Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Fans of the Pokémon anime will likely have gotten a pleasing treat over the past few months. That would be in the form of an online miniseries with the title of "Twilight Wings". For those used to watching the regular anime series with Ash as the protagonist, this one might seem very different, but that can be a good thing. It can and does deliver different perspectives, as with this one.

The reason this one is called "Twilight Wings" is because the miniseries has a (partial) focus on a Corviknight taxi driver, which means that the entire miniseries takes place in the Galar region. Aside from said taxi driver, however, each episode also focuses on one important character in the region, along with a few supporting ones here and there. As the miniseries has been described, it involves their aspirations and the whirling ways they make them real. Some of the moments might be intensely difficult, while others might be heartwarmingly pleasant. But they all tell the stories of the characters in question, along with that taxi driver and his majestic and trusty black flying steed, plus certainly the cab as it carries the characters. 

This miniseries contains seven episodes, most of them around six to seven minutes long. Each episode was released monthly (give or take) starting early this year, and the last episode was released earlier this month. I had thought about discussing each episode separately, but in the end, I wanted to go for overall perspectives, so I decided to wait patiently until all episodes were released. And when the finale was released, I set out on writing this post, which was finally realized today. 

I and a friend met the other day to discuss a few Pokémon things, and this miniseries came up in discussion. We talked about which episodes appeared to be the best of them, and we brought up the fourth episode (see below) that featured Nessa. I thought the storyline was neat, while my friend thought the featured Pokémon were unique. Overall, the miniseries takes a "slice of life" approach, which I have to say is not bad by any means, and certainly contributes to the different perspectives as above. They are all also richly detailed, and this makes for great impressions all around, as with me and my friend. It's definitely worth watching for any fan, whether or not they've experienced Galar through Sword and Shield.

This is an online miniseries, and that's a good thing; an even better thing is that it's completely free, as the episodes are on the official Pokémon YouTube channel - check out the entire playlist for it there. Those who have an hour to spare can watch all the episodes in a row in due time. And why not - it's a fascinating peek into what goes on in Galar through the eyes of the characters... and a flying big black taxi that inspires its name.

Now, for a miniseries such as this one, I don't have three-line summaries since the episodes are short, but I do have two-line summaries instead. Here they are, for all of them:

1: Letter

What's on paper is best and obvious, for

John and Chairman Rose on their meeting... 

2: Training

Bea encounters a few hardships and wonder

as she trains somewhere over yonder.

3: Buddy

For Hop and his Wooloo, at what point does

a bond of friendship become unbreakable?

4: Early-Evening Waves

Nessa considers her life as a Gym Leader

and a photo model, and makes her choice.

5: Assistant

Oleana's the name, and keeping things

running in Galar is the game!

6: Moonlight

What does it take for Tommy to express

his feelings... with Allister's help?

7: Sky

The paths for John and Champion Leon all

converge into a single spectacle!

One year ago: The Start of a Decked-Out Adventure

Two years ago: Solidarity Making

Three years ago: Reunions!

Competitive Stage Progress

I haven't covered something related to Pokémon Shuffle in a while, so this might be a good time. I've already covered what Competitive Stages are in the game and have discussed it off and on, and this time I'd like to discuss it again, certainly this time with a different perspective. I want to focus on its development and progression, both how it has developed overall and how I've progressed through them. It's actually a double perspective, but it ought to provide insights on how things have gone.

When they were initially introduced, the reward tiers were very few, and fewer still rewarded the coveted Mega Stone. Now there are 12 of these reward tiers, and a majority of them do give the Mega Stone (or a Level Up enhancement if a player had already obtained the Mega Stone). Most upper tiers also give out the most valuable of enhancements, Mega Speedup and Raise Max Level, in plentiful numbers and going down from there, while lower tiers give out basic items and/or coins. The tiers were also initially rank-based before becoming percentage-based, which can afford greater safety as more players enter. With these developments, they have indeed come a long way.

Meanwhile, after having played them as often as they came, I've had various degrees of success. Most recently, I've been able to attain the S-Class reward tier thanks to a good performance on a stage that demanded primarily the use of Gengar, Lunala, and Mimikyu; it wasn't the first time, and I had achieved a similar feat some months ago with exactly the same Pokémon. On most others, however, I've not been able to duplicate the same success, only achieving one of the lesser reward tiers, but still quite high up. I have to say that these efforts were helped by the display of Pokémon ("meta") that others used, and that helped bump up my ranking, even though it took a long time before I attained something really great. It's a good progress regardless.

Pokémon Shuffle has been quite dormant lately except for regular Special Stage rotations including Competitive Stages, so as I've mentioned, it may be about to go out. Therefore, there is not much to say to be added, as the system should be just fine the way it is. If there is a small chance to improve something, it would probably have to be for the lowest tiers (Class J and Class K) to allow them to have three rewards instead of just two and one respectively, since they are the only tiers with less than three. Other than that, the system may just carry through until the "end of life" for Pokémon Shuffle, whenever that may or will be.

By now, Pokémon Shuffle may be at an apparent downturn, with less and less players becoming interested. For those that remain with it and are still interested, at least Competitive Stages can still serve as good entertainment and a good way to pick up items or enhancements as necessary. I've certainly had my moments, and the stage itself has had its moments as things have proceeded. After having been through it since the beginning, it may be nice to see it through to the end.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2019

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2018

Three years ago: Stories That You Don't Know

The Social Value of Pokémon Go

Late last year, I wrote about how Pokémon contains social aspects within its games, of which there are quite a few. This time, I'd like to discuss that for the specific case of Pokémon Go, only with a slightly different emphasis. That would be on social value, as what social things are or can be gained from the game. Back then, I noted that Pokémon Go is a highly social game, and it is true even now with current conditions; therefore, there are still at least some values to be gained from the game.

One of those values is social cohesion, as through meetings that allow Trainers to bond with one another. Raids have always been the facility for this since the beginning, though in more recent times tournaments have become an additional facility. What would ordinarily take place in person now takes place over chats through smartphones or other devices, at least for the time being. Though interactions of the latter cannot stand in for the former, some of the cohesion can be maintained, especially now that raids and (more) battles can take place remotely - the only communicative barrier being the channel and method. Cohesion is of apparent importance, and that will likely remain so no matter what.

Another value is social action, which has often been instilled by Niantic as the game developers themselves, if one video from the Virtual Team Lounge selections don't already affirm as such. In fact, they seem to enjoy and appreciate any stories of social action combined with gameplay; they even encourage informing them of those stories so that they can spread it to others around the world. They can also support social action themselves in different ways, including by the aid of Trainers to suggest places to be supported and donating profits that are gained such as from Pokémon Go Fest ticket sales. Social action for anyone should be a social value of concern, and for Niantic, that seems to always be so.

A third value is social creativity, realized through various creations and coverage on social media. While this would be practically true for any game, including other Pokémon games and especially its main series, the former social value (and to some extent the latter) can and do seem to contribute. It would spur videos, podcasts, and even blog posts such as this one, and they all would be varied in their coverage - for example, Pokémon Go tips and tricks. This blog itself has a varied nature since it attempts to deal with not just Pokémon Go, but also pretty much any aspect of Pokémon, including some odd ones. Any and all of those forms above can and do show social creativity, especially if people like me can undertake to be part of them.

It is hard to not deny the social quality of Pokémon Go. In many cases, Trainers are ultimately necessitated to connect to make things happen. In doing so, they can also undertake other endeavors and/or show good things through a variety of media. Current conditions aren't likely to put a damper on these efforts, and they instead can and do accelerate them. I suppose it's quite worth it for a game so focused on virtual reality to also trigger effects on social reality, being just as important.

One year ago: Adventurous Families

Two years ago: Media Master

Three years ago: Catching Up

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/28/2020

As I noted during the coverage of Community Day this month, the month following Pokémon Go Fest (editions) is likely to be lively, and this one has been just that with its events. Most of them are due to what happens over the course of Pokémon Go Fest (or its editions) that would then result in the events over the course of the month. As a matter of fact, the concept is not new and was the case for last year in September, only then it was because Pokémon Go Fest was a triad in the summer, not a one-off like this year. Still, for this month, the happenings are or were more or less similar, thanks to the similar efforts of everyone in a similar manner despite current conditions.

At that time, the happenings were called Ultra Bonuses, as rewards for jobs well done over the course of the Go Fest triad as the Summer Tour. This time, the happenings are called Ultra Unlocks, and they were unlocked over the course of the first day of this year's one-off Go Fest as set numbers of Global Challenges were completed (the second day was of course the Team Go Rocket intrusion, so not much came out of that). Like last time, the Ultra Unlocks for this month were sectioned off into weekly periods of events, all with their own unique characteristics, including featured Pokémon in the wild and from 7 km Eggs, Legendary raid boss, and Shiny forms.

The first week of the month was called "Dragon Week" and it featured Dragon-type Pokémon of all kinds, shapes, and sizes. A highlight during this week was Deino, which did have its Shiny form released, but it was exceptionally rare. The Legendary raid boss this week was Rayquaza, which had been possibly Shiny for some time, but it too was still exceptionally rare, at least for some people. As well, there was a Timed Research with appropriate rewards during the week, but for many, it was more problematic than it was rewarding - it had a habit of disappearing at times - so it was to be rectified somehow later on. Apart from this, Dragon-type goodness were abound this week, which should have been the allure.

The second week of the month was called "Enigma Week" and it featured Psychic types and a small selection of Fairy types. Most notably, this week served as the debut of Elgyem from the fifth generation, as well as Shiny Unown for the letters U-L-T-R-A as with last year, but in raids instead of from Eggs; earlier, the letters G and O had their Shiny forms during the Go Fest. For this week, Deoxys in its Normal Forme reappeared, this time potentially being Shiny. Shiny Staryu was also an additional highlight. As can be discerned, everything this week revolved around all these Shiny forms and raids for them, and some may have gotten lots more (or much less) than they bargained for.

The third week of the month was called "Unova Week" and true to its name, Pokémon from the fifth generation or the Unova region were the big thing. The Sewaddle family, Cottonee family, Emolga, and Bouffalant (being a New York regional) all made their debuts this week, as did the Shiny forms of the Roggenrola family and Genesect, something I had touched on over a week ago. As far as everything else was concerned, Genesect was the big thing, as it never made it to EX Raids prior to its first general raid and Shiny availability this week. Otherwise, it did nicely fill in a few gaps in the Unova Pokédex, and now it's a little more complete barring a few standouts that still need to make it in.

While there was nothing for the fourth week, there were remnants all around, also in previous weeks. During the live report on the first day of Pokémon Go Fest, I reported that there would be a make-up event for some habitat blocks, and that happened on August 16 for an hour each of the Fire, Water, and Friendship habitats. However, for Asia-Pacific (my region), things went haywire again, and the make-up was made up again the very next week. It was as fun as it was distressing. Meanwhile, the last week of the month also featured the make-up for the Dragon Week Timed Research as well as Heatran as a stopgap Legendary raid boss. There was also a remnant "preview" of next month's events, which are to be explained then.

After a wild Pokémon Go Fest month last month, this month was also quite wild in different ways, as it effectively became the "after party" with all the Ultra Unlocks that were unlocked after the efforts of everyone involved in the big event last month. Granted, they weren't perfect, but it was still an "after party" to behold after what transpired in the previous month. In current conditions, it's still a miracle that things can happen as they have transpired. It may be taken to mean that once current conditions settle, things have to be as big if not bigger. For the moment, it's good to know that Trainers can pull out similar efforts to make things as similar as they have been.

One year ago: Allying with Characters
Two years ago: PokéVerbalisms
Three years ago: After the Faraway Tournament

Road to the 25th Anniversary

This post might be rather geeky even for my fellow Pokémon fans, but I feel that it may still be of some importance anyway. So in several posts, most notably being this year's Pokémon Day post, I've hinted that there's something gilded and gleaming for Pokémon coming next year, and that would be its 25^th anniversary - in other words, its silver anniversary. This is a big one, all things Pokémon considered, and much can be discussed about it. That is why I've chosen to discuss it today, of all days.

Today is August 27, which happens to be six months from and six months to Pokémon Day. Therefore, it's the half-anniversary to Pokémon Day. I've chosen this starting point to discuss the 25^th anniversary in order to build up to a climax upon the coming of that anniversary and then progressively go down from there. The way I see it, there is a "road" leading up to that anniversary, and it's one to be traversed wherever it might lead on the way to it. That is why I chose to title this post accordingly to pursue that "road".

And on that road, there may be a lot of things. A cursory search reveals that at least a few things may be planned, including TCG promotions. Pokémon Day has always been a hot time to announce new things for the franchise, including games as the hottest items, so some games are likely in the pipeline. Apart from other special things that may not actually pertain to the imminent anniversary, as of yet there is still quite a bit of speculation. It's still early on this road, and thus much may still be expected.

Even if preparations for that anniversary aren't evident, at least some big things are. The latest feature film is out in Japan and is attractive to fans of all ages. Mega Evolution is imminent to be added into Pokémon Go and will likely make itself evident quite soon. There are continuous happenings in the main series games (Sword and Shield) that may or may not well worth it for players and I'm sorely missing out on without a Nintendo Switch. Whether or not they are part of that, they surely enliven things on that road.

The geeky part of this post is making this post now, out of all days, at possibly the earliest time for it, six months prior. But I, like other Pokémon fans, have anticipated this anniversary even well before the date. And why not - it is gilded, gleaming, and important, as it's the silver or 25^th anniversary. With much to go on before that happens, this is only the start of the "road" to it, and I (perhaps others as well) would like to be there for the ride all the way to its peak and beyond.

One year ago: Blogging on Blogs: The Pokémon Go Official Blog

Two years ago: My Pokémon Groups on Facebook

Three years ago: In-Town vs. Out-of-Town Events

Continuous Inspiration

When I show this blog to some people, including some of my fellow Pokémon fans, they become amazed. Most of them wonder how I have the drive to post on it each and every day. A simple answer that I can give for that is that I receive continuous inspiration. Barring some posts that have become regular over time, such as event reviews or chronicles as well as regular goings-on in Pokémon Go, many of my posts have been inspired from what transpired as I play and/or do things with Pokémon. And luckily for me, they seemingly come as if in a continuous chain.

What I do in the games (hopefully with other fellow fans as well) gives me something to think about. If I deem it to be important to discuss or report on this blog, then it will be there... at least eventually, as I deliver my own take on it, such as new features in Pokémon Go. Sometimes, I also may come upon something important that goes further than plainly reported information but may not be covered by any game guide, and that becomes fair game for discussion or reporting on this blog as well. The inspiration is the consideration that others can be informed about the former and the attempt to "read between the lines" for the latter. Both can emerge as things progress or as consequences, and thus the inspiration is continuous.

Likewise, when I do other things with Pokémon, I'm apt to think not only about those things, but also other things that may fit and/or relate. Every now and then, something will click, and that means it's something that would then be apt for discussion here. Of course, the Pokémon things themselves may eventually deserve to be discussed when they are truly appropriate. Technically, I have no reservations about discussing anything Pokémon on this blog, but in many cases the things that are less personal have likely been discussed elsewhere, so I prefer to wait until an appropriate time when I can discuss them with a bit of my own spin. Yet, I still have to try to be objective as I can about them, especially considering the ultimate goal of this blog that I haven't realized.

All that inspiration requires some way of keeping track. I can choose to keep a lot of it in my head, but then I need to keep other things in my head as well, so they would compete. Draft posts on this blog would serve well in that regard, and they in fact do: most posts that I've made starting as a draft have turned out well and they don't compete with anything in my head. Another great way is to use my friends as a "sounding board" and keep track of what I've discussed with them through chat logs, voice messages, notes, and similar others. It could be technically considered to be a draft post "outside the system", but it nonetheless keeps track, so this has to remain viable somehow. The inspiration continues and also needs to be continued through these means.

I suppose sometimes I'll also wonder how things on this blog have gotten huge after over three and a half years. Then again, considering the above, I may have the reason to not wonder anymore. Pokémon inspiration for me is like a chain - I find one thing, and then it leads me to another, and then again to another, and so it goes. With this blog, it would serve me well to be able to encapsulate each of those inspirations in posts on this blog so I could see the path they have led me to take, and perhaps more importantly to keep the chains of inspiration continuously going somehow.

One year ago: Making Others (and Myself) Happy

Two years ago: Figure Gathering, Again

Three years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2017 - Yume no Tobira

The Principle of Life

A few days ago, I wrote on how Pokémon might have a link to plant eaters (herbivores for creatures, vegetarians or vegans for people). Those of the former camp most likely will have been dictated by nature, but those of the latter camp might also be dictated by choice, and the latter becomes quite interesting. While it could mean that they have realized the value of eating plants, it also could mean that they have realized the value and/or existence of sentient creatures, whether imaginary as Pokémon or real as animals of the real world. I've taken to call this as the "principle of life", and I'd like to discuss it now.

The realization of the "principle of life" entails a few things. One of them is, at the very least, a respect for the creatures; it means that the creatures should have their living space and rights honored, especially before doing something that impacts them greatly. By respecting, it might also be possible to become acquainted with them, particularly to the point of becoming friends with them. Also part of that respect is not putting an end to their lives unless absolutely necessary, and even then in some way that maintains the honor that they have received. There are many other things that are entailed, but these three are sufficient to illustrate the values and/or existence of the creatures.

In the world of Pokémon, these things are seemingly rather evident. There is a lot of respect for the creatures that bear the name in all sorts of ways, by the people that exist in that world. Many can be or have become friends with people or even beyond that, being revered as very important figures or even deities, and as a result receiving much honor as well. And while the food chain axioms are pretty much viably true, none have ever been rather obviously evident except for some illustrative hints that they are in fact as such. That appears to become an additional form of respect to what has already been indicated.

It may be plausible, then, that some fans of Pokémon might be motivated to adopt the "principle of life" by the way that things have been presented. They may or may not become total vegetarians or vegans, but at the least the "principle" would manifest among them. This may be true as they let wild animals do their thing, making friends with the animals they own or are close to, and/or paying respects to animals before they need to be excised or by not doing so at all. I myself have pretty much adopted this to a good extent, though as I've said before, I'm not truly either one.

This "principle of life" sounds noble enough. There is a nobleness in respecting creatures as they exist and for what they bring to the table. This being indirectly evident for Pokémon allows people there to make a choice on what they do to live... and the same would be true for the real world. They would seem to be able to get more out of life by preserving life itself, at least for those conscious of their sentiments, and perhaps even promote a plant-based rather than animal-based lifestyle. For what it's worth, they seem to make the real world and the Pokémon world that much more livable.

One year ago: Expecting the Cards

Two years ago: PokéMusicians

Three years ago: Wallpaper: Ash XY Tribute Style

Real Fights Over Imaginary Battles?

One of the hallmarks of Pokémon Go is bringing fantasy into reality; it's one of the pioneers - if not the pioneer - of alternate reality, blending both fantasy and reality into a single ethereal experience. However, in some cases, the experience might get a bit too real, and the fantasy struggles that it presents escalate into real struggles, as in physical fights over the battles that are supposed to be imaginary. It sounds quite regrettable, and it actually is.

Recently, there was a report of an incident where one player assaulted another player for the sake of controlling a Gym. It is distressing to be sure, but what is even more distressing is that this took place in Hokkaido, Japan - the homeland of Pokémon - and the players involved are in the mid-50s, nearly seniors by most accounts. It's as if there's a "hidden mafia" for the game. This is certainly not the first; there have been reports of other similar incidents, but the coverage has been relatively isolated. The recent one, however, has been reported on two sources and forwarded in my raid groups three times, and therefore it has prompted me to make this post regarding this issue.

Conflicts like these likely had started from minor ones but with the same object of conflict: the takeover of Gyms. In my local area, I can identify some Gyms that are or may still be frequent objects of conflict, being that they often change from one team to another. The parties to the conflict may or may not be known, and some could even come "from higher up", but there is the sense that if the parties were to somehow meet and differences between them are not peacefully resolved, then it may lead to a conflict such as the above. Even so, it has to be admitted that my area tends to be peaceful and a conflict as above is not as likely to occur as in other parts of the world, but prudence is still in order.

The fact that these conflicts have occurred is, as described above, regrettable. The object of these games are really to have fun, not to be involved in greater frustration. And even if stiff competition arises for control and takeover of Gyms, it ought to be regarded as normal. Because it is normal, rivalries are likely to continue to happen in this regard, but then what becomes more important is maintaining the peace, because in the end every player (as Trainers in the game) are one and the same no matter what differences may occur. And if things still trend to a possibly intense conflict, then it may be time to step away from the conflict and seek other objectives.

Thanks to Pokémon Go, the creatures of Pokémon are real as real can be for these fantastical creatures. Unfortunately, there's a sense of the possibility that through it, real conflicts might become even more real, and that has in fact been the case. As far as things go, it may be best to leave those conflicts outside of the realism, and to focus on the realistic fantasy for which everything in the game truly is.

One year ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2019 - Orihime to Hikoboshi no Monogatari

Two years ago: Trainers and Musicians Alike

Three years ago: Pokkén Downturn?

Pokémon Go Datamining Moments

In my previous post, I had detailed about the nifty yet dicey process of datamining and how Pokémon games can be involved. In this post, I'd like to delve further into one side of that, the Pokémon Go side of things. As noted, Pokémon Go is a target for the process because of the potential for the things that the process may reveal. And much has indeed been revealed with the process throughout the progression and development of things within the game by certain noteworthy actors.

One of those actors call themselves PokéMiners, and by their names, what they do is quite clear. They perform datamining in connection to Pokémon, in this case being Pokémon Go. They've been able to pull out a few interesting features, many of which have been subsequently confirmed. Meanwhile, The Silph Road, in addition to being a community organizer, has its own ties to datamining, if only as a publisher of the information on Reddit. Both of these are significant actors nonetheless.

As for things that have been revealed, they have been quite varied. Datamining had previously revealed the content and the dialogue (of Professor Willow) for the first ever paid Special Research for Community Day, which by now is known that it was slated for March but ended up happening in April. Prior to Pokémon Go Fest, datamining also had revealed the addition of Shadow Mewtwo, which should have been a strong indication that Team Go Rocket was to be quite involved. For some events, datamining had indicated the Shiny forms to be involved as well, and this has been fairly accurate.

Other things have been less so, or at the least cannot be fully verified by the average player or as of yet. It was datamining that revealed that the Shiny forms of all first-generation Pokémon have been included, certainly for instant compatibility with the Let's Go games. Earlier this year, datamining had also indicated further Community Day voting plans before they rematerialized differently. Most recently, datamining has revealed the possible workings of the Mega Evolution system that is soon to come, and though it's likely to be accurate, it would be wise to not put in too much stock in them at the moment.

Though some of the revealed information may be sensitive - at least initially before everyone can access them - datamining has proved to be a boon for Pokémon Go, having resulted in a good deal of information that later on also became actual in some ways. The process will likely remain controversial, especially for a game as lively as Pokémon Go. But I suppose with or without the knowledge of them, what happens will likely not detract from continued enjoyment of the game and all its specific particulars.

One year ago: It's Gonna Be...

Two years ago: A Mascot Reinterpretation

Three years ago: Local Hangouts and Pokémon

On the Mining of Data

All the Pokémon games, especially many of the recent ones, hold a lot of data. Within that collection of data, there stands to be much information to be gained. Enterprising people will likely try to find ways to get into the data and gain the information from them. This process has a name: it's called datamining. It is something that happens with many games containing much data, and it also happens with some Pokémon games.

The Pokémon games that often receive this treatment are the main series games, as the primary source of just about everything related to Pokémon, as well as Pokémon Go, as the most popular mobile installment. Both games are the most feature-packed of any Pokémon game, and consequently they contain a major amount of data that may be of interest to anyone who plays the Pokémon games. It would make sense that they would be targeted for the datamining process, since there would be a great deal of information to be uncovered from them.

On one hand, datamining would reveal a good amount of information that would be rarely seen, such as the Shiny forms of certain Pokémon. In the main series, one would have to be incredibly lucky to encounter some of these forms (in comparison to Pokémon Go, though one has to be sufficiently lucky regardless here as well), and some even exist but are intentionally locked for a variety of reasons; datamining would be useful in this regard. On the other hand, there would be a lot of sensitive information (read: spoilers) that would be uncovered by datamining, or in the case of Pokémon Go, details on features that are already preloaded but not yet released or "live". This could be undesirable for those who haven't played the games or who may not want to know how things work before they are officially released; for Pokémon Go, there is also the possibility that some things may be pulled and never be released, which may be useful yet disappointing in some ways.

That leads to the issue of legality. Since datamining goes deep into a game - even into the parts that can be considered "trade secrets" - it can be considered rather transgressive. By virtue of this, there would be some that frown on the practice, even for non-Pokémon games; some sites even expressly forbid disclosure of information obtained through this practice. Apart from this, there is a small value of utility that can be gained from datamining, so long as information is disclosed appropriately, as in at the right time and for the right purpose. The issue is rather dicey, so I don't want to touch on it too much. But there are obviously considerations for and against the process.

Today's games are packed with more data than ever before, and hiding among the data is a wealth of information waiting to be discovered. As such, it would invite certain people to undertake datamining for that discovery. This too applies for Pokémon games and especially due to their popularity. It is a process that is as legally doubtful as it is quite useful, yet it's something that some are willing to do for a little (or a lot of) inside information about the games they play.

One year ago: Mementos of...

Two years ago: Cosplay Events, Wherefore Art Thou?

Three years ago: Connection Issues?

Pokémon and Plant Eaters

A couple of years ago, I made a post on the food chain axioms that have been indicated to very well exist in the Pokémon world. A key assumption of those axioms is that the creatures involved are carnivores, as creatures that eat flesh or meat. However, it is known in real life that some animals, including people, do not (or in the latter case, prefer not to) eat meat, making them herbivores or, as people, vegetarians or vegans. Since Pokémon is an abstraction of the real world, the same could be conceived to apply. It's a point of contention that perhaps deserves some discussion as well.

For the creatures of Pokémon, the plant eaters among them may be as expected. The cattle lookalikes of Miltank, Tauros, and Bouffalant are conceivably ruminants as well, doing what they do best, which is to eat grasses and other plant matter. Some Bug-type and Flying-type Pokémon may accordingly be herbivores as well, being well suited or only suited for that. The latter may also be true of other Pokémon that can't eat much more than the plant matter they can eat locally. More than a few Pokémon may indeed have their own preferences for eating plant matter, whether by necessity or adaptation.

As for the people, the prior food chain axiom holds. This is the case even if this isn't made evident anywhere in any portrayal of Pokémon. Even with that, like real people who have gained respect for animals or otherwise have grown fond of them to the point of limiting their exploitation, some people in the world of Pokémon will likely perceive the creatures the same way. That would then lead them to avoid realizing the food chain and to opt to eat more plant foods, as real vegetarians or vegans. It would indeed be a revelation if any Pokémon character were to explicitly declare themselves as being just that.

That revelation may also very well be, in some ways, an inspiration for real people to take up vegetarianism or veganism. The virtue of hardly seeing Pokémon being exploited for food may just lead some people to make do eating plant foods exclusively or near-exclusively. I'm not strictly either - I'm more of what would be called a "flexitarian", an adaptable vegetarian - but I suppose that rarely seeing Pokémon as food matter may have helped to influence my food decisions. The inspiration may also help to develop subtle vegetarian or vegan mannerisms instead of the common "vigilante" approach today by some of those people.

Whether real or imaginary, not every creature has the capacity, tenacity, or preference to eat meat. Even some people are this way, though most likely they are of the latter two camps. In Pokémon, it may be safely considered that this holds true even with the food chain axioms in play. It may even be welcomed by both real and imaginary people, leading to a principled way of living for them all. I'd have to say that it becomes a neat dynamic for the creatures of Pokémon just as much as it may constitute a nobly pure principle for any person, especially if the latter is conceived by way of Pokémon.

One year ago: The Price of Cosplay Costumes

Two years ago: Do Unusual Things

Three years ago: Futureproofing Transfers

More on Pokémon Go Gift Stickers

A couple of months ago, I noted that Pokémon Go had added the feature of Gift stickers. These add a nice touch to Gifts as they are opened from or sent to other friends. Since then, there have been a few updates for this rather interesting feature, and they have made things somewhat more intriguing for Trainers in sending or receiving Gifts. For this post, I'd like to discuss a few of those details, along with some things that I consider fascinating about them.

After the initial introduction of the feature, new stickers have been added in different ways. Those who participated in this year's virtual Pokémon Go Fest will likely have noticed that a few unique stickers have been earned as a result of that participation, which comprise images related to the grand event, including shirts past and present as well as relevant emblems. These are among the first stickers not directly taken from Pokémon stickers on social media. Just recently, a few more assorted stickers of various Pokémon have been added, expanding the possible selection even further. This expansion is certainly natural and expected, and it serves well for this to happen again at a later time.

While one can and is expected to accrue many different kinds of stickers, one is actually limited to how many of each kind can be gotten: for each, one is limited to 25 stickers, after which some of the sticker must be used in order to obtain more of that kind. As for obtaining stickers from Gifts, this has always been slightly tricky. Many opened Gifts do not contain stickers, but a good number do contain at least one, and one may be lucky to get two. Recently, opened Gifts have been guaranteed to contain at least one sticker, which should be helpful to anyone and encourage even further usage of them.

Like social media stickers, I have my favorites from the current selections. The "Hi!" sticker featuring Charmander from the first Chat Pals pack and the "Thank you!" sticker from the Lively Pikachu pack are some of the ones I use frequently and therefore enjoy. I love the "shirt image" stickers I obtained through this year's Pokémon Go Fest, but since I got only 10 of them during the event, it seems such a waste to use them; this applies especially well for the Victini sticker I also obtained during that time, of which I only have one. Meanwhile, the "Bye!" sticker featuring Bulbasaur from the first Chat Pals pack is one that I rarely use due to its connotations, and as a result tends to stack up despite it looking neat. What's available should just about satisfy most Trainers.

Gift stickers still represent a minor part of sending, receiving, and opening them in Pokémon Go. Yet, that minor part is sufficiently attractive, if there is something that the last couple of months or so has proven about them. Further proof of that is the additions that have become evident up to today. It may not be frequently discussed even among Trainers, but at least some discussion is necessary to highlight their finer points.

One year ago: Red and Riley Keychains

Two years ago: The Apple and Pokémon

Three years ago: Cosplay: Nimatsuri 2017

Too Many Items from Raids?

As a Trainer in Pokémon Go, I'm naturally inclined to take part in raids, as the way to catch really strong Pokémon, some of which may be Legendary. As part of that, I also enjoy the added bonus of getting items from them, particularly in order to recoup the costs of partaking in them (as in allowing my Pokémon to recover). At the same time, I've been thinking that in some cases, the items that I get may be too much, a reason that sometimes dissuades me from raids, especially for a Level 5 Legendary or even Mythical Pokémon. On that note, I've decided to discuss the matter in a post, being this one.

The items that are plentiful, perhaps to the point of being too much, are Hyper Potions and Revives. Both of these come in "packets" of three items each, and a successfully won raid may award a few of these "packets", often undesirably - one may get tons of Revives when one really desires or needs Hyper Potions, and vice versa. This might be fine if one participates in only one or two raids a day, but when one is on a raid marathon such as for Raid Hour or Raid Day, this can become quite problematic, especially at the end, when many of either may eventually be discarded. One of course may expand the bag limit to accommodate, but this may not be feasible or possible depending on Trainers or circumstances.

One consolation is that this may be right for low-level Trainers who may not have many strong Pokémon and need help after a raid, although they might have been able to mitigate by raiding with high-level Trainers and staying in the raid lobby until near the end of the raid. This might also have been right in the past, when Level 5 raids were excessively strong and needed a large number of Trainers. To make things right today, the packets of Hyper Potions and Revives could be knocked down to just two items, with the rest being mitigated by opening Gifts - which may contain either as well as Max Potions and Max Revives that are even more helpful - or by spinning PokéStops or Gyms. It might be necessary to strike a balance somehow.

Meanwhile, on the opposite side of "too much" is "not enough", for which issues of the latter may have ties to issues of the former. For example, Golden Razz Berries used to be quite plentiful and were sufficient for the Premier Balls given, and the reduction of the former with the increase of the latter seems uneven. Rare Candies and TMs are seemingly plentiful for some though not enough even now, and these are often sought by those who raid as an extra benefit. These are in contrast to the smattering of Hyper Potions and Revives. Further acts of balancing may have to concern the amounts of these items too for those who may need them as well as the ones who don't to a smaller extent.

I still enjoy raiding regardless as it is the only way to catch many of the veritable members of the pantheon that is Legendary or Mythical Pokémon. Doing so takes some effort, which is also well-rewarded with the item bonuses at the end - maybe a little too well-rewarded in some respects (and not as much in others). A good Trainer will and should make use of the rewards, especially if they work with whatever situation they are in and do not force an overload of rewards and consequently the discarding of items. In this way, the hope is that raids work and work better for any Trainer, by way of their rewards.

One year ago: This Is My House

Two years ago: Local Ex-Raid (and Changes), 8/19/2018

Three years ago: Pikachu Image Pillow

The Power of Stories

I recently heard an interesting story about stories. Two groups of people had come to a certain place to peddle their selection of goods. The goods they brought were rather similar in form and appearance. However, one of the groups also brought stories in relation to those goods - their related histories, processes, intricacies, and so on. As a result, the goods that were peddled along with those stories sold well, and in fact, they sold out. This story illustrates the power that stories have, and this speaks to me as a Pokémon fan.

The people who purchased the goods that sold out effectively were not just purchasing the goods themselves, but also were "purchasing the stories". By purchasing the goods, they were essentially buying tokens or mementos of those stories, and the tokens or mementos can then serve to allow them to recall and perhaps then to retell the same stories to others. Of course, possibly in the greater realm of merchandise, one may not have to purchase certain goods in order to possess ones that tell stories that can then likewise be recalled and retold.

I find that this situation can fit a Pokémon framework as well. While Pokémon is quite oriented to games, many of those games contain stories as well, and those who play will likely realize the stories behind them. If they do, and find the stories fascinating, then that might be one reason for repeat purchases of future games. Once the games have been played to completion, the story power might become enough of an incentive to keep the games rather than to let them go to someone. This has been my case for many occasions with the Pokémon games.

As for other things beyond games, the story power might be minimal or indirect, but it might still have a role. Merchandise that has links to the anime possess its own story power, being that of the anime itself; likewise, this is true for even the anime itself on physical media. For other kinds, it might not be the Pokémon story that matters, but the backstory of how one arrives to possess the merchandise, which might still be as strong as any related Pokémon story, if there are any. The story power regardless exists in some way.

The idea that I or someone else is not only buying a product but also a story behind the product is intriguing. It means that there is a certain added value that comes along with the product, and this added value can further be preserved through recollection and retelling. I'm rather certain that with Pokémon things, I and other fans would have the opportunity to possess those things as well as the valuable goings-on associated with them. For that to further embed a continued interest in Pokémon and its things is a wonderful thing indeed.

One year ago: Cosplay: STARNIFEST 2019
Two years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2018 - Subarashii Maboroshii no Sekai

Three years ago: Battle of the Masters

Rise Up and Live, with Body and Soul

With the onset of the current global condition, it may seem that everything becomes a challenge, perhaps particularly for the matter of getting through them, and especially so with Pokémon still being involved. A person regardless will still need to keep on living - making use of their body and soul to keep one, others, and even the world alive - and if that person is a Pokémon fan like me, it will still have to be involved somehow. It could be considered to be valuable guidance especially now, and that's why I have chosen to discuss it.

This guidance can actually be broken down into two parts. The first part is the "keep on living" part. If one is deeply interested in something, like many Pokémon fans are with Pokémon (which includes me), then there's a good point in continuing that interest and allowing oneself the privilege of life - "rising up", per one's body and soul - for not only oneself but also that interest. Some of my fellow fans are doing this right now in different ways as I write this, and even I'm doing this right now as I write in this Pokémon-oriented blog. As far as I'm concerned, that's a noble enough motivation for life, specifically for one's body and soul.

The second part of the guidance is the "keep others living" part. This should be considered as a natural consequence of the "keep on living" part above; in order for one to live, it is necessary and desirable to allow others to keep living as well, even through specialized interests like what I and others have with Pokémon. I'd like to think I'm doing so with this blog and partaking in activities that allow me and others to continue our interests. Even further, I'd consider that all the things I do, whether by obligation or desire and whether specifically related or not, is for mutual sustainment, which in my (and others') case includes Pokémon.

And as always, if something is posted on this day, it also pertains to Indonesia in some capacity, as today is its independence day. It's actually a loose interpretation of one of the stanzas in the national anthem, and this particular stanza has been said to be inspiring in some ways, including for a current minister. The way it is said to be inspiring is that it has a certain spiritual quality to it in national living. I won't argue with that; after all, the stanza was conceived for this possibility of inspiration and likely many others. In current hard times, it also seems to be especially pertinent in the same manner, and that is important for the nation.

I'm certain that both national living and living with Pokémon are quite important, and that one can contribute to the other, or at least help things out. In that way, the stanza may be considered equally inspiring. I want to keep on living so others can keep on living, during these times and beyond, and I and likely others would only be too happy if Pokémon could be included in the mix.

That said, Happy Independence Day to Indonesia - its 75^th, a nice number in many ways.

One year ago: ...And Social Justice for All
Two years ago: United in Diversity
Three years ago: Red and White Philosophy

The Age of Post-EX Raids?

The current global situation has taken its toll on everything, including some things in the popular mobile Pokémon game installment of Pokémon Go. As I've noted in a previous post, those things include EX Raids, which have been absent since things took a turn for the worst. As of today, things are still uncertain and it is not known if or when they will return. It's as if the situation has entered an "age of post-EX Raids" following their forced absence.

Prior to EX Raids becoming absent, Regigigas was the EX Raid boss. I had managed to catch one of these before things deteriorated and forced their absence. The plan to introduce the next EX Raid boss - which would be Genesect - would have been exactly the same as it was for Regigigas, with its associated paid Special Research giving "early access" to Trainers before the rest can have a chance to raid in EX Raids as expected. However, the situation quickly turned, and EX Raids were pulled before Genesect had the chance to impress with them. Fortunately, another Genesect could be obtained for free if one was dedicated enough, or otherwise with another paid installment, through the Throwback Challenges earlier this year. Genesect did eventually make it into raids, though not as EX Raids, and in fact, it's happening now - for the next five days ahead, and with a Shiny possibility (more on this to be explained later, of course). With that, that is where things stand today.

Also as of today, EX Raid Gyms still exist, and more of them may even appear. Some weeks ago, one of the areas where I frequently go to raid if I happen to be outside for that purpose or other purposes had a new Gym, and that Gym is an EX Raid Gym. It would indeed serve as a great alternative to other local EX Raid Gyms, which are typically located farther away, even more so for me personally at this time. The only difference, of course, is that EX Raids are not happening, and that is likely because the system has been "disabled" - existing raids won't trigger them to be scheduled and won't give out invitations and EX Raid Passes. It can be inferred that the only indication that the system still exists is the "EX Raid Gym" tag on the applicable Gyms, and the system lies in wait to be active again.

There is certainly the possibility that EX Raids will return, though this may not happen in the foreseeable future. If they do return, they will likely have to work and play well with new conventions in place today, one of them being Remote Raids. For example, it may be desired to prevent those raiding with remote passes to obtain EX Raid Passes, in order to limit access to faraway EX Raid Gyms. As another example paradigm, for those who raid physically at those Gyms but cannot be expected to return to them physically, they may be allowed to "couple" the EX Raid Pass with a remote pass in order to still make use of the privilege. Whatever happens is up to the whim of the system once things have been deemed feasible again.

The current times in Pokémon Go do warrant the description of an "age of post-EX Raids" since they are effectively after they have happened, at least for the time being. As certain as the "bones" of the system are still present, there is also much uncertainty that still forces EX Raids themselves to be absent. It may be that though it is the "age" that followed them, there could also be the potential for a forthcoming "renaissance" with them still being involved.

One year ago: Capital Convergence
Two years ago: Getting Lucky with It
Three years ago: I Want to Splurge

Matters of Shadow and Light (Purification)

It's been more or less a year since Pokémon Go (re-)introduced the dark yet intriguing class of Shadow Pokémon, and along with it their "enlightened" counterparts, Purified Pokémon. Over the course of that year, however, there have been a few developments and realizations that further complicate matters regarding both kinds of Pokémon, especially for the best usage of them. It seems to be time to sort out those matters in order to figure out the best practices for these kinds of Pokémon, seeing as how they are practically ingrained by now.

A key to these kinds of Pokémon is their moves. Shadow Pokémon can and do have moves typical to their non-Shadow counterparts, with the exception that they'll have the Charged Move of Frustration upon being freshly caught, and this cannot be changed by any manner (save purification) until the next time Team GO Rocket takes over things, which could be quite a while. Moreover, these moves now have something called a Shadow Bonus, which definitely makes them stronger. In fact, it has been observed that as a result, even Shadow Pokémon with poor stats will outdo non-Shadow Pokémon with good stats. Therefore, Shadow Pokémon is "where it's at", having become more desirable to be retained, as I've noted in my recent feature wishlist realizations.

To what extent, then, do Purified Pokémon stand? It seems that the answer is not much. This is because upon purification, the Shadow Bonus is (obviously) lost, though so is the Frustration move - being replaced with Return, which is replaceable any time and likely should be replaced - and the Pokémon gains two IV points to each stat. Other than discounts on powering up, evolution, and unlocking a second Charged Move, they really have no additional advantages; they are otherwise ordinary Pokémon, and by the above observation of Shadow Pokémon, the latter would be superior to the former. That means that purification does not have much use if one wants a very strong Pokémon, and it is only a practical cop-out for those desiring strong yet still reasonably manageable Pokémon. Again, Shadow Pokémon is "where it's at".

The call to not purify Shadow Pokémon is therefore a strong one, and it makes sense given the situation above. It also lends credence to my reasoning that Purified Pokémon should become a regular trade and Shadow Pokémon should again be able to be traded, at the least as a Special Trade if not anything else. Since Purified Pokémon are essentially ordinary Pokémon with few perks, practically no one wants to deal with them (except perhaps for extraordinary cases of IV perfection), especially as a Special Trade that is better reserved for other purposes. To prevent Purified Pokémon from being just a bygone thing, they may need to be conferred an advantage that at least differentiates them from other ordinary Pokémon but does not take away from Shadow Pokémon. This may be quite the challenge that will unfold as things progress.

So it seems that Purified Pokémon may not be as "enlightened" as they are made out to be. With current developments and realizations regarding Shadow Pokémon and their "light" counterpart, it seems there are only two kinds of Pokémon: Shadow and not Shadow. It's clear that the differences between them are stark and will continue to persist as the former dominates the latter. Yet what is also clear is that both have their uses, and a great Trainer will accordingly be able to delineate them. 

One year ago: The Subtle Generational Spoiler
Two years ago: Don't Look Back... in Anger
Three years ago: Pokémon Desktop Wallpapers

Localized TCG: After One Year

In all my recent reviews of conjectures for Pokémon Go from past years, there is something related to Pokémon games that I haven't reviewed. Approximately a year ago, the localized TCG for the place I reside in (Indonesia) was launched with great fanfare. And though several issues did accompany the launch, on the whole, the cards were received well, the tournament series started up, and I even tried to get in on the fun with something of my own for that. Being that a good time has passed since then, a review of how things have gone is in order.

Regarding their availability, this has improved quite a bit. At least two stores in my area, of the chain of convenience stores related to the entity that localizes the cards, have carried the cards for sale, so by now it shouldn't be a problem to find decks and/or booster packs to shape and improve decks. It may not be hard to find someone to play with, especially if one has the connections, but what may be hard is the process of making the most out of decks and booster packs, especially on limited budgets and/or time as well as the current situation (more on this shortly). That seems to be part of my problems, perhaps also coupled with the fact that I'm more receptive to the English cards rather than the local cards. They need to be rectified at the best opportunity.

And that's a perfect lead-in to the current situation. Recall that five months ago, everything ground down to a halt as things set in, and very little has been heard of since. One time, there was a community tournament conceived using TCGO, but other than that, there wasn't much else. At that point, there had been a few tournaments that resulted in a few champions, and everything was due to head into a big finish that would also coincide with the Pokémon World Championships (originally due for this month), but as can be guessed, everything got canned, including the local tournament series. A game like the TCG requires close contact - even more so than the main series video games - and it just wouldn't jive with the current situation unless the TCGO is somehow involved, which would mitigate things but perhaps not completely.

Thus, the state of the local TCG, keeping in mind the current situation, seems to be hard to be described. But if one description were to be applied, it would be that things have been "paused". The interest to play may be held back by limits on contact, card management, and chaos in general. Still, what can be discerned from the early run is that interest was high, with the tournaments having sizable numbers of entrants, and had the current situation not set in, it was likely to keep going and going until the big finish to the season, and then it would start all over again in the same way, at which point the local TCG would become rather ingrained and be a regular Pokémon thing, especially as part of the global competitive scene. At least this would be the conjecture.

At this point, the localized TCG is essentially "inconclusive" with the current situation not allowing much progress on the public level. On the private level, things may surely continue, but on a limited basis. After the hurrah of the launch and the fever of the local tournament series, it seems like such a waste to have everything held back by circumstances that are beyond control. Once things subside, it may then be time to regain control and take the localized TCG to places it couldn't before.

One year ago: Who's That...
Two years ago: Worldly Reverence
Three years ago: All in Good (Life)Time

Get Sporty for Sports, Pokémon Style

Earlier this month, I detailed a collection of merchandise by Pokémon Center that could be helpful to look cool in (and rule the) school. After school, students might decide to get active and play sports, which is normal, expected, and laudable. Pokémon Center merchandise has the needs for that covered, with a collection called Pokémon Sports. Like the previous school merchandise collection, I received word of it through the online newsletter, and it's good to take a look at the items in this collection for those who are interested.

There are not as many items in this collection as the previous, but all the items are of interest regardless. Most of the items consist of apparel or clothing: there are jerseys, leggings (for women), polo shirts, track jackets, T-shirts, tank tops, and even socks. A few of these feature two styles of Pikachu, which are ordinary Pikachu and Running Pikachu; the latter features accents of orange and blue, while the former features accents of blue and red. Of the items, the tank tops and one of the T-shirts also feature selection of other Pokémon, with Scorbunny for both and additionally Machamp and Lucario for the former. The selection of these items for the collection is still pretty good.

The scattered remaining items are accessories, but still within the framework of the sports theme. There is a lanyard and set of pins featuring the four Pokémon mentioned above, which is a real collectible. The Pikachu soccer scarf is stylish and neat, and should be a favorite of any fan. In a similar vein, the red Pikachu water bottle is not only a helpful accessory but also a gleaming wonder. For fans of the TCG, there is also an appropriately styled Pikachu playing mat; whether or not one plays sports, the playing mat should bring out a competitive spirit. There are not many of these items, but they are neatly complementary and may still be of interest.

Likewise, of these items, I also have my favorites. I like the Running Pikachu jersey and think it goes well with the blue track jacket. The Pikachu tank top and socks seem to be neatly fitting as well, and I'd personally opt for them. Of the accessories, I'm partial to the water bottle, though the collectible nature of the lanyard and pins make them attractive. Again, the collection is somewhat limited, but the items that are there can and do seem to go well together.

Pokémon and sports are two things that may or may not have a close relationship, but at least this collection of merchandise that's specifically geared to fans of the former who have interests in the latter may be just the thing. They celebrate an active spirit while at the same time including the spirit of Pokémon. I'd say that anyone who possesses merchandise from this collection is ready to gear up for sports wherever they take place outside and inside, with just enough Pokémon spirit to make things really lively.

One year ago: The Changing of Boxes
Two years ago: Toy Block Pokémon?
Three years ago: Cosplay Briefings

The Fate of (Monthly) Go Fest and Safari Zones

In the previous post on this blog, I detailed about my desired features from years past for Pokémon Go and how they've been realized thus far. The year before on that day, I also detailed the possibility of Pokémon Go Fest and Safari Zones - the two being practically in the same vein - of being a monthly event, since the events were becoming popular and of interest around the world. However, with the onset of the global situation, this idea has practically been crushed, with the three Safari Zone editions that were to take place earlier this year being postponed, while Pokémon Go Fest became online or virtual for a one-shot two-day soiree. It appears to be helpful to figure out the fate of these two events during these conditions and beyond them.

For the postponed Safari Zones, it has been stated that new dates for them are to be determined, but there is actually a caveat regarding this matter. If new dates cannot be determined within a 12-month timeframe, then the events are effectively cancelled. Meanwhile, after the fact, those who purchased tickets for the event should have at least received the bonus Special Research and everyone should have the capability to find the new Shiny Pokémon, provided that luck is on one's side. Given current conditions and the related developments, it seems hard to determine that there will be a time in the remaining six months or so that are left to execute the events after their postponement. Optimism ought to be at hand, but it has to be cautious as well.

For Pokémon Go Fest, the online or virtual version can be said to have been very successful, based on the data garnered from what went on during the event. I've said time and time again that it was the "edition for everyone", and it really was. Millions of Trainers caught Pokémon, battled, interacted, and walked their way through what the event had to offer (and hopefully according to other restrictions that may be in place). The way that it was conducted was effectively to appease Trainers in whatever condition is present around them, and it hugely worked, in a way. In current conditions, this would work, but after things have settled down, this might be considered "boring" to say the least. Therefore, it would have to stay unique to these conditions or be modified somehow.

As for these being monthly events, the postponed events surely had their makings of one, which would then be followed with a three-month Summer Tour not unlike last year, and then there would be more the rest of the year, before things happened. As it stands, this cannot happen until things have settled down, and perhaps by then many candidates would have advanced themselves to make a year-round series of Go Fest or Safari Zone events possible. Before that happens, a repetition of the previous virtual or online Go Fest might just be in order, perhaps as a "winter Go Fest" in line with a certain winter sports festival. It would be an even more extraordinary undertaking, but given current conditions, the possibility might not be so out of the ordinary, especially as a revenue source.

The intention to make Go Fest and Safari Zone events monthly might actually have been under consideration with the way things have went. During these conditions, holding either of them the way they used to be held is for all intents and purposes practically out of the question. But as things settle, they will likely find a way to work into the fabric of events in Pokémon Go as they have always done, and by then a monthly series of them would just be possible. These events have had to be restructured (for Go Fest, at least) due to the current conditions that the world is in, and it might be safe to say that more restructuring will be about to take place, especially if and when things recover, enough for months of Pokémon Go fun down the line for the world.

One year ago: Localized TCG (Not Quite) Taking Off
Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/11/2018 and 8/12/2018
Three years ago: Cosplay: DANOBU 4

Pokémon Go Feature Wishlist Realizations

Two years earlier today (see below), I made a post regarding things I'd like to see in Pokémon Go. A little over a year ago, I created a post with the same spirit but a slightly different focus. Both of them are of course my personal wishes for features in the game, which may also be beneficial for just about anyone else. Since that time, there have been a few changes, so it is worth it to some extent to update about them and see how they have fared. It might also be the perfect time to suggest a few others along with this update, whether as expansions or something completely new.

The wishlist from two years ago is a good place to start. Back then, I desired to view Gifts outside of Friend Lists, and now there is a way: they can be viewed by tapping the trash bin icon next to the item, which also allows one to discard individual Gifts from the list. It's a little non-intuitive - personally, the Gift item itself should be used for this purpose - but at least it works and comes with an added quirk. I also desired a Poké Ball Menu expansion, but so far that has only occurred for the Battle menu item; the request for Settings and News perhaps may not be necessary after all, more so with the latter's announcements replicated in Today View. Pokémon markers, meanwhile, are still absent, and this one may prove to be uncertain as to whether it'll make it or not, though I'm personally holding out hope. Altogether, this list has only been partially realized, but at least a little is better than not at all.

The situation for the limits that I desire to be increased is quite different. The friend list limit is still an inconvenient 200, especially now that global friends are very, very useful for Remote Raids; thankfully, friend Gift limits have been increased due to the global situation and will stay that way even after things have settled. The Special Trade limit of once a day is still in place, and more Shiny, Legendary, and Purified Pokémon (the last one as a consequence of Shadow Pokémon) continue to appear, making it harder to deal with them for that purpose. As for the free raid pass limit, it too is still in place, but with the current situation, this may not matter as much, as Remote Raid Passes are now (currently) more relevant for raids. Not only is the situation different, it may also be considered slightly difficult.

Based on these, the current situation, and other factors, there are some feature desires to be considered. For Special Trades, Purified Pokémon should be removed from the list and ought to be able to be traded normally (barring other Special Trade conditions), as Shadow Pokémon have become especially desirable to keep rather than Purified ones, further with Frustration being able to be unlearned; Shadow Pokémon should be allowed to be traded once again but as a Special Trade. There has been talk that Shadow Lucky Pokémon may be about to be officially recognized (again), so the above would fit with that. The limit on Remote Raid Passes should also be clarified and established, as I've found in some cases one could have more than the stated limit of three. Other than that, the remaining feature desires above, though adapted and modified, could still be considered.

It's been a long way since some features came into existence in Pokémon Go, though not all of them are perfect from the get-go, and I've had my desires for their perfection. Fortunately, some developments have refined the features and in effect fulfilled some of my desires, though not everything and perhaps not as perfectly as they could be. Later on, there are bound to be other developments, and they might just realize and/or obviate at least a few of my feature desires as has occurred within the past two years. I and others can still stand to be benefited as a result.

One year ago: Monthly GO Fest/Safari Zones?
Two years ago: Pokémon Go Personal Feature Wishlist
Three years ago: Cosplay Scrapbooking

Let's Talk About Events, Conventions, and Beyond

Me: OK, last month had a lot going regarding Pokémon. So we didn't get to do a "Let's Talk" during that time. I figure that before this month blows up, let's get one of these going.

Ash: OK! So what do you have in mind?

Me: Well, it's still been a while since I've sent you to any events or conventions, and that's not likely to change any time soon. I did, however, become present virtually for one I'm personally connected to, and I even once in the past had made it involve Pokémon indirectly - by my own doing.

Ash: You know, I think I can remember something. It was as if it came out of a dream.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika! ["I remember that!"]

Me: It's a neat "dream" in some ways, even as you describe it, but now is not the time to explain it. What matters now is that I'm able to partake in it after a long time.

Ash: I'm looking at this convention, and I don't really see how I or even Pokémon can fit in, but you made it - maybe forced it - back then. That's neat.

Me: If you notice this year, there was a certain challenge called "Pass the Book". I was going to do something about that - maybe give it a Pokémon-inspired twist - but I ultimately didn't have much time to take it up.

Ash: You probably wouldn't have wanted me anyhow within it - I wouldn't fit in with the others. But maybe if it was a "Pass the Ball" challenge, like for a Poké Ball, then I can do something.

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["I can too!"]

Me: I wouldn't disagree with that. But you do have to admit that the format is rather interesting, right?

Ash: If this was Pokémon, it would be a lot more than battling, for sure. Some would be caring for theirs, and maybe some would have contests for them, like I saw in Hoenn and Sinnoh. Maybe many would play mini-games as well.

Me: I agree. If contests and caring became distinct games - maybe for the latter, there are already some examples - they may have competitions in unique ways. Mini-games would be a certainty for any Pokémon fan of any interest.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu, pika! ["I want to play games!"]

Me: Well, it seems Pikachu is interested in doing something else other than battling.

Ash: Battling is still important, but I guess it's OK for us to let loose every now and then. Our biggest challenge is always battling, and you know how that is.

Me: Sure. For a major battling event, it generally spans several days, like how my World Championships span the weekend. But yours is realistic, as things are real for you, and things may take a lot of time.

Ash: Yeah, so you know. And the way to get there isn't always easy.

Me: That reminds me of a proverb from "the other side": "every journey is a series of steps, but the first step is not always simple."

Ash: You mentioned it when you discussed about mine.

Me: Indeed I did. It's just another example of how I can take things from "the other side" and apply it for you and perhaps just about anything Pokémon.

Pikachu: Pi pika, pika pika. ["It makes sense."]

Me: Back to the topic at hand, your battle tournaments are your "events" and/or "conventions", but then you have festivals that are celebratory. The one I attended could be considered in some ways a festivity.

Ash: I've been to a few, yes, but for the most part what you say is right.

Me: Like I said yesterday, parallels can be hard to come by, but at least there are semblances. Meanwhile, until the next event or convention opportunity comes up, we can stand to do this every so often.

Ash: You intended for this to happen.

Me: Maybe, maybe not. What matters is that it works for you and Pikachu just as much as things work for me.

Ash: It works. I'm happy for that event or convention, even if I can't personally get in that one. We'll be happy to fill in for your event or convention needs whenever you need it.

Pikachu: Pika chu, pika! [Of course, yes!]

Me: Great stuff. Until next time.

One year ago: A Tale of Two (OK?) Performances

Two years ago: Ode to Magikarp

Three years ago: Snorlax's Awakening

Into the Myst

This post is long, long overdue, but it is worth making regardless. Those who have been reading my blog know that I am attracted to a variety of things outside of Pokémon, and I should note one more. I'm also a fan of the Myst series of games, which are bestsellers in their own right and have appeared (the first one, at least) on Nintendo consoles, making them almost "next-door neighbors" to some Pokémon games. And like Pokémon games, the games of the series are major successes in their own right, being best-sellers for a number of years.

I was introduced to the first game of the series, incidentally, at about the same time I was introduced to Pokémon, and this led into interest in the other games of the series. As a result, I take some inspiration from them as well. Through the Myst series, I become interested to consider wholesome principles in many things that I deal with, including that which I deal with the most, which is Pokémon. The games are adventure games, and while some of the sense of adventure is different from all things Pokémon, sometimes there are parallels, especially in a cinematic sense - some feelings evoked in the games may also be perceived in the Pokémon anime, for example. It's something deep and demands further explanation and illustration than the general overview in this post. 

A good number of my old posts actually make references to the games in the Myst series. Four months ago, I detailed three rules for an adventure; those three rules were specifically designed for Myst, and I made them become related to Pokémon. Some years ago, I discussed the (possible) use of journals, specifically with regard to Pokémon; journals are in fact key to many Myst games for the reasons described there. A more blatant reference (at least, in the title) was made for a post on the three principles for a civilization, and these were embodied in one of the games in the series. Those who played the games as well may or should have recognized the reference. And there are more that have even escaped my memory as of this post.

One last reference I'll mention here is actually with a post about the possibility of conventions in a Pokémon sense. This alludes to the annual Mysterium convention held for fans of the Myst games, which obviously includes me. This year, due to current conditions, everything is held online and virtually, and I heartily took up the offer to "attend"; it is actually ongoing, and today is its last day. It's actually the first time in 15 years I've been able to "attend" - I last attended in 2005, and incidentally enough, I also became a presenter and showed a crossover spin with Pokémon at that time. This last bit also needs to be explained in great depth later on when appropriate. I do, however, also want to point out that during one of the online conferences, a participant indicated that the person was also playing Pokémon Cafe Mix on a phone to pass the time, which made me rather pleased.

I still think of myself being primarily a Pokémon fan rather than a fan of any other game, but I'm also relatively open to other games. Those of the Myst series would be some of those other games. Considering the above, it might be taken as a secondary great interest other than Pokémon, and I'm apt to try finding instances to link them together. Overall, I'm happy to be a Myst fan, but I'm happier still to be a Pokémon fan, and I have no qualms in letting the two mingle from time to time.

One year ago: Raid Stories
Two years ago: Evolution Is a Change
Three years ago: Historical Pokémon

Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/8/2020

Yes, Community Day in Pokémon Go came fairly early this month, somewhat earlier than most months. Usually the month after (a series of) Pokémon Go Fest editions is just as lively as the Pokémon Go Fest prior to the month, and it is, but that needs to be explained later. That seems to essentially force Community Day to be held early on. And right now, this is perhaps one of the most enigmatic Community Day editions ever, perhaps in line with another theme that incidentally started off today.

The featured Pokémon of this Community Day is... Magikarp. Really, no kidding. This pushover of a Pokémon with its not-so-pushover evolved form of Gyarados takes the star this time around. Gyarados gets the exclusive Charged Move of Aqua Tail when it is caught or Magikarp evolves into it during the event hours. It is also pretty well-known that Gyarados has a Mega Evolution, and this edition seems to prepare Trainers for that being imminent in many ways, whenever that may come. To entice capturing further, the bonus is triple Stardust for captures, and this may just help for the above as well as other endeavors.

As with the most recent editions, this is supposed to be a "Play at Home" edition with all the bonuses or "perks" remaining more or less the same. This time, there was a bit of a variant on the revised Poké Ball assistance. The Daily Free Box remained with its intended composition, and this time a second one-time free box was added, containing the 30 Ultra Balls. Apart from this variant, there was practically nothing else new... at least, except for the extra paid Special Research. It is appropriately titled "Making a Splash" for the way that Magikarp shows its presence. Due to the Candy requirements for Magikarp to evolve, Field Research tasks now could also reward additional Magikarp Candy in order to rectify the situation.

Today, one of my friends whom I hadn't seen in a very long time wanted to play - as most recently that friend of mine became attracted to Pokémon Go. We decided to meet up, although there was a bit of a confusion as to how that should have ideally taken place. In the end, I and my friend also decided to meet up with one of my raid subgroups in a place where I and them frequently play so that we all could have an opportunity to connect, and so we did. We spent the afternoon to play and occasionally to raid. Overall, I evolved the standard menagerie of Pokémon as well as a few for PvP purposes, and collected so much Magikarp Candy stock. The turnout seemed to be rather OK.

Like Gastly for the previous month, this Community Day featured a Pokémon with an already-released Shiny form - it was, in fact, the first one released. This time, however, the Shiny forms are attractive-looking as the golden Magikarp and the red Gyarados. One last difference is that this is the first Community Day with a Pokémon of only two stages of evolution, discounting Mega Evolutions, for which its system in Pokémon Go is still shrouded in mystery. Again, however the system may be, there is a sense that everything is being prepared, including those who will receive the goods.

There is a certain enigma in expecting the unknown (at this point) that is Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Go. There is also a certain enigma in having the family of two Pokémon with intense contrasts - one pathetic, the other fierce - as well as possible preparations for the latter's Mega evolution for this Community Day. It seems to make for a lively start to this month, which is hot on the heels of a Pokémon Go Fest and might promise to be as exciting as that. All that's left is to let the rest of the month roll.

One year ago: The Other Side of "Childhood"
Two years ago: Making Decisions in Magikarp Jump
Three years ago: Pokémon Wrapping Paper

Sponsored PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go

Trainers in Pokémon Go are no strangers to PokéStops and Gyms, the places where a myriad of things take place, from earning items to initiating battles of different kinds. Typically, most of these mark places that have been submitted and approved through a process that has its roots even beyond Pokémon Go. However, there are a few of these that mark places - specifically, commercial ones - that wouldn't ordinarily pass muster for them. These are what are called Sponsored Locations, and they are intriguing places.

A Sponsored Location is easily identified on the map; for the particular case of a PokéStop, a marker appears on its pole, but tapping the location in question to check it out will surely reveal it, with a "Sponsored" tag up at the top. Sponsored Locations can be for a number of different things, like coffee shops, eateries, stores, and malls, though the first specimen is arguably a common one: three of those have recently popped up in my local area for a famous international joint, making them the first of their kind. Meanwhile, a faraway metropolis has a mall with a Sponsored Gym. The Pokémon Center in Singapore is a particular case of a well-known Sponsored Location. Thus, it's clear that these can come in various guises.

It is quite possible that the owner of a major business might consider applying for one, and it's possible through a page on Niantic's web site. Remarkably, though not surprisingly, there is a fee for application: USD 1 per day or 30 per month for a "standard" location (as a PokéStop) or USD 2 per day or 60 per month for a "premium" location (as a Gym). Though the program is reportedly in an "early access beta" for the U.S. and current situations are suspending the process to an extent, obviously some of the process still goes on as with the new Sponsored Locations in my area, and further expansions are definitely planned. More detailed information can be found on the page, which is more than I can really explain here.

There might be another reason why the process is being slowed down, and that's due to an initiative that also involves Sponsored Locations. The initiative is to help small businesses - a select number of them in a select number of countries - recover from current economic situations by promoting them with the facility for a year and helping them gain leverage once hard times have passed. Uniquely, the initiative also enlists people to make nominations (one per person, a method similar to putting out new PokéStops on the map) for selecting businesses. By now the nomination period has ended, but the initiative looks good regardless.

It seems tempting to call these Sponsored Locations as advertising, and they are, in many respects. But they are also really more than that. They are a way of making enterprises heard, particularly within the realm of an augmented reality-driven venue such as that of Pokémon Go. Of course, for those in it, it just becomes one of many places where neat actions can take place, and they cannot ask for much more than that. It also comes with a side effect of promotion and support for businesses that seek to thrive.

One year ago: The Persistence of Legendary Raid Hours

Two years ago: Poké Ball Mini Pokémon Figures

Three years ago: Metal Unova Cap Pikachu Keychain