Four Years, Taking Damage and Healing

With this post, it is now a full four years that I've blogged about all kinds of things related to Pokémon, whether personal or common. It's been a very long four years, and even this year could be considered to have been the longest one yet, what with all the things that happened. As in past years (see below), particularly from the previous couple of years, I'd also like to tie it with a Pokémon conceptualization. For this year, it seems appropriate that the conceptualization regards "taking damage" and "healing", both being key dynamics in many Pokémon battles.

In battles, taking damage can be instant, as the result of many Pokémon moves in the main series games and in general in Pokémon Go and few other spinoff games. Notably, the instant damage came about this year when many Pokémon things (or at least with personal possible Pokémon relevance) came to an abrupt halt due to the effects of that certain viral illness. Some moves can result in one-shot or one-hit KO by design or under the right circumstances, and effectively that's the effect that the latter had on many things of the former, as the situation was totally right - or rather, totally wrong. Others were left with barely a sizable amount of HP that would then be affected by other dynamics in the future.

One of those other dynamics is the gradual taking of damage, as through a status condition or by moves like Future Sight. This is mostly well-known in the main series games, but a few other games may have a variant of the dynamic. Sure enough, gradual damage was taken by a few other things this year, and it resulted in a few more things coming to an abrupt halt, becoming an effective KO for them, particularly if they weren't fully damaged by the conditions in the first place. I noticed this dynamic gradually occurring for many other things throughout the year.

Yet, where damage has been taken, there is the possibility of healing. Being able to deal with Pokémon continuously even during tough times is healing in itself, in addition to coverage of unique topics such as videos on YouTube and a unique anniversary pathway. There was also an attempt to start a totally novel way of discussing Pokémon Go through a podcast. Still, these only represent a gradual healing, as with the condition created by the Ingrain move or by usage of moves such as Recover, as well as minor item usage. And like moves in the main series games, they were sometimes limited like the Power Points (PP) limit them. The podcast is a testament, existing for only two episodes.

It is still possible for healing to be instantly complete. An instantly complete healing would be one that is accomplished through the Rest move or major items like the Full Restore. In the case of what has happened throughout this year, however, it hasn't been the case that this has happened. Further advancements will only confirm that this will be the case, in the next year or even beyond. In the meantime, one can heal the spirit, in Pokémon ways or otherwise, through ways like the "return to believe" that one singer suggests. And the lead-up to that anniversary may help a tiny bit.

It has been said that everything has their own time. In the case of matters related to Pokémon (battling), there would be a time to take damage, then there would be a time to heal from that damage. The two can be said to represent "counterforces" by which negatives and positives cancel out. Much of this year can be said to have been the former with much less of the latter, for Pokémon or other things.

But it seems, as with the spirit of a post I made over a year ago, it may just be a matter of having the time and making the time, hopefully for more healing than damaging. And if we "return to believe", there may just be still time.

Cheers to lots of healing (and less damage) in the times ahead for all of us. 💪

One year ago: Three Years: Making My Moves

Two years ago: Two Years of Evolution

Three years ago: One Year Full of Pokémon

Return to Believe

Give yourself to feelings

Be open to intuition

Don't hesitate, don't question

Accepting to live

Nothing can stop the wheel of life

It always keeps you coming back

To be born again

To grow again

To believe again

To believe again.

-- "Volver a Creer", Yanni (with José José) (interpreted)

As always, it's time to close up the year (almost) with a song that encapsulates the impressions of my Pokémon experiences this year, and possibly that of others as well. I've only heard this song this year, but from what I can understand about the song, it seems quite appropriate for this year where nothing seems to go right or many things have been taken away due to the current situation in the world. All that seems to be a prompt for any person to "return to believe", an interpretation of the title of the song I quoted above, and as the title of this post.

This song is actually pretty magical. Last April, I noted that Yanni is mostly known for his instrumental works, but sometimes he conceives vocal pieces with different vocalists. The song is actually a vocal version of one of his hallmark instrumental pieces, "Reflections of Passion", with renowned Spanish language singer José José; this post can be considered to refer to that too. As the story goes, the singer had lost his voice, but for Yanni, he was able to sing again, and this is the song that he sung. In a way, this is one of his "last hurrahs", as a few years back, he died from illness. That tale in itself is wonderful if nothing else and has quite a bit of relevance with the message of the song.

The words of the song, according to interpretations, are about living (and loving) for today and being introspective about the moments of life. It encourages people to keep on living as life goes on, perhaps in the same way that the upcoming anniversary tagline prompts Trainers to go on with their training. In a way, the song harkens back to the title of the original instrumental piece as above, in that life is the result of passions reflected by those who live and love. It is perhaps this situation that the singer realized and, in doing so, found his voice for one more time before he had to depart. And in this current (Pokémon) life, it becomes especially pertinent.

The above bit about Trainers keeping on training remains appropriate in this regard. What is also appropriate is finding oneself when things have been lost or gone awry as with this year, as with the absence of events or competitions, limited live entertainment, and drastically changed ways of life. Even I have not been immune to these or the effects from these, and I fear that I am or may be in for quite a few more things that are lost or go awry, Pokémon or otherwise. But life goes on, and I have to go on as well. With luck, I will be able to find myself in whatever things I do, and make all the happy returns as stated in the part quoted above. Others can do the same too.

So much has been taken away and so much has been lost as well, especially over the course of this year, and even involving Pokémon affairs. For some people, it has to be a sad thing, and to some extent I can feel their sadness as much as I feel mine. But if life is a reflection of passion, then it's worthwhile to keep on living - in my case as well as that of other Pokémon fans, to do the things we usually do with adaptations where necessary. In the meantime, we may as well make that "return to believe" for what will become better in the next year and beyond.

One year ago: (Extra-)Ordinary Days

Two years ago: One Day, in Life

Three years ago: When I See You Again

A(n Un)Clear Vision?

At the very beginning of this year, I detailed the theme that would mark my experiences this year, Pokémon or otherwise. It was as much a guiding spirit as it was in some ways a prediction. Yet, the prediction couldn't be any more off, as a certain viral illness "threw a wrench into the works" and ravaged the usual ways of daily life. What was accordingly supposed to be "clear" became the opposite, "unclear". For that, I've chosen to title this post the way it is, and seeing as it's the end of the year, it has a place to be reviewed in relation to Pokémon and practically other things.

The usual and/or novel menagerie of Pokémon events related to the games and other media became quite disrupted, completely changed, or utterly eliminated. There was a sort of blurriness that came over them as they took place or even didn't at all. Even my personal forays to involve Pokémon in my activities couldn't take place as they normally would. In short, the resulting conditions led to major slip-ups and hiccups to the point that some just couldn't carry on. There was only the clarity that some things just weren't or couldn't be as they are supposed to be.

Even that Instagram account, which had been expected to clarify my Pokémon experiences (and some others) ended up only clarifying a little instead of a lot, due to various reasons including the current situation. Still, it did clarify some, which is better than none at all; overall, it was also somewhat positive. I stand to make better use of this in the next year and upcoming years based on the possible (or any) Pokémon experiences that might come up and to continue using it in the positive ways that have been realized. 

As detailed previously, the yearly theme was inspired by the 20/20 standard measurement for clear vision. However, much of the happenings that took place within the current year was anything but. In popular expression, the same standard is also used to refer to hindsight to say that one can evaluate things in a better way in comparison to when and after certain things happen. That said, it seems that the hindsight situation seems to be the only true and clear thing. And now, I'm compelled to look back on things after I stated that things within this year might be clear, which turned out to not be the case.

As a prediction, the "clear vision" thing turned out to be completely inaccurate - perhaps all because of that illness. As a guiding spirit, however, it is and was still completely noble throughout the year that was supposed to be so. Based on this, I may be able to recognize the theme that would apply for and within the next year, but I'll save that for when it's appropriate, certainly not within the remaining couple of days of this year. It seems to still be quite worth it to maintain the spirit of a "clear vision" still within that time and within all the times to come, for Pokémon and beyond.

One year ago: Cosplay: MC & "Reflections of Love" End of Year Events

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (Above and Beyond), 12/29/2018

Three years ago: In Lieu of a Book

Road to 25th Anniversary: Life Goes On

Lest it be forgotten, there is the topic of the upcoming amazing anniversary for Pokémon that is on my watch and perhaps many others. After a few months of just plain speculation since my coverage started well before the date on the supposed "half-anniversary", there is now a clearer indication of things that the anniversary will entail. It can be called a "campaign" of sorts, and whatever will come with that anniversary is expected to tie into that "campaign". This time, the discussion will center on that "campaign" and what that means.

The teasers for the anniversary came about coinciding with the occasion of Thanksgiving in the U.S., which was the day after I had posted to gauge the symbolism of the anniversary against a different one of almost the same kind. The official Pokémon Twitter account posted a tweet on that very day about the anniversary, along with an image for that representative moment containing the anniversary logo and tagline, which could also be considered the "message" of the "campaign". Then, during the customary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the logo was also unveiled for all to see. This is a significant advancement, in that now the mood is set - officially, nonetheless.

Yet, there is still something not quite so significant. That would be the anniversary logo, which bears a striking resemblance to the logo for the 20th anniversary, something that I've used in a wallpaper creation of the past. The only difference is that there is no mosaic of Pokémon, and it is instead a simple colored Pikachu silhouette (which the mosaic intended to show), with its cheeks displaying "25" and not "20". It seems rather underwhelming, because the 20th anniversary mosaic logo appears more impressive in comparison to it. Because it is underwhelming, it is also insignificant as a result.

The tagline may be considered to be more significant, though it is as brief as brief can be. That tagline is "Train On", which has the connotation that a Trainer ought to be able to keep training no matter what. It resonates with the current global conditions that seemingly does not allow for this to happen. And yet this can still happen in some ways, especially through what might be just unveiled once the day of the anniversary comes about; this is why I opted to remark this discussion as in the title of the post. The past has shown that even on a year without a significant anniversary as with this one, the news divulged on this day can be very significant. The continuance remains to be seen.

While nothing else concrete has been officially revealed, the confirmation of the logo and tagline for this upcoming major anniversary is concrete enough to warrant a discussion about them. As the occasion of the anniversary draws near, more and more things will liven up the anniversary and should also confirm the spirit of the tagline. Until that point, Trainers can realize the spirit of the tagline in their ways before doing so with newly divulged ways; in either case and with this big anniversary in the pipeline, (Pokémon) life continues to go on.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2019

Two years ago: Soul-Searching and Pokémon

Three years ago: From Journal to Blog

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2020

Before wrapping up the year, it would be wise to wrap up what Pokémon Go had in store for this month in all its events, as I am wont to do now. Befitting the first month of the season of Celebration, the events of this month are celebratory in nature, whether evidently or secretly (in one case, literally). And yet, things still fall on hard times, and even in some cases and areas, they may even be harder times. This month still demands some celebration at the very least, so that remains in order even with the events here, and so they went.

Early this month, there was a week-long event called the Kalos Celebration. The event is simple and obvious: it was to welcome the recently introduced Pokémon of the sixth generation who hail from the Kalos region. More of them appeared in the wild, in raids, and in Eggs, after which they returned to normal distribution. To complement these increased appearances, certain Research tasks also rewarded Mega Energy for certain species, which is appropriate considering that they debuted at the same time. It couldn't have been any simpler, and in some ways it was also necessary and welcoming for the newest Pokémon to grace Pokémon Go.

For a 24-hour period from December 10 to 12, depending on where a Trainer lived, there was a short but significant event called "Wooper Watch"... but it's more appropriately called the Game Awards event, because it was held to celebrate this particular awards ceremony. Half of the event focused on catching Pokémon, as Incense became more effective and more Stardust could be earned, while the other half was focused on Team Go Rocket, as the Shadow Pokémon gotten from them could have their Frustration move be forgotten and the Grunts came about more often at PokéStops and in balloons. As predicted by the event title, Wooper took central stage, even possibly becoming Shiny or Shadow. The ceremony might not have been something that everyone watched, but everyone could take advantage of the celebration that ensued along with the ceremony.

As I noted above, one event is secretly celebratory, and that would be the "Secrets of the Jungle" event that took place over the week from December 14. It is exactly that, because the part in quotes is the subtitle of the Pokémon feature film or movie due out this year, at least in Japan. This bit requires explanation at some other point in time, but the event can be said to follow the movie, more or less. The key part is a Special Research set that rewards a Shiny Celebi. Also on tap were Pokémon found in the movie appearing over three days, and another costumed form of Pikachu, called Explorer Pikachu, throughout the event; plus, Jessie and James returned not only in their balloon, but also to guide the Special Research, a novel first. It was a total celebration of the movie even if the event didn't say it as such, and the Shiny Celebi reward should have been the most lucrative part.

Then, there is the Holiday Event as the familiar standby event of this time of year, for which this year's edition started five days ago and will end at the end of the month of the year. Ice-type Pokémon become predominant, including the debut of the Vanillite family and Shiny Jynx, as well as different costumed forms of Pikachu, Cubchoo, and Delibird. Novelties are abound this year with different bonuses on different days (no free Incubators, sadly), new stickers, new Shop content, and temporarily increased Gift limits. The Winter Weekend from last year also returned yesterday and today, but on a somewhat reduced scale, featuring just Regice in raids and certain Ice-type Pokémon attracted to Incense. The celebration had to be maintained relevant in a number of ways even now.

With the above events, that just about wraps it up for December and this strange year in Pokémon Go and otherwise. There is nothing quite like a celebration, especially at this time of year, though it may have to be subdued in light of this year. If anything, it may be considered that the celebrations are to maintain joy in the hearts of Trainers, which someone said could be a very important thing. Beyond hard times, there is still a bit of fun to be had with the events, and through it, it may just celebrate hope for better times.

One year ago: Pokémon and the Furry Fandom

Two years ago: A Tripartite Conversation

Three years ago: I Can Hear Your Voice

My Missing Pokémon Pieces in 2020

It's almost the end of the year - harrowing as it may be - and I've got a slew of posts lined up in order to wrap up this year. This post could be considered to be one of them, and though that wasn't the original intention, it still works for that purpose. This harrowing year has been one of many misses for Pokémon or otherwise, and among those misses are some of my own, even in relation to what has been missed by Pokémon. They're the "missing pieces" (in line with a similar discussion on them last year) of what has transpired with me and Pokémon this year.

Among some of those pieces are a few related to Pokémon Go. A few months ago, I wrote about the possibility of EX Raids being considered to have gone by the wayside, and not much has changed since then, except that even today there may still be new Gyms for them. It's been a long time since I also participated in and made a write-up on them, and I would say they added personality to this blog. Then there are the raid group tournaments, which as I've noted for the SLA theme this month, has been absent for some time as well. Unlike EX Raids, these can still take place, but they depend on the whim of my raid group, which seems to be presently non-existent as well. Without them, there is certainly a missing aspect to this blog and they become missing pieces in general.

Cosplay too has been practically absent, except for certain occasions. It turned out that those became one-off trials, and after that, they became absent again. One of my very good friends also noted this absence and it also became aggravating for my friend, yet it's especially aggravating for me since cosplay is one of the ways I express my interest in Pokémon. Closely associated with cosplay is my involvement with Pokémon music, specifically the singing of them by karaoke or otherwise with bands. Even with a commendable interest in singing and minor experience doing so, it becomes a veritable outlet for my Pokémon appreciation. Likewise, not much has changed since an in-depth discussion last April on these matters. They remain as gaping holes and therefore missing pieces as well.

Perhaps a really big missing piece (or several pieces) for me personally involves the main series games, specifically of the eighth generation, which I still have not dealt with because of missing them and their console, the Nintendo Switch. Given that I've discussed them a number of times, particularly on two separate occasions, I'm still interested in finding and fitting in these missing pieces. More importantly, I did already plan for them, though the plan for now has to be frozen due to other pressing needs and interests. Having enjoyed the main series games since the beginning, this is indeed also a big missing piece, considering this and the fact it has lasted from even before this year. It becomes imperative to right the ship at the earliest opportunity possible.

My wrap-up lineup for this year on this blog seems to have started early. Yet at this point in the year, it's approaching late as late could be. For that, it seems appropriate to detail the "missing pieces" for my year as above; granted, they may also be "missing pieces" for any Pokémon fan in general this year, but in my case, the "missing" quality seems even more evident. The next major mission in the upcoming year would then become to find those missing pieces and for Pokémon to turn some of its misses into hits to recover from this harrowing year.

One year ago: More on Sunner and Me

Two years ago: Wallpaper: 20th Movie - Remember and Continue

Three years ago: The First: Episode 001 - "Pokémon - I Choose You!"

Merry Christmas... in Fantasies

And once again, it's Christmas. In yesterday's post on a Pokémon version of a song characteristic to today, I noted that because of this year's circumstances, the situation for today this year might represent a way of going "back to the roots". With Pokémon in mind, perhaps I can illustrate my own: for me, Christmas is and has always been quite a fantasy, mostly because I can be considered a "second party" to it. I won't explain further about this latter perception, but I can explain further about the "fantasies".

Prior to the holiday people know today as Christmas, the Romans could be said to have had their own version of it. It's called Saturnalia, and it's a "harvest festival", seeing as how it's devoted to Saturn, the god of harvest. It's perhaps closer to Thanksgiving than it is to Christmas, but some of the spirit is notably the same, particularly the giving of gifts, something still integral to Christmas today. Most importantly, the festival occurs from December 17 to 23, within the week shy of modern Christmas. And it's also as glamorous and fantastic to people then as Christmas is to people now.

Based on what I've observed about Pokémon, I'm inclined to think that a Pokémon Christmas resembles a mix of the older tradition of Saturnalia and the newer tradition of modern Christmas. It's a time of real merriment for everyone, with shared values between the two traditions, some of which are noble and applies to all humanity and even the creatures of Pokémon. Considering this, the party illustrated by the Pokémon Christmas Bash album makes sense to a good amount. And while there isn't any merriment to speak of this year, that becomes a fantasy of its own until it becomes reality once again.

As for myself, I've had my fantasies with Christmas, and much of them do in fact involve or has involved Pokémon. Some of the best times during Christmas in past years were when they allowed me to get going on something related to Pokémon, such as getting the album above at the most perfect of occasions. Meanwhile, in recent times, the holiday event of Pokémon Go (more details on this year's soon) has allowed a more fantastic-realistic perception of Pokémon in my everyday life, and that was what happened today, which explains in part why this post took longer to be realized than older ones (see below).

This Christmas is one that is vastly different than the editions in prior years due to the current circumstances. But the fantasy aspect of Christmas is one that continues to persist, in which case for some people including me, it might just have Pokémon involved. I'm certain that given its predecessor as above and what people now have today, the fantasy aspect can coexist along with its reality. And if Pokémon can happen to be involved somehow, then that's a real fantasy to behold along with the reality.

Merry Christmas, whether in (Pokémon) fantasy or reality. 🎄

One year ago: I Like Christmas, Merry Christmas

Two years ago: Christmas Bash: Concept Album?

Three years ago: Merry Christmas!

Christmas Song, Really

Jessie: They know that Santa's on his way

James: Yay!

Meowth: He's loading lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh

James: Hurray!

Meowth: And every mother's child is gonna spy

James: Why oh why?

Jessie: To see if Stantler really know how to fly

James: My oh my! - And so, I'm offering this simple phrase/To kids from one to ninety-two - me and you!

Meowth: Although it's been said, many times, many ways/Merry Christmas to you...

-- "The Christmas Song", from Pokémon Christmas Bash

After a year of not discussing something from the Pokémon Christmas Bash album on this very day (see below), it seems proper to go "back to the roots" and do so this year. Now, because of current conditions through what happened over the course of this year, the Christmas merriment is somewhat different, almost as if it's also demanding a return to the roots. With that, it seems appropriate to also go "back to the roots" with one of the songs from that album, and that would be with this song.

This song is a classic, having existed since 1945, written at that time by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. As the story goes, the song was written when it wasn't even Christmas time; it was conceived in the middle of summer intentionally to evoke winter to at least provide the illusion of cooling off. Yet the writing process "snowballed", and the full-fledged song was written. It can then be said that the songwriting was also going "back to the roots" of winter, so to speak. Since the first recording in 1946, it has become a Christmas staple, and it also takes the Pokémon form as above.

As I've dropped way back near the beginning of this blog, the version on the album is sung by an unlikely trio of sorts, being Team Rocket as Jessie, James, and Meowth. Though this is properly a song (as with any popular rendition), the version by Team Rocket plays out like a narrative, as Jessie and James mostly speak the lyrics rather than sing them; the only one who constantly sings throughout is Meowth, and then there is a background chorus just to aid things to flow somewhat. They dedicate this song to "all our fans" - of them - despite not having any but with the conviction that they will.

On the whole, this song (at least in its original incarnation) has little to do with Pokémon. It's about an illustration of wintertime and specifically Christmas time, if the story behind its songwriting is of any indication. Therefore, there has to be a way of making it have Pokémon flavor, and there is: instead of "reindeer", it becomes "Stantler", which is the reindeer analogue of the world of Pokémon. This occurs in both places where the said creature is mentioned, of which one of them is the above chorus and verse, and I've underlined it for emphasis. Yet it's still very much a meaningful change.

This song should mean a lot to many people around this time of year, regardless of the version. But for fans of Pokémon - whether or not they are also fans of the not-so-dynamic Team Rocket trio - this song might resonate somewhat more, even if it's less of a song in the way that they sing it. And though the atmosphere of this year's Christmas may be far off from what this song describes, as may be the case for any year, it may still be nice to maintain the fantasy, even with a Pokémon touch.

One year ago: Let's Go Play with Buddies

Two years ago: Keeping Homes in Hearts

Three years ago: Cool Wintry Song

Playing Pokémon on the Quick

Even with current circumstances, it may be that some people still don't have loads of free time for leisure due to one reason or another. I, for example, am facing a necessary situation that if I weren't facing it otherwise, I would have more free time for all other things, including Pokémon. I still play Pokémon Go as one of the currently most accessible Pokémon games for me, but with everything that it offers today, what used to be quick is now not as quick. With that in mind, I've decided to explore in this post just how quick playing Pokémon games can get.

As with the case of Pokémon Go above and extensive games like the main series games, the breadth of content they possess makes them not so quick to be played. However, there may still be a few quick actions that can be performed intermittently, and a series of several of these actions may then constitute good progress that later on can be supplemented with an action that takes longer to complete, which would then at least result in significant progress. The games on the whole might still take a long time to complete, but as popularly expressed, even little (quick) steps can take someone really far.

If quick actions for grand overarching progressions are still undesirable and/or unfeasible, then something like Pokémon Shuffle might remain as an interest. There is no real grand overarching progression to speak of, but whatever quick actions can be taken should be able to develop other quick actions that take place later on. In that sense, Shuffle is truly open-ended and can be taken in any direction one wishes, and quick or quicker actions can and should lead in any of those directions, even potentially change them. The limiting factor of Hearts further establishes the quickness of actions that can be taken.

Should push come to shove, a game like Magikarp Jump might suffice for even quicker actions than Shuffle, as an example. In fact, the game would benefit from such very quick actions as it would protract the time it takes to get to what could be considered the practical "end of the game", though the game itself is somewhat open-ended. The most basic of quick actions don't take very long to complete and much of the content can be skipped with no detriment, especially if already known beforehand. The game progression may not be as satisfactory as a major game, but it may be sufficient regardless.

The takeaway from the various Pokémon games above is that a good number require overall intense efforts that aren't too quick to accomplish, while few can be subdivided to be accomplished through quick actions. Yet it may be that quick actions can be taken to accomplish not-so-quick progressions. On that note, I remain enthused to still be able to play the Pokémon games no matter how much time I have on my hands, and optimistic that I can make significant progressions in them. It should be something spirited for any Pokémon fan in the same situation as I am.

One year ago: December for Love

Two years ago: Quick Ball Tin and Pokémon Coin

Three years ago: Perspective

Muscle Memory and Pokémon Games

The term "muscle memory" is a unique term for the science of the human body. According to the term, certain muscles of the human body are able to move in certain ways that are programmed after plenty of repetitive actions. Gamers are no stranger to repetitive actions, as they might often execute them in order to succeed in certain parts of the games. It would then come as no surprise that Pokémon gamers would be of no exception, and the repetitive actions they make would lead to the creation of muscle memory. In fact, there are a few situations where muscle memory does matter and in a way becomes a story of its own.

Those who play the main series games will no doubt be no stranger to the changing appearance of battle screens, specifically the "command menu" where they typically pick from the four options of "Fight", "Item/Bag", "Pokémon", and "Run". There is a certain muscle memory that developed when the four options were just a simple menu, and this was demanded to change in later generations as the menu transitioned to adapt for the inclusion of touch screens and multiple buttons. It is quite likely that some might have had a little trouble adapting to the changes, and that may be in part to muscle memory at work initially resisting the change. But then, the muscle memory developed and then changed accordingly.

A similar situation might be considered to have happened recently in Pokémon Go. The addition of the new Tag feature also involved the addition of a menu item to invoke the feature from any individual Pokémon. However, the initial addition also displaced the "Appraise" item, which disrupted the muscle memory of many, and it persisted that way until the menu items were reordered to return "Appraise" where it was, familiar to most. Predictably, this satisfied the muscle memory of most, but it also disrupted those for whom the new muscle memory was beginning to form - though by now most will have had their muscle memory restored. It's a true example of what can and does happen with muscle memory.

For other Pokémon games, muscle memory might not be so evident, but the example may be there. In Pokémon Shuffle, the quickest way to build a party capable of dealing with a stage is to hit the "Optimize" button, which may not always work, but in a pinch may be sufficient. The problem is that for some, it may be too sufficient, and it may lead them to continually hit the "Optimize" button, even after selecting a party that meets exactly the demands of a stage. Then, for the specific stages when the "Optimize" button isn't present as with the Pokémon Safari, it may leave them a bit lost. This too is an example of muscle memory at work, as the gratification it provides allows it to persist.

The concept of muscle memory as it relates to the human body is a fascinating one. The formation of specific triggers after having made muscles accustomed to repetitive actions is probable and in fact very much plausible, including for gamers and specifically those who play Pokémon games. At the same time, it may be helpful and/or become a hindrance depending on what's involved and what may have changed. It is regardless something evident that has to be considered for the experience of playing games, especially Pokémon ones, in order that it may be the best as can possibly be, which might be exactly what players desire.

One year ago: Cosplay: Chibi Daisuki! Japan Fest 2019

Two years ago: A Pikachu Hand Puppet

Three years ago: I Claimed My Team

What If Pokémon Didn't Exist?

The topic posed by the question in the title of this post may not be a simple or succinct one to discuss within the confines of a post on this blog, but I can at least try. So by now, Pokémon has an established place in the world of video games and media in general. It started off with the former and established much of the latter. However, what becomes a wonder is what would be the state of the world today if all of that is non-existent. That leads to the question as present in the post title.

It would be wise to start off with the video game aspect, as that is where and how Pokémon began. Without the games, it would be certain that there wouldn't be a phenomenon of explosive interest such as that which I had observed early on when I started liking Pokémon. That would equally apply for the same phenomenon with Pokémon Go that came later in its lifetime; development of augmented reality might also have taken a different turn as a result.  What would be the traditional competitive venues would also be non-existent or perhaps even be replaced with something else. Thus, without the games existing, a number of associated phenomenon wouldn't be able to exist either.

If the games don't exist, then its associated media wouldn't be able to exist either. Anime with over a thousand episodes would still exist, but it would be for something else in place of Pokémon. Pokémon Centers, which are go-to places for all things Pokémon, would be something else, which could perhaps be Nintendo stores instead, and they wouldn't be as big. Likewise, the creativity of the people that would be with Pokémon wouldn't be stifled, but they instead would be shifted to other things that may not be as big and/or influential as Pokémon. The running thread through all of these is that there would be a shift to other things that may not be comparable to Pokémon.

Then there would be the personal effects, which would involve yours truly. This blog would obviously never exist if Pokémon didn't exist, or at the very least it would be focused on something else. While I could stand to establish relations and do the same things with many of my existing friends today, including cosplay, it would likely be for other things, and that has the potential to give off different impressions. Most importantly, I would likely have developed myself in ways that wouldn't be without Pokémon, and that has been explained (or not) at length, in fact with a song. These effects are profound and can be said to affect every fiber of my being.

The place that Pokémon has in games and media is amazing. It is unique and popular in many ways imaginable and unimaginable, even for particular fans like me. It is thus very special in those ways, and it would be terribly hard to explain all of those possible ways, though the above overview could be considered to suffice. Therefore, perhaps to put it succinctly and simply, the world of today would not be the world of today without Pokémon, and that should hardly be a wonder. 

One year ago: New Innovation, New Problems

Two years ago: Dreaming Big, Making an Impact

Three years ago: Friend Faves

Pokémon Go: Tap... Tap... Tappity-Tap...

Oh yes, I haven't mentioned. Pokémon Go has a minor weekend paid event over this weekend. It's similar in vein to the Regigigas or Genesect events from a while back, but it has its own complications and controversies, many of which are caused by the featured Pokémon and what it entails. Likewise, it also has its own set of Special Research, for which I've adopted the title as part of the title of this post that covers it, also in part because the Today View title for it isn't too particularly exciting - it's just called the "___ Debut" where the blank is the Pokémon that debuts.

That brings me to the point of what this event involves. The featured Pokémon for this event is Mr. Mime, but its Galarian Form; it's a regular Pokémon, but with a unique regional form. This is in contrast to the other two events, which featured a Legendary Pokémon that could and would be introduced through EX Raids. That does or did cause some controversy, because by way of the featured Pokémon, it would make the paid event worthless, and many did voice their concerns. And yet, many of those eventually bought the Ticket for access to the paid event anyway, practically voiding much of the controversy along with that. Predictably, I also purchased the Ticket for different purposes, not the least of which is for this blog.

Then there is the Special Research. For this paid event, the Special Research only has five pages, like the Genesect one, but the content is different. The first three pages deal with capture tasks or at the least tasks that revolve around that; it is especially worth noting that tasks on the first page and the third page demand capturing Ice and Psychic types respectively, the very same types for Galarian Mr. Mime and its evolved form Mr. Rime. The fourth page contains bonding tasks, including the prompt to evolve the obtained Galarian Mr. Mime, while the fifth page is a freebie for its completion. The storyline of the Special Research involves Professor Willow dealing with disturbances by Galarian Mr. Mime, which is both entertaining and silly.

As with the previous two paid events, there is also a background event, which for the purpose of the Special Research lasts from last Friday to Monday tomorrow. The background event involves extended Incense similar to a Community Day, and the Incense attracts mostly Pokémon of the Ice and Psychic types, also the same as the types of the featured Pokémon above. Cubchoo, the Ice-type Pokémon introduced last year, also has its Shiny form available now. The background event, like ones for the others as above, can be taken advantage of by all Trainers, not just Ticket holders, but it is very much clear that the background event is meant to aid Ticket holders as much as it is to provide something entertaining for all.

I got caught up in the controversy and bought my Ticket after the background event had began, also after considering how much the Ticket can serve to aid myself with everything that it allows me access to. Once the Special Research was distributed, it just became a matter of getting things done. I completed the first three pages yesterday, while I completed the rest of the pages today, ending it in due time within the main period of the Special Research distribution. In doing so, I also captured two Galarian Mr. Mime, both of which have very good (though not the very best possible) stats, and one of which is now a Mr. Rime. It could be said that I had a stroke of luck this time around with both of them turning out very good, which may not always be the case.

Evidently, this paid event in Pokémon Go is quite different in scale than the previous ones, which did affect (or has affected) the perceptions of Trainers regarding it. But if things are any indication, I and other Trainers struggled to overcome those perceptions and in the end had a good time, perhaps more than what was expected. At this point, new paid events will be likely to generate different and even controversial perceptions, something that may in fact be inevitable. Yet those perceptions may just be able to take a backseat to excitement when warranted, as with this one.

One year ago: Sitting Pikachu Keychain

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/20/2018

Three years ago: Movie Manga!

What It Takes to Contribute

A popular game maker (which will be made obvious at a later time) has recently outlined a few requirements for a position - actually, a number of similar positions - that will be in connection to and deal with a Pokémon game. Those requirements are not shabby either; they demand extensive play of most if not all games with requisite excellence in them, and they even warrant extensive watching of the anime, practically nearly half of all episodes in existence. With all the kinds of Pokémon fans out there, there just may be a few who fulfill these strictly demanding requirements. At the same time, they do bring up the issue of considering what it takes to contribute to certain Pokémon efforts.

The above requirements are steep, but they are understandable as there are many things that go into the creation of the other games, and the game that is upcoming will certainly make use of many, many of the elements of Pokémon games and in particular the main series of those games. The knowledge and effort in dealing with all those elements and so much more becomes the key for the new game in development. The addition of the requirement for the anime is remarkable, because by experience, good players of the games don't necessarily watch the anime, and likewise, those who watch the anime aren't necessarily good in playing the games. Therefore, these requirements demand fans who are above and beyond.

Considering the relationship to Pokémon, the above requirements stipulate that a high level of input is required for contributing to the development of the game, which is going to be major. I can think of maybe only one or two of any of the other people I know through Pokémon connections who fulfill them, and even then I'm not convinced. The high demand of input would be in contrast to the creation of a more minor Pokémon thing, which would only demand a lower level of input and therefore contribution; for example, it could be either extensive game playing or anime watching, but not both. For this, potentially more people can make their Pokémon contributions, including even me.

As this blog can attest, I thoroughly enjoy Pokémon. However, with the way my life has been going in the past few years and overall, I'm very much far off from being able to take up the position that the popular game maker demands, and therefore I can't make contributions in this way. However, with all the Pokémon experience I possess, I can and believe that I should be able to make my Pokémon contributions in other ways, even through something that involves the written word as demonstrated through this blog. It's one of the reasons that this blog has persisted, now closing in on the completion of its fourth year. It will continue to persist even as I find my ways to make my Pokémon contributions.

The undertaking by that game maker for a Pokémon game is decidedly a major one with a high potential for success. It wouldn't be a surprise, therefore, that the game maker demands such intense requirements for people who wish to contribute to it in order that the game allows itself to become as successful as it can be. Some will certainly be suited for that task, while others like me will have to find another way in order to contribute to Pokémon. Whether it's this way or that way, each kind of contribution would still be valuable in their own right for fans, players, or practically just about anyone in connection to Pokémon, and that would be something that hardly needs consideration at all.

One year ago: Creations Without Drama: Cosplay Teaser for 12/22/2019

Two years ago: The Four Pillars of Pokémon

Three years ago: Nostalgic Returns

"Seasonal" or "Occasional" Gamers

It's not surprising that over the years that I have spent with and playing Pokémon, I have gained a number of friends who share that exact same interest. Some of them are as intensely or neatly passionate as I am, while others are a little more quirky. A couple of the latter becomes the key point of what I discuss today, especially in relation to the aspect of gaming, which is in many ways relevant for Pokémon. It is the quirks that make them what they are, and they also fit to be described with the term I've dropped in the title of this post, which deserves some explanation.

In regard to gaming, they can be described as "seasonal gamers". I describe them as "seasonal" because they go into a game (Pokémon in whatever form included), play it, then get out of it, and the process repeats. They may or may not return to the games they have played, and this may be a blessing or a curse when Pokémon is concerned. In a way, by analogue to the term "occasional friend", they could be called an "occasional gamer" - thus both terms in the title - but "occasional" has the possible further connotation that they do not play frequently (they do play frequently by all means), which is why I opted for "seasonal" in line with the logic of a local neologism, in that whatever they play changes as with the seasons.

Strangely enough, their behaviors are or may be just as quirky as the way they play their games. On one hand, they can and do play well the games that they play, and in some cases this may be extremely well. When it comes to multiplayer gaming, this can be supportive of that. On the other hand and unfortunately, at times they might come off as arrogant or haughty, whether it's toward me or other players. When this happens, it may become rather irksome, and even I don't know how to regard this when I'm personally involved. For the case of playing with Pokémon, the former would be definitely pleasant; the latter case would be quite unspirited, given how Pokémon can and should appeal to everyone.

Personally, it's the previous point that I'm concerned with, especially since it seems to occur for many of the "seasonal" gamers I have relationships with. I'm not against them being "seasonal" gamers; it's not up to me to decide what games they should play. But I do take issue if their attitudes are not as wholesome as they could be, especially as far as the wholesomeness of Pokémon is relevant. Still, if they are fervent Pokémon fans like I am and remain as such even with all their "seasonality", it is still useful to be associated with them, though their behaviors may need some (or a lot of) work.

These "seasonal" or "occasional" gamers are rather quirky indeed. They move from one game to another by whims that rival those of nature, and it may be that they have aspects of behaviors that are less than savory. Yet some of them, particularly ones I know, are also attracted to Pokémon perhaps as much as I am, and they can be useful to have around when dealing with Pokémon. It may be considered somewhat dilemmatic. Even so, I also appreciate being in the company of such friends. At that point, their weirdness may be allowed to take a backseat for what Pokémon has to offer.

One year ago: A Cosplay Departure

Two years ago: Screenplay Writing

Three years ago: Good (Life)Times, Again

Quibbles with Candy XL

If there's a common thread to many things (features) in Pokémon Go, it is that many of them lead to "quibbles", which has been true at least once in the past. There seems to be a few of those lately, but right now I'd like to deal with one of them. That "quibble" concerns one of the latest introduced things that is also connected with the big "Go Beyond" update earlier this month, and that thing would be the Candy XL. As discussed previously, they're necessary for raising Pokémon levels beyond the milestone of Level 40. As simple as that is, the "quibble" lies with all the things that concern their usage and usability.

It is worth recalling to note that Candy XL is earned by chance, unlike regular Candy that is guaranteed. For some people, this may not sit well. Though it has been demonstrated that catching Pokémon of higher levels does reward more Candy XL, this "by chance" matter can become a source of problems, as it means one may not always earn Candy XL for the purpose of powering up Pokémon. Yet, each Pokémon requires 296 of their respective Candy XL in order to get to Level 50 after getting to Level 40, and that is an amount that is indeed not very little. Therefore, a lot of effort is demanded even for a single Pokémon.

For very rare (Legendary and/or Mythical) Pokémon, the effort may be even greater. It means that each of them would require many, many raids to even achieve the required amount of Candy as above, and only during the time they are available in raids, if they are available as such. For the ones that are available only once over a certain time, as in the generationally representative Mythical Pokémon of Mew, Celebi, and so on, they don't have any practical chance of getting to Level 50, as they would require 29,600 of their regular Candy to be turned into Candy XL, after the necessary costs to reach Level 40, and few Trainers earn that many Rare Candies even within the time spent for overall efforts.

That does call into question the value of converting regular Candy to Candy XL. The present exchange rate of 100 to 1 of each respectively may very well be said to be exorbitant, as some Pokémon have evolution costs that equal or even exceed this rate. Even with the chances of getting Candy XL by other means, it seems far easier and less costly to earn them in that way, making the exchange rate very lopsided - it does not seem to represent the value that is indicated. A better exchange rate for them would be 20 (or even less) to 1, which should be more reasonable considering not only common Pokémon but also very rare ones as above.

In order for Trainers in Pokémon Go to take things and "Go Beyond", Candy XL now becomes a very important consumable item. Yet as important as it is, it too seems to have its issues or "quibbles". For this, they run the gamut from effort to practicality to value, any or all of which are relevant for Trainers at any time, even during complicated and difficult situations are the present. For as long as the "quibbles" are present, it may very well become rather difficult to make justifications for certain ideals regarding them. It's a common thread that seems to make itself evident at inopportune times even when they are opportune.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/14/2019 and 12/15/2019

Two years ago: Raid Dramas

Three years ago: Hoenn Pokémon Are Go!

Perking up Holidays, Pokémon Style

Last month, I received a neat roundup of Pokémon merchandise, certainly courtesy of the Pokémon Center e-mail newsletter. The selection of merchandise involves all kinds of things that can be used to celebrate the holidays. I didn't think about them much at the time, but I've had a chance to look them over a second time, and now I find them quite attractive. With that, I've decided to make a roundup of them myself - that is, in a post on this blog.

The headliner of the roundup is the Pikachu Kitchen Collection, which as can be expected is a selection of Pokémon merchandise for the kitchen as well as the dining table. The newsletter highlights the cookie stamps, and I have to say that I especially adore them; other things geared for the kitchen include spatulas and a cutting board. In the direction of the dining table, there are plates and mugs that are also especially cute, particularly for the purpose of entertaining. To complete the table, there are also napkins and napkin rings that look great and should also function well. I'm a food lover, so I would be thrilled further to have these.

Those who celebrate Christmas - which is due in nine days - will likely need something to deck the halls, and the roundup shows a few of those things. A tree skirt is nice for those who plan to put up a tree, perhaps of whatever kind. If one puts up a tree, then one will likely need to put up ornaments as well, and they are available in the traditional round style; a brass one in the form of a flat ornament is (or perhaps at this point, was) also offered as a complimentary bonus. Next to the tree and ornaments, one will then likely need stockings, and these from the Winter Wonder line are available too. This roundup provides the complete package.

Meanwhile, as general non-denominational decorative items, there are throw pillows and a throw fabric decked out in Pikachu graphics. The latter is especially described as "comfy", which leads me to think that it would be especially pleasing to have it and to sit and/or lie around a sofa with it. Combined with the pillows, they would make a sofa a rather irresistible place to be, even during the holidays at this time.

For that, the holidays are in full swing right now. And though the given roundup of holiday Pokémon merchandise is by now a month (and a little bit) old, it may prove to be a helpful suggestion for what a fan could want and/or need in this festive season. It sure did for me, though I have practically no chance of getting the items. Still, even during these times, it probably couldn't hurt for a little bit of holiday cheer with Pokémon, as with these items.

One year ago: PvP: After One Year

Two years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, Waves 3 and 4

Three years ago: Balanced Systems Stimulate Civilization

On the Statistics for My Blog

For any site with a well-deserved place on the Internet, statistics are an important thing. It indicates who or what might have come upon the site (whether directly or not) as well as how many of them have done so. For this Pokémon blog with its place on the Internet, the same is pretty much true. However, the most recent times I've looked at the statistics for my blog, they don't seem to mean anything. As a result, I've been tending to ignore them.

I've realized since the beginning of this blog that at least some statistics are important. A friend of mine and a well-known comrade as well as partner in a way at that - I don't need to say who it is; some posts make that clear - say that it is so as well, even to the point of pointing out some things the last time we met in person for quite a bit of Pokémon business. Yet, based on what I can see, I can't seem to rely on them as well as they could be relied upon.

The statistics page does indicate that Google is indicated as a referring site, but it doesn't say who, what, or how the site was searched for, at least in most cases. There are also other referring sites, but some of them appear dubious, and when checked showed no indication that my blog was referred to. Furthermore, they don't appear to be real sites with real content and not just somehow referred to at least once for conflating the number of views. Many countries also visit the site, though there is a heck of a lot of visits from an "other" country with no other indication.

I'd have to say that regarding what I do with this blog, I'm rather focused on content with no other specific focus involved, save for the focus on Pokémon. There are no specific ways I write up my posts in regard to content so long as they are somehow related to Pokémon, even this site itself. That is pretty much the only concern even now, after having made nearly four years' worth of posts. No other concern matters, other than the one for Pokémon.

Statistics remain something quite important for any web site, even for this Pokémon blog. At the sane time, though, statistics seem to be just numbers and records on paper that don't necessarily reflect the true intent of the content I put up on this blog. It is still my hope that one day I can rely on the statistics for this site just as much as the readers and visitors of this site rely on all the content and insights that I provide for Pokémon, no matter the form they take.

One year ago: Cosplay: Panniversary 3

Two years ago: Only for You, For Your Eyes Only

Three years ago: The First-Generation Surfing Theme

For the Sake of Something or Another

Generally, when it comes to Pokémon things, I try to be as observant as possible about them. And lately, what I've observed is that some Pokémon things have been done for the sake of other things. It could be for something good, not so good, or even in between, but what I've observed is that some things were done for their sake and more or less only for them. They become something to consider in the (and my) "grand scheme" of Pokémon things.

Of those, there have been some things that have unfolded in Pokémon Go. Since the "Go Beyond" update for levels became live for everyone, many people have gone for them seriously... perhaps a little too seriously. A few people in my raid group have gone through the new levels in what could be considered a rapid pace, reportedly at perhaps whatever cost. It would seem that an approach would be too much for others, including myself. Meanwhile, I've also became a witness to a situation that someone had with the functioning of their Pokémon Go Plus, which reluctantly caused major grievances for its usage. This is one such situation that I would like to avoid with my own Poké Ball Plus. Either way, it seems that a few things had been forsaken and have become perceptibly not so pretty.

In another area, I still do not have a Switch, though sometimes I keep up with Pokémon goings-on for it. As a result, I'm also exposed to possible bonuses for this purpose without being able to make use of them, due to obvious circumstances. Luckily, I still maintain good connections with those who are active in this area ahead of me, and I can ask them to take advantage of the bonuses that I receive. One such bonus happened recently for the distribution of a specific spooky Pokémon ahead of its landmark premiere for the rest of the world in something that is really special. A really good friend, one also involved with a similar Pokémon of another kind, has offered to take it under reins until I could take it under mine. This was for the sake of the bonus, but it was relatively for the better, in comparison to the previous one, for example.

Meanwhile, beyond the realm of recent Pokémon things is another matter. The words "for the sake of" and specifically the related expression "for the love of" reminds me of another Pokémon thing that years and years ago I had saved and that way back when I had gotten some enjoyment out of it, though not a lot. Since I still have the thing which I saved, I ought to be able to enjoy it even more than I did way back when. If I didn't care too much about it, I wouldn't have preserved it all these years, but the fact is that I have done so, and there must be something special about it. It's as if the preservation is purely "for its own sake", which takes me back full circle to this post.

After the observations that I've made, the takeaway is that people have been doing some Pokémon things for the sake of those things, which may or may not be a good thing. It seems that the act of doing those things must measure up to the aims of doing those things in order to avoid the "darker side" of what they entail. But if they remain on the lighter side, then by all means, and the hope is that the contributions to the "grand scheme" remain.

One year ago: Putting Things on Hold

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (Double or Quits), 12/14/2018

Three years ago: Tears of Life... and Being Moved to Tears

Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/12/2020 and 12/13/2020

As always, it's that time of year when Community Day of Pokémon Go holds its annual recap of all its featured Pokémon. Now, this is only the third year that the event has progressed, and due to the current conditions that became apparent this year, there was a radical shift in the way things were conducted as the year progressed; it was all to alleviate the burden of not being able to partake in the event as had always been the case (as it was in January and February of this year). The recap edition this year appears like a blend of new sensibilities and old approaches.

Like last year, featured Pokémon from this year's editions were present in the wild across both days of the event, starting yesterday from 6 AM and ending tonight at 10 PM. The first six (Piplup, Rhyhorn, Abra, Seedot, Weedle, and Gastly) on the first day yesterday and the other five (Magikarp, Porygon, Charmander, Electabuzz, and Magmar) on the second day today became more prevalent during the common event period of 11 AM to 5 PM; during this period, bonuses of halved Egg hatch distance and doubled Stardust were active. Pokémon from last year's run of Community Days, meanwhile, became available through Level 1 raids and 2 km Eggs. Likewise, Field Research tasks gave out "Catch 3 Pokémon" due to the recap nature of the event, and for the respective final evolved forms, they gained the exclusive moves to which they are associated.

There were also differences, aside from the extended periods as above and the use of Incense instead of Lure Modules as per the norm for the rest of this year. The most notable difference is that for the first time since Community Day had started, Pokémon from the 2018 editions cannot gain their exclusive moves from that time during this "super" recap period, though this will be rectified at some point in the future, or can be so now and immediately with use of Elite TMs. As well, since the introduction of the bonus paid Special Research, this was effectively the only way to get one; this year, there are four pages of tasks of catching particular Pokémon from this year's editions. With Timed Research, a one-page set of tasks now reward more kinds of balls as well as an Elite Charged TM. Mega Gengar and Mega Charizard X were also more prevalent in Mega Raids on the specific days they were more prevalent.

This current time of year, personally for me, would be rife with theme events, as had happened for the previous editions. However, the current conditions practically prevented that from happening, and thus I was freed to a certain extent to participate in both days by walking to PokéStops, grabbing their Research tasks, and using them to compel myself to capture more Pokémon. Yet on both days, the local weather was pretty much the main issue that prevented extensive progress, as it rained throughout, and even on both days, it triggered a new kind of weather warning in Pokémon Go. In both cases, Poké Balls quickly became highly demanded items, especially when it prevented further progress by actual walking after all available options have been exhausted. The opportunity of this year's super "recap" edition became utilized mostly for building up Candy stock and evolving a few desired Pokémon that could use their exclusive moves by their final evolved forms, which should be perfectly acceptable.

This year hasn't been quite opportunistic for much of anything, including the Community Day of Pokémon Go and even in my particular local case. Even with that, Community Day with its characteristic activities since April has been quite captivating. This is particularly the case even now, as Community Day utilized a blend of older approaches with new sensibilities for its "super" recap for the end of the year. All that is left to do now is to wait for the current conditions to resolve themselves so that Community Day can be enjoyed even more fully as it once was and even more so later on.

 

One year ago: Performance Critique: Pokémon Theme feat. Otaku

Two years ago: Trainer Battles Are Go!!!

Three years ago: Will You Be There?

Virtual Reality (VR) and Pokémon

Sometimes, when I discuss "virtual" and "reality" together with Pokémon, I'm referring to the fact that the conceived reality of the world of Pokémon is one that exists within a realm that is electronically mediated. In popular usage, however, "virtual reality" (VR) also refers to a technology that allows people to fully experience a completely conceived realm through electronic means. Recently, it has become more accessible through certain devices or even a smartphone if properly set up, and even a popular game of the past has embraced this technology of the future. As for Pokémon itself embracing this technology, that may be a bit more complex.

Nintendo, as a copyright holder for Pokémon, had attempted to deal with VR before. A system had been created called Virtual Boy - certainly, a takeoff from Game Boy - and it was to deliver VR technology almost in the same way as today. In a way, it was years ahead of its time... or rather behind, as it's grayscale and low resolution, much like the Game Boy. The system miserably failed in the market, also in part due to its incomplete and rushed nature. Most importantly, it came only a year or two before Pokémon was first released in Japan and years before its worldwide popularity. Therefore, it was (not so much) a good thing that Pokémon "missed this boat" that Nintendo itself created.

In a way, however, the 3D legacy of the Virtual Boy lived in what would then be the 3D of the 3DS, and that became a minor success along with the overall success of the console itself. Even so, it's still a point-and-counterpoint thing, as my earlier posts on this topic (may) have indicated. On one hand, the way the 3D is for the 3DS, it's not something to write home about. On the other hand, it was also an immersive thing that some games, including Pokémon games, made use of. With this in mind, it may be considered that in a way Pokémon has made use of VR in the sense that it made use of the 3D visualization capabilities of the 3DS. Yet it could also be called "virtual" VR the way that it is implemented.

As for actual VR efforts in the sense as it is implemented today, there is an actual established effort called Pokémon VR that attempts to implement VR for Pokémon through sideloading on a particularly famous VR headset. I don't have said VR headset to vouch for myself, but the effort may be considered to be noble if it weren't for a couple of things. The headset, for one, is a proprietary product of a certain company whose control lies in another company whose reputation for privacy has not been too great. For two, as a result of the above, it becomes an unofficial product, given the stance of Nintendo on third parties. If a real and official Pokémon VR is to be developed, Nintendo has got to be in on it as well.

VR today is an advancing thing, and if the past is of any indication, the seeds of it had been sown with past technologies. It would take a few steps in the advancement of current technologies to be able to make it even more relevant today, particularly in the case of Pokémon as something that is popularly enjoyed all over. It would also have to necessarily involve Nintendo, but that's a given with Pokémon regardless. Whatever the case may be, VR may be the next logical step to take for Pokémon as it itself represents a "virtual" world with its own "reality" that would possibly receive quite many benefits if it were to somehow make use of VR technologies efficiently to bring a new method of enjoyment to its loyal and devoted fans.

One year ago: Sword and Shield Uptake

Two years ago: Much Ado About Figures

Three years ago: The Rainbow Feather of Ho-Oh

YouTube Pokémon Highlights - "Gotcha!" Versions

This is yet another post that I've been meaning well to make but time got away from me for various reasons. Now, a couple of months ago, there was the premiere of a phenomenal song with a phenomenal music video by a phenomenal band, and it's one that captures the hearts of Pokémon fans all around the world, notwithstanding its language (Japanese). So much so, in fact, that after its premiere, fans began making "adaptations" of it in various forms, and many of them can be found on YouTube as well. This highlight is an overview of some of those "adaptations".

One of the ways songs can be adapted is for them to be able to be played on the ever-popular piano, and in fact, there are a few piano versions that float on YouTube. One of those versions is a version performed by the popular Japanese pianist Marasy, whose live approach is a nice spin. Other versions take a virtual "piano player" approach, which could theoretically be followed by those not keen on playing sheet music. There are two full versions by D-kun and Robang592, as well as two "video versions" by OnlinePianist and Pianobin. Those who like listening to or playing the piano should find any of these versions pleasing for either purpose. They also show the popularity of the piano versions and the associated approach.

Since Pokémon takes its origins from the Game Boy, creation of low-bit versions become an approach that is not only unique but also nostalgic. Some of these low-bit versions may be called "8-bit" or "chiptune" covers, and they denote the specific approaches for them. The cover by LSDj exactly involves the Game Boy, while the covers by Teracchi and Jetdarc take a general approach. All of these are incidentally for the shorter "video version", which is certainly better than nothing. If the song itself is a callback to the roots of Pokémon and where it stands today, these low-bit covers really take the song back to those roots and make it as if the song had originated from there, which has to be the point for their creation.

Being that Pokémon is popular all over the world, English covers become a given, especially as there is no "official English version" in the first place, at the very least not yet. Still, two enterprising creators have managed to conceive separate English versions for the song, and for the full version nonetheless. The covers by Silver Storm and Megami33 have their own particular characteristics and yet are pleasurable to listen to, especially for those who may seek something very different than the original Japanese version. Whether or not an "official English version" becomes realized (which may still be a possibility, however remote), these creations should still be lauded for fulfilling alternative versions for the global Pokémon audience.

It's rather evident that Pokémon has captured the hearts of many fans around the world, including the one who writes the posts on this very blog. It's also rather evident that the song that premiered some time ago encapsulates lots of impressions that many Pokémon fans can relate to. It then becomes unsurprising that the most creative of fans would be able to take the song, apply their own creative touches, and conceive something that would be representative of their feelings as well as those of others. The results are a blend of nostalgia, entertainment, and pleasure.

One year ago: Rethinking Game Linkages

Two years ago: Passing It On: The Next Generation

Three years ago: Pikachu Head Collectibles

Night Falls, Heavens Rise

I had been debating on whether or not I should make this post. The reason is because my raid group hasn't been too active in hosting its own tournaments, and - I'll admit - I haven't been too active either in participating in the tournaments. But I've had a history with the tournaments, and I'm likely to participate in them at any time if the opportunity allows, so I've decided to make this post regardless. Now, the tournaments of course refer to those of the Silph Arena, and this post therefore regards one of its cups or themes for the current running season of the Arena.

The cup or theme for the month of December is called "Nightfall", as hinted by the title of this post. For this, the restrictions are fairly simple. There are only type restrictions, with only the Normal, Fighting, Ground, Poison, and Ice types allowed. All kinds of Pokémon are allowed, so long as they are of at least one of these types. Apart from this utilizing the Great League (as is standard) and Mega Evolution being disallowed (as the current protocol), the cup or theme becomes as simple as that. The selection of types can be said to represent all the things that may befall the night and make it dark in different ways.

Accordingly, there is always a meta. At the heart of the meta is Galarian Stunfisk for its ability to counter most other Pokémon that can possibly be used; it is therefore central. In the periphery of the meta, there is another single actor of Wigglytuff, which can deal with the Fighting (and Mud Boys) realm, which can deal with the Ice realm, which can deal with the (Shadow-) Grass-Poison realm, which can deal with Wigglytuff. Galarian Stunfisk and Wigglytuff are key parts of a team of six Pokémon that the Arena requires, while the other four can be made up of selections that can effectively deal with others as above.

It is no surprise, then, that Galarian Stunfisk tops the usage list (at this point in time) for current teams on the Silph Arena. Below that, there is Froslass as the major representative of the Ice realm, followed by Medicham and Swampert as the best of their combined realm, and then Wigglytuff and Gallade (the latter as part of the Fighting realm). Rounding out the top 10 are Venusaur, Victreebel, Noctowl, and Abomasnow, three of which are in the Grass realm while Noctowl holds its own as a Normal type representative. Many of these will make fine choices for teams.

Being that this is December, Nightfall becomes the last theme of the year for the Silph Arena. It has been a somewhat difficult year due to last season becoming rather anticlimactic and this season starting off in the midst of further difficult situations, which may have caused some to refrain from competing, like me. In that sense, it may be considered that night has fallen, as with this theme, in contrast to the Sunrise theme. But then again, with night falling, the heavens also rise, and with the choices of Pokémon for this theme, all it takes is a pick of the right ones to send a Trainer right to the stars.

One year ago: Pokémon Center Pilot Pikachu Plush - Narita Airport Ver.

Two years ago: Stage Coin Tricks in Shuffle

Three years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru F!

Let's Talk About Finding Our Way

Me: Before we get too deep into things, I'd like to say that this hasn't been the best of years, perhaps for us.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["I can understand."]

Ash: Well, I can see that. It's not exactly the most fun thing having to go around with something over your nose and mouth when normally you don't have to, but it is what it is.

Me: And I've heard things are becoming not too good again, so don't expect me to be able to send you to anything.

Ash: Don't worry - it's not in our best interests anyway. Let's just wait and see for now.

Me: OK, that's settled. In the meantime, we can have another "Let's Talk". This time, I want to discuss about going places, achieving things, making stuff work - all things that make up "finding our way".

Ash: That's an interesting topic. You know, it's something that you and I as Pokémon Trainers do. I've had my way in finding ways.

Me: I know you do. Sometimes they're interesting, sometimes they're unexpected, but they're always entertaining.

Ash: But it doesn't always work out, the first time at least. You've seen the battles that didn't turn out great, and that much is what I can say.

Me: On the other hand, you've had lots of great journeys, and you always find your way.

Ash: Yeah, like that one time I rowed to an island in Alola and had a neat time there.

Pikachu: Pika chu! [interjects]

Ash: Oh, sorry. Except for one part. But we did find our way from there too.

Me: So, you know what you're talking about. You go places, meet Pokémon, catch them, then succeed, and that's over all the challenges. That's an impressive thing of finding your way.

Ash: But you do the same when you don't have me doing it.

Me: True, but my career isn't as impressive as yours.

Ash: I see things that I'm still impressed at. You've been able to succeed in Pokémon in some ways. That tells me that you've found your way too.

Me: I guess. Especially since it has worked out well in many ways. That's hard to deny.

Ash: So you see that.

Pikachu: Pi pika pika. ["Have spirit."]

Me: That's pretty much always the deal.

Ash: OK, so, uh, I think I know why you're bringing up this topic. It's something that I saw around one and a half years ago, and you're trying to "find your way".

Me: Yes, it's exactly that. It's a little easier because I've been expecting it, but it's also a little harder because... it always is. And recently I've found one issue after another.

Ash: From what I can see, once you've found your way from this, then you've found your way. So keep that in mind.

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yes!"]

Me: Sure. And perhaps after that, then we can find the way that becomes clear for everyone.

Ash: You bet! Now go find your way.

One year ago: A Day (or Year) with Pikachu

Two years ago: To See and See Not

Three years ago: A Pokémon Twist to My Phone

Popular Poké-Shipping

Years ago, I discussed a particular case of "shipping" - that which pertains to assigning bonds of relationships between characters - in the world of Pokémon, specifically that for some human ones in the anime. As expected, the realm of "shipping" can and does go beyond the human characters. In the case of Pokémon, it goes to the creatures that bear the name. In this day and age, there are a few of these popular Pokémon "ships", and they are worth noting to some extent.

One of these that is currently very popular is the "ship" between Lopunny from the fourth generation and Cinderace from the eighth generation. The dynamic is that they, of course, are rabbit-like Pokémon, and by that virtue, they make for a "harmonious" couple. Often, Cinderace is regarded as the male and Lopunny is regarded as the female, especially considering that most Cinderace are male, as it is an evolved starter Pokémon. This has made for a source of entertainment and humor on some channels on YouTube, and thanks to the Expansion Pass, the two Pokémon can potentially meet; the report is that the interaction is actually wholesome. It's a neat "ship" in any case.

The next popular "ship" between Pokémon involves that related to a particular Pokémon that some "shippers" might really enjoy, and which I've even mentioned on this blog at times. That Pokémon would be Sylveon, and it is plainly obvious why. It is a total relationship fodder with its cutesy appearance that some fans just cannot resist. Likewise, they cannot resist pairing it with another Pokémon, and one particular choice for this "shipping" is Umbreon. The contrast is immediately evident: the latter is a Dark-type Pokémon, and loyal fans know that the Fairy type commands an upper hand over the Dark type. The relationship thus becomes something that is rather suggestive, to put things lightly.

For the last kind of "shipping", this may not involve a relationship in a traditional sense, but it is a relationship nonetheless that some have "shipped". Those with experience in breeding Pokémon in the main series games will know that Ditto will readily breed with most species of Pokémon, thus in effect acting as the surrogate parent in a relationship. This ingenious and unique characteristic is utilized by some to establish the partners of Ditto under different circumstances as one of the parents (either father or mother, depending on the partner) of particular Pokémon bred from them. The result can be purely amusing, but then so is "shipping" in general, even with Pokémon.

It becomes clear that "shipping" knows no bounds, with respect to the forms of the characters being "shipped". All of the above cases of "shipping" among Pokémon demonstrate some sense of a relationship, especially that which evokes similar impressions as per usual human relationships. And they are especially popular now thanks to the interests of certain Pokémon fans in establishing the most fanciful of links to creatures that define life in this world alongside their human companions.

One year ago: Pieces of a Pokémon Life

Two years ago: Cosplay: IJF - Cosplayer Rising Star

Three years ago: (Un)finished Business

GOtcha Podcast Episode 2: My Way of Playing Pokémon Go

Here's another longtime post that I've wanted to make, as the follow-up to the one for the first episode of my podcast with Handoyo. After that first episode, we followed up on the plan to have the episode be an hour long, and we did just that: the second episode is one hour and seven minutes long, which is quite longer than the previous one. It also means that much more content and a longer time to make the overview, which is why I've delayed it for the longest time, along with and as a result of whatever I do in and out of Pokémon.

For this episode, we decided on the title "My Way of Playing Pokémon Go" because we got quite personal for this episode. Specifically, we decided to introduce ourselves (an idea that I posed since we didn't do it in the first episode, which we ideally should have done) and what makes us involved in Pokémon Go as well as Pokémon in general. We also shared what we do in Pokémon Go and the adventures that have progressed. Continuing into the "What's Happening" segment, we continued discussing the particulars of the Mega Evolution event that had continued up to that point, and the updates that had been or are to be implemented for Mega Evolution. There were also updates on the other surrounding events, to which we contributed our thoughts and experiences from raids, related Pokémon, items, and so on.

In the "Pokémon Trivia" segment, which is the segment I'm fully responsible for, I discussed Meltan and Melmetal as a family of two unique Pokémon species. Many of their characteristics are indeed as such, not the least because of its epithet as a Mythical Pokémon. I also covered much of their relationships with the main series games (specifically Sword and Shield and the Let's Go games, as well as Pokémon Home). Interestingly, much of the info I detailed proved to have their own twists in realization thanks to recent developments, including the Go-Home link. Its characteristic introduction was also a part of the discussion between Handoyo and me, a moment that I myself covered in a couple of posts of this blog. Handoyo and I consider that all the relevant links that Meltan and Melmetal have with the games as a form of marketing.

The "PvP Corner" segment for this episode dealt with the Go Battle League of Season 3 at that time, as well as previews for Season 4 and 5, and even Halloween (Cup), the last with a special discussion of its involved types, and all of them with discussions of their respective rewards. There was also a discussion of Go Battle Night and its associated Flying Cup, which ended up being canceled, or rather rescheduled - therefore, much of our discussion continued to apply, just not for its intended scheduled time as we reported. Commonly, Handoyo would take care of this segment all on his own, but for this episode, I also contributed by giving a "for Dummies"-style primer and how it became relevant to the competitive aspect of Pokémon Go, community or otherwise. I intended myself to contribute further in this way.

One last thing that we added in this episode is a "Weekly Challenge" segment designed to test ourselves. We each establish three challenges that we would attempt to fulfill during the week between the recording of episodes, and then we would report on how we fulfilled those challenges, if we did at all. The intent is, of course, to set these individual challenges each week and then come back to them, but as it's plainly obvious by now, it's been more than a week since then, and this podcast has become inactive for one reason or another, which is regrettable. What was intended to be weekly has turned out not to be the case. With that, the "Weekly Challenges" have seemingly ran aground along with the podcast itself. It is unknown if we'll get to them in a later episode, even for the sake of closure for the challenges here.

For that matter, I don't know if we'll get to a later episode, if at all. Over the course of initially starting this podcast, we've invested in efforts and tools for that purpose, and we had gotten something good going as a result that has now stalled. Regardless, we did manage to get lots of content in this episode that could serve very well for the template of further episodes down the line. We would just have to get to them as I finally did for the overview of this episode. It may be a longtime project in the works for the both of us as Pokémon Go Trainers.

One year ago: Timeless and Forever

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (and the Power of Us), 12/7/2018

Three years ago: The Shops of Shuffle