Halloween is finally here. As always, it's a time for the bewitching and all the things that accompany it. This Halloween, though, there's a particular feeling of estrangement included in that mix. I'm already estranged from the festivities (see below, one year ago), but this year I feel more estranged due to the way some things have turned out. I feel that I have to take some chances with them, and that includes some things on the Pokémon front. It might be described as the most bewitching thing this time.
I've already detailed the Halloween-Pokémon connection (see below, two years ago), and the conclusion from that is that they're not too estranged. If anything, they've taken some chances to keep them from being very estranged as with the recent new forms in Pokémon Go and recently released Pokémon merchandise. And those are pretty good chances, I'd say, for I wouldn't object to having them when the opportunity becomes present. That would of course mean taking more chances for me, which could be as bewitching as those things.
Beyond Halloween, this weekend appears to be a hectic one, yet a fun one. To that end, I've taken some chances with what goes on in them - quite a bit being related to Pokémon. The run of things begin tomorrow, when I start preparing for what will unfold on Sunday. Then on Saturday, there's the Colossal Discovery event, which I've opted to participate in to see what it will be like... although there might be a twist or two in its execution, which I've realized within the past few days. Sunday should be the most hectic and most fun part. All of these should be just as haunting and bewitching as today would be in the best way.
Me: Isn't that the case?
Ash: Yeah! What I like today is that you sent me outside to maybe play a few games, but to catch some Pokémon too! I got to meet one of your Go friends and we traded some of the ones you've wanted to trade, and we even got a few Lucky ones.
Me: That should always be useful. What else happened today?
Ash: I got to check out a local park in your neighborhood, but it wasn't a PokéStop, so I made a request for it so it could be one. I hope it makes it!
Me: I do too. My neighborhood could use a few more of those. I hope a few gets realized.
Ash: You know, it kind of felt like trick-or-treating today, but it really wasn't.
Me: That's a hard thing to say, but most of the time it really isn't the case. At least something good came out of it.
I still feel estranged to some extent. But with that estrangement there is also Pokémon, which itself is not too estranged regarding Halloween, being today's special thing. With that being the case, I feel a little less estranged. Yet I still may have to take some chances in addition to the ones I've already taken. That could be the case for some time afterwards, beyond the bewitching happenings that could or may have occurred today.
Happy Halloween. 🎃
One year ago: Halloween 2018: The Tricks to Treats
Two years ago: Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/30/2019
As noted two days ago, I haven't made the Pokémon Go event rollup for this month even though time is drawing near to the end of the month. And because tomorrow is a special day of sorts, I have to make the rollup today. Now, as far as things go, October has been a relatively uneventful month in terms of the number of events. But in terms of content, that's another matter. It's always special before tomorrow, which I'll explain as the rollup for this month unfolds.
Early on in this month, there was the return of an event called Stardust Blast. As the title suggests, the event was focused on Stardust, more specifically gathering it from the typical sources. Captures, hatches, raids, and Team GO Rocket battles rewarded double the Stardust, which potentially stood to reward more if one activated a Star Piece before those happenings. What's more, it lasted for a full week, which meant plenty of chances to bump up one's Stardust total or to gain some much-needed Stardust for power-ups and opening second charge moves. It's undoubtedly a lucrative event for any serious player, and it can be described as a "treat".
The next event, then, would be the "trick" counterpoint, as yes, it is the Halloween Event - Halloween itself being tomorrow, of course. The event started fairly early, being two weeks ago, but its features have been quite unique. This year, the event serves to introduce Yamask from the fifth generation into the world. There are also special guests in the form of costumed first-generation starters and Pikachu, the former appearing in raids and the latter in the wild, and all of them potentially Shiny; they can't evolve either, but that's hardly a fault if they are intended to remain the way they are. Ghost and Dark types are also present in the wild, plus a slew of new Shadow Pokémon. On the Research front, some nifty Field Research tasks are present, as well as the return of the Spooky Message Special Research, allowing all to (re-)obtain Spiritomb. Those are surely lots of "tricks".
And they don't stop there. This month, Level 5 raid bosses also featured Ghost and Dark types. In the first two weeks of the month (actually, starting from the last seven days in September), there was Giratina with its Altered Forme, which could be Shiny as well. As the Halloween Event started, Darkrai became the raid boss, and a tough one at that; it also served as its debut. The "trick" of the former is being able to obtain the Shiny form, which seems to be rather rare, while the "trick" of the latter is being able to get one with the best stats possible, as Darkrai is Mythical and cannot be traded. Both of them also were featured in the Raid Hour occurring each Wednesday, and today happened to be the last one for this month as a whole. However they're raided, they presented their own tricks as well.
October is always neat in that some things are lead-ins to Halloween, which can be said to be its climax. That Pokémon and Pokémon Go also get into the spirit of things (also see below and last year) only add to that neatness. It makes what seems to be uneventful to actually be eventful. And now the only thing left to do is to proceed into that Halloween climax tomorrow and revel in its specialness... which for Pokémon fans like me, also involving what they adore.
One year ago: Community Day Workflow
Two years ago: Pokémon Go Halloween 2017 Event
Early on in this month, there was the return of an event called Stardust Blast. As the title suggests, the event was focused on Stardust, more specifically gathering it from the typical sources. Captures, hatches, raids, and Team GO Rocket battles rewarded double the Stardust, which potentially stood to reward more if one activated a Star Piece before those happenings. What's more, it lasted for a full week, which meant plenty of chances to bump up one's Stardust total or to gain some much-needed Stardust for power-ups and opening second charge moves. It's undoubtedly a lucrative event for any serious player, and it can be described as a "treat".
The next event, then, would be the "trick" counterpoint, as yes, it is the Halloween Event - Halloween itself being tomorrow, of course. The event started fairly early, being two weeks ago, but its features have been quite unique. This year, the event serves to introduce Yamask from the fifth generation into the world. There are also special guests in the form of costumed first-generation starters and Pikachu, the former appearing in raids and the latter in the wild, and all of them potentially Shiny; they can't evolve either, but that's hardly a fault if they are intended to remain the way they are. Ghost and Dark types are also present in the wild, plus a slew of new Shadow Pokémon. On the Research front, some nifty Field Research tasks are present, as well as the return of the Spooky Message Special Research, allowing all to (re-)obtain Spiritomb. Those are surely lots of "tricks".
And they don't stop there. This month, Level 5 raid bosses also featured Ghost and Dark types. In the first two weeks of the month (actually, starting from the last seven days in September), there was Giratina with its Altered Forme, which could be Shiny as well. As the Halloween Event started, Darkrai became the raid boss, and a tough one at that; it also served as its debut. The "trick" of the former is being able to obtain the Shiny form, which seems to be rather rare, while the "trick" of the latter is being able to get one with the best stats possible, as Darkrai is Mythical and cannot be traded. Both of them also were featured in the Raid Hour occurring each Wednesday, and today happened to be the last one for this month as a whole. However they're raided, they presented their own tricks as well.
October is always neat in that some things are lead-ins to Halloween, which can be said to be its climax. That Pokémon and Pokémon Go also get into the spirit of things (also see below and last year) only add to that neatness. It makes what seems to be uneventful to actually be eventful. And now the only thing left to do is to proceed into that Halloween climax tomorrow and revel in its specialness... which for Pokémon fans like me, also involving what they adore.
One year ago: Community Day Workflow
Two years ago: Pokémon Go Halloween 2017 Event
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Psyduck Is Missing
I was going to write up about something else today, but seeing that this is a "developing issue" and has a few ties to Pokémon, I need to cover it. Behind every cosplayed character, there is of course a real person, and that applies equally well to a certain Psyduck in cosplay that I and many of my cosplayer friends have grown acquainted with, ever since Psyduck since first showed up. And more to the fact, that cosplayer - and with the person, Psyduck - has gone missing. No, I'm not kidding; truly missing.
The first time I heard word of this was three days ago after the raid group tournament from someone who used to be close to the cosplayer, who in fact is one of my best friends in Pokémon Go or otherwise; we've watched the Detective Pikachu movie together and even covered his little corner of the Internet. At that point, it was only five days after the disappearance. A bit of investigation with a different cosplayer friend, notably also involved in Pokémon cosplay, revealed that this might be rather serious, since the person had relinquished all related social media. It was only today, a little over a week after the disappearance, that the matter has gained a good amount of attention.
It's somewhat unfortunate, because her cosplay as Psyduck is amazing. Yes, the cosplayer's a girl, and she wears the Psyduck costume as a suit while squatting. That's how she appeared to be very low in the photo I posted the first time the costume came out, which also happened to be the first time I realized a great all-Pokémon cosplay project. Since then, the costume has appeared off and on, though with a good amount of welcome for it; it even won in a certain little event where I just barely scraped through. So it's a pretty good thing going... until last week occurred.
Ash: When I was at the last event you sent me to, she came personally and didn't send in Psyduck. I told her that I'd like to do something, cooperate with Psyduck, but then she couldn't promise.
Me: And then, this happened the very next day. It's all very disappointing.
Ash: So true. Now I wonder if I'll ever see Psyduck again.
Me: We have to hope for the best.
This "missing person" issue is kind of restricted to my local area, but I can share more specific details upon request if needed; some of my contact info can be found in the "donations" link off to the side. Regardless, it is an issue at that, one that drags Pokémon into it by virtue of being related. For now, the search is on for someone whose soul is as part of a duck in a tizzy as much as it is part of the local cosplay scene. It is with the utmost hope that both may return.
One year ago: Expression of Care
Two years ago: Three-Line Episode Summaries
The first time I heard word of this was three days ago after the raid group tournament from someone who used to be close to the cosplayer, who in fact is one of my best friends in Pokémon Go or otherwise; we've watched the Detective Pikachu movie together and even covered his little corner of the Internet. At that point, it was only five days after the disappearance. A bit of investigation with a different cosplayer friend, notably also involved in Pokémon cosplay, revealed that this might be rather serious, since the person had relinquished all related social media. It was only today, a little over a week after the disappearance, that the matter has gained a good amount of attention.
It's somewhat unfortunate, because her cosplay as Psyduck is amazing. Yes, the cosplayer's a girl, and she wears the Psyduck costume as a suit while squatting. That's how she appeared to be very low in the photo I posted the first time the costume came out, which also happened to be the first time I realized a great all-Pokémon cosplay project. Since then, the costume has appeared off and on, though with a good amount of welcome for it; it even won in a certain little event where I just barely scraped through. So it's a pretty good thing going... until last week occurred.
Ash: When I was at the last event you sent me to, she came personally and didn't send in Psyduck. I told her that I'd like to do something, cooperate with Psyduck, but then she couldn't promise.
Me: And then, this happened the very next day. It's all very disappointing.
Ash: So true. Now I wonder if I'll ever see Psyduck again.
Me: We have to hope for the best.
This "missing person" issue is kind of restricted to my local area, but I can share more specific details upon request if needed; some of my contact info can be found in the "donations" link off to the side. Regardless, it is an issue at that, one that drags Pokémon into it by virtue of being related. For now, the search is on for someone whose soul is as part of a duck in a tizzy as much as it is part of the local cosplay scene. It is with the utmost hope that both may return.
One year ago: Expression of Care
Two years ago: Three-Line Episode Summaries
Monday, October 28, 2019
On Tap for Go
Since the past year, I've been making event rollups for Pokémon Go in order to summarize the events that have occurred earlier in the month (which I haven't made for this month and will have to make very soon). But what I rarely do is cover something upcoming in the future for the game, one reason being that I like letting things unfold before I cover them. However, currently for the game, there are a few things that are being planned for the game that are worth it to be covered a little early before they come. That becomes the impetus for the creation of this post, in order to explore them a bit before their onset.
One of them is something I've discussed before, regarding the (un)apparent mobile success of Pokémon games. It does, of course, concern the event called "A Colossal Discovery", which will take place this Saturday. The ticket for it has become available for purchase for a few days at this point, so the time to purchase it is now, preferably before the event starts. Polls have been mixed for this, with some saying they will not buy and others saying they will, so the final say may be up to the individual player. For me, after some considerations, I decided that it would be worth it to purchase the ticket, and so I did. The bonuses seem nifty enough and it would be an experience that is rarely gotten. Much about the event still remains to be seen, but it may still be a neat thing in itself.
Next on the list is something related to PvP battles in the game. I've discussed quite a bit about the Silph League Arena as a community-run battle system, but that is still not part of the game proper. Early next year, an in-game system will be added, which is called GO Battle League. The prospects of this system are attractive to say the least, as its nature of global competition means that it will be accessible to a whole lot of players. Moreover, it may be the gateway to a formalized system, which may lead to something more than the invitational tournament as in this year's Pokémon World Championships. It could perhaps be considered the "missing piece" for the PvP system, one that sets things up for truly great recognition around the world.
Then there's something that concerns the world of in-game locations and the nominating of them to become one. Soon to be available for Pokémon Go is Niantic Wayfarer, the new formal system for reviewing them. It succeeds the OPR system for Ingress, becoming an integrated system for not just both of these games, but any game developed by Niantic and involves the location database. The new system seems to work much the same way as the OPR and will involve training, in order to serve pretty much the same purpose but to a generalized and expanded player base. This may be something that some players have looked forward to, and once it becomes available, expect the continuous expansion of this in-game world.
There are even other things that are on tap based on what has been divulged. The game will have dynamic adjustment for some locations, for example more items in areas with fewer PokéStops and less difficult raids for fewer Gyms, something that should help players in those locations. As well, Team GO Rocket seems to be up to further no good tricks, as their troop - led by what seems to be "anti" versions of the three team leaders - has been divulged, along with the presence of Giovanni and a few odd things related to them. More on these will have to be detailed at a later time, certainly.
The takeaway from all of these is that major expansions are imminent for the game, whether they're to facilitate those in the game or to allow for new experiences involving them. But as they are for now visions into the future, what's important is waiting for them to be realized. It's still good to take away a few insights right now so that when things actually unfold, this will lead to more insights, not to mention a wealth of things to be enjoyed further.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Repeat, 10/28/2018
Two years ago: At the Movies: Episode 698 - "Movie Time! Zorua in 'The Legend of the Pokémon Knight!'"
One of them is something I've discussed before, regarding the (un)apparent mobile success of Pokémon games. It does, of course, concern the event called "A Colossal Discovery", which will take place this Saturday. The ticket for it has become available for purchase for a few days at this point, so the time to purchase it is now, preferably before the event starts. Polls have been mixed for this, with some saying they will not buy and others saying they will, so the final say may be up to the individual player. For me, after some considerations, I decided that it would be worth it to purchase the ticket, and so I did. The bonuses seem nifty enough and it would be an experience that is rarely gotten. Much about the event still remains to be seen, but it may still be a neat thing in itself.
Next on the list is something related to PvP battles in the game. I've discussed quite a bit about the Silph League Arena as a community-run battle system, but that is still not part of the game proper. Early next year, an in-game system will be added, which is called GO Battle League. The prospects of this system are attractive to say the least, as its nature of global competition means that it will be accessible to a whole lot of players. Moreover, it may be the gateway to a formalized system, which may lead to something more than the invitational tournament as in this year's Pokémon World Championships. It could perhaps be considered the "missing piece" for the PvP system, one that sets things up for truly great recognition around the world.
Then there's something that concerns the world of in-game locations and the nominating of them to become one. Soon to be available for Pokémon Go is Niantic Wayfarer, the new formal system for reviewing them. It succeeds the OPR system for Ingress, becoming an integrated system for not just both of these games, but any game developed by Niantic and involves the location database. The new system seems to work much the same way as the OPR and will involve training, in order to serve pretty much the same purpose but to a generalized and expanded player base. This may be something that some players have looked forward to, and once it becomes available, expect the continuous expansion of this in-game world.
There are even other things that are on tap based on what has been divulged. The game will have dynamic adjustment for some locations, for example more items in areas with fewer PokéStops and less difficult raids for fewer Gyms, something that should help players in those locations. As well, Team GO Rocket seems to be up to further no good tricks, as their troop - led by what seems to be "anti" versions of the three team leaders - has been divulged, along with the presence of Giovanni and a few odd things related to them. More on these will have to be detailed at a later time, certainly.
The takeaway from all of these is that major expansions are imminent for the game, whether they're to facilitate those in the game or to allow for new experiences involving them. But as they are for now visions into the future, what's important is waiting for them to be realized. It's still good to take away a few insights right now so that when things actually unfold, this will lead to more insights, not to mention a wealth of things to be enjoyed further.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Repeat, 10/28/2018
Two years ago: At the Movies: Episode 698 - "Movie Time! Zorua in 'The Legend of the Pokémon Knight!'"
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Explaining the Supernatural
"All supernatural events have a rational explanation."
-- Cilan, "A UFO for Elgyem!"
I have something to do today that is out of the ordinary, even "supernatural", in a manner of speaking. And that reminds me of this quote from an episode of the Pokémon anime that I've already explored on this blog, as indicated above. It has a few meanings and implications and meanings for me personally, for the real world, and for Pokémon itself as well. It also happens to be appropriate upon the approach to Halloween with its connotations, so there is no better time to address it.
For me and the real world, I still stand by the conclusion I made previously in the other post. I'm not quite inclined to conclusively accept the supernatural for something that can be explained more sensibly. However, I'll concede that I have my own feelings about things in this world that I don't understand, and when I have nothing to go by but those feelings, those things can be considered the supernatural explanation, in a way. That's something I'll accept until something better comes.
For the Pokémon world, with the Ghost, Psychic, and Dark types in this world, supernaturalism comes, well... naturally, as odd as it might be. The things that people think of in the real world as supernatural are present in the Pokémon world as something established. It would be easy - perhaps easier - to explain the supernatural sensibly by invoking Pokémon of any of these types, though the true explanation would depend on the details.
As for that thing that I had today, it involves something that is not really related to Pokémon, but I can approximate that thing with it. As indicated, supernatural things might involve the presence of ghosts, and a certain lore involving them might involve a certain ghostly hero akin to Ash and Pikachu, while some of the other ghosts are akin to other Pokémon, if not helpful allies. Those in the know should recognize this, and I'm one of those in the know.
While I can't say much more on that thing, I can still say a bit more on supernatural things in general to close. It may be hard to justify supernatural explanations in the real world and for myself, though such are always possible. On the other hand, there is an embedded element of supernaturalism in Pokémon that makes explanations with them particularly possible. That said, Cilan's take on explanations of the supernatural may just well be within reason - perhaps as far as reason will take things within the two worlds concerned.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/27/2018
Two years ago: Expecting Something Special
-- Cilan, "A UFO for Elgyem!"
I have something to do today that is out of the ordinary, even "supernatural", in a manner of speaking. And that reminds me of this quote from an episode of the Pokémon anime that I've already explored on this blog, as indicated above. It has a few meanings and implications and meanings for me personally, for the real world, and for Pokémon itself as well. It also happens to be appropriate upon the approach to Halloween with its connotations, so there is no better time to address it.
For me and the real world, I still stand by the conclusion I made previously in the other post. I'm not quite inclined to conclusively accept the supernatural for something that can be explained more sensibly. However, I'll concede that I have my own feelings about things in this world that I don't understand, and when I have nothing to go by but those feelings, those things can be considered the supernatural explanation, in a way. That's something I'll accept until something better comes.
For the Pokémon world, with the Ghost, Psychic, and Dark types in this world, supernaturalism comes, well... naturally, as odd as it might be. The things that people think of in the real world as supernatural are present in the Pokémon world as something established. It would be easy - perhaps easier - to explain the supernatural sensibly by invoking Pokémon of any of these types, though the true explanation would depend on the details.
As for that thing that I had today, it involves something that is not really related to Pokémon, but I can approximate that thing with it. As indicated, supernatural things might involve the presence of ghosts, and a certain lore involving them might involve a certain ghostly hero akin to Ash and Pikachu, while some of the other ghosts are akin to other Pokémon, if not helpful allies. Those in the know should recognize this, and I'm one of those in the know.
While I can't say much more on that thing, I can still say a bit more on supernatural things in general to close. It may be hard to justify supernatural explanations in the real world and for myself, though such are always possible. On the other hand, there is an embedded element of supernaturalism in Pokémon that makes explanations with them particularly possible. That said, Cilan's take on explanations of the supernatural may just well be within reason - perhaps as far as reason will take things within the two worlds concerned.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/27/2018
Two years ago: Expecting Something Special
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Tournament: Raid Group Sinister Cup
It's been some time since I've participated in a Pokémon Go tournament, so I figured that when the opportunity came, I would take part in it so that I could support it and have something to write for my blog. Today, that opportunity came, and it was for my raid group, so it's a noble support. Of course, within the time I've been off competing, there have been some changes to how tournaments in Pokémon Go proceed, so there is that to consider and discuss as well.
This tournament is organized by way of the Silph League Arena, so it follows the theme of the month. This month's is "Sinister", which is quite apropos to Halloween and the bewitching things that go along with it. The type restrictions are Ghost, Psychic, Fighting, and Steel types, while the ban list is composed of Dark types and Mythical Pokémon, as well as the specific species Hypno and Skarmory. It makes for a neat mix of strong Pokémon that may be accessible to those who are "getting back in the game" or even getting into it for the first time. The intent is wonderful in that sense.
As for the actual tournament itself, the procedures are by and large the same, with one exception and a significant change: instead of a match being best-of-3, all three battles of a match are played out to completion, though of course at least the first two is necessary to determine an overall winner. The reason for this is because the number of matches won can now serve as an additional tiebreaker, which means one gets credited for a win no matter what. The last battle may still be forfeited after someone has won twice, but seeing how important a win is now, it may be undesirable; it also means longer matches, but that should also pay off.
And my results for this tournament are... still quite dismal. Even with the new procedures, I still didn't manage to win any battles until I got to my fifth and final opponent, with whom I won two battles and the match overall. Based on the rankings, I was fourth from the bottom, but the best among those who only won one match as well. There were a lot of things to keep in mind with each opponent, and sometimes my judgment got the better of me. Some of my fellows didn't do as well either, and at the end of the day, we grouped and let off some steam for the rest of the day. Everything was OK regardless.
Since this is nearing the end of the month, this is conceivably the first and last Sinister Cup I participated in, and the theme for the next month is wild - really wild, deserving a discussion in another post. To be able to participate once should still be OK and appreciable, even if the results are not so great. What seems to still be great, however, is the spirit of those who participate regardless of the state they are in. That seems to make this tournament a pleasant (re)introduction for anyone, including me.
One year ago: Two-Sided Stories
Two years ago: Pronouncing Pokémon
This tournament is organized by way of the Silph League Arena, so it follows the theme of the month. This month's is "Sinister", which is quite apropos to Halloween and the bewitching things that go along with it. The type restrictions are Ghost, Psychic, Fighting, and Steel types, while the ban list is composed of Dark types and Mythical Pokémon, as well as the specific species Hypno and Skarmory. It makes for a neat mix of strong Pokémon that may be accessible to those who are "getting back in the game" or even getting into it for the first time. The intent is wonderful in that sense.
As for the actual tournament itself, the procedures are by and large the same, with one exception and a significant change: instead of a match being best-of-3, all three battles of a match are played out to completion, though of course at least the first two is necessary to determine an overall winner. The reason for this is because the number of matches won can now serve as an additional tiebreaker, which means one gets credited for a win no matter what. The last battle may still be forfeited after someone has won twice, but seeing how important a win is now, it may be undesirable; it also means longer matches, but that should also pay off.
And my results for this tournament are... still quite dismal. Even with the new procedures, I still didn't manage to win any battles until I got to my fifth and final opponent, with whom I won two battles and the match overall. Based on the rankings, I was fourth from the bottom, but the best among those who only won one match as well. There were a lot of things to keep in mind with each opponent, and sometimes my judgment got the better of me. Some of my fellows didn't do as well either, and at the end of the day, we grouped and let off some steam for the rest of the day. Everything was OK regardless.
Since this is nearing the end of the month, this is conceivably the first and last Sinister Cup I participated in, and the theme for the next month is wild - really wild, deserving a discussion in another post. To be able to participate once should still be OK and appreciable, even if the results are not so great. What seems to still be great, however, is the spirit of those who participate regardless of the state they are in. That seems to make this tournament a pleasant (re)introduction for anyone, including me.
One year ago: Two-Sided Stories
Two years ago: Pronouncing Pokémon
Friday, October 25, 2019
One-Upping Ash
To one-up someone is to do better than that person. Thus, in the context of this post, to one-up Ash is to do better than Ash. That being the case, though, with the progression of the anime, this is kind of a touchy subject for me to discuss, as I show much admiration for what he can do and achieve... although what he can't, that may be another matter. It is perhaps worth it to explore this subject regardless.
I have been watching the anime recently, and I've noticed in one episode that Ash seems to have a hard time doing the laundry and cooking, as a result of certain troubles. In that episode, he also happened to be on his own while the troubles happened. This might likely be why most often he has a comrade of sorts with him. In that regard, I'd like to say that I can do better than this, even if it's only slightly better for the former and not supremely and excellently done for the latter. His attempt to accomplish these tasks remain respectable and appreciable, and I'm sure he would agree; this inspires me to accomplish the tasks as best as I can when the need arises.
Even so, there remains a few things about Ash that I seem to be unable to one-up, perhaps at least for now. One of those things is a little something I've "learned" about him through one of his comrades. It concerns something one does to keep oneself neat... but I won't say much more to avoid incriminating myself. As well, Ash's consistency in Pokémon battling is highly desirable and something that I'm challenged to emulate in any form. Further, I'd like to think that all the gaps in that consistency are partly the result of misfortunes and that his track record is actually impeccable. This too is rather inspirational.
Me: Don't you agree?
Ash: Oops, I'm sorry you had to see me fumble up the laundry and the cooking! I'm sure you can do a better job than me on that. But you know what? It's not always easy for me, but I do what I can, and I think you should too. We can always do what works for us while trying something else.
Pikachu: Pika! ["I agree!"]
Ash: I'll keep doing what I do, and you keep doing what you do. And we'll meet somewhere in the middle with the things we're good at.
That may be a good way to think about it. We might keep one-upping each other, but at least we'll still have a certain common ground, especially with Pokémon. That in itself should inspire us to keep things going.
One year ago: Dilemma of Colors
Two years ago: Pokémon XY Pikachu Freezer Bottle
I have been watching the anime recently, and I've noticed in one episode that Ash seems to have a hard time doing the laundry and cooking, as a result of certain troubles. In that episode, he also happened to be on his own while the troubles happened. This might likely be why most often he has a comrade of sorts with him. In that regard, I'd like to say that I can do better than this, even if it's only slightly better for the former and not supremely and excellently done for the latter. His attempt to accomplish these tasks remain respectable and appreciable, and I'm sure he would agree; this inspires me to accomplish the tasks as best as I can when the need arises.
Even so, there remains a few things about Ash that I seem to be unable to one-up, perhaps at least for now. One of those things is a little something I've "learned" about him through one of his comrades. It concerns something one does to keep oneself neat... but I won't say much more to avoid incriminating myself. As well, Ash's consistency in Pokémon battling is highly desirable and something that I'm challenged to emulate in any form. Further, I'd like to think that all the gaps in that consistency are partly the result of misfortunes and that his track record is actually impeccable. This too is rather inspirational.
Me: Don't you agree?
Ash: Oops, I'm sorry you had to see me fumble up the laundry and the cooking! I'm sure you can do a better job than me on that. But you know what? It's not always easy for me, but I do what I can, and I think you should too. We can always do what works for us while trying something else.
Pikachu: Pika! ["I agree!"]
Ash: I'll keep doing what I do, and you keep doing what you do. And we'll meet somewhere in the middle with the things we're good at.
That may be a good way to think about it. We might keep one-upping each other, but at least we'll still have a certain common ground, especially with Pokémon. That in itself should inspire us to keep things going.
One year ago: Dilemma of Colors
Two years ago: Pokémon XY Pikachu Freezer Bottle
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Pokémon Annual 2019
Over two weeks ago, I had mentioned that I came away with what could possibly called a Pokémon "reference" of sorts. I also mentioned that I would discuss it on this blog in due time, though that "time" never came by within that span of time, until today. That "reference" is in the form of a book, for which the title is indicated in the title of this post. The key word is in quotes, of course, because of the way of regarding it as such.
The book is quite big, and yet for its size, it only contains 69 pages, all of them certainly related to Pokémon. This is also the 2019 (this year's) edition; there are editions for past years, but I don't have them and they're hard to find - except one, which deserves to be discussed in a different post, and perhaps not any time soon. The concept of these "Annual" books - and in general, this book series - is not unique to Pokémon, as a few other fandoms (that I or others may or may not be interested in) have their own books and series. However, Pokémon is what I like and what many other people like, so there has to be a series for it.
Now, my argument for this being a "reference" is that it does contain the story of two episodes of the anime, along with relevant pictorial details from them. As well, the middle part contains an alphabetical listing of all new Pokémon involved in the Alola saga and adventures; that's because this book concerns as such, if the front cover of the book isn't already a clear indication, with the characteristic orange and yellow of Sun and blue and purple of Moon. Those bits are enough to indicate that the book is indeed a reference, even if it seems to be a minor one.
As for it not being so much a "reference", that is due to the fact that this book contains a fair bit of activities and/or puzzles regarding Pokémon. It is likewise a book aimed at younger audiences, much like a certain book that I procured last year. Those puzzles are interesting for me because I'm a puzzle freak, and they look like they might belong in certain puzzle periodicals, though they obviously have to be easier in order to be able to be solved by them. The answers are even on the final page of the book, in a further similarity to those periodicals, so that one may "check their work" after solving. That being considered, "reference" may not be a suitable characteristic for the book.
There are two sides to this Pokémon book for young audiences. It is both a "reference" since it contains information that may be helpful for any fan, and not so much because of the less informative (but more interactive) content. I suppose that for the target audience, it may very well not be as such, but for others, the referential content may still be appropriate. It may or may not be a "reference", but one thing that I and many people may agree on is that it's among one of the neatest things related to Pokémon.
One year ago: Items with a Purpose
Two years ago: Beyond the Boundary... of Languages
The book is quite big, and yet for its size, it only contains 69 pages, all of them certainly related to Pokémon. This is also the 2019 (this year's) edition; there are editions for past years, but I don't have them and they're hard to find - except one, which deserves to be discussed in a different post, and perhaps not any time soon. The concept of these "Annual" books - and in general, this book series - is not unique to Pokémon, as a few other fandoms (that I or others may or may not be interested in) have their own books and series. However, Pokémon is what I like and what many other people like, so there has to be a series for it.
Now, my argument for this being a "reference" is that it does contain the story of two episodes of the anime, along with relevant pictorial details from them. As well, the middle part contains an alphabetical listing of all new Pokémon involved in the Alola saga and adventures; that's because this book concerns as such, if the front cover of the book isn't already a clear indication, with the characteristic orange and yellow of Sun and blue and purple of Moon. Those bits are enough to indicate that the book is indeed a reference, even if it seems to be a minor one.
As for it not being so much a "reference", that is due to the fact that this book contains a fair bit of activities and/or puzzles regarding Pokémon. It is likewise a book aimed at younger audiences, much like a certain book that I procured last year. Those puzzles are interesting for me because I'm a puzzle freak, and they look like they might belong in certain puzzle periodicals, though they obviously have to be easier in order to be able to be solved by them. The answers are even on the final page of the book, in a further similarity to those periodicals, so that one may "check their work" after solving. That being considered, "reference" may not be a suitable characteristic for the book.
There are two sides to this Pokémon book for young audiences. It is both a "reference" since it contains information that may be helpful for any fan, and not so much because of the less informative (but more interactive) content. I suppose that for the target audience, it may very well not be as such, but for others, the referential content may still be appropriate. It may or may not be a "reference", but one thing that I and many people may agree on is that it's among one of the neatest things related to Pokémon.
One year ago: Items with a Purpose
Two years ago: Beyond the Boundary... of Languages
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Performance Critique: Akatsuki no Matsuri 2 J-Song
The thing that would be ideal for many of my performances involving Pokémon cosplay, whether directly as for performances and parades or indirectly through competitions like J-Song or karaoke, is to be able to gather evidence (read: recordings) for them so that I can look back on them and then be able to give critiques such as this, for my J-Song performance at last Sunday's theme event. However, this is not always achievable, and even if it is achieved, it may be less than ideal. This is the case for my performances there, including for J-Song, which I'm able to critique in this post.
To be able to do so, I obtained a video recording of this performance, which a fellow competitor helped out with. But as is particularly evident, this is not one of the best recordings, because this recording was actually taken from stage left, where competitors were asked to stand by before performing. During my performance, I saw several phone cameras that may or may not have recorded my performance, but obviously I can't poll the people that have them one by one; that would take up too much of my event time as well as their event time. Alas, it's always hard to plan this out, especially if I don't know who is coming and when. The best I can do may only be able to set up recordings such as this one.
As noted on Sunday, this is a repeat performance from the month before, being the same song and the same arrangement, only in a different setting and different circumstances. It may therefore seem a little redundant to record this one, but the fact is that each performance may seem different. For this one, though I've already memorized the whole song in and out and have performed two arrangements of it including this one, there were very brief times I almost forgot the lyrics, though it may not be immediately evident. As well, near the end, I almost mistimed the start of the second repetition of the coda (the part that starts with "aa, akogare no...") perhaps because of the echoing nature of the location. It may also have led to a "buzzing" feeling that almost made me forget the lyrics.
Another impetus for recording for self-critique is that so far, all the performances I have recordings of and can critique have all been non-winning performances, which means that they tend to focus on the not-so-good parts to make them good, rather than the good parts to make them great. Evidently, the only times I've had winning performances (one earlier time for J-Song and this event's cosplay performance), I didn't have them recorded or even access to available recordings, if any. Eventually, I'll likely be able to critique a winning performance, but perhaps only time will tell.
For now, this current performance sheds some light on what to watch for during a performance, which in this case is a singing performance. For as long as I continue to take part in cosplay performances (including J-Song and karaoke, which have some merit for cosplay), I'd like to be able to pick at them and find out how to improve them in the hopes that I eventually can execute one that is really great and really worthy of a prize... plus one that can be preserved to illustrate how good I can really make them.
One year ago: A Storybook and a Reference
Two years ago: A Successor Has Been Named
 |
| A less-than-ideal spot for recording? |
To be able to do so, I obtained a video recording of this performance, which a fellow competitor helped out with. But as is particularly evident, this is not one of the best recordings, because this recording was actually taken from stage left, where competitors were asked to stand by before performing. During my performance, I saw several phone cameras that may or may not have recorded my performance, but obviously I can't poll the people that have them one by one; that would take up too much of my event time as well as their event time. Alas, it's always hard to plan this out, especially if I don't know who is coming and when. The best I can do may only be able to set up recordings such as this one.
 |
| The first potential stumble: the second chorus. |
As noted on Sunday, this is a repeat performance from the month before, being the same song and the same arrangement, only in a different setting and different circumstances. It may therefore seem a little redundant to record this one, but the fact is that each performance may seem different. For this one, though I've already memorized the whole song in and out and have performed two arrangements of it including this one, there were very brief times I almost forgot the lyrics, though it may not be immediately evident. As well, near the end, I almost mistimed the start of the second repetition of the coda (the part that starts with "aa, akogare no...") perhaps because of the echoing nature of the location. It may also have led to a "buzzing" feeling that almost made me forget the lyrics.
 |
| The second potential stumble: the coda. |
Another impetus for recording for self-critique is that so far, all the performances I have recordings of and can critique have all been non-winning performances, which means that they tend to focus on the not-so-good parts to make them good, rather than the good parts to make them great. Evidently, the only times I've had winning performances (one earlier time for J-Song and this event's cosplay performance), I didn't have them recorded or even access to available recordings, if any. Eventually, I'll likely be able to critique a winning performance, but perhaps only time will tell.
 |
| As always, each performance ends with "arigato gozaimashita". |
For now, this current performance sheds some light on what to watch for during a performance, which in this case is a singing performance. For as long as I continue to take part in cosplay performances (including J-Song and karaoke, which have some merit for cosplay), I'd like to be able to pick at them and find out how to improve them in the hopes that I eventually can execute one that is really great and really worthy of a prize... plus one that can be preserved to illustrate how good I can really make them.
One year ago: A Storybook and a Reference
Two years ago: A Successor Has Been Named
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
A (Not So) Little Anniversary
While I wrote up yesterday's post, a notable Pokémon-related milestone, or which is much better described as an anniversary, actually occurred on the same day. It was the day that one of the biggest Pokémon fan sites on the Internet, Serebii.net (named of course for Celebi, as written in Japanese), started operations 20 years ago. That's an impressively long time, almost as impressively long as Pokémon itself. Because it's significant, it warrants a bit of discussion on this blog.
In the years that it has existed, it's easy to see why the site has become immensely popular. I've visited the site many times in the past, and it has provided in-depth information about most anything Pokémon, which should be a good thing for many fans. For me personally, however, it seems a bit too in-depth at times, which is why I've often opted to avoid it if I don't actually need information from it. Still, for the times I do need it, the information that I get is great. The fact that many turn to the site for their Pokémon information needs only affirms this situation.
In this day and age of social media, the site itself has to have some social media presence, and it does. The Twitter account is often updated with juicy details, and my friends often cite it, whether textually or graphically. As for its and the site's own update pace, that is not to be questioned; it updates whenever new information is available. Recall some time ago that there was that one-of-a-kind livestream; in the case of that, the updates were performed to the minute; afterwards, there were a few tweets on how the updater needs to get some sleep - the updater in this case being the site's founder, Joe Merrick. Not much more needs to be said.
Back to my personal relationships with the site, with that as the concern, I've not been that close with the site, if the above is of any indication. Instead, I'm closer to one of its other compatriots (or at times, competitors), though in this case I've also been distanced for quite some time. Even so, now that I've somewhat firmly established this blog, it may be possible for us to cooperate and/or collaborate on certain Pokémon affairs. If that ever happens, I'll gladly accept the offer, especially if it advances our interests. This blog may only be a fraction of the site's age, but some of the strides are similar.
For the moment, it is neat to be able to congratulate the progression and achievement of a site that has been around almost as long as Pokémon has been around. Anyone like me who has been with Pokémon and everywhere and nowhere on the Internet will certainly have had some influence from the site, minor or major. The same applies for the information gained by way from the site, however it's gotten. In that regard, it really is a little anniversary that may not actually be so little, depending on perceptions.
One year ago: Resilience
Two years ago: Cosplay: Arigatoo...!!!
In the years that it has existed, it's easy to see why the site has become immensely popular. I've visited the site many times in the past, and it has provided in-depth information about most anything Pokémon, which should be a good thing for many fans. For me personally, however, it seems a bit too in-depth at times, which is why I've often opted to avoid it if I don't actually need information from it. Still, for the times I do need it, the information that I get is great. The fact that many turn to the site for their Pokémon information needs only affirms this situation.
In this day and age of social media, the site itself has to have some social media presence, and it does. The Twitter account is often updated with juicy details, and my friends often cite it, whether textually or graphically. As for its and the site's own update pace, that is not to be questioned; it updates whenever new information is available. Recall some time ago that there was that one-of-a-kind livestream; in the case of that, the updates were performed to the minute; afterwards, there were a few tweets on how the updater needs to get some sleep - the updater in this case being the site's founder, Joe Merrick. Not much more needs to be said.
Back to my personal relationships with the site, with that as the concern, I've not been that close with the site, if the above is of any indication. Instead, I'm closer to one of its other compatriots (or at times, competitors), though in this case I've also been distanced for quite some time. Even so, now that I've somewhat firmly established this blog, it may be possible for us to cooperate and/or collaborate on certain Pokémon affairs. If that ever happens, I'll gladly accept the offer, especially if it advances our interests. This blog may only be a fraction of the site's age, but some of the strides are similar.
For the moment, it is neat to be able to congratulate the progression and achievement of a site that has been around almost as long as Pokémon has been around. Anyone like me who has been with Pokémon and everywhere and nowhere on the Internet will certainly have had some influence from the site, minor or major. The same applies for the information gained by way from the site, however it's gotten. In that regard, it really is a little anniversary that may not actually be so little, depending on perceptions.
One year ago: Resilience
Two years ago: Cosplay: Arigatoo...!!!
Monday, October 21, 2019
Some Pokémon Commercials
Recently, I've been exposed to a few commercials featuring Pokémon. Pokémon has a strong media presence, so it naturally should be present in a few commercials of its own. They could be to promote the games or maybe even something else that it can conceivably cooperate with. The resulting commercials may turn out to be quite appealing for both Pokémon fans and people in general. That seems to be the case with the recent ones I've seen - three of them, in fact.
The first is a local commercial to promote the localized TCG, what is obviously currently a big thing where I am (Indonesia). It was notably shown during another kind of localization, that of the anime. Accordingly, the commercial has a few local elements, including a local YouTube personality as well as a characterization of a traveling local herbal remedy vendor. The main plot line of the ad involves the YouTube personality duking it out in TCG battles against other people, including said vendor, who in the commercial was revealed to have a deck. It's fairly entertaining and seems to accomplish its purpose, given that it's still going strong even today.
Meanwhile, in a different TV program I watched about Japanese things, the break segments contain commercials of Japanese enterprises, and one of them actually used Pokémon to promote its innovations. Moreover, the commercial for the enterprise actually has three individual versions, with different Pokémon in each. One has Pikachu, another has Charizard and Snorlax, and yet another has Magnemite; they are all depicted as being present in realistic situations. With the advent of Pokémon Go, it is not at all surprising, but the promotion choice seems to be, because it's not one that you think would go with Pokémon. And yet, it does work and is rather unique, if I do say so myself.
Speaking of Pokémon Go, there is a "commercial" that probably couldn't be said to be a commercial, but more as a promotional video, as I saw it not on TV but on social media. Nevertheless, the way that it's formatted and its length (close to 30 seconds) suggest that it could be a plausible TV commercial. It's actually a promotion for next month's Community Day event, which I'll cover when the time comes. Like the enterprise ads, the featured Pokémon is presented in a realistic setting, even at one point taking control of the "phone" to take a "selfie". The message is rather clear, being that one can expect its realization when one takes part in the event when it comes back next month.
What impresses me the most about these particular commercials is that they all contain some sense of realism. They, in a way, affirm the notion that Pokémon has gone from beyond games to a way of life, even if two of these commercials are still for specific games, being Go and TCG. The media presence is quite evident as well, allowing people to relate with what are being promoted through Pokémon. That should be a good thing for maintaining its appeal, even through something as common as commercials.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/21/2018
Two years ago: Pokémon Brand Parodies
The first is a local commercial to promote the localized TCG, what is obviously currently a big thing where I am (Indonesia). It was notably shown during another kind of localization, that of the anime. Accordingly, the commercial has a few local elements, including a local YouTube personality as well as a characterization of a traveling local herbal remedy vendor. The main plot line of the ad involves the YouTube personality duking it out in TCG battles against other people, including said vendor, who in the commercial was revealed to have a deck. It's fairly entertaining and seems to accomplish its purpose, given that it's still going strong even today.
Meanwhile, in a different TV program I watched about Japanese things, the break segments contain commercials of Japanese enterprises, and one of them actually used Pokémon to promote its innovations. Moreover, the commercial for the enterprise actually has three individual versions, with different Pokémon in each. One has Pikachu, another has Charizard and Snorlax, and yet another has Magnemite; they are all depicted as being present in realistic situations. With the advent of Pokémon Go, it is not at all surprising, but the promotion choice seems to be, because it's not one that you think would go with Pokémon. And yet, it does work and is rather unique, if I do say so myself.
Speaking of Pokémon Go, there is a "commercial" that probably couldn't be said to be a commercial, but more as a promotional video, as I saw it not on TV but on social media. Nevertheless, the way that it's formatted and its length (close to 30 seconds) suggest that it could be a plausible TV commercial. It's actually a promotion for next month's Community Day event, which I'll cover when the time comes. Like the enterprise ads, the featured Pokémon is presented in a realistic setting, even at one point taking control of the "phone" to take a "selfie". The message is rather clear, being that one can expect its realization when one takes part in the event when it comes back next month.
What impresses me the most about these particular commercials is that they all contain some sense of realism. They, in a way, affirm the notion that Pokémon has gone from beyond games to a way of life, even if two of these commercials are still for specific games, being Go and TCG. The media presence is quite evident as well, allowing people to relate with what are being promoted through Pokémon. That should be a good thing for maintaining its appeal, even through something as common as commercials.
One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/21/2018
Two years ago: Pokémon Brand Parodies
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Cosplay: Akatsuki no Matsuri 2
Me: I've got a mixed bag of things today.
Ash: OK, so what's the deal?
Me: First, you'll recognize this event that I'm sending you to as the same event from last year. The difference is that it's not a two-day thing anymore - it's all today. But it's really no different from last year since the things that mattered then were only on one day.
Ash: Hey yeah!
Pikachu: Pika pika! [affirmative]
Me: Second - and this is kind of both good and bad - is that this event is pretty much a make-up event. You might remember in July that I was going to send you to something so you could also sing, right? On that day, there was supposed to be a theme event, and a revival at that, but sadly it was canceled a mere two days before, leaving you and I and many others in disappointment. Today, the organizers held this to make up for that.
Ash: Oh, so I get to sing today!
Me: Indeed you do. I've signed you up for three competitions today: singing, character parade, and character performance.
Ash: Wait, that's a lot! I'm OK with that, but will you be fine?
Me: Sure. What matters is that we can do our best. So this time, it's back to that special outfit for you. Incidentally, I would have sent you to that canceled event with the exact same outfit with the same exact agenda. For the singing competition, I'm having you repeat the one from a few weeks ago. The character parade is obvious. The performance... that's where things get interesting. I'm sure you recall a certain vision you had when you acted up.
Ash: Yeah, I remember. That one really put me on edge.
Me: That's the one you'll be performing. I've edited it so that it would be more or less 3 minutes, which should be plenty for the action.
Pikachu: Pika pika! [delighted]
Ash: We'll give it our best! By the way, this year it looks different - last year it was in a mall, but this year it's in a building.
Me: You know, I think the atonement quality is still evident. They may have wanted something that looks like a school, since that's where the one that didn't happen was to happen.
Ash: What I was told is that a group of students made this happen. You think they might feel concerned too?
Me: Maybe so. There's been a lot of hearsay about this school event and that not happening because of their problems, problems with the school, and so on.
Ash: That might be it. I saw stands when I went in, and they were just OK. Lots of food stands, but not a lot of hobby stands. It was crowded too.
Me: That's always a problem with a small space.
Ash: Yeah, it was kind of small. But the stage was big and there were lots of chairs! It's like a theater.
Me: Well, from what I hear, the building is indeed one, for music and other things. That should be a good thing for performances, so let's discuss them now.
Ash: The singing competition was badly organized! Some of the music for the ones who were in it got lost, and even for my song, it took them time to find it. And there was even a really odd character singing... or rapping? Huh.
Me: When you put it that way, it really is unusual. And I just don't know what to say. What about the character competitions?
Ash: The character parade was great! There were about 20 on stage, and I think we all did great. The character performance was another thing. I'm sorry, Pikachu - I made you fall over.
Pikachu: Pika pi, pika pika... ["Ash, why..."]
Ash: Really sorry about that. But I think we did OK.
Me: Yeah, I'm sure this can be refined for another time. So that wraps up all the competitions - how about... the results?
Ash: I got nothing for the singing and character parade. But you'll love this for the character performance: SECOND PLACE!!
Pikachu: PIKA PIKA!! ["NICE WORK!!"]
Me: AWESOME! So great!! But we still need to work on this performance so that we can show it elsewhere. Don't you think?
Ash: Yeah! Also, you know what? We sort of got this one by how things went. There were only three characters in the performance competition, but one dropped out, so I and the other one would definitely get one of the two prizes.
Me: Oh, a technicality then. No matter, a win is a win. And what do you think of this as a whole?
Ash: It wasn't too bad, even if the stands are the usual and the place is different. The entertainment is fine too - even up until the end! Haha. I think they made up for that one chance I didn't get to go to, and kept a good thing going from last year.
Me: I have to agree. We all still have a lot to improve.
Pikachu: Pikachu pika! ["Like me!"]
Me: Right, there is that. The next time around, we ought to have bigger successes.
One year ago: Santorini and Sootopolis City
Two years ago: To Genwunners: Get with the Program!
Ash: OK, so what's the deal?
Me: First, you'll recognize this event that I'm sending you to as the same event from last year. The difference is that it's not a two-day thing anymore - it's all today. But it's really no different from last year since the things that mattered then were only on one day.
Ash: Hey yeah!
Pikachu: Pika pika! [affirmative]
Me: Second - and this is kind of both good and bad - is that this event is pretty much a make-up event. You might remember in July that I was going to send you to something so you could also sing, right? On that day, there was supposed to be a theme event, and a revival at that, but sadly it was canceled a mere two days before, leaving you and I and many others in disappointment. Today, the organizers held this to make up for that.
Ash: Oh, so I get to sing today!
Me: Indeed you do. I've signed you up for three competitions today: singing, character parade, and character performance.
Ash: Wait, that's a lot! I'm OK with that, but will you be fine?
Me: Sure. What matters is that we can do our best. So this time, it's back to that special outfit for you. Incidentally, I would have sent you to that canceled event with the exact same outfit with the same exact agenda. For the singing competition, I'm having you repeat the one from a few weeks ago. The character parade is obvious. The performance... that's where things get interesting. I'm sure you recall a certain vision you had when you acted up.
Ash: Yeah, I remember. That one really put me on edge.
Me: That's the one you'll be performing. I've edited it so that it would be more or less 3 minutes, which should be plenty for the action.
Pikachu: Pika pika! [delighted]
Ash: We'll give it our best! By the way, this year it looks different - last year it was in a mall, but this year it's in a building.
Me: You know, I think the atonement quality is still evident. They may have wanted something that looks like a school, since that's where the one that didn't happen was to happen.
Ash: What I was told is that a group of students made this happen. You think they might feel concerned too?
Me: Maybe so. There's been a lot of hearsay about this school event and that not happening because of their problems, problems with the school, and so on.
Ash: That might be it. I saw stands when I went in, and they were just OK. Lots of food stands, but not a lot of hobby stands. It was crowded too.
Me: That's always a problem with a small space.
Ash: Yeah, it was kind of small. But the stage was big and there were lots of chairs! It's like a theater.
Me: Well, from what I hear, the building is indeed one, for music and other things. That should be a good thing for performances, so let's discuss them now.
Ash: The singing competition was badly organized! Some of the music for the ones who were in it got lost, and even for my song, it took them time to find it. And there was even a really odd character singing... or rapping? Huh.
Me: When you put it that way, it really is unusual. And I just don't know what to say. What about the character competitions?
Ash: The character parade was great! There were about 20 on stage, and I think we all did great. The character performance was another thing. I'm sorry, Pikachu - I made you fall over.
Pikachu: Pika pi, pika pika... ["Ash, why..."]
Ash: Really sorry about that. But I think we did OK.
Me: Yeah, I'm sure this can be refined for another time. So that wraps up all the competitions - how about... the results?
Ash: I got nothing for the singing and character parade. But you'll love this for the character performance: SECOND PLACE!!
Pikachu: PIKA PIKA!! ["NICE WORK!!"]
Me: AWESOME! So great!! But we still need to work on this performance so that we can show it elsewhere. Don't you think?
Ash: Yeah! Also, you know what? We sort of got this one by how things went. There were only three characters in the performance competition, but one dropped out, so I and the other one would definitely get one of the two prizes.
Me: Oh, a technicality then. No matter, a win is a win. And what do you think of this as a whole?
Ash: It wasn't too bad, even if the stands are the usual and the place is different. The entertainment is fine too - even up until the end! Haha. I think they made up for that one chance I didn't get to go to, and kept a good thing going from last year.
Me: I have to agree. We all still have a lot to improve.
Pikachu: Pikachu pika! ["Like me!"]
Me: Right, there is that. The next time around, we ought to have bigger successes.
One year ago: Santorini and Sootopolis City
Two years ago: To Genwunners: Get with the Program!
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Pokémon Movements in Pokémon Go
Catching a Pokémon in Pokémon Go is not a straightforward task as it might seem to be, since they are not battled like in the main series games. Besides the matter of selecting and throwing balls as well as giving Berries, there is the matter of Pokémon actually moving around in addition to "attacking" during capture, which complicates things a bit. I've identified these ways, based on my experience in catching Pokémon in the game, according to patterns.
Many Pokémon have a movement pattern I term as "jumper", because they periodically jump up from and go back down to their spot, although the Pokémon never move to a different spot. Many of the starters have this pattern, as well as a few common Pokémon like Rattata, Hoothoot, and Zigzagoon. The "jumper" pattern allows for an opportunity to throw a ball in the middle of the jump, which might just land depending on timing and the Pokémon in question. I find this the least annoying pattern as well, compared to some of the others.
Some Pokémon move in a "swayer" pattern; they move from left to right and back to the center. Notably, they are Pokémon that hover in the air like Koffing and Gastly. The pattern isn't annoying but may be a bit hard to time, since the movement is significant. Nevertheless, it may be possible to attempt a successful throw near the end of the movement. It would perhaps be risky to attempt a throw in the middle, though it might just work. It's certainly a unique pattern with minimal annoyance.
One pattern that I have qualms with is what I call "shifter"; it's similar to the "swayer" pattern yet somewhat different. Instead of a single continuous pattern, the Pokémon moves to one side (left or right), stays there for a time, then moves back to the center, then moves again ad infinitum. A few hovering Pokémon like Bronzor and Kyogre have this pattern, and the latter for example is a notable tough one. The problem is when the Pokémon stays on one side for too long, making a throw difficult. I find that patience is as necessary as a certain amount of skill for this one.
In similar way to "swayer" Pokémon, some Pokémon can ascend and stay at the top before going back down. These have what I term as the "floater" pattern. The ascent may be slow as with Drifloon, or fast as with Swablu and the Latias and Latios duo. The most annoying part of this pattern is having to adjust the throw for when the Pokémon has ascended, which may be difficult. Even so, it's still not as comparatively difficult as the "swayer" pattern since the Pokémon remains in the center, and should be doable in any way regardless of its problems.
The "buzzer" pattern is perhaps the most annoying one. Pokémon that have this pattern move about semi-erratically before returning to the center. Notable offenders include Magnemite, Yanma, and Combee, all of which fly or float. The best course of action is perhaps not to deal with it and to immediately give a Nanab Berry before the Pokémon moves every which way, unless some other Berry is desired. In the latter case, patience may be somewhat necessary, either while the Pokémon is at the center or elsewhere.
It is natural, of course, for Pokémon to move about, so it would be expected that they move about during capture attempts as well. These movement patterns are reasonably representative of the way they are expected to move, and yet they all present their own challenges. But once they are understood and figured out, they just become another stepping stone in the effort of a Trainer to catch Pokémon in the game.
One year ago: Being Young and Proud
Two years ago: PokéNumbers
Many Pokémon have a movement pattern I term as "jumper", because they periodically jump up from and go back down to their spot, although the Pokémon never move to a different spot. Many of the starters have this pattern, as well as a few common Pokémon like Rattata, Hoothoot, and Zigzagoon. The "jumper" pattern allows for an opportunity to throw a ball in the middle of the jump, which might just land depending on timing and the Pokémon in question. I find this the least annoying pattern as well, compared to some of the others.
Some Pokémon move in a "swayer" pattern; they move from left to right and back to the center. Notably, they are Pokémon that hover in the air like Koffing and Gastly. The pattern isn't annoying but may be a bit hard to time, since the movement is significant. Nevertheless, it may be possible to attempt a successful throw near the end of the movement. It would perhaps be risky to attempt a throw in the middle, though it might just work. It's certainly a unique pattern with minimal annoyance.
One pattern that I have qualms with is what I call "shifter"; it's similar to the "swayer" pattern yet somewhat different. Instead of a single continuous pattern, the Pokémon moves to one side (left or right), stays there for a time, then moves back to the center, then moves again ad infinitum. A few hovering Pokémon like Bronzor and Kyogre have this pattern, and the latter for example is a notable tough one. The problem is when the Pokémon stays on one side for too long, making a throw difficult. I find that patience is as necessary as a certain amount of skill for this one.
In similar way to "swayer" Pokémon, some Pokémon can ascend and stay at the top before going back down. These have what I term as the "floater" pattern. The ascent may be slow as with Drifloon, or fast as with Swablu and the Latias and Latios duo. The most annoying part of this pattern is having to adjust the throw for when the Pokémon has ascended, which may be difficult. Even so, it's still not as comparatively difficult as the "swayer" pattern since the Pokémon remains in the center, and should be doable in any way regardless of its problems.
The "buzzer" pattern is perhaps the most annoying one. Pokémon that have this pattern move about semi-erratically before returning to the center. Notable offenders include Magnemite, Yanma, and Combee, all of which fly or float. The best course of action is perhaps not to deal with it and to immediately give a Nanab Berry before the Pokémon moves every which way, unless some other Berry is desired. In the latter case, patience may be somewhat necessary, either while the Pokémon is at the center or elsewhere.
It is natural, of course, for Pokémon to move about, so it would be expected that they move about during capture attempts as well. These movement patterns are reasonably representative of the way they are expected to move, and yet they all present their own challenges. But once they are understood and figured out, they just become another stepping stone in the effort of a Trainer to catch Pokémon in the game.
One year ago: Being Young and Proud
Two years ago: PokéNumbers
Friday, October 18, 2019
October (on the) Road
Let the sun run down
Right behind the hill,
I know how to stand there
Still till the moon rise up
Right behind the pine,
Oh, Lord,
October road.
-- "October Road", James Taylor
Last month, I discussed a certain song that was not only thematically important, but also appropriately timed, for Pokémon or otherwise. That song, as well as a few others, actually comprise a set of timely-appropriate songs I have for the last four months of the year. And this time, I'd like to discuss another one, certainly with its own Pokémon interpretation. Actually, I was considering whether or not to discuss this as such, but then I became inspired to do so.
The reason is because I reread the lyrics for the song. The way I read it, it seems to describe a man who wishes to stroll down a path of the countryside in order to soothe his torn urban soul, and perhaps to revisit "a little friend" of his, who has remained on that path. It sounds like quite a nostalgic story for someone who feels that life has got to him, and needs someone or something to recover. And it's this storyline - only with a little less "conflict" and a lot more nostalgia - that makes me think of its Pokémon interpretation.
As announced late last month and covered personally at the beginning of this month, the Pokémon anime will be about to undergo a renewal that should make it possible for Ash to revisit past regions in addition to Galar. Obviously, this revisit may be a big thing that allows him to re-encounter the different Pokémon (and possibly other human characters) he has met before, and this practically smacks of nostalgia, at least in my view. The chance of that happening seems to be as big as the chance for totally new adventures.
I should note that this song may be a bit "gospelic" in nature, but that doesn't really matter for me. The gospel of my life unfolds in much the same way as the narration in this song's lyrics unfold. For that matter, it seems to be the same for the Pokémon anime. The path seems to be evident more than ever, and I'm sure I and Ash could benefit from nostalgia down that path, whether on this day in October or on the days ahead.
One year ago: The Moves Pokémon Know and Use
Two years ago: Second Remakes?
Right behind the hill,
I know how to stand there
Still till the moon rise up
Right behind the pine,
Oh, Lord,
October road.
-- "October Road", James Taylor
Last month, I discussed a certain song that was not only thematically important, but also appropriately timed, for Pokémon or otherwise. That song, as well as a few others, actually comprise a set of timely-appropriate songs I have for the last four months of the year. And this time, I'd like to discuss another one, certainly with its own Pokémon interpretation. Actually, I was considering whether or not to discuss this as such, but then I became inspired to do so.
The reason is because I reread the lyrics for the song. The way I read it, it seems to describe a man who wishes to stroll down a path of the countryside in order to soothe his torn urban soul, and perhaps to revisit "a little friend" of his, who has remained on that path. It sounds like quite a nostalgic story for someone who feels that life has got to him, and needs someone or something to recover. And it's this storyline - only with a little less "conflict" and a lot more nostalgia - that makes me think of its Pokémon interpretation.
As announced late last month and covered personally at the beginning of this month, the Pokémon anime will be about to undergo a renewal that should make it possible for Ash to revisit past regions in addition to Galar. Obviously, this revisit may be a big thing that allows him to re-encounter the different Pokémon (and possibly other human characters) he has met before, and this practically smacks of nostalgia, at least in my view. The chance of that happening seems to be as big as the chance for totally new adventures.
I should note that this song may be a bit "gospelic" in nature, but that doesn't really matter for me. The gospel of my life unfolds in much the same way as the narration in this song's lyrics unfold. For that matter, it seems to be the same for the Pokémon anime. The path seems to be evident more than ever, and I'm sure I and Ash could benefit from nostalgia down that path, whether on this day in October or on the days ahead.
One year ago: The Moves Pokémon Know and Use
Two years ago: Second Remakes?
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Wallpaper: Pokésoft Mix
In the previous post on this blog, I mentioned the particular slogan of a particular company and how it relates to me and Pokémon. However, I never mentioned the slogan directly, though the post alludes to it rather clearly. The slogan is "Where do you want to go today?", and those who are fluent in technology will recognize this slogan as belonging to Microsoft, a major company then and still now. While its links to Pokémon are minimal, I've conceived a unique way of relating both by way of a desktop wallpaper.
This wallpaper could be construed as both a tribute and parody - like a certain other wallpaper - though it mostly could be considered more the latter than the former. The parody aspect, of course, is because this wallpaper replicates the current Microsoft logo or wordmark (from 2012 onwards), down to the four color blocks, but with a Pokémon twist. Those four color blocks are composed of the colors red, green, blue, and yellow... which are often associated with the Pokémon types of Fire, Grass, Water, and Electric respectively - the three starters plus Pikachu. To that end, I've made the connection evident by including pictures of the associated Pokémon, in this case being the third-generation starters plus Pikachu, in the same arrangement as the logo or wordmark. To keep its relevance, I've also included the true Pokémon logo and some relevant attributions below.
The tribute aspect still remains relevant. Again, while Microsoft has relatively little to do with Pokémon itself, it remains something that supports many of my technological activities, including some related to Pokémon. Many of my blog posts are written on a browser that runs on its flagship Windows OS on my PC. Most of my word processing tasks, including for some Pokémon things, are done on its Word application, both on my PC and on my phone. I peruse some of its web services, including OneDrive to host my Pokémon Go photo galleries. And then there are just many other things that its products and services help me to do, including for Pokémon, even indirectly. One way or another, the relevance is still there.
As I've noted in the other post, Microsoft no longer uses the aforementioned slogan; it died out around the time Pokémon was still in its infancy. But in all that time, the slogan still has some relevance (personally), even with Pokémon. And to this day, its products and services still support my endeavors for Pokémon or otherwise. It feels kind of appropriate to honor that and rib that simultaneously, especially with what I can do and involving what I like.
One year ago: The First Sinnoh Saga Japanese Opening Theme
Two years ago: Pokémon and Trains
This wallpaper could be construed as both a tribute and parody - like a certain other wallpaper - though it mostly could be considered more the latter than the former. The parody aspect, of course, is because this wallpaper replicates the current Microsoft logo or wordmark (from 2012 onwards), down to the four color blocks, but with a Pokémon twist. Those four color blocks are composed of the colors red, green, blue, and yellow... which are often associated with the Pokémon types of Fire, Grass, Water, and Electric respectively - the three starters plus Pikachu. To that end, I've made the connection evident by including pictures of the associated Pokémon, in this case being the third-generation starters plus Pikachu, in the same arrangement as the logo or wordmark. To keep its relevance, I've also included the true Pokémon logo and some relevant attributions below.
The tribute aspect still remains relevant. Again, while Microsoft has relatively little to do with Pokémon itself, it remains something that supports many of my technological activities, including some related to Pokémon. Many of my blog posts are written on a browser that runs on its flagship Windows OS on my PC. Most of my word processing tasks, including for some Pokémon things, are done on its Word application, both on my PC and on my phone. I peruse some of its web services, including OneDrive to host my Pokémon Go photo galleries. And then there are just many other things that its products and services help me to do, including for Pokémon, even indirectly. One way or another, the relevance is still there.
As I've noted in the other post, Microsoft no longer uses the aforementioned slogan; it died out around the time Pokémon was still in its infancy. But in all that time, the slogan still has some relevance (personally), even with Pokémon. And to this day, its products and services still support my endeavors for Pokémon or otherwise. It feels kind of appropriate to honor that and rib that simultaneously, especially with what I can do and involving what I like.
One year ago: The First Sinnoh Saga Japanese Opening Theme
Two years ago: Pokémon and Trains
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Where I Want to Go
An old slogan of a really big company that's still really big and really important today asks its users, whether first-time or long-time, to think about where they might go. It's really an open question with many answers, so the answers would surely be different for different people. Even more than that, the question prompts those who wish to answer it to consider how things might work out in attempting to answer the question. For me personally, I like to think that the answer can and does somehow involve Pokémon. It's a bit of a stretch, but it works somehow.
Pokémon, in its original form that is still well-known today, is an adventure RPG. Thus, the concept of going places is important. One cannot advance the story or even develop oneself if one does not go places. Thus, it naturally fits with that slogan that I just mentioned. It's not hard to imagine that there are many places to go to in the world of Pokémon; Kanto as one of its regions is an illustrative example. One could go to its landmark places by land, whether on foot or by bicycle; by sea, perhaps with the aid of a Pokémon; or by sky, most likely on the wings of one of these creatures. Those are many ways to go, as many as there might be places in just the region alone. One must consider not only where, but also with what and for what. It's a deep answer for such a shallow question.
Today, I personally answered that open question. As it is a Wednesday, there was a Legendary Raid Hour, so I went to take part in it. But to elaborate the answer, I went not only to fulfill the participation of my own, but also the participation of others. The place that I wanted to go to was where success would surely be delivered for me and at least a few of my other raid fellows. That was certainly the case for a few of us to varying degrees, but on the whole, success - or at least some of it - presented itself. Actually, I had a choice of two places for success to present itself, but I chose the most practical one, and it turns out a wave of successes followed for me and others, which meant I answered the question most definitively.
Also today, there was a small taste of what's about to come in a month or so. Though the definitive answer to the slogan question could only be answered at that point in time, at least the glimmer of that answer could be seen today. A possible answer to that question would be that one wishes to go where one can experiment with the new things revealed today; another would be that one wishes to be taking on their challenges. The "where-to-next" objective may be hard to define now, but it should become clearer as things culminate to the aforementioned time.
It should be noted that as of today, that slogan of the really big company has since been non-existent. However, the slogan remains in the memory of those of who have witnessed it in context at least once, as well as part of the company's history. I'm one of those, and I'd like to say as my appreciation develops in the direction of Pokémon, I can still find a place of relevance for it. I'm inspired to take it and come up with the answers as to where I want to go in the current time.
One year ago: (Improving the) Local EX Raid, 10/16/2018
Two years ago: Trainer Fashion
Pokémon, in its original form that is still well-known today, is an adventure RPG. Thus, the concept of going places is important. One cannot advance the story or even develop oneself if one does not go places. Thus, it naturally fits with that slogan that I just mentioned. It's not hard to imagine that there are many places to go to in the world of Pokémon; Kanto as one of its regions is an illustrative example. One could go to its landmark places by land, whether on foot or by bicycle; by sea, perhaps with the aid of a Pokémon; or by sky, most likely on the wings of one of these creatures. Those are many ways to go, as many as there might be places in just the region alone. One must consider not only where, but also with what and for what. It's a deep answer for such a shallow question.
Today, I personally answered that open question. As it is a Wednesday, there was a Legendary Raid Hour, so I went to take part in it. But to elaborate the answer, I went not only to fulfill the participation of my own, but also the participation of others. The place that I wanted to go to was where success would surely be delivered for me and at least a few of my other raid fellows. That was certainly the case for a few of us to varying degrees, but on the whole, success - or at least some of it - presented itself. Actually, I had a choice of two places for success to present itself, but I chose the most practical one, and it turns out a wave of successes followed for me and others, which meant I answered the question most definitively.
Also today, there was a small taste of what's about to come in a month or so. Though the definitive answer to the slogan question could only be answered at that point in time, at least the glimmer of that answer could be seen today. A possible answer to that question would be that one wishes to go where one can experiment with the new things revealed today; another would be that one wishes to be taking on their challenges. The "where-to-next" objective may be hard to define now, but it should become clearer as things culminate to the aforementioned time.
It should be noted that as of today, that slogan of the really big company has since been non-existent. However, the slogan remains in the memory of those of who have witnessed it in context at least once, as well as part of the company's history. I'm one of those, and I'd like to say as my appreciation develops in the direction of Pokémon, I can still find a place of relevance for it. I'm inspired to take it and come up with the answers as to where I want to go in the current time.
One year ago: (Improving the) Local EX Raid, 10/16/2018
Two years ago: Trainer Fashion
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Rekindling Old Games
Recently, I've been going back over some of the older games I have played or used to play quite a lot. They're not Pokémon games, but I have played a few of them alongside playing Pokémon games. With this comes the realization that I enjoy them to different extents, particularly in comparison to Pokémon games. Even so, they do appear to shed light on how my attraction to Pokémon games have developed, which is still fascinating to consider.
Some of the games I played are ones that require a fine sense of dexterity, which I didn't have back then... and still don't have now, or at least in limited amounts. Accordingly, I have never played them to completion. The irony is that those same games constitute a franchise that could be considered the "neighbor" to Pokémon. What this tells me is that I do appreciate them even though my skills don't favor me playing them. The fact that I leaped into Pokémon and subsequently completed the games means that those games favor the way I like to do things, more so than for those other games. All the same, it also means I know a good thing when I see one, so those games are good - and for others, as good as Pokémon - even if I can't play them thoroughly. I'm likely to remain attracted to those other games, returning every so often to try new things while I rethink my Pokémon efforts.
Some of the other games are mental challenges that I'm fond of, and as it turns out, some of my other friends are also fond of; further, they are games that I've completed in at least one way. Those completions also occurred while I was also completing other efforts, including Pokémon ones. It's amazing that I did so, given what were involved. It means that the games did what they were supposed to do; they stimulated my mind enough to get lots of things going and done. Their relation to Pokémon may be distant and their effects are rather indirect, but they regardless have become relevant for the way I do things. They too are things that I perceive as good and that I appreciate, and moreover, they are supportive and favorable to my efforts. Likewise, returns to them are possible and more highly probable, even in the midst of Pokémon efforts.
In all my life, I've encountered many games. Some of them I like, but I'm challenged to make progress in them; others I'm quite attached to and have progressed to some sort of completion. With all that I've done with Pokémon games, those other games seem to have guided me into the games of the franchise and driven their completion. My return to those old games seems to indicate that this is so. And now, it may be time to do the same for old Pokémon games to see how things have actually progressed for this case.
One year ago: Ultra Ball Hanging Ornament
Two years ago: Cosplay: MAXcited
Some of the games I played are ones that require a fine sense of dexterity, which I didn't have back then... and still don't have now, or at least in limited amounts. Accordingly, I have never played them to completion. The irony is that those same games constitute a franchise that could be considered the "neighbor" to Pokémon. What this tells me is that I do appreciate them even though my skills don't favor me playing them. The fact that I leaped into Pokémon and subsequently completed the games means that those games favor the way I like to do things, more so than for those other games. All the same, it also means I know a good thing when I see one, so those games are good - and for others, as good as Pokémon - even if I can't play them thoroughly. I'm likely to remain attracted to those other games, returning every so often to try new things while I rethink my Pokémon efforts.
Some of the other games are mental challenges that I'm fond of, and as it turns out, some of my other friends are also fond of; further, they are games that I've completed in at least one way. Those completions also occurred while I was also completing other efforts, including Pokémon ones. It's amazing that I did so, given what were involved. It means that the games did what they were supposed to do; they stimulated my mind enough to get lots of things going and done. Their relation to Pokémon may be distant and their effects are rather indirect, but they regardless have become relevant for the way I do things. They too are things that I perceive as good and that I appreciate, and moreover, they are supportive and favorable to my efforts. Likewise, returns to them are possible and more highly probable, even in the midst of Pokémon efforts.
In all my life, I've encountered many games. Some of them I like, but I'm challenged to make progress in them; others I'm quite attached to and have progressed to some sort of completion. With all that I've done with Pokémon games, those other games seem to have guided me into the games of the franchise and driven their completion. My return to those old games seems to indicate that this is so. And now, it may be time to do the same for old Pokémon games to see how things have actually progressed for this case.
One year ago: Ultra Ball Hanging Ornament
Two years ago: Cosplay: MAXcited
Monday, October 14, 2019
Community vs. Central Management
The great thing about Pokémon is that many people, including yours truly, really enjoy it in all its forms. That leads to the formation of many communities that are focused on making the current Pokémon situation a good one. At the same time, Pokémon is also an important property of three entities, so the brand has to be managed centrally somehow to preserve its importance. The issue of management between these two areas becomes an interesting one to discuss based on the twists and turns involved.
It is true that "community" management is pretty much considered unofficial management, but the results of that management may just aid or illustrate a possible direction for official central management. In my local TCG scene, for example, one person has gone out of the person's way to provide as much info as possible on what goes on with the TCG, so much so that the person is now effectively considered the brand ambassador by some. Meanwhile, for Pokémon Go, The Silph Road is unrivaled in the way that it manages aspects of Pokémon Go that even the game itself doesn't manage. Its systems (in particular its tournament system) also appear to be continuously improving. These are great things, of course, even if they remain unofficial; eventually they may have to be embraced.
As for the central amounting-to-official management, certainly it has to respond to happenings in the scene of the games. Continuing the mentioned game examples, one of the things that the person helped for players is the declaration and replacement of cards with "errata" on them, one of the things that plagued the launch of the localized cards; the fact that these cards are being taken care of shows great responsibility and management. Over on the Pokémon Go side, an example is for Community Day, in particular the recent one: while everyone else enjoyed the festivities, Japan didn't, for a typhoon swept its way on the same day, and the festivities there were called off. I'd say that's good management too, although just recently that management seemed to have erred a bit - more details soon.
With Pokémon being so big today, many things can and do happen. There has to be some kind of management to respond to those things. Fortunately, many of those in the communities seem up to the task of making sure that does happen, while the central management does its thing to continue serving Pokémon goodness to everyone. That being considered, both are necessary to check and balance each other regarding the things that have been put forth. In that way, we all really can enjoy everything Pokémon.
One year ago: Cosplay: Akatsuki no Matsuri
Two years ago: Never Stop Exploring
It is true that "community" management is pretty much considered unofficial management, but the results of that management may just aid or illustrate a possible direction for official central management. In my local TCG scene, for example, one person has gone out of the person's way to provide as much info as possible on what goes on with the TCG, so much so that the person is now effectively considered the brand ambassador by some. Meanwhile, for Pokémon Go, The Silph Road is unrivaled in the way that it manages aspects of Pokémon Go that even the game itself doesn't manage. Its systems (in particular its tournament system) also appear to be continuously improving. These are great things, of course, even if they remain unofficial; eventually they may have to be embraced.
As for the central amounting-to-official management, certainly it has to respond to happenings in the scene of the games. Continuing the mentioned game examples, one of the things that the person helped for players is the declaration and replacement of cards with "errata" on them, one of the things that plagued the launch of the localized cards; the fact that these cards are being taken care of shows great responsibility and management. Over on the Pokémon Go side, an example is for Community Day, in particular the recent one: while everyone else enjoyed the festivities, Japan didn't, for a typhoon swept its way on the same day, and the festivities there were called off. I'd say that's good management too, although just recently that management seemed to have erred a bit - more details soon.
With Pokémon being so big today, many things can and do happen. There has to be some kind of management to respond to those things. Fortunately, many of those in the communities seem up to the task of making sure that does happen, while the central management does its thing to continue serving Pokémon goodness to everyone. That being considered, both are necessary to check and balance each other regarding the things that have been put forth. In that way, we all really can enjoy everything Pokémon.
One year ago: Cosplay: Akatsuki no Matsuri
Two years ago: Never Stop Exploring
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Cosplay: KAI ESports Exhibition
Me: Hey, want to get into something big?
Ash: Like what?
Me: Like this exhibition or event. It's a little different from the usual, but it works. This one, as the title suggests, is an exhibition for competitive games that some people play, although I don't really play them. I do, however, play one game which could be considered one because of a certain circumstance, but it didn't make it here.
Ash: Hey, I think I get what you're talking about! I want in!
Pikachu: Pika pika! [affirmative]
Me: Yeah, I think you know. So, I wasn't originally planning on sending you here; there is a character competition, but at first I thought it was going to be limited to characters from those other games I was talking about. But then it was decided to open the competition to everyone, so now I could send you in.
Ash: But I heard your figure friends will be meeting.
Me: Yes, that's true. But an opportunity to send you is valuable, sometimes in more ways than one, so I didn't end up going. All right, so now that I've sent you, you might recognize the place that it's in.
Ash: Hey! I've been here lots of times!
Pikachu: Pika chu! [amazed]
Me: Well, a big exhibition like this needs a really big place, and the place is one of the biggest locally, so it's no wonder. Now, what was it like inside?
Ash: It's like those other times, but a lot of it is tied to those games. And you don't play them, right?
Me: No, none of them really interest me. If I were, then I'd be in the competitions by now - just like that one time!
Ash: Yeah, I can't argue with that.
Me: OK, so the big thing for us and you today is the character competition, which is a parade today. How was it?
Ash: It was great! There were 30 or so characters on stage, and we all looked good. But even with 10 favorites and 3 best ones, I didn't win. I thought a couple of my other character friends really could win, but they also didn't. It's kind of odd, don't you think?
Me: Someone once said that a parade competition like this is kind of like a lottery, even given the usual judging criteria. Remember last year?
Ash: Oh yeah! That one was a bit hard to decide. I guess you might be right.
Pikachu: Pi, pika pika... [exasperated]
Me: The point is that we did what we can. Big hint: we can try our chances again real soon, so be ready.
Ash: I will!
Pikachu: Pika! ["I will too!"]
Me: That's great. Now, what do you think of this as a whole?
Ash: It's neat that this happened, and the stands were pretty good today. There were not many people, not like the usual one, but I can understand - different people like different things. I'm glad you sent me.
Me: I'm glad too. Now, I also have to remark that a month or two ago, there was this same event, but held in a different and pretty faraway town. Plus, this weekend there is actually a really major convention in another faraway town. So you know, it kind of makes up for those.
Ash: I guess things actually worked out.
Me: You know what? You're spot on. Now let's see if they really can next time.
One year ago: Pokémon and Adventure Games
Two years ago: Respect for Ikue Ootani
Ash: Like what?
Me: Like this exhibition or event. It's a little different from the usual, but it works. This one, as the title suggests, is an exhibition for competitive games that some people play, although I don't really play them. I do, however, play one game which could be considered one because of a certain circumstance, but it didn't make it here.
Ash: Hey, I think I get what you're talking about! I want in!
Pikachu: Pika pika! [affirmative]
Me: Yeah, I think you know. So, I wasn't originally planning on sending you here; there is a character competition, but at first I thought it was going to be limited to characters from those other games I was talking about. But then it was decided to open the competition to everyone, so now I could send you in.
Ash: But I heard your figure friends will be meeting.
Me: Yes, that's true. But an opportunity to send you is valuable, sometimes in more ways than one, so I didn't end up going. All right, so now that I've sent you, you might recognize the place that it's in.
Ash: Hey! I've been here lots of times!
Pikachu: Pika chu! [amazed]
Me: Well, a big exhibition like this needs a really big place, and the place is one of the biggest locally, so it's no wonder. Now, what was it like inside?
Ash: It's like those other times, but a lot of it is tied to those games. And you don't play them, right?
Me: No, none of them really interest me. If I were, then I'd be in the competitions by now - just like that one time!
Ash: Yeah, I can't argue with that.
Me: OK, so the big thing for us and you today is the character competition, which is a parade today. How was it?
Ash: It was great! There were 30 or so characters on stage, and we all looked good. But even with 10 favorites and 3 best ones, I didn't win. I thought a couple of my other character friends really could win, but they also didn't. It's kind of odd, don't you think?
Me: Someone once said that a parade competition like this is kind of like a lottery, even given the usual judging criteria. Remember last year?
Ash: Oh yeah! That one was a bit hard to decide. I guess you might be right.
Pikachu: Pi, pika pika... [exasperated]
Me: The point is that we did what we can. Big hint: we can try our chances again real soon, so be ready.
Ash: I will!
Pikachu: Pika! ["I will too!"]
Me: That's great. Now, what do you think of this as a whole?
Ash: It's neat that this happened, and the stands were pretty good today. There were not many people, not like the usual one, but I can understand - different people like different things. I'm glad you sent me.
Me: I'm glad too. Now, I also have to remark that a month or two ago, there was this same event, but held in a different and pretty faraway town. Plus, this weekend there is actually a really major convention in another faraway town. So you know, it kind of makes up for those.
Ash: I guess things actually worked out.
Me: You know what? You're spot on. Now let's see if they really can next time.
One year ago: Pokémon and Adventure Games
Two years ago: Respect for Ikue Ootani
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/12/2019
Personally, my experience with Community Days in Pokémon Go involves an issue called "optimization". That is, can I get the most out of this event with what has been given and what I've done? It's always a hard question to answer since I don't know what will happen and how things will turn out. The answer may be even harder to discern given the specific particulars for each month.
This month, though, it may be something that many have long awaited. The featured Pokémon is Trapinch, which has long been a speculated Community Day fodder due to its Egg presence, having been in 10 km Eggs before. The exclusive move for its final evolution, Flygon, is the Ground-type Earth Power, which suits its typing, making it potentially useful; as with last month, the move window is also extended. The additional bonus this month is triple XP for captures, which is really more beneficial for lower-level players, not so much players who have reached Level 40 like me.
A few things that make this month a little different than usual is being able to spin PokéStops for 2 km Eggs that contain the featured Pokémon, alongside certain Level 1 raids for them as with that of the previous month. Also, Field Research rewards were also changed slightly: including the usual rewards of Pinap Berries, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls, it is now possible to get a Golden Razz Berry, or even better yet, a possible encounter with another Trapinch, which is similar to the Squirtle one last year, only without a special accessory.
As to how I did this month, even with only a few tens of Pokémon in my storage space, I caught many Trapinch, but I mostly discarded those with lesser stats; however, I didn't raid or hatch an Egg for the Pokémon, and I only found two Field Research Tasks that rewarded the Pokémon. I also caught only two Shiny Trapinch, which is among the fewest of any Community Day Pokémon I've caught. I traded with someone else the ones I caught but didn't want, and got one Lucky one in return, plus another from trading miscellaneous Pokémon. Of all of these, I evolved one with really good stats, the first Lucky one I received, and the best of the two Shiny ones I caught. I also have a few other Trapinch for other considerations and enough Candy stock for future uses.
Based on these results, I suppose I've "optimized" the Community Day enough to get a good result out of it. Others might say it's meager, but for now it seems sufficient. Further plans in the future may benefit from the rest of what I've gained, but that's to be decided later on. Given the same question for any Trainer in Pokémon Go, different answers may be expected just as the answer is hard to discern for me or anyone else.
One year ago: Finding and Re-Finding Players
Two years ago: The (De Facto) Series Mascot
This month, though, it may be something that many have long awaited. The featured Pokémon is Trapinch, which has long been a speculated Community Day fodder due to its Egg presence, having been in 10 km Eggs before. The exclusive move for its final evolution, Flygon, is the Ground-type Earth Power, which suits its typing, making it potentially useful; as with last month, the move window is also extended. The additional bonus this month is triple XP for captures, which is really more beneficial for lower-level players, not so much players who have reached Level 40 like me.
A few things that make this month a little different than usual is being able to spin PokéStops for 2 km Eggs that contain the featured Pokémon, alongside certain Level 1 raids for them as with that of the previous month. Also, Field Research rewards were also changed slightly: including the usual rewards of Pinap Berries, Great Balls, and Ultra Balls, it is now possible to get a Golden Razz Berry, or even better yet, a possible encounter with another Trapinch, which is similar to the Squirtle one last year, only without a special accessory.
As to how I did this month, even with only a few tens of Pokémon in my storage space, I caught many Trapinch, but I mostly discarded those with lesser stats; however, I didn't raid or hatch an Egg for the Pokémon, and I only found two Field Research Tasks that rewarded the Pokémon. I also caught only two Shiny Trapinch, which is among the fewest of any Community Day Pokémon I've caught. I traded with someone else the ones I caught but didn't want, and got one Lucky one in return, plus another from trading miscellaneous Pokémon. Of all of these, I evolved one with really good stats, the first Lucky one I received, and the best of the two Shiny ones I caught. I also have a few other Trapinch for other considerations and enough Candy stock for future uses.
Based on these results, I suppose I've "optimized" the Community Day enough to get a good result out of it. Others might say it's meager, but for now it seems sufficient. Further plans in the future may benefit from the rest of what I've gained, but that's to be decided later on. Given the same question for any Trainer in Pokémon Go, different answers may be expected just as the answer is hard to discern for me or anyone else.
One year ago: Finding and Re-Finding Players
Two years ago: The (De Facto) Series Mascot
Friday, October 11, 2019
Shuffle Secrets
It's actually been some time since I've written about Pokémon Shuffle - particularly its 3DS version - on this blog, which may be because of the obvious decline of the 3DS. Even so, it's one of the games I still play on it, primarily because of its accessibility and simplicity, and especially with other things I have going on. Even with that, the game still has a few intriguing secrets (or at least non-obvious things) of its own, and they deserve a bit of discussion as well, for which this post is for that.
When playing a certain Escalation Stage - one of the types of Special Stages in the game - every so often, the Pokémon will become "angered" after a stage level is completed. In this state, its stage level is elevated temporarily to a higher level, usually 3 to 5 levels more than what it would be at that current point. Defeating the Pokémon elevates the stage level to that level plus one; failure to do so (whether by running out of moves or quitting the stage) returns the Pokémon to the normal stage level, likewise if the Pokémon is not battled within 10 minutes after entering that state. The process is almost completely random and does not occur consistently; in fact, in the past, this state sometimes enabled one to skip major prize stages, which is both beneficial as the prize is still rewarded, and an "unfair advantage" if the skipped prize stage is a hard one. Nevertheless, the "angered" state still occurs and is still quite useful for saving Hearts.
Another secret involves one of the enhancements, which would be the Raise Max Level. As I've noted previously, this enhancement "uncaps" the maximum level of a Pokémon to a certain extent. Initially, this only was possible for a select few Pokémon, with more being added over time. Today, however, this enhancement can be used for all Pokémon, with at least 5 for all and more for others. Even with that, it is most likely that one will not use it for absolutely every Pokémon, since not all may be battle-ready in difficult stages. The usage scenario will therefore likely remain to use the enhancement for the most useful and necessary Pokémon before the others, especially those that aren't at maximum level. Even with this enhancement having a broader scope and being given more, wisdom in usage is still important.
Finally, for those who have completed the 700 Main Stages, they can be challenged again as something called UX Stages, which are accessed immediately after completion of Stage 700. These stages are the same as their regular counterparts, even in the same order, but with one important difference: they are much harder to play through. These stages, therefore, are a test to see how higher-level and therefore stronger Pokémon fare in battle. All the same, S Ranks obtained in these stages also count for unlocking Expert Stages, so they become a kind of "alternative assistance" for those who are having trouble earning S Ranks on some of the regular Main Stages in addition to their role as a challenging front. Those who have the mettle and many powerful Pokémon should definitely give these stages a try.
Now that they're out in the open, these "secrets" can hardly be classified as secrets anymore. But for those who are still playing and haven't discovered them, they remain as such, until they are discovered, of course. As for the voyage of discoveries within this game, I'm sure many have finished theirs, but mine (and quite a number of others) will continue, at least until there are no more secrets like these to be fleshed out and the game wraps up on the 3DS due to its decline.
One year ago: Pokémon Game Journals
Two years ago: All That He Wants... (Is Another Victory)
When playing a certain Escalation Stage - one of the types of Special Stages in the game - every so often, the Pokémon will become "angered" after a stage level is completed. In this state, its stage level is elevated temporarily to a higher level, usually 3 to 5 levels more than what it would be at that current point. Defeating the Pokémon elevates the stage level to that level plus one; failure to do so (whether by running out of moves or quitting the stage) returns the Pokémon to the normal stage level, likewise if the Pokémon is not battled within 10 minutes after entering that state. The process is almost completely random and does not occur consistently; in fact, in the past, this state sometimes enabled one to skip major prize stages, which is both beneficial as the prize is still rewarded, and an "unfair advantage" if the skipped prize stage is a hard one. Nevertheless, the "angered" state still occurs and is still quite useful for saving Hearts.
Another secret involves one of the enhancements, which would be the Raise Max Level. As I've noted previously, this enhancement "uncaps" the maximum level of a Pokémon to a certain extent. Initially, this only was possible for a select few Pokémon, with more being added over time. Today, however, this enhancement can be used for all Pokémon, with at least 5 for all and more for others. Even with that, it is most likely that one will not use it for absolutely every Pokémon, since not all may be battle-ready in difficult stages. The usage scenario will therefore likely remain to use the enhancement for the most useful and necessary Pokémon before the others, especially those that aren't at maximum level. Even with this enhancement having a broader scope and being given more, wisdom in usage is still important.
Finally, for those who have completed the 700 Main Stages, they can be challenged again as something called UX Stages, which are accessed immediately after completion of Stage 700. These stages are the same as their regular counterparts, even in the same order, but with one important difference: they are much harder to play through. These stages, therefore, are a test to see how higher-level and therefore stronger Pokémon fare in battle. All the same, S Ranks obtained in these stages also count for unlocking Expert Stages, so they become a kind of "alternative assistance" for those who are having trouble earning S Ranks on some of the regular Main Stages in addition to their role as a challenging front. Those who have the mettle and many powerful Pokémon should definitely give these stages a try.
Now that they're out in the open, these "secrets" can hardly be classified as secrets anymore. But for those who are still playing and haven't discovered them, they remain as such, until they are discovered, of course. As for the voyage of discoveries within this game, I'm sure many have finished theirs, but mine (and quite a number of others) will continue, at least until there are no more secrets like these to be fleshed out and the game wraps up on the 3DS due to its decline.
One year ago: Pokémon Game Journals
Two years ago: All That He Wants... (Is Another Victory)
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Illusions of Success?
As a whole, Pokémon is a highly successful game franchise composed of many games within. People buy and/or spend on the games in great amounts. Even so, recent findings have shown that it might seem that not everything might be well for some of the games, indicated by certain goings-on related to them. It's a bit speculative, but that seems to be the way things go.
Pokémon Masters is one of the games involved. Despite raking in a significant amount of money through in-game purchases, it seems the content is problematic. Anyone who has played will certainly know about the spate of errors the game has had, evidenced by the amount of compensation for them. It seems the overall content is also on the short side and that the game is confusing to say the least. Now, I can't personally vouch for these complaints, not having had a chance to play, but these are what the producers have received. They say they will update the game progressively to address these complaints. I find this to be an irony, but with that accordingly being the truth, they can and should respond by doing so. And while it means I'm only likely to experience the game post facto, I'm always hoping for the best.
Next on the list is Pokémon Go, or something brewing under it. Apparently, in a few days or so, there will be a special ticket item for sale, which will let Trainers access an event scheduled for November 2. The event is called "A Colossal Discovery", and the keyword seems to be "colossal", as with it, it suggests that Regigigas will be in the mix somehow. The event itself seems to be no problem, but the "for sale" part seems to be, as reportedly Niantic's next-door game Ingress has used the same technique and a few have complained about these so-called "paid events". Thus, the ticket item up for sale is essentially a proxy for that in Pokémon Go. Given the game's success without such an implementation, it might seem odd for some to see it implemented. But then things seem to have to demand for this, even if the game remains successful.
These are, of course, in addition to other shakeups that have occurred earlier, one of them being the Duel game closing its doors. And then it's hard not to forget about the National Dex affair, which may still have some effects being felt today. With these, it's almost as if earlier successes are getting away and becoming illusory. Perhaps a better way of thinking about it is that earlier successes are going nowhere and that current successes are illusory first before becoming reality. It's the "reality" part that then results from the efforts being put in. Success may very well happen, but not as the illusion "suggests", which may be something to keep in mind.
Whatever happens, even for such an illusionary world, the success of Pokémon is breathtaking. I'm quite sure it will remain that way for the longest time ahead.
One year ago: People-Adventure or Pokémon-Adventure?
Two years ago: Kanto Starter Keychains
Pokémon Masters is one of the games involved. Despite raking in a significant amount of money through in-game purchases, it seems the content is problematic. Anyone who has played will certainly know about the spate of errors the game has had, evidenced by the amount of compensation for them. It seems the overall content is also on the short side and that the game is confusing to say the least. Now, I can't personally vouch for these complaints, not having had a chance to play, but these are what the producers have received. They say they will update the game progressively to address these complaints. I find this to be an irony, but with that accordingly being the truth, they can and should respond by doing so. And while it means I'm only likely to experience the game post facto, I'm always hoping for the best.
Next on the list is Pokémon Go, or something brewing under it. Apparently, in a few days or so, there will be a special ticket item for sale, which will let Trainers access an event scheduled for November 2. The event is called "A Colossal Discovery", and the keyword seems to be "colossal", as with it, it suggests that Regigigas will be in the mix somehow. The event itself seems to be no problem, but the "for sale" part seems to be, as reportedly Niantic's next-door game Ingress has used the same technique and a few have complained about these so-called "paid events". Thus, the ticket item up for sale is essentially a proxy for that in Pokémon Go. Given the game's success without such an implementation, it might seem odd for some to see it implemented. But then things seem to have to demand for this, even if the game remains successful.
These are, of course, in addition to other shakeups that have occurred earlier, one of them being the Duel game closing its doors. And then it's hard not to forget about the National Dex affair, which may still have some effects being felt today. With these, it's almost as if earlier successes are getting away and becoming illusory. Perhaps a better way of thinking about it is that earlier successes are going nowhere and that current successes are illusory first before becoming reality. It's the "reality" part that then results from the efforts being put in. Success may very well happen, but not as the illusion "suggests", which may be something to keep in mind.
Whatever happens, even for such an illusionary world, the success of Pokémon is breathtaking. I'm quite sure it will remain that way for the longest time ahead.
One year ago: People-Adventure or Pokémon-Adventure?
Two years ago: Kanto Starter Keychains
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Hunting for Physical References
In the 20+ years that Pokémon has existed, its world has dramatically expanded from just games to a host of many things. It can be a tough thing to keep track of each of those things, so in this regard, references are needed. I've explained part of my ordeal in making my own set of references in the specific area of VGC in another post, and it's a tough thing. That is why I also like to seek (physical) Pokémon references that others have made, from different places. This is sometimes a practical and neat thing to do.
Online references are great, of course, but they have their own issues at times. BulbaPedia is great and informative, but sometimes for me personally it may be a bit too informative. Online strategy guides are neat and each one is unique, but they may not be very illustrative. Even other Pokémon-related things on the Internet may be good enough but the text, images, and structure may be off; in the case of my blog, I'm sure some people perceive it to be that way, even though I've done the best I can to avoid this situation. The point is that every fan can use some really great physical references in the form of books.
That leaves the question of where to find them. My local town is a good town for finding books, but not necessarily Pokémon ones or the ones that I want to read. The most recent Pokémon-related books I've obtained didn't come from my local town, but from places further away. It seems it may not be popular enough in my local town. On the other hand, in some faraway places, I can find places that readily sell books I want to read, including - yes - but not limited to Pokémon. Sometimes, the book fairs there are sufficiently large and also allow for Pokémon books to be sold, which means it becomes a matter of getting there, finding the desired books, and coming back with the "spoils".
It just so happens that one of these book fairs has recently been opened, and I actually had the chance today to see if I can bring back some Pokémon "reference" books for myself. Earlier, however, one of my figure fellows, and the top one at that, had obtained a really nice Pokémon reference book, which also was the last of its kind being sold; I can testify that I did not find the book in question. I did, however, come away with something that may not be quite a reference through and through, but it seems to be quite a reference nonetheless. This latter book will surely be on this blog in due time, though the former may or may not.
It's hard to deny that any Pokémon fan could use the services of physical references. They're meant to serve as alternatives to easily-obtained online references that may vary in quality. If they're good enough, then they may be worth to be a keeper in one's collection and to be shown off to fellow Pokémon fans. With that, I'm sure that like me, they'll really make the distance to end up with something that demonstrates how far Pokémon has come today and what are involved, as the function of the reference.
One year ago: What Pokémon Eat
Two years ago: Pokémon Jigsaw Puzzle
Online references are great, of course, but they have their own issues at times. BulbaPedia is great and informative, but sometimes for me personally it may be a bit too informative. Online strategy guides are neat and each one is unique, but they may not be very illustrative. Even other Pokémon-related things on the Internet may be good enough but the text, images, and structure may be off; in the case of my blog, I'm sure some people perceive it to be that way, even though I've done the best I can to avoid this situation. The point is that every fan can use some really great physical references in the form of books.
That leaves the question of where to find them. My local town is a good town for finding books, but not necessarily Pokémon ones or the ones that I want to read. The most recent Pokémon-related books I've obtained didn't come from my local town, but from places further away. It seems it may not be popular enough in my local town. On the other hand, in some faraway places, I can find places that readily sell books I want to read, including - yes - but not limited to Pokémon. Sometimes, the book fairs there are sufficiently large and also allow for Pokémon books to be sold, which means it becomes a matter of getting there, finding the desired books, and coming back with the "spoils".
It just so happens that one of these book fairs has recently been opened, and I actually had the chance today to see if I can bring back some Pokémon "reference" books for myself. Earlier, however, one of my figure fellows, and the top one at that, had obtained a really nice Pokémon reference book, which also was the last of its kind being sold; I can testify that I did not find the book in question. I did, however, come away with something that may not be quite a reference through and through, but it seems to be quite a reference nonetheless. This latter book will surely be on this blog in due time, though the former may or may not.
It's hard to deny that any Pokémon fan could use the services of physical references. They're meant to serve as alternatives to easily-obtained online references that may vary in quality. If they're good enough, then they may be worth to be a keeper in one's collection and to be shown off to fellow Pokémon fans. With that, I'm sure that like me, they'll really make the distance to end up with something that demonstrates how far Pokémon has come today and what are involved, as the function of the reference.
One year ago: What Pokémon Eat
Two years ago: Pokémon Jigsaw Puzzle
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Someone Else's Points
In my discussion about Gym Badge progression in Pokémon Go, I had mentioned that there is really another progression for which the gold status of Gym Badges are important. That progression is something called "Kieng Points", which are a different way to measure the achievements and accomplishments of a Trainer in the game. The metrics for such a measurement still relates to in-game statistics, but the way that it is performed makes the metrics all the more important, for the Trainer and a select group of others.
These "Kieng Points" belong to a group on Facebook called TL40, which are a group of Trainers who have reached Level 40 and have accomplished major things. The points themselves are used as verification and entry criteria; if the resulting points are high enough, then a Trainer can be deemed to have made major accomplishments and therefore can apply to enter the group. As to why they are called "Kieng", they are so called as such because "Kieng" refers to a Pokémon Go Trainer of outstanding fame (Twitter: @PoGoKieng). In fact, so famous is he that he became one of the competitors in the inaugural, invitational Pokémon Go PvP tournament at the Pokémon World Championships this year. With that stature, he is obviously an important person - and so are these points.
The points themselves are a bit complicated to explain. These points are calculated using a spreadsheet, which can be gotten from the group or someone with connections to the group. To calculate the points, one inputs into the spreadsheet the values that are indicated; most values originate from Trainer Medals, but a few are sought in other places, like the number of gold Gym Badges, which is indeed one of the metrics. The values are compared with other Trainers' statistics by way of hidden data in the spreadsheet, and the percentiles are taken. The highest-valued percentiles are averaged, and the Kieng Points are obtained; if they're high enough, the spreadsheet will inform that they are so, for the eligibility to join the group. It should be noted that the spreadsheet changes from month to month, because Trainers also vary playing from month to month; spreadsheets from earlier months can still be used, but they amount to no more than a possible reference, and the current spreadsheet has to be used for eligibility.
As for myself, although I have reached the hallowed Level 40, my Kieng Points are far too few for eligibility of entry into the group. The last time I entered my values in the spreadsheet, my best-performing medal values are nowhere close to the percentiles needed to contribute a sufficiently high number of points for entry. To elevate those to a level that would achieve this situation would require near-herculean efforts, which could affirm one thing: these points are for very, very hardcore and dedicated players. With the way I play, it would take me a very long time to get to a state of eligibility. In any case, I'm not too concerned about eligibility, even if it should happen later on in the future.
These points are definitely not mine; they belong to the group and the namesake of the points. With that in mind, and where I stand regarding the points, I don't feel as if I'm involved with the points or the points would involve me at all. All the same, with my accomplishments, I do have my share of the points, though not a great deal. It is only with greater accomplishments and greater amounts of points that I can then say that the points would be then mine, in a manner of speaking.
One year ago: A Poké Ball Keychain
Two years ago: Cosplay: Kisetsu no Matsuri
These "Kieng Points" belong to a group on Facebook called TL40, which are a group of Trainers who have reached Level 40 and have accomplished major things. The points themselves are used as verification and entry criteria; if the resulting points are high enough, then a Trainer can be deemed to have made major accomplishments and therefore can apply to enter the group. As to why they are called "Kieng", they are so called as such because "Kieng" refers to a Pokémon Go Trainer of outstanding fame (Twitter: @PoGoKieng). In fact, so famous is he that he became one of the competitors in the inaugural, invitational Pokémon Go PvP tournament at the Pokémon World Championships this year. With that stature, he is obviously an important person - and so are these points.
The points themselves are a bit complicated to explain. These points are calculated using a spreadsheet, which can be gotten from the group or someone with connections to the group. To calculate the points, one inputs into the spreadsheet the values that are indicated; most values originate from Trainer Medals, but a few are sought in other places, like the number of gold Gym Badges, which is indeed one of the metrics. The values are compared with other Trainers' statistics by way of hidden data in the spreadsheet, and the percentiles are taken. The highest-valued percentiles are averaged, and the Kieng Points are obtained; if they're high enough, the spreadsheet will inform that they are so, for the eligibility to join the group. It should be noted that the spreadsheet changes from month to month, because Trainers also vary playing from month to month; spreadsheets from earlier months can still be used, but they amount to no more than a possible reference, and the current spreadsheet has to be used for eligibility.
As for myself, although I have reached the hallowed Level 40, my Kieng Points are far too few for eligibility of entry into the group. The last time I entered my values in the spreadsheet, my best-performing medal values are nowhere close to the percentiles needed to contribute a sufficiently high number of points for entry. To elevate those to a level that would achieve this situation would require near-herculean efforts, which could affirm one thing: these points are for very, very hardcore and dedicated players. With the way I play, it would take me a very long time to get to a state of eligibility. In any case, I'm not too concerned about eligibility, even if it should happen later on in the future.
These points are definitely not mine; they belong to the group and the namesake of the points. With that in mind, and where I stand regarding the points, I don't feel as if I'm involved with the points or the points would involve me at all. All the same, with my accomplishments, I do have my share of the points, though not a great deal. It is only with greater accomplishments and greater amounts of points that I can then say that the points would be then mine, in a manner of speaking.
One year ago: A Poké Ball Keychain
Two years ago: Cosplay: Kisetsu no Matsuri
Monday, October 7, 2019
Livestream and Let Livestream
Four days ago, in my post about sort-of preparations for the Sword and Shield games, I noted that the day after that post, there would be a sort of a "livestream" from a certain place in Galar, the region of the games. That livestream did indeed happen, and it resulted in a few nifty finds. The livestream itself is a rather unique idea with some ups and downs, so I'd like to take this post to discuss it to glean the insights from this rather new promotional method, for the games and otherwise.
The impact of this new method seems to be quite mixed. Some fans seem to have gained quite a bit of excitement from it, while others did not gain as much. It may be related to how long those fans tuned in; the ones who tuned in for longer may have seen a few more things than the ones that didn't tune in for as long. I can see why - in the moments I tuned in, I did not see much other than a somewhat dark scenery with not many things going on, and I couldn't continue to tune in because of other things I had to do. However, a certain fan, one who also updates a certain other site for Pokémon, has indicated that the fan stayed up for all the 24 hours of the livestream in order to be able to update about the livestream. If that is the case, then that's a real dedicated effort, on the scale of my own effort to post every day on this blog. Ultimately, what was seen seemed to determine the excitement.
It was great that at least one person was dedicated enough to go through the entire livestream for information. But as evidenced by my personal case and perhaps the case of others, not everyone is able to go through 24 hours of a livestream that may show things only intermittently. If something like this ever happens again, it may be worth it for some viewers to cooperate with several other people and arrange shifts as to who will watch the livestream when, and record the findings as they appear. In doing so, it lightens the burden for everyone involved - but again, only if it occurs in similar fashion with the same length at some other time. Given the reactions to this really long livestream, it may be that one that is half as long (12 hours) or one-third as long (8 hours) may be sufficient to keep viewers engaged and allow others to take part. Both the execution of the livestream itself as well as the way of watching the livestream may be improved upon.
As for the findings from the livestream regarding the games, there is quite a bit. Most of those findings deal with Pokémon that will appear in the Sword and Shield games. The camera is set in a forest place called "Glimwood Tangle" in Galar, and as expected, most of the Pokémon are dwellers of the forest due to the nature of the setting. Some Pokémon that were predicted to appear such as Morelull and Phantump did appear, thereby confirming their and their families' presence in the games. Cottonee and Impidimp also appeared, though they could be considered to be less expected. The biggest discovery of all during this livestream is a new Pokémon that looks strangely like infant horses from "the fandom next door" and yet has similar characteristics to a Ponyta, which could therefore only be described as Galarian Ponyta. These are all quite significant in some ways.
As a promotional method, the livestream can be described to be successful in certain aspects, while being less successful in others. The idea is novel enough in that it lets one find out about things by direct observation, as if one was actually there or at the least doing remote research work, which is the intent. The only real problem is those who may or may not be able or willing to watch for the entire length of the livestream. That said, some fans will be expected remain up (literally) for it, which at least may benefit others; with some adjustments, that may still be incentive enough to "livestream and let livestream".
One year ago: Cosplay: SJF - Tomodachi 3
Two years ago: Iron Trainers?
The impact of this new method seems to be quite mixed. Some fans seem to have gained quite a bit of excitement from it, while others did not gain as much. It may be related to how long those fans tuned in; the ones who tuned in for longer may have seen a few more things than the ones that didn't tune in for as long. I can see why - in the moments I tuned in, I did not see much other than a somewhat dark scenery with not many things going on, and I couldn't continue to tune in because of other things I had to do. However, a certain fan, one who also updates a certain other site for Pokémon, has indicated that the fan stayed up for all the 24 hours of the livestream in order to be able to update about the livestream. If that is the case, then that's a real dedicated effort, on the scale of my own effort to post every day on this blog. Ultimately, what was seen seemed to determine the excitement.
It was great that at least one person was dedicated enough to go through the entire livestream for information. But as evidenced by my personal case and perhaps the case of others, not everyone is able to go through 24 hours of a livestream that may show things only intermittently. If something like this ever happens again, it may be worth it for some viewers to cooperate with several other people and arrange shifts as to who will watch the livestream when, and record the findings as they appear. In doing so, it lightens the burden for everyone involved - but again, only if it occurs in similar fashion with the same length at some other time. Given the reactions to this really long livestream, it may be that one that is half as long (12 hours) or one-third as long (8 hours) may be sufficient to keep viewers engaged and allow others to take part. Both the execution of the livestream itself as well as the way of watching the livestream may be improved upon.
As for the findings from the livestream regarding the games, there is quite a bit. Most of those findings deal with Pokémon that will appear in the Sword and Shield games. The camera is set in a forest place called "Glimwood Tangle" in Galar, and as expected, most of the Pokémon are dwellers of the forest due to the nature of the setting. Some Pokémon that were predicted to appear such as Morelull and Phantump did appear, thereby confirming their and their families' presence in the games. Cottonee and Impidimp also appeared, though they could be considered to be less expected. The biggest discovery of all during this livestream is a new Pokémon that looks strangely like infant horses from "the fandom next door" and yet has similar characteristics to a Ponyta, which could therefore only be described as Galarian Ponyta. These are all quite significant in some ways.
As a promotional method, the livestream can be described to be successful in certain aspects, while being less successful in others. The idea is novel enough in that it lets one find out about things by direct observation, as if one was actually there or at the least doing remote research work, which is the intent. The only real problem is those who may or may not be able or willing to watch for the entire length of the livestream. That said, some fans will be expected remain up (literally) for it, which at least may benefit others; with some adjustments, that may still be incentive enough to "livestream and let livestream".
One year ago: Cosplay: SJF - Tomodachi 3
Two years ago: Iron Trainers?
Sunday, October 6, 2019
(Not) Sparkling Names
As a linguist, I have to pay attention to different phenomena concerning languages so that I can understand them based on their language properties and what they imply beyond that. Pokémon is included in some of these phenomena, as evidenced by several posts I've made about them. One kind of language phenomena related to Pokémon is their names, which I've written to a certain extent regarding their existence across languages. Predictably, there are multiple facets to any phenomena, and I'd like to take this post to write about another one of those facets.
In the previous post, I also mentioned that every language has different senses and sensibilities. They dictate what can and can't be done, especially regarding meanings. Names of people and things are also included, which is why many Pokémon names are different across a few languages. But even within one language, those senses and sensibilities may govern other things related to names. In the case of the Japanese language, there is a certain phenomenon that becomes a testament to this.
That phenomenon is called "kirakira" names, as in people names. According to a certain YouTube video, the term means "sparkling", but the group of names that are as such are really anything but. Of those names, at least the ones explained in the video, they include two very well-known Pokémon: Pikachu and Mewtwo. Japanese names for Japanese people are necessarily rendered in kanji (Chinese-derived characters), but forcing the names of both Pokémon to be rendered in those characters results in strange combinations meaning-wise. In the example, though, the "Mewtwo" name does include the character for "two", yet it would be considered a nonstandard reading in a way.
It makes sense. Typically, Pokémon names in Japanese are rendered in katakana script, which is often used to phonetically indicate expressions that are foreign (like English words) or otherwise may not fit in standard Japanese. While it is interesting to make them out with kanji for the purpose of naming people, it is as equally dubious, especially when standard names are already the norm. As well, pop culture-related expressions like names of Pokémon are not immune to criticism, often in verbal - and unfortunately sometimes physical - form; it is fairly easy to imagine what would happen if they are used for actual people names. It's no wonder that these "kirakira" names can be considered "bad", in a sense.
Evidently, names for people or otherwise - Pokémon - are as much part of language as anything else. They can be explained through it, and they are governed by its workings. The case of these "kirakira" names involving Pokémon particularly highlights deeper connections with language, here being Japanese, and why it just doesn't sensibly work out based on meaning and communication. It remains a "sparkly" phenomena for both language and Pokémon, even if underneath it all the sparkle just doesn't light up - if you get my drift.
One year ago: My Town, Pokémon Town
Two years ago: What's in a Name?
In the previous post, I also mentioned that every language has different senses and sensibilities. They dictate what can and can't be done, especially regarding meanings. Names of people and things are also included, which is why many Pokémon names are different across a few languages. But even within one language, those senses and sensibilities may govern other things related to names. In the case of the Japanese language, there is a certain phenomenon that becomes a testament to this.
That phenomenon is called "kirakira" names, as in people names. According to a certain YouTube video, the term means "sparkling", but the group of names that are as such are really anything but. Of those names, at least the ones explained in the video, they include two very well-known Pokémon: Pikachu and Mewtwo. Japanese names for Japanese people are necessarily rendered in kanji (Chinese-derived characters), but forcing the names of both Pokémon to be rendered in those characters results in strange combinations meaning-wise. In the example, though, the "Mewtwo" name does include the character for "two", yet it would be considered a nonstandard reading in a way.
It makes sense. Typically, Pokémon names in Japanese are rendered in katakana script, which is often used to phonetically indicate expressions that are foreign (like English words) or otherwise may not fit in standard Japanese. While it is interesting to make them out with kanji for the purpose of naming people, it is as equally dubious, especially when standard names are already the norm. As well, pop culture-related expressions like names of Pokémon are not immune to criticism, often in verbal - and unfortunately sometimes physical - form; it is fairly easy to imagine what would happen if they are used for actual people names. It's no wonder that these "kirakira" names can be considered "bad", in a sense.
Evidently, names for people or otherwise - Pokémon - are as much part of language as anything else. They can be explained through it, and they are governed by its workings. The case of these "kirakira" names involving Pokémon particularly highlights deeper connections with language, here being Japanese, and why it just doesn't sensibly work out based on meaning and communication. It remains a "sparkly" phenomena for both language and Pokémon, even if underneath it all the sparkle just doesn't light up - if you get my drift.
One year ago: My Town, Pokémon Town
Two years ago: What's in a Name?
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