Zorua in Mareep Clothing

Lately, there have been a few real happenings that appear as if they were orchestrated from the inside out. It is as if the instigators for those happenings were "wolves in sheep's clothing", if described with an idiomatic expression from the real world. Of course, I'm a Pokémon fan, so I tend to think of that in Pokémon terms as well, which in my mind then becomes "Zorua in Mareep clothing". But then, there seems to be more to say about those happenings and the thought process for this expression in general, so it would be wise to take a post in order to describe them all in both realistic and Pokémon terms.

For those real happenings, it may be considered that the instigators did not intend for them to happen the way they did, but what's done is done, and the instigators make themselves out to be like the idiomatic expression, or at least my Pokémon version of it. They might "just have been ordinary Mareep" in the first place. Still, there have been indications that prior to the happenings, they had developed mentalities that were far from anything that is well-meaning. Therefore the interpretation of the expression stands, and that they are in fact Zorua that had put themselves into the "clothing" of Mareep. Even with that, the idiomatic expression does lead to a few considerations when Pokémon considerations are included.

Those well-versed in Pokémon behaviors will know about the behaviors of the Zorua species family (with Zoroark), in that it has the capability of making itself appear to be other living things by transforming into their likenesses, as one episode and a feature film can attest. In that respect, Mareep is very much within the possibility of their realm of transformations. The transformation can also appear to be perfect for those oblivious, though the discovery of their transformations may be quick, for those who detect them. Their transforming behavior also technically doesn't represent them as "wearing" the clothing that is their transformations - rather, they are the clothing, or at the very least could be described as being one with it. It seems that the idiomatic expression could be a little off in this sense.

The real happenings that have happened remain regrettable well after their happenings and even when they have appeared to be resolved. There is no hiding the fact that the instigators as the primary actors may have been acting as the false likenesses they are, under a different guise. That, however, doesn't stop this Pokémon fan from attempting to analyze the happenings under a Pokémon context, as well as the Pokémon context itself. Both of them have their aura of fascinating intrigue and deceiving trickery.

One year ago: Reading About Pokémon Lore

Two years ago: The Magic of 25

Three years ago: Et Tu, Shuffle? (Thy Hath Bugs)

Four years ago: It's Been a Month...

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/30/2021

Another one of the loose ends that I need to tie up before this month ends is the event rollup for Pokémon Go this month. Owing that it's the start of a new year and this year has a big Pokémon anniversary attached to it, it would be understandable if January happens to be a busy month for events, and it is (or was), additionally being quite celebratory. With that in mind, I decided to delay the rollup for as long as possible, and today is the best possible day that isn't the last day for that rollup. Henceforth is this month's rollup of Pokémon Go events.

To start off the year, there was a New Year's event within a span of four days. This event actually began on December 31 at 10 PM, and because of that, the bulk of the event couldn't possibly be in December and therefore it couldn't be a December event. Regardless, the event featured the appearance of a unique Slowpoke wearing "2020" glasses that if evolved to a Slowbro (and only to a Slowbro) would be had with "2021" glasses instead. The "2020" Slowpoke was available from Field Research and raids, while the "2021" Slowbro was only available in raids in addition to the evolution method as above. Other Pokémon that joined the fun were the Pikachu family with a New Year hat, other Pokémon with party hats (Raticate, Wobbuffet, Wurmple, and Eevee), and Wynaut. It was an odd kind of celebration in many ways, though much of the oddness could be said to have stemmed from the previous year.

Most of the events for this month were regular events, all of them making use of the newly introduced Collection Challenge framework, and they're all truly celebratory in nature as they pertained to specific regions of the Pokémon world. The first one, as introduced at that time, was the Unova Collection Challenge, and therefore, the associated event was the Unova Celebration event in the week following the New Year's event. Many of the region's Pokémon appeared in all the usual channels (wild, Research, raid, and Eggs), including the debut of a Genesect with a Burn Drive in raids. All the Pokémon in the Collection Challenge in fact could be captured in the wild, which perhaps made it a little easy. The next one would turn and roll a few heads.

As predicted, the regional celebrations went backwards in time, and next came the Sinnoh Celebration with its Collection Challenge. Remarkably, this was the first time a Collection Challenge forced Trainers to capture a specific form of Pokémon, in this case a Stunky and Snover that were required to be Shadow Pokémon. This made the challenge a little more difficult if one was not diligent. Then there was the Hoenn Celebration, and this time two of the Pokémon (Plusle and Minun) needed to be captured from Field Research and one (Bagon) needed to be raided until an accompanying event made them available in another way. Currently, there is the Johto Celebration, and while all the Pokémon can be captured in the wild, some are more likely to be obtained through Field Research. These celebrations continued the weekly method of the Unova Celebration, also with adding twists such as prior exclusive Community Day moves being available for some specific Pokémon. Evidently, they demanded more effort and attention.

Besides the "Celebration" events, there were a couple of one-day events that came back after a good absence. Incense Day made its return last Sunday, and it acted as the "transition" or "make-up" for the Hoenn Celebration above, as it featured Electric-type Pokémon for four hours and Dragon-type (to be) Pokémon for two hours, with special emphasis on the Mareep family. Meanwhile, Limited Research returned today for Sneasel, and it also helped with the progression for an extra Timed Research for the Johto Celebration event, which has particular emphasis on elements of Team Go Rocket. It is as if both were planned for their relationships to other events. Whether or not this is the case, both also should have provided a useful diversion from the main events.

The time in the world isn't quite right for celebration, at least of the extremely jubilatory kind. But for Pokémon, with a major anniversary coming up, it is clearly time to get into the action. The events for the month of January in Pokémon Go made the celebrations possible in just about every way: by region, by species, and even by oddities. That has to be amazing for the month and will likely be so for the upcoming big anniversary as well, for which the events are just the beginning.

One year ago: Bringing It Home

Two years ago: Three TCG Booster Packs

Three years ago: Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Series 2 Figures

Four years ago: Always 21 - Memories of 21

Road to 25th Anniversary: One More Month

It's near the end of the month, and it's a good time to tie up a few loose ends. One of those is my run-up to the big 25th anniversary of Pokémon, for which the big day is coming up in just one more month, minus a couple of days. As it so happens, today is a personal anniversary of sorts with a lot of give and take, but that's beyond the point. The point is that there is one more month to go before the big Pokémon anniversary happens, and it's time to continue to run up to that.

One part of that is a preliminary video (in other words, a "trailer") for what's to come in later months. The video contains a Rube Goldberg-style contraption that contains many elements of Pokémon from the past 25 years, including game cartridges from the early years and even as recent as a PokéStop representation from Pokémon Go. The video ends with the 25th anniversary logo displayed as a neon sign along with the usual Pokémon logo... as well as a little something extra for what's to come. Fans of all ages are invited to take a look; I recommend it as well, and it might be possible to find something that struck one's fancy into appreciating Pokémon over this past quarter-century.

As for what's to come, there are some significant ones, thanks to more information in a special edition of the Pokémon e-mail newsletter. One of those is called "P25 Music", a collaboration of Pokémon with some popular artists, and one of them happens to be Katy Perry, also revealed thanks to the preliminary video above. The newsletter also confirmed the anniversary merchandise for the TCG as well as a special skateboard from none other than Bear Walker - this latter merchandise was also involved in a brief preorder goof, which partially indicates its demand with fans. The newsletter also indicates plenty of other celebrations for this very special anniversary, including of regions and more.

For those who want to independently seek information on what's happening, I also recommend checking out the special web site for the big occasion, which would be at 25.pokemon.com. Certainly, I will also be checking it out in order to update on the 25th anniversary happenings on this blog so I can provide my takes on them as well. And it is, in fact, where some of the links in the e-mail newsletter refer to, and that lends support for the site overall.

After waiting for some time - in my case, expectant for almost half a year and even more - the big day is almost here, with (a little less than) one month to go. If there is anything that I have expected since then, it's going to be big, and the celebrations above indicate no less than such. This 25th ("silver") anniversary is a real milestone after all, and real fans like me wouldn't want to miss it - and the patience will pay off real soon within the next month as the anniversary unfolds.

One year ago: Expecting the Contrary

Two years ago: Color Me (Shiny) Groudon

Three years ago: More Pokémon Hanging Things

Four years ago: Fire Power!

Prospects for My Pokémon Cosplay

Well, the current situation of the world is not about to subside anytime soon, and in fact it may be getting worse (again) in certain places. It also means that cosplay and especially my Pokémon cosplay is not about to move forward either. However, there are a few things that I can still discuss about the latter, considering the framework of this blog and my interests. Specifically, they regard what will or would take place when things do move forward once again. For these, there are various things to be considered.

When I discussed about measurements for cosplay costumes, there was in fact a hidden reason for the discussion. At that time, I was about to get measured for a certain piece of clothing for one of my existing costumes. So something is about to happen on that front, but I'll explain about that when it's ready. Still, what I've discussed indicates that I can still make improvements to parts of existing costumes that I do have, and they would be ready in time for when things resume. It would be well worth it regardless before undertaking any new projects, especially in these times.

The next matter is one that I sometimes get asked during these times. Would I go somewhere outside my local area for a theme event or convention if one somehow took place? The answer is no, and I wouldn't go until it's relatively safe to do so. There will certainly be a transition period for everything, and after that has occurred, then I can start to take my Pokémon cosplay where it has been again and possibly where it has never been for the first time. But all things will come in due time, especially if a local edition can tell the tale of safety.

In the later future, there may also be the possibility of Pokémon cosplay "commissions", but this may come with a footnote. Lately, there's also been talk that cosplay "commissions" may have to come with a separate "commission" for the character and the relevant parties to that, especially if it's a major one such as that which occurs in Japan, which also became the starting point for the issue. It seems that while the issue can be sidestepped for local "commissions", it may be another story for ones that cross many and different borders. This remains an area that I may need to be observant of.

The situation is still not quite right for cosplay, at least for some time ahead. That means there is very little that can be done to advance the progression of cosplay, including my Pokémon cosplay. Yet it has become apparent that a few things need to be considered once the wheels of cosplay are set into motion once again. It remains a specific interest of mine and especially with Pokémon in tow, and it would be great to get things going for it considering certain prospects, once the world gets going as well.

One year ago: Bear Walker Pokémon Skateboards

Two years ago: (Scripted and Connected) Local EX Raid, 1/28/2019

Three years ago: Cosplay: Japanese World 2018

Four years ago: The First-Generation Bicycle Theme

BT's Coins, My Coins, Our Coins

For anyone who is a Trainer in Pokémon Go, particularly if they're in Southeast Asia, Brandon Tan (popularly known by his callsign BT91) is one person to look up to or at least refer to. A Trainer as successful as he is needs a lot of resources, most likely in the form of PokéCoins to be used to purchase different things to speed up progress of certain things, if not to do more things in a lesser amount of time. A particularly interesting fact about how he does things just emerged, and that's something that at the very least deserves just a little bit of discussion in the framework of regular Trainers like me and others in my raid (sub)groups.

The fact concerns how many PokéCoins he possesses in relation to what he has achieved or plan to achieve in the future. During one of his streams, it became apparent that he possesses a grand total of 101532 PokéCoins, which is more than most Trainers have. Granted, he's played for a very long time, and he may have financial resources that most people don't have, as became apparent through a discussion in one of my groups. But to have hundreds of thousands of coins at one's disposal is an incredibly amazing feat that reflects his status as a VIP Trainer.

I don't have anywhere near that many PokéCoins, but I do seem to have a more sizable number than most of my fellow Trainers. I only have a few thousand PokéCoins, which is enough for certain purposes including emergencies. I'll admit that I'm a spendthrift regarding PokéCoins or anything that is a proxy for or functions like real money, which explains why some of my progresses have been minimal. But then again, I'm always doing something with or without Pokémon (Go), so I have to make sure that I at least have something to fall back on, and that includes the PokéCoins I "hoard".

Meanwhile, I can say for sure that most of my fellow Trainers only have a paltry amount of PokéCoins, if at all. It would be a few hundred, or most commonly zero (give or take a few odd coins). While I can't speak for the conditions of my fellow Trainers, it may be that many of them spend all their coins after gaining enough by daily allotment or otherwise for a purpose they already have in mind, such as Remote Raid Passes. In this way, they never or rarely have any amount of coins saved up. While it's not technically regrettable, it may be undesirable as well.

After seeing the number of PokéCoins that BT91 has and contrasting that against my status and those of my other fellow Trainers, it may be tempting to say that we're not as better off as BT91 or that we lack the initiative somehow. But success in Pokémon Go is much determined by many factors, PokéCoins being only one of them. So it might not be wise to regard the coins as the sole measure of success. The fact remains that BT91 has many more coins than any Trainer will conceivably have at present. At the very least, those coins might just be one of the ways to ensure success in the future.

One year ago: Spinning Like a Spinda

Two years ago: The Cards, Revisited

Three years ago: Changes

Four years ago: A Loss Is... A Loss?

Unity Power

There's been a lot of talk about "unity" in the most recent of times, whether it's to resolve the current conditions of the world or other things that are pertinent to the communities of humankind. It's a spirit that is arguably in extreme need at the moment, wherever one may be. Such a spirit reminds me of something specific related to Pokémon, which would be called "Unity Power", as per the title of this post. I'll explain this shortly, but what's important is that in the spirit of unity, the Pokémon thing is what came to my Pokémon-influenced mind.

"Unity Power" is a hidden Skill in Pokémon Shuffle that is possessed by Ash-Greninja (and some others), and as such requires the use of a Skill Swapper to allow the Pokémon to make use of the Skill. Its function is to allow it to deal more damage to the opposing Pokémon. It's a neat Skill, in the same way that Battle Bond for Ash-Greninja in the main series games is a neat Ability, though their functions don't exactly correlate. Even so, the spirit of the Skill vis-a-vis the Ability has a certain correspondence, which becomes important to this post.

That spirit is certainly one that is "linking", hence "unifying". It parallels the relationship of Ash and Greninja in the anime, which has a similarly unifying quality. Those who watch the anime will know that along with their unification, great achievements were made, however much things turned out anticlimactic in the end. Of course, one in the games can stand and stride to make more successes along the lines of Ash and his Greninja, and most importantly realizing them into fruition instead of them remaining as ideals.

Much of the talk that has gone on recently about "unity" are therefore justified. To rid the world of concurrent problems of many people due to one thing or another, no less than a concerted effort is required. Everyone has to work together to resolve the current conditions to make them better just as Ash-Greninja deals damage to its opponents. And even after they've been resolved, there may still be lots to do to preserve that unity, especially in order to stave off potential problems in the later future.

It's hard to not see that there's been a lot of divisiveness in the world today, whether that was born out of the onset of current conditions or the fallout of certain happenings. Calls for unity are therefore not unreasonable in the hope that it may lead to many things becoming fixed. While the way to fix them may not necessarily be in the same way that Unity Power grants the power to Ash-Greninja to do more things, similar spirits may just be called for, in order that some fixing does take place, hopefully for the longer term.

One year ago: Cosplay: Aishiteru Minna

Two years ago: SwitchCon

Three years ago: Private vs. Public Raids?

Four years ago: The Times They Are a-Switchin'

I Need Great Pokémon Friends

Pokémon has been something great I've had in my life, to be sure. But what I also and always could use in my life are great friends that can possibly link themselves (or in fact have been already linked) to Pokémon as well as myself. After the progression of my entire day today, what happened only affirmed that this is so, and given that ideas for other upcoming posts on this blog are not quite yet set in stone, I've decided to write about this topic today to fill the gap between them.

Some of those great friends, in fact, are ones that are always there - with some of them having been previously described in posts on this blog. Two of them even appeared in a dream earlier this month, and as the month has progressed, they've become ever greater with what they do. Another one is quite loyal to the affairs of Pokémon Go, even willing to assist in some technological heuristics to check why things are or aren't progressing well; this one became pertinent a couple of years ago on my birthday, but remains pertinent even today. I absolutely cannot do without them.

A few great friends, though, may evidently be ones that I have met on the spot. I've met one such person today over the Internet, and not only is the person very warm, the person is knowledgeable and has the hallmarks of a true Pokémon fan. It reminds me of the similar meeting I had with one of the two friends above before becoming someone who is always there, and others I've met at different times and described in a different post such a long time ago. The challenge, as became evident with the latter, is keeping the great ties to them, which could obviously be hard due to distance.

Then there are ones that don't appear to have a Pokémon connection but have been once linked through Pokémon circumstances. A couple of them (which could have been a trio under the right circumstances) contacted me over a video call tonight, and this became the crux for conceiving this post. While Pokémon wasn't the direct topic of our video call, it did manage to be mentioned in the specific things we brought up; this shows its importance to me and how this leaves impressions on them. Further conversations over video call might continue to bring up Pokémon in this same way.

Much has happened with me and Pokémon over the years, and some of those happenings have resulted in friendship relations that I appreciate, especially if they can be maintained well within that timeframe. If anything, today became a reminder of those relationships with all that I do that may also incur the involvement of Pokémon in some way. The demand that I pose in the title of this post remain something that is true at present and at any other time, and especially however way it is involved.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/25/2020

Two years ago: Keep Calm and Carry On Researching

Three years ago: Performance Critique: ACC 2018 Single Performance

Four years ago: Keychains!

The State of Nominations, Part 8

Well, I've written (quite) a few opinionated posts over the past week or so, so now it's time for something a lot less opinionated, and something appropriate for that is my progress on nominating places to become PokéStops in Pokémon Go. Given the conditions of things and something that I've recently dealt with and endured, personal progress on this has been relatively slow (or rather, slower, than usual). Even so, I've still managed to make some advancements, which I can then detail in a post for that very purpose.

First comes the hard numbers, as are to be expected. I made 7 more nominations since last time for a total of 93 distinct ones, with 8 currently in progress. Of those, 3 more were approved, making my total approvals climb to 48. I've been unlucky with another superseded nomination in a similar manner as last time, raising the total number of them to 11. Finally, my rejected list grew by another 2 nominations to 26, which becomes somewhat regrettable no matter how many nominations end up this way. 

Meanwhile, on a different but quite related take to nominating PokéStops, there is the act of editing information of existing PokéStops (and Gyms). After several months of not receiving reports on the various edits I've made over the past year, many of them suddenly became approved over the past couple of months. A great deal of them are edits to titles in order to make them more specific (as in providing the name of the location), while others are to correct certain misspellings or to completely change ridiculous-sounding titles. Some PokéStops without descriptions now also contain a description, or at the least a more specific one. While edits to photos, or rather additions to them, have been reinstated since the first time I reported on them, I haven't been able to make one, nor have I been able to "shift" the locations of some PokéStops or Gyms within reason - even if these two are something I don't frequently do. Still, now I have more confidence in making these edits and will likely report on them next time as part of this post series.

Having taken care of many things, I may afford myself some more time to make more nominations. Some old rejections that I feel should have been approved are high on priorities for renomination, as well as some new discoveries that need to be newly nominated. Certain locations with plenty of possible locations for nomination might need a single trip to get them all nominated, at which point I don't have to worry for days. Whatever happens, they will all need a semblance of planning, as with nominations in general.

After reviewing the progress of my nominations eight times, I have a moderate success rate, but because of the number of nominations, that translates into lots of successes - though sadly just as many failures as well. The fact of the matter is still that wherever I go and play Pokémon Go, the local area might need a little or sometimes a lot of help in the creation of new PokéStops (and the refining of ones that already do exist). Much remains to be done by me as a fervent nominator.

One year ago: Little Bits of the Pokémon Anime

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/24/2019

Three years ago: Local Ex-Raid (and More), 1/24/2018

Four years ago: Electricity: Harness, Don't Exploit

Beyond the Immensity of Life

All you people can't you see, can't you see

How your love's affecting our reality

Every time we're down, you can make it right

And that makes you larger than life

-- "Larger than Life", Backstreet Boys

In my previous post, I discussed about how the Pokémon games could be regarded as one of the best things in the world and/or universe. In that regard, it might prove to be "larger than life" for those who are concerned. And when this phrase crosses my mind, the above song also crosses my mind. Of course, in my Pokémon mind, the song can be connected to Pokémon and can be interpreted in this frame of mind.

Certainly, it would help to understand the general interpretation of the song. The song is essentially an ode "for fans, by fans", which is clearly evident by another line of the verses, "all of our (your) time spent", referring to the boy band - or whoever may be in the limelight - and the fans respectively. The song serves to honor the dedication of the fans as the life force that keeps those in the limelight going; they bring up when things are down, and make things right after they are wrong. With that in mind, the fans are all they can be in life and so much more for the people they like.

Then comes the Pokémon interpretation. While boy bands are practically unheard of for Pokémon, there are people that real fans and imaginary fans really like, and that would be Pokémon Trainers. The latter likewise spends much time in the limelight and some may be potentially much-adored, like Champion Leon or to some extent even Ash himself. For those watching and enjoying, the adoration is just one of the things that can keep them going, and by way of that, the fans can really become "larger than life" as well, whichever world and/or universe is concerned.

Life is already big as far as many things are concerned, including Pokémon. But the people who make life what it is can stand to become bigger than it, especially if they regard certain others with adoration. The boy band above seems to have realized this perfectly and wrote and sang the song to address that. Pokémon games, and the people in and out of it, can be regarded as an alternative insight for that.

One year ago: New Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys - Selections

Two years ago: Islands and Continents

Three years ago: Passing the Guard

Four years ago: Two Pokémon Pillows

Best in the World and Universe

A particular game company claims that its games are the best in the world, or even the universe. I may have even discussed some of their games on this blog - I won't say which one exactly, just to protect the innocent. I also won't dispute their claim, but if I and other Pokémon fans have anything to say about it, it is that Pokémon games are also some of the best games in the world and/or universe. After nearly a quarter-century of their existence, I can (at least, try to) point out a few reasons why they could be considered as such.

If the games are considered great in this world and universe, then the world and universe they conceive could also be considered great. More and more games only add to this world and universe, and its elements have only gotten more and more connected over time. Then, there is a unique blending of them that is realized through Pokémon Go, and there are unique insights to be gained from this blending. It's safe to say that in the future, there will be more expansions to be had, which means an ever greater world and universe.

For some, the games could be considered their lives. For others, they may be considered larger than life, as the effects of the gameplay might be far-reaching (but still in a good way) beyond the bounds of the games. That may be as a result of connecting to others for whom the games are also their lives, thereby making each other's lives larger as a result. When a number of these lives gather, that could be considered to make a world, which can then progress to a universe, and that may prove to be the best one ever.

One far-reaching effect as described above might be how it affects the inspiration of the players, who then might find ways to incorporate Pokémon into everything that they do. Strangely enough (or to their amazement), it becomes evident that it works out, and they continue to do so. This line of reasoning might explain all the different and seemingly unusual merchandise that Pokémon appears in. Other players would then accept the merchandise and consider them examples of the best things to come out of the games.

If the above reasons sound like something I've said before, perhaps it might not be far off to say that my observations are as such. And I'm sure there are other ways to say that Pokémon games are some of the best games in the world and/or universe. While the game company that I've mentioned earlier may beg to differ, what with the above claims about their games, it may be that their claims remain true for them and many people, but it is still possible to make the same claims about Pokémon games.

One year ago: On the "Invisible Forces"

Two years ago: Fan Art... for Me!

Three years ago: Costume and Cosplay Checklists

Four years ago: Pokémon World + Hero's Come Back = ...

Seeking Comfort with Pokémon

When one thinks of Pokémon, "comfort" may not be one of the things that one also thinks of. After all, Pokémon is closely associated with "battle", which is vastly distanced from "comfort". For those who like Pokémon but don't favor the battling aspect too much in favor of "comfort", or is looking to get away from the battling aspect for a time to seek the "comfort", this might seem like a very challenging thing. However, considering a few things that are related to Pokémon, this might actually be very feasible.

Because of the way that Pokémon games have "evolved" throughout the years, there are some games that are hardly related to battling, like Pokémon Dash, Pokémon Snap (particularly a new edition coming soon), and Pokémon Art Academy, the latter of which may not even possibly be considered a game at all. It has to be admitted that it may be hard to deal with the games without battling as even the simplest games like Pokémon Shuffle has the "battle" concept built in, but some games may still afford a leeway.

Along with the games, there is music to go with them. Some pieces can actually be considered to be relaxing, and in fact, some enterprising fans have been able to compile a number of background music pieces from the games that are considered to be relaxing to some extent. The hope is, of course, that they provide comfort to those who listen to them; I've listened to one such compilation and I can say that this was somewhat true. I would say that I encourage to seek some of these compilations and have a listen for comfort.

Perhaps, the best way to have comfort with Pokémon may not be to deal with the games at all, but to have a non-game "lifestyle". There are plenty of Pokémon merchandise to be collected or gotten, and they would make a nice addition to the environment of anyone who is a fan, even if it's less of the gaming (and battling) aspect. By my observation, I already sense that there are a few people in my different Pokémon groups who can stand to do this, and therefore the non-gaming "lifestyle" is quite possible in different ways.

Still, one may not have to do all that (or conversely, to do all that and then some) to have "comfort" with Pokémon. The act of liking and appreciating Pokémon may be considered in itself to be an act of seeking "comfort", whether one is drawn to the battles or just not quite interested in partaking in them. Either way, it is quite certain that fans can enjoy Pokémon however they wish, so long as there's some good that comes out of that. And when that happens, that could certainly be construed to be "comfort".

One year ago: Getting Too Technical

Two years ago: Takara Tomy Arts Manmaru Pokémon Netsuke Sun & Moon - Torracat

Three years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition 2018, Day 2

Four years ago: Dreams of Itasha

Living Amidst Creatures... or Pokémon

Yesterday, Ash and I discussed about one of my recent ordeals, that of a second recent house move that is as interesting as it is disheartening. I've had a little bit of time to settle down, and I find some things about my new place neat. But then, there are the creatures that inhabit the surrounding areas, which are a stark contrast to those that I've detailed around a year ago, and they can be a little more unsettling, even frightening. Being that I have a Pokémon-oriented mind, I've decided to consider them from a Pokémon point of view.

I've been around and about, and one thing that has not changed is that there are still occasionally felines, also known as cats. A few of them, though, are seemingly like a Skitty in that they are slightly hyperactive, while a few others resemble an Alolan Persian, being somewhat sneaky. Through research, I've found that the area was formerly rice fields, so it would be natural to expect birds around and about - and they are, many during the day like the Pidgey and Taillow that they are. These are some of the more common ones.

Then, there are some uncommon ones. Just a short walk up from my house, I've detected the possibility that a few Skiddo and/or Gogoat are living in a shed just beyond the bounds of my neighborhood. I've also had the opportunity to go out in the evening and at times detect the likes of Zubat and Woobat flying all around, perhaps a little too close to my liking. I don't hope of encountering their larger evolved kin, but that perhaps wouldn't be in my best interest, or for anyone around for that matter.

Most of the above aren't too frightening, but some other creatures may be. The same evening I had an opportunity to go out, I encountered a snake that then went off and away. My only hope is that it was more like a Servine rather than an Ekans or a Seviper. Though less frightening than snakes, I've also seen more lizards than I am accustomed to; likewise, I'm hoping that they will play down their Salandit-like characteristics - if they have any - and remain on rather friendly terms.

This second house move in a few years has been an ordeal in itself. What seems to add to that ordeal is encountering the creatures that make their way around my new neighborhood. Frankly, some of them puts me a little on edge, considering their typical nature. That seems to not be the case (too much) when I think of them with Pokémon terms. They are all still something to wonder about as they are a part of my neighborhood, and I continue to live amidst them just as I live my life amidst Pokémon. 

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/19/2020

Two years ago: Cosplay: Toys Week Season 2

Three years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition 2018, Day 1

Four years ago: All in the Cards

Let's Talk About Homes and the Place to Be

Me: OK, I was kind of lost about what I should discuss today. But then I remembered last month's "Let's Talk", and I -we - actually hinted something significant there. So I figure, let's close up the circle with another "Let's Talk".

Ash: Nice! I've actually been waiting for this one too. So why not? Let's talk about it.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika! ["Let's get to it!"]

Me: So, over the past month or so, I've actually been in another house-moving process, the second in a couple of years. In a way, it's the move that should have happened then. And unlike the previous one, this one is expected to be the last for hopefully some time in the future.

Ash: And I heard that it's done! Is it?

Me: Yes, it's done. But there seems to be still many more loose ends to tie up. You might have seen a few of them.

Ash: Oh, yes. They look hard to deal with. But I still think you can do something about them.

Me: Well, I hope so. Because some of these are issues that shouldn't have been in the first place.

Ash: Really though, Pikachu and I like your house. It reminds me of my house in Pallet Town, because it sort of looks like mine. Right?

Pikachu: Pi pika! ["It does!"]

Me: You know, it does in a way. I guess now I have your "home".

Ash: But it's not something I often see since I'm always out somewhere, because I'm a Pokémon Trainer.

Me: No, no it's not. If I had the choice and possibility, I'd love to do what you do, being out and about around the world.

Ash: Being on the road does have its ups and downs, though, so it's not for everyone. At the same time, I don't see why it can't happen. I've heard stories of how some people do it in your world.

Me: That's true. Some people have done that, and they make for good stories that rival those of Pokémon Trainers, including you. But then they do eventually go back home, so the point is kind of moot.

Ash: It's not like I'm homeless either - it's just that Pikachu and I spend so much time on the road before we eventually come home.

Pikachu: Pi, pika pika. ["Yeah, it's like that."]

Me: So we have our own places to be - mine with a home and not very often on the road, and yours often on the road but with the option of occasionally coming back home.

Ash: I think you've got the point nicely. Still, you can always discover other places just as much I have the possibility of coming back home.

Me: That I'd love to do. But for now I'm fine with settling in, and I guess you've got lots more stuff to do on the road.

Ash: And don't forget about home either.

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["Of course!"]

Me: There will always be happy returns either way.

One year ago: Cosplay: Cosplay on the Street

Two years ago: Peace

Three years ago: Suspending My Disbelief

Four years ago: Ash, Satoshi, or... Ali?

Pokémon Body Pillows

In the world of Japanese fandoms and particularly that of anime, there is one kind of "hot" merchandise. That kind of merchandise is called a dakimakura, which is a kind of pillow that is body-length (approximately) and resembles a kind of bolster pillow that one can hug while sleeping. I've described it in this exact way when I discussed Pokémon things that I can put on my bed in a post I made a long time ago. With that, they also go by another English name: body pillows. After bringing it up in discussion with a friend the other day, I thought I'd bring up the topic again, this time in a post of its own.

I actually didn't intend to bring up this topic in a post. However, the discussion got me to check body pillows again in a search on the Internet. Lo and behold, the very first related search keyword was Pokémon, and thus I decided to check it out. It turns out that there is a bewildering array of these body pillows, most of them custom merchandise. One of, if not the only official merchandise, is one that is shaped like a (male) Pikachu tail and is 110 cm long. It's also the only one that isn't as overtly "hot" as most of the other body pillows. In fact, it may be considered quite a welcome addition to any Pokémon fan's bed.

For the others, they may be considered to be a tough call, being that they embody the "hot" characteristic. As expected, many of these body pillows feature the body of a human character - and for those wondering, Ash and Serena are on the short list, and so are characters as old as James (of Team Rocket) and as new as Champion Leon. But of course, there are creature body pillows, and of the leading contenders, there are Lucario and Eevee (for furry fans or humanoid fans or whatever) as well as Snivy and Salazzle. The human ones are clearly the "hot" ones, while the creature ones may be just cute.

As for my stance on them, after three and a half years, my stance is still the same: they're fun, but I may or may not opt to get one. The one that features Ash is interesting, though I wouldn't put my money on one - though I'll accept one as a gift. The creature ones (especially the official Pikachu tail one) are neat and cute, and I'll take whatever seems the neatest or is available. Regardless of any one of these I eventually obtain, I'd rather keep them pristine and not sleep with them, but they can have space at the foot of my bed for decoration if nothing else, as an accent to a Pokémon-themed bed.

A dakimakura or a body pillow remains a "hot" item for fans of any (anime) fandom, and as I've inadvertently discovered, Pokémon is of no exception. In the case of Pokémon, they can be hot to trot with the human characters or the Pokémon creatures, fulfilling the intended purpose as the representation of someone or something that can be hugged while sleeping. While I may not be fond of fulfilling this purpose even with one of my own, I suppose they still make a fine addition to the bed of any Pokémon fan, even mine. They might prove to still be "hot" items regardless.

One year ago: Tournament: Raid Group Fusion Cup

Two years ago: Rivalries

Three years ago: (Almost) A Pokémon Party

Four years ago: Pokémon Art Academy - More Than Just Pokémon Art

Wishes for Good Days

And, well, the second commemoration or celebration I touched on two days ago is my birthday, which is evident from posts from past years below. It is supposed to be a personally special time, though that may be less so with whatever I've got going on and the state of the world today. Yet I'm still a Pokémon fan, and that's something I'm expecting to not change within the future, near or far. Pokémon is good for me, even if the rest of the world isn't being so nice to me, or everyone else right now for that matter. That's why I've opted to discuss about what I (and other Pokémon fans) wish for the better days to come, in line with wishes that traditionally accompany a birthday.

What I personally wish for are even more accessible ways of enjoying Pokémon stuff no matter where I am. I'm not about to go anywhere far while the state of the world is as it is, but it would be helpful if there were ways that I could enjoy Pokémon stuff anywhere in the days that I'm able to travel once again for all the Pokémon things that I do. In that sense, the Switch is a priority spend for this purpose, something that hasn't even happened since the first day it was released. But I'm also expecting innovations of the Internet for Pokémon purposes in addition to whatever is available now to enjoy Pokémon content my way and even other ways that I have not thought of before. This is a dynamic that I need to be observant of.

For the wishes that I and others share, an important one would be a return of all the ways that we can enjoy Pokémon things as they once were. Even if that's not possible due to the way current situations have changed things around, the way that they have changed might still be reasonable to be kept in certain ways - for example, remote ways of doing things, like remote competitions and remote play (as through the Remote Raid Pass of Pokémon Go). But of course, most importantly, we wish for the current situations themselves to die down so that we can get back to live... though in all honesty that is what we are doing even now, while still staying clear of the bad things.

For me today, though, there can only be good things. I spent the former half of the day finishing up a few things of my own accord while also playing Pokémon Go, and that turned out rather satisfactory. The rest of the day I spent for ventures that may or may not possibly be related to Pokémon; it still would be nice to know if those ventures do result in something related to Pokémon.

It's been a long year (more or less in different places) since the onset of current conditions, but I have some faith that I, other Pokémon fans, and Pokémon itself will make it out just fine. That's a good wish, especially now that it's my birthday.

Happy birthday to me, and well wishes for everyone, especially Pokémon fans.

One year ago: Always Together

Two years ago: Wonderful Opportunities

Three years ago: 30 Going on 10... Or Something Like It

Four years ago: A Pokémon Party?

Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/16/2021

OK, so the first commemoration or celebration that I hinted yesterday is the monthly Pokémon Go commemoration that is Community Day, which took place today this month. It's always a commemoration because of the things that it involves, from the featured Pokémon to whatever else it might involve. This month, the commemoration can be said to be spirited - as in fighting spirit - in at least one way, not the least of which is because of the featured Pokémon. That should have provided a little extra power for Trainers as they accepted and went through what it had to offer.

For this month, the featured Pokémon is Machop, a Fighting-type Pokémon of the first generation. Machop had already had its Shiny form released a long time ago, but it's not very commonplace (that is, not many Trainers have it); this literally becomes the biggest chance to obtain it. When it evolves to Machamp with this event, it gains the Charged Move of Payback, a Dark-type move that could be useful to counter certain things, especially in PvP. The regular bonus is triple Stardust for captures, which is always coveted by many Trainers. There are many chances to be gained with this edition, therefore.

The usual menagerie of accompanying incentives goes without saying (Incense, six hours, taking snapshots, and so on) considering the way things are in the world today. There is no extra Timed Research, however, most likely since Machop doesn't specially evolve except by a trade that absolves the Candy requirement. The extra paid Special Research, which is titled "Straight to the Top, Machop!" may also be obtained for free under a very specific circumstance, which is not to be explained now; what can be told now is that its storyline involves a made-up Pokémon movie featuring the species. Other than that, the Community Day is business as usual.

I had a multitude of other businesses to attend to, some of which had progressed over the course of the previous month. Despite that, I was still able to get in some significant Community Day time, which I deem to be valuable nonetheless. I didn't get through as many PokéStops as I had wanted to, but I was able to flush out all of the means available (free Box, free Ultra Balls, and Poké Balls from Gifts) for additional capture assistance, and that should have helped. Since Machoke evolves free of Candy to Machamp after being traded, I wanted to capitalize on this to evolve a few traded ones, and I did: I evolved a good one, an early traded memento, a potentially helpful Shiny one, and as something unique, a Shadow one that I earlier had removed Frustration from. They are all unique and likely to be helpful in their various ways.

No matter the circumstance, Community Day is likely to be a commemoration or celebration for many Trainers, and this one has quite a bit of that spirit, especially as fighting spirit. Machop gets the fighting spirit to become all that it can be, and Trainers get something valuable that may be used in any Pokémon battle venue. All that is likely to make up the extra power needed by Trainers to go through the situation of this month's Community Day and incur a good deal of achievements.

One year ago: Only Women Like You

Two years ago: Pokémon Conversations

Three years ago: Be the Best... or Be Different?

Four years ago: My Pokémon Anime Epoch

I Need Good Energy

The events of much of the previous days, as in occurrences of things in general and not commemorations of things, have left me feeling not my very best. It is as if I've been drained of my "good energy" and become unable to become myself. What I need right now is to regain some of that "good energy" and essentially replenish myself. With this, I can't help thinking about the "good energy" that belong to the creatures of Pokémon and how that energy empowers them.

For those familiar with the main series games, PP or Power Points can be recognized as a "good energy" of sorts. They allow moves to be executed for as long as they are available, within the capabilities of the creatures. People who are well-versed in the TCG will instead recognize actual Energy in all its various forms, and those can be considered "good energy" too when they are able to allow specific Pokémon to execute their corresponding moves. Both are also quantified, which describes their respective values as the facets that make their moves good.

Pokémon Go is not devoid of concepts that are representative of "good energy" either. Charged Moves can be said to embody that idea, as they need to be filled up with successive hits by Fast Moves before they may be used, the latter imbuing that "good energy". Then, for the recently introduced Mega Evolution, that has its own actual energy, Mega Energy. It's a "good energy" because it allows specific Pokémon to attain a gloriously advanced form that shows their inner capabilities. While only the latter is quantified (allowing for "good" and "better" amounts), both are still good because they make things tick.

I mentioned commemorations earlier, and that's because it has been suggested that "good energy" may arise from commemorations, or more to the point, celebrations. There are actually two of them coming up soon - partly even related to Pokémon and me personally - but they will be discussed in time for each. Of course, it isn't easy to escape the fact that the 25th anniversary of Pokémon is coming up, something I've been extolling even since about half a year ago. With all of these on tap, that may mean a lot of "good energy" to come, and I have to be able to tap into them.

Back to myself, I'm still not feeling as good as I could be, if much of the events in previous days had not taken place. Yet, thinking about how "good energy" is manifested in different ways in Pokémon gives me a slight boost, and this may then be manifested further in the true commemorations that are to come, which would be the way "good energy" is to be sought. It may then be that all of the above are valid "good energy" for this Pokémon fan.

Now, it seems that I should start my quest to seek some "good energy".

One year ago: After Tournament, Because of Tournament

Two years ago: Keeping Up with VGC

Three years ago: Here Comes an Ex-Raid

Four years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 2

"Post-Shuffle" Activity

I've had a pretty extensive "career" in Pokémon Shuffle. I've played since close to the beginning and now have attained various successes within the game. However, based on activities inside and outside the game, it seems that my time with Pokémon Shuffle may be almost up. Once that happens, I'll have to find some activity that will fill the time that I've used and would use in Shuffle. In other words, I would be searching for a "post-Shuffle" activity.

With the release of Pokémon Cafe Mix, I could of course try my hand at it, especially as it's available on the Switch or on mobile right now. The problem is that I don't have a Switch at the moment and space is at a premium on my current mobile device. I would face the quandary of spending for an advanced mobile device instead of a Switch, or the remote possibility of getting a second mobile device that is purely intended for playing games rather than hosting other apps. Yet, puzzle games (including Pokémon ones) are within my domain, and I would have to explore either of these options in order to get started on the next Pokémon puzzle frenzy.

Then, there is the possibility of me reaching out to other Pokémon games that many people play, such as Pokémon Masters EX or Pokémon Quest. It bears in mind that both are available on mobile and the latter is also available on the Switch; as a result, they incur the same concerns as above. Further, these would constitute side engagements rather than a primary engagement as with the main series games, Pokémon Go, or any Pokémon puzzle game. As I am a big fan of Pokémon, there is a desire for me to explore these games, furthermore for the creation of posts on this blog. But they will certainly have to wait their turn, as with everything else I do for Pokémon and beyond.

Speaking of primary engagements, I do have to say that the first one on the previous list, the main series games, have been quite under neglect in recent times, partially by my own doing and partially by influence of the doings of others. Therefore, it may be worthwhile to spend some time on this primary engagement when the time comes to pass. On the off-chance that Shuffle reaches its end-of-life, I may consider postponing other side Pokémon engagements and resolve the primary one for the main series; after satisfiably doing this, then I can involve other side engagements or bring back the puzzle game engagement. It may be a necessary measure to keep things in check.

The choices I have for a "post-Shuffle activity" are many and varied. I could continue the puzzle game engagement with Cafe Mix, shift to a side engagement with certain games, or prioritize the main series engagement before deciding to do anything else. Whatever I decide to do, I may need to decide it before Shuffle ultimately decides to cease its activities. Though it won't be the same as the "career" in Shuffle, at least I can then say that my Pokémon "career" continues in some way.

One year ago: Fusion without Confusion

Two years ago: Pokémon Theme Park Ideas

Three years ago: Playing the Meta Game

Four years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 1

The Rain and Pokémon

As the world of Pokémon is situated in one that is not too far off different from the real world, it shares many things characteristic of the real world. Among them is weather, one of which is rain. It's a very characteristic weather in the real world that is affected by the dynamics of the land and the sea. In the Pokémon world, it may be affected by another dynamic, that of the Pokémon in addition to the people to which they are related. As such, there's a certain interest in discussing that weather in a post.

Rain brings down water from above, and therefore rain is very closely associated with Pokémon of the Water type. In fact, some Pokémon can perform the move Rain Dance and bring about a Rain weather. Others don't have to do that - at least initially - and can bring in Rain straight away through the Drizzle ability. Even the Rain weather has a state of increased intensity with effects that are more pronounced on Pokémon. None of these should be surprising given the nature of rain in the real world, but they do show that rain has its place for Pokémon.

Besides having a place for Pokémon (the creatures), rain also has a place in the general environs of this world. It is apparent that for most places, rain is only periodic, coming by itself or by way of Rain Dance et cetera as above. But, for some places like in central Hoenn, it is apparent that the rain can seemingly go on forever, making it a challenge for the people who are situated in the places and the travelers or Trainers who pass through them. Even the reason caused by the Drizzle ability may turn out to be apocalyptic as activated by Kyogre. In this way, rain can and does become a major force in different circumstances.

This last bit is kind of spiritual but still has relevance in a way. Euphemistically, "rain" represents the tears shed by people - in specific cases, this would be of Ash upon experiencing separation from or something harrowing with Pikachu, as has happened in several episodes of the anime. It fulfills the premises of a popular song:

'Cause there'll be no sunlight

If I lose you, baby

There'll be no clear skies

If I lose you, baby

Just like the clouds

My eyes will do the same

If you walk away

Everyday it will rain, rain, rain, rain...

-- "It Will Rain", Bruno Mars

While the song is better known for its usage in something that is universal in nature among people and perhaps Pokémon too in one way. And this allows the imagery to still be satisfied by the song.

For a world that seems almost completely different from the real world, some of it has quite the parallels, like for rain. It's the spiritual source for a type of Pokémon based off its substance, and it displays certain unique characteristics in location and strength, and even human impression. All kinds of dynamics factor into these relationships and circumstances related to rain, and that's more than can be said for how things work out in this world when the water(works) start to pour.

One year ago: Premier Ball Hanging Ornament

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day + Local EX Raid, 1/13/2019

Three years ago: My Pokémon Show

Four years ago: Pokémon and Cosplay

To Spotlight or Not to Spotlight?

Today is a Tuesday, which means that it's time for Spotlight Hour in Pokémon Go, still persisting after all this time. With that persistence, one is bound to have come upon some familiar sights - in other words, some Pokémon that have been featured before in a certain capacity, whether in the same event or a different one. To that end, the question to be asked is the question in the title of this post. Specifically, though, the question can be broken down into three sub-questions that help to answer the main question.

Participate or not? - This question regards whether one wishes to open up Pokémon Go at the specified time and catch the featured Pokémon. One could, of course, opt out if there is a specific business going on at that time that prevents participation, but it would be just as well if one is free that one should open up Pokémon Go and participate even for just a short time to capture all the featured Pokémon within reach. At least something may be gained no matter how short the participation may be, but if one cannot at all, that may be fine too.

Incense or not? - This question regards whether one will or will not use an Incense in participating in the event. In these times especially, one is welcome to use an Incense if one happens to be unable to go out and walk as intended - which I'm aware is the case in certain regions. But if one can go out and walk safely while still following restrictions, then it may be possible to save an Incense and just catch while walking. This would be especially attractive for those who tend to save Incense only for when it is appropriate or due to a low number of them, like me in certain cases.

Shiny or not? - This question regards whether one will participate for the sake of obtaining the Shiny form of the featured Pokémon if it is available. Most would say that a Shiny Pokémon during Spotlight Hour is kind of hit-or-miss: it appears when one is not looking for it and vice versa. As with any Shiny Pokémon, my recommendation is not to get too worked up over them, which means that this shouldn't be a concern in the first place. Yet, one is welcome to go hunting intensively if the Shiny form in concern hasn't been captured.

Considering the three questions above as well as the primary question to which they are related, Spotlight Hour may be a subjective thing for some. But if the goal is clear and it is definitely viable, then it may be objectively well worth doing. Given that it has persisted for quite a long time, (non-)participation is inevitable and/or expected, especially during certain times or with certain featured Pokémon. The question in the title of this post will likely remain a contention due to the specific circumstances.

One year ago: Cosplay: Nihon Matsuri 2020

Two years ago: These Sides of Paradise

Three years ago: Another Big Shuffle Update

Four years ago: In-Game Trainer Name Inspirations

Getting Measured for Costumes

The art (and activity) of cosplay demands that one be measured for the costumes that are about to be worn. This applies for any kind of costume, including the ones I have for Pokémon cosplay. Being that I've cosplayed for almost nine years now, I've been through the measurement process more times than I can remember. However, while the process itself may be easy, the results may be complicated, and that's what I would like to deal with in this post.

Most of the time, the measurements for my costumes have been appropriate. A good sign that this is so is that for those costumes, I've been able to wear them with no major problems ever since the time they were created. Even my fourth-generation (DP) costume that was created nine years ago still fits me this day, which indicates good measurements by the tailor, and perhaps to a lesser extent, good maintenance of my own body for the most part. I would have to keep up the latter, and to praise the former. In either case, I'm glad that they are so.

In some isolated cases, though, some measurements have been off, and that resulted in costume parts with somewhat undesirable fits. A few pants for my costumes fit a little loosely at my waist, and thus they cannot take to be worn without a belt; this is no problem for active cosplay as the pants can be tightened with a belt, but for "casual" cosplay, this may not work as well (I'm actually of the sans-a-belt type of person). Meanwhile, there are also some articles of clothing that were meant to fit tight but after development became a bit too tight, and understandably more so over time. These will have to be fixed somehow to ensure continued usage of the costumes in question.

Since most (human) Pokémon characters have typical human attires, I can go with (and do prefer) slightly loose-fitting clothing. Even so, for characters that have tight or seemingly tight clothing, I would prefer that for my cosplay purposes that they are measured slightly more loose. Apart from the fact that I actually don't like clothes that fit tightly in normal wear - yes, I do consider cosplay as "normal" - I do prefer a greater "wiggle room" in case the unexpected happens, like the current situation that has forced cosplay events to take a backseat. That, and I expect that my costumes to last for as long as possible, since I intend to use them intermittently.

If there is anything that the above demonstrates, it is that taking measurements is important for cosplay as it is for fashion in general, for which cosplay is partially that. The right measurements will likely lead to a costume that one can wear happily, comfortably, and even extensively. The wrong measurements will likely lead to discomfort and/or displeasure sooner if not later. I'm sure that I as a Pokémon cosplayer as well as those involved with different aspects of cosplay will make sure to heed this aspect in different ways as necessary.

One year ago: Faults in Some Stars

Two years ago: Pokédex Texts and Information

Three years ago: A Song for the Lonely, et Cetera

Four years ago: My Path Through the Main Series

Pokémon SM KFC Family Meal Toy: Mimikyu & Ultra Ball

Typically, I don't review Pokémon merchandise the very day I get them for one reason or another, one of them being that I'd like to take in the experience with them. However, I'm somewhat under a time crunch now, so I can't be bothered to save it for a later time. And indeed, I got the very merchandise I'm about to discuss in this very post today due to just-in-time circumstances. It's part of a new series of fast food toys, although the involved depictions are nothing new.

Recently, the fast food chain indicated in the title of this post introduced that new series of Pokémon toys, though it is based on the anime series (Sun & Moon) that became locally popular around a year ago. As with fast food chains in general, toys are usually included as part of the "kids meal", but this one was offered as part of the "family meal", or rather a special offer as such. I first learned of their existence thanks to my raid (sub-)groups a couple of days ago but didn't think much of it, considering that it required spending for quite a bit of food. Today, however, I had a few people over, and therefore it was the perfect circumstance to spend for this "family meal" and get a toy.

By random selection, I received the Mimikyu & Ultra Ball toy. For some odd reason, I seem to be attracted to Mimikyu and keep getting merchandise based on it - not that I'm complaining, but it's OK nonetheless, ideally wanting the others as well. In another coincidence, it's also (supposed) to be a "spinning top" toy, much like two of a different series of toys for a different chain from last year. Much as I've tried, though, even following the instructions, I could not get the toy to spin. It still looks good as a Pokémon in a Poké Ball toy, and that's the thing that matters.

Furthermore, this "family meal" is a "weekend special", with this being possibly the only weekend that features it, as tomorrow, greater social restrictions will be in place. While I'd love to get more of them like I did for the other series of toys, it would be prohibitively expensive, and therefore only one suffices. If I had my choice, I would of course go for Pikachu & Poké Ball, though I'm also partial to Togedemaru & Quick Ball or Rockruff & Premier Ball. The fact that I only knew about this a couple of days ago also throws me for a loop, and there is not much that I can do, except for this fortuitous circumstance in ordering.

Altogether, it's not half bad. The people I were with (and me) got a bit of food, I got myself on Pokémon merchandise, and that led to content for this blog. The toy ultimately left something to be desired, but again, I'm not unhappy - a Pokémon toy is a toy for its fan, and I appreciate it regardless. And I suppose that as a fan, it's appropriate enough to take appropriate action to get one's hands on something loved and appreciated for it to be able to be appreciated by others.

One year ago: Renewed Oaths: Pokémon Direct, 1/9/2020

Two years ago: Custom Pokémon Merchandise

Three years ago: A Pokémon-Pikachu Balloon

Four years ago: Where It All Started

Introducing Collection Challenges

The expansible nature of Pokémon Go makes it possible to add features that elaborate existing features with unique characteristics. One of them in the past had been Timed Research, which coupled a Special Research with a time-based Today View card to put time pressure on Trainers. This time, there is another feature that is added in a similar fashion, which by the title of this post can be discerned as Collection Challenge. Like Timed Research, it has some complexity of its own that deserves to be explained in a post.

A Collection Challenge demands a Trainer to be able to catch a certain assortment of Pokémon within a certain amount of time. The list of Pokémon are indicated on the card containing the Collection Challenge. Only one of each Pokémon needs to be caught, at which point the Pokémon will be marked with a check mark. When all the Pokémon have been marked with check marks, the Collection Challenge is complete and its rewards can be claimed. Naturally, this needs to happen within the set time.

Essentially, the Collection Challenge utilizes the framework of a Timed Research in order to provide a single page of catch-a-Pokémon tasks, but they're all counted as a single, massive task, meaning no individual rewards for catching each one. The rewards for completing one, though, should be sufficiently swell. Furthermore, a special medal has now been added that keeps track of the Collection Challenges that are completed, which should and does imply that there will be more, with details to follow.

Currently, there is one Collection Challenge, and it's called the Unova Collection Challenge. As expected, it directs Trainers to catch Pokémon that hail from the Unova region, or the fifth-generation Pokémon. The current Collection Challenge demands one to catch Snivy, Tepig, and Oshawott (the starters), plus Lillipup, Herdier, Blitzle, Solosis, Roggenrola, and Ferroseed. It may be considered relatively simple for a start, as quite a few (including me) have completed it within a few days. Further ones are likely to be more demanding.

This new Collection Challenge feature is quite elaborative of the Research feature. Now Trainers can be challenged to catch a selection of certain Pokémon in order to succeed and gain some things. As with Timed Research, the urgency is there, but now so is the drive for collecting as a key part of any Pokémon adventure. In that way, it becomes very unique and rewarding while at the same time complex. And it keeps Trainers going as the game keeps on expanding through its means.

One year ago: (Finally, Another) Local EX Raid, 1/9/2020

Two years ago: Pokémon Ceramics

Three years ago: Hitching a Raid Ride

Four years ago: A Tale of Two Shirts

The Syntax of Pokémon Names

Being a linguist, I'm observant of many kinds of language phenomena, including those related to Pokémon. One of the phenomena I've observed is regarding Pokémon names and their intended usage in language, specifically how it fits in expressions (syntax) for the English context. This might seem like something trivial, insignificant, and/or obvious, but it does have some linguistic complexity that many may not realize. Therefore, I've chosen to elucidate that complexity in a post.

First of all, it would help to establish the nature of Pokémon names. These names as well as "Pokémon" as a hypernym in general are clearly nouns, but there's quite a bit more than that. They are proper nouns when they are used in their trademark sense, as all Pokémon names are actually trademarks. They can also be common nouns when they are used in discourse related to the world of Pokémon. Furthermore, they can act as modifiers in a noun phrase, as in the case of "Slowpoke tail" (confer "shuffle dance"). Thus, the names can serve some different yet neat functions accordingly.

Perhaps the most important part of their complexity is regarding the representation of number, as how many there are of a Pokémon. The names of Pokémon are not declinable, meaning that they don't take an ending (like the -s ending for plurals in English). The indication of plurals is by context, for example "a Pikachu" for one or "many Pikachu" for lots. The same is true of the "Pokémon" hypernym itself; it does not take endings and number is a contextual matter for its reference.

The above information is specific to English, but is very much applicable in other languages as well. The name becoming a modifying noun does work in other languages, though it may occur in different places. As well, in other languages, indications of plurality remain contextual, in that the names don't take the usual plural constructions in, whatever they may be (for example, they're not repeated to indicate plurals). It may make sense considering the English.

After seeing how the names of Pokémon are used on various media, especially official ones, I've been able to deduce the usage and syntax of these names as they are meant to be. While there is no official word regarding this, the way that the usage and syntax is so consistent becomes something to be realized, and there is an established complexity about it. Since I'm both a linguist and a Pokémon fan, it's just something that I naturally come to notice and deem worthy to explain for understanding, including to any fan.

One year ago: Locks on Shiny Forms

Two years ago: A Pokémon Case Analytic Scenario

Three years ago: The Three-Count

Four years ago: On the Subject of Go

Previous Plus One

Every so often, I discuss about yearly themes that I conceive based on different factors, including but not limited to Pokémon happenings. Those who followed my blogging journey from last year will have followed the progress of a visionary theme that turned out to be not so visionary after all. In fact, what took place last year persisted all the way to the end of the year and even thus far into the new year at the very least. That leads to the suggestion of a relevant theme, which is displayed as the title of this post - "Previous Plus One".

The phrase that represents the theme comes from an obscure game (with very little relation to Pokémon, if at all). The context of the phrase is an element that represents a continuation of the previous element, but by one. In that sense, this has already become evident with the conditions as above, and this stands to be evident with more things. For how long this will be so is another matter, but what is certain is that it will be the case for quite a good bit of the year, and the rest of the year will suit itself afterwards.

Many of those things will surely include Pokémon ones. As something that has been severely affected over this past year, Pokémon Go has pretty much adapted, though it remains to be seen how further adaptations are likely to occur. For all the other Pokémon happenings, they must surely adapt if they are to please the players or Trainers; there have been semblances of adaptations (further main series tournaments and TCG content), but more of them will have to occur to keep things fun and welcoming.

Last year, I had something that could have potentially contributed to the realization of the theme, which would be my Instagram account, though it didn't end up having many contributions. This year, I have nothing in this regard, but as with last year, anything can potentially happen. While I can't and won't say what they are or might be, they could be contributions that keep the happenings significant and the theme relevant - it does, after all, contain "plus", so it would have to contain a sense of addition as well.

Again, it seems (way too) early that I get to or decide to discuss about yearly themes, especially in relation to Pokémon. But this time, there is actually enough precedent in the early moments of the year that it seems relevant enough for any and all happenings as the conditions of last year persist into this year. That much is already relevant even for my happenings and Pokémon happenings; those that are to come will decide the relevance of practically just about everything.

One year ago: The Substitute Being (or Doll)

Two years ago: Family Affairs

Three years ago: Rethinking Salt

Four years ago: Tournament: Local Friendly, 1/7/2017

No Scans for You

Features in Pokémon Go can be as controversial as they are helpful, mostly due to their sometimes bugged nature. However, one recently introduced feature is controversial in another way. Some time ago, the feature of PokéStop scanning was introduced, which is another advanced foray into augmented reality. It's a good feature at first glance, but it has an unsavory side that has made me (and a number of other Trainers) take a certain stance on its usage, or rather its non-usage.

The PokéStop scanning feature is intended to aid in the creation of a 3D model of the area around a PokéStop (or even a Gym), likely also for usage in the Reality Blending feature that I've cited last year in discussing Pokémon photography. Therefore, it's supposed to make the world a whole lot more fun and even interactive, bridging the real world and the Pokémon world. To that end, some PokéStops and Gyms that are tagged with "AR Mapping" will even beget a Research task that gives out some very nifty rewards, especially during certain events; they've included an Incense as well as a major amount of Mega Energy. In short, the feature is incredible... but it can and does leave some people feeling incredulous about it.

The problem is that some Trainers have discovered (after having predicted as such) that after some PokéStops or Gyms had been scanned, they disappeared. There is an indication that the data that had been gained by performing the scan had been used to evaluate the corresponding places in order to determine whether they are legit. There is no problem if the scan is performed for a legit place and the PokéStop or Gym stays. The problem is when the scan is performed for a legit place but then the PokéStop or Gym disappears, quite possibly due to misinterpretation. This can change the overworld landscape dramatically, including for (legit) PokéStops and Gyms that have been in their places for years on end. Now the incredulity is evident.

The stance that I and quite a few Trainers have is to not scan PokéStops or Gyms, which explains the title of this post. While it does prevent Reality Blending from being fully realized, it allows the status quo of PokéStops and Gyms to be maintained, instead of being lost almost willy-nilly for the sake of the above or other petty rewards. Granted, the scanning feature is neat and very much sophisticated, but it doesn't warrant possibly losing a few PokéStops and/or Gyms for that, more so if they are perfectly fine in the first place. It would be preferable to keep standard efforts going rather than to mess them up greatly. Some of us Trainers have a right to be incredulous, and in this case, it is somewhat warranted.

PokéStop scanning has an aura of helpfulness to it, but at the same time, it also has a certain controversy through the eventual changes that it may effect on the overworld of Pokémon Go. For this, there is nothing buggy about it in the sense of the feature, but the evaluation system may be buggy due to however the decisions are made. It seems that I and many Trainers will have to take a pass on PokéStop scanning and continue to go about our Pokémon Go business as normally expected.

One year ago: Pokémon Statues

Two years ago: ...With Gatherings and Safari Zones for All

Three years ago: More Odd Poké-Pika Things

Four years ago: A 3DS Story

(Re)Structuring Competitions

Pokémon is known for its many competitions, mostly involving its many different games. More often than not, they have to be structured in some way. And with all of the things that have occurred over the past year, they seem to need to have the capability for restructuring. This structuring and restructuring could be considered to be something unique, and therefore I've decided to bring it up as a discussion in a post.

Whatever the object of the competition, it is likely that the competition would involve certain local or regional stages, which would serve to seek for some of the best in the areas of concern, or at the least assign values to the competitors. Those with excellence and/or the best values would then be able to get into higher-order competitive tiers, which would eventually culminate in the highest tier as a world championship. Along the way, it might be up to the competitors to decide which ones they want or need to participate in, in order to obtain the best and/or optimal results to show what they can do. This structuring is typically invariant and works well for its purposes and of course competitors.

But when things like current conditions come up, then the restructuring part becomes relevant. In the case of last year, the primary competitions couldn't take the sudden onset in the advanced stages and the rest were canned. There was an exception, though: the local semi-official (but still community) main series competitive circuit carried on over the Internet and led to winners being named. Also, Pokémon Go tournaments of the community kind carried on remotely and still managed to produce winners. Looking at the way things went, it seemed that the rigidly structured official competitions suffered more than the loosely structured community ones, for which the latter quickly restructured and adapted.

There is actually another reason why I wrote up this post. This season's Silph Arena for Pokémon Go doesn't have a monthly themed cup this month in favor of "special invitationals", as it's called, and a break for the rest. This is in contrast to last season, which continued to have a themed cup. It is markedly different and thus could be considered to be a "restructuring" compared to last season. In fact, the tail end of the season is likely to have a dynamic (read: structured and restructured) arrangement considering the development of conditions, which means more of that. Evidently, there was something to be considered after last season nearly went awry with its already-planned structure.

Structure is still very much important for something as big as Pokémon (game) competitions, even if that structure may have had to change in some way depending on what happens in the world. The competitions may still present something totally unique whatever the structure may be. And if they can restructure themselves with whatever comes up, that may just be even more unique for all the parties involved.

One year ago: Jelly-Filled Doughnuts

Two years ago: Cosplay: Bunkasai XXI

Three years ago: The Music of Go

Four years ago: Alt+0233 and Its Kin