Aliens Among People and Creatures

A topic that people at times talk about is aliens and their existence, beings that seem otherworldly to them. While it cannot or may not be conclusively proven that they exist somewhere in the universe, the plausibility of that existence still makes for something to be pondered. Meanwhile, the world of Pokémon exists in a universe not much different from that of the real world. With that being the case, it is just as plausible that aliens can exist in that universe. And in fact, they do in a way, and the reality is also a lot more complex.

The most well-known case of "aliens" existing - or one of them - is the Mythical Pokémon Deoxys. It has been documented that the Pokémon appeared from space in both the anime (the seventh movie) and the games (the third-generation remakes). While it is a full-fledged Pokémon in many ways, the way it presents itself suggests that the Pokémon has its origins not from the known world of Pokémon, particularly a nether region of space, therefore making it an "alien". Its behavior also suggests a fair bit of hostility as some aliens may be expected to have. It appears as one in a true sense.

More recently, a host of creatures from a different dimension have made themselves present in the island region of Alola. They are, of course, the Ultra Beasts, and likewise they are as much Pokémon as they are "aliens". By the virtue that they came from that dimension, they are "aliens" outright, especially if such a thing were to happen in the real world, no matter how unlikely. They too have been known to show hostility if warranted, which makes their "alien" status even more reasonable. The opening of the dimension is a definite key to this, without which their existence would simply have been passed by.

Of course, for anyone not too well-versed in Pokémon, they might think that the creatures themselves are the "aliens", which also isn't too far out if it were to exist somewhere. They might have arisen through a process called "panspermia" as the distribution of genetic material across space by way of objects like meteors, then they might have mutated and developed into these creatures along with the people they are amicable with. Come to think of it, that same process might have occurred in real life as well, making us (or at least some living elements of the environment) the "aliens". Hmm.

The topic of aliens will always involve some sort of controversy with their hard-to-prove status, perhaps at least until one comes along and reveals its existence, at which point it may not be anymore. For the world of Pokémon, however, there is a reality that involves some creatures that may be definitely regarded as "aliens", and since its and our realities have much resemblance, it may still be possible for us to come upon our aliens in the future. Whatever the aliens involved, the otherworldly qualities will seem to remain quite prevalent.

One year ago: Tournament: Raid Group Rainbow Cup

Two years ago: Gifts That Keep on Giving

Three years ago: After Six Months: Poké-Paradise in a Blog

Tournament: Raid Group Sorcerous Cup

Sunday - yesterday - was actually a bit of a busy day for me, in relation to Pokémon. As I've detailed in my previous post, it involved a figure gathering unlike any previous ones. But it also involved a Pokémon Go tournament later that same day, specifically one hosted by my raid group. I actually could have written a single post about both as I've done at times on this blog for certain occasions, but I did want to focus on the figure gathering more so than the tournament, and so the latter had to be reserved. Of course, I also want to get it out of the way while it's still fresh in my mind, and therefore that leads to this post.

This tournament, as per the Silph League Arena competitive season, used the Sorcerous theme designated for this month. Needless to say, the tournament still utilized the remote protocol of current times, as well as the raid group's own protocol of conflict resolution if conflict arose, which did not seem to be the case. Another matter of interest with this tournament was that it was held at 7 PM, somewhat later than usual for both remote ("online") and regular live tournaments. This is essentially another reason for shelving the tournament coverage to today, as it would be challenging to incorporate both in one, especially given that they're disparate and separated by time.

The time schedule might also have impacted the number of participants for the tournament. At the time the tournament started, there were 14 participants, with one more having missed the deadline and couldn't participate, and another one simply declaring interest. Given that rounds run approximately 30 minutes and more participants means more rounds, some might have been deterred to participate in the first place; in fact, someone quite high on national rankings had intended to participate, but then withdrew some moments before the start, possibly realizing that it could mean lengthening the tournament for everyone. Ultimately, with the 14 participants, it came down to 4 rounds, which meant a reasonable evening finish.

As for how I did within those rounds, this is one of, if not the worst results I had for this kind of tournament ever. I lost all 4 rounds and ended up on absolutely the very bottom. I did win 2 matches and had a couple of very close calls, while the rest was somewhat farther out. One of those two matches happened to be against a very good friend of mine, who tends to have a good track record in these tournaments but has been declining recently; in fact, we both met in the third round after having lost two rounds and one of my match wins was incidentally against him. Meanwhile, a friend of his and mine had a very good run, three match wins before being stopped by a top national player for the tournament win; it could be said to be his "rise". Overall, the results were neat: one big winner, four each with 3, 2, and 1 total wins, and of course me at the bottom. Perhaps not so neat for me.

This tournament has had its ups and downs, with mine being mostly down. While that may call into question my continued participation in the tournaments, I still believe at times that I can obtain benefits from them, though clearly not this time around. It was still one of my Pokémon businesses the other day, and the same could be said for everyone who fully participated and even those who only had the slightest consideration. With what unfolded, the benefit for some of the others became quite apparent while for others like me it was less so. Yet with this and the gathering the other day, I may consider myself to still have benefited regardless from them.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/29/2019

Two years ago: Monotype (of) Sorts

Three years ago: 3DS Circle Pad and Pokémon Games... Plus My Experience

A Virtual Figure Gathering

It has been a long time since I formally met or gathered with my figure friends, in the sense that I intended solely to meet them for the fullest length of time and not be involved in anything else grander with or without them, such as going to an event or convention. However, current conditions have forced many of us to be compartmentalized, and a face-to-face meeting is out of the question. Therefore, like many meetings held in this day and age, it was decided that one is to be held virtually through a conference video call. That meeting happened today in the afternoon, and it was a neat one to say the least.

More than 20 people signed up for the gathering, as evidenced through a standby group prior to the gathering. Once the gathering happened, it was quite lively: at its peak, there were at least 12 people present in the conference video call, and it made for something engaging. A few figures were shown off over the course of the gathering by video call, and it got quite a few excited. This is a figure group gathering, of course, so naturally figures or other related merchandise would be involved. I also showed off something of my own during the virtual gathering and it may have impressed a few.

To make the gathering more lively, there were a few games instituted by the members. One of them was a lipreading test for first-generation Pokémon. I got a few right, but there were others who answered more quickly than I did, and overall the points were pretty evenly distributed. Another was a multiple-choice quiz involving some general (or maybe not so general) knowledge about Pokémon regarding different aspects, from game to anime to figures. Different people knew different things and edged out others, or simply got lucky; I and a friend got a lucky and winning streak on a few figure questions, and we don't even have many figures to start with - and yet this is a figure group gathering.

Despite the fun, there were a few issues. Since this was a virtual gathering and since everyone is in different places, connection issues could and did arise. For some, the connection might not have been strong enough to carry a conference call like this, including their own side of the call. I too was affected and the problems that concerned me forced a restart of my PC and router, the crucial devices for this virtual gathering. The gathering was also relatively short, approximately two and a half hours, though this wasn't too much of an issue, and it was slightly supplemented at the end for what might be the seeds of the next gathering.

This virtual gathering might not have turned out per everyone's expectations, but it may have been the one thing that a few people in my figure group has been expecting. For some people in my figure group like me, they may have very much desired for something like this to happen, and today fulfilled just that even with all the imperfections. For the time being with all that's going on in the world, it is likely the only way that all of us will be able to gather, and that may be the only expectation... perhaps in addition to meeting a few great Pokémon fans and the figures or merchandise they can or have mustered up since the last time.

One year ago: The Path of (the) Silph

Two years ago: Go Gets Social

Three years ago: LINE Pokémon Themes

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2020

June has been a good month in terms of events in Pokémon Go, with a few events that are neat or even really great. In a way, they can all be construed as signs of the times, aside from the currently obvious period that everyone is in today. More evidently, though, the events appear to speak to what is going on in the environment, both the real world and the virtual emulated world of Pokémon Go. This is especially considering what happens or happened with them.

Last month, there was a series of "Throwback" events and Timed Research sets that celebrated the first four regions of the main series Pokémon games. I noted that if they can all be completed, there would be something, and that something is a Special Research (subtitled "Champion") in the first week of the month to celebrate the Unova region and beyond. I say "beyond" because it's true: this final "Throwback Challenge" also marks the debut of four Galarian Forms as well, for Meowth, Stunfisk, Zigzagoon, and Darumaka, all of which (save for Stunfisk) can evolve into their new later-stage forms. Remarkably, if one didn't complete the previous Timed Research sets, one can buy the Special Research (subtitled "Celebration") and get in on the fun, or buy it regardless for extra bonuses. The price was the same as the Genesect paid event a while back... because one of the rewards is Genesect, becoming a second chance for those who didn't get it last time. For those who sought greatness all last month, this definitely spoke to that.

The second week of the month featured a couple of special raid guests over the weekend that haven't been seen since early this year: the Eon Pokémon Latias and Latios. This was well-timed for those seeking a change of pace from current raid bosses, but the real good timing was the third (following) week's event, called the Solstice Event to speak to the seasons as well as the sun and moon. To that end, Pokémon related to the sun and moon appeared, including Clefairy with a special feature in Spotlight Hour and direct Shiny availability, instead of having to hatch and evolve a Shiny Cleffa. The real story, however, was the turnover of Lunatone and Solrock to different parts of the world, the former to the western hemisphere and the latter to the eastern hemisphere after a brief all-around availability for two days. Overall, it really was a story of the seasons as the current big thing. Time will tell when this (and the Raid Weekend) stands to be repeated, but for now they have highlighted current times.

For the last week of the month, which happens to be now, it speaks to the creepy-crawlies that may be increasing in numbers in some places. That would be because the current event is the Bug Out event, which features Bug Pokémon in good numbers. They are all over the wild, raids, 5 km Eggs, and Field Research tasks. The big story now, however, is the debut of Shiny Dwebble, which may be found at any time. Over periods of two days, specific Bug Pokémon may also be found attracted to Incense, which would be Nincada yesterday and today, Wurmple on Sunday and Monday, and Scyther on Tuesday and Wednesday, at which point the event ends; this is similar to Incense Day, but this lasts over the stated periods whenever an Incense is activated. The event also has doubled catch XP for good measure, which may be of use to some. Pinsir too is to be specially involved... or was, but this should be discussed later and not here. The Bug Pokémon still have their say with this event.

These are truly the signs of the times and what's going on: seeking greatness, season changeover, and creature presence (at least in some parts). And for this month, the events in Pokémon Go spoke to them all. In that respect, it has been a neat and great month for events. One may also consider them to be quite harmonious for both the real side and virtual side, and that might still be a remarkable thing, as remarkable as the events themselves and what they contain.

One year ago: Club 40 ID Tournament Memorabilia

Two years ago: Leaders

Three years ago: A Little Dream

Gift Stickers in Pokémon Go

For those who have been recently dealing with Pokémon Go, one might have noticed something different, particularly when opening or sending Gifts. Some Pokémon stickers might have been involved alongside them, which adds a little flair to the Gifts as they are sent, received, or opened. This is among one of the few recent additions besides the known "countermeasures" to aid things. It's a little thing, but quite a bit of it deserves at least a little bit of discussion.

A sticker may be obtained when one opens a Gift as one of the possible rewards, replacing an item in its slot, though it is only one of any given sticker. When sending a Gift, one can then optionally attach a sticker before sending it. For those who are sticker savvy or just need more due to demand, one may buy a big batch of a few unique ones not found in Gifts at the shop using PokéCoins, though one will still have to shell out and/or save up PokéCoins in this case. Any of them may still be of interest.

Now, if one is social media savvy, one might have noticed that the stickers seem familiar. That is because these are the exact stickers that are featured in some Pokémon sticker packs in LINE, a few being from the Chat Pals and Lively Pikachu packs, which I happen to have detailed three years ago (see below). What makes them a bit different is that the dynamic ones have become static - no sound, no animations - due to system limits, and some have had their text updated. They still work well for this purpose. 

As with any usable feature, it is possible to have some best practices. Freeloaders might prefer to keep getting stickers from Gifts, and that's fine, but the unique and numerous stickers from the shop may be an incentive. One does not absolutely need to attach stickers to every Gift, but it is helpful to do so to keep things from getting out of hand if one has many. Since stickers don't take up an item slot, they make it inviting to open up more Gifts to get them, which is a good thing, aside from spending for them. 

With the addition of stickers to Gifts in Pokémon Go, a certain page has been taken from the social media playbook. However, it's a good play, since the sending, receiving, and opening of Gifts are social acts anyway, which are only enhanced by way of these stickers that also remind one of a certain social media. They are sure to be socially welcome with the continued exchange of Gifts for the benefit of all concerned.

One year ago: Pokémon and the Visually Impaired

Two years ago: Retro Music and Modern Music

Three years ago: More LINE Pokémon Stickers

Uniting the Heart

Last week, a lot of new information on some upcoming Pokémon games were presented through something called Pokémon Presents. It was so packed with information that another one was scheduled for the following week - in other words, yesterday. There was a bit of further info on one of the previously mentioned games, being the availability of Café Mix for the platforms of concern. However, for the most part, the follow-up presentation was for something that is quite revolutionary as far as Pokémon is concerned, and perhaps could be considered a "breakthrough" of sorts.

In today's world of gaming, especially mobile gaming, there is one kind or genre of games that many players are attracted to. It is called "multiplayer online battle arena" or MOBA for short. It's a dynamic genre of gaming, an expansion of the strategy game genre for multiple players to take part in, often in teams of five. So popular is this genre nowadays that many "eSports" competitions feature different games of this genre. Because of what the games demand, it seems possible that Pokémon may somehow fit, but it wasn't clear how this would be... until yesterday's presentation.

Enter Pokémon Unite. This new game, announced in yesterday's follow-up presentation, is a MOBA in a very true sense. Players grouped in two teams pick Pokémon and then take on each other to dominate. Remarkably, this game is being developed along with Tencent Timi, developer of another popular MOBA. It will be available for both mobile and the Switch, and cross-platform play will be possible. The gameplay was also demonstrated in yesterday's presentation, which likely explains why a second edition of the presentation was needed in order to showcase the game.

While the presentation itself had some mixed reactions, some people, including me, think that the game might be interesting enough to be played. Those that play MOBA but not Pokémon may try the game to get into Pokémon, while those that play Pokémon but not MOBA may be swayed by the Pokémon aspect to play. Though only a possible gameplay scenario was demonstrated the other day, it might not be too far off from typical scenarios, and like most games of the genre, it might make for a pleasant playing experience for both players and viewers. What is next needs to be seen.

The title of this post, aside from being a pop culture reference and referencing the new game's subtitle, is also in reference to the "union" of the spirit of MOBA games and Pokémon through the newly announced game. As of yet, the reactions are still up in the air, but time may prove something different, hopefully positive. Regarding the "union of hearts", however, it may still be considered to apply over the two editions of Pokémon Presents, with all the announced new games and/or features appealing to the many hearts of Pokémon fans, some of which may just desire to unite with them all.

One year ago: Evoked Emotions

Two years ago: Promoting Local Establishments with Go

Three years ago: Four Notions

Let's Talk About Grievances

Me: I already knew about what I wanted to discuss today, but I almost didn't know how to address it... until I thought of you and how we did things last month. I feel it's appropriate that we do the same, while there is still nothing to send you to.

Ash: All right. I sense it's going to be hard and weighty this time.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["Me too."]

Me: Yes. So today I want to discuss about some grievances - one of mine, and I'd like to balance it with one of yours.

Ash: I think I can tell. It must be the things that happened a year ago. There were a lot of good things, but... I know you had your happenings, and you were really down about them when you discussed them exactly a year ago.

Me: Yes, it was painful (see below). What happened over the four days last year was actually quite more painful than what I've explained over the four posts for them, which is why I relished coming back to this day a year after things had passed.

Ash: The tournament from one year and two days ago was great, though. But I sensed that you couldn't get me properly set up.

Me: Indeed. I spent the day before exactly for that purpose. But then things were so close and yet so far.

Pikachu: Pika pika... ["Ouch..."]

Ash: Again, it was a miracle that you did somehow get me there to take on the others, even if we only made it in the middle in the actual tournament. You still have to be proud that you got me the third place in the character competition.

Me: Yes, that is fully true. But then the next day...

Ash: Oh yes, that was a mess even with the good things they had. I have to say that I may have made it even more of a mess.

Me: As if the event wasn't already something too much and too messy to begin with, even the year before and at times in the past. I hope that a good concept or two might replace it for all aspects, including tradition and pop culture. There is enough time to think about things until the current situation is resolved.

Ash: It becomes bittersweet for all of us. We all have something to think about.

Pikachu: Pi pika pika. ["Maybe a lot."]

Me: Speaking of thinking about things, have you ever thought about Charizard, especially the one of yours? I know that had been a grievance at times.

Ash: Things were good when mine was still a Charmander, but then it got real weird. I sometimes feel sad about that.

Me: I'm sure you had been really dejected when your Charizard cost you that-

Ash: I know. It's behind me - and us - now.

Pikachu: Pika chu. Pika pika. ["It has happened. It's done."]

Me: You have to admit that things got good, even better, after a while. Charizard went from being a thorn in your side to one of your superstar Pokémon.

Ash: That is so true. But then Charizard could be better, so that's why I left Charizard in that valley. I didn't want to do it, but it had to be done.

Me: I can sense it, the look on your face when things happened.

Ash: I know, I know. But when Charizard helped me out with the Entei thing, that was great.

Me: It's unlike the other one that cost you-

Ash: *sigh* I'm not sure if I can talk about that one further.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika... ["No more..."]

Me: I think before things get out of hand, it may be time to finish this discussion. So we both have our grievances about things that have gone by, and... they've gone by. There are more things to be had beyond them.

Ash: Yes, you're right. Sometimes we may have to think about them, but other times they might just get in the way. The proof is that really good things happened afterwards. We can always turn bad times into good ones later.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["I agree."]

Me: With that, I think I'm already seeing good (and not sad) things for you, me, and Pokémon.

Ash: You bet. Now we'll need to take them all in.

One year ago: The Show Must Go On

Two years ago: Jumping the 'Karp

Three years ago: Married... to Pikachu?

Lifestyle Gaming

In last week's Pokémon Direct Presents, there was an odd but unique game that was unveiled, which was Pokémon Smile, a game that is played while one is brushing one's teeth, making it an "assistant" in a way. This is hot on the heels of another game announced last year in the same vein, which was Pokémon Sleep, which is played well when one sleeps well and invites one to do so. Both of these games are not only games; they reach into one's lifestyle in order to affect it, hopefully for the better. I have chosen to classify these two games by the term of "lifestyle games" and the act of playing those games as "lifestyle gaming".

Many games are designed to be entertaining, though their effects on one's lifestyle may be minimal, and if there are any, they may be fully unintended. However, the games above are truly intended to change one's lifestyle - through better teeth brushing and sleeping habits - all the while fulfilling the premise of being entertaining, which is true of many games. Therefore, a "lifestyle game" would be a game that is not just meant to be played, but also meant to be a force in one's lifestyle. If a game were to demand one to follow a routine of going out at a certain time and going back at another, that would be considered a "lifestyle game" for what it does.

The two games above are definitely "lifestyle games" based on what they do. Meanwhile, the Pokémon game I play the most nowadays, which is Pokémon Go, to some extent can be considered a "lifestyle game" as well, even if it's not entirely one. When one plays, one's travel distance is being tracked, and especially so if one chooses to enable a certain feature that tracks distance even outside the game. Its photography capabilities are also quite great, particularly if one possesses a capable device to take advantage of just that. It's still not a "lifestyle game by any means, but some parts are pretty close to one.

Pokémon seems to have a lot of potential for "lifestyle gaming" due to its presence everywhere and appeal for all. The games pervade into sleep, hygiene, and even fitness and hobby, and they attempt to bring improvement to all of these areas with a Pokémon touch. And these areas are also part of a great lifestyle that can only become greater when improved. Such is the point of "lifestyle gaming", by which games not only become leisure activities but also normal activities that any person does in life, only made more entertaining and definitely better. I'm up for that and I hope others do too, whether through the "lifestyle games" of Pokémon or others.

One year ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2019 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Two years ago: Gym Rework, One Year Later

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Gym Rework

Dub Absence, Again

I hinted in my previous post that I hadn't been viewing the Pokémon anime on my TV recently, which specifically concerns the local Sun & Moon dub on a national TV channel that premiered almost a year ago. The reason is simple: it has practically disappeared. After having been accustomed to its presence within that time, it suddenly left the airwaves again, leaving another "dub absence" for those who become its fans. It is especially disappointing as the dub has never been free of issues, including this one.

Over most of the course of its airing, it had maintained pretty much a regular schedule, as described in the earlier post. It aired on Friday nights with two episodes, a rerun from last week and a new one. There were still a few unexpected exceptional happenings, one of them being the first week, which showed two new episodes, and another some weeks later with three episodes aired in a row, one old and two new. Aside from that and early or late timings, there was nothing too far out of the ordinary... until about two months ago, when it suddenly left its regular schedule. A bit of searching revealed that it moved to Thursday and Friday afternoons still with double episodes. I continued to tune in, but this did not last long; it left that time again, and this time was for good, as its presence could no longer be confirmed.

Again as noted, the local dub of the Pokémon anime has had a spotty history. Despite a regularity of schedules as with this one and previous airings, some things continued to be off even for the latest dub. One of them at least for some people is the absence of Team Rocket reciting their motto, though for others this might be passable. Another is that the opening and ending are not shown between consecutive episodes; they are only shown for the first and the last respectively, although this has the side benefit of ensuring that viewers stay tuned in until it's "really over". A third is that the commercial breaks, whether they occur within or between episodes, are extremely long, around 10 minutes; older dubs have also suffered from this, which means this is a continued issue, and yet it's also regular for the channel in question for even other shows. Other than that, the episodes seemed fine, unlike in the past, which sometimes were cut off unexplainably.

I and a friend, who had been eager for the airing of this dub, expected that this dub would not disappoint and approach completion. However, with the sudden disappearance, this expectation seems to be fruitless. As well, there were other viewers who called for the anime to be returned instead of airing a new series of another show, which was exactly what happened for its last scheduled time. Overall, the quality of this last dub is satisfactory - some parts could be better, but it was pleasant enough to follow through - and it even had reruns, something not done in the past. However, the sudden disappearance of this dub continues the pattern of incompleteness that had plagued previous dubs. I and others can only hope that there would be a reconsideration to continue and air the dub somehow.

Even with all the things that have happened with the local dub of the Pokémon anime, I and likely others will continue to be a fan of it, especially with the proper treatment for it. That would also include the assurance that the episodes would be shown more or less completely through to the end. With the current disappearance and subsequent absence, this has proven to be untrue. It seems that fans will have to endure this "dub absence" again until something great happens, which they can only hope for.

One year ago: Tournament+Cosplay: Club 40 Indonesia Tournament

Two years ago: Food Chain Axioms

Three years ago: Technology, Good and Evil

Another Anime Dream

It is no secret that I live with Pokémon each and every day, and with that, it is even present in my dreams. One of those in the past involved the anime, which seemed as if it was taken straight out of it, or in a way comprised an episode of it. Last night, I had another dream involving the anime, only this time it involved me as one of its viewers. There was also a slight relationship with what I deal with regularly, which is languages, also one of the reasons for the conception of this blog. With that, I deem it appropriate for a discussion in a post here.

In the dream, I was watching the Pokémon anime on a TV, which actually hasn't happened recently - perhaps more on this later. The episodes were on a disc provided to me by someone, almost like a "mixtape" of sorts when those were all the rage. The disc contained two episodes, one of them relatively older and the other relatively newer; the newer episode appeared to involve the Legendary Pokémon Latias, and the other was the "ancient puzzle" episode from the Kanto saga. Oddly enough, regarding the languages spoken in the episode, they were mixed but somehow understandable; each character would speak their lines in languages I have knowledge of, including those that I'm connected to but don't know very well. I enjoyed the viewing experience so much that when I woke up I felt disrupted; it gave me pause to think about what had just happened and I proceeded to record it as a draft post on this blog.

The Pokémon anime being dubbed into a number of languages is nothing new, as it is popular all around the world and may need to accommodate its viewers anywhere with the process. What is weird is to have some of those languages in a mixture as in this case; no dub production anywhere in the world would do such a thing. However, despite this occurring in the dream, I was able to understand everything perfectly and enjoy the episodes as if I knew well the languages that even I don't know well, as well as the ones I know well. This seems to speak to me as a linguist and a translator, in that if I can execute what I do well, the finished results will work out well for those who make use of them. It may not have to be completely perfect, but it should approach perfection and be the best that it can possibly be, much like the ways of life of Pokémon Trainers. Such seems to be the case for the dubbed episodes in the dream, which I enjoyed even as outlandishly as it might seem.

This dream was both fantastic and unusual in that it involved something that I like, which is the Pokémon anime and in particular watching it, as well as a circumstance for it that is beyond ordinary. Even with the latter, enjoyment for the former still came about. An intense fan like me can't ask for much more than that enjoyment, but there were also certain takeaways for beyond that enjoyment, specifically for my hard skills. I must say that Pokémon is such a blessing in this regard, being both pleasant and insightful in my life and dreams.

One year ago: Cosplay Card, Fourth Version

Two years ago: Local Ex-Raid (and Complications), 6/21/2018

Three years ago: Resets and Redos

Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/20/2020

In last month's Community Day, I noted that voting also took place then for what should become the featured Pokémon for the next two editions, which would be this month and the next, consisting of the winner for this month and the runner-up for the next. I also mentioned that I would discuss the details at a later time, and what would be better than on the day itself. The voting was different, taking place on Twitter (unlike for February, where the number of completed Field Research tasks from the prior month became the vote counts) and I must say, the experience was decidedly different as well this month.

The winner of the voting last month was Weedle, one of the common Bug-type Pokémon from the first generation. Its special move for the final evolutionary stage of Beedrill, declared as part of its candidacy, is the Ground-type Drill Run as a Charged move. Though it wouldn't fit a STAB framework, it may be useful in some Great League settings, which would explain why many Trainers made the choice upon Beedrill (all the more reason with Mega Evolution incoming, though it wasn't known at the time). The bonus this time is triple Stardust, which temporarily replaces a double Stardust bonus of an ongoing event - more later - and not doubly concurrent as many players thought it would be; it is still a pretty nice and advantageous bonus nonetheless.

As has been the case during these times, this Community Day remains a Play at Home edition (though that of course does not stop one from playing outside if possible or the need arises). That means the changed-up bonuses from last time also apply, which means even more freedom to experience Community Day in different ways. There is one stark difference, however: this time, there is no additional paid Special Research, the first since this innovation was planned to be introduced in March though ultimately executed in April. That means the bonuses from this are absent, and one would need to furnish them on one's own. Yet if the point is to enjoy Community Day no matter what, one should be able to make do even without them.

I had a bit of an errand this morning, so I used the opportunity to get in some Community Day time outside in my local area, just like last time, in addition to helping out my Buddy Pokémon. This is OK if permissible, but one should always be aware of local conditions, as if the primary warning isn't already evident. The rest of the event was spent within the comforts of my home or at least the immediate surrounding area. With some crafty captures and usage of items, I was able to catch a good number of Weedle, doubling my already-extensive Candy stock and increasing my Stardust amount. Among those Weedle, approximately 15 were Shiny; I say "approximately" since I had to transfer a few due to space considerations. I also evolved the same composition of Weedle as for Seedot, as I wanted to keep my options open with my stock. 

Weedle is only a common Bug Pokémon of the first generation; it appears frequently, thus my extensive Candy stock. Yet the Trainers who voted for it must have recognized its perks, especially with the special move for Beedrill being declared as part of its candidacy. It opens another moveset option and can stand to be a surprise in future PvP challenges, whether it's the official Go Battle League or the community-based Silph League Arena. Thanks to this month's edition, everyone can stand to have at least one, which means that everyone has to know that others may have one as well and to prepare for the potential surprise that it may bring. 

As for next month's Community Day fodder as the runner-up candidate, it's already well-known in more ways than one, including for this purpose, but I'll take care of it next month during its time. This time for Community Day was to revel in the winner of the voting for the event and the benefits that it may bring. It is true that some things may have been different this time compared to the past couple of months, but they all have proven that the spirit is the same even with the detachment that these times have for the experience. That shouldn't be a disappointment for those who expect great things for the event and from the prospective Pokémon for them.

One year ago: Thematic Battles

Two years ago: Losing Touch and Keeping in Touch

Three years ago: Pokémon Exclusivity

Taking Pictures of Pokémon

The announcement of New Pokémon Snap the other day has led me to think about how Pokémon is oriented to people taking pictures of and/or with them. Pokémon is a virtual creation by real people, but their actual setting is (mostly) realistic rather than virtual (in contrast to certain other things). In that world, it is expected that there would be photographers who specialize in taking pictures of Pokémon, and there are, if the anime is of any indication. Meanwhile, for real people like I myself and others, they can at least simulate their ways through the ways Pokémon photography are implemented.

At the most basic level, it is easy to implement photography directly within the games. Pokémon Snap is the most obvious case, and it made for a fine game, though it was rarely heard from until now with New Pokémon Snap being slated. Those who have played the seventh-generation games will also recognize the Rotom Camera, which at certain places can be used to take pictures of "live" Pokémon at that location in a similar manner. These don't really speak to the realism of the real world, but they are realistic enough for the games of concern, for the consideration that they can happen as such.

For photography involving the real world, it would be easy to include certain frames involving Pokémon in action that can then be applied while taking real photos. In the case of taking pictures on a non-AR enabled phone, taking Pokémon pictures in Pokémon Go essentially acts like this, but with slightly more interactivity. But the images can also be processed to indicate certain Pokémon in them as with the Dynamax Camera, a promotional tool for the eighth-generation games that involved finding Dynamax Pokémon in real settings. Though basic, the solutions prove to be effective.

Having mentioned Pokémon Go, the best solution it offers is of course Go Snapshot with AR enabled, which becomes the best and most realistic method for taking pictures of and at times with them. It's already pretty advanced with what it can do with multiple angles and different settings, and it is planned to become more advanced with Reality Blending that makes the camera aware of objects in the setting, likely to also be assisted by the scanning of areas around PokéStops. Those who can make use of these features have the opportunity to make Pokémon photography more realistic than ever before.

The return (or some people may call it a "rebirth") of Pokémon Snap indicates one thing about Pokémon fans, in that some of them are passionate enough to make even pictures and photography be included, especially if they have seen it in the anime. Fortunately, that game and other games and/or tools make it easy for one to achieve just that. The realism of Pokémon in its own universe is not to be doubted, especially for the taking of pictures; it's a good thing to know that some of that realism can be carried over to the actual real world in order to truly possess photographic masterpieces with some wonderful creatures.

One year ago: LINE Pokémon Emoji

Two years ago: The Super Incubator

Three years ago: The Badge Arcade Hit Its Limits

Pokémon (PKMN) Presents, 6/17/2020

(A note on the title: I didn't actually need to add the "PKMN" part - it's there as a pop-culture reference to make things more relatable for myself and maybe others as well.)

Yesterday, there was a different kind of Pokémon presentation (check out the English version here) that in the past have been called a "Direct" in the usual style of Nintendo, to which Pokémon has many ties. Instead, it is called "Presents" in the style of certain people or entities introducing something as a movie, song, or any other kind of creative work. In this case, it would be for the usual creative form that Pokémon takes up, which is in the form of games. And indeed, there were quite a few games mentioned or unveiled within the scope of this presentation, some of which are nothing short of astounding.

The first was an unveiling of a new Pokémon game called Pokémon Smile. "Smile" in this case refers to the body parts tied to making the expression, as this game is in part a "toothbrushing assistant" designed to make what may be considered a tedious chore into a pleasurable experience with something well-known. It is as if someone is telling players to make something else shiny (teeth) in addition to hunting for Shiny Pokémon, as some comments have pointed out. A few of my friends see the appeal of this for young children as demonstrated, but also think they might use it themselves. It's a given, considering it's a "lifestyle game", and it's available on mobile platforms as of now.

Next is a new puzzle game entitled Pokémon Café Mix. Actually, the game itself may be new, but the concept is akin to that of some other puzzle games involving some other popular mascots. The idea is that one is to whip up things and mix up drinks as a barista would in certain popular coffee shops, but with a puzzle form and spirit. I wouldn't really call it a "successor" to Pokémon Shuffle, but it may still be an interesting way for fans to let time pass by while doing other things, which may in fact also be the goal of those other similar puzzle games. This game will soon be available for the Switch and mobile, with pre-registration and preload having commenced.

Then there was the appearance of a "new old thing". Most fans who went through the early years of Pokémon will recognize Pokémon Snap, the game that involves taking pictures of Pokémon. After around two decades of absence, the game will return for the Nintendo Switch, this time called New Pokémon Snap. It will contain many Pokémon from past and present generations, including those introduced since the original game. Further details for the game are sketchy as of yet, but the visuals appear to be quite stunning; this will prove to be a treat for fans from different generations. The game is still being worked on, and more on this is expected later.

Players of the main series games will be glad to know that as of yesterday, the doors have been opened to the first part of the Expansion Pass, the Isle of Armor. It's the start of things that have been expected since the details were furnished some months ago. Along with that, there is a Max Raid Battle challenge involving Zeraora, for which if one million players defeat said Pokémon in Max Raid Battles, the players who partook in the challenge will receive a Shiny Zeraora through their Pokémon Home accounts, which is a pretty nice incentive. The challenge will run until June 29, and all that is left is to wait for Part 2 of the Expansion Pass.

Those who deal with Pokémon Go weren't left out of the picture. To celebrate Part 1 of the Expansion Pass above, Galarian Farfetch'd was unleashed, along with Pokémon-based and Isle of Armor attire. Victini, a unique Mythical Pokémon, will also make its debut... but I will explain the grand scheme of things for this and much more at a later time. For now, I can explain something else really grand; actually, it's more than grand - it's Mega, as in Mega Evolutions, and yes, they're coming to Pokémon Go this year. Though the scheme is sketchy as well, right now their entry is a certainty, which also means that sixth-generation Pokémon are on the horizon as well. Much remains to be seen for these grand things.

For a new way of presenting information about new Pokémon developments, this most recent one has been quite grand with quite a few major game bases covered. And it may be about to become grander, as another one is scheduled to take place next week. At the moment, these new developments have shown the form of creativity that the games can take with a title that alludes to how creativity may be typically introduced. Players will then be able to take that creativity and make lots of strides now, for that which is already available, or conjure up grand creative plans later with what's to come.

One year ago: On Copyrights

Two years ago: Boxes of Go-Goodies

Three years ago: There Is Only One Ball

Good Storage Limit Counts

The other day, I had a discussion with one of my raid subgroups about a fascinating matter that applies to pretty much any Trainer in Pokémon Go. In the game, there are limits to how many Pokémon and items that a Trainer can store or carry, though this can be increased by paying up 200 PokéCoins by 50 at a time to a certain maximum, which has changed over time. What I and others discussed was how much of either one a Trainer should have in consideration of the situations that Trainers may be in.

At present, one may store up to a maximum of 3000 Pokémon, some time ago increased from 2500 to accommodate for more Pokémon with alternate forms and movesets. Most of the "generals" (see below for my tale) and me have reached this peak, so we've had to eliminate (transfer or trade) quite a few Pokémon as our storage fills up to this limit. But of course, this expansion from a measly few hundred comes as a result of months collecting PokéCoins and/or paying for them. Some may choose to struggle with a portion of that limit, while others may periodically expand and still feel that it's not enough, especially with "sudden happenings" that occur. Eventually, one will have to expand due to necessity or simply because there is room to do so.

On the item side, one may carry up to a maximum of 2500 items, also some time ago increased from 2500, likely to allow for more potential uses of items and due to some recently introduced items. In this area, there seems to be a bit more variation, as some may be able to stick things out with whatever item amount they have, including in the sub-thousands and mid-thousands. Yet there is also the school of thought that the item limit should be maximized in order to carry great numbers of items, particularly of a single item; Rare Candies have been cited in this regard as they have many potential uses, including emergency ones due to "sudden happenings". The investment in this case is certainly not very little.

I have my own stances on these limits. For Pokémon storage, one should expand gradually with periodic events (such as Community Day) or else eliminate enough Pokémon in equal measure to the would-be expansion, though I'd say that 1000 Pokémon is good for up to level 20, 2000 is good for levels 20-35, and 3000 is good for all else. I don't take the view of maximum item limit expansion as I believe in item utility, but I do take the view that a proportional limit suffices for that purpose, between 40-50% of the current Pokémon storage limit that one has. One will still need to eliminate Pokémon or use up items as needed, but one may also be compelled to save PokéCoin investments by doing so.

Different Trainers will likely be in different situations, certainly, so my suggested limit counts as well as those suggested by others may apply to different extents, and there is always the potential for their maxima to expand due to the things that happen within the game. Based on the discussions that took place in that subgroup, it may be apt to consider that there will always be certain needs for certain people at certain times, but some rules of thumb may also pertinently apply to guide one to and with proper limits.

One year ago: I'm a "General"!

Two years ago: Viewpoints and Preferences

Three years ago: Hounds and Hyenas, Canines of the Dark

Go with the Flow

Carry me on the waves

To the lands I've never been

Carry me on the waves

To the lands I've never seen

We can sail, we can sail

With the Orinoco Flow

We can sail, we can sail

(Sail away, sail away, sail away)

-- "Orinoco Flow", Enya

Beyond all the combat that is characteristic of many Pokémon games and Pokémon in general, there is the adventure aspect, which many Pokémon games and other Pokémon-related things also have in spades. The adventure moves about those who enjoy any or all of these, along many lands and seas. Regarding movement on the sea, there is one song by the well-known New Age singer Enya that captures exactly the sentiments related to that, and that song is the one I've quoted above. It has been on my mind in recent times, and it also brings Pokémon to my mind. 

The song is named for the flowing waters of the Orinoco River in South America, and the river is mentioned several times in the song, though much of the sentiments of the song go beyond the region of that river. In fact, as stated above, the sentiments concern an adventure on the high seas, to places that one may not have been to or seen before. True to that spirit, the song also mentions a few places that one could theoretically visit by sea voyage, along with a bit of historical and even legendary spirit. It might prove to be inspiring for one to take up that voyage.

While one is likely to be hard-pressed to conduct such a voyage, especially in current times, one may still find that voyaging spirit through other means, and my way is through Pokémon. Beyond the fantastic places and regions presented in many Pokémon things, there is of course the sea, particularly as noted by Sorrel of the famous 20th movie. Though the connections among them are not evident or have not yet been made as such, it is clear that the seas do connect them, and it would prove to be a fantastic voyage for those who can picture it as such. 

That does lead to the idea that a "Pokémon Version" of this song can be made. Though quite a bit of the places found in many Pokémon things are inland places or otherwise does not have a clear connection to the sea, it may still be fantastic to link them up through the means of this song. For that to happen, there are also lyrical considerations, as the original places mentioned are intended to rhyme one way or another, and many Pokémon places are quite multi-syllabic, especially with their descriptors included. It's an excellent challenge for creativity to string Pokémon places in lyrics in this manner. 

With that, this song is admittedly a pretty good song for adventure, especially one that is imagined to take place along the high seas. The presence of high seas in the world of Pokémon only represents a heightened sense of that imagination, for which applying Pokémon to the song would serve to appease the imaginations of its fans, especially dedicated ones like me. Though a high-seas adventure by way of Pokémon might take a stretch of the imagination, it is certainly not out of the question; one would perhaps just need to "go with the flow" for that adventure through the places of Pokémon.

One year ago: The State of Officialness

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/16/2018

Three years ago: Limited Editions

Names, Markets, and Issues

As with real organisms in life that need to be differentiated, Pokémon have names for this purpose. What might not be in (or escape) the minds of some people is that the names of a good number of Pokémon vary in some regions, particularly in its land of origin of Japan and a few other regions. This fact can and does play into the usage of them for marketing things for the franchise, including games and merchandise. There are a few happenings, possibilities, and considerations in this regard for things to turn out in the best possible ways.

I have already explained the difference in names and a reason (or at least the most likely one) for the way things are with Pokémon names. Domestication - or another name for it is localization - makes things make sense in the given language of certain people or regions. And by "making sense", it may also avert the potential for silliness if things otherwise don't make sense. While Pokémon is supposed to be entertaining and may become silly in some cases, to me and others, it is also a serious business, so it is preferred to avert unwarranted cases, especially in marketing.

That leads to the marketing efforts themselves. In a few Japanese posters for marketed Pokémon merchandise, particularly for items that are gained by gacha, the names of the Pokémon that are involved are written in Japanese script, but are also romanized directly, seemingly averse to the more globally recognized English name. In contrast, there have been packages of figures for the Western market, but all official names for the Pokémon are written out for the languages in which they differ. They're two different efforts involving the names in some way.

What appears to make the issue more complicated is trademarks. Each Pokémon name is actually trademarked, particularly in both the Japanese and English cases. Japanese marketing seems apt to hold on to its trademarks in the face of the global popularity of Pokémon, though some names are the same and therefore irrelevant in that specific case. Western marketing seems to embrace the possibility of different names, though the English trademarked names remain prominent. A "legal wall" might just be present otherwise.

By now, it is undeniable that Pokémon species have different names, and given the properties of language, this will always be the case. Marketing efforts in any region can and has to consider this fact as Pokémon is popular everywhere and recognized somehow outside the respective regions, and legal issues may have to be synchronized somehow in order for this to occur comfortably for the appeal of all. Names of Pokémon may sometimes vary from place to place, but among fans, the appeal likely won't, especially if they can connect in part through those same names.

One year ago: Code Affairs

Two years ago: Number One for...

Three years ago: 15th Feature Film Mini-Figures

Pokémon Conventions?

I've written an awful lot about conventions on this blog. They're places I go to in order to express my attachment and attraction to Pokémon. As much as I like going to them, I can't help but think that I would be even more "at home" at a convention that is specifically has a Pokémon emphasis; many of the conventions I go to are more oriented to Japanese (pop) culture. This, like a few other Pokémon ideas, seem interesting at a glance, but some considerations need to be taken into account in regard to the state of things.

The Pokémon World Championships is a major draw for all Pokémon fans, especially those who excel at playing the games. (It's a shame that current conditions forced it to be canceled this year.) This may be argued as partly a convention in addition to a tournament, as it becomes a place and time for fans or people to gather. Yet, as the primary focus is on the tournament proper, it may hardly be called a "convention" - there have been indications that those not directly tied to the tournament itself are not allowed entry - though some convention-like elements may be involved. I may not hold out hope for attending unless I somehow get really good at the games, and even then it's still not really a "convention".

Video games have their own conventions, and that's a big draw for anyone and everyone interested. However, chances are, they may involve a lot of things, even those beyond Pokémon. Even with just Nintendo involved, there may still be loads of other things besides Pokémon. Because of the many things involved, they tend to be for general audiences, not for those with specific interests like me. It may, however, still be possible for games to be exhibited at pop culture conventions, and in this way I could go to the conventions and still express my interests, yet also be able to deal with games that can possibly include Pokémon. It's a fancy thought, but I'm sure that it can happen.

What I have in my mind in regard to a Pokémon convention is one that would, to a large part, be focused on Pokémon, similar to ones for certain specific interests. There would be spaces for the game players (main series and spinoffs alike), for those who watch the anime, and for merchandise galore. It would be a lot like those pop culture conventions, but the Pokémon theme would be overarching. There could be some room for a few non-Pokémon things that may be on good terms with Pokémon and therefore can be included, but overall it would be mostly nearly all about Pokémon for the enjoyment of its fans, no matter who they might be.

The world of conventions will certainly continue to revolve, especially once current conditions have died down. Among the many conventions present in that world will be game conventions and pop culture conventions, which always has been and hopefully will remain receptive toward Pokémon. In that world, Pokémon conventions can and should be able to fit in, and they should be able to draw in fans as much as possible. They would be truly places I and other fans would go to for expression of the attachment and attraction that we share.

One year ago: Integration Prospects

Two years ago: More Pokémon Paper Things

Three years ago: Poké-Crafts Made out of Paper

There's a Time and Place

I find that Pokémon fills my life and a lot of other people's lives. Even with that, I also find that Pokémon can really come to its own when brought out at certain times and places. Pokémon can make any time a good time, but it can also make a good time a great time, especially when in the company of people who appreciate or even really like it. That has been the case of a few recent times I've been conversing with people and Pokémon became a part of the conversation.

Some time ago, I was able to meet one of my neighbors and converse with the neighbor and other people, after they all returned from an activity (the neighbor is part of an adventurous family after all). Most of the conversation involved what we do day in and day out, including for recreation, and I dropped the fact that I'm a cosplayer, specifically a Pokémon cosplayer. They seemed appreciative of the fact and it enlivened the conversation to a good amount. The neighbor and family seems to appreciate Pokémon as well, which made the conversation worthwhile.

Meanwhile, today I got into a three-way conversation over the Internet with a couple of Pokémon friends from the further past and the closer present. While admittedly quite a bit of the conversation involved some darker topics (though still related to Pokémon, or at least how lives revolve around it), Pokémon still made the rest of the conversation pleasant. The state of the darker topics may be far from hope, but there is a certain color that Pokémon gives to the conversation. That color may just be able to turn into the hope needed to bring light to the darkness. (More on darkness last year - see below.)

Since Pokémon has become a powerful force in the media, it can and has affected many people, whether or not they realize it. If they don't realize it, it may well make for a good time to bring up the realization. If they do, the good times may just become better. These may occur in just about any place, as with the neighbor conversation and Internet conversation as above. It may very well be surprising how they can really indicate how powerful Pokémon is in the media.

Pokémon is great for a lot of people, and it seems to be even greater when it comes to bringing it up at certain times and in certain places. Evidently, connecting with other people is a fine (and often necessary) thing, but it may just be possible that good times or even better times may result when Pokémon is brought up in conversation. As a Pokémon fan, I know in my heart that there will always be people who have links to Pokémon, and there will always be times and places that it may just fit in.

One year ago: Chaos and Darkness

Two years ago: Singular vs. Multiple Focus Legendaries

Three years ago: I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

As In As All...

It's been about a year since the National Dex brouhaha emerged along with its dynamics, which I covered to a certain extent in last year's post (see below). Even with that controversial happening, the Sword and Shield games, for which this becomes a concern have managed to sell, and there is even an "expansion pass" on the way with old and new things alike. It seems appropriate to consider what became of it today as well as the takeaway from it. 

At this point, the situation can be said to have been pretty much accepted. The games have been released and what's there is there, including for the new expansion. People don't seem to mind buying the former and then most likely the latter for the full experience. If it means they still can make their Pokémon team to be what it can be even with what is offered, that seems to be all that matters. The big thing is the opportunities that are ready to manifest. 

It also would seem that the controversy has happened for naught. In a way, yes, but another way to regard it is that the controversy highlighted something: every Pokémon fan wants Pokémon to embody as many things as possible (or nearly all), something that can happen with as many species as possible. Even if the case of today may have limited this possibility, at the least many things can still happen in different ways even if they don't come close to "all".

The above is reminding me of a song that became popular in relevance to (a certain) technology a few years back:

As warm as the sun, as silly as fun

As cool as a tree, as scary as the sea

As hot as fire, cold as ice

Sweet as sugar and everything nice

...

All I wanna be

Oh, oh, oh - all I wanna be

Is everything

Everything at once

-- "Everything at Once", Lenka

The technology also warranted an all-inclusiveness that didn't go over well, and even may have been unwanted. It's certainly different from the all-inclusiveness desired for Pokémon, and the sentiments of the song suit the sentiments of this situation more than the other one.

What transpired about a year ago had been quite the uproar, as much anything Pokémon-related can be considered to be an "uproar". After that, it pretty much died down. It may not have indicated that the main series games can be as all-inclusive as they were in the past, but it indicated that Pokémon fans are always "all in" - even if not entirely, it is surely with everything that can be provided.

One year ago: Nationally Challenged

Two years ago: Before Gold and Silver

Three years ago: Red on a Bike

Low-Bit Fantasies with Pokémon

Any Pokémon fan who is aware of the history of the franchise knows that it started out with low-bit imagery, which developed into the other kinds of imagery used today. With the rich visuals that the franchise has today, there doesn't seem to be any place for this kind of retro imagery, especially for new developments that missed out on this developmental phase. However, it may still be possible for low-bit imagery to fit in even with the modern state of Pokémon imagery, and in doing so provide a bit of fun.

For one, I still think that a retro game remake (which I've learned now may be described as a "demake") might still be possible, considering what I've already outlined previously. Even so, the tag of a "demake" may tend to carry a negative connotation, and that is something to be avoided. The game should flawlessly combine retro elements with modern sensibilities to result in a mixture of both that is satisfying to new times yet also fits in with the old elements. Done well, this might become a fantastic game to play.

Even if a retro game remake might not be possible at the moment, it may still well suffice to add a retro look and feel to modern elements, for which I've also detailed some implementations. This is evident as even with Sword and Shield, Pokémon icons are still represented with a pixelated appearance characteristic of low-bit developments. This process could make up the first step before a retro game remake as above, or it could simply be for aesthetic purposes as with LINE stickers of actual previous retro images, only this time of modern elements attempting to emulate the style of that time.

The results that come out of that second process may have the potential to be manifested in other forms, such as merchandise. There have been retro-styled Pokémon merchandise before, and there might be more in the future, especially considering that something special is approaching that will involve Pokémon. It may be said that everything may want to get into the fun of bygone times, and merchandise might surely make the above process more worthwhile and pleasant for any fan to enjoy.

It's not hard to deny that the graphical beginnings of Pokémon were humble, but even with that humility, many took to enjoying it. Today, many still do enjoy Pokémon, whether or not they have been exposed to that early rudimentary graphical era. It may very well be worth it for modern Pokémon things to try (at least) to fit into that area, possibly to help fans become aware of the history. It's a history that has been filled with a great deal of fun, and that fun may serve as a neat fantasy for fans, even with low-bit qualities.

One year ago: Field Research Task Reporting

Two years ago: The Myth of Shiny Pokémon

Three years ago: On Skateboards and Pokémon

The Persistence of Pokémon Spotlight Hours

In the past, I had written about one kind of experimental event in Pokémon Go that has persisted even to today (although it was absent for a good chunk of time until recently). Today, there is another kind of experimental event that has persisted, and that is the Pokémon Spotlight Hour. As I've noted in the February rollup, the (mini) event involves a specific Pokémon appearing within the span of a single hour but in similar vein to a Community Day. This event may also be considered as having passed the "experimental" stage and becoming a regular event.

During the month of March, the experiment had continued at its regular scheduled time, except that it featured more Pokémon all around (with no specific featured species) at its regular schedule of Tuesday at 6 PM local time. At this point, the experiment can be considered to have concluded, as in April and May, the event started to feature specific Pokémon species again; some of the Pokémon that have been featured since then include Magnemite and Wobbuffet in April, and Shellder and Bronzor in May. This month, the event did take a break on the first week, but is otherwise scheduled to take place each week with a different species. With that regularity, the "experiment" status is definitely shed.

Actually, the "graduation" of Pokémon Spotlight Hour is also the "graduation" for the Mystery Bonus Hour, the other one-hour event introduced at the same time. In March, the event also continued at its regular time, but starting in April, the Mystery Bonus was folded into or merged with Pokémon Spotlight Hour, and the bonuses themselves weren't a "mystery", as they were disclosed along with the disclosure of the featured Pokémon for the weekly Pokémon Spotlight Hour. The bonuses have thus far have included double Candy, XP, or Stardust for catching Pokémon, double XP for evolution, or double Candy for Pokémon transfer, the last being a good incentive for storage clean-outs.

I conjectured back then that Pokémon Spotlight Hour has the potential to be diverse, and that has definitely been shown. The event has been able to showcase Pokémon that today are rarely, if ever, present in the wild, especially when intended as such rather than increasing Pokémon appearances in general. This is certainly a natural consequence of more and more species of Pokémon from later generations being introduced; as an example, Pidgey, which was very common in the early days, is now only an occasional stranger, and the Spotlight Hour for it helped those who may be interested in the species for any purpose. It also may substitute for a Community Day (or even, Limited Research) for species that are not likely to be fodder for it, or at least be a prelude for those who are. The decision to fold or merge the (not so) Mystery Bonus Hour into Spotlight Hour makes sense as some of the bonuses work better with a purpose, like the capture bonuses with a specific Pokémon. It makes things more effective.

What has been demonstrated from the "experiment" is that the Pokémon Spotlight Hour is successful because of its capability to bring up an under-represented Pokémon in today's world of hundreds and hundreds of species. The Mystery Bonus is also successful, but only with something else to do and not as a "mystery", nicely complimenting the Pokémon Spotlight Hour. Overall, the two experimental events show different sides of their success, and together as one, they are able to be more successful, and that is surely key in the persistence.

One year ago: To Hold or Not to Hold?

Two years ago: Variegated Pokédexes

Three years ago: Pokémon and Sports

Pokémon Hanafuda

After having discussed the "something completely different" related to Nintendo and how it may also be part of the roots of the company most intimately connected to Pokémon as much as it is for me, I'm reminded of something else that becomes the roots of Nintendo, one that also has a modern Pokémon connection. Before Nintendo dealt with video games, it dealt with playing cards, and one of the kinds of cards they dealt with is hanafuda, which in English can be described as "flower cards" because many of the cards contain images of flowers. It's a Japanese thing, just like the origin of Pokémon.

While I don't know hanafuda in and out, I know just enough of the basic design of the cards. The 48 cards of a deck of them are themed after the months of a year and certain botanicals, and the themes of the cards interact in specific ways in the card game in which they are used. Typically, the design of these cards traditionally conform to a standard set of images, much like how there are traditional images of French cards, and more so since the "flower cards" are unlabeled much like, say, mahjong tiles. However, in modern times, the images might accept modifications, for example including Pokémon.

That is exactly what happened a number of years ago, when a deck of hanafuda cards decked out with Pokémon imagery was made and offered for sale. The traditional illustrations were complemented with a selection of first-generation species on each of the cards. Not only that, a host of merchandise was also created based on the images on the cards, including straps, plastic file folders, and even wall scrolls. The cards themselves look quite neat in blending the traditional and the modern images; the former remains recognizable and the latter looks rather distinct.

Of these cards, I'm taken with a few of them. The first "January" card, which traditionally has a crane with the moon, becomes a Moltres looking at a completely red Poké Ball (Cherish Ball, rather). The fourth "March" card has a pair of Nidoran of both genders nestled beneath a branch full of flowers. The second "August" card has a flock of Spearow and Fearow flying over a sleeping Snorlax visible only from its foot end. Finally, the third "December" card has the full first-generation Eevee family neatly placed within the plant. Among the 48 cards, these images seem to be among the most expressive.

The cards of hanafuda aren't part of my roots, but they're part of the roots of some Japanese people and entities, one of them being Nintendo. It's something that had become part of them in a previous era. Meanwhile, today, things like Pokémon can become a root or a full-fledged part of people like me. The combination of them, as with Pokémon and hanafuda, can still be an impressive thing that inspires a person to appreciate one by interest in the other. That seems to be the highest regard that any person can give for anything that people or entities are linked with, then and now.

One year ago: Limited Research Methodology

Two years ago: The Spirit of Giving

Three years ago: A Faraway Tournament and a Charitable Spirit

Game Freak with Mario on the Side

Behind the success that is Pokémon, there are the brilliant minds of those at Game Freak, the company that conceived the main series games. Ever since Pokémon became popular, they have primarily dealt with the franchise and its games, becoming a second-party developer to Nintendo. Before and after Pokémon was formally conceived, however, Game Freak did deal with the development of other games within the 1990s, a few of them being from the Mario franchise as something I also appreciate. They are fascinating in their own right, even in consideration of Pokémon and the ways they are connected.

One of those games is called Yoshi (the U.S. name, other regions are slightly different), which in addition to Mario also stars the dinosaur that sometimes accompanies him. The game, which was released for the NES and Game Boy, is an "action puzzle" game involving matching Mario enemies and hatching eggs that contain the dinosaur. There is an apparent Pokémon connection in that the Pokémon Center music partly resembles the Star theme in this game, and that the game's premise resembles some Pokémon concepts; in any case, the meager success from the game also supported Game Freak and enabled the creation of Pokémon, which is quite fascinating indeed.

The other game is a little-known game for the Super NES called Mario & Wario, featuring the latter in an antagonistic role. The reason it is little-known is because the game is (or remained) Japan-only, despite a Western release having been indicated afterwards and the game itself not being in Japanese. The game is a puzzle platform game involving guiding characters that can't see their way due to objects on their heads. Satoshi Tajiri also worked on the design of this game, as with the previous game above. The memory of this game survives in a reference on the Super NES of the Copycat in Saffron City in the first generation games, described as a "game with Mario wearing a bucket". Though little-known, this remains significant.

Meanwhile, later on in the 1990s, Nintendo released a peripheral called the Game Boy Camera. Game Freak actually handled the (game) software aspect of this peripheral, a fact that many might not be aware of. While quite a bit of the software has linkages to Mario, there are also little bits that deal with Pokémon. Several Pokémon sprites were present prior to the U.S. release of the first generation games, and some Pokémon stickers can be printed with the aid of the Game Boy Printer. Still, on the whole, the software is highly linked to Mario rather than Pokémon, with many images referencing the former. Yet it's only natural for the developers to start to include what would become their bestsellers.

The brilliance of Game Freak seems to be rather apparent outside of Pokémon and in particular in relation to Mario with the games they developed. In a way, through only the mild success of Yoshi and the limited release of Mario & Wario, they developed themselves so that they can develop other things, notably Pokémon as their incredible success of today, whilst they learned a side way of working with that success with the Game Boy Camera. Beyond that, they are poised to take in all the development successes of Pokémon and conceive more brilliant successes along the way.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/8/2019

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/8/2018

Three years ago: Poor Zygarde

It's a-Mario Time

Even with all the things that I do now involving Pokémon, I still occasionally make the time to "take note of my roots" and enjoy them a bit, and that's something that has happened recently, also in part thanks to YouTube. Pokémon is a major thing that Nintendo has a stake in, but Nintendo's major thing is the one and only (Super) Mario franchise, with or without the descriptor. Likewise, it's a series or franchise that I got into before I got into Pokémon, and it provided me a sense of appreciation, adventure, and amusement that carried over to Pokémon.

I've actually already alluded the Mario franchise in another post, specifically the one that discusses the media power of Pokémon and other media franchises. Yes, that means Pokémon has a greater valuation than Mario, but given that Nintendo holds sway over the latter and has a stake in the former, it has a highly valuable and therefore pretty good thing going with both, with highly successful things scattered between the two. They're both powerful media franchises, and I'm happy to appreciate one and really enjoy the other.

With both of them "under one roof", so to speak, crossovers are naturally bound to happen, and they do. The most well-known one is Super Smash Bros., an example I cited in my post about crossovers such a long time ago. It's a "fighting" game with more than just Mario and Pokémon, but it's expected to appeal to fans of both nonetheless. I rarely play any of its installments, but I maintain a cursory interest, particularly to play as characters from both. As for crossovers solely involving both, there is but one which occurred four years ago as a selection of merchandise, including plush dolls and TCG cards featuring Pikachu dressed up as Mario as well as Luigi. Though this happened only then and only in Japan, it is still quite unique to boot. 

Since the two continue to be popular together and have their legions of fans, more crossovers could be expected, and I personally would love that to happen again. The previous Japan-exclusive merchandise could be brought over globally and then expanded, for example, and more games could be created involving the two. While the Mario franchise tends to have platform games (one reason I rarely play and moved to Pokémon - my skills are only average), it can go and has gone into RPG territory, so a crossover RPG might be totally conceivable, as well as party games, another popular segment of the Mario franchise that I also play, sometimes with friends. The possibilities are tantalizing and demand to be explored. 

The linkages between the two are not common, but they may be more present in the mind. Recently, I've heard the arrangement of "Gusty Garden" as "Champion's Road" for Super Mario 3D World, and I can't help but think that the arrangement's instrumentation resembles some of the music pieces heard in the Pokémon anime, and I wouldn't notice if someone dropped it in; a fellow fan seems to think the same way. The association is all in the mind, but it may be considered a powerful one as far as musical pieces are concerned.

These days, Mario for me might take a backseat to Pokémon affairs, but it remains as something I had initially known and appreciated before fully taking on the latter. But with both being under the banner of Nintendo, it's possible to appreciate them together, especially if crossovers can occur. I suppose that there will always be room for me to enjoy and appreciate things from the Mario franchise alongside those from Pokémon. With that being the case, certain times might allow for a bit of "Mario Time" for this Pokémon fan.

One year ago: Going Big in Galar

Two years ago: Pokémon Archetypes

Three years ago: New Paradigms

Repetition for Reputation

There are always things that I pick up from different sources and then perceive that they apply to my Pokémon-filled life and Pokémon itself as well. One of them is a principle that I recently had picked up from a TV program I had been watching, which I've stated in the title of this post. The principle essentially states that whatever one does repeatedly will have an effect on one's reputation, essentially building it up. Examining Pokémon and my life, this becomes apparent in a number of ways for a number of things.

My cosplay is one of those things. I've already stated that it is "timeless", but it is also repeated to the point of being "consistent" as many would describe it, including the main vocalist of a band I've collaborated with before (in fact, it was directly stated in the introduction to that very moment). This has cemented my reputation not only as a cosplayer but also as a Pokémon fan. With that, the principle is evidently true and I become an embodiment of the principle.

For Pokémon itself, one particularly famous and ingrained form of repetition is the playable inclusion of past species in the main series games. This has been a long-running norm in the games that creates a "reputation" of sorts, by which it makes sense that last year's National Dex brouhaha was such an uproar - it weakened the "reputation" that had been gained. With the expansion packs to come for the Sword and Shield games soon, at the least the reputation can be maintained to a further extent.

Back to myself, this blog represents a repetition of an extreme kind, one that at this point is fast approaching three and a half years. I've gained a bit of reputation for it, but not as much as I'd like it to be in order to be for Pokémon prospects that allow me to contribute and be rewarded for them. That's why I recently established a presence on Ko-fi to help myself in addition to what I've already accomplished through all the different Pokémon things that I've done. Here, I'm sure the principle will continue to hold.

The principle of "repetition for reputation" is one that has been affirmed by the TV program that I watched, but looking at what I've went through with Pokémon and what Pokémon has gone through, I would say they affirm the principle as well. It's a remarkable and valuable principle regarding what one can accordingly do with one's actions. It serves one well to think about repeating the things that matter for a reputation that matters, especially for the things that one may enjoy.

One year ago: Be with You, Always with You

Two years ago: (The Least) Local Ex-Raid, 6/6/2018

Three years ago: Pokémon Direct, 6/6/2017

The Pokémon Battlefields

Anyone who is a fan of Pokémon will surely know about the battles that take place among the eponymous species, whether or not they belong to specific Trainers. What may be rarely considered about them is the venues where they take place - in other words, the battlefields. This might seem like a trivial thing, but it's one that merits some consideration at the least regarding the possible situations that the battlefields may be in as well as their appearance in those cases.

In many cases, particularly when one is removed from settlements on a journey, the battlefield may just be the bare ground, with no markings at all. But that's understandable - the battles themselves, such as with wild Pokémon, may happen in a sudden or impromptu manner, and that being the case, one can't exactly seek out or establish a battlefield, and one has to battle at and with whatever is there. This would be a normal and expected manner of battling for many Trainers.

For Trainers seeking success in Gyms or against those in the know, the battlefield might look quite different. It might have specially crafted terrain, and more importantly, it might have markings. Pokémon Go indicates an example of such a battlefield, where the markings might resemble those of a sumo arena. It might also resemble a soccer field with an inner circle that looks like a Poké Ball, as indicated by the anime. These battlefields on the whole look more organized.

Trainers whose successes are continued or at a high level may find themselves in some battlefields that are found in large arenas. These may be even more intricate than those in Gyms or ones belonging to Trainers of good standing. The Poké Ball in the circle may be decorated or even colored as one, especially during special occasions. There might be extra terrain such as pools of water or chunks of ice to accommodate certain Pokémon. Other markings might also be present for different kinds of battles. All these indicate a higher degree of organization.

Pokémon battles are the norm in the world of Pokémon, particularly for those who specialize in bringing up Pokémon for this purpose. It's also the norm for them to be conducted on some sort of a battlefield, and it's expected they'll vary depending on the settings and environments. What hopefully won't vary is the tenacity of Trainers and Pokémon to do battle on them, whether they're just starting out on the path of glory on rudimentary battlefields or at the apex of their journey on the best possible ones.

One year ago: Holding Hands

Two years ago: Raid Preferences

Three years ago: Sympathy for Villains