Standing Pikachu Keychain

Many people know me as a big Pokémon fan from my endeavors, whether Pokémon Go, cosplay, or anything that might even involve Pokémon to however extent. As a result, some have graciously given me different forms of Pokémon merchandise, like a particular Pokémon watch from some time ago. The other day, I received from a friend another piece of Pokémon merchandise, one that is as significantly familiar as it is significantly small.

This is another Pikachu keychain, which I'm no stranger to, as I have several keychains of different kinds. This one depicts Pikachu in standing form with its arms away from its body. It's somewhat reminiscent of the Pikachu keychain I detailed early on in this blog, only without packaging as given by my friend, as well as a Pichu keychain that I detailed a year later, only more excellently designed and sturdier. In fact, it's so excellently designed that it can stand on its own, which is why I chose to dub it as such. It almost looks like a mini-figure with a keychain ring attached to it, which is somewhat neat. It's also more vivid in appearance compared to the earlier Pikachu keychain, which is another plus.

As for minuses, there are very few, and they're mostly related to visual aspects. There is actually a little stubble in front on the right side of its body, but this is not too visible and is only felt by touching. On the left side of its body, there is a small dab of black paint that I sense was not meant to be there, though I say it can be safely ignored. On its backside, which is not visible in the above photo, the stripes on its back are not colored, though its outlines remain. Due to these minuses, I'm inclined to think that this keychain is a "reject" product of some kind, though if it is, it's still a good one at that, cleverly reworked into a keychain.

I'm still fond of this Pikachu keychain no matter what. It's unique and it's Pokémon, which is what I like... and something that people like me for. That being the case, it remains something significant even with its small size. The fact that it's a gift makes it even more significant for someone who appreciates Pokémon a whole lot and will continue to do so for its various aspects, as with this piece of merchandise.

One year ago: The Merits of Sleep
Two years ago: Elite Four: "Courses" vs. "Selections"

Cosplay: Isekai

Me: Ever have one of those times where you just can't decide?

Ash: You know, sometimes I have a problem choosing which Pokémon I want to bring into battle, so yeah, I've been there.

Me: Well, this theme event and mini-convention is like that. I couldn't decide whether to send you or someone else, and if I sent you, I didn't know which outfit to send you with.

Ash: But then you decided on me, and with my special outfit again, the same as last week. You know what? I think that's fine.

Pikachu: Pika! [affirmative]

Ash: Pikachu doesn't seem to mind either.

Me: Another thing that I had trouble deciding was when I should send you. You see, this theme event is actually three days long, and the best day for us competitively would have been yesterday, and yet I ended up sending you today.

Ash: Why did that happen?

Me: I wanted you to help out a friend so that we can help ourselves. Besides, I'm not up for sending you two days in a row.

Ash: Yeah, I guess that's good for us. After last week, it would be nice to breathe for a bit.

Pikachu: Pi-kachu. [lax]

Me: Before we go on, I do have to explain a few things. The title of this event means "another world", because the theme of this event is a popular game which I'm not so into, but one that has its share of fans - including a faraway community, who just happen to hold the event because it's their anniversary.

Ash: Oh, it's another special one! It's like that "art stage" thing from last year!

Me: Indeed. It's so special that a few of my friends were willing to send in their characters since they're linked to the community as well. That's pretty significant if you ask me.

Ash: I have to agree. It's too bad that I can't perform on stage.

Me: Yeah. Today's the "theme day", so it's mostly for characters of the theme. And actually, had I been able to prepare a single performance for you today, maybe you could have. I'm to blame for that.

Ash: I know you and I have a lot of things to do, so I get it. I want to see what you can do for me next time.

Pikachu: Pika chu! Pika pika! ["Yeah! Me too!"]

Me: Trust me, I'm working on it. So, what else was interesting?

Ash: I helped your tile game friends from far away! It was fun, and your tips helped.

Me: Great! I didn't have a good day with it yesterday, so I'm glad it was better today.

Ash: I met a reader of your blog. He says he really likes it and he got into Pokémon because of it.

Me: That's amazing! That's the kind of thing that the posts of this blog are meant to do. Who knows what else can happen?

Ash: I like the event overall. The community stands are great, and the merchandise stands are OK. I want to be in next time there's something like this!

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika pika chu. ["Definitely so."]

Me: Yes, of course. In the meantime, we also need to prepare some that are coming ahead shortly. I'm sure we'll be ready.

One year ago: A Merchandise Dream
Two years ago: Unified Centers and Marts

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/28/2019

As I noted in last month's event rollup, the Special Research for Jirachi being unleashed for all marked the ending of the Pokémon Go Summer Tour, which was bigger and better than before. However, it also marked a beginning, which would be for what are called Ultra Bonuses as the reward for a highly successful Summer Tour. Thus, this month's event rollup could in a way be called the "Ultra Bonus" edition. Among all of those Ultra Bonuses, there were many special things.

The Ultra Bonuses were divided into weekly reward periods. The first week of them was dubbed as a "Johto Journey", with a spotlight on second-generation Pokémon, including reappearances of the three Legendary Beasts in level 5 raids, providing a last-chance affair, including the Raid Hour with them. Another point of importance was the appearance of Unown (only the letters U-L-T-R-A, an obvious nod) in 10 km Eggs, which is significant for those who have never been to a Safari Zone or Go Fest. It's similar to the "Kanto Festival" from last year, only without the regional Pokémon. It was a minor celebration nonetheless, but a necessary one in the same vein as last year.

The second week was dubbed as the "Global Challenge" because it featured regional Pokémon, the same as with last year's Kanto Festival, with the additional bonus of their Shiny forms. The only downsides are that the Pokémon were only available for two weeks, and Heracross of the second generation wasn't included, even though this was hoped by many, including me. The repeat is still welcomed for those who didn't get their chance. During this week, in a similar move to Mewtwo last year, Deoxys also appeared in regular level 5 raids, with all forms available; Raid Hour accordingly featured an assortment of Deoxys forms. Even with that, Deoxys in its Speed Form will continue to be the EX Raid boss up until early October.

The third week was dubbed as the "Unova Unveiling" because, yes, it means the first wave of fifth-generation Pokémon from said region became available, including the starters and a small selection of Pokémon with uniquely shaped bodies. Some are even available in Eggs and raids, as well as with their Shiny forms from the get-go. The only odd thing is that the level 5 raid boss was Mewtwo with a new Charged Move, and this week, the Raid Hour failed, as I've hinted that very Wednesday of the week. This was the only source of disappointment for the week, as the Ultra Bonus was very significant indeed regardless with the fifth-generation Pokémon entering the fray. As for Mewtwo, its Raid Hour has been rescheduled for next month, and it will also return for a month as an EX Raid boss, after which something interesting may be in the works.

While there is no Ultra Bonus in the fourth week (right now) and therefore no official title, I would call it "Remnants", since it constitutes the remains of the previous week, with a couple of important differences. The level 5 raid boss is Giratina in its Altered Forme until mid-October. There is also a small event to celebrate World Tourism Day, and it's in effect a minor regional Pokémon event to allow respective regions to hatch Eggs containing respective regionals (including Mime Jr. for Europe) and allow access to Shiny Zangoose and Seviper no matter where one plays, along with other minor bonuses for trading and PokéStops. This is still neat in any case and could be considered a "bonus Ultra Bonus".

The Summer Tour this year was extraordinary, so its Ultra Bonuses had to be so as well. As the series of bonuses became the events over the past month, they have proven this quality, at least for the most part. Whatever qualms Trainers have experienced can surely be resolved after the next Summer Tour. Until that point, they're free to reap the rewards of an excellently accomplished summer of Pokémon Go and accomplish more in the time in between.

One year ago: A New Age of EX Raids
Two years ago: To Teach and To Delight

1000 Posts!!!

So, the something significant that I mentioned in yesterday's post is that with this post, I've officially achieved 1000 posts on this blog, one for each day of the year. It's an achievement that demands quite a bit of diligence as well as know-how and observation, in particular regarding Pokémon as the overarching subject of this blog and what I'm greatly attracted to. In this post, I'd like to think about what I've discussed in many of the previous posts on this blog and what might be in line in the future; to that end, I'd like to take three parts from a recently-created conceptual vision that also involves the number 1000 and explain them using those parts.

One of the parts of the vision is dreams. Quite a few of the posts on this blog pertain to desires, which are personal "dreams", in a way. An example of that is a feature wishlist for Pokémon Go that I made a year ago, which still has not been fulfilled to this day. A different example would be my visions and interests to undertake itasha, if and when it becomes viable. As for actual dreams that one sees while sleeping, those are present too, one of them being about two months ago, about Pokémon Go. Dreams are certainly the starting point of many visions, and I've got them too, including many more that have yet to be explained.

A second part of the vision is creations. "Creations" constitute their own category on this blog, so the posts there are rather evident. What is not so evident is that those posts (19 in all at present) represent only a small shred of what might be possible with Pokémon; as with those dreams, I have many that have yet to be divulged. Furthermore, there are even bigger creations that may just be possible, and perhaps be considered my "contribution" to the world of Pokémon. All that remains is for me to pursue avenues of their creation and possibly distribution, and I'll be glad to put efforts into them.

The third part is actually a "double" part, composed of solutions and innovations. They're a bit similar in vein, so it's worthwhile to discuss them together. Many of the posts in the "Game" category discuss parts of the games in detail, but with them, I'm indirectly providing ways to deal with certain things - therefore, solutions and innovations. Actually, so do certain other posts in certain categories to lesser extents. And for Pokémon solutions and innovations by others, I can review them as well, possibly resulting in more of these as well as the above. It is neatly circular in that regard.

Pokémon is many things for many people, including myself. Over the 1000 posts of this blog, I've already detailed the paths that I have taken with Pokémon as well as the paths Pokémon have taken, certainly as with the above things. Undoubtedly, this effort will continue as the world of Pokémon continues to expand, and so do my paths with it and its own paths. As they say, there are many roads that lead to one destination, and my destination is Pokémon; I hope the paths I've detailed now and to come will lead there, in an even better state than before for both of us.

Here's to the next pathways, however many there are.

One year ago: Meet Meltan
Two years ago: Pokémon Stuff at a Neighborhood Store

The Name of the Game

What's the name of the game
Thinking about our story
What's the name of the game
Honey don't you worry
You're the code to my heart
Be my own redeemer
What a combination, baby
I want to be
What's the name of the game
-- "What's the Name of the Game", Ace of Base

It's hard not to discuss about "game" when discussing about Pokémon. It started out life as a game before branching out to so many things. That seems to be rather evocative of a certain song, which happens to be the song I've quoted above. It might seem like an odd song at first glance, but it's one that has deeper meanings inside, at least for me.

This song is really about love, but to some extent, it may be considered relatable to Pokémon as well. The chorus, which is quoted above, discusses links to someone, or possibly something else. It's evident where this is going: Pokémon, if nothing else, is the "code to my heart" and a "redeemer". Strangely enough, it might be considered true for at least one more person - one whom I know somewhat well, in fact. Based on what we discuss, it seems that this rings true for the both of us. It is likely that my friend would agree.

Another part of this chorus is the "combination" part. A fact of the world of Pokémon is that the creatures are often paired with the people in it. It can become a significant bond; in particular, this has recently been explored in a different kind of Pokémon game. That game would be Pokémon Masters, which does indeed show how these relationships can play out, which might happen to be quite strong. It might be something that others desire to be, and so that part of the lyrics stands.

Elsewhere in the lyrics, there are two pairs of lines that are repeated: "a love like blood in me/a love like blood that never dies", although the last repetition adapts the first of these to the preceding lines. The lines are important because they describe an attraction that is unending, at least likened to blood that courses through one's veins. I find this a powerful descriptor for the above relationships, including the personal links. The expectation is that it remains as such.

This song isn't too significant music-wise - it's one of the compositions on the group's attempt to return to their original sound - but its lyrics seem to be, given what happens with and around Pokémon and me. It also happens that there would be something else significant tomorrow with me and Pokémon, but that will have to wait. For now, the significance of this song lies with the name of a game that has become much, much more than it is - and how I and others regard it.

One year ago: The First English Anime Opening Theme
Two years ago: Strong Opinions

A Raid Split?

With what I do with Pokémon, I tend to (and have to) pay attention to how different things go. One of those things concern the happenings of my raid group and the people in it. It seems that my raid group is not as it once was, not just through people coming and going, but also what appears to be a "split" in how things proceed. It becomes a bit disconcerting, even with the consideration that this year becomes its second anniversary.

It has become apparent that a select number of members, particularly those who often meet in a particular place to set up Lure Modules and play, have created their own "clique", even becoming symbolically united under one team. The raids that occur with them, if any, often seem to go unreported in the group, potentially voiding others of the opportunity. Furthermore, during today's Raid Hour (it is a Wednesday, after all), it became evident that they seem to enjoy working independently, perhaps a bit too independently. That could be considered a split.

Meanwhile, a few other sub-groups have formed, and I've become a part of one of them. My sub-group still occasionally report back to the main group, especially when assistance is needed; it also seems that this group cannot be fully independent just yet. Another subgroup isn't completely unified and still occasionally details activities within the main group itself. Yet another is a different subgroup that seemed to have formed on its own outside of my raid group, but has loose links with my raid group. These may or may not indicate a split, but it might be indicating that a major-group approach might not continue to work with an increasing number of active players.

Still, the "people coming and going" portion does seem to play into the "split". The town of my locale is a college town, so many people are evidently students that stay for a few years before leaving - if they aren't already captivated to stay beyond their studies. As such, if they play Pokémon Go, they may be due to leave as soon as they're done; this has happened a few times over the course of this year. As well, some members that do remain in town have effectively lacked motivation to play intensely and have therefore "split"; this was the case for a really senior member of my group from my first interactions, as well as - sadly - the member who inducted me one late night. It's hard to deny of this "split".

It's also hard to expect that things will continue to stay the same for my raid group, but the apparent "splits" have made things appear quite different, even "split off" from the way they used to be. It's something that I seem to have noticed, though I don't know if the others do so too. It may be time for some way to get together and heal up some splits before more of them (and even bigger ones) occur.

One year ago: The First Japanese Anime Opening Theme
Two years ago: Enhancements in Shuffle

Performance Critique: GACOS LEVELUP J-Song

I should say that yesterday's post from one year ago, which deals with a certain theme event, is actually significant, as it makes yesterday the one-year anniversary I leaped into J-Song or karaoke competitions. The way I do it, of course, is by involving Pokémon and my cosplay, which means songs from the anime paired with my costumes, often selected for appropriateness. Since then, I've continued to participate in these competitions, with results that are just as mixed as my actual cosplay efforts. And one of those participations happen to be the theme event from Sunday, when I took part in the J-Song competition, for which I'd like to take this post to critique.

For this one, I of course performed "Mezase Pokémon Master", but not as the original version performed by Rica Matsumoto herself. It's actually the "2001 version" (at least as it is commonly referred), which is performed or covered by a band named Whiteberry. Interestingly, it also becomes the second opening of the Johto saga of the anime, right after a certain OK one. Despite that, the cover maintains more or less a significant commonality with the original, including tempo and background voices. To that effect, I don't consider it a completely different version, rather an alternative arrangement to the original. As I noted the other day, I also wanted to perform this earlier at a certain time, but this deserves a different discussion that I'm not sure when I'll be able to do so.

Same old song... and dance?

For now, there is this performance to critique. With the aid of a friend - though unfortunately not someone who really knows me well - I had my performance recorded. From this recording, a few things can be gleaned. Overall, the vocal performance seems quite perfect, even if I thought I messed up the beginning slightly. Others who saw me perform gave much of the same remark, that it's hard for them to find any flaw. Based on what I heard when I performed and from the recording, I also seem to have done well in harmonizing with the last part of the karaoke track, which contains the sub-harmony of the chorus pre-recorded. Either that, or I somehow managed to really cover it up with my singing.

"Pikachu?" The mic is pointed there as such.

That does segue to an interesting topic. Again as I've noted, this is a similarly-designed theme event, in the same place as an earlier one, and even organized by the same people. In fact, the judges know me well; one of them was from the previous theme event, and another from last year's. Recall from my "OK!" performance from then that there seemed to be audio problems; those problems may have emerged again - during the performance, I noticed the judges feigning and indicating to the sound crew that something may need to be fixed. I could only go on, of course, since my duty is only to sing, and I couldn't do much about the equipment. Still, everything seemed to be fine, as the recording seems to be fine as well, and so did the previous performers. I intentionally didn't register early so that I wouldn't be the first in line to perform and therefore the "first victim" due to equipment.

"Itsumo itsudemo umaku yuku nante..."

As for why I didn't win this time, other than the fact that there were only two prizes, it may be hard to say. One thing that I can think of that may have played a role is "stage actions" or even "flair", which is sometimes evaluated. I hardly moved during my performance so that I can focus on the vocal aspect, though once in a while I did. That may have factored into the evaluation and didn't bring up my performance. And I don't know if my cosplay affected things or not. It remains hard to say.

"...zettai natte yaru!"

On one hand, this performance was great. It's one of the best times I've performed any Pokémon song. On the other hand, I didn't know how I really did against the other competitors, even though it looked and sounded great. After one year of taking part in these competitions, I can still say that these are still great. It's especially great that I can still tailor them to my interests, of which the overarching one is certainly Pokémon. I suppose that might bode well for continued participation, and I may execute something radical one of these days.

One year ago: New Pokémon, New World?
Two years ago: Pikachu with Regional Caps

Doubleheaders and Such

The term "doubleheader" most frequently refers to how some sports matches are played back-to-back. While I'm not too fond of watching too many sports matches, let alone ones that are back-to-back, I'm fond of watching a different kind of back-to-back matches. Those are, of course, matches of Pokémon battles in some form. They're a fascinating kind of doubleheader by themselves.

One expected kind of doubleheader is one that involves the Pokémon anime. A long time ago, I used to be exposed to this kind of doubleheader as I've progressed through the episodes. Being shown two episodes at once helped things to progress rather quickly, though once a season of new episodes ran out, it sometimes left myself in an odd wonder. It was fun while it lasted, though, and in a way it set a personal standard that if it's possible and there is enough demand, then two episodes could be shown at a time. Others may or may not agree with this.

A different kind of doubleheader involves Pokémon game matches being streamed, which often may involve the same players though in different matches. It wouldn't be a "doubleheader" in its strict sense - come to think of it, the anime situation is too - but it could spiritually be one, especially if the same players get featured in different matches. The last time I saw one of these was the opening of this year's Pokémon World Championships, which featured the invitational Pokémon Go tournament; it was rousing to watch the players involved, even though I couldn't watch for long due to time constraints. It might be fun either next year or whenever this happens next.

The way that it is, the "doubleheader" concept can be considered an "adjunct" to the "marathon" concept. The difference is that it is not as extensive, as a "doubleheader" or even a "tripleheader" only involves a few things at the most, while a marathon can involve so many more. It's also more directed towards similar things, though a marathon might also be as such. Yes, it does seem like things may be hard to delineate, but then there are also some distinct characteristics.

And the way that things are, I'm rather fond of Pokémon, so I'm rather fond of watching it as it plays out over a few things. It might be a few episodes of the anime, or it might be other players playing battle matches. If they're similarly linked, then that seems to be enough to satisfy. At least it does for me as it does for some other people with real doubleheaders in real sports matches.

One year ago: Cosplay: Panniversary 2nd
Two years ago: Pikachu and Poké Ball New 2DS XL

Cosplay: GACOS LEVELUP

Me: Hey, you know the place I discussed in yesterday's post? There's something going on over there, so I have to send you.

Ash: Wait, are you sure you're OK doing this?

Pikachu: Pi, pika... [concerned]

Me: Sure I'm sure. Achievements don't come by themselves, kind of like what you achieved *hint hint*.

Ash: OK, I'll help you. So now... hey, this theme event looks a lot like the one from two months ago, in the same place, and even the people that hold it seem to be the same.

Me: Huh. Isn't that strange. Usually something like this happens with the same exact event for the next year's edition, but not for two different ones a short time apart!

Ash: Some of your friends did say it was better, and I agreed. There were a few more food stands, so it was more filled out. They did better for the schedule timing - everything wasn't too delayed. I think they're right.

Me: I'm sure they learned from their mistakes last time. OK, so I sent you with a special outfit.

Ash: Oh, from that journey!

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yes!"]

Me: Yeah, that one. I've sent you with the express hope that you can perform something, as there is a performance competition, but I still can't make it work out. It'll have to be for another time.

Ash: But there are other ones, right?

Me: There are, and those are the singing competition and the parade. Part of the reason for the special outfit is to perform the first Kanto theme, but a different version from the one that's yours.

Ash: Oh, I get it! I like this version too, even if it's not "myself", you could say. It's mellower than the one that's "mine".

Me: I had wanted you to sing this one some time ago, but that one didn't happen - or in other words, the time got "stolen".

Ash: Oh yeah! We should be glad we could do it this time. But I didn't win.

Me: How so?

Ash: I was around 20 or so people who sang, but there were only two winners.

Me: You know, this singing competition is always in high demand, but the number of winners is always low and sometimes not representative, if I may say so. I'm sure that this time isn't right.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["Maybe so."]

Me: OK, so what about the parade?

Ash: It was fun, and there weren't many in it. A character told me that some of them might have been in another parade in a different part. But I didn't win, since the only prizes I could win were for best clothing and favorite character, and they went to someone else. The good thing is that I didn't have to wait to hear the results.

Me: Well, that seems to be a thing with parade results nowadays. I'm OK with it, because it means you and I won't wait in agony. All right, so it's time for final impressions.

Ash: As you say, they're different events, but they seem almost the same. This one is still much better except maybe for the prizes. Maybe we can also do better next time!

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["We have to!"]

Me: I couldn't agree more. We'll have to do something about that real soon.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/22/2018
Two years ago: Riot of Pokémon Color

Remember, Remember

Do you remember the 21^st night of September?
Love was changin' the minds of pretenders
While chasin' the clouds away
Our hearts were ringin' in the key that our souls were singin'
As we danced in the night, remember
How the stars stole the night away, oh yeah...
-- "September", Earth, Wind & Fire

Some songs have a certain theme to them. The theme of this song would be one of reminiscence, which is even evident in the first verse as I've quoted above. For me, as with many other things and as hard-wired I am to Pokémon, quite a bit of that reminiscence deals with Pokémon things. Today I had the chance to revisit a couple of places that are as connected to Pokémon as much as they are connected to me personally. Both of these places are also places where my Pokémon cosplay has been frequently witnessed over the years.

One of these places could be considered neat, although labyrinthine and slightly cramped. Most recently, I've been there with two good friends of mine, one of whom cosplayed a good friend of a Pokémon character I cosplay, and the other being a fan of us. It has been the host of many theme events or conventions, both large and small scale. My figure group likes this place a lot as well, being that they can schedule meetups in this place, including movie meetups, as this is where they are often shown, if at all. Yet, being that I've been here quite often with my cosplay, I remain fond and reminiscent of this place.

The other is a grander place that is so grand that it becomes the place where my figure friends go to not only meet up at times, but also to fulfill their figure needs. It too has been the place of several theme events, though they tend to be smaller. But one of those theme events is a significant one, as it was where I met my fan and connected for the first time. Today, I wasn't with the company of my figure friends, as they have their own thing, but I could still converse with them for what they may want. It may or may not be soon before we have the opportunity to get together and shop together. The place remains something to be reminisced from time to time.

The spirit of reminiscence is as with the song, being about the pleasant things or the things that really are meaningful. And as it so happens, today is the date that is mentioned at the beginning of the song, the 21^st of September. A friend who also likes the same song tells me that is significant, because it means that the song is fully realized. It becomes special to do a bit of reminiscing according to the date mentioned in the lyrics of a song that's about the topic.

It's true that the song itself suggests love to some extent, in particular romantic love, but the general theme of reminiscence is somewhat strong, specifically for the best times of one's life. Some of my best times were found in the two places with Pokémon and my Pokémon cosplay. And I'd say that's a good love for me, one that deserves to be reminisced from time to time, especially as dictated by a song about it.

One year ago: Community Raid Days?
Two years ago: Pokémon and Party Games

The Friendly Manual

Around three weeks ago, when I received a starter deck of the Pokémon TCG for use in local matches, I had said that I lost the quick start guide after someone took it and it became misplaced. Since then, I have gained a new quick start guide through another outlet, but the incident remains regrettable to some extent. And that's a shame, because quick start guides and the related greater body of user (instruction) manuals for games, are indispensable as well as interesting in a way. And Pokémon is not excepted.

When I purchased my first Pokémon game cartridge, which is the Blue version (as I've detailed near the very beginning of this blog), it also came with a 30-page instruction manual, which also acts like an abridged and limited strategy guide for the first few moments of the game. It's a helpful starter for any Trainer on their adventure, as it contains the basic information to get things going. I probably would have reconsidered going through the game had I not read through it. Certainly, it's a valuable and key resource for the game, and in consideration of its position, a piece of Pokémon history as well.

And then there's that TCG quick start guide, as a more recent example of things. As I've described it, it comes in the form of a single sheet, but it's a very descriptive single sheet. One side has the explanation of the requirements and contents, and the other has the explanation of the gameplay, including preliminaries, actions, and conditions. For someone whose memory seems to be becoming dull, it becomes rather important, which is why I was surprised when it suddenly left my sight and went to someone else, before being completely lost and misplaced. It is a definitely recommended read for anyone starting out or to just quickly review certain parts.

Someone once said that a man can conquer any machine in the world... as long as he has read the manual first. With that in mind, an game could be likened to machinery in that all the parts work together to result in different things, and one has to understand it to make it so. The case for Pokémon games is not much different, in that an instruction manual definitely sheds light for anyone starting to play or even in the middle to review, in order to make things just work. In that sense, the instruction manual is friendly - as the saying goes, Read the Friendly Manual.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/20/2018
Two years ago: Meeting, Parting with, and Missing Friends

Taking Sides on Shiny Pokémon

Anyone who has been "around the block" with Pokémon like me for long enough know that Pokémon can appear in their original colors or a different color, the latter being their Shiny form. I've written a bit about topics on Shiny Pokémon, and this post would constitute another one. For this one, the deal with Shiny Pokémon is that it may leave some people ambivalent about them compared to others, based on different sides. I've gathered a few of these different sides for discussion of their two ends.

First up is their importance. For some people, they can become important or unimportant. It may be the former for some people because they've collected many Shiny Pokémon in Pokémon Go, for example, or the latter because they've had not much luck in encountering them in the same game. Personally, outside of Community Day, I fall into the latter camp, but when the event comes, I become part of the former. I suppose many who play Pokémon Go will be like this as well, depending on which ones have been collected. The value of their importance seems to tie into their standing in different situations and availability.

In line with their importance, Shiny Pokémon may be considered necessary or optional. Something that ties into this is their appearance - some Shiny Pokémon don't look too different from their normal kin, which then may lead to the consideration of being optional. The ones that do become necessary for some, then, are the ones that look radically different. Appearance then becomes a kind of value for those really considering it, although for quite a few people, any Shiny form is necessary regardless of appearance. Those who consider them optional may simply be just uninterested.

There's actually another side to the appearance consideration, and that is whether Shiny Pokémon are pretty or not so pretty. For this one, "different" doesn't always mean "pretty", of course, but some people may regard one differently from another. Shiny Kyogre, for example, is purple, but this could be a bit much for some people, while others simply welcome it. On the other hand, Shiny Mewtwo might seem a bit too green for some people, but others may regard it as a pretty counterpoint to the common purple Mewtwo. Clearly, the appeal factor may be different from one person to another.

Shiny Pokémon themselves are a different side to normal Pokémon. Even with them as a different side, some people may regard them in a different two-sided way. It's hard not to when they seem so different, even very much so among different perceptions. I'm sure as more and more people become exposed to Shiny Pokémon, they'll continue to take sides and shift among those sides as their perceptions and relationships with them change.

One year ago: Raid Time Length Change
Two years ago: Competitive Stages in Shuffle

Raid Failures

What I love about raids in Pokémon Go is that with a little effort, know-how, and aid from other able Trainers if need be, one can have the chance to obtain good, interesting, or powerful Pokémon, or even all of the above. However, it's not always peachy, as raids can and do fail for a variety of reasons. I've already discussed "raid dramas" in a separate post, and this certainly fits into that, though it's a more specific case. And the points of failure for raids can be rather varied.

One such point of failure is the people involved in the raid. For raids that are doable singly, the point of failure is with the person, specifically the Pokémon involved; if they're not strong enough, then the raid fails. For other raids that need more than one people, the additional point of failure is having enough people to complete the raids. I've experienced both cases, and it's not pretty, especially when one has surrendered a raid pass. The problem is when it cannot be rectified on the spot, especially if a raid is near its end. Preparations are always vital to sidestep this.

The next point of failure is network connections, which becomes part of and adjunct to one of the raid dramas. Obviously, without a connection, one can't raid, let alone play, but it goes further than that. If connections drop in the middle of a raid, then it may lead to a cascade of failures, which can be distressing if this happens. While one can prepare to sidestep this failure, it may not be something that every Trainer has the luxury or possibility of preparing by themselves, so this may require a collaborative effort for preparation. That said, it seems to be a rare point of failure, which is why Trainers don't give it much thought... until failure happens with this point.

Just as rare as the connection failure is a very important point of failure. That point would involve the game itself. This is partly why I decided to write this post today. Today is a Wednesday, which means that normally it would be time for a Raid Hour, thanks to its persistence. However, the Raid Hour fizzled - it was canceled as it started its run in the first part of the world due to certain technical difficulties. Further details will need to wait for a later time, but because this is a rather important Raid Hour, many became disappointed, including myself. It's certainly rare for this to happen, and it has happened today.

Even with effort, know-how, and aid, it may still be possible for raids to fail - and they still do, even today. Sometimes, the blame may rest on certain people, while other times it may rest on infrastructure. Yet with the possibility of failure, it's still hard not to dislike and remain attached to raids for all the Pokémon possibilities they provide. The efforts of Trainers in raids will have to include reorganizing opportunities of failure into opportunities of success.

One year ago: A Restarted Fever?
Two years ago: What I (Really) Like About You - Pokémon

At a Starry Night Time

Around six months ago, I detailed the story of a vivid Pokémon image that coincided with an equally vivid song. I also said that I had saved a copy of that image, but due to happenings in my life, I lost that copy of the image and wasn't able to present it even as a preview. Now, I can say that I have recovered that very image and can preview it for the purpose of a discussion on this blog.

While I have to admit that the "constellations" I spoke of aren't actually present - so much as "suggested" by the other stars and the outlines of the Pokémon present in the sky, the evoked feelings are more or less accurate. The starry nighttime sky seemingly brightens and illuminates everything around it, including Ash and his Pokémon.

Upon recovery, I immediately fed the image through Google's Image Search. While the image in its actual form (nor any higher resolutions) did not come up in the search, different forms of the same image did come up, though some of the forms had an extended border and a watermark. A bit of analysis showed that the specific form for the image and my copy of the image are in fact the same, albeit cropped, which means that my copy is the only definitive "clean" version.

Moreover, some of the results for the image search indicated the actual source of the image, which would be the ArtBox Pokémon Starry Night 500-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle. Thus, the image firmly identifies a piece of merchandise. However, today one would seem to be hard-pressed to find, let alone procure this merchandise, as it is (or was) sold only in Japan; my copy of the image is dated as being from 18 years ago, and thus the jigsaw puzzle is at least that many years old.

While I have no interest in obtaining the merchandise associated with this image due to its rarity, the image is still a significant one for me. It has become part of my Pokémon experiences, one that I still keep a hold of to this very day, nearly two decades later. That may be considered an amazing testament for this very image with its powerful sentiments, and Pokémon in general.

One year ago: Approaching Field Research Tasks
Two years ago: Restarting Go Fever Among Players

Pokémon Cable Bite Accessory - Pikachu

Friends are sometimes helpful in relation to Pokémon merchandise. They may help to procure access to certain pieces of merchandise, or they may help to evaluate those pieces of merchandise. I've got friends that can do either or both, and two of them contributed to the piece of merchandise I'm about to discuss in this post. It happens to be quite a neat piece, and believe me, their contributions are valuable.

The piece of merchandise that I'm discussing is, as the title of this post indicates, is the Pokémon Cable Bite Accessory that features Pikachu. It's a "plug protector" for specific kinds of charger cables, this one specifically being for the iPhone Lightning cable. One would insert the cable by a gap in the body and pull it to align the pins with the mouth, and Pikachu would then act as a bigger and cuter plug. There are a few reasons why I haven't taken it out of the package, and one of them is that... I don't have an iPhone, and I've sworn off Apple products ever since I found they don't work with or for me. It's a cute plug nonetheless, especially for those who can put it to better use if they have the product in question.

Now, as for the relationship of my friends to this merchandise, one of them brought me access to this merchandise (read: gave it to me as a gift). That friend just happens to be one who is intricately linked to the term "Pokétaku", whom I've met one fine day and then again in the local TCG scene. He had just returned from a trip to Japan - somewhere I still desire to go - and he bought two of these accessories, one of them being the Pikachu one now in my possession and the other being an Eevee one for himself, given to me on that day. It's apparent that the merchandise is intended to evoke a symbolic link for both of us based on the starters of the LGP/E games on the Switch. I, of course, very much appreciate this, seeing as how we're big fans of Pokémon, and therefore the term above applies.

The other one of my friends certainly was the one who evaluated or appraised the merchandise. When I showed it to my friend, he was excited, for he knew I was in possession of a really good Pokémon merchandise... and a rare one at that, according to his appraisal. This is another reason why the accessory has remained inside the package. A third reason, and as a consequence of this reason, is that a few things in my life are still in disarray even after my move, and the last thing I want to do is to put this one in the mix. The rare quality means a lot, obviously.

This piece of Pokémon merchandise is imbued with lots of utility and sentimental qualities. The utility part is clear, as something that beautifies and protects other life items, specifically cables. The sentimental part has to do with the friends that are involved with the merchandise, whether as purveyor or evaluator. Any which way, I'm glad and thankful to connect with them as well as with Pokémon, as well as to have this merchandise on my side. They're all valuable indeed.

One year ago: An End to Jumps
Two years ago: Pokémon Suits in Cosplay?

Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/15/2019

There are many things that may indicate a good Community Day in Pokémon Go. It may involve the "bones" or particular featured elements of the event during a specific time, or it may involve how certain people conducted the event in specific locations. As well, it may also involve how it turned out for specific players or Trainers. This is understandable; after all, there's a lot that goes into a Community Day, both on the game side and the execution side. This month, there's quite a bit to consider.

For this month, the "bones" or elements are fairly attractive. The featured Pokémon is Turtwig, the fourth-generation Grass-type starter, which makes it the first of its generation to be featured. Predictably, the exclusive move for its final evolution of Torterra is Frenzy Plant, as with previous Grass-type starters; the move window is also extended for two hours instead of just one. The side bonus, along with the unmentioned and always necessarily extended Lure Modules and increased appearances, is bonus Stardust for captured Pokémon, which is always, always nice. Some Turtwig could even be captured through raids, if one were willing to go through them, and some were even available from battling Team GO Rocket as Shadow Pokémon, being a notable first.

I took part in the event as I normally did, contributing to the efforts of my raid group holding it in a certain area. On this occasion, I was joined in by a couple of my raid fellows, who also happen to be good friends of mine even beyond the scope of Pokémon Go. We found that we could comfortably play even though the usual multitudes of Lure Modules were reduced in number, indicating that there may be reduced interest in this one. Even so, many were still interested in taking part just to continue participation, which is by all means a good thing. In a few places further away, Community Day is markedly more festive, but that has rarely been the case in my local place. This may become something to consider for later times.

The turnout for this one was a bit mixed. While I caught a fair number of Turtwig - though none from raids, since I ended up not being close to any - I only caught a grand total of two Shiny Turtwig. Interestingly, I was the first among my two friends to capture a Shiny Turtwig, but they ended up capturing more over time while my Shiny reserves "ran dry", so to speak. However, I did end up with a great number of Turtwig Candy, which I used to evolve five into Torterra: my pre-selected Buddy, another for a possible PvP purpose, a third with impeccable stats from a trade, the best Shiny that I had, and a Lucky one that I received late in the day. The cost for this is an enormous number of Candy, of course, but this may become an investment.

This one was subpar in terms of Shiny Pokémon for me personally, but the output was rather productive even if it seemed a bit wasteful. By all indicators, this one can be considered sufficiently OK, considering what went into it and what I got out of it. I suppose I and the others maximized what was given, whatever the turnout was. Any Community Day is bound to proceed in this fashion, and when that happens, it can indeed be called a good one.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Trading Stickers
Two years ago: Am I Writing-Challenged?

The Appeal of the TCG

As I discussed in my post about the TCG and my ups and downs with it last week, today is the day of the local tournament, but because it's full and I am not a participant in it, I can't exactly cover it, though I did stop by to see how it progressed and to get in touch with a few of my Pokémon fellows. However, I can discuss other things that may pertain to it. One of those things is considering the appeal of the game for different people, including some of my fellows. It's a fascinating topic with several different outcomes for different people.

For some of my fellows, particularly some of those in my figure group, they appear to be taken with the TCG, so much so that they're putting on hold figures for the latter, and Pokémon Go as an example for the former. They themselves have invested more money for the cards than I'd like to invest in one sitting (confer last week's similar case), and as a result, now some of them are pursuing as many competitions as possible, including today, which happens to be their faraway competition. It's kind of like what has transpired with me and my Pokémon cosplay, only it has taken them far quicker compared to my cosplay efforts. It's obviously quite appealing to them, to a certain degree greater than mine. The game remains quite appealing to me as much as some of us.

Even so, for some people, the appeal for the cards may remain low. An example is one of my good friends, whom I've already discussed in another post on this blog. We met again when I dropped by to check out the TCG tournament, as another friend of his served as part of the tournament staff. He said he's not quite a trading card game player, and I'll accept that. I myself could be considered such a person, only that I've welcomed the Pokémon TCG into my heart and mind. He has done the same, with a deck of his own. We may or may not be able to play anytime soon, but perhaps the opportunity may present itself sometime. Who knows, our penchant might grow at least a little bigger with time.

And then there are the youth, the ones whom the Pokémon TCG are really destined for. With that being the case, it has been observed that many players are in fact adults, and young players are hard to come by... at least, locally. By my observation of today's tournament, only one player appeared to be well below the age of others. It may be that the youth of today have a hard time with reading the details on the cards, or it may be that they're just interested in other things. A kind of "affirmative action" may be necessary. Regardless, it's still rather early to make this conclusion as the local TCG is relatively new, so it remains to be seen.

The appeal of the TCG seems to be varied, even among full and partial fans, at least in my local case. Despite the situation, the cards themselves have appealed to quite a number of people, enough to fill out this tournament way ahead of time, for example. It will likely be that way for at least the next few tournaments ahead. In that case, it would serve me well to be able to serve the appeal of others in an upcoming tournament, seeing as how Pokémon in general and its TCG in particular have appealed to me.

One year ago: A Pokémon Watch
Two years ago: Three's Demise

Personal Branding

A few weeks ago, I was involved in a discussion with a few people who are acquaintances of my family. One of the topics that was discussed then was the concept of "personal branding", which on the whole deals with how other people might or do perceive someone, especially for significant links. To some of them, it is regarded as an important concept. I've had time to think about it, and in some sense, it is important for me too as a Pokémon fan, cosplayer, and blogger - as well as for just about everything else.

Those perceptions that people have about other people are based on reputations and impressions. If they're good, then certainly people will be receptive to other people. This will then lead to good connections, especially professional ones. In general, good is good and begets goodness. It's something I have to and do realize to find success. In my case, if at all possible, I'd like it to involve Pokémon as well, something that has been instrumental and motivating all throughout my life.

One way that a personal brand could be discovered is through a simple Internet search. In order to discover mine, I put in my own name (the one you see here) into the search box; it's something I haven't done in a very long time. What came up the first were a handful of photographs of me in cosplay, as well as the link to my Cure WorldCosplay profile, which I haven't managed in a real long time as well. The rest of the first page is composed of other links to cosplay and a few things related to academics and other odd things. Interestingly, this blog didn't come up until the third page of results - linking to a post made rather early this year - which could indicate that it hasn't reached prominence, despite that I've posted for over two and a half years.

And so, at least based on this search, I've established that I have links to cosplay and Pokémon. But it could be a lot more Pokémon-oriented, in my view. This blog is already significant by itself; it could be one of the first few results. If I do start a YouTube channel to complement this blog, I'm rather certain it would be one of the first things that appear for the results; it also might help to propel this blog among those results. If this can lead to greater involvement of myself with Pokémon, then I'm certainly all for it.

Personal branding is a thing for anyone; it's about how people see other people. In that respect, it does seem very much apply to me as my social presence expands and becomes perceived by many people. Along with that presence, there is also the sense that I ought to tailor it a bit to reflect who I am. And who I am, among other things, is a great Pokémon fan. I believe it's one of the aspects of my "personal brand" that I need to show off and make it a part of my greater success.

One year ago: To Judge and Be Judged
Two years ago: Catering to Old and New Players

And Intelligence

Someone said that love and intelligence go together. Each of the two improves the rough edges, so to speak, of the other. What I love is Pokémon, and I've demonstrated my intelligence through other means. The two are united to some extent in the posts on this blog. In that way, they seem to go together. And yet, that seems to be one of those ways. Pokémon and intelligence may be considered to go together in other ways.

A long time ago, in a discussion with some of my Pokémon fellows, we talked about the nature of the complexity of the main series. One of them stated that the complexity is almost like a game of chess, with many moves to be considered and many still to be made. I can see how that is so. The core battles of the main series games involve making moves based on turns, but a lot of factors actually govern those turns, and the dynamics may change at the drop of a hat. It's no wonder that the games attract many intelligent people from various backgrounds, though that doesn't always guarantee great success - as in my case, for example.

For other Pokémon things, intelligence is surely demanded to various degrees. The TCG has workings that rival the main series, though they are substantially different. One needs to consider just as many things in order to succeed in battle. Other Pokémon things may considerably involve more than intelligence, for example speed, but there's no doubt that at least some intelligence is involved to influence further success. The player still needs to control at least a few things, and that can only happen with intelligence.

All the posts that I've made evidently show indications of intelligence. It takes quite a bit to scrutinize many things, let alone Pokémon things, day in and day out. To make them coherent is an even bigger thing, for I've seen and read many even non-Pokémon writings that don't seem to make sense. I believe that I've done my best in this regard, to present as many Pokémon things as possible in writings and to make them at least sensible.

As for that love-and-intelligence thing, I'm sure it makes sense. I would be nowhere if I couldn't think about Pokémon wisely nor show appreciation and care for all its facets. Intelligence, however, does manifest itself as an important element for what I do, whether it's here on this blog or outside, and whether it involves Pokémon or not. It is apparently the case for Pokémon in general as well with many people. To be able to think wisely is something I'm grateful for, especially if it can involve something I truly love such as Pokémon; I'm sure people like me can say the same.

One year ago: Proud to Be a Clean Cosplayer
Two years ago: Poké-Mobile Devices

This Is It

Over a year ago, I stated that in a certain cosplay teaser that I conceive a little something called "yearly themes" that encapsulate happenings in a year, whether they have occurred or have yet to occur. This year, the theme is (set to be) as in the title of this post, "This Is It". Aside from partially referencing the series of what-could-have-been final set of concerts by the "King of Pop", this year has been or looks to be a conclusion of several things. And for those who know me and this blog, Pokémon would certainly be included, much as I wish it wasn't... and yet, it is.

One of those things regards the progression of VGC. The World Championships this year have concluded, and now it's preparing for a transition. For the rest of this year, VGC continues on the 3DS with the Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon games, but starting in January, the competitive scene will shift to the Sword and Shield games on the Nintendo Switch. Of course, those games have yet to be released - they're only due in two months or so - so at least that may give time to iron out the faults that occur before the shift. What's clear is that the transition will occur regardless, and the 3DS era is ending. It's a finalization.

On a more personal front, because of the move I've made, I've had to part with a group of Gyms in Pokémon Go that I've referred to as the "golden triangle", because there are three of them and they were the first Gyms that I were able to turn gold in their progression (which I should explain about). Sure, at times I may still interact with them if I happen to be in the area, but for the most part, I've essentially parted with them as this does not frequently occur. Meanwhile, in another area and one that is frequently worked on by some members of my raid group, a certain Gym has disappeared, despite its popularity and accessibility (or perhaps not for the very last one). Whatever happens, this is an ending.

And just recently, groups of people have experienced the end of some significant things in one form or another. It seems that the ends of many things seem to be due out this year, regardless of other progressions. Like it or not, Pokémon seems to be part of this as well in some respects, whether wide-ranging or personal in effect - though this blog is not one of those, and I don't expect it to be so for an indefinite time. And like the series of concerts that never had been and could be, this year just seems to be the end mark for those certain things; for this year, "this is it".

One year ago: Cosplay: Club Cosplay Party
Two years ago: Pokkén BanaPassports

Gym Tours

A year ago, I mentioned that another use of Pokémon Go is as a tour guide, whether of present or non-present things. Of course, even with the game being used as a tour guide, players would probably can't help but play through the things presented on the tour. The case is true for something I've been doing lately with (the help of) a friend, where we take a trip to certain Gyms and take them down and over, and/or put something in them. As a special case of the above, I call it a "Gym Tour".

When I and that friend go on a Gym Tour, we sometimes decide on a particular area beforehand, though at other times and even after having decided on an area, we go straight to whichever Gyms we can find and deal with them. What often happens is that we end up distributing our load, as we're both of different teams; I take down Gyms of my friend's team and my friend takes my team's Gyms down, while we negotiate the Gyms not of our teams' colors. It can get complicated considering that we have different Gyms with different progressions, and that some of the Gyms we desire for one person instead go to the other.

Due to the nature of the streets in my local area, sometimes we make our way past one Gym only to return to that Gym later on; it means that we often make our way in a non-linear, even irregular fashion. Sometimes, there are also the unexpected things that we encounter, like traffic jams in the morning (which prevents a more timely approach), and someone else attacking a Gym that either one of us desires to take over. At the least, what happens is that we should end up with a bevy of Gyms that we advanced the progressions of and are ready to furnish coins at a later time, if not on the same day.

Others who wish to conduct similar tours can certainly do better than us. The right time and the right places for Gyms should help out in going through them quickly and efficiently. It's also wise to plan out which Gyms to take, as far as possible, to allow for equal distribution. And if the unexpected does occur, one should have a backup plan or be adept at devising one on the spot. With luck, the Gym Tour should become more successful.

The "Gym Tour" is not quite a "tour" in the usual sense that one may not leisurely make way through a series of Gyms, but it should result in an advancement of gameplay progress. Even so, in making one, it may accomplish some sightseeing purposes, which is another point of a tour, and a more central one at that. Both could be considered the opposite sides of the same coin; accomplishing one accomplishes the other, and that should be a great thing in and of itself.

One year ago: (A Further) Local Ex-Raid, 9/10/2018
Two years ago: Cosplay: BJF - Shizen ni Modoru

The Music of TCGO

As I've stated over a year ago in discussing the music that makes up Pokémon Go, computer/electronic games practically require music for a total immersive experience. Games that are electronic versions of actual physical games are no exception either. For Pokémon, its most well-known physical game incarnation is the Trading Card Game or TCG; its electronic version is, of course, the Trading Card Game Online or TCGO. And it too has music that merits some discussion.

The music for the game is as simple as it is deep. While during login there is no music - unlike Pokémon Go in that regard - once a player enters the primary screens, the player is greeted with the primary "chill" music, which is likely for an important reason: to set the tone while the player is viewing cards, composing decks, or checking simple information related to them. When the player is about to enter matches by way of Trainer Challenge or Versus, however, the music changes to a more lively, richer, and stronger version. The Tournament section has its own music based on the previous piece.

Once in a match, the music starts off mellow, much like the previously described "chill" music. However, as the match proceeds, certain elements start to appear in the music, becoming progressively stronger as one player inches closer to victory and the other nears defeat. The neat thing about this music is therefore the fact that it develops over the course of the match, and it does so more or less "seamlessly"; one only realizes that the music has become more than it was previously as the resolution of the match comes closer. It's something that very few games have in terms of music, and it's quite well done for the TCGO implementation.

The simplicity is apparent: the game doesn't need much in terms of music. Only the preparation environment and the battle environment really needs music for the total immersion of the player. And yet, the music that is there has certain complexities, being similar pieces (with further additions) for the preparation, and instrumentation that grows complex for the battle. It's sophisticated but humbly simple at the same time - a contrast of two aspects that seem to fit in well with how the TCG is played.

I'm now active not just in the electronic side of the TCG through the TCGO, but also on the physical side with real cards. The physical side can work itself out with any kind of music in the environment, but the TCGO has something unique going for it with its musical aspect. Thanks to its immersive nature, I can think of it as I deal with the physical cards as well, even if immersion in this side has not became apparent. At least the thought of immersion by music might just help.

One year ago: Cosplay: Tachiagare
Two years ago: My Book of Days

The New Flavors of Pokémon

Lately, there has been newly released information on the upcoming Sword and Shield games with a particular twist. Quite a bit of that information pertains to culinary aspects, specifically flavors. Food and cuisine is not often linked with Pokémon, but if they become so, the results may be considered neat, especially for a food fan like me. Such is the case with the recently released information, which shed some additional tidbits on the flavors found in the world of Pokémon.

The first tidbit concerns one of the newly discovered species of Pokémon, Alcremie. Alcremie is a new species that vaguely looks like a lump of cake frosted with a very generous amount of whipped cream, and its Gigantamax form (more on this soon enough) indeed simply resembles a multi-tiered birthday cake. According to its lore, Alcremie can produce whipped cream by itself with flavors according to its coloring and decorations, and at least 15 of these have been discovered, including two dubbed as "matcha" and "vanilla". Not only is Alcremie a spiritual successor to Vivillon, it also demonstrates a possibly wide range of flavors as well, and lots of sweet ones at that.

A second tidbit is related to a new feature introduced in the game, called Pokémon Camp. One thing that occurs here is the act of cooking, which involves a selection of ingredients being combined with a selection of Berries in order to cook... curries, and various selections of such based on the ingredients and Berries. It appears to be akin to the Berry blending feature found in a previous generation, and the resulting curry dishes have similar flavor tags. Curry seems to have become an official dish of sorts.

Both tidbits affirm something sweet and savory as part of the greater world of Pokémon. They may be considered one-dimensional (the same species of Pokémon, the same dish), but they can possess different flavors and tastes. It's quite inspiring to discern just what can result out of these elements for whoever would be tasting them. The possibilities of crafted flavors appear to be unique and diverse.

Due to the rare links of food and cuisine with Pokémon, it's often hard to tell about what might people there be tasting. The newly discovered information should shed light on that and inspire lots of Pokémon fans who are food fans to conceive new things based on them (and, needless to say, buy and play the games). I, for one, am as ready to get in the kitchen as I am to get out and train some Pokémon.

One year ago: Other Uses of Pokémon Go
Two years ago: Incubators in Pokémon Go

TCG, Order and Chaos

The Pokémon TCG, as a phenomenon, has been around for a long time, but I've only gotten into it only early this year. Meanwhile, in the rest of my local area, the phenomenon in its localized version has only caught on for a few weeks or so, albeit massively in a way. My interactions with the two sides of the phenomenon, the general side and the localized side, have been quite eventful, though also unpredictable, in particular through what has transpired lately with me personally and everything else TCG. It could be described as "order and chaos".

First up, the competitions are in full swing. One such competition takes place in a faraway locale, and interest was so great that the competition - or actually competitions, since it's both today and tomorrow - involve two sessions instead of one, with plenty of Trainers in each. I'm not competing in them, as my resources necessitate other struggles, but a friend whom I know very well is competing in the second session of tomorrow's competition. And he should, because he spent an amount that I wouldn't exactly spend with the things I've got going on right now. I hope it goes well.

Meanwhile, in my local area, there is actually a competition that's scheduled for the very next week, but by reports, it is already full, and it essentially entails buying a new deck, which I'm utterly divided about. As well, today there was a competition, but an informal one, and one that I only heard about moments after it had started. There was also one that is not as far away as the other one above, also continuing until tomorrow, but alas, I'm troubled by transportation, more so than I would be normally. And yet, some of my Pokémon figure friends who possess decks are already in it. I find myself struggling with all of these - part of the "chaos".

Even with all the "chaos", I find myself still enjoying the gameplay of the TCG, and what helps to accomplish that is the electronic TCGO implementation. Everything is neat and orderly - more so than I can ever hope to accomplish with real cards, especially in my current situation - and the challenge features are nice. So is one of my friends who play, even though my friend's network connection isn't always great; that friend helped with playing a few matches today, and while the results were mixed, they kept myself in line. All in all, there was much order with a slight bit of chaos.

Thanks to playing the TCGO briefly beforehand, I was also able to keep myself in check when I finally was able to use the deck I received last week against someone else in physical battle. That person also described a few terms that I could use to help with order in the match. The result was that I finally won a physical battle, though due to a bit of technicality; I lost the rest (two out of three), but that was primarily because I was up against a full constructed deck, while my deck is still purely my starter deck. Further, some of the chaos that occurred with the TCGO also happened with the physical TCG; sometimes I'd get too few Pokémon, not enough Trainer cards, too many Energy cards, and so on and so forth. I'm sure I also haven't thoroughly explored the potential of my starter deck in its pure state. This may be order, or this may be chaos.

All told, everything that has happened with the (localized) TCG has been rather frenzied, with so much going on here, there, and everywhere. That is indeed a realization of "chaos", if nothing else. But even with all that, it seems I've managed to find a semblance of "order" by playing more effectively with the help of others as well as the TCGO. It's practically up to me to continue to find this "order" with all that I need to do for the TCG in all its forms. By then, I hope that I'll have made total sense of this particular Pokémon phenomenon through everything that it has to offer.

One year ago: Artistic Routine
Two years ago: Pokémon Song, Indonesian Flavor

Local Tailors and My Cosplay Costumes

All my cosplay costumes - in particular, my Pokémon cosplay costumes - are great, of course. But I also have to appreciate the additional hands that went into the assistance of making those costumes. I speak of the local tailors in my area, whose knowledge and know-how of making clothing definitely contribute to those costumes. I provide the fabric, and they work their magic. It's a neat relationship, albeit also an up-and-down one that I've had over the years.

Very early on in my cosplay adventures, I had a tailor whose skills in making clothing was great, as well as for fabric selection. That tailor was the one who made the fourth-generation (DP) costume, which I already detailed way back during my fifth cosplay anniversary. It of course turned out great with no flaws, major ones at least. However, when the tailor made the third-generation (AG) costume, a lot of things went awry - it definitely did not look like the perfection it is now. The tailor has since moved on, and I've moved on from the tailor. A similar story happened for the fifth-generation (BW) costume with a different tailor, but it was more like the former than the latter; I've since moved on from that one as well.

Currently, I peruse the services of two tailors. One of them works magic on less sensitive parts of my costumes - that is, the clothing parts that don't show the true intent or origin of my costumes. As such, they tend to be the simpler parts, like the pants. And that has worked out well; I've never been queried about the origin of the clothing parts, nor have the intents been discovered, as most likely the tailor has not found out. I will likely continue to peruse the services for as long as I have the intent to cosplay.

The other tailor works on the more sensitive parts, as the ones that are characteristic of the origin and intent of the parts. One of the marks in my hall of fame of this tailor is for salvaging my third-generation costume, making it more perfect (and prize-winning). The tailor has also delivered for other parts of different costumes, which makes me inclined to come back. Recently, for a part of a new costume project, the tailor even immediately recognized that it was for a Pokémon costume from references that I had already prepared beforehand, and we even researched the part together after my request. I'll explain more on this when it gets done, but I can already tell that this could look very good, given the previously demonstrated caliber.

With this assistance, I do have to say that it's impossible for me to take full credit of my costumes, though in most cases I provided the fabric, making a collaboration of sorts. Still, this won't let me participate in super-competitive cosplay competitions requiring clear personal attribution. On the other hand, their magic with working fabric lets me have costumes that last for a real long time - my DP costume after seven and a half years is still pretty neat, for example, and I may be using it soon again. I'll take the longevity over attribution.

Even with all that has gone on with the tailors who are involved in realizing my Pokémon cosplay fantasies, I still appreciate and trust a few of them to do so and continue to do so for as long as there are Pokémon characters to be cosplayed. The results may be as surprising as they are long-lasting, and that means a lot for this long-running Pokémon fan whose cosplay adventures are also long and extensive - and great as well.

One year ago: A New 3DS Story: A Second Monster Home
Two years ago: Personalities

Return, Return, Return, Return...

I wanted to discuss a different topic for today's post, but then I saw that there was a significant event as evidenced in the posts from prior years (see below), specifically one that happened two years ago and covered again the next year. That would, of course, be my return to playing Pokémon Go, and the results of that return one year later. Two years later, it seems worthwhile to discuss this event and topic once again.

Lots of changes have taken place within the game since that point; I'm not going into detail about that, since the substance of most of the changes have been discussed elsewhere on this blog. What's important is that those changes are indeed quite substantial, so much so that the game is almost a different game today. This does prompt the question of whether returning to the game - for those who have played and left - is plausible and worth it. The answer is on the whole a resounding "yes".

Just today, I also read an article on the web site of a well-known news magazine that more or less brings up the same matter, with pretty much the same answer. The point of the article brings up how exciting the game has gotten ever since the changes that had been made had appeared in the game, and it has given rise to different social phenomena, including through events like Community Day. I personally couldn't agree more, as I've bore witness to pretty much the same thing, including a really important one that happened three months ago. It's a spectacle I rarely see even with Pokémon in general.

Even so, personally, it's kind of hard to bring up this topic, particularly considering what it involved in previous years. The photos that are in the posts from previous years below are of the phone I used to return to playing Pokémon Go, which sadly can be said to no longer exist due to a certain calamity. Further, the location depicted in the overworld map in those photos is actually of my previous house, from which I've somewhat reluctantly moved; it too is practically non-existent at this point. I've since moved on with a new phone and a new house, but thanks to those photos, the previous memories are preserved.

Yet, I can say that having returned to Pokémon Go is pretty much a blessing, regardless of what it involved. I can perhaps speak for myself and the writer of that article. It's also why I've titled this post the way it is, being a line from an obscure chant. It may or may not make people return to the game, but if they consider what they're in for when they return, they might just actually do it, and join the fortunate and happy players who have done exactly that.

One year ago: A Happy Return
Two years ago: Here I Go (Again)

The New PvP Charged Move Mechanism

If you're an active player of Pokémon Go, I trust that you've used the PvP feature in different ways, whether it's to battle another Trainer for glory, a team leader for practice, or the lately introduced Team GO Rocket Grunts for keeping things under control. Some time ago, though, there had been an important change in how Charge Moves work. Instead of tapping a button in order for it to gain power, one instead swipes past icons on the screen to collect them and add to the move's power. It's a fundamentally important change.

Before evaluating the change for what it is, it's important to understand how the new mechanism works. Upon activating a Charged Move during a PvP battle, the words "Get Ready!" will appear briefly before a "Swipe!" command replaces it, prompting one to do so for a flurry of icons that appear in certain ways. The power of the Charged Move depends on how many icons were swiped, which also carries a qualitative evaluation of Nice/Great/Excellent, the same qualifiers as Poké Ball throws. After that, the Charged Move is executed, and the rest of the battle proceeds.

The new mechanism is admittedly quite dynamic. With it, the Charged Moves seem like they are more "alive" and represent their true nature. What's more, it's difficult for a move to come out weaker as long as one tries; once an icon has been swiped, it contributes to the power. This is unlike the previous simple repeat tapping mechanism, where - by my experience - sometimes does seem to come out weaker even though I've tried. The qualifier labels, being the same as Poké Ball throws, also seem to present a sense of "unity". So, on one hand this is an improvement.

On the other hand, the new mechanism may have some nags. It certainly adds a learning curve and dexterity to Charged Moves, given that the technique is different for each move type; even now, I've still not seen how some types work in this system, and sometimes I still have problems with the types I already do know. One would have to practice quite a bit to get the hang of how the new Charged Moves work to execute them with the best power possible, and the hope is that one eventually will, sooner or later.

Pokémon Go is a "living" game, being that it's constantly updated with new features over time, unlike other Pokémon games that tend to remain mostly the same or "inert". The change in the workings of Charged Moves in PvP is just one part of that, something done to keep the game fresh among its players. It also has its own positives and negatives that affect its execution. Beyond that, it just becomes another dynamic to the game, one that is just as dynamic and active as the players that play the game.

One year ago: AFA ID in Memoriam
Two years ago: Cold as the Winds

Pokémon and Music Games, Revisited

Over two years ago, I wrote about a particular link of a certain music game with a certain facet of Pokémon, followed by a discussion about the linkage of both in general. Today, I feel the need to revisit this linkage, given some particular things about them that have happened recently, as well as some things that could be worthy of consideration for integrating the two areas even further. They're areas that by my experience (and some research) have been quite disparate, except for some tidbits.

The music game that I discussed in the first post is of course maimai, a music game that belongs to Sega and could be considered its first mainstream hit, being that it's playable - even online - not just in Japan, but in many game centers around Asia, including where I am (Indonesia). Unfortunately, there's a bittersweet news about it: as of today, the online service for its FiNALE version, named as such because it "ends" the classic series, has been terminated in Japan, having been succeeded by a new series called maimai DX. Its online service for other regions has been spared for the time being, likely because maimai DX is still being prepared for the international release. In all the time I've played the game, no Pokémon songs have ever been included, though it has been a personal hope of mine; since the game survives with the DX series, there may still be some hope.

In the meantime, there are many other music games to be enjoyed. One of them is called Taiko no Tatsujin (also known as Taiko Drum Master), which belongs to Bandai Namco. Bandai Namco of course is known for having collaborated with Pokémon to conceive Pokkén, an actual fighting game with Pokémon in it, resulting in things like a game ID card tie-in. I had the chance to drop by one of the Taiko game machines the other day in a distant game center and was surprised to see it playable online; at that moment, I had to play it. I knew by a report from a friend that Pokémon is linked to the game somehow, and I had my confirmation.

Though my knowledge of the Japanese language is minimal (let alone with highly stylized Japanese script), I and a friend can tell for a fact that this song - in the Anime category - is "Alola!! from Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon", which confirms that a Pokémon song is actually in the game, from its anime, no less. A little research shows that this link has been well-standing, with different versions having different songs, including "Best Wishes!" at one point in time. I can't exactly hope to explore as far back as that, but "Alola!!" is satisfying. I've played the song on both "futtsu" ("Normal") and "muzukashii" ("Hard") difficulties above, and I've only managed to do well on the former. At the least, I now have a new music game that I appreciate, thanks to this.

On the whole, Pokémon and music games still lack an established linkage, being that few songs of the former are included in the latter and there is not quite a game of the former with the concept of the latter. This is something that demands further exploration by all parties concerned. As many gamers are fans of both, including me, developing the linkage further could be in our best interests. Until then, the "hidden gems" such as above may still be just as great.

One year ago: (Late and Great) Local Ex-Raid, 9/3/2018
Two years ago: Bandai Pokémon XY Swing - Pikachu