GOtcha Podcast Episode 1: Mega Evolution in Pokémon Go

OK, so I had planned on putting up the English translation of Episode 1 of GOtcha Podcast, the initiative that Handoyo and I started, as a post. I spent nearly an hour translating (essentially as I'm transcribing) the podcast, and I didn't even get through five minutes of it, and the entire episode is 38 minutes long, which means I would need to spend lots of time for just even one episode. Future episodes are to be at least an hour long as something we agreed upon, which means even more time to make and certainly to translate. I've decided to shift gears and give an overview instead, which is faster and easier to write considering everything, and had been the plan all along even for a different podcast. So here I go.

This episode of the podcast takes the title of "Mega Evolution in Pokémon Go" because it had just been introduced - the day before we recorded, in fact. The "What's Happening" segment, accordingly, features us talking about the particulars of Mega Evolution both in Pokémon Go and in the main series games, essentially comparing the two systems in their general principles (Mega Stones vs. Mega Energy, how this feature is more or less non-permanent in any case) as well as what has been put into Pokémon Go at that time. We also indirectly discussed the "quibbles" of the Pokémon Go system as was the case when we recorded, which at this point have been mediated to some extent, though the principles remained the same. Later on, at the end of the "Pokémon trivia" segment, we also discussed potential good practices for Mega Evolution, also with additions for the things that had been discussed prior.

In the "Pokémon Trivia" segment, I took over explaining about Charizard (as well as the Charmander family where relevant) as one of the Pokémon that had just been given the capability for Mega Evolution in Pokémon Go. I also discussed their recognition, including their related features, as the family of a starter Pokémon and factoids about the names of the Pokémon in the family. As someone who hails from playing the main series, explanations of unique things for it were also in order, including for more recent iterations. Statistics and moves also were in order, though I tried to emphasize the Pokémon Go aspect naturally for this podcast; this also included it becoming an event fodder (Community Day and as a Clone Pokémon). Being a popular Pokémon, I also highlighted how it is popular, including its appearances in the anime.

Handoyo, being a PvP maestro, then took up the "PvP Corner" segment. At that time, Go Battle League had entered the Master League phase of the previous season, and he discussed some of the meta picks for that purpose based on a certain ranking on a website, though with explanations and observations, especially regarding moves for them that may be unobtainable at the time. Being just the pure Master League, many Legendary Pokémon obviously made it on this list. For the accompanying Premier Cup without their presence, a few Shadow Pokémon appeared as alternate picks compared to their non-Shadow counterparts since they have stat behaviors that are characteristically different from each other. We closed up the segment with a few tips of our own for both of these and prospects for the Go Battle League, particularly with Mega Evolution.

For the remainder of the juicy details, I recommend listening to the episode in the podcast. Though slightly out of date by this point (and will always be the case for later overviews), it may prove to be a good starting point. Eventually I may just transcribe and translate the whole thing, but perhaps only if there's a sufficient demand for it. Handoyo and I, we're busy people, and even at the moment we still don't have a definite plan (at least, after a previous one didn't work out) as to when we'll record Episode 3, but I have faith that we can make time for everything, including for that. In any case, this is the starting point for the both of us in this initiative, as rudimentary as it is.

One year ago: Raid Failures

Two years ago: A Restarted Fever?

Three years ago: What I (Really) Like About You - Pokémon