary, which as can be guessed from the title of this post is a birthday, and a specific one at that, for a hero. Who?
If you're familiar with me and this blog, then you know I like Ash a whole lot. So yes, he's the one I'm referring to. This, I confess, is something that I've never given much thought, until a friend told me to consider it some weeks ago. Actually, I love finding out little things like this, so it's a bit of a wonder that it has taken me years to find out about this. Still, like with certain things, it's better late than never. And it's great to know, a bit like trying to surmise who his father might be.
So when is his birthday? Like the father issue, there is only a semi-official indication. In a certain Pokémon anime novelization, it is stated that his birthday is 10 years, 10 months, and 10 days prior to the day he received his first Pokémon and started his journey. The "epoch" for the anime is April 1, the day the first episode aired in Japan (in 1997). Subtracting 10 months and 10 days therefore yields May 22 as his birthday. The year may not be relevant, of course, considering how he is in the anime.
(And yes, that means this post is three months too early. But it may have some implications that could be considered upon the actual day, which will come later in the year.)
I suppose I have to thank my friend for hinting me to this matter. After all, like the two anniversaries from the previous days, it's not something hard to pin down with a little knowledge and reasoning. Like someone said, once you know, you know - you know? And now that I know, that concludes this span of anniversary discussions, while I expectantly wait for the one that is just as good as the one from the previous days.
One year ago: Cosplay Poses
Two years ago: Cosplay: Japanese World 2017
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Pokémon Day 2019 - 23rd Anniversary
Likewise, February 27 is a wonderful day. It is the day Pokémon formally came unto this world with the first pair of games released in Japan. It's a day that is dubbed as Pokémon Day among its fans, especially me. And if you've been paying attention to my posts on this blog (or just know things about me), it's one day after my cosplay anniversary. Some might think that it's coincidental that it is so. Personally, it might not be coincidental at all - and that seems to be something interesting to discuss.
Over the years I've enjoyed Pokémon, it's something that I always come back to. Part of it is my will, sure, but part of it is also seemingly by suggestion. Every so often I see something related to Pokémon (that I didn't intend to see), which becomes the initiative for coming back to it, and for the most part, that initiative becomes rather appropriate. This might be thought of as a coincidence, but on another level, it might be considered "ordered", divine or otherwise. And then there is the matter of the two anniversaries as above. If this weren't me and it was some other Pokémon fan, I'd consider it ordered too, and maybe we'd agree that it's not coincidental.
It's no coincidence too that today Go decided to have fun with some first-generation Pokémon. They're in raids and in the wild, and some of them are even made special. Pidgey and Rattata get their Shiny forms today, which is remarkable. But then Pikachu and Eevee get a form with a different accessory: a flower crown, rather than a hat like last year. It's different, but I suppose it's wonderfully appropriate, and a good number of players welcome it too. It really is something to revel in.
And... there is also something really, really important related to Pokémon on this day too. The details are better reserved for its own post, but I can give some preview of it right now. It might have something to do with items of combat... and a new land... and some new ways to start. Naturally, the scheduling is precisely timed, for Pokémon Day this year - though all the fun will certainly come later this year, and with the right equipment. I'm sure this too is hardly a coincidence.
Given all the reactions to the above, it may be that I and many other fans share the same sentiments. Pokémon is a whole lot of fun in many ways, and on some level, its things are just meant to happen. We can hardly blame anyone that they did happen, and when they do, they just fit in. That should bode well for continuance with the series and expecting more things that fit. And that too is likely not coincidental either.
Happy 23rd anniversary.
One year ago: Pokémon Day 2018 - 22nd Anniversary
Two years ago: Pokémon Day 2017 - 21st Anniversary
Over the years I've enjoyed Pokémon, it's something that I always come back to. Part of it is my will, sure, but part of it is also seemingly by suggestion. Every so often I see something related to Pokémon (that I didn't intend to see), which becomes the initiative for coming back to it, and for the most part, that initiative becomes rather appropriate. This might be thought of as a coincidence, but on another level, it might be considered "ordered", divine or otherwise. And then there is the matter of the two anniversaries as above. If this weren't me and it was some other Pokémon fan, I'd consider it ordered too, and maybe we'd agree that it's not coincidental.
It's no coincidence too that today Go decided to have fun with some first-generation Pokémon. They're in raids and in the wild, and some of them are even made special. Pidgey and Rattata get their Shiny forms today, which is remarkable. But then Pikachu and Eevee get a form with a different accessory: a flower crown, rather than a hat like last year. It's different, but I suppose it's wonderfully appropriate, and a good number of players welcome it too. It really is something to revel in.
And... there is also something really, really important related to Pokémon on this day too. The details are better reserved for its own post, but I can give some preview of it right now. It might have something to do with items of combat... and a new land... and some new ways to start. Naturally, the scheduling is precisely timed, for Pokémon Day this year - though all the fun will certainly come later this year, and with the right equipment. I'm sure this too is hardly a coincidence.
Given all the reactions to the above, it may be that I and many other fans share the same sentiments. Pokémon is a whole lot of fun in many ways, and on some level, its things are just meant to happen. We can hardly blame anyone that they did happen, and when they do, they just fit in. That should bode well for continuance with the series and expecting more things that fit. And that too is likely not coincidental either.
Happy 23rd anniversary.
One year ago: Pokémon Day 2018 - 22nd Anniversary
Two years ago: Pokémon Day 2017 - 21st Anniversary
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Seventh Cosplay Anniversary - Timeless Cosplay
February 26 is a special day for me personally. It is, of course, my cosplay anniversary, as the day I first formally cosplayed. Details of that can be seen in my previous-year posts below. On this anniversary, though, I would like to discuss a fascinating topic: "timeless cosplay". It's something that someone brought up a few events or conventions ago - I forgot which one, but this is not too important - but it very much applies to me and perhaps others that are involved in cosplay.
The person who I talked to said that cosplay, at least in my area, tends to follow certain trends over time. A few years ago, it might have been an anime, and then the next might have been a game, and after that might be a series, and so on and so forth. Many cosplayers might decide to cosplay something that would be related to that, perhaps also initiating team projects as a result. However, the person observed (also over time) that I was different. I didn't follow trends and I didn't decide to cosplay something others cosplayed at certain times; I cosplayed what I cosplay, which is Pokémon, and more specifically Ash, since I have many sets of the costumes for his outfit. It is thus "timeless" because it is not affected by time or trends.
While I've never been too observant about these trends, I have noticed them to some extent, just as much as I notice different cosplayers with different costumes. And I appreciate those who cosplay accordingly; there has to be someone who does it. But for the most part, I'm just not quite interested in them, at least not deeply enough for me to initiate some form of cosplay from them. And I've rarely felt the need to do so; Pokémon is sufficient enough for my cosplay needs, and I find as time goes on that it's hard enough to justify cosplaying anything outside of that, based on a number of factors. Because I happen to have costumes of characters outside of Pokémon, there is still the possibility that I might wear them, but now that possibility is rather limited.
As for others that might follow a similar path as I have taken with Pokémon cosplay, though it might be for other things than Pokémon, I say why not. If it's an approach that works well in consideration of other things, it seems perfectly permissible. It took me quite some time before I worked up the initiative to partake in cosplay competitions, and even more time before I won, even with a costume that by then is not so new. I'm always trying new things even with the costumes I have, and as I've noted with a teaser last year, it may be something that even well-to-do cosplayers do. For me, my choice is to do it with Pokémon.
It's been seven years since my first formal cosplay. Lots of things have changed since then, even Pokémon itself. Even so, my cosplay tends to follow the adage that "the more things change, the more they stay the same". And yet, supposedly, that is what makes things quite memorable. Even Pokémon remains memorable after 23 years - something that I'll discuss soon. It's perhaps what lends spirit for me to be able to cosplay with it, and do so transcending times. With that, my cosplay really is "timeless", so to speak.
Happy seventh cosplay anniversary to me.
One year ago: Sixth Cosplay Anniversary - From No-One to Someone
Two years ago: Fifth Cosplay Anniversary
The person who I talked to said that cosplay, at least in my area, tends to follow certain trends over time. A few years ago, it might have been an anime, and then the next might have been a game, and after that might be a series, and so on and so forth. Many cosplayers might decide to cosplay something that would be related to that, perhaps also initiating team projects as a result. However, the person observed (also over time) that I was different. I didn't follow trends and I didn't decide to cosplay something others cosplayed at certain times; I cosplayed what I cosplay, which is Pokémon, and more specifically Ash, since I have many sets of the costumes for his outfit. It is thus "timeless" because it is not affected by time or trends.
While I've never been too observant about these trends, I have noticed them to some extent, just as much as I notice different cosplayers with different costumes. And I appreciate those who cosplay accordingly; there has to be someone who does it. But for the most part, I'm just not quite interested in them, at least not deeply enough for me to initiate some form of cosplay from them. And I've rarely felt the need to do so; Pokémon is sufficient enough for my cosplay needs, and I find as time goes on that it's hard enough to justify cosplaying anything outside of that, based on a number of factors. Because I happen to have costumes of characters outside of Pokémon, there is still the possibility that I might wear them, but now that possibility is rather limited.
As for others that might follow a similar path as I have taken with Pokémon cosplay, though it might be for other things than Pokémon, I say why not. If it's an approach that works well in consideration of other things, it seems perfectly permissible. It took me quite some time before I worked up the initiative to partake in cosplay competitions, and even more time before I won, even with a costume that by then is not so new. I'm always trying new things even with the costumes I have, and as I've noted with a teaser last year, it may be something that even well-to-do cosplayers do. For me, my choice is to do it with Pokémon.
It's been seven years since my first formal cosplay. Lots of things have changed since then, even Pokémon itself. Even so, my cosplay tends to follow the adage that "the more things change, the more they stay the same". And yet, supposedly, that is what makes things quite memorable. Even Pokémon remains memorable after 23 years - something that I'll discuss soon. It's perhaps what lends spirit for me to be able to cosplay with it, and do so transcending times. With that, my cosplay really is "timeless", so to speak.
Happy seventh cosplay anniversary to me.
One year ago: Sixth Cosplay Anniversary - From No-One to Someone
Two years ago: Fifth Cosplay Anniversary
Monday, February 25, 2019
Meeting of the Minds
Some time ago, while I was returning from an errand, I met a few people that I don't know. We were all heading in the same direction, and there wasn't much we could do about that. What happened next, though, was wonderful: we started talking to each other about a lively issue and contributed what we knew, though it wasn't Pokémon. Meanwhile, the Pokémon case actually happened a couple of weeks ago, though with another person that I do know. This has prompted me to think about situations of the latter case, how it might happen, and with whom.
It seems likely that wherever Pokémon fans congregate, there is the possibility for a "meeting of the minds" to occur. I've experienced it as above and another time with just one person. But of course, this can happen when a good number of fans are present, and it's most likely that this has been arranged beforehand, as with my figure meetings and raid group meetings. The chance of this occurring with a couple or few fans is low, but it's not exactly zero either, as in the case above, or even a couple of months ago with two more fans in almost the same situation. Once the fans congregate, then the meeting can occur.
Next is the "how". With a prior arrangement, there is already a delineation of who and what will be involved, so when most everyone comes, the meeting proceeds (hopefully as designated), what's at hand is brought up and fleshed out, and that's all there is to it; there may or may not be room to breach into other topics, Pokémon or otherwise. Without one, that's where things may get interesting. There may be a "sudden trigger" that leads the ones involved to meet, and once things get going, many Pokémon things may be involved - a discussion about figures, for example, may branch into Go and vice versa. Depending on the things and people that are involved, the meeting may or may not be very dynamic.
As for the "who", with an arrangement, it's clear who's in it, as with the aforementioned ones involving figures and raids. Those with broader Pokémon interests (like me) may join, but their participation may be limited; it may be even more limiting for others to join. Beyond the arrangement, any person with different and wildly varying Pokémon interests may join and participate differently too, and this could be potentially just about anyone. Whether it is the latter or former case, it is what is in their minds that makes the meeting proceed.
This seems like a broad thing about Pokémon to discuss, but it can and does happen, as I've found time to time. It's just that the elements may be varied and indeterminate from one to the next, but at least there are still a few that can be reasoned out. And they become something to consider the next time I'm in one of these "meeting of the minds", which may not necessarily involve Pokémon. I can only wish that it does so, which would be rather wonderful.
One year ago: Cosplay: Japan LovEvolution Vol. 3 - Haruka ni Yoi - Full Japan Day 2018
Two years ago: Dealing with Cosplay Offerings
It seems likely that wherever Pokémon fans congregate, there is the possibility for a "meeting of the minds" to occur. I've experienced it as above and another time with just one person. But of course, this can happen when a good number of fans are present, and it's most likely that this has been arranged beforehand, as with my figure meetings and raid group meetings. The chance of this occurring with a couple or few fans is low, but it's not exactly zero either, as in the case above, or even a couple of months ago with two more fans in almost the same situation. Once the fans congregate, then the meeting can occur.
Next is the "how". With a prior arrangement, there is already a delineation of who and what will be involved, so when most everyone comes, the meeting proceeds (hopefully as designated), what's at hand is brought up and fleshed out, and that's all there is to it; there may or may not be room to breach into other topics, Pokémon or otherwise. Without one, that's where things may get interesting. There may be a "sudden trigger" that leads the ones involved to meet, and once things get going, many Pokémon things may be involved - a discussion about figures, for example, may branch into Go and vice versa. Depending on the things and people that are involved, the meeting may or may not be very dynamic.
As for the "who", with an arrangement, it's clear who's in it, as with the aforementioned ones involving figures and raids. Those with broader Pokémon interests (like me) may join, but their participation may be limited; it may be even more limiting for others to join. Beyond the arrangement, any person with different and wildly varying Pokémon interests may join and participate differently too, and this could be potentially just about anyone. Whether it is the latter or former case, it is what is in their minds that makes the meeting proceed.
This seems like a broad thing about Pokémon to discuss, but it can and does happen, as I've found time to time. It's just that the elements may be varied and indeterminate from one to the next, but at least there are still a few that can be reasoned out. And they become something to consider the next time I'm in one of these "meeting of the minds", which may not necessarily involve Pokémon. I can only wish that it does so, which would be rather wonderful.
One year ago: Cosplay: Japan LovEvolution Vol. 3 - Haruka ni Yoi - Full Japan Day 2018
Two years ago: Dealing with Cosplay Offerings
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Don't Forget Our Roots
There's a certain statement that I'm currently taken with. That statement more or less reads "we must not forget from where we came", which when loosely summarized becomes the title for this post. It so happens that currently I'm absorbed in something that became my past, long before I discovered Pokémon, so this statement becomes rather appropriate considering what I've been doing, especially in relation to Pokémon.
Before I got to like Pokémon, there were several things that I liked, including the one above; I won't discuss them now, but I'll do so once they become specifically pertinent. Today, I still maintain a close relationship with some of those things, while I've become distanced with others. But whether they are near or far, it's hard to deny that these things nurtured a sense of appreciation that I now have greatly for Pokémon. I may or may not be able to make them work with or complement Pokémon, but I might be able to draw parallels from them and use them for reciprocal understanding.
Some of these things also have some role to play in instilling a sense of adventure. To go through one thing to another and yet another before achieving something is certainly a part of any adventure, and I effectively learned to understand that. In a way, Pokémon provided further cohesion to that sense of adventure, leading to a deeper understanding; applying it back to those things - at least the ones I'm still close with - only leads to further understanding of them. They provided the basics, and Pokémon lent something greater.
If nothing else, those things provided amusement. Even if I didn't fully understand their course or appreciation was rather lacking, at least there was a feeling of delight. Delight was also something I experienced with Pokémon, though it did wane a bit before becoming firmly established. My delight is now predominantly for Pokémon, but to some of those things, there is at least a small amount of delight that remain, enough to venture back briefly to those things, as I have done recently.
Appreciation, adventure, amusement - they've been a part of what I enjoyed way back when, before Pokémon came about. It's hard not to forget about past things when there are still elements of these, and perhaps it shouldn't be that way, at least not completely. The statement I mentioned at the beginning seems to ring true in a way, which explains my current fascination with it. It satisfies my liking of other things, but also my liking of Pokémon most of all.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/24/2018
Two years ago: Memories of Johto
Before I got to like Pokémon, there were several things that I liked, including the one above; I won't discuss them now, but I'll do so once they become specifically pertinent. Today, I still maintain a close relationship with some of those things, while I've become distanced with others. But whether they are near or far, it's hard to deny that these things nurtured a sense of appreciation that I now have greatly for Pokémon. I may or may not be able to make them work with or complement Pokémon, but I might be able to draw parallels from them and use them for reciprocal understanding.
Some of these things also have some role to play in instilling a sense of adventure. To go through one thing to another and yet another before achieving something is certainly a part of any adventure, and I effectively learned to understand that. In a way, Pokémon provided further cohesion to that sense of adventure, leading to a deeper understanding; applying it back to those things - at least the ones I'm still close with - only leads to further understanding of them. They provided the basics, and Pokémon lent something greater.
If nothing else, those things provided amusement. Even if I didn't fully understand their course or appreciation was rather lacking, at least there was a feeling of delight. Delight was also something I experienced with Pokémon, though it did wane a bit before becoming firmly established. My delight is now predominantly for Pokémon, but to some of those things, there is at least a small amount of delight that remain, enough to venture back briefly to those things, as I have done recently.
Appreciation, adventure, amusement - they've been a part of what I enjoyed way back when, before Pokémon came about. It's hard not to forget about past things when there are still elements of these, and perhaps it shouldn't be that way, at least not completely. The statement I mentioned at the beginning seems to ring true in a way, which explains my current fascination with it. It satisfies my liking of other things, but also my liking of Pokémon most of all.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/24/2018
Two years ago: Memories of Johto
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Let's Go Take Pictures
When I wrote the post about the EX Raid yesterday, I also included a picture of Deoxys, as I've customarily done for some time now. It does, however, look slightly different: there is no "watermark" of the Trainer name on the lower right corner. That's because this picture was taken when the new picture feature - something I've hinted when I posted photos of Mewtwo - became live, which happened to be a couple of days ago. The feature is officially dubbed as "Go Snapshot" and it takes taking pictures of Pokémon in Pokémon Go to a new level, so to speak.
This feature is essentially an upgrade of the camera item and function. Now the camera can be invoked normally while encountering a Pokémon in the wild, as well as for any Pokémon that are in a Trainer's Box (through the information page for a Pokémon, or by using the camera as an item from the Bag and then picking a Pokémon). This means that Pokémon not very commonly or at all found in the wild - such as baby, region-exclusive, and item-evolved Pokémon - can now be photographed just like their wild kin, with some restrictions to be detailed in a bit.
Sharing of pictures is also made much easier, at least for when taking photos of Pokémon from the Box. In doing so, several photos can be taken and saved in one session, and then immediately shared to preferred channels with a few taps. This is highly convenient for those who are photo and Pokémon fiends. Even so, at least in my case, photos taken of Pokémon in the wild (that is, encountering for capture) retain the old behavior of keep/discard after each shot, and have to be shared manually... but this may be fine, considering that's not a primary objective.
This feature is supported for all phones that can support AR, but phones that can support AR+ have a few extra sub-features, such as moving Pokémon to particular spots and getting its attention. I have to vouch for that; my phone doesn't support AR+, so I can only take pictures of a Pokémon in my Box from the front (and vertically), or a Pokémon in the wild from certain angles. And then there is the "watermark" thing, which may be welcoming for some and annoying for others - for me personally, now it may be hard to say that the shots are truly mine.
I suppose if my phone supported AR+, I would very much enjoy this updated camera functionality, as well as all of the perks that come along with that feature. But to be able to take pictures of Pokémon that I previously couldn't and to quickly share them is already a major step forward. I'll still take pictures the old-fashioned way during an encounter, but I also look forward to be able to utilize the updated functionality as much as possible for the Pokémon I already have. They both will still make for many great pictures.
One year ago: Community Days!
Two years ago: Competitive or Non-Competitive?
This feature is essentially an upgrade of the camera item and function. Now the camera can be invoked normally while encountering a Pokémon in the wild, as well as for any Pokémon that are in a Trainer's Box (through the information page for a Pokémon, or by using the camera as an item from the Bag and then picking a Pokémon). This means that Pokémon not very commonly or at all found in the wild - such as baby, region-exclusive, and item-evolved Pokémon - can now be photographed just like their wild kin, with some restrictions to be detailed in a bit.
Sharing of pictures is also made much easier, at least for when taking photos of Pokémon from the Box. In doing so, several photos can be taken and saved in one session, and then immediately shared to preferred channels with a few taps. This is highly convenient for those who are photo and Pokémon fiends. Even so, at least in my case, photos taken of Pokémon in the wild (that is, encountering for capture) retain the old behavior of keep/discard after each shot, and have to be shared manually... but this may be fine, considering that's not a primary objective.
This feature is supported for all phones that can support AR, but phones that can support AR+ have a few extra sub-features, such as moving Pokémon to particular spots and getting its attention. I have to vouch for that; my phone doesn't support AR+, so I can only take pictures of a Pokémon in my Box from the front (and vertically), or a Pokémon in the wild from certain angles. And then there is the "watermark" thing, which may be welcoming for some and annoying for others - for me personally, now it may be hard to say that the shots are truly mine.
 |
| No, the Mew project is not live again. But it's a good example. |
I suppose if my phone supported AR+, I would very much enjoy this updated camera functionality, as well as all of the perks that come along with that feature. But to be able to take pictures of Pokémon that I previously couldn't and to quickly share them is already a major step forward. I'll still take pictures the old-fashioned way during an encounter, but I also look forward to be able to utilize the updated functionality as much as possible for the Pokémon I already have. They both will still make for many great pictures.
One year ago: Community Days!
Two years ago: Competitive or Non-Competitive?
Friday, February 22, 2019
Local EX Raid (in a Frenzy), 2/22/2019
Last week, the EX Raid had quick connections. This week, the EX Raid is in a frenzy. Typically, the day of an EX Raid is one that is (or should be) light, with nary a rush to get things going. That didn't happen today, and instead, there was a certain rush for everything, including the EX Raid itself. It's almost like one that unfolded three months ago, only the story is somewhat different.
This morning, there were a few things that I needed to take care of. One was planned, but seemed to drag on longer than intended. Another was unplanned but remained a necessity, and although I did not need to rush it, I felt like I had to. Moreover, I had not decided who I wanted to invite with my EX Raid pass, so I threw the decision to my raid group, and I accepted the first request I received. Yet that also meant someone could not receive an invitation from me, though eventually that person received one from someone else. It really felt like a rushed morning.
That didn't help much for the EX Raid either. I felt troubled and rushed in getting to the EX Raid Gym, even though I've been to it many times before. The rain did not help matters much, and in fact grew stronger and stronger as the EX Raid proceeded. Fortunately, the EX Raid turned out fine, and I got a sufficiently strong Deoxys to boot. Unfortunately, after that, it was back to rushing again for our separate businesses. So the EX Raid itself wasn't rushed; it was more other things around it that were.
The rest of the day was spent half on Go business and other business. The latter involved a little "reconnaissance" on something that might have strained Go business for the day and may do so on the next few days as well. The former involved the usual Gym tours - enhanced by a chance meeting of a raid fellow I had not seen raiding recently - as well as a trading session that produced quite a few Lucky Pokémon. There wasn't a rush, but there could have been, and it was still frenetic in some ways.
In the rush, tumult, and frenzy of this day, I still managed to get in the EX Raid and it turned out quite good. The rest of the frenzied day, I could do without. Sure, some of it was unavoidable, but a few might have been sidestepped with different plans. For a future EX Raid day, this becomes something to consider. Hopefully then, the frenzy might be in getting good results for the EX Raid rather than with everything else on that day.
One year ago: Trainer Caps, and a Teaser
Two years ago: Back in the Park
This morning, there were a few things that I needed to take care of. One was planned, but seemed to drag on longer than intended. Another was unplanned but remained a necessity, and although I did not need to rush it, I felt like I had to. Moreover, I had not decided who I wanted to invite with my EX Raid pass, so I threw the decision to my raid group, and I accepted the first request I received. Yet that also meant someone could not receive an invitation from me, though eventually that person received one from someone else. It really felt like a rushed morning.
That didn't help much for the EX Raid either. I felt troubled and rushed in getting to the EX Raid Gym, even though I've been to it many times before. The rain did not help matters much, and in fact grew stronger and stronger as the EX Raid proceeded. Fortunately, the EX Raid turned out fine, and I got a sufficiently strong Deoxys to boot. Unfortunately, after that, it was back to rushing again for our separate businesses. So the EX Raid itself wasn't rushed; it was more other things around it that were.
 |
| Notice something different about this? More explanation to come soon. |
The rest of the day was spent half on Go business and other business. The latter involved a little "reconnaissance" on something that might have strained Go business for the day and may do so on the next few days as well. The former involved the usual Gym tours - enhanced by a chance meeting of a raid fellow I had not seen raiding recently - as well as a trading session that produced quite a few Lucky Pokémon. There wasn't a rush, but there could have been, and it was still frenetic in some ways.
In the rush, tumult, and frenzy of this day, I still managed to get in the EX Raid and it turned out quite good. The rest of the frenzied day, I could do without. Sure, some of it was unavoidable, but a few might have been sidestepped with different plans. For a future EX Raid day, this becomes something to consider. Hopefully then, the frenzy might be in getting good results for the EX Raid rather than with everything else on that day.
One year ago: Trainer Caps, and a Teaser
Two years ago: Back in the Park
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Even More LINE Pokémon Stickers
It's been a long time since I've posted about the Pokémon stickers that can be obtained in the social/messaging application LINE. The last time I posted about them was in fact about one and a half years ago, when I had obtained all the packs released up to that time. Since then, there have been quite a number of new packs, though I've been rather slow in getting them due to various reasons. Regardless, I am still interested in obtaining them when the conditions permit.
And of the new packs that have been released from that point up to today, I've gotten three of them:
Pokémon Chat Pals 2 - As can be discerned from the title, this is a sequel to the first Chat Pals pack. It's one of two of the more recent packs that are sequels. Like the first pack, the stickers feature pastel-drawn Pokémon with upfront text captions. The only real difference is that the stickers from this pack are quite larger when used, compared to the first; that does make it a little more attractive to use, but both are great in their respects and I'll still use stickers from either whenever they are fitting.
Pokémon: Eevee Stickers - This non-enhanced sticker pack features all nine of the "Eeveelutions" with four stickers each, while Eevee gets four extra stickers (for a total of 40, the standard for a non-enhanced pack). The art is by a guest illustrator, and it's rather kooky yet filled with emotion. One can't help but commiserate or feel compassionate with all the Eeveelutions, and true to that, I've taken quite a liking to many of the stickers in this pack. They deserve quite a bit of continued usage, which I intend to do.
Pokémon Yurutto - "Yurutto" in Japanese means "loose", and the Pokémon in this sticker are indeed just that. They are drawn in a fluffy manner, with loose expressions. This is another pack with a featured guest illustrator, who incidentally has another sticker pack on LINE for a different fandom, and that's how I first recognized the guest illustrator. Some Pokémon make a notable return in this pack, while a few new ones enter the fray. I've only barely used a few of the stickers in this pack, but that will likely change as I find opportunities for usage.
I've been slow in the process of obtaining these sticker packs, but this is surely worth it. Now I have many stickers that represent a wide variety of expressions featuring many different Pokémon. All that's left to do is to use them, and use them well and repeatedly. The flexibility afforded by the existing sticker packs that I have should be just great enough... until I set my sights on the next sticker pack that I want to get.
One year ago: Quirky Raids
Two years ago: Secret Garden
And of the new packs that have been released from that point up to today, I've gotten three of them:
Pokémon Chat Pals 2 - As can be discerned from the title, this is a sequel to the first Chat Pals pack. It's one of two of the more recent packs that are sequels. Like the first pack, the stickers feature pastel-drawn Pokémon with upfront text captions. The only real difference is that the stickers from this pack are quite larger when used, compared to the first; that does make it a little more attractive to use, but both are great in their respects and I'll still use stickers from either whenever they are fitting.
Pokémon: Eevee Stickers - This non-enhanced sticker pack features all nine of the "Eeveelutions" with four stickers each, while Eevee gets four extra stickers (for a total of 40, the standard for a non-enhanced pack). The art is by a guest illustrator, and it's rather kooky yet filled with emotion. One can't help but commiserate or feel compassionate with all the Eeveelutions, and true to that, I've taken quite a liking to many of the stickers in this pack. They deserve quite a bit of continued usage, which I intend to do.
Pokémon Yurutto - "Yurutto" in Japanese means "loose", and the Pokémon in this sticker are indeed just that. They are drawn in a fluffy manner, with loose expressions. This is another pack with a featured guest illustrator, who incidentally has another sticker pack on LINE for a different fandom, and that's how I first recognized the guest illustrator. Some Pokémon make a notable return in this pack, while a few new ones enter the fray. I've only barely used a few of the stickers in this pack, but that will likely change as I find opportunities for usage.
I've been slow in the process of obtaining these sticker packs, but this is surely worth it. Now I have many stickers that represent a wide variety of expressions featuring many different Pokémon. All that's left to do is to use them, and use them well and repeatedly. The flexibility afforded by the existing sticker packs that I have should be just great enough... until I set my sights on the next sticker pack that I want to get.
One year ago: Quirky Raids
Two years ago: Secret Garden
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Poké-Tourism
A long time ago, I wrote a post on places that I might like to visit that are somehow linked to Pokémon (and one of those places might be the two-year post on this day, see below). Those places are fine and good, but they represent more or less my personal desires of places that I want to visit. There are many other places in the world that could and should be visited, but are not necessarily linked to Pokémon... and yet, perhaps they could be. That leads to the idea of "Poké-tourism", which I define as using Pokémon to promote tourism.
To some extent, this concept could be considered to be indirectly executed through the holding of the Pokémon World Championships in different cities, as well as the associated tournaments in all their different areas. By doing so, they become magnets for players to come and spend some time in that area, perhaps not just for the tournaments, but also to see the sights. This is what sometimes happens with gatherings of this nature, as I can attest with certain ones that I've been to; it's not hard to expect that this might happen for certain players or groups of them.
Less formally, it might be possible to take advantage of the phenomenon of Pokémon Go as something for promoting sights in an area. I've already wrote about this to a significant detail in a post about using the game to feature local establishments as well as its possible use as a tour guide. If this could be highly systematized and updated, it might not be too much of a stretch that the game can be used for tourism purposes, and perhaps majorly. It could also further help players to return playing the game, even more so with the aid of all the new features that have been introduced.
On a more organized level, some areas could declare that they themselves have or are affiliated with a certain distinctive Pokémon. It's similar to the official concept of region flowers or animals, as well as the semi-official food and tree, the difference in this case being a selected Pokémon species. And like region flowers, it may be possible to have regions that identify to the same Pokémon, and that may be perfectly fine; they then could be linked as "sister regions". Still, with more than 800 Pokémon and more on down the line in the upcoming eighth generation, it might take some time before this happens. This could make it appealing to tourists who are Pokémon fans as well.
Personally, I'm all for visiting any place around the world, provided there are available means and I'm able to do so. As a Pokémon fan, though, I can't help but think that some places may be made to have Pokémon connections, and they then would appeal to me and other Pokémon fans. This would be particularly specific and rather cult, but given that Pokémon is sufficiently popular, it may be just workable, enough that somehow tourism by and/or with Pokémon can be appreciated.
One year ago: Pokémon "Cover Songs"
Two years ago: Venice and Alto Mare
To some extent, this concept could be considered to be indirectly executed through the holding of the Pokémon World Championships in different cities, as well as the associated tournaments in all their different areas. By doing so, they become magnets for players to come and spend some time in that area, perhaps not just for the tournaments, but also to see the sights. This is what sometimes happens with gatherings of this nature, as I can attest with certain ones that I've been to; it's not hard to expect that this might happen for certain players or groups of them.
Less formally, it might be possible to take advantage of the phenomenon of Pokémon Go as something for promoting sights in an area. I've already wrote about this to a significant detail in a post about using the game to feature local establishments as well as its possible use as a tour guide. If this could be highly systematized and updated, it might not be too much of a stretch that the game can be used for tourism purposes, and perhaps majorly. It could also further help players to return playing the game, even more so with the aid of all the new features that have been introduced.
On a more organized level, some areas could declare that they themselves have or are affiliated with a certain distinctive Pokémon. It's similar to the official concept of region flowers or animals, as well as the semi-official food and tree, the difference in this case being a selected Pokémon species. And like region flowers, it may be possible to have regions that identify to the same Pokémon, and that may be perfectly fine; they then could be linked as "sister regions". Still, with more than 800 Pokémon and more on down the line in the upcoming eighth generation, it might take some time before this happens. This could make it appealing to tourists who are Pokémon fans as well.
Personally, I'm all for visiting any place around the world, provided there are available means and I'm able to do so. As a Pokémon fan, though, I can't help but think that some places may be made to have Pokémon connections, and they then would appeal to me and other Pokémon fans. This would be particularly specific and rather cult, but given that Pokémon is sufficiently popular, it may be just workable, enough that somehow tourism by and/or with Pokémon can be appreciated.
One year ago: Pokémon "Cover Songs"
Two years ago: Venice and Alto Mare
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 2/19/2019
Today is what some people would call the Lantern Festival. It's an equally festive celebration as the Lunar New Year, and is in fact part of that celebration. It reminds me that I've still got a few events to discuss in Pokémon Go, one of which is related to this context. There are also a couple other ones that are worth mentioning and have significant effects and results.
The first one is of course the Lunar New Year event, which was held for one week from the date of the occasion, February 5. This year, the event featured 12 Pokémon that all represent the beings of the Eastern zodiac. Since this new year is the Year of the Pig, the focus was on the Pig zodiac, represented by Spoink; it appeared more frequently and came with its Shiny form. This was a great thing for some people but not for others; I'm one of those who didn't get its Shiny form, while others got it at the last minute. Either way, this event is somewhat appreciated for allowing to fill up the Candy stock of the featured Pokémon.
Then there's a remarkable one. Meltan, the newest of all currently existing Pokémon, now has a Shiny form through an event that will last up until early next month. Meltan that are unleashed by way of opening the Mystery Box may have the chance to be Shiny, and the time between successive openings of the Mystery Box is reduced, allowing more Meltan to be caught in fewer days. I was fortunate that I caught up with the raid fellow who furnished the Mystery Box a few days ago, and out of that, I caught one Shiny Meltan. I'm satisfied, but I still have to have the Mystery Box re-furnished to catch more Meltan; it takes a whole lot of Candies to evolve any Meltan after all.
The week before Community Day, there was a special event celebrating friendships over the weekend. It was appropriately called the Friend Weekend. Over the course of three days, friendship progress was doubled; in other words, interactions that happened during that period were counted as two days instead of one. The Stardust cost for trading was also halved, making it especially lucrative. I used the opportunity to elevate a few long-standing friends to Ultra level as well as to get ahead on other friends' levels, not to mention trade away a few Pokémon that really needed to go, and many of my friends did the same. It's safe to say that everyone really benefited from this event.
With the Lantern Festival, the celebrations for the Lunar New Year are coming to a close. But I'd like to think that with Pokémon, the celebration is always on. That's what Go really did with the events that have been on tap recently. They've been all reasons to celebrate, even if certain people don't. I'm sure everyone playing Go will be in for some more celebrations sooner or later.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Team Leader Stickers
Two years ago: Let's Get Ready to Rumble
The first one is of course the Lunar New Year event, which was held for one week from the date of the occasion, February 5. This year, the event featured 12 Pokémon that all represent the beings of the Eastern zodiac. Since this new year is the Year of the Pig, the focus was on the Pig zodiac, represented by Spoink; it appeared more frequently and came with its Shiny form. This was a great thing for some people but not for others; I'm one of those who didn't get its Shiny form, while others got it at the last minute. Either way, this event is somewhat appreciated for allowing to fill up the Candy stock of the featured Pokémon.
Then there's a remarkable one. Meltan, the newest of all currently existing Pokémon, now has a Shiny form through an event that will last up until early next month. Meltan that are unleashed by way of opening the Mystery Box may have the chance to be Shiny, and the time between successive openings of the Mystery Box is reduced, allowing more Meltan to be caught in fewer days. I was fortunate that I caught up with the raid fellow who furnished the Mystery Box a few days ago, and out of that, I caught one Shiny Meltan. I'm satisfied, but I still have to have the Mystery Box re-furnished to catch more Meltan; it takes a whole lot of Candies to evolve any Meltan after all.
The week before Community Day, there was a special event celebrating friendships over the weekend. It was appropriately called the Friend Weekend. Over the course of three days, friendship progress was doubled; in other words, interactions that happened during that period were counted as two days instead of one. The Stardust cost for trading was also halved, making it especially lucrative. I used the opportunity to elevate a few long-standing friends to Ultra level as well as to get ahead on other friends' levels, not to mention trade away a few Pokémon that really needed to go, and many of my friends did the same. It's safe to say that everyone really benefited from this event.
With the Lantern Festival, the celebrations for the Lunar New Year are coming to a close. But I'd like to think that with Pokémon, the celebration is always on. That's what Go really did with the events that have been on tap recently. They've been all reasons to celebrate, even if certain people don't. I'm sure everyone playing Go will be in for some more celebrations sooner or later.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Team Leader Stickers
Two years ago: Let's Get Ready to Rumble
Monday, February 18, 2019
Mewtwo @ Everywhere
Frequent readers of this blog might have seen the Mew @ Everywhere post from July of last year. That post concerns a project, which involves taking pictures of Mew in various places after completing its Special Research and before it was captured. Now I present a variation of that project, this time with its bigger cousin Mewtwo. This is something I should've presented a few months ago during (or actually after) the Pokémon was a Level 5 raid boss, but it's "better late than never" as they say, and I already had the project planned out anyway.
Capturing Mewtwo in pictures is more complex and finicky than doing so for Mew. Mew results from a Special Research, so I can keep it not captured indefinitely until it's time, allowing many pictures to be taken in many places. That is not the case with Mewtwo, which was initially only limited to EX Raids before appearing in regular raids. And because it is so, the only time I can take pictures of it is during the capture challenge after a victory, and in locations not too distant from the Gym of the raid; there may also be a time pressure (especially when multiple raids are involved) as well as the risk of letting Mewtwo flee, whether intentional or not. Despite these restrictions, this can still be completed.
Even so, I've come up with fairly less pictures for Mewtwo than I did with Mew, mostly due to those restrictions. I obtained 10 different shots of Mewtwo, and as a bonus, I've included 3 "action shots", which show Mewtwo mid-way through its movements during the capture challenge. All of them of course show the environments of the particular raids that I and my raid fellows took on.
One of the Gyms that I raided Mewtwo in is situated near a really big tree, and it becomes interesting to compare its stature against that of the tree.
Another Gym is right next to a lawn of sorts, and it becomes a perfectly situated place to show off Mewtwo.
And then there's a Gym that represents a locally towering structure, which also makes a fine backdrop for Mewtwo.
During the process of taking a picture for the last one, I also took a shot in action, and I have to say I couldn't plan this out better myself.
The rest of the shots can be seen in a gallery that I've hosted on my OneDrive. Now, there's been word that Pokémon Go will soon have a feature that makes taking pictures even more convenient and even more exciting, but I'll discuss it later, when the feature is live and when the time is right. The pictures on this post are obviously taken before the onset of this feature, but that's fine. When that feature comes along, there may be other special things as well.
Regardless, projects like this one and the Mew one will continue in the future with other Pokémon that deserve to have a treatment in a photographic manner. That new feature I've hinted above will likely be useful in this regard, as is doing it traditionally during capture. Either way, I should be able to come up with fine shots of Pokémon in different places, as I have done for Mew and Mewtwo.
One year ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays x CLAS:H/ICGP Regionals 2018
Two years ago: Pokémon Art on Walls
Capturing Mewtwo in pictures is more complex and finicky than doing so for Mew. Mew results from a Special Research, so I can keep it not captured indefinitely until it's time, allowing many pictures to be taken in many places. That is not the case with Mewtwo, which was initially only limited to EX Raids before appearing in regular raids. And because it is so, the only time I can take pictures of it is during the capture challenge after a victory, and in locations not too distant from the Gym of the raid; there may also be a time pressure (especially when multiple raids are involved) as well as the risk of letting Mewtwo flee, whether intentional or not. Despite these restrictions, this can still be completed.
Even so, I've come up with fairly less pictures for Mewtwo than I did with Mew, mostly due to those restrictions. I obtained 10 different shots of Mewtwo, and as a bonus, I've included 3 "action shots", which show Mewtwo mid-way through its movements during the capture challenge. All of them of course show the environments of the particular raids that I and my raid fellows took on.
One of the Gyms that I raided Mewtwo in is situated near a really big tree, and it becomes interesting to compare its stature against that of the tree.
Another Gym is right next to a lawn of sorts, and it becomes a perfectly situated place to show off Mewtwo.
And then there's a Gym that represents a locally towering structure, which also makes a fine backdrop for Mewtwo.
During the process of taking a picture for the last one, I also took a shot in action, and I have to say I couldn't plan this out better myself.
The rest of the shots can be seen in a gallery that I've hosted on my OneDrive. Now, there's been word that Pokémon Go will soon have a feature that makes taking pictures even more convenient and even more exciting, but I'll discuss it later, when the feature is live and when the time is right. The pictures on this post are obviously taken before the onset of this feature, but that's fine. When that feature comes along, there may be other special things as well.
Regardless, projects like this one and the Mew one will continue in the future with other Pokémon that deserve to have a treatment in a photographic manner. That new feature I've hinted above will likely be useful in this regard, as is doing it traditionally during capture. Either way, I should be able to come up with fine shots of Pokémon in different places, as I have done for Mew and Mewtwo.
One year ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays x CLAS:H/ICGP Regionals 2018
Two years ago: Pokémon Art on Walls
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/17/2019
Community Day for Pokémon Go returns, and this time, it's a bit special. To start, this is the first Community Day since November of last year that I've been able to execute in the regular and usual manner; as a reminder, December had an unusual conglomeration, and January had an EX Raid timed along with it. To be free of those restrictions is a great thing, just as much as I enjoy the refreshing changes they provide. Yet as it turns out, this Community Day has a few twists of its own.
The featured Pokémon for this Community Day is Swinub. It's a second-generation Pokémon that evolves to Piloswine, and then to Mamoswine in the fourth generation. As such, this is the first Community Day that features a Pokémon from the fourth generation and the second to feature multiple generations (Eevee in August last year was the first). And like other Pokémon of prior generations that evolve to a new form in the fourth generation, it evolves in Pokémon Go by way of a Sinnoh Stone, and this is thereby the first one that necessitates an item for evolving the Pokémon.
To offset that, PvP battles for this day awards guaranteed Sinnoh Stones for the first five battles. This is in addition to the bonus of increased Stardust for each captured Pokémon as well as the Shiny form. And then there is the exclusive move for this Community Day, which is Ancient Power. In the main series, Piloswine evolves to Mamoswine by way of having this move; since Go has no such facility, it becomes an exclusive move instead.
As for Lure Modules, they extend during the entire length of the event... and beyond. The reason is that this Community Day coincides with the Valentine's Day event, which is still happening as of today. Because of that, another unspoken perk of this edition of Community Day is extra Candies for caught Pokémon, much like the October Community Day Repeat. All of these bonuses are lucrative to some extent, whether intentional or incidental.
I have to say that today, as the scheduled Community Day in my area, I caught plenty of Swinub and amassed a sizable Candy stock for evolution, power-up, and new attacks. The evolution is might be where I slightly messed up, though I did evolve two strong ones and a Shiny form as usual. I may not yet be able to recoup the Candy stock I spent on the evolution, but at least I may be able to re-strategize what I had already evolved for different usages. As well, there are a few other Swinub which I may have different plans for.
This Community Day was only regular and usual in its execution, but it also had some irregular and unusual things going for it. All the same, some things might just remain continued facets of future Community Days, so that's something to look out for. No matter what the twists and turns are, I have to do what I can to make sure I take advantage of Community Day in the best way possible, for good results today and great results tomorrow.
One year ago: Time for a Pikachu New 2DS XL?
Two years ago: The Park Is Open
The featured Pokémon for this Community Day is Swinub. It's a second-generation Pokémon that evolves to Piloswine, and then to Mamoswine in the fourth generation. As such, this is the first Community Day that features a Pokémon from the fourth generation and the second to feature multiple generations (Eevee in August last year was the first). And like other Pokémon of prior generations that evolve to a new form in the fourth generation, it evolves in Pokémon Go by way of a Sinnoh Stone, and this is thereby the first one that necessitates an item for evolving the Pokémon.
To offset that, PvP battles for this day awards guaranteed Sinnoh Stones for the first five battles. This is in addition to the bonus of increased Stardust for each captured Pokémon as well as the Shiny form. And then there is the exclusive move for this Community Day, which is Ancient Power. In the main series, Piloswine evolves to Mamoswine by way of having this move; since Go has no such facility, it becomes an exclusive move instead.
As for Lure Modules, they extend during the entire length of the event... and beyond. The reason is that this Community Day coincides with the Valentine's Day event, which is still happening as of today. Because of that, another unspoken perk of this edition of Community Day is extra Candies for caught Pokémon, much like the October Community Day Repeat. All of these bonuses are lucrative to some extent, whether intentional or incidental.
I have to say that today, as the scheduled Community Day in my area, I caught plenty of Swinub and amassed a sizable Candy stock for evolution, power-up, and new attacks. The evolution is might be where I slightly messed up, though I did evolve two strong ones and a Shiny form as usual. I may not yet be able to recoup the Candy stock I spent on the evolution, but at least I may be able to re-strategize what I had already evolved for different usages. As well, there are a few other Swinub which I may have different plans for.
This Community Day was only regular and usual in its execution, but it also had some irregular and unusual things going for it. All the same, some things might just remain continued facets of future Community Days, so that's something to look out for. No matter what the twists and turns are, I have to do what I can to make sure I take advantage of Community Day in the best way possible, for good results today and great results tomorrow.
One year ago: Time for a Pikachu New 2DS XL?
Two years ago: The Park Is Open
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Romancing the Ball
Nearly two weeks ago, I hinted in a post about a certain lore that it's the month of February and it's the month of romance. I wanted to address this topic on Valentine's Day, but another topic took precedence. That's not to say that's a bad thing; in fact, it was probably more right that it was so. All the same, it also seems right to discuss the topic while still in the vein of Valentine's Day, so here I go. Of course, it has to be with a Pokémon twist, and... maybe with an additional twist.
There's a certain movie out there about someone wishing for an adventure, and then gets one in a really wild way. Along the way, romance is also kindled between people involved in the adventure. I personally have never seen the movie, but it's been referenced a few times, and recently I've found out about its gist. And it might be somehow even more linked to this post by the fact that the title of this post resembles that of the movie. It sounds like a movie that I want to or should see.
In relation to Pokémon, I've titled this post with "ball" because it certainly refers to the Poké Ball, the device that provides Trainers everywhere a way to relate to and use Pokémon. As a Pokémon fan, I feel that I have indeed "romanced the ball" many times over, using another reference that makes a reference to the movie. It's something that I have to familiarize as I go through anything Pokémon, whether they are the games or beyond; I have to know what it may do, what it may not do, and what are the quirks involved in either process. In doing so, I also become familiar with the Pokémon that may be captured with the balls.
As for real romance, that may be something a bit more distant. But like that movie, I've gotten into adventures that sometimes I wish could get into. Even if they're not exactly like what the Pokémon games make them out to be, at least it's an adventure nonetheless, especially if it involves "romancing the ball" as above. And then there are things like that lore, which only further contribute to this kind of romance. I suppose that's good enough for a romantic month like this one.
Now I think I have to go see that movie that keeps on being referenced.
One year ago: Once and Again: Cosplay Teaser for 3/11/2018
Two years ago: We Three Birds of Kanto Are...
There's a certain movie out there about someone wishing for an adventure, and then gets one in a really wild way. Along the way, romance is also kindled between people involved in the adventure. I personally have never seen the movie, but it's been referenced a few times, and recently I've found out about its gist. And it might be somehow even more linked to this post by the fact that the title of this post resembles that of the movie. It sounds like a movie that I want to or should see.
In relation to Pokémon, I've titled this post with "ball" because it certainly refers to the Poké Ball, the device that provides Trainers everywhere a way to relate to and use Pokémon. As a Pokémon fan, I feel that I have indeed "romanced the ball" many times over, using another reference that makes a reference to the movie. It's something that I have to familiarize as I go through anything Pokémon, whether they are the games or beyond; I have to know what it may do, what it may not do, and what are the quirks involved in either process. In doing so, I also become familiar with the Pokémon that may be captured with the balls.
As for real romance, that may be something a bit more distant. But like that movie, I've gotten into adventures that sometimes I wish could get into. Even if they're not exactly like what the Pokémon games make them out to be, at least it's an adventure nonetheless, especially if it involves "romancing the ball" as above. And then there are things like that lore, which only further contribute to this kind of romance. I suppose that's good enough for a romantic month like this one.
Now I think I have to go see that movie that keeps on being referenced.
One year ago: Once and Again: Cosplay Teaser for 3/11/2018
Two years ago: We Three Birds of Kanto Are...
Friday, February 15, 2019
Local EX Raid (and Quick Connections), 2/15/2019
On any given day, I have a given number of things to do, Pokémon or otherwise. On this given day, I had an EX Raid scheduled in Pokémon Go. The objective was still Deoxys in its Attack Form, and things hadn't changed much. Actually, I got this EX Raid by way of a quick return to the EX Raid Gym on one day I was playing; that was quite a stretch and seemed foretelling of what had happened this day.
Though the EX Raid was scheduled for 1 PM, there were a few things that I had to take care of before that. Compared to the EX Raid, they were unscheduled beforehand and rather impromptu. As a result, I had to travel quickly to get to the EX Raid Gym. During that travel, there seemed to be a quickly passing storm overhead; I went through one part where it rained heavily and another part where it didn't rain at all, which includes the EX Raid Gym. It was a struggle that really turned out to be quick and not protracted.
Once I was at the location, it was a matter of time before quite a few of those who obtained the EX Raid also came. Due to the indication of other quickly passing storms that might be in the area, many of us decided to go through the EX Raid quickly, including me. We were all informed that Deoxys was supposed to be more resilient and not as easy (or quick) to take down, but even so, that didn't seem to be the case. It was also fortunate that the capture went smoothly and quickly. After quickly observing a second group of raid participants, we quickly parted and went our separate ways.
After a brief and quick errand, I met a friend who gladly took me where I could do some other Pokémon Go business. The intent was to spend the rest of the afternoon on Go business, but I was instead prompted to quickly return to where I live and quickly take care of other things. It turned out to be a rather quick Go business after all as well, but I at least got something out of it. Later on, this was quickly made up by a quick meeting and SwitchCon with a raid fellow; it was just as impressive as it was quick.
"Quick" seems to be the absolute descriptor for today's EX Raid, as well as many things that surrounded it. It was still one of many things I had to do today. The fact that everything went quick, quick, quick may perhaps be a bit bewildering, but I suppose that's just fine. Now it's time to quickly move on to the next day's agenda of Pokémon things and everything else.
One year ago: A Break in the Action
Two years ago: Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Partners Figure - Satoshi
Though the EX Raid was scheduled for 1 PM, there were a few things that I had to take care of before that. Compared to the EX Raid, they were unscheduled beforehand and rather impromptu. As a result, I had to travel quickly to get to the EX Raid Gym. During that travel, there seemed to be a quickly passing storm overhead; I went through one part where it rained heavily and another part where it didn't rain at all, which includes the EX Raid Gym. It was a struggle that really turned out to be quick and not protracted.
Once I was at the location, it was a matter of time before quite a few of those who obtained the EX Raid also came. Due to the indication of other quickly passing storms that might be in the area, many of us decided to go through the EX Raid quickly, including me. We were all informed that Deoxys was supposed to be more resilient and not as easy (or quick) to take down, but even so, that didn't seem to be the case. It was also fortunate that the capture went smoothly and quickly. After quickly observing a second group of raid participants, we quickly parted and went our separate ways.
 |
| Deoxys @ Park. The "quick" shot that I should have taken ages ago. |
After a brief and quick errand, I met a friend who gladly took me where I could do some other Pokémon Go business. The intent was to spend the rest of the afternoon on Go business, but I was instead prompted to quickly return to where I live and quickly take care of other things. It turned out to be a rather quick Go business after all as well, but I at least got something out of it. Later on, this was quickly made up by a quick meeting and SwitchCon with a raid fellow; it was just as impressive as it was quick.
"Quick" seems to be the absolute descriptor for today's EX Raid, as well as many things that surrounded it. It was still one of many things I had to do today. The fact that everything went quick, quick, quick may perhaps be a bit bewildering, but I suppose that's just fine. Now it's time to quickly move on to the next day's agenda of Pokémon things and everything else.
One year ago: A Break in the Action
Two years ago: Pocket Monsters Best Wishes Partners Figure - Satoshi
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Valentine's Day 2019: Think Pink
It's February 14, and it's Valentine's Day. The core of this day is certainly love and affection, as I've mentioned in the old posts below. But other things can be considered as well, and one of those is the color pink. It has connotations that are worthy to be considered, particularly on this day; these too may be considered in relation to other things, as well as Pokémon as the core topic of posts on this blog.
Pink is certainly the color of love and affection. It's a warm, sweet, and amicable color, even more so than its kin, the color of red; it is thus linked to friendships and sugary things as well. The color indicates gentleness in modest amounts, and in larger amounts may indicate weakness. The charm of pink makes it evocative of girly and playful things. Yet above all, pink also symbolizes harmony and calmness, and can create peace and feelings of relaxation. So in addition to its link to love and affection, pink is a color with soft impressions.
Lately I've been having mixed emotions, so now that Valentine's Day has come, it may be time to take a step back a bit, take a breath, and think about things more calmly - in other words, "think pink", as I've indicated in the title of this post. Far from it being a reference to other things, I've taken it as an literal reference to the actual color and its associated qualities. In doing so, I hope to be able to get a grip on situations and to consider them more rationally. This of course includes things related to Pokémon.
Fortunately, Pokémon Go has decided to do a favor in this regard and has presented a "pink Pokémon special". More of them are appearing in the wild and more Candies can be earned from them. They also crop up in raids and 7 km Eggs. And to help with all this, Lure Modules are extended when they are activated within the duration of this event. There's surely no shortage of pink color here, and so I have to get out, play, and see pink, in order to "think pink" as above. I'm already relaxed just thinking about it.
Pink is a neat color, as far as I'm concerned, and as far as this day is concerned. What's in it for everyone is a way to celebrate good feelings about relationships. What's in it for me right now is a way to calm down and rethink things. What's in it for Pokémon is that it's a color highly associated with many species and forms of Pokémon. Together, they all just seem to work out beautifully, and I do like that.
Think pink, and Happy Valentine's Day.
One year ago: Valentine's Day 2018: Address to a Luvdisc
Two years ago: It's Valentine's Day!
Pink is certainly the color of love and affection. It's a warm, sweet, and amicable color, even more so than its kin, the color of red; it is thus linked to friendships and sugary things as well. The color indicates gentleness in modest amounts, and in larger amounts may indicate weakness. The charm of pink makes it evocative of girly and playful things. Yet above all, pink also symbolizes harmony and calmness, and can create peace and feelings of relaxation. So in addition to its link to love and affection, pink is a color with soft impressions.
Lately I've been having mixed emotions, so now that Valentine's Day has come, it may be time to take a step back a bit, take a breath, and think about things more calmly - in other words, "think pink", as I've indicated in the title of this post. Far from it being a reference to other things, I've taken it as an literal reference to the actual color and its associated qualities. In doing so, I hope to be able to get a grip on situations and to consider them more rationally. This of course includes things related to Pokémon.
Fortunately, Pokémon Go has decided to do a favor in this regard and has presented a "pink Pokémon special". More of them are appearing in the wild and more Candies can be earned from them. They also crop up in raids and 7 km Eggs. And to help with all this, Lure Modules are extended when they are activated within the duration of this event. There's surely no shortage of pink color here, and so I have to get out, play, and see pink, in order to "think pink" as above. I'm already relaxed just thinking about it.
Pink is a neat color, as far as I'm concerned, and as far as this day is concerned. What's in it for everyone is a way to celebrate good feelings about relationships. What's in it for me right now is a way to calm down and rethink things. What's in it for Pokémon is that it's a color highly associated with many species and forms of Pokémon. Together, they all just seem to work out beautifully, and I do like that.
Think pink, and Happy Valentine's Day.
One year ago: Valentine's Day 2018: Address to a Luvdisc
Two years ago: It's Valentine's Day!
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Cryptic Pokémon
As I've noted in my post about Pokémon Picross, I've read puzzle periodicals like GAMES World of Puzzles. Besides Picross/Paint by Numbers, these periodicals contain many puzzle types, many of which are word puzzles like crosswords. One of the possible featured types of crosswords is the cryptic crossword, which is among the hardest types because their clues are obfuscated. However, I do have some grasp of these clues, can solve them, and can even apply them to Pokémon - that is to say, make clues that involve it.
Aside from what are called "pure cryptic" clues, many cryptic crossword clues work by providing a definition/description about the word as with a typical crossword clue, as well as wordplay that concerns the word. Here are seven examples that illustrate how they work using (English name) Pokémon examples, one from each currently known generation:
There are a couple of other mechanisms by way cryptic clues may be delivered, but these seven are representative of many clues. And I'm only a relatively amateur solver and clue maker in regard to cryptic crosswords, so I can only manage simple clues like these; someone who is a total expert should be able to solve and may contrive rather complicated clues. Furthermore, the use of Pokémon may be limiting, as in the cases above, the definitions or descriptions may immediately be known, especially to those who are Pokémon fans as I am.
Nevertheless, it may be possible to fully set a cryptic crossword with a Pokémon theme, if these clues are any indication. For those who understand the clues as well as Pokémon well enough, such a puzzle may be of interest. It should make for quite a challenge, as if these puzzles aren't already hard enough. I already have some spirit for cryptic crossword puzzles, and perhaps will be more so if Pokémon can be included.
One year ago: Two Games at Once?
Two years ago: Cosplay: Japan LovEvolution Vol. 2 - Kaizen
Aside from what are called "pure cryptic" clues, many cryptic crossword clues work by providing a definition/description about the word as with a typical crossword clue, as well as wordplay that concerns the word. Here are seven examples that illustrate how they work using (English name) Pokémon examples, one from each currently known generation:
Bug-type Pokémon serve fruit dessert (8)The answer is Caterpie. Caterpie is a Bug-type Pokémon, hence the definition. The wordplay here is charades: "serve" is "cater", and "fruit dessert" is "pie", and they describe the word by its spelling.
Long for company as conifer fruit (6)The answer is Pineco. The wordplay involves another instance of charades as "long for" is "pine" (grieve) and "company" indicates the abbreviation "co.", which taken together becomes the Pokémon described as looking like a fruit of conifers (that is, pine trees). It's important to note that complex clues may involve the use of more than one form of wordplay, which make these extremely challenging.
It can stomach plug-in arrangement (6)The answer is Gulpin. Gulpin has the species description of Stomach Pokémon, which means it can stomach (digest) things. Here the wordplay is anagram: "arrangement" is a cue word that something has to be scrambled, which happens to be the two hyphenated words before it ("plug-in"), yielding the Pokémon.
Electrical device in reverse has multiple forms (5)The answer is Rotom. Aside from anagrams, cue words may indicate reversals, which simply has words read backwards, here being "in reverse" for "electrical device". One electrical device is a "motor", which when reversed leads to the Pokémon, which indeed has multiple forms.
Group frames ship head and evolves by trade (7)The answer is Shelmet. This clue contains a container/content wordplay, where the word "set" ("group") is to contain or "frame" the word "helm" ("ship head") in the manner of "s-helm-et", hinting at the Pokémon whose evolution process in the main series involves a trade.
A young goat in what this kid does (6)The answer is Skiddo. Look closely: "what this kid does" contains the letters of the Pokémon name, in sequence; this is wordplay by hidden words (indicated by "in"). Skiddo is the Pokémon that precedes and evolves to Gogoat, hence the description.
Third-stage fruit speaking of Russian female ruler (8)The answer is Tsareena. Tsareena is the third in the evolution line of Bounsweet and Steenee, and they all look like a fruit (the mangosteen). A "Russian female ruler" is a "tsarina" (also spelled "czarina"), and this is phonologically equivalent to how the Pokémon is pronounced; the wordplay involved is homophones, as indicated by "speaking of".
There are a couple of other mechanisms by way cryptic clues may be delivered, but these seven are representative of many clues. And I'm only a relatively amateur solver and clue maker in regard to cryptic crosswords, so I can only manage simple clues like these; someone who is a total expert should be able to solve and may contrive rather complicated clues. Furthermore, the use of Pokémon may be limiting, as in the cases above, the definitions or descriptions may immediately be known, especially to those who are Pokémon fans as I am.
Nevertheless, it may be possible to fully set a cryptic crossword with a Pokémon theme, if these clues are any indication. For those who understand the clues as well as Pokémon well enough, such a puzzle may be of interest. It should make for quite a challenge, as if these puzzles aren't already hard enough. I already have some spirit for cryptic crossword puzzles, and perhaps will be more so if Pokémon can be included.
One year ago: Two Games at Once?
Two years ago: Cosplay: Japan LovEvolution Vol. 2 - Kaizen
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
A Pikachu Pillow Keychain
In the world of merchandise, especially Pokémon ones, there are pillows, and there are keychains. I've detailed a few of both types of merchandise on some posts on this blog. And now I'd like to detail about a "pillow keychain". Wait, what? It's exactly what it is: a small pillow attached to a ring that can act like a keychain. And I have to say that it's quite remarkable.
The front of the pillow has a Pikachu image - which seems all too familiar - printed on white fabric. The back of the pillow has just a simple black-and-white striped fabric. In order for the pillow to hang, a loop is attached to the top of the pillow, which then connects to the ring of the keychain. The pillow itself is rather firm, perhaps more so than a regular pillow; but it has to be, because it has less of a "pillow" element and more of a "keychain" element, and therefore has to be sturdy enough as either.
This pillow keychain also came from the theme event on Sunday, from a merchandise stand. What's more, this is not the only pillow keychain. There were three other pillow keychains for Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, the starters of the first generation. And in fact, all of these, including Pikachu, were available as actual pillows in a larger size. However, since I was limited on what I could get, and furthermore the pillows were six times more expensive than the pillow keychains, I decided on this one as a representative of all these. Should they ever return to my sights, I may decide to get them.
All Pokémon merchandise are fantastic, at least in my view, no matter what kind they are. To see two kinds of merchandise combined in this manner is doubly fantastic and quite unique. In particular for this specific piece of merchandise, the essences of neither are lost, and both complement each other. That's a remarkable thing indeed, and it makes me highly expectant of future Pokémon merchandise fusions.
One year ago: Anywhere Is
Two years ago: My Essential Pokémon Cosplay Equipment
The front of the pillow has a Pikachu image - which seems all too familiar - printed on white fabric. The back of the pillow has just a simple black-and-white striped fabric. In order for the pillow to hang, a loop is attached to the top of the pillow, which then connects to the ring of the keychain. The pillow itself is rather firm, perhaps more so than a regular pillow; but it has to be, because it has less of a "pillow" element and more of a "keychain" element, and therefore has to be sturdy enough as either.
This pillow keychain also came from the theme event on Sunday, from a merchandise stand. What's more, this is not the only pillow keychain. There were three other pillow keychains for Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle, the starters of the first generation. And in fact, all of these, including Pikachu, were available as actual pillows in a larger size. However, since I was limited on what I could get, and furthermore the pillows were six times more expensive than the pillow keychains, I decided on this one as a representative of all these. Should they ever return to my sights, I may decide to get them.
All Pokémon merchandise are fantastic, at least in my view, no matter what kind they are. To see two kinds of merchandise combined in this manner is doubly fantastic and quite unique. In particular for this specific piece of merchandise, the essences of neither are lost, and both complement each other. That's a remarkable thing indeed, and it makes me highly expectant of future Pokémon merchandise fusions.
One year ago: Anywhere Is
Two years ago: My Essential Pokémon Cosplay Equipment
Monday, February 11, 2019
A Pidove Keychain
Two months ago, I obtained a Sewaddle keychain from a particular convention. There were a few considerations that went into the selection of the keychain over others that were offered. The particular keychain that I would like to detail in this post comes from the previous day's theme event, and much of the same considerations also apply to the selection of the keychain. It too is a special thing.
Like Sewaddle, Pidove is (was) one of Ash's Pokémon during the Unova saga. Also like Sewaddle, Pidove ultimately evolved into its final form Unfezant. The story by which Ash obtained Pidove is an enigmatic one, involving a twist of genders... but that deserves an explanation in its own post. This is of course a deciding factor for obtaining this particular keychain.
This keychain was also chosen based on the offerings that were presented in the merchandise stand. Actually, there was also a Ducklett keychain for sale, but I chose not to get that one because I had also seen the Ducklett episode, which is rather quirky. Furthermore, in an odd coincidence, just like me, the exact same stand appeared in the event from two days ago. I had thought about getting the keychain there, but time was not on my side. Fortunately, the stand reappeared in the event on the very next day, almost as if it was a "second chance".
The keychain figure is a little disheveled, but it's still in pretty good condition. All the parts of its anatomy are present and detailed well. The pose is rather remarkable, being with the right wing raised; it's welcoming and adorable. Its feet allow it to stand up on its own without the aid of any kind of support, which is a plus if I don't intend to use it as a keychain... and I don't, at least not in the foreseeable time. It's fine as a figure too.
Any Pokémon merchandise that I obtain has to go through some considerations before being obtained; this one does too. Remarkably, these considerations happen to be similar to one that I've obtained in the past, which is rather unique. I can't guarantee that a future piece of merchandise will go through these same considerations again, but anything may just be possible.
One year ago: Memories of Hoenn
Two years ago: LINE Pokémon Stickers
Like Sewaddle, Pidove is (was) one of Ash's Pokémon during the Unova saga. Also like Sewaddle, Pidove ultimately evolved into its final form Unfezant. The story by which Ash obtained Pidove is an enigmatic one, involving a twist of genders... but that deserves an explanation in its own post. This is of course a deciding factor for obtaining this particular keychain.
This keychain was also chosen based on the offerings that were presented in the merchandise stand. Actually, there was also a Ducklett keychain for sale, but I chose not to get that one because I had also seen the Ducklett episode, which is rather quirky. Furthermore, in an odd coincidence, just like me, the exact same stand appeared in the event from two days ago. I had thought about getting the keychain there, but time was not on my side. Fortunately, the stand reappeared in the event on the very next day, almost as if it was a "second chance".
The keychain figure is a little disheveled, but it's still in pretty good condition. All the parts of its anatomy are present and detailed well. The pose is rather remarkable, being with the right wing raised; it's welcoming and adorable. Its feet allow it to stand up on its own without the aid of any kind of support, which is a plus if I don't intend to use it as a keychain... and I don't, at least not in the foreseeable time. It's fine as a figure too.
Any Pokémon merchandise that I obtain has to go through some considerations before being obtained; this one does too. Remarkably, these considerations happen to be similar to one that I've obtained in the past, which is rather unique. I can't guarantee that a future piece of merchandise will go through these same considerations again, but anything may just be possible.
One year ago: Memories of Hoenn
Two years ago: LINE Pokémon Stickers
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Cosplay: Tresno no Matsuri
Ash: ...Wait, another theme event?
Me: Yeah. As strange as it seems, I had heard about this one for longer, so I had also intended to send you here as well. It just so happened that the one on the other day worked out, and worked out well, might I say.
Ash: Well, I'm ready to go, and so is Pikachu.
Pikachu: Pika! [showing energy]
Ash: By the way, what's the deal with the title?
Me: The title means "festival of love". The first word means "love" in a local language, and the rest is in Japanese. Because of that, the event can be said to be a fusion of local and Japanese elements. I hope you're OK with that.
Ash: Sure! I enjoy some local things wherever I go when I travel, so this should be fun.
Pikachu: Pi! Pika! [admiring]
Ash: Pikachu seems to like it. That's great.
Me: All right. What's it like over there?
Ash: Well, it seems normal. There are food stands and goodies stands as usual, and the entertainment is good too. But then they had some local performers and decorations, so it's just like you said. There's love in the air.
Me: And there's a character competition too, right?
Ash: Right! There's a character parade, the one you heard about and wanted to set me up for, and I did get in.
Me: Do you notice something special about the outfit I sent you with?
Ash: It's my Kanto outfit. But there's something... different, about it?
Me: Right you are. I recently received new parts of the outfit, which seems really good, so I wanted you to try it. And of course, I have to ask. How was it?
Ash: I think it's great! I like this one a lot. Whoever made it should get some praise. But I didn't win, though. There was a good chance, but I didn't. One of the characters I know who I thought would win didn't win either.
Me: Shucks. It means it wasn't up to us. We'll try next time.
Ash: Sure. This is only the first time you sent me with this one. There will be other times, right?
Me: Certainly! I'm already looking forward. Now, the place of the event should be familiar. Do you remember which events were held there?
Ash: Oh! There was that ACC event last year, and then there's the community event too. And two years ago there was that comic market one.
Me: That's good. I'm sure the people who own the place are open to this kind of thing, which means we'll keep seeing events like this here.
Ash: You must be right. I enjoy it. This event was great, but I wish it hadn't rained and things had been on time. The character parade was delayed twice and I think it got to everyone.
Pikachu: Pi! Pika pika pi! [strongly agreeing]
Me: Yeah, that seems to happen often, especially now and because the event is open-air, even though the place is covered.
Ash: I guess so.
Me: It's still actually kind of rare that there are two events like this in two days, especially one that is close with one that is far. Usually the latter happens on the second day and the former happens first. That's why I said it's wild.
Ash: You can say that again. Pikachu is a little tired, but Pikachu seems to like it.
Pikachu: Pikaaaa... [drawn out, slightly tired]
Me: All right. Now it's really time for a good rest. More stuff awaits us tomorrow, Pokémon or otherwise.
One year ago: Hoenn (Fully) Confirmed on Go
Two years ago: Space
Me: Yeah. As strange as it seems, I had heard about this one for longer, so I had also intended to send you here as well. It just so happened that the one on the other day worked out, and worked out well, might I say.
Ash: Well, I'm ready to go, and so is Pikachu.
Pikachu: Pika! [showing energy]
Ash: By the way, what's the deal with the title?
Me: The title means "festival of love". The first word means "love" in a local language, and the rest is in Japanese. Because of that, the event can be said to be a fusion of local and Japanese elements. I hope you're OK with that.
Ash: Sure! I enjoy some local things wherever I go when I travel, so this should be fun.
Pikachu: Pi! Pika! [admiring]
Ash: Pikachu seems to like it. That's great.
Me: All right. What's it like over there?
Ash: Well, it seems normal. There are food stands and goodies stands as usual, and the entertainment is good too. But then they had some local performers and decorations, so it's just like you said. There's love in the air.
Me: And there's a character competition too, right?
Ash: Right! There's a character parade, the one you heard about and wanted to set me up for, and I did get in.
Me: Do you notice something special about the outfit I sent you with?
Ash: It's my Kanto outfit. But there's something... different, about it?
Me: Right you are. I recently received new parts of the outfit, which seems really good, so I wanted you to try it. And of course, I have to ask. How was it?
Ash: I think it's great! I like this one a lot. Whoever made it should get some praise. But I didn't win, though. There was a good chance, but I didn't. One of the characters I know who I thought would win didn't win either.
Me: Shucks. It means it wasn't up to us. We'll try next time.
Ash: Sure. This is only the first time you sent me with this one. There will be other times, right?
Me: Certainly! I'm already looking forward. Now, the place of the event should be familiar. Do you remember which events were held there?
Ash: Oh! There was that ACC event last year, and then there's the community event too. And two years ago there was that comic market one.
Me: That's good. I'm sure the people who own the place are open to this kind of thing, which means we'll keep seeing events like this here.
Ash: You must be right. I enjoy it. This event was great, but I wish it hadn't rained and things had been on time. The character parade was delayed twice and I think it got to everyone.
Pikachu: Pi! Pika pika pi! [strongly agreeing]
Me: Yeah, that seems to happen often, especially now and because the event is open-air, even though the place is covered.
Ash: I guess so.
Me: It's still actually kind of rare that there are two events like this in two days, especially one that is close with one that is far. Usually the latter happens on the second day and the former happens first. That's why I said it's wild.
Ash: You can say that again. Pikachu is a little tired, but Pikachu seems to like it.
Pikachu: Pikaaaa... [drawn out, slightly tired]
Me: All right. Now it's really time for a good rest. More stuff awaits us tomorrow, Pokémon or otherwise.
One year ago: Hoenn (Fully) Confirmed on Go
Two years ago: Space
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Cosplay: Eien no Kiseki
Me: OK, this is going to be wild. Today, I've sent you to this theme event. It means "miracles of eternity", or something like that.
Ash: That sounds really wonderful!
Pikachu: Pi pika chuu! [happy]
Me: It should be. Actually, I sent you at the behest of my figure friends. They wanted to exhibit, so I have to send you to be able to connect with them.
Ash: That's OK. As I said the last time, I like being with them too. You set me up to go with one of them, right?
Me: Right. It's always great to travel together and share the burden. Isn't that what Pokémon Trainers do?
Ash: Well, yeah, that's true. I do travel a lot, especially for this event!
Me: About that, yes, it's kind of far away, but it should be OK.
Ash: The event is kind of small, though, and it's cramped! There are two stages, and they kind of fight each other. One is for a game that some people play, and the other is for characters like me. And-
Pikachu: Pi! Pika pi! [cutting in, slightly worried]
Ash: Were you lost? Yeah, it was a little hard to get around.
Me: Sorry about that. This is a mall event, and I thought it would be more open, at least, since it was free. But then it seems everyone got stuck around the maze of shops. And it seems a certain group of college students planned it, so it felt slightly off at times.
Ash: The character competitions are good, though. There was a single performance and parade, and I got in the parade.
Me: Yeah. I'm sorry I couldn't set you up for the other one; I did send you with the Kanto outfit after all. And how did you do?
Ash: Wouldn't you believe it: I won Judges' Favorite!!
Me: By golly! All right!! We did it!!!
Pikachu: Pi pika pika chuu!! [ecstatic]
Ash: I guess they really did like how I looked on stage. You helped too, so you totally deserve the prize.
Me: Thanks! And I know I can really count on you too.
Ash: So this seems OK for a small event. It even had a food stand and a goodies stand. It could have been opened up more, but it's OK.
Me: I agree, it's good enough for now. It's almost as miraculous as the name suggests, but it's fine. I really hope they can think about this further next time. Now you (and me) need a bit of rest.
Ash: Oh yeah? What for?
Pikachu: Pika? [curious]
Me: You'll find out soon enough.
One year ago: Seeking Confirmation
Two years ago: Time
Ash: That sounds really wonderful!
Pikachu: Pi pika chuu! [happy]
Me: It should be. Actually, I sent you at the behest of my figure friends. They wanted to exhibit, so I have to send you to be able to connect with them.
Ash: That's OK. As I said the last time, I like being with them too. You set me up to go with one of them, right?
Me: Right. It's always great to travel together and share the burden. Isn't that what Pokémon Trainers do?
Ash: Well, yeah, that's true. I do travel a lot, especially for this event!
Me: About that, yes, it's kind of far away, but it should be OK.
Ash: The event is kind of small, though, and it's cramped! There are two stages, and they kind of fight each other. One is for a game that some people play, and the other is for characters like me. And-
Pikachu: Pi! Pika pi! [cutting in, slightly worried]
Ash: Were you lost? Yeah, it was a little hard to get around.
Me: Sorry about that. This is a mall event, and I thought it would be more open, at least, since it was free. But then it seems everyone got stuck around the maze of shops. And it seems a certain group of college students planned it, so it felt slightly off at times.
Ash: The character competitions are good, though. There was a single performance and parade, and I got in the parade.
Me: Yeah. I'm sorry I couldn't set you up for the other one; I did send you with the Kanto outfit after all. And how did you do?
Ash: Wouldn't you believe it: I won Judges' Favorite!!
Me: By golly! All right!! We did it!!!
Pikachu: Pi pika pika chuu!! [ecstatic]
Ash: I guess they really did like how I looked on stage. You helped too, so you totally deserve the prize.
Me: Thanks! And I know I can really count on you too.
Ash: So this seems OK for a small event. It even had a food stand and a goodies stand. It could have been opened up more, but it's OK.
Me: I agree, it's good enough for now. It's almost as miraculous as the name suggests, but it's fine. I really hope they can think about this further next time. Now you (and me) need a bit of rest.
Ash: Oh yeah? What for?
Pikachu: Pika? [curious]
Me: You'll find out soon enough.
One year ago: Seeking Confirmation
Two years ago: Time
Friday, February 8, 2019
Pokémon Clocks
A few days ago, a relative reminded me that in a place where I used to live, there is a shopping mall which is famous for a clock that, at the top of the hour, flips up for a three-minute musical show on figures placed on moving arms. It was something I didn't want to miss when I lived there and visited the place... kind of like Pokémon nowadays. It made me think of how the concept of clocks could be combined with Pokémon.
The combination seems to have a lot of potential for custom or indie merchandise as well as official merchandise. For custom or indie merchandise, it is perhaps trivial to make standard wall clocks with an embedded Pokémon graphic of some kind in the background. However, with a little more effort, more incredible custom creations could be realized. Some official merchandise appear to be more simplistic in nature and fit with the former idea, or may have an extremely artistic casing with a simple clock. But they could also be more impressive, almost be like that mall clock I mentioned.
And it seems there are a few. The closest one would perhaps be the musical wall clock that was sold by the New York Pokémon Center, which can play one of five musical tunes each hour. The second-closest would be a cuckoo-style clock that features Pokémon on the outside - with Pidgey as the "cuckoo" bird - and is partially musical. A distant third would be a "seesaw" clock that features a few Pokémon on the outside. These are all impressive, but they're all rare, perhaps even rarer than an opportunity to see that clock I mentioned at the beginning.
As for that clock, the thought of combining that exact clock and Pokémon elements would be out of this world. That clock has six figures on six arms, which coincidentally is the maximum number in a standard Pokémon team. Perhaps the six figures could be Pikachu, Eevee, a selection of the starter Pokémon of each type, and some other special Pokémon like Cosmog. Or it could be all Pikachu for a totally funky twist. The music could be the standard music or have Pokémon influences like the Pokémon Center clock. It's rather improbable, but it's still fancy to think about it.
These days, I don't actually have to go to that mall to watch the musical show of the clock live and in person; there are a few YouTube recordings of it. But to see it live and in person as I did years and years ago is a novel thing. For a Pokémon fan, any Pokémon clock is a novel thing too. And if it's impressive enough, it may just measure up to that musical mall clock... at least, as a personal hope of my own.
One year ago: (It's a Wonderful) Local Ex-Raid, 2/8/2018
Two years ago: Serena-Shipping: "Heaven Help My Heart"
The combination seems to have a lot of potential for custom or indie merchandise as well as official merchandise. For custom or indie merchandise, it is perhaps trivial to make standard wall clocks with an embedded Pokémon graphic of some kind in the background. However, with a little more effort, more incredible custom creations could be realized. Some official merchandise appear to be more simplistic in nature and fit with the former idea, or may have an extremely artistic casing with a simple clock. But they could also be more impressive, almost be like that mall clock I mentioned.
And it seems there are a few. The closest one would perhaps be the musical wall clock that was sold by the New York Pokémon Center, which can play one of five musical tunes each hour. The second-closest would be a cuckoo-style clock that features Pokémon on the outside - with Pidgey as the "cuckoo" bird - and is partially musical. A distant third would be a "seesaw" clock that features a few Pokémon on the outside. These are all impressive, but they're all rare, perhaps even rarer than an opportunity to see that clock I mentioned at the beginning.
As for that clock, the thought of combining that exact clock and Pokémon elements would be out of this world. That clock has six figures on six arms, which coincidentally is the maximum number in a standard Pokémon team. Perhaps the six figures could be Pikachu, Eevee, a selection of the starter Pokémon of each type, and some other special Pokémon like Cosmog. Or it could be all Pikachu for a totally funky twist. The music could be the standard music or have Pokémon influences like the Pokémon Center clock. It's rather improbable, but it's still fancy to think about it.
These days, I don't actually have to go to that mall to watch the musical show of the clock live and in person; there are a few YouTube recordings of it. But to see it live and in person as I did years and years ago is a novel thing. For a Pokémon fan, any Pokémon clock is a novel thing too. And if it's impressive enough, it may just measure up to that musical mall clock... at least, as a personal hope of my own.
One year ago: (It's a Wonderful) Local Ex-Raid, 2/8/2018
Two years ago: Serena-Shipping: "Heaven Help My Heart"
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Local EX Raid (with "Friend Boost"), 2/7/2019
In Pokémon Go, there is a concept called "weather boost", which as I've detailed in my post about weather, concern the strength of Pokémon based on the weather system. Today, there was another EX Raid in my area, and while the Pokémon (at present Deoxys in its Attack Form) may never have the chance to become "boosted" in my area due to the ways of the weather, at the least there may still be a chance to have many friends involved in it to enliven ("boost") the spirits of the situation, and thus the tag is what it is for today, as that is what happened.
In fact, the weather is probably what played the biggest role in this regard, along with the timing. After having had a few EX Raids affected or threatened to be affected by the weather (that is, rain), this one was neither. The weather was sufficiently nice for many of the participants to come, who were my raid fellows. One participant even offered assistance with transportation, and in return, I gave an EX Raid invitation so that the person could participate as well. These worked out nicely.
Thanks to a few well-built relationships among myself and the other raid fellows, as well as the attack bonus - which is a kind of "boost" - gained by raiding together, we got through the raids in no time flat. The extra Premier Balls gained from the relationships also aided for the capture of Deoxys, as the Gym did not belong to my team; there was an attempt to make it so in the half-hour before Deoxys appeared, but this ultimately did not succeed due to the way the defenders were adamant about keeping possession. All told, I received only 10 balls, aided by Ultra Friends and a good number of same-team players, though Deoxys did give in on the third or fourth ball. It wasn't too strong, but it was just fine. After the EX Raid, there was even time for some friendly business (battling and trading) before parting.
Though many of my raid fellows being present couldn't boost Deoxys (something only the weather can do), morale was definitely up all around because of that. The raid mechanism involving friends also helped things quite a bit. This was a rather sociable EX Raid with good results. It's hard to expect that all EX Raids will be like this one, especially with rain still being possible in the near future, but it's something that may just be fulfilled every so often, like today.
One year ago: An Eye for Pokémon
Two years ago: Conserve and Cooperate
In fact, the weather is probably what played the biggest role in this regard, along with the timing. After having had a few EX Raids affected or threatened to be affected by the weather (that is, rain), this one was neither. The weather was sufficiently nice for many of the participants to come, who were my raid fellows. One participant even offered assistance with transportation, and in return, I gave an EX Raid invitation so that the person could participate as well. These worked out nicely.
 |
| Deoxys @ Sidewalk Corner. |
Thanks to a few well-built relationships among myself and the other raid fellows, as well as the attack bonus - which is a kind of "boost" - gained by raiding together, we got through the raids in no time flat. The extra Premier Balls gained from the relationships also aided for the capture of Deoxys, as the Gym did not belong to my team; there was an attempt to make it so in the half-hour before Deoxys appeared, but this ultimately did not succeed due to the way the defenders were adamant about keeping possession. All told, I received only 10 balls, aided by Ultra Friends and a good number of same-team players, though Deoxys did give in on the third or fourth ball. It wasn't too strong, but it was just fine. After the EX Raid, there was even time for some friendly business (battling and trading) before parting.
Though many of my raid fellows being present couldn't boost Deoxys (something only the weather can do), morale was definitely up all around because of that. The raid mechanism involving friends also helped things quite a bit. This was a rather sociable EX Raid with good results. It's hard to expect that all EX Raids will be like this one, especially with rain still being possible in the near future, but it's something that may just be fulfilled every so often, like today.
One year ago: An Eye for Pokémon
Two years ago: Conserve and Cooperate
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
The Feeling of Disaggregation
Today, I happened upon a Pokémon article with fascinating views. However, the article is in a "news aggregator" and was therefore collected from another web site. Worse yet, the article in the news aggregator seemed to be hastily put in, without much thought to the content. After re-examining the article as it was put in the news aggregator, I found that the article itself seems valid enough, but it contained "disruptive" bits and pieces that are more likely meant for the web site of the original article rather than the article itself. But the damage had been done.
I have an uneasy relationship with these so-called "news aggregators". I only trust them a little more than I do searching for articles myself. By my experience, whether automated or not, some effort has to go into making the articles fit for consumption. Otherwise, the result could indeed be like the Pokémon article that I encountered above; it wasn't helped enough by any means, regardless of the way the article was taken. And that makes me feel rather irked, as the article seems to be OK, but the presentation was terrible to say the least. Plus, it's not the first time - this particular aggregator had flubbed on quite a few articles prior to this one, and they weren't even related to Pokémon.
I thought about fixing up the article a bit or presenting a summary of its points in order to aid those that also felt the same way - and I can sense quite a few did, based on the way the comments section for that article in the news aggregator looked - but I felt that I would somewhat overstep the bounds of this blog by doing so. I don't want to be simply another "news aggregator"; I want to deliver something more unique, especially in regard to Pokémon, which is something I really enjoy. The article, though, could have been one of my posts if I had actually thought it up and fleshed it out.
(For those interested, the article in question discusses how some evolved Pokémon are actually weaker compared to their predecessors, at least game-wise and based on other factors.)
I love reading about Pokémon through articles on the web (and in fact, I may have to do so to double-check some of the stuff I put up on this blog), but something about this article as put through this aggregator puts me off. But then again, I can't really blame the article itself, seeing as it's fine the way it is... or rather, how it actually should be. I ought to be wary of anything put through aggregators like this one, especially if they concern Pokémon, lest I end up feeling "disaggregated" once again.
One year ago: Life with My Raid Group
Two years ago: Alola-Exeggutor - From Humanoid to Coconut Tree Dragon
I have an uneasy relationship with these so-called "news aggregators". I only trust them a little more than I do searching for articles myself. By my experience, whether automated or not, some effort has to go into making the articles fit for consumption. Otherwise, the result could indeed be like the Pokémon article that I encountered above; it wasn't helped enough by any means, regardless of the way the article was taken. And that makes me feel rather irked, as the article seems to be OK, but the presentation was terrible to say the least. Plus, it's not the first time - this particular aggregator had flubbed on quite a few articles prior to this one, and they weren't even related to Pokémon.
I thought about fixing up the article a bit or presenting a summary of its points in order to aid those that also felt the same way - and I can sense quite a few did, based on the way the comments section for that article in the news aggregator looked - but I felt that I would somewhat overstep the bounds of this blog by doing so. I don't want to be simply another "news aggregator"; I want to deliver something more unique, especially in regard to Pokémon, which is something I really enjoy. The article, though, could have been one of my posts if I had actually thought it up and fleshed it out.
(For those interested, the article in question discusses how some evolved Pokémon are actually weaker compared to their predecessors, at least game-wise and based on other factors.)
I love reading about Pokémon through articles on the web (and in fact, I may have to do so to double-check some of the stuff I put up on this blog), but something about this article as put through this aggregator puts me off. But then again, I can't really blame the article itself, seeing as it's fine the way it is... or rather, how it actually should be. I ought to be wary of anything put through aggregators like this one, especially if they concern Pokémon, lest I end up feeling "disaggregated" once again.
One year ago: Life with My Raid Group
Two years ago: Alola-Exeggutor - From Humanoid to Coconut Tree Dragon
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
First-Generation Glitches... Plus My Experience
The original first-generation main series Pokémon games are great games in their own right, but beyond their greatness, they hide a lot of flaws or glitches. I've noted this some months ago in a post about bugs and features, and more recently hinted about them when I discussed two pieces of lore regarding the games. I'm no stranger to a few of these glitches, having experienced them first-hand.
I've experienced what is called the "Old Man glitch", which is connected to the "fight Safari Zone Pokémon glitch". The key point of this glitch is that by Surfing on the eastern (right) shore next to Cinnabar Island or the Seafoam Islands, the player encounters wild Pokémon from the previous area with grass encounters (including but not limited to the Safari Zone), instead of sea Pokémon as expected, due to the way those shorelines are structured and how the Pokémon data is stored. While I've only rarely experienced the glitch to fight Safari Zone Pokémon, I've mostly experienced it for the former form. And when this happens, it leads to something far more serious.
The "Old Man glitch" allows encounters with Pokémon that exceed Level 100, as well as encounters with the glitch Pokémon MissingNo. and 'M (also known as M-Block). As a result of encountering these two glitch Pokémon, this triggers another glitch which duplicates the item in the sixth position of the Item Bag to 128. It's beneficial, yes, but a bit shady; what I can say is that I had completed the the games "cleanly" before I heard about and experienced these glitches, so I never used them to assist primary progress. As well, experiencing this glitch also corrupts the Hall of Fame, which I suppose means "you get what you pay for".
In Celadon City, the hotel looks much like a Pokémon Center, and in fact, an invisible PC can be used where one might think it would be. I've used this convenient glitch at times as an alternative to the normal Pokémon Center PC. There are also other invisible PCs in other parts of the game, but they aren't normally accessible. Further, this glitch (and in fact, all of the above except for MissingNo.) are fixed in the Yellow Version, which means the glitches really only apply to Red and Blue. But beyond that, there are many more glitches that I haven't experienced - one related to the Mew lore - and don't fit in the scope of this post.
The hallmark of the original first-generation games seem to go beyond the regular gameplay. The faults in their structure have also become infamous for what they can do. They are of course unintended, but they've become another inseparable side to that hallmark. At least, by having experienced them, I can testify that this is the case.
One year ago: I Need a Laugh - Pokémon Humor
Two years ago: Itasha Revisited
I've experienced what is called the "Old Man glitch", which is connected to the "fight Safari Zone Pokémon glitch". The key point of this glitch is that by Surfing on the eastern (right) shore next to Cinnabar Island or the Seafoam Islands, the player encounters wild Pokémon from the previous area with grass encounters (including but not limited to the Safari Zone), instead of sea Pokémon as expected, due to the way those shorelines are structured and how the Pokémon data is stored. While I've only rarely experienced the glitch to fight Safari Zone Pokémon, I've mostly experienced it for the former form. And when this happens, it leads to something far more serious.
The "Old Man glitch" allows encounters with Pokémon that exceed Level 100, as well as encounters with the glitch Pokémon MissingNo. and 'M (also known as M-Block). As a result of encountering these two glitch Pokémon, this triggers another glitch which duplicates the item in the sixth position of the Item Bag to 128. It's beneficial, yes, but a bit shady; what I can say is that I had completed the the games "cleanly" before I heard about and experienced these glitches, so I never used them to assist primary progress. As well, experiencing this glitch also corrupts the Hall of Fame, which I suppose means "you get what you pay for".
In Celadon City, the hotel looks much like a Pokémon Center, and in fact, an invisible PC can be used where one might think it would be. I've used this convenient glitch at times as an alternative to the normal Pokémon Center PC. There are also other invisible PCs in other parts of the game, but they aren't normally accessible. Further, this glitch (and in fact, all of the above except for MissingNo.) are fixed in the Yellow Version, which means the glitches really only apply to Red and Blue. But beyond that, there are many more glitches that I haven't experienced - one related to the Mew lore - and don't fit in the scope of this post.
The hallmark of the original first-generation games seem to go beyond the regular gameplay. The faults in their structure have also become infamous for what they can do. They are of course unintended, but they've become another inseparable side to that hallmark. At least, by having experienced them, I can testify that this is the case.
One year ago: I Need a Laugh - Pokémon Humor
Two years ago: Itasha Revisited
Monday, February 4, 2019
The False Gods
Along with the "lore of the truck", there is another lore that the original first-generation main series Pokémon games are known for. That lore is the lore of the "PokéGods", a host of supreme beings - even, Pokémon - that supposedly existed and were more remarkable than the other 151 Pokémon of the first generation. Likewise, this lore is just a lore, and only 151 Pokémon and no more existed in those games. Yet some discussion of it is still worthy, especially since I've discussed the other lore.
One of the most commonly referred of these so-called "gods" is an entity named "Pikablu", referring to a blue-colored form or evolution of Pikachu or Raichu; this is a hash on what is known today as the second-generation Pokémon Marill. In fact, a few of the other referenced "gods" are also hashes of second-generation Pokémon, like "Denryu" (Ampharos) and "Houou" (Ho-Oh), with these two being based on their Japanese names. This may be understandable, considering that these surfaced near the transition to the second generation, and may have been aided by sketchy info about the GS beta. As well, the "pantheon" included entities like "Nidogod", a form that was somehow linked to the Nidoran families.
Along with these "gods", there were also arcane and elaborate instructions on how to get specific ones. These instructions, when followed, supposedly would result in encountering the above "gods" in the wild for capture or result in the player obtaining the "gods" somehow. The mysterious and often long-winded instructions are perhaps intended to trigger other glitches in the games that would achieve the aforementioned goals, and they are likely for the reason of obscurity, knowing that these "gods" do not exist at all. Right-minded players would probably never follow these instructions, being that they're obvious time-wasters, but some players may follow them and only realize the trick at the end.
While "PokéGods" do not exist, the existence of these instructions and the creation of this lore seemingly might indicate that the attraction of the games are quite strong for some people, enough that they went to contrive them. It's almost like the "romance" I mentioned the other day, except not quite as much, and the feeling quickly fades away. There was a time I would have believed in them, but even then, I would still feel that there was something funny about these, and I wouldn't be following them regardless.
These "false gods" remain a relic among fans like me. They are what they are - false - but they have a certain intrigue about them, even though it's a small one. It's a chunk of the intrigue that drove players to play through the full extent of the original games, for which the latter is respectable. At least, the attraction of players toward Pokémon remains true, which is what matters.
One year ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 2
Two years ago: Pokémon and Mahjong Tile Games
One of the most commonly referred of these so-called "gods" is an entity named "Pikablu", referring to a blue-colored form or evolution of Pikachu or Raichu; this is a hash on what is known today as the second-generation Pokémon Marill. In fact, a few of the other referenced "gods" are also hashes of second-generation Pokémon, like "Denryu" (Ampharos) and "Houou" (Ho-Oh), with these two being based on their Japanese names. This may be understandable, considering that these surfaced near the transition to the second generation, and may have been aided by sketchy info about the GS beta. As well, the "pantheon" included entities like "Nidogod", a form that was somehow linked to the Nidoran families.
Along with these "gods", there were also arcane and elaborate instructions on how to get specific ones. These instructions, when followed, supposedly would result in encountering the above "gods" in the wild for capture or result in the player obtaining the "gods" somehow. The mysterious and often long-winded instructions are perhaps intended to trigger other glitches in the games that would achieve the aforementioned goals, and they are likely for the reason of obscurity, knowing that these "gods" do not exist at all. Right-minded players would probably never follow these instructions, being that they're obvious time-wasters, but some players may follow them and only realize the trick at the end.
While "PokéGods" do not exist, the existence of these instructions and the creation of this lore seemingly might indicate that the attraction of the games are quite strong for some people, enough that they went to contrive them. It's almost like the "romance" I mentioned the other day, except not quite as much, and the feeling quickly fades away. There was a time I would have believed in them, but even then, I would still feel that there was something funny about these, and I wouldn't be following them regardless.
These "false gods" remain a relic among fans like me. They are what they are - false - but they have a certain intrigue about them, even though it's a small one. It's a chunk of the intrigue that drove players to play through the full extent of the original games, for which the latter is respectable. At least, the attraction of players toward Pokémon remains true, which is what matters.
One year ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 2
Two years ago: Pokémon and Mahjong Tile Games
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Under a Truck
What's under a truck? If you're familiar with the main series Pokémon games and the lore associated with them, you might think it's Mew. In the original first-generation games, near the pier of the S.S. Anne in Vermilion City, there is a truck. It was often suggested that somehow the truck could be moved and somehow the reward for doing so was enticing enough: either Mew or something leading up to it. It seems good enough for anyone playing the games to believe it, even me.
Alas, this lore remains a lore, and this is disproved: the truck doesn't move, nor can Mew be gained from it in any way. In spite of that, Mew was programmed into the games as a last-minute secret addition. It was only a matter of time before someone encountered Mew through certain glitches still present in the game... and someone did. After that, it was all downhill from there, and the result was not only this particular lore regarding the games, but actual promotions that actually rewarded Mew.
Admittedly, there's a romantic quality about this lore. A secret addition coupled with an equally secretive supposed way of things makes for an enthralling story, perhaps even more if it was actually true. In the process, so many people subscribe to the lore and become attached to it; it still has a place in their hearts, given the occasional reference to it. That's what led me to make this post as well. As for romance itself, this is February, so it's perhaps something to be discussed separately.
Back to the lore itself, today that lore has different manifestations. In the remade games, the lore is integrated, though not actually realized, but players are still rewarded for it. Some have tried to turn lore into reality through certain efforts, even illusory ones. Meanwhile, thanks to the Special Research feature in Pokémon Go, the lore is highlighted in some references regarding the first set involving Mew. I'd say those represent continued attraction and its associated romance, even though the lore itself is fully untrue.
It's funny how something so untrue has persisted to today. But apparently the attraction is "mythical", just as Mythical as Mew is.
So what's under a truck? I suppose you'd find romance, even if you don't find Mew.
One year ago: Formality of Ownership
Two years ago: The Sweetest Days - Ash and Pikachu
Alas, this lore remains a lore, and this is disproved: the truck doesn't move, nor can Mew be gained from it in any way. In spite of that, Mew was programmed into the games as a last-minute secret addition. It was only a matter of time before someone encountered Mew through certain glitches still present in the game... and someone did. After that, it was all downhill from there, and the result was not only this particular lore regarding the games, but actual promotions that actually rewarded Mew.
Admittedly, there's a romantic quality about this lore. A secret addition coupled with an equally secretive supposed way of things makes for an enthralling story, perhaps even more if it was actually true. In the process, so many people subscribe to the lore and become attached to it; it still has a place in their hearts, given the occasional reference to it. That's what led me to make this post as well. As for romance itself, this is February, so it's perhaps something to be discussed separately.
Back to the lore itself, today that lore has different manifestations. In the remade games, the lore is integrated, though not actually realized, but players are still rewarded for it. Some have tried to turn lore into reality through certain efforts, even illusory ones. Meanwhile, thanks to the Special Research feature in Pokémon Go, the lore is highlighted in some references regarding the first set involving Mew. I'd say those represent continued attraction and its associated romance, even though the lore itself is fully untrue.
It's funny how something so untrue has persisted to today. But apparently the attraction is "mythical", just as Mythical as Mew is.
So what's under a truck? I suppose you'd find romance, even if you don't find Mew.
One year ago: Formality of Ownership
Two years ago: The Sweetest Days - Ash and Pikachu
Saturday, February 2, 2019
Legends Among People
The area where I live right now has been on a streak of bad weather, and even today, the weather got so bad that it became a challenge to go outside for any reason, including to raid a few Gyms in Pokémon Go. It was almost as if Kyogre (from the last two weeks) came and wreaked havoc down below, while Thundurus or Zapdos wreaked havoc up above. It got me to thinking that in the Pokémon world, things might actually just be so: that there are Legendary Pokémon present as people go about their business.
It's not hard to see how this could be true. The Johto saga is well-known for some Legendary Pokémon altercations, with a "baby" Lugia in one situation and Articuno in the mountains in another. Legendary Pokémon may be considered to be present anywhere and anytime, whether people notice them or not. When they don't, then everything's normal and life goes on. But when they do, it may lead to at worst a furor or madness, or at best excitement or celebration.
Yet it also seems that some Legendary Pokémon only appear (or are summoned) in times of conflict and don't normally appear otherwise. It's hard to imagine Kyogre, Groudon, or Rayquaza, for example, appearing out of the blue without some kind of reason that goaded them to appear and some issue that they are forced to resolve - each other in the case of the former two and Deoxys for the last one, most famously. Still, their issues are theirs, and people may not realize them until later, which might still explain why any one of them could be perceived to suddenly appear.
As for the possibility of them being present without being visibly perceived, this is not an improbable thing. Should Kyogre appear, it might be over a vast body of water, and more likely in the middle where no person is likely to go. Suicune would similarly do so over smaller and more inland bodies of water, like lakes and springs. And then for the Legendary Pokémon that float or fly, they're not likely to be seen unless people do the same. In all of these cases, their presence may be alerted through other signs that preclude their visibility.
Those signs might be what I felt, in saying that the Legendary Pokémon above are present and actually did what they did, given the streak of bad weather. Anyone who is oriented to Pokémon can naturally say that it is so, especially those who actually live in this world. Though they are Legendary, there's nothing that really stops them from making their presence known, even as people continue to do what they do normally.
One year ago: Pictures Worth Thousands of Words
Two years ago: Pokkén Sentiments
It's not hard to see how this could be true. The Johto saga is well-known for some Legendary Pokémon altercations, with a "baby" Lugia in one situation and Articuno in the mountains in another. Legendary Pokémon may be considered to be present anywhere and anytime, whether people notice them or not. When they don't, then everything's normal and life goes on. But when they do, it may lead to at worst a furor or madness, or at best excitement or celebration.
Yet it also seems that some Legendary Pokémon only appear (or are summoned) in times of conflict and don't normally appear otherwise. It's hard to imagine Kyogre, Groudon, or Rayquaza, for example, appearing out of the blue without some kind of reason that goaded them to appear and some issue that they are forced to resolve - each other in the case of the former two and Deoxys for the last one, most famously. Still, their issues are theirs, and people may not realize them until later, which might still explain why any one of them could be perceived to suddenly appear.
As for the possibility of them being present without being visibly perceived, this is not an improbable thing. Should Kyogre appear, it might be over a vast body of water, and more likely in the middle where no person is likely to go. Suicune would similarly do so over smaller and more inland bodies of water, like lakes and springs. And then for the Legendary Pokémon that float or fly, they're not likely to be seen unless people do the same. In all of these cases, their presence may be alerted through other signs that preclude their visibility.
Those signs might be what I felt, in saying that the Legendary Pokémon above are present and actually did what they did, given the streak of bad weather. Anyone who is oriented to Pokémon can naturally say that it is so, especially those who actually live in this world. Though they are Legendary, there's nothing that really stops them from making their presence known, even as people continue to do what they do normally.
One year ago: Pictures Worth Thousands of Words
Two years ago: Pokkén Sentiments
Friday, February 1, 2019
Wrap the Light Fantastic
The many poignant moments in the Pokémon movies (feature films) have equally powerfully poignant music to go with them. Some time ago, I discussed one of them from the very first one, and now I'd like to discuss another. This time, it comes from the fourth movie, which English-speaking fans might know as Pokémon 4Ever. The title of the piece is "Wrapped Up In Light", and thus the title of this post is a play on that.
This instrumental piece is played during one moment of the encounter with Celebi, involving both Ash and Sam (the young Professor Oak). It becomes something wondrous for the two of them. As the title of the piece suggests, light is involved in the scene for that moment, and lots of it. Words don't do justice to the part where this piece plays; thereby, I recommend watching the movie and taking in the scene that is complemented by this piece.
I personally consider the piece, being instrumental-orchestral, as evocative of a feeling of "renewal". It starts off quiet with only the vocalization, but then the orchestral backing grows and grows until the climax at the end. With that, the piece is quite uplifting and serves well for anyone who is feeling down, to be able to feel better. That's certainly one sense of "renewal", and other people might have their own. For example, sometimes I think about this piece when I need to refresh my mind... and I did think about it prior to writing up this post.
And perhaps, that is just what I need to do right now. As I've stated in yesterday's post, I've gone beyond the 25-month mark into a new territory with this blog. I'm sure Pokémon opportunities still await for me, but I need to sense them. I suppose in that regard it's only fitting that I thought up of this piece: I'd need to seek the light, bathe (wrap myself) in it, and uplift myself to new heights. That's a powerful enough interpretation, perhaps as powerful as this particular piece of Pokémon music.
One year ago: The Workings of Raids
Two years ago: Poké Ball Food
This instrumental piece is played during one moment of the encounter with Celebi, involving both Ash and Sam (the young Professor Oak). It becomes something wondrous for the two of them. As the title of the piece suggests, light is involved in the scene for that moment, and lots of it. Words don't do justice to the part where this piece plays; thereby, I recommend watching the movie and taking in the scene that is complemented by this piece.
I personally consider the piece, being instrumental-orchestral, as evocative of a feeling of "renewal". It starts off quiet with only the vocalization, but then the orchestral backing grows and grows until the climax at the end. With that, the piece is quite uplifting and serves well for anyone who is feeling down, to be able to feel better. That's certainly one sense of "renewal", and other people might have their own. For example, sometimes I think about this piece when I need to refresh my mind... and I did think about it prior to writing up this post.
And perhaps, that is just what I need to do right now. As I've stated in yesterday's post, I've gone beyond the 25-month mark into a new territory with this blog. I'm sure Pokémon opportunities still await for me, but I need to sense them. I suppose in that regard it's only fitting that I thought up of this piece: I'd need to seek the light, bathe (wrap myself) in it, and uplift myself to new heights. That's a powerful enough interpretation, perhaps as powerful as this particular piece of Pokémon music.
One year ago: The Workings of Raids
Two years ago: Poké Ball Food
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