"New Daybreaks" for Pokémon

It must be a strongly brilliant thing.

Therefore I came to "overground".

To declare it. The new daybreak.

U1 overground

I last discussed a part of the above comments for a piece of music on a music game - but with a Pokémon context instead - for a development that occurred around two and a half years ago. Now I'm compelled to discuss another part of it, but certainly still with a Pokémon context, this time with more recent developments. That is why I've quoted the comment above in full to link up the contexts. As for the current context, it would appear that it is the time for Pokémon to make some strides to go into the "daybreak", and as such the music comment became relevant once again.

It's also relevant for another Pokémon thing. Recently, the Pokémon Go app icon became updated with a neat detail: the horizon in the background became illuminated with a warm glow reminiscent of, well, a "daybreak". For the longest time, the background has always been dark blue, appearing to be set at night or dusk complete with some shining stars. But now, with a "daybreak" icon, the game is seemingly ready to move in a new direction, as if the game itself isn't already a new direction when it was released five years ago and it has had many new directions along the way.

Meanwhile, Pokémon as a whole turns 25 this year, which is a significant anniversary milestone, one that I cannot state enough. With that many years of existence, lots of things have happened, and they surely have. But while many of those things are remarkable, it may be that some of them are repetitions that have become (considered) stale. The natural thing would be to allow movements in new directions, which would allow for Pokémon to "chase after the daylight" toward the direction of "a new day". That has happened with Pokémon Go at a nice clip, yet for other things, it seems to be at a slower pace.

With the new Pokémon games that are announced to be in development and due out this year and the next, it may be that the pace is picking up, if at all ever so slightly. That may make sense - the journey to a "daybreak" may take a bit of time and the sights may not be as expected. But if they're good sights, as may be demonstrated by Pokémon Go, they could and should be deserving of longevity. In the case of the new games, the journey to the "daybreak" has only begun, while for Pokémon Go, the new app icon may indicate that the journey is already there. Still, much remains to be seen.

I personally still consider what I considered back then as "a strongly brilliant thing" to still be one, especially then. Only now, with a big anniversary and great new things to come within the times ahead, there seems to be a whole lot of more brilliant things. The hope is that at least quite a few of them will lead one to a "daybreak", though at least one (being the stuff related to Pokémon Go) may have indicated as such. Unlike the comments for the music piece, at least I don't have to "make the journey to the surface" to "declare" the Pokémon "daybreak"; I can let them unfold by themselves into a brilliant future for all.

One year ago: The Long-Winded Side of Things

Two years ago: Cosplay: ONEGAI Bunkasai 2019 - Eiyuu no Uprising

Three years ago: Mauville's Progress

Four years ago: Nostalgia: Episode 672 - "Here Comes the Trubbish Squad!"

Road of 25th Anniversary: Beckoning Specials

This would be the first post that addresses the big 25th anniversary of Pokémon ever since the onset of that anniversary. But it doesn't matter, since that is really the intent anyway. Accordingly, it is no longer a "road to", but a "road of (and from)" the said anniversary. And as the road of the anniversary continues, special things - specifically, merchandise - continue to "beckon" on the path of that road, many of which by now have been divulged. It becomes something good to touch on as the road of and from the anniversary date.

Back then, I noted that promotions for the TCG were imminent, and now that has been realized. One of the forms is called "First Partner" booster packs featuring the starter Pokémon of the eighth generation, including cards marked with the anniversary logo. These can be obtained through certain channels, some of which may be expected. For those who like getting their cards in unusual ways, some of them can be obtained through certain breakfast cereal boxes, and though the cards are limited in number, they are still significant nonetheless. Those who play (and/or collect) should have their reasons for getting the cards in the way that suits them.

On the high-tech side, some neat things have been announced. In partnership with The Wand Company, a die cast replica of a Poké Ball has been divulged, and it's to have motion sensors and colorful lights. With that kind of technology, it's expected to fetch a pretty penny, and it's a wonder regardless. For something a little less sophisticated, PowerA has a line of Nintendo Switch accessories based on Pikachu (certainly, National Dex #25) to celebrate the 25 years of Pokémon. These are more decently obtainable and should find favor for those who possess the Switch and want to ramp up the Pokémon celebration with something unique for that.

Pokémon books are always a given, and Scholastic - a popular publisher for them - kicks off an anniversary series of them with a flipbook featuring the adventures of Ash and Pikachu in Galar and Alola, complete with a special-edition poster. In the wearables department, there is a collaboration with Levi's, involving a denim Pikachu jacket and pants, as well as an attire set that replicates the clothing of Misty; both of them are very, very nice (especially the latter for fans of her) even at the prices they go for. The interests in these could be considered niche, but some fans will conceivably go for them, whether young or old.

With an amazing anniversary, the merchandise has to be amazing as well, and even if these are just the first taste, then they cement the deal for the anniversary. They are all special, and they are all "beckoning" for the fans who can and will get their hands of them in order to celebrate a quarter-century of a phenomenal game franchise. It may be that even after the specials have "beckoned" and the fans have gotten them, Pokémon will always remain a "beckoning" thing, and the above specials appear to be quite indicative of that.

One year ago: The State of Nominations, Part 3

Two years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Cup

Three years ago: Lugia Raid Burnout

Four years ago: Ice Is Nice with Pokémon

Pokémon Go Regional Event Rollup

OK, so Pokémon Go is well-known for all of its events, which I regularly recap or roll up, or even cover specially, as with one year ago today (see below). Lately, though, it has also been known to hold certain events for specific regions of the world, where Trainers in that region can participate in them. Since there have been quite a few of these events and since I roll up or cover global events, I thought it would be as well to roll up the regional events for an added perspective to how Pokémon Go ticks around the world.

In Latin America and the Caribbean (though mostly the former), there is a celebration called the "Day of the Dead" that coincidentally takes place just after Halloween (November 1, next to October 31), and last year, this was celebrated for Trainers in those regions. The celebration took place on November 1 and 2 for them. Some of the featured Pokémon - appearing in the wild and by Incense - were notably Ghost and Dark types, which bridged the Halloween celebration quite nicely. The Cubone family became a particular highlight as well, including in Field Research for its evolved form Marowak (both Kanto and Alolan) also featuring a couple of other Pokémon. The Poffin took on the symbolic role for pan de muerto, a popular treat of this celebration, and it became available in the GBL as well as a box in the Shop. All the elements of the event nicely complemented the heart of the celebration.

Still in Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a celebration called Carnival that is held in the times before Easter, and in a typical year, this tends to be very festive. Due to current conditions, it is much less festive and more restricted, so Pokémon Go stepped in to make things a bit more festive even with the restrictions. For two days on February 18 and 19, Trainers in the region had the opportunity to celebrate with 3-hour Incense and a Shop box featuring them, as well as a host of supporting items, to catch a number of festive Pokémon - among them Jigglypuff, Munna, and even Hitmontop - that appeared more frequently by Incense. They even had the chance for two Raid Hours on both days, one for Kricketot and one for Emolga. Carnival is known for being very celebratory, but with Pokémon Go in the mix, it seemed like it upped the ante, both for now and later on if (when) the real event can be very festive again.

Meanwhile, India has its "Festival of Colors", also known as Holi, and true to its name, its a colorful celebration of the good in life. To celebrate this unique festival, Trainers in the region on March 28 (yesterday) were able to partake in the celebration by being able to catch a number of Pokémon of all colors, attracted to Incense. Complementing this, a Timed Research set was included with very colorful rewards in addition to two Shop boxes, one paid and one free, with supporting items. Further support was given by a Wayfarer challenge to encourage Trainers to approve new PokéStops and consequently affect the celebration. For those not in India, two shirt items became available for all Trainers to show their spirit of the celebration despite not being in the location. But then again, the fame of this celebration around the world deserves at least some recognition, including by way of Pokémon Go.

The myriad of events in Pokémon Go are nothing new for any Trainer. But the events above may be a novelty, especially for those not living in the regions that become the location for the events. The hope is that other Trainers may be able to experience their own regional events as those who experienced the above, if not in lieu of participating in the above by coming directly. That would mean more festivity for them when the time is appropriate and something new for all to discover.

One year ago: Pokémon Go: A Drive to Investigate

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/29/2019

Three years ago: Takara Tomy Pokémon MonCollé Friends: Pikachu

Four years ago: Pokémon Mechanical Fan

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/28/2021

This month has actually been a busy month for me, leaving me with less time to play Pokémon Go than usual. By the same token, this month has been a moderately busy month for Pokémon Go, with a few exciting events in it. Even with less time to play, I've been able to experience the events of this month, and they're a fascinating blend of things that need to be summarized in this month's rollup, which is a good thing for today. 

This month kicks off the Season of Legends, which is something I've noted early on in the month. It would be wise to have something to build up on the start of that, and that was what the "Searching for Legends" event was for, which took place in the second week of the month after things had settled in. The star of this event was the Nosepass family, who now could be Shiny. Accompanying the species family was a host of Pokémon of the Rock, Ground, and Steel types in all the usual channels, being in the wild, Research, Raids, and Eggs, plus a Timed Research set. It was said that Nosepass (and perhaps its evolved form Probopass as well) can help "sniff out" Legendary Pokémon, and I'll believe that, even if it may not be Shiny, which was my case and for a few others.

After "earthing oneself", so to speak, with the previous event, it was then time to "Charge Up" with Electric-type Pokémon, which became the next event in the third week. It's the first of its kind, in line with similar type events of Psychic Spectacular and Bug Out. Along with a menagerie of Electric-type Pokémon in the usual channels and a Timed Research set, this event also marked the entry of Mega Manectric and the Tynamo species family. A good part of the event, besides being devoted to Electric types, is also devoted to Mega Evolution, with new Field Research tasks could be completed to earn Mega Energy, and thus the Mega Raid Hour becomes an appropriate complement. For a first-time event, it promised great things, which should be even greater the next time around.

As the last event of this month in the last week and a half, there is the "Weather Week". This event celebrates the wonders of weather, with Pokémon that correspond to Rainy weather for the first half of the event, then to the Windy weather for the second half. Accordingly, the Timed Research is paced for the inclusion of tasks oriented to the kinds of Pokémon included during each phase of the event. For those who actually experience Rainy weather, they can expect to encounter Castform in its Rainy form, which can now be Shiny, marking its debut. This event is slated to conclude in a day, also wrapping up this month.

Meanwhile, there were a couple of extra and complementary events. The first was an Incense Day on the last day of "Searching for Legends", featuring both Psychic and Steel types as well as Beldum, which made this resemble a "Community Day adjunct" of sorts. The second was yesterday and today, with a Special Raid Weekend featuring Rayquaza, as the most emblematic Legendary Pokémon of the Windy weather, featuring two of the three types that are boosted in this weather. Both of these provided different challenges and yet also made up for existing ones, whether of this event or others.

Looking at the events, the businesses of the month in Pokémon Go and in particular those events were to explore, expand, and experience, however much time anyone has to devote to doing so. In that way, they do seem to mark a good start to the Season of Legends, which will continue its tribulations soon enough. I'm sure I and the other Trainers will be able to deal with those, particularly in my case as well.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/28/2020

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (and Priorities), 3/28/2019

Three years ago: More on Ali (and the Early Manga)

Four years ago: A Pikachu Wall Hanging

Quickies: Finding Pokémon in Trees

For the longest time since everything started happening, I've been unable to find animals in trees, at least those that actually inhabit them most of the time and not those that occasionally go up into them from the ground. That changed recently when I and another person found a squirrel (think Sentret) in a tree close to the place where I live. It is reminiscent of certain ones I've encountered in the past, both near and far. It is also reminiscent of a particular mechanism in an older Pokémon main series game where one can hit certain trees in order to knock down a Pokémon for an encounter and possible capture. The mechanism also affirms that the Pokémon of concern dwell in the trees, as places where one may find them even without knowingly using the mechanism.

The mechanism makes use of the move Headbutt, becoming a "field move" in this regard. There's a certain uniqueness in this usage of the move, which would ordinarily be limited to certain circumstances in battles. One of the Pokémon that could be encountered and then obtained in this regard is Heracross, which confirms its status as a tree dweller, being that it is evidently a bug of the truest kind. The trees are similarly a home for the "bug" that is Pineco, which bears greater resemblance to plant parts than it is to a bug, yet the fact that they are begotten in the same way by knocking them down from a tree affirms that they are very much a part of those trees. Neither are really like the "Sentret" that may be seen occasionally in them, but at least they are identifiable as creatures that are supported by the presence of trees.

By now, the "Sentret" may either still be in the tree or have departed for other trees and/or other food sources, with no guarantee that it is the same one if it were to return, provided that there are or may be others. But it's still nice to know that I can still encounter certain creatures from time to time amongst the trees that are present. It will likely take a bit of time before that happens (and maybe a bit of luck as well) but that will become a sight to behold. Similarly, the old mechanism from an older Pokémon game of the main series is something unto itself with the way that it works, with appropriate species for the occasion. Though I don't hope to encounter a beetle ("Heracross") or a pinecone ("Pineco"), the "Sentret" is at least the primary expectation, whenever that one may reappear.

One year ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Ingress and Out

Three years ago: Pokémon in Common Terms

Four years ago: Cosplay: CLAS:H/ICGP 2017, Regional Edition

Be the Winning Team

There's something I resonate with on a Pokémon level, and that is for certain as I am a Pokémon fan. However, I don't want to approach it too blatantly simply because it doesn't seem right for me to do so. Instead, I'll approach it somewhat more indirectly. It might turn out to be somewhat more cryptic, but that may be fine as I've made posts with such a quality in the past. So here I go.

Each day, there are decisions to be made. For a Pokémon Trainer, these decisions might involve which Pokémon to train with, which Pokémon to send out in battle, what to do, and even where to go. Some of these decisions are very important, while others are more trivial. Yet it seems clear that it is hard or even impossible for one to escape this process. The process is vital for one to succeed, particularly for Trainers to win.

And win they do. In order to do just that, they have to have a winning team of Pokémon, one that can stand up to a variety of other Pokémon teams. It couldn't hurt as well to be part of a group of Trainers who also possess a team of similar quality, with whom they can achieve other successes in different ways. The challenge then becomes finding Pokémon and/or people who will join or to join with, and that's a significant one.

Once the joining is assured, the resulting team might be considered the one of its kind, or in other words "the one and only". Sure, it may be that the team is replicable as in the case of a "meta", but the original remains true to its essence and the spirit is also hard to replicate. In the case of a team of people, this is pretty much always the case. It may take a certain amount of camaraderie to conceive and maintain the spirit.

Perhaps the most important part is that a team that really triumphs really wins. For a team of Pokémon from one Trainer, the individual Pokémon would be triumphant over those of the opposing team. For a team of individual people, it would be the triumphant contributions of the individuals that make up the win of the team. In effect, the contributions of everyone in the team adds up to the effort of the team as a whole.

It's rather evident why I resonate with the thing on a Pokémon level, and that's because all of its key aspects may be construed to pertain to Pokémon, and in very good and relatable ways to people and Pokémon alike. Those who achieve this might be considered advanced or even sophisticated, but in the end, no matter how they are, if they can triumph as a team, then they stand to be victorious.

One year ago: Looking for Good News

Two years ago: Nominating PokéStops

Three years ago: Envisioning More Local VGC Tournaments

Four years ago: Slowpoke Moments

The State of Nominations, Part 9

With two months having gone by, it is now fit once again to update the status of my PokéStop nominations in Pokémon Go and how those are going. One big news I have on this front is that I've made exactly 100 distinct nominations, which is indeed a milestone. It doesn't really merit too much of a celebration of some kind, but this big and round number is enough to put many things in perspective, and that seems like a good approach for this edition of the post.

It always helps to start off with the hard numbers. With 5 more approved nominations, my total of approved nominations is 53. The number of superseded (11) and rejected (26) nominations did not change from last time, though for the latter, one rejected nomination became approved and that was replaced by another rejected nomination. The number of currently active (unresolved) nominations I have is 8 plus 2 renominations. Only two of those are one year or older, which means that the process has kept up to date.

Being that I have 100 distinct nominations, it's easy to see that I have a 53% success rate, though if the superseded nominations are counted as one-half, then my success rate is closer to 60%. That figure can only go up with more approved nominations and especially renominations that are very much deserving. While I'm not about to compare myself to other nominators, I'd say that I've been able to contribute greatly or at least as much as anyone, and the benefits should be able to be perceived right away. That's something that drives me to keep nominating, for my own benefit and that of others.

At this point, I may also want to consider nominating a few places that are too close to current PokéStops but are themselves viable candidates, which I consider as "backup" places. With the spate of wild edits and removals of existing PokéStops these days, it may be viable to have a few places that can serve to supplement existing PokéStops in case they get moved around and/or removed. While that shouldn't happen unless for a very good reason, it might help to play it safe and provide a few extra accepted nominations that may become PokéStops later on under good circumstances, and only those good circumstances.

Meanwhile, for the prospect of good or better nominations, some kind of "visibility aid" on a mapping service should be able to help in this regard. I'm rather occupied to deal with this business, but others may be able to assist to create these "visibility aids", even the mapping service itself. Once the "visibility aid" is in place, then I can do what I do best, which is to nominate the places and then hopefully have them be approved so that they become new PokéStops and markers of remarkable places.

In another two months, there may be quite a few more changes past the personal milestone of 100 distinct nominations, including to the world of Pokémon Go itself with all the approved nominations that become PokéStops. For now, the efforts continue with places that can be found, potential backup places, and maybe some helpful visual aid. They're all foundations to keep my nomination efforts going.

One year ago: The Difficulty of Sickness

Two years ago: All I Learned with Pokémon

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/25/2018

Four years ago: "Grow Old Along with Me..."

The Future of WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

I've discussed some of my favorite Pokémon stickers on WhatsApp, and now I want to take the time to discuss possible changes to them, something I noted previously and similar to an old post about stickers. Being that the sticker infrastructure of WhatsApp is "open", in a way, it has plenty of room to allow for changes. And yet, some of those changes are more plausible than others, so they can be implemented more favorably. The fact remains that any and all of these changes can affect stickers, especially Pokémon stickers, which becomes the primary point of this discussion.

First up, there is the possibility of animated stickers. I stated initially that the stickers don't support animation, but some time ago, that changed, and animation became supported. That opens the door for Pokémon stickers to be animated as well, including derivations from certain other sources. Yet there may just be room for original Pokémon animations, given the openness of everything. However, there's a potential for this to be misused by putting up a very flickery sticker that is hard on the eyes, which has happened without relation to Pokémon; the hope is that this will never be, and that animations in WhatsApp stickers will be a great thing even for Pokémon stickers.

Another possibility for WhatsApp stickers is more expansible multi-part stickers. There is a certain Pokémon sticker that was adapted as a multi-part sticker, and it involves a coconut tree dragon. That works out in WhatsApp as well, though in WhatsApp it is possible to send multiple stickers and have them be arranged in a 2 by 2 box; a multi-part sticker in WhatsApp could totally take advantage of this, though the sending sequence and procedure should be established in order for the sticker to come out right and as intended. Further multi-part stickers can and should take advantage of this framework for as long as that remains the case as a distinct part of WhatsApp.

The state of affairs as above and the general openness of it all does bring up an important point, in that Pokémon stickers on WhatsApp can be very unique and original, combining new images, ideas, expressions, views, and so on and so forth. This uniqueness and originality is something to be sensibly maintained, and new Pokémon stickers can be created for WhatsApp that reflect different possibilities, rather than just being an adaptation of an existing sticker from somewhere. These different possibilities can then be potentially put into competition against one another, and these could be a precursor to a new set of official stickers. Thus, the creativity gives way to novelty.

Much is to be said about the implementation of stickers in the messaging platform that is WhatsApp. For most intents and purposes, it can be considered to be "open", and that openness allows for a lot of things, including Pokémon stickers of both the old style and new style. In the future, there are likely to be more new and creative styles of Pokémon stickers on WhatsApp, of which I'm certain that some might be able to be incorporated in the existing corpora of Pokémon stickers wherever.

One year ago: Virulent Impacts

Two years ago: From One Path to Another

Three years ago: (Again a) Local Ex-Raid, 3/24/2018

Four years ago: The Many Forms of Pikachu in Shuffle

My Favorite WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

I discussed about Pokémon stickers on WhatsApp nearly a year ago, and since then, there have been quite a bit of changes, which might deserve discussion in a post all their own. As much as things change, however, there are a few Pokémon stickers that I go back to time and again, and these have become some of my favorite Pokémon stickers on the messaging platform. They were, of course, obtained from others by making them a "favorite", which is a symbolic act in a way. But then, they're all indeed as such. Only some are indeed more so than others, and here are some of those:

1. Laughing Mew - This sticker is fairly cute. The image for the sticker shows Mew with its hands close to its mouth and eyes closed, which is typically construed as its "laughing" pose; those who have played the first PokéPark game will likely recognize this. Given its light-hearted nature, this becomes one of my go-to stickers for when a pleasant response is demanded, which is sometimes the case.

2. Scrafty and Toxicroak - These two Pokémon have become quite inseparable in some cases, sometimes even in Pokémon Go, almost like partners in crime. As they appear in this sticker, Scrafty is giving Toxicroak a shrug, perhaps in response to an embarrassing matter. Accordingly, the sticker seems fit for such situations or ones that are felt as such. The image is rather comical and I'm entertained by it, though the opportunities of usage may be few. It still remains a favorite.

3. Giggling Shiny Riolu - The circumstances of this sticker is much the same as for Laughing Mew above, but the image is different. It shows a Shiny Riolu with its characteristic yellow color, and not only is it giggling, it's also grinning, which increases the sentiment. The accompanying textual caption also affirms the intent, and it's definitely light-hearted as such. It makes a nice substitute if not complement to Laughing Mew.

4. Munchlax Eating Popcorn - Munchlax is the "glutton" complement and predecessor to the always-sleepy Snorlax, and true to that, this sticker features Munchlax excitedly eating (or about to eat) popcorn. Such a gesture is also indicative that one is paying attention to something that is unfolding, and the sticker befits that situation. Yet its light-hearted quality means that not all situations will be appropriate for this sticker; still, I like it and it's nice to have it for when the proper situation comes up.

5. Bulbasaur with a Thumbs-Up - It's hard to separate WhatsApp as a messaging platform from the greater realm of social media, and by the same token, it's hard to separate not giving a "like" when the situation demands it. Here, Bulbasaur does so by forming a thumbs-up with one of its vines. It's one of a few I have with this message, but of all of them, this is the one I consider the most unique.

Most of the ones above do seem somewhat light-hearted, and that's definitely part of the reason for me making them a "favorite". Along with that, they also communicate much more than what they show. Because of the way stickers are in WhatsApp, there is no guarantee that anyone else other than I and my fellows will have encountered these stickers, but I'm sure that if the possibility arises, others might just make them as "favorites" for the same reasons as I've detailed above, and at that point, it would be fair to say that these are truly our "favorites" simply for that reason.

One year ago: Continue Our Videogame Innate Desires

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/23/2019

Three years ago: The "Generals"

Four years ago: Pokémon Food... For Us

Pokémon SM KFC CKM Toy: Rockruff & Premier Ball

In January, I obtained one of the toys from a series of Pokémon fast food toys, thanks to fortuitous circumstances and information. I also noted that I do have a small desire to obtain some of the other members of the series of toys. Two months later, that was finally realized, and I obtained one of them. Quite fortunately, it's the Rockruff & Premier Ball toy, one of the ones I desired. I got this one yesterday (unlike last time when I obtained and reviewed the toy on the same day) and I've had a bit more time to experience the toy, enough to make this review today.

Since the time I got the previous toy, the promotion for them had expanded. They returned to the "kids meal" section, but they also came with an added promotion for the local TCG, with the peak of the promotion timed with this year's big anniversary of Pokémon. As such, it becomes clear that by now the "hoarders" have gotten ahold of the promotional cards; a friend who ordered the meal a few days ago evidently didn't get the card even though the toys were still available. In fact, yesterday was the last day of availability for the toys, so I was fortunate to be able to get one of the last offerings the other day.

As with the previous toy, I obtained this one by way of random selection (in both cases, being ordered from home, as it wouldn't have been possible to go out anyway). A friend notes that I'm at the mercy of the selection process, but since I'm not going for all the toys - it would have been implausible, not to mention costly to do so - I'm fine with whatever I got. Still, it seems that my experience with this toy hasn't been too fruitful, like the other toy. This one has Rockruff sitting on a coaster, which is spring-loaded onto a launcher inside the ball and released with the push of a lever... or at least that's how it's supposed to go, as it seems that the one I got has a flawed mechanism. Since I've played with it, I've only been able to launch Rockruff twice, and one of those times was not as dictated by the instructions. This toy seems to be set as another Pokémon showpiece, but that seems to be just as well.

As the last day to get the toys was yesterday, the window of opportunity to get these toys is now closed. But the window of opportunity to enjoy them have only just been opened, even it may not be as intended. Likewise, I'm happy with the Pokémon toy, pleased that it was one of the ones I desired, and satisfied that another member of the series of toys made it into my collection. These toys should remain very much appreciable for those who have gotten ahold of them, including me and some of my Pokémon fellows.

One year ago: Celebi @ Everywhere

Two years ago: At the Same Time

Three years ago: Shiny Lugia Obsessions

Four years ago: A Passion for Red

Let's Talk About Waiting Games

Me: Did you know? There is a game that's not really a game.

Ash: What game would that be?

Me: That would be the "waiting game". It means you don't do anything - at least for just a brief amount of time - so then you can do something effective after that time.

Ash: Oh, like in a Pokémon battle where I have Pikachu dodge attacks, and then when the time is right, it does a Thunderbolt for a direct hit?

Pikachu: Pika! ["Attack!"]

Me: Yeah, a little like that. In fact, you could say it's like that for a Pokémon effort I'm involved in. Sometimes you have to attack right away with what works for that, but other times you have to wait a bit before doing so.

Ash: I get it. Sometimes the obvious move isn't the best move at that moment. You have to try to find the right moment, then you go in for the attack. That's when you take control.

Me: Indeed. But you do seem to have to be patient for that.

Ash: That is part of the game, as you say.

Me: Sure enough. Speaking of moments, you've had your waiting game moments, but not in battle. They were in the Pokémon Center, waiting for one of your Pokémon to heal.

Ash: Those times were tense. You could say that it was all I had in mind then. It was pretty much a waiting game.

Pikachu: Pi, pika chu. ["Yeah, really."]

Me: If I were in your shoes - and in a way I am - I would've done the exact same thing, so I feel for you. 

Ash: Trust me, you don't want to be in these moments too often. That waiting game is hard.

Me: No, I suppose I don't want to, and I'm sure you're right.

Ash: By the way, when are you going to "drop by" Galar? It's been some time since we knew about it, you know.

Me: I don't know. Before I can "drop by" Galar, I have to resolve a few other businesses, and I can't do anything about that until those are done. It's a "waiting game" that for now has to continue.

Ash: I think I understand. Whatever you do, make sure you try to get the complete package so you can have fun everywhere in there. I can vouch for it.

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["I can too!"]

Ash: Maybe after that you'd like to do other things?

Me: Oh, I'd love to take pictures of Pokémon, or maybe serve up things in a café, or maybe consider other regions as well.

Ash: I think that would be neat, but maybe those are other "waiting games".

Me: I have no doubt. I for one can't wait to send you to events and conventions again for the purpose of fulfilling our shared goals.

Ash: But is there really one right now? If there is, would you feel comfortable doing that for me as much as it is convenient for both of us? Think about that.

Me: Maybe, maybe not. Even if there were, with the state of things so far, I'm still quite nervous. I think we have to play the "waiting game" for somewhat longer.

Pikachu: Pi pika. Pika pika! ["That's OK. We can wait!"]

Ash: Don't rush it. I'll go when you can be sure it's safe for me to go. I'll still do whatever you'll need me to do. Once things are clear, then the waiting game is over.

Me: You are absolutely right. It seems that when that happens, life can go on as intended, for my own objectives and - I'm sure of it - for much of yours as well.

Ash: And if it's possible, we'll try to be there for you too.

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yes!"]

Me: Game on.

One year ago: Tournament: Raid Group Toxic Cup

Two years ago: Gender Appeal

Three years ago: At a Loss... in Lavender Tower

Four years ago: GSC Nendoroid Series #425: Red

All I Can Do, with You

Sometimes I wonder if it'll ever end

You get so mad at me when I go out with my friends

Sometimes you're crazy then you wonder why

I'm such a baby, yeah, the ______ make me cry

Well there's nothing I can do

I only wanna be with you

You can call me your fool

I only wanna be with you...

-- "Only Wanna Be with You"

From the Post Malone concert, the song that I keep addressing is this song. In relation to Post Malone, this song is subtitled as the "P25 Version" because it was specially sung or commissioned as such for this big anniversary. Yet behind the special quality of this song for this very anniversary, there's a certain background to it, especially personally for me. And all of that needs to be discussed somehow.

This song is actually a cover: the original song is by Hootie and the Blowfish. That is one reason why I didn't include the artist in the lyric excerpt above as I usually do for songs. Another reason, as well as for why the excerpt above also includes a "blank", is that the original and the cover differ in lyrics in that part - the original has "dolphins" while the cover has "cowboys", both of which can be construed as references to sports teams particular to either artist. If it were me personally, because of my local area, I would put "lions"... but that's already tending to a digression.

I first heard this song (the original) on the radio years and years ago, though I never cared too much for it, nor did I ever identify its artist or title. It was only because of the Post Malone concert (and of course, the Pokémon anniversary) that I finally identified the title and then subsequently the artists for the purpose of becoming acquainted with this song. As for the original artist - being the above band - the vocalists have given the approval for this cover, which includes Pokémon twists, the most notable being the inclusion of the intro melody of the Cianwood City theme.

The song was first released in 1994, years before Pokémon came into being. Even so, it is entirely possible that some Pokémon fans might have been doing something with Pokémon while listening to the song, likely playing one of the games. Others have also construed the song's lyrics as being emblematic of the relationship between Ash and Pikachu, and I won't doubt that - the dynamics of the relationship are sometimes like the lyrics suggest, being a little wild, but the two remain a dynamic pair no matter what. I'm sure this is exactly what the others realize as well.

Post Malone cannot really take full credit for this song, but the song itself is a nice idea for the big Pokémon anniversary, and the twists included for just that cements the idea. In the end, it seems that many Pokémon fans, including me, want to be with Pokémon for as long as possible if not always, and that's all they can do. Whether one is a fool or not for that may just remain in the eyes of the beholder.

One year ago: Sad Music from Kanto

Two years ago: A Girl and a Fan

Three years ago: The Place to Be

Four years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki Japan 7 - Wanderlust!

The Post Malone P25 Virtual Concert

Well, this is yet another topic that I need to get out of the way fast since it's also long overdue. For the big Pokémon anniversary this year, part of it is due to be celebrated with music, as detailed the very month before. One of the participating artists in this campaign of music is Post Malone, and last month, timed with the onset of the anniversary, a virtual concert featuring the artist was held. That concert is somewhat fascinating to say the least, so I feel the need to write about it and highlight some of its finer points.

For those who missed the concert on its premiere, it can still be seen by way of this YouTube link. It's not an overly long concert - only 13 minutes in all - but it's enjoyable nonetheless. As it is a virtual concert, there is no audience to speak of beyond those who are watching like me and others, but the initial setting for it does contain a sizable emulated audience. In this concert, Post Malone appears in 3D form to blend in with the setting, which also does include certain Pokémon as the overarching theme of the concert.

I say "initial setting" because the concert takes the artist beyond the setting of a stage with an audience and throughout various places in the world of Pokémon. Naturally, the Pokémon that appear in those places also join in the fun as the "audience" to the concert. As for the artist, he sang a few of the songs he is somewhat well-known for, as well as the song that I also noted earlier as being purposefully tied in for this anniversary, and that one deserves its own discussion later on - as in, in another post.

Overall, the concert is pleasant, and the Pokémon setting sets the mood for the big anniversary, if that song alone doesn't already fit the bill. Some people have noted that Post Malone is a bit of a dicey choice for representation of something as universal as Pokémon based on his background, but his being practically "commissioned" for the song and the concert should mean that at least some good is seen for him, especially how he gets along (or has gotten along) with Pokémon all these years.

A virtual concert still makes sense not only because of what is happening in the world today, but also to be able to integrate the Pokémon connections further, and this virtual concert has definitely done that along with connections to a unique artist based on the songs that he sings. The big anniversary is still relevant even now with more to come for it, especially for the music campaign, and this concert is as good as any to be enjoyed and to mark an especially momentous occasion for Pokémon.

One year ago: No Sight, No Mind

Two years ago: Fashion Statements by Pokémon

Three years ago: PokéTerminology

Four years ago: Cosplay Hair

New Pokémon Go Bonus Hour Experiments

Every so often, Pokémon Go conducts experiments of new events or sub-features of events. Some of these have the potential to (and do) become mainstays after the experiment, such as Raid Hour and Spotlight Hour. This month, Pokémon Go is doing or has done a few more experiments, all of them on Thursdays and of which one takes place today. There's some importance in exploring and discussing them, and that becomes the objective of this post.

Two weeks ago, the first experiment was conducted in the form of "Go Rocket Hour". During that time, Team Go Rocket balloons became present at a very quick interval: 12 minutes, the fastest yet. In certain previous events, the interval had been reduced to 2 hours from 6 hours, but because this obviously has to take place within the hour, it had to be within minutes instead. For those confined to certain places and are looking for Mysterious Components to make a Rocket Radar, this could be considered to be very helpful, though I've heard from others that they'd like to see them at PokéStops as well since they have greater mobility. It may be that the experiment has to try this the next time around, but even with just balloons, this experiment already has value and can stand to be repeated, perhaps with, say, a quicker turnaround of 10 minutes. In general, the idea can be extended to certain limited events as well, not necessarily just an hour's worth of time.

The very next week, there was a "Mega Candy Hour". In this experiment, the bonus Candy gained by catching Pokémon of the same type as a Mega-Evolved Pokémon was increased. From what I can discern, however, the response to this experiment seems to be lukewarm tending to cold, either because others did not have a Mega-Evolved Pokémon at the ready or are unwilling to spend hard-earned Mega Energy for a bonus period of only one hour, and I can understand. The "bonus" can seem to be more easily made up when it becomes convenient to do so, particularly within the span of time of a Mega Evolved Pokémon. This "bonus" is also likely not to survive with a length of one hour, in similar vein to the "Mystery Bonus Hours" of the past (now not so much a "mystery" and integrated with Spotlight Hour), but could stand to be implemented as part of certain events, perhaps Go Fest or even Community Day. It seems to be only lucrative when it is worth it.

Then there was today, with the experiment for today being "Mega Raid Hour". As can be expected, this experiment marries the Raid Hour framework with level 5 Mega Raids, with available Gyms hosting them instead of level 5 Legendary Raids. I participated in this, and I can say that the experiment may help those who are seeking Mega Energy. This may be good for encouraging Trainers to raid the level 5 Mega Raids, though one downside that I can see is that some Trainers may not want to raid certain Pokémon when they appear, especially if a mixture of them is involved, as with times that multiple Legendary Pokémon in raids appear. Although helpful, I can see this being repeated only every two weeks instead of the weekly Raid Hour, depending on the response of others. It still has a certain value and worthy of further editions with improvements like limiting the possible Pokémon involved to just one or two, allowing for a more targeted approach.

All of these experiments have proven their worth - or not - and at least some of these may be reimplemented as they are or with modification for inclusion in other events or to make them more viable. The viability of later editions seems to be the thing that Trainers are most expectant about, because by then the experiments can be considered to be a mainstay and something that Trainers of Pokémon Go can count on for their efforts.

One year ago: On Blogging and Microblogging

Two years ago: Character Songs

Three years ago: "You Shall Not Pass" - Hard-to-Access Gyms and PokéStops

Four years ago: Alton : Food :: I : Pokémon

The Sentience of Pokémon

To different people - including both real and imagined - Pokémon can be regarded as amazing beings. They have impressive capabilities that rival or exceed those of the real world. One of those capabilities might very well be "sentience", or their sentient quality. For any being, real or otherwise, this could very well be considered an amazing capability in itself. For the creatures of Pokémon, the capability might deserve further considerations.

Some Pokémon don't appear to be sentient, yet they in fact are. Slowpoke could be considered the "poster child" for this, as in at least one case it is sentient, but it takes a long time for that sentience to be manifested in a response. Then there's Snorlax, which is likely to be found sleeping and seemingly non-sentient, but when awake and hungry, the Pokémon becomes a wholly different matter. The Beldum family is another one that seemingly falls into a gray area, but despite their body of unnatural substance, they appear to be quite sentient. Looks and behaviors are therefore quite deceptive in this regard.

Meanwhile, most Pokémon like Pikachu as the de facto mascot are definitely sentient, showing that they can feel (and then think) for themselves and reciprocate what results from those processes in their actions. Their "language" is sporadic in terms of elements, but it seems comprehensive enough to capture all of their sentiments in expression... though the big question is whether people can capture much of that. At least, most people can capture just enough to affirm the sentience of the creatures.

Remarkably, a select few of the creatures possess the sentience and are apparently able to demonstrate that sentience in a way that people could understand and truly affirm of their sentience. Mewtwo as seen in the movies is a major one in this regard in displaying its full-fledged sentience, by which the people then understand what is going on and can lead to dialectics, however minor.

The creatures of Pokémon remain an imaginary lot for most people of the real world, but they are as real as can be for the people of that world. Yet from what can be discerned about Pokémon, their sentience appears to be as real as can be as well, even if the quality might not make itself immediately evident. By all accounts, that should be considered amazingly impressive for the entire corpus of all of the creatures.

One year ago: There Are Monsters Outside

Two years ago: "Monkey Trio" Keychain Figures

Three years ago: What's Played, What's Not, and What's Next

Four years ago: Pokémon X Food Network ...?

Localized Legendary Pokémon

Of all the different kinds of Pokémon, there is nothing quite like Legendary Pokémon as the representatives of specific regions. More often than not, Legendary Pokémon often identify their respective regions and vice versa. But it may also be supposed that they can also be identified beyond the respective regions of origin and even become a feature of the regions that are outside of their natural confines. This would amount to a "localization" of them.

In a way, this has already been affirmed by a particular case. That case would be of the three Galarian forms of the three Legendary birds of Kanto, as the identified regional or "localized" forms of these Legendary Pokémon. Like other regional forms of other Pokémon, they appear to have completely adapted to the region, yet they maintain a semblance of their original appearance. This is to be expected with the way that regional forms have been identified.

Yet it may be that some legendary Pokémon can exist as they are in different regions even though they are not in their regions of origin. In other words, they become "localized" to the region but not a regional form of that region. This would be the case for the scenario of the second feature film that features the three birds from Kanto and Lugia from Johto in a setting quite detached and distant from their original regions.

The supposition would also have to consider the possibility that there are more Legendary Pokémon of one species than there may be thought, also as per the case of the anime during the Johto saga. This would have to be a necessary precursor as well to the regional forms of the three birds of Kanto as above before they adapted to Galar. As for the process of how this can come about, that may be better reserved for a different discussion.

It's hard not to discount Legendary Pokémon as being regionally representative, in close association to the regions where they hail from. At the same time, natural processes can demand that they adapt or at least settle in different places beyond the regions they are so closely associated to. Given all three conditions above, it may be considered that the dynamics of Legendary Pokémon and their regions can be very complex underneath the surface.

One year ago: Brushing Up on Pokémon Mythology

Two years ago: Cosplay: Neko-Neko

Three years ago: Our Glory of Love

Four years ago: Multilingual Pokémon

A Year of Living Dangerously

Exactly one year ago (see below), I attended a cosplay event or convention that unbeknownst to me would be the last one I could conceivably attend - certainly, with Pokémon in tow - for a long time due to the onset of global conditions. The conditions themselves started to encroach upon my local area just a couple of weeks prior to that point. And after that point, it effectively became a "year of living dangerously" for really everyone but also me in particular. That would seem to be an important point that at this point in time has to be discussed along with the necessary Pokémon connections.

Most of the danger lay in going out, so it's conceivable that at that point, events and conventions fell like dominoes. This included not only cosplay as my own personal Pokémon front but also the tournaments of Pokémon Go as an emerging front as well as those of Pokémon in general. The safeguards are meagerly effective for simple matters but not larger ones as these, so it would be understandable that the danger is greatly amplified in them. The things that seem to pose the least danger included playing and enjoying Pokémon at home, at least after the initial setup is completed.

Fast-forward a year later, and things in my view are at the least still a little dangerous. I've already detailed my views on cosplay a couple of times, and they still continue to apply. It may be that I can still go out a little more frequently (such as for exercise with Pokémon Go) with the meager safeguards applied and that would lessen the danger, but the best practice remains staying wherever one is and not going out too frequently. With such conditions, it may be that the past "year of living dangerously" likely continues into this year, albeit a little less so, and the absolute most safe place still remains the home.

At the least, Pokémon is still present to accompany whomever during these potentially dangerous times, and it's something to be taken advantage of at home and - if possible  outside but with the appropriate safeguards. While it's anyone's guess when and how the danger will subside, I suppose that as I am a fan of Pokémon, some Pokémon things can still be done to a safe extent. And they will have to be the things that keep safe and are to be kept as such as well, in current times when life out there may still be (a little dangerous) and in a future when hopefully things will be safer.

One year ago: Cosplay: IAM COSPLAYCON

Two years ago: The Pokémon Search Bar in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Ash and Pikachu, DJF 2018 Style

Four years ago: A Psyduck Headache

Berry Cuisine

In the world of Pokémon, Berries are an established class of items as well as (the fruits of) full-fledged organisms all to themselves. Their main purpose is to be fed to Pokémon for different purposes such as healing, enhancing, or even just satisfying their bellies. Evidently, they are also edible by people and can satiate them as well. In a way, they can become a cuisine for whomever or whatever is involved.

According to the lore, Berries that are stored in the shell of a Shuckle will, after a few days, convert to Berry Juice. If Berries in their original forms are luscious to any Pokémon, some Pokémon might find this liquid form interesting to be consumed. Also according to lore, Tepig, a starter Pokémon from Unova, likes to eat Berries, particularly those that are roasted. The only problem is that the Pokémon sometimes tend to get over-excited and instead burns the Berries it intends to eat. If that doesn't happen, it may be certain that the Pokémon will enjoy whatever Berry it decides to process in this manner.

Both of the processed forms above might also appeal to certain people, for whom Berries are also edible. If they weren't edible, then the full range of tastes (Sweet, Sour, Spicy, and so on) wouldn't have been able to be established for each individual Berry, and the Berries themselves wouldn't even be consumed on their own - most likely the "tamer" Berries such as Oran and Pecha Berries. Of course, that does leave them open for inclusion in any kind of food that would appeal to people, though given Berries as a Pokémon specificity, there would be a myriad of things specially done with Berries.

For Pokémon, Berries have special characteristics that augment their capabilities; yet besides this fact, they can manifest themselves as something to be just enjoyed. Due to Berries also being edible, at the least people can also partake in the enjoyment. There may not be any manifestations of augmented capabilities conferred by Berries to people, but it seems they would make for fine cuisine just as they do for Pokémon.

(And yes, today is Pi Day, so the cuisine calls for pie... hopefully with quite a bit of Berries in it.)

One year ago: Pokémon Anime Song Remixes?

Two years ago: Profits on the Side

Three years ago: It's Pi Day!

Four years ago: Pokémon and Puzzle Games

More Pokémon Go Quality-of-Life Improvements

Pokémon Go, being a mobile game, benefits greatly from continuous updating, whether it's to add new features or improve upon existing ones. The latter seems to be what the game desperately needs the most, given its sizable history of bugs or things that are off. The good thing is that Niantic does realize at least some things that need to be improved, and they have, through "quality-of-life improvements" that do just that. Recently, there have been a couple more of these, and they're worthy of some discussion along with how they were in the past and some of the ones then.

Back then, I wrote about some of them in the framework of "countermeasures" since at the time activity in Pokémon Go decreased due to what happened in the world. Now, current conditions have only improved modestly, but it's enough to make people active again, especially in Pokémon Go. Accordingly, I'm not discussing about them as countermeasures anymore, but just as updates in general that make things more viable and less demanding in the game to afford some more enjoyment.

Moving forward from then, some became relevant to Mega Evolution, for which I've discussed the "quibbles". In response, Mega Evolution time was extended from 4 to 8 hours, Mega Evolution for a previous Mega-Evolved takes even less Mega Energy from 1/4 down to 1/5, more tasks feature significantly more Mega Energy, one can walk with a Mega-Evolved Buddy to gain Mega Energy, and when Mega Evolution is active, one can earn Candy for Pokémon of the same types (something I mentioned as a Community Day strategy). The "less demanding" quality is evident here.

More recently, one improvement has affected the Go Battle League. I've noted before that it was conceived with walking in mind, but now there has been a change of mind: the GBL will no longer require walking in order to battle, and this applies onwards. As such, one is now free to battle all 5 sets of 5 battles (25 in all) in the GBL any time and anywhere without being constrained to walk in order to battle. Battle fiends will certainly welcome this, as will perhaps Trainers of Level 49 who struggle in competitive battling.

Like Mega Evolution, Candy XL also has its "quibbles"... or mostly had, thanks to a recent update. Trading Pokémon now may reward Candy XL depending on the locations of the traded Pokémon, walking with a Buddy can possibly reward Candy XL, and catching evolved (1 for a stage 1 evolution, 2 for a stage 2 evolution), Legendary (3-6), or Mythical (3-6) Pokémon is now guaranteed to give Candy XL. The chance element is still there, but it has been somewhat reduced, and the most obvious means of obtaining now allow for such. The effort is also still demanding, albeit now less so.

At this point, Pokémon Go has improved overall from what it was before, especially in regard to what was improved above. Improvements are a continual thing for Pokémon Go and mobile games in general, but with the way things have gone in Pokémon Go, they are not only expected but also demanded. It is certain that the features that were added above were already of great benefit; the quality-of-life improvements are then designed to affirm and augment that fact if it isn't already evident.

One year ago: The First Hoenn Saga Japanese Opening Theme

Two years ago: The Poké Ball Classics Merchandise Line

Three years ago: Yes, Even More Pokémon Stickers

Four years ago: Every Day We're Shufflin'

Making the Case for Open-World

With the edition of Pokémon Presents from a couple of weeks ago, the hot topic for Pokémon today would be the "other Sinnoh game", which would be Pokémon Legends: Arceus. As noted, it's an open-world game that is unlike many Pokémon games and much like many popular games today. I call it the "open-world proposal" because of its novelty to Pokémon as a whole, and in fact, the case could be made for it. Based on discussions that I've had and observations that I've made, the case seems legitimate, though there may be a few footnotes.

The Legends game is to be released on the Nintendo Switch, the current and most advanced platform of Nintendo. It's no stranger to a certain open-world game of one other franchise belonging to Nintendo, and that game is phenomenal in its own regard - though I've not played it and am not moved to do so. Yet because of this fact, there's a sense that the Pokémon open-world game has to stand up to the phenomenon of this other open-world game, in a way combining the sensibilities and/or quality of that game with elements of Pokémon that fans like me appreciate; the results have to be utterly just as phenomenal.

At the same time, Nintendo might have to "up the ante" for this game, because although the Switch is a good console, it can and does suffer from performance issues, one of which may have caused one belonging to a Pokémon fellow of mine to burn out its main board and therefore to render it and the saved games on it dead (my fellow doesn't seem to have an online subscription). A better-running Switch might allow existing games as well as this newfangled game to run better as well, and that should make the game as successful as it should be, in addition to its new way of doing things.

Because of that new way of doing things and the potential for this game to dazzle like that other game, some have called for Game Freak to "take their time" in developing this game, even delaying it if at all possible to make sure it is developed well. This comes back to the discussion from what it essentially took for this "proposal" to be put forward, the outsourcing of the actual fourth-generation remakes to another company. By doing so, a lot of pressure has been taken off the table, but at the same time there is still the pressure to make and execute this game as well as it can possibly be.

Evidently, the legitimacy is there. This kind of game is popular nowadays, and even one of them has graced the very console on which many Pokémon games appear. The attempt to make a Pokémon version is laudable, but it also has to avoid the pitfalls of being poorly developed in order for the game to come out strong whether on current editions of the targeted console or perhaps a later edition. The case has been made, the "proposal" has been put forward, and the results will be told by time.

One year ago: Possibility of a "Basic League"?

Two years ago: Beta Testing

Three years ago: Taking the Go Train

Four years ago: Worldly Inspirations for a Small World

Quickies: Surf's Up, Surf's Down

There's a certain capability of certain Pokémon species that I still have some fascination with, and that would be the field usage of the Surf move to go across water. From the perspective inside Pokémon, it is neat that one in theory can exploit this capability of specific Pokémon to get to different places separated by water. The Surf move alludes to both the natural phenomenon of waves and the fact that they can be ridden on, as in by way of a board. It is an intriguing capability if not a bit quirky.

The quirk lies in the fact that practically most Water-type Pokémon can learn the move and then take their Trainers across. For large Pokémon, it would seem to be fine, but for smaller Pokémon, it could prove to be a hassle even if the capability is there. It may be that because of the quirk, the capability is rarely demonstrated except with bigger Pokémon like Lapras that can actually conceivably carry people. As quirky as it may be (being the subject of some funny conjectures), the capability is unique and can't be dismissed.

If I were an actual Trainer, I would likely have to make use of Pokémon that can make use of the capability. The drawback is that I'm not too fond of being over water since I can't swim, so the usage of small Pokémon wouldn't suit me too well, and I'd need Lapras as above or even Wailmer to do so more comfortably. The "surfing challenges" in Alola as actual "surf" venues wouldn't suit me too well either, and I'd take the boat instead. Perhaps some Trainers might share the same sentiments.

It may be that this capability is quirky or becoming less relevant, especially in more current Pokémon adventures. Yet it remains something that is established about Pokémon and their relationships with people. For some people and at certain times, the "Surf" may be up and it may be time to make use of the capability to a full extent; for others and different times, the "Surf" may be down and some other means may be necessary. That's fascinating enough for me, however much the Pokémon capability pertains.

One year ago: The Wonders of the PokéRap and Beyond

Two years ago: Quantity and Quality

Three years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest 2018

Four years ago: Have You Seen My Childhood?

Thundering into the Vortex

Since my raid group (and I as well) have become less focused on PvP - at least for community tournaments like the Silph Arena - these have gone by the wayside for other convenient options like the Go Battle League. But certainly I'm not prevented from discussing them on this blog and discerning things about them. And so the current Silph Arena season continues, this time with a themed cup that might throw competitors for a loop - or rather, into a vortex. That's because the themed cup is titled exactly that: Vortex. It could be a real doozy.

The standard and current stipulations apply, being based on the Great League and no Mega Evolution. For this themed cup, there are quite a few other restrictions, this time directly pertaining to the Pokémon: the Fairy type is disallowed, Legendary Pokémon are not permitted, and the list of banned individual species is even larger than for the previous Labyrinth themed cup (which may also have been called Maze) - 20 species this time in all, and the full list can be seen on the themed cup page.

It seems that this themed cup can be construed as an effort to apply the most restrictions possible to the Great League format. Fairy types are a given ban, since they tend to have powerful attacks - a fact that I can testify, having been on both sides. Legendary Pokémon not being allowed keeps things level and prevents oddities from taking over. Most importantly, the individual species bans prevent those that have become popular meta Pokémon regardless of theme and have been identified as such over time.

Even with restrictions that attempt to cast aside previous meta, there is still a definitive meta for the species that are still involved. There are several key domains of types involved in the meta: Electric, Ice, Dark-Dragon, Fighting, Grass, and Ground, and they go around. Compounds of these with Steel and Water might also stir up key matchups, and they're the ones to look out for. A good team would have to be able to deal with any or all of these domains depending on their presence in a team.

With the Great League having been fleshed out for a considerable amount of time, certain Pokémon have been able to appear time and time again, and the current Silph Arena themed cup appears to try to stem just that. What will then be able to decide how things turn out is how Trainers will choose their team Pokémon to "thunder into the vortex" and make headway against any of the possible remaining Pokémon. At the least, it could be an alternative to making one's headway into PvP in some form.

One year ago: A Taste of the Poison Paradise

Two years ago: Everybody, Polkamon

Three years ago: Action or Strategy?

Four years ago: Thank Heaven for Little Boys

Tags and Tagged Search in Pokémon Go

As part of the Go Beyond update, Pokémon Go implemented a system of Tags, which allow a Trainer to label their Pokémon similar to how the main series games and related tools implement symbolic labeling, but in a less abstract and more free manner. Along with this feature, tags are also implemented in a slightly different way involving how Pokémon are searched for in the storage. It seems that this is a good time to explain both not only because of their interrelation but also to maximize their utility for those who use them.

First, there are the Tags. These are labels consisting of a name and a color (any one of eight), and multiple tags with the same color can be created, whether directly from Pokémon information or from the Tags tab to the left of the Pokémon tab in the storage to access them directly. Individual Pokémon can be tagged immediately from its menu, a group of them can be searched from the storage and then selected and tagged, or the tag itself may be accessed and then Pokémon may be searched for and have the tag applied by way of the "add Pokémon" button. Naturally, Pokémon may also have multiple tags applied to them as one feels they should apply, and the tags themselves are searchable as accessed from the tab, perhaps with the help of the other kind of tagging to be explained. If this feature sounds powerful, it should be, and there's a lot of potential in this system.

Then there is "tagged search" as I call it, which offers a more intuitive way of searching. Accessing the search bar now presents a number of categories that can be applied as "tags" to the search; some of these are search keywords or operators that can be applied by expert searchers simply by typing them in, so part of their purpose is to simplify searching somewhat. Only a handful are presented up front, but more of them can be accessed by tapping "See More", and the list is quite extensive. Doing this also presents one with a list of four recently applied search strings, which should eliminate some of the brunt of copying and pasting as well as aid those with memories that are not as sharp. The traditional method of searching is still applicable and can be used in conjunction, and in this way it is a powerful feature as well.

Thus, the tags allow the Pokémon caught in storage to embody self-created identifiers, while "tagged search" applies familiar search identifiers and more in a new way for searching. The common thread is that they make things a little easier for those who possess numerous Pokémon through their identifiers. In the context of the Go Beyond update by which these features were added, their utility can be very much considered "one step ahead" for Trainers whose future very much depend on all the identifiers that Pokémon may possess.

One year ago: Toxic People and Fans

Two years ago: Interpretative Soundtracks

Three years ago: Father Figure?

Four years ago: Tonight, We Honor the Hero

At (and Beyond) the Beginning

And life is a road that I wanna keep going

Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing

Life is a road, now and forever

Wonderful journey

I'll be there when the world stops turning

I'll be there when the storm is through

In the end I wanna be standing

At the beginning with you

-- "At the Beginning", Richard Marx and Donna Lewis

This post is a bit overdue but still fits a bit, so I've got to get it out of the way. So last month, the big Pokémon anniversary happened, and that's a wonderful thing. That was the same case for the way Pokémon Go celebrated that anniversary by holding the Pokémon Go Tour event. It constitutes an elegant way to hold a throwback to the roots of Pokémon - the beginning, where it all started. Of beginnings, there is this song that also makes them out to be wonderful, literally, and I thought of this song as that happened.

The song is already taken as the feature song to a different kind of animation that can be considered to be worlds away from Pokémon. It is the pop song complement to the musical songs of the animation; it is also a lesser hit song for one of the artists, who is typically well-known for another hit pop song. As is typical with songs of this nature, there's a romantic message about it, perhaps as the start of great times for a person and their significant other for what will likely be quite some time to come.

That same message can be said to apply for a good number of Pokémon fans at this moment after the big anniversary, particularly those who have been with the franchise from the very start, and that of course includes myself. After a quarter-century, the sentiments don't seem to change even if a lot has changed and will continue to change. In a way, it also could encapsulate the feelings between a Trainer and any of their Pokémon, for whom there are many beginnings when the former catches the latter.

And certainly, the Pokémon Go Tour event only makes the sentiments more appropriate in many ways. Now, Pokémon has come very far from its beginnings, but there are or may be still more of them to speak of: new games down the pipeline, new potential fans, and new ways to enjoy this franchise. It is also very hard to deny about everything from where the franchise started, and that's a wonderful beginning to a wonderful journey... hopefully one that will never end, but will always begin somewhere for its fans.

One year ago: Pokémon Conferences?

Two years ago: Add Hope and Tears...

Three years ago: Cultivate or Gather Berries?

Four years ago: Pokémon and Music Games

Outsourcing Pokémon Development

By way of the Pokémon Presents edition just before this year's big anniversary, the long-awaited remakes of the fourth-generation main series games were announced and set for release later this year. Interestingly, these games are also being developed by a company other than Game Freak, meaning that the games are "outsourced", so to speak. I and a friend discussed this outsourcing phenomenon for Pokémon games, in this case the main series games, and what it means for Pokémon and its dazzling array of games; much of the results of that discussion are summarized in this post, along with a few extra thoughts of my own.

Outsourcing the development of Pokémon games is nothing new, of course. The spinoff games are regularly outsourced, with the most famous example being Pokémon Go (which has Niantic as its developer) as the most popular and massive of these spinoff games. It becomes obvious that although Game Freak is the originator of all things Pokémon, they can't do everything - Pokémon is a certain and true priority, but so is stepping out once in a while to try to do other things. And in fact, they have done so occasionally while still working on Pokémon games, which may have affected their work on Pokémon despite being an effort of self-development.

Meanwhile, it seems that development time may be tightening. Those who read my blog might recall my discussion of "industry pressure" with a song from a music group that too was affected by such. That discussion continues to apply, with the implication that reduced time means greater pressure, and "outsourcing" becomes a viable solution for alleviating that pressure. Being that Pokémon is a lot bigger than it was when it started out, it means that the demand is massive (perhaps the driving force behind the "Sinnoh furor"), and that means more pressure; like it or not, Game Freak has to "outsource", and now the case is true for the next main series remakes.

Outsourcing also means that they can focus on the creativity to do something more with Pokémon, like the "open-world proposal" that is Pokémon Legends: Arceus, also part of the "Presents" from the other day. It's been the case that some people regard the ways of the main series games - especially prior to the seventh and eighth generation - as becoming "boring" to put it lightly, and something radical as Legends might turn the tables and pave the success path of Pokémon in the times to come. It can also help them make a more complete game, as in not something that contains seemingly unfinished parts, as the original Sun and Moon seemed to have.

Nowadays, Pokémon is a remarkable thing, and its originators Game Freak have to be just as remarkable in the ways of handling development of this media-mastering franchise. With the "outsourcing" of the fourth-generation remakes, the demands of the masses of fans can be satiated, at least temporarily, while they come up with new concepts such as Legends to satiate further the demands of the masses. Both of these will take time - hopefully time that is unpressured - but at the least Game Freak may have already found a way to "buy time" for Pokémon fans to have a grander time.

One year ago: Cosplay: Robotto no Sekai + SUCOFEST 2020

Two years ago: The Marketing of Expectations

Three years ago: How Many to a Raid?

Four years ago: To Be Continued... maimai ORANGE (PLUS)

Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/6/2021

OK, well, Pokémon Go Community Day is once again early in the month. And that may or may not mean much of anything. But a common thread among many editions of Community Day is that there's some significance with the featured Pokémon species of each. Such remains true with this month's edition, for which the featured species might have Trainers seeing red not because of anger, but in the spirit of bravery. True to that, the Pokémon is highly appropriate.

For this month, the featured Pokémon for this month's Community Day is the venerable Fletchling. It is the first Pokémon of the sixth generation (and from the Kalos region) to be featured in a Community Day in Pokémon Go. It also becomes the debut for its family's Shiny forms, unlike for the past couple of months with an existing-but-not-common Shiny form. For its final evolved version of Talonflame, it gains the Fast move of Incinerate, befitting its Fire type and fiery nature. Talonflame is not exceptionally strong CP-wise, but is exceptionally usable in some different cases, and the STAB framework provided with the special move makes it more so.

The regular bonus this time around is tripled XP for captures, which may be an incentive to just capture as many Fletchling as possible and may befit those who like to collect XP, especially to go up levels. As appropriate for current times, the plethora of incentives regarding Community Day remain the same even today, with extended Incense, snapshots, and so on and so forth, though there is no Timed Research, most likely because the species family is a normal Pokémon species family. The paid Special Research titled "The Bravest Bird" returns to its normal purchase paradigm, but that's not too much a problem; its tale of the characteristics of the Fletching family should inspire quite a bit of bravery itself.

Much like last month, I ended up spending time with a close friend and the lost-but-now-found friend to capture the Fletchling, but not before I made my own ventures to deal with a few friend-related matters and others to make this Community Day work. That included switching to a Mega Evolved Buddy Pokémon to regain the Mega Energy and obtain additional Fletchling Candy, which is now more important than ever: my Candy stock really balooned thanks to this effort. With 20 Shiny Fletchling in my collection, I evolved the "best of the best" (Shiny, for PvP, general use, and others) to result in a host of Talonflame ready for all sorts of occasions.

If Fletchling and its species family are considered the bravest bird(s) of them all, then they're likely to and should inspire Trainers to be all that they can be, and to see red - the hallmark species color - as a mark of bravery rather than anger. Pokémon Go and its Community Day seems to make a fine venue for that, and the significance remains appropriate, whether it's for this time with current conditions, or the next when the bravest of bravery returns.

One year ago: Tell Me Why, My Brother

Two years ago: (Make Way for a) Local EX Raid, 3/6/2019

Three years ago: Bipeds and Quadrupeds

Four years ago: Ride the Pokémon

Pokémon First-Generation Drink Bottle

Years ago, I purchased a Pikachu bottle with a neat component (a freezable insert) to it. While I haven't had a chance to use it as intended, that is still an intent that I'd like to follow through at some point. In the meantime, I've found another similar piece of merchandise that makes for a fine discussion as well as a good addition to my collection. Like the previous bottle, I hesitated somewhat to purchase it, this time not because of the price but because of the best opportunity to purchase it, and I finally purchased it the other day.

This is likewise another bottle for drinks (water, juice, tea, what-have-you) that features Pokémon. Specifically, it's a first-generation bottle because it has an image of a number of selected first-generation Pokémon. There are actually two versions of this bottle with the same body, being one with a flip-top lid and one without. I chose the former because it fits better with the overall color scheme of the bottle - they're both blue - and it fits my needs. It also has to be admitted that the bottles being sold are a little disheveled, and I attempted to choose the one that was the least disheveled to preserve its overall quality over time.

There are plenty of differences between this bottle and the previous one, apart from the colors (blue versus red). The body of this one seems to be sturdier, which is a nice plus, but the capacity is decreased (450 ml or about 15.2 fl oz), which is a bit of a minus. Instead of a ring and carabiner, the lid has a long hook strap, which might demand different usage methods as well. Though the bottle doesn't advertise it, it actually has a nifty inner feature: a strainer that can hold back chunky objects like ice or other solids, which should refine the drinking experience. Also, while the other bottle was made by a local company with Pokémon licensing, it appears that this bottle was made for the Japanese market before being imported, perhaps along with other Japanese goods, as that is exactly where it was present where I bought it.

Despite being smaller in capacity, this bottle might get some frequent use due to its current state. Whether or not that is the case, the bottle is still a nice piece of Pokémon merchandise, especially now that it's in my hands. Likewise with the other bottle, I am privileged as a fan to be able to have something functional to use while showing off my Pokémon influences.

One year ago: Hope For Problematic Pokémon Fans

Two years ago: A Gold and Silver Postcard

Three years ago: Being a Pokétaku

Four years ago: I'm Swept Away