Road of 25th Anniversary: Shaping for Success

Before leaving off the month, it is wise to tread back the path of that major anniversary of Pokémon this year. Last month, I had covered a few attractively special things for the anniversary that "beckon" those who might be interested in them to obtain them. This month, I'm about to do the same, only with a different approach. The things I'm about to describe may be the building blocks for success, whether real or figurative, and/or may have gained a unique shape as a result of of the success. Therefore, the description for the things is as stated in the title - they involve shapes along with success.

One of those consists of things that can shape the success of young fans and Trainers, in the form of a series of books called "Pokémon Primers". The two books in the series are an ABC and 123 book, obviously designed for the learning of letters and numbers, complete with interactivity in the form of flaps. These books therefore in a way constitute a "study aid" for younger audiences to help them learn the most basic of comprehension skills. At the same time, they're also getting introduced to and learning about the world of Pokémon, which in the eyes of a fan doesn't seem to be half bad.

Then there are shapes that a fan can manipulate, in the manner of a "toy block"... or in fact, some of them are. Mega Construx has a line of Pokémon (figure) construction sets, and the celebratory addition to this lineup is something called Celebration Pikachu, along with a few others with different Pokémon. The line is actually pretty extensive in its coverage of Pokémon objects besides the aforementioned celebratory additions, and this being an official licensed product should please Pokémon fans, tinkerers, or Pokémon fans who are tinkerers to actually assemble and toy around with their favorite Pokémon.

Speaking of figures, Funko has a couple of vinyl figures - from its Pop! line - that are special for the occasion. One of these is a "Silver Metallic Pikachu", which is pretty significant, because this is a true acknowledgment that the 25th anniversary is indeed the silver anniversary. The other figure is just a simple Raichu figure; both are still interesting for their bobblehead geometric appearance, which is novel by all regards. The silver metallic figure is still the significant one for the silver anniversary this year, and it's likely the one that fans ought to be able to get, considering the special anniversary.

Given the above, there is a lot of shaping for success for the big anniversary. Young Trainers are being shaped for their prospective careers in Pokémon and everything else, while older Trainers have something to play with or just purely to exhibit. If last time the special things are "beckoning", the "shaping" of the special things at this point becomes something to behold. It becomes crucial - in a way - to the success of certain groups of Pokémon fans and for exemplifying the success of Pokémon in general, especially its existence after a quarter-century of wonderful times.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 4/30/2020

Two years ago: A New(?) Pikachu Doll

Three years ago: A Sun & Moon Doujin Manga

Four years ago: Cosplay: ComiCamp 2, Day 2

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 4/29/2021

April is or has actually been a busy month insofar as events in Pokémon Go proceed, which is part of the reason why I delayed this post up to today. Another reason would be that one of the events in the month actually started today, and for that, it makes the rollup perfectly timed for today. With all that going on, it's best to just get right on with everything that this month has or had to offer.

First up was the return of the Tricky Pokémon event, also known as the April Fool's event, mostly concentrated on that very day. Like last year, the event had deceptive Pokémon all around, including Ditto with expanded appearances. This year, the novelties are an "Aipom business" brought about by Team Go Rocket having only Shadow Aipom as well as more frequent appearances by them, a Timed Research set dealing with Team Go Rocket, and faster Pokémon switching in the GBL. The last of these was a true shenanigan for those dealing with PvP, but then so was everything for everyone.

Just around the corner in the first full week of the month was the Spring into Spring event, also a return from last year. As with last year, eggs and bunny rabbits are the norm, and the notable debuts this year are Shiny Bunnelby, Chansey family with flower crowns, and Mega Lopunny. The event this year was also helped with frequent Shadow Exeggcute, featured Pokémon in 2 km Eggs, new stickers, a Collection Challenge, and the Egg hatch perks from last year. If spring is a time for renewal, then there was quite a bit of renewal with this year's edition.

In the second week, there was the Rivals Week event. The main highlight of this event is Pokémon species that are often pitted against another, like Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan. For this event, the emphasis was on the debuts of Skrelp and Clauncher, another pair of such Pokémon. To up the rivalry aspect, there was a Global Challenge of raids, with everyone cooperating for a double Stardust bonus while one-upping each other. Naturally, all kinds of the rivalry species became present in the wild, Eggs, raids, and Research - all the usual channels. There was certainly a lot of outdoing within that time.

Following the week of outdoing, there was a week of helping with Sustainability Week. The Pokémon of this week were of types related to the Earth (like Grass types that need to be preserved and Poison types that needed to be cleaned), and of note is Binacle making its debut. Along with Timed Research and Pokémon in the usual channels, the event came along with a social media campaign that promised bonuses if everyone worked together. The main point was still about helping, and some of that did occur in the span of the event, in and out of the Pokémon Go realm.

Along with the above, there was a new kind of event: Friendship Day, which I hinted some days ago - in fact, on the day of - relation to its main theme. This new event featured Grass-type Pokémon with major perks, which were a Collection Challenge, increased Lucky Pokémon chance, increased trade distance, triple Stardust, and extended Incense and Lure Modules, the last of these being familiar to those regularly experiencing Community Day, which was why I stated it was a partial model. Like Community Day, this may also prove to be capable of being remodeled with future iterations, offering something new each time.

Finally, there is the event that started today, which is the New Pokémon Snap Celebration - obviously intended for the new Pokémon game due to launch... tomorrow, which should be wonderful. The wonder of the game is brought into the Pokémon Go realm with the characteristic Pokémon, Field and Timed Research with focus on snapshots, and Shiny Smeargle with the Pokémon itself appearing in more photobombs throughout the days of the event, which will last until Sunday. This may be considered something to tide one over while waiting for the game with renewed photography spirit.

So many events were or are on the agenda in Pokémon Go for this month that it was easy for one to lose oneself in the Pokémon Go realm with everything that were or are on offer. Still, one could also find oneself with a variety of Pokémon surprises, both unexpected and expected, especially with some of the events having proven their worth from last year. They all seem to be worth it for a Pokémon fan today, regardless.

One year ago: The State of Cosplay

Two years ago: Cosplay Team Projects, Revisited

Three years ago: Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 13

Four years ago: Cosplay: ComiCamp 2, Day 1

The Mysticism of Pokémon in Caves

One habitat where Pokémon live and thrive is certainly in caves, as suggested by the title of this post. They're often dark and damp (dank) and in general not the most pleasant places to be in, at least not all the time. Even so, Pokémon still manage to be able to do what they do in these places, and not only that, they give the places a special character, becoming mystic places. It seems neat to flesh out how that may be, given the Pokémon that are present there.

When thinking of caves, it is easy to think of the flying things that persist there, which in terms of Pokémon are of the Zubat and Woobat species families. Some of these Pokémon lack (visible) eyes, and yet they still manage to persist, a mysticism in itself. It is likely that they use atypical methods of vision, which could easily be a source of wonder and therefore contributory to the mysticism of their environment.

In the world of Pokémon, there are various kinds of creatures that are not only seemingly made up of the materials of their environment but are animate as well (being Geodude, Roggenrola, and countless others). One would have to be very wary to either not encounter them, or otherwise make peace with them should one do so. Their presence in the environments and their characteristic of blending in with them only adds to the mystic quality and feeling.

Of course, there are other things that live in the same caves as them. In Mt. Moon, there are the Fairies of Jigglypuff and Clefairy. In the Fiery Path of Hoenn, Slugma and Numel may be a given sight. And in Mt. Coronet, it may be possible to see electrically-attuned Magnemite and Nosepass around. All of these add "local flavor" to their mysticism in addition to the general feeling one may have when they enter the respective places.

In the real world, caves have their own mysticism associated with them, whether ascribed by the environment or happenings associated with them. In the world of Pokémon, that's true as well, but the mysticism is only increased with the presence of the wondrous creatures in the respective environments. It may be safe to say that one will always have to deal with this cave mysticism wherever and whichever one goes into.

One year ago: The Allure and Wonder of "Shundo"

Two years ago: Cosplay: J-COSHOKAI 4 - Hibana no Utopia

Three years ago: Other Pokémon Competitions

Four years ago: Pokémon Floor Mat

Quickies: Trainers as Independent Learners

I'm well aware of the fact that there are certain educational programs with the moniker of "independent learning", and this post may be partially influenced by them. But I also want to discuss the relevant links in a context-free manner, and that should prove to be just as fascinating. It's fairly obvious that Pokémon Trainers are an independent lot, whether individuals or groups of them, in their journey across the world of Pokémon. Along the path of that journey, there is bound to be some amount of learning involved, for the good of themselves and others. In light of these, they may be called "independent learners".

In terms of what those programs may entail, it is possible that Trainers may realize them as well. Those who protect certain areas or regions from unsavory forces and/or people may be considered doing a service to those areas or regions. When they go into different regions, particularly those not of their origins, it can be considered an "exchange" with others that do the same. It is also certain that as Trainers assemble and create teams for battling, they are in a way performing a process of research and development for those teams. The execution of the entailments is very different yet appear to be similar if not the same.

Beyond the confines of the programs, the independent quality of the learning that Trainers initiate are due in part to their being distanced from those who can possibly become their mentors, such as Pokémon Professors. For those who are traveling in groups, the learning may be less independent in the case that a mentoring figure is present, but if the mentoring figure is in need of learning as well, then the independent quality may be amplified. The point is that they may still receive guidance, but what they learn about the world of Pokémon comes fully onto themselves, thereby being "independent".

Aside from training, Pokémon Trainers have to understand the ways that their world works for them and the creatures that they train. In effect, they have to learn about those ways, whether they realize that or not. The virtue of living out lives in various parts of the world, sometimes without being able to contact others for aid or otherwise, and that effectively makes them quite independent. Though undoubtedly Pokémon training wouldn't really constitute an educational program with the moniker of "independent learning", some similarities may at least be discerned, especially with their independent character.

One year ago: Resolving Differences

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 4/27/2019

Three years ago: Groups and Sub-Groups

Four years ago: Out of This World: Episode 690 - "A UFO for Elgyem!"

(Re-)Join for Good

Whatever I said, whatever I did

I didn't mean it

I just want you back for good

Want you back, want you back

I want you back for good

Whenever I'm wrong

Just tell me the song and I'll sing it

You'll be right and understood

Want you back, want you back

I want you back for good

-- "Back for Good", Take That

As with most songs that I bring up in the posts on this blog, they have a connection to Pokémon, whether holistically or personally. The song that I've quoted above is of the latter nature and can be considered a "throwback" as well, since the connection goes back to a memory from so long ago and the song goes back longer (it's from 1995, a year shy from the inception of Pokémon). But both the song and the memory are sufficiently fond, so they're worth explaining somehow.

Now, this song is evidently a break-up song, as it describes the regret that someone has for an ended relationship and desires for the relationship to be put back together. The song practically ends with the hope that the relationship becomes as such. It's a pleasant hope for anyone in such a situation. As for the personal situation linked to me and Pokémon, it's somewhat different but vaguely similar.

Around the heyday of the second feature film, there was a picture-perfect scene of Ash that I recall that could be framed, at least by my impression; this satisfies the initial lyric of "got a picture of you beside me". The rest of the lyrics describe what could be considered my "detachment" when I'm not doing something related to Pokémon, with the bridge expressing hopes of reattachment (particularly "we'll be fighting, and forever we will be..."). The end of the song is where everything comes together, when I become reattached for real to doing Pokémon things, maybe also watching the anime to go back to the initial lyric.

I suppose the above situation involving me and Pokémon is somewhat hard to describe. But then again so are break-ups that become the overall theme of the song. At least it may be that Pokémon fans like me are happy but less so with other things, yet more so when Pokémon things are present, somewhat like the (re-)joining spirit of the song.

One year ago: Tournament: Raid Group Voyager Cup

Two years ago: Raising the Pokémon Go Level Cap

Three years ago: Working with Shuffle's Item Limits

Four years ago: In Pursuit of Collections

Pokémon Airplanes

Returning to the subject of Pokémon vehicles, the subtopic of Pokémon airplanes as I've described it in the previous post might seem uninteresting, but it's actually quite the contrary. These are still fascinating to behold, especially for any fan of Pokémon, even in the way I've described them, which remains true. Therefore, I've decided to spearhead the relevant bits and put them in a post to highlight their fascinating quality.

The Pokémon airplanes, each known formally as a "Pokémon Jet", are passenger planes that feature fuselages that are decorated with liveries of Pokémon images from head to tail. Many of these are (or actually were) operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA), or in the case of one, a subsidiary of it. Besides being decorated on the outside, though, these airplanes also feature a total Pokémon experience inside with included paraphernalia for passengers to enjoy. It has to be clear that the experience is intended to be full.

Many of the airplanes are passenger planes for the domestic market, although in one case it was one that could serve international routes. The first planes featured the first generation, then up to the second, up to the third, and up to the fifth, and they were also intended to tie in with the movies of the respective generations. None of these liveries appear on the planes anymore, and the planes that used to have them were themselves retired. Recently, though, Solaseed Air, the subsidiary as mentioned above, unveiled an Exeggutor-themed plane with both forms, and even the species became representative of the airline.

Evidently, the Pokémon airplanes are quite popular. They drove passenger numbers for the airline, certainly because Pokémon itself is quite popular. The new Exeggutor plane is fairly recent, but it may become viable as well in this regard. It is of note that the airline industry isn't doing well at the moment because of current conditions, but when the time comes to recover, the new Exeggutor plane might help with things, even a little bit, just like earlier Pokémon airplanes did in general.

With the Pokémon airplanes, the fascination is really there. Passengers get a unique Pokémon experience, and the airlines get a boost of things (hopefully so for the latest iteration of these airplanes). Appearance-wise, they still do resemble an itasha more so than a full-blown Pokémon transformation of a plane, but that seems to be irrelevant considering the interest they arouse for all parties, including fans like me.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 4/25/2020

Two years ago: The World Is All Here

Three years ago: I'll Be... The One

Four years ago: Shuffling in Alola

Days of Friendships Persisting

A few days ago, I explained about how friends could be like certain Pokémon with their inherent qualities. Today, I got to experience a few of my friendship relations in a day full of them. Something that makes me glad about today and those friendship relations is that they are persistent, which I appreciate, and I'm sure my friends do so likewise. It becomes a good day for that.

In the afternoon, I attended a celebratory gathering with a number of my good friends to bless a couple of them in particular and all of us in general. None of them have any significant connections to Pokémon, with the exception of me and one other person who for a fact has Pokémon Go installed and opens it every so often, but I feel that they all could be Pokémon Trainers if they so chose. Or perhaps in terms of the namesake creatures themselves, they could be considered not only like Bellossom as has been stated before, but also a host of Grass-type Pokémon (and/or others) much like that in the Pikachu short movie for the second feature film. In fact, it could be said that the gathering was like that, which is a blessing for the day as well. 

Earlier in the day, Pokémon Go had instituted a new event that deals with friendships, both real and otherwise, and it's partially modeled after Community Day - even one of its mechanisms is something that hasn't been seen at any time in recent Community Day editions. Even so, I was still able to take part from home while faraway friends supported me and I supported them, one of which was by a Lucky Trade with fortuitous results. It was overall helpful for everyone and supported what would have been an empty weekend. I'll have more details soon, but this evidently pertained into this day full of friends.

Throughout the day, I was also entertained by the happenings of some of my other friends who I couldn't join because of either of the two happenings above or that they are too far away for me to be with them. Their persistence on updating me on their Pokémon or whatever happenings made me, a Pokémon fan, feel that I'm also experiencing them in a Pokémon style somehow. Moreover, the persistence of the relationships themselves are ascertained as if we were loyal creatures to each other.

I'm glad for the persistence of friendships, especially on this very day, and with me as a Pokémon fan. It's a day that one could hope to persist even at a different point in time, but still with the Pokémon connections, whether actual or imagined. And with that, my friends could also very well oblige (to get) in the Pokémon action.

One year ago: The Signature Electric Type Species

Two years ago: Partners in Crime, Partners in Time

Three years ago: Pokémon Craft Figures - Mewtwo

Four years ago: Crossovers!

The (Post-"General") Longest Journey

Almost two years ago, I became a "general" in Pokémon Go by way of having reached Level 40, then the highest level. Since then, the level cap has been raised to 50, and now it's possible for "generals" from that point to attain greater heights. That would obviously involve myself, and I can attain those same heights as well... though obviously it would take lots of work and most likely a long journey as well. In fact, it could be called "the longest journey" after that point has occurred.

As noted, that journey involves both XP and tasks similar to Research. Either of these may be hard to come by depending on the circumstances. If one has a ton of XP saved up - and that would be the case for some of the overachiever "generals" of my raid sub-groups, who are by now Level 50 - it only becomes a matter of completing the tasks, which may or may not be simple. If one doesn't have a ton of XP saved up, it may still be possible to go up a few levels through the tasks, but then "the longest journey" begins when one has depleted the saved up XP and needs to earn more in order to go up levels, not to mention to complete the required tasks for that. Such is the case for myself as well.

As of today, now I'm on that "longest journey". After I reached Level 40, I continued to accumulate XP, certainly proving that it remains something vital to be collected after that point. That allowed me to go up to Level 44 along with the completion of the necessary tasks. It was also thanks to those same tasks that I'm able to determine when I'm actually ready to go up a level by holding off one last Master League PvP battle until that point (one of the tasks is to win a set number of times in the Master League), which is today. Still, the tasks that are to come may be the most difficult and demanding of all, with their variety and extent of things to do. And then there's the XP journey as well.

My Pokémon Go journey is already long enough, but the journey after becoming a "general" will prove to be the longest one yet. But then, there is much to achieve on this longest journey that only ends when I'm Level 50, and I'm not there yet; what is there will be the achievements and progressions to be made, which may be considered more important than that eventual destination I mentioned. As they say, it's the trip that counts, and I'm happy to go through that, as any Trainer should.

One year ago: Touching and Caring for Pokémon

Two years ago: Pokémon for a Puzzle Professor

Three years ago: (A Late) Local Ex-Raid, 4/23/2018

Four years ago: Luffy and Infernape

Ideas for Pokémon Vehicles

Apart from a certain hot air balloon with Meowth and two other vehicles that I cannot discuss at the moment due to certain circumstances, Pokémon has a way of complementing vehicles in different ways. In real life, this may be in the form of itasha for common land vehicles, which I've discussed along with my personal hopes so long ago. Yet it may be that other real vehicles can get the Pokémon treatment in the same way as the conceived vehicles above, and that at least deserves to be fleshed out in some capacity.

Some of my friends have noted their appreciation and attraction for certain Pokémon of both Rock and Steel types - for example, Aggron and Bastiodon - and I've come to think that they may be embodied in truck form, given their aggressiveness and strength. Even the latter of the two mentioned Pokémon above have the perfect form for the vehicle. Speaking of perfect forms, a Seviper train might look odd, but it's totally conceivable given that Seviper is (or can be) long and some trains are long as well.

On water, most people would likely get around on its surface with the aid of a boat, which has a bowl shape, and so too is the upper part of a Lotad's body. A totally green boat could be considered a "Lotad boat", especially if decorated properly. On a bigger scale, a cruise ship could totally exploit a Wailord theme given how both are relatively large specimens of either group of things, and smaller vessels that accompany the ship could then exploit a Wailmer theme. Other water vessels with Pokémon fantasies are possible as well.

On the air, there are of course Pokémon planes, though some of these only show a general Pokémon decoration, much like some itasha. A plane decorated to look like a Lugia would be something that shows off its species characteristics in a spectacular way. Back to hot air balloons, a Castform balloon would also be appropriate for weather balloons in general, and a twin-rotor helicopter might be well-suited to be decorated to look like a Yanmega. Pokémon that fly are especially appropriate in this regard.

Pokémon on the whole can be considered as incredible creatures with what they do. Perhaps just as incredible as that is the vehicles that are present in various environments that show off how people have developed the means to get around. Combining the two - as the ingenuity of a vehicle together with the appearance of Pokémon - may be considered as a testament for the conception of both. With luck, those vehicles may just find a home in real life as they would in the Pokémon world.

One year ago: Reading the Signs

Two years ago: PokéMania and WhatMania

Three years ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 7

Four years ago: Costume Issues

Quickies: The Pokémon School of Martial Arts

Many Fighting-type Pokémon have a certain physique that is adapted to certain martial arts, with clear examples being Hitmonchan (boxing) and Hitmontop (capoeira). Aside from the people who are experts in these forms of martial arts, the specific Pokémon may also be considered experts in them as well. An interesting proposition would be a school of martial arts that would involve these Pokémon as well as actual people, by which the both of them can stand to learn from each other about the martial art in question and the specific techniques that pertain to them.

The Fighting Dojo in Saffron City is a sure representative of what this could be like, especially if it had not lost out to the Psychic Gym next door. It would be a place where people and Pokémon alike can learn, train, and fight with the techniques they know. Yet it may also be possible to have schools specific to one style of martial arts but with different Pokémon, as it may be possible for different Fighting-type Pokémon to learn the same kind of martial art, as well as a general school for them - especially for mixed martial arts - featuring the same variety of Pokémon with different techniques.

The learning, fighting, and training part would be the most dynamic part of these schools. It is expected that people will do all of the above with the aid of verbal explanations from other people. However, the Pokémon would be the ones that can demonstrate how things can and/or should be done, perhaps engaging in mixed bouts against the people and even each other, in which case the special things that only they can do would be reserved for each other. These dynamics would provide the most significant experiences for all three actions for everyone involved in the school.

Skillful and capable people are able to use martial arts to their advantage in situations where physical self-defense is required. It is of no doubt also that some Pokémon, as those of the Fighting type, can take advantage of their skills and capabilities in the same way. The big next step for them is to be able to perfect their skills and capabilities, and it may be likely that they would accomplish this with each other in a single venue. The venue would be the school or schools of Pokémon martial arts for both people and Pokémon that allow synergy of their extreme self-defense capabilities.

One year ago: All Rumbled Out

Two years ago: Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 14

Three years ago: Crazy Decisions

Four years ago: Tropius Fruit and Other Pokémon Edibles

Getting In and Out Of Character with Pokémon Games

Many games and game series, including some that I play outside of Pokémon, have the ability to create two realms, one of them being the "in character" realm and the other being the "out of character" realm. And yet, Pokémon is also included as one of those game series. Because I write in this blog regularly, the two realms become a matter that is highly related to my efforts. As a result, I feel the need to highlight the matter in a post, particularly in relation to Pokémon games in general.

Firstly, it becomes important to define the limits of the realms. When one is in character, one assumes a certain presented role (in this case, by the games) and regards what exists fictionally as existing factually. When one is out of character, one assumes no role (except as a player of the games) and regards what exists fictionally still as such. Therefore, the distinction in part hinges on roleplay as with theater or cosplay, the latter of which is as pertinent to me as much as it is to Pokémon, at least for me personally.

With the above in mind, it becomes possible to see what is in character and what is out. If I'm referring to myself and others as a Trainer (or breeder, photographer [Snap], and so on), then I'm being in character; the news bulletins for Pokémon Go often start out with "Trainers, ..." which is an initial in-character cue, though the rest of the bulletins straddle the line. The way I initially described the disappearance of Team Go Rocket earlier can be regarded as an in-character way of describing the state of affairs.

The way I then continued to describe the state of affairs, then, becomes an out-of-character way, as it concerns the technical details of the disappearance and not of their postulated existence. In a more general sense, if I'm referring to myself and others as a "player" who manipulates the games and not within the existential role that I and others assume in them, then I'm being out of character. Often, it's the technical details behind the existence of the games that make being out-of-character evident.

The possibility of describing things in character with reference to the Pokémon games is allowed as such because of the character power that the games provide, with a role for the player and characters that evidently exist within the fictional environment of the games. This allows for the characterization of related things such as news bulletins for the games and even the very posts of this blog into the two realms of being either in or out of character to convey whatever is pertinent.

One year ago: Rumble Tumble, and...

Two years ago: Legends for Lunch and Dinner

Three years ago: Curveball Wisdom

Four years ago: The Music of the Poké Flute

Friendships Like Pokémon

I've found that it may be possible to characterize the relationships that people might have as friends by describing them in Pokémon terms. Specifically, those relationships may be made into analogies involving certain Pokémon and how friendships are reflected in those relationships. The Pokémon involved also incidentally are all of the second generation, which may or may not mean a thing. But they do mean something for the relationships that are involved.

Good friends can be likened to or with the Pokémon of Bellossom. Bellossom has small flowers on its head that are likely to produce pleasant scents, especially when the Pokémon itself is pleasant. It's also a good dancer in some respects, which may invite people and Pokémon alike to dance alongside it. Even if they can't, the smell from the flowers are likely to rub off on those who are involved. Like the smell from the Pokémon, good friends persist and reflect a particularly pleasant nature from and with them.

Not-so-good friends, meanwhile, are likened to or with the Pokémon of Magcargo. The rocky quality of the bits left behind by the Pokémon are likely to burn someone should that someone make contact with the bits. And if one doesn't get burned, one is likely to feel the intense heat that the Pokémon leaves behind. It doesn't mean that Magcargo is a not-so-good Pokémon, of course; it just means that one ought not to behave in the same way as the bits left behind by the Pokémon... and one knows what to expect when dealing with the Pokémon.

The best kind of friends, however, are those that are like Lugia as one of the Legendary Pokémon of this generation. They would be the ones that if needed and at all possible would whisk one to different places, as it does in come cases. They also would be representative of friends who understand what the other wants to do, as the Pokémon can do exactly that very well, as well as who knows one's bounds, as the Pokémon can reputedly cause damage if it doesn't restrict itself in some cases.

These Pokémon are not necessarily the only Pokémon that can represent the relations of friendships, but they do encapsulate many of these relations fairly well. Certainly, for one to be friends with another person, neither don't have to be fans of Pokémon, but given these characteristic analogies with Pokémon - and if either one or both are Pokémon fans - it's still possible to describe the relations in a way that fans (and perhaps non-fans as well) could understand.

One year ago: Everyday Discoveries

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (and a Whirlwind), 4/19/2019

Three years ago: Cracking the Case

Four years ago: Oddest Things with Pikachu

Cosplay: "Pass-the-Time" Contest

Me: And... here's what became of that "test bed" earlier this month.

Ash: That looks neat. I'm sure you want me in.

Me: Of course. So this is supposed to be in part a meetup, a little gathering of sorts, plus a little competition as a character parade. I know that hasn't happened in some time, so you'll be glad for that.

Ash: All right!

Pikachu: Pika pika chu! ["Looks nice!"]

Me: OK, so there's not much to say about the big details. It's the same place and the same host as the "test bed", but a different organizer who was also behind the one involving sports and a fantastic time.

Ash: Nice. What do you want me to wear?

Me: Your Kanto outfit, but the one I specially obtained for you, should be neat and simple enough. I should also say that the current time is a time of "big rest", so expect things to be a little more mellow.

Ash: That's OK. It doesn't have to be intense all the time. 

Me: Why not. That's enough of the details, so now you can tell me what went on there. 

Ash: So it was fun, but things kind of got pushed back a bit. The gathering was just kind of a party where everyone just talks to each other. There were a couple of minigames, but I didn't play them.

Me: That's fine; you're in it more for the character stuff. I'm told up to 50 people could attend, and the party idea seems to work the best rather than rounding up everyone to talk.

Ash: Then it was time for the parade! There were 8 characters, including me, and we all did great in showing our stuff on stage.

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika! ["Everyone was great!"]

Ash: Pikachu can vouch. But there were only four prizes.

Me: So how'd that go?

Ash: The chances looked good, but I didn't win. What was strange is that the characters that I thought would win did win, and they all wore or had a lot of things.

Me: I suppose the judges were mostly oriented to detail this time. No matter, there will be other opportunities.

Ash: Everything was great, but as you say, it was during a "big rest", so things did end quickly. Maybe after the "big rest" there will be something just as great.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu. ["Hopefully so."]

Me: And hopefully more lively. As with the one that happened a few months prior, there is that hope.

Ash: I guess we will find out sometime.

One year ago: Love and All

Two years ago: Performance Critique: INOCHI 2019 Sing Cover

Three years ago: Getting Social with Cosplay

Four years ago: Console Renewal?

Longing for Team Go Rocket

For the past few days, someone - actually a group of some people - have been missing. With the title of this post, it becomes obvious that the people in question are of Team Go Rocket. They've never did too well in the past, and they never did up to the point of their disappearance. All the same, since their disappearance, there's been a certain longing for them that I and many others have for many different reasons.

Before explaining them, it is worth it to detail how they came to disappear. A few days ago, their appearances were still normal. But then, their balloons stopped appearing after midday and their appearances at PokéStops disappeared soon after. The Leaders and Boss could still be battled for a brief time before they too disappeared. The theory is that they "need a holiday", and therefore they've decided to hold off on invading PokéStops in Pokémon Go and have some time to themselves, returning when they are ready.

The real reason for their disappearance, though, is that there are apparently errors or bugs involving them when they are encountered. For that reason, the encounters in all forms, including at PokéStops and by balloons, are disabled while the problems are being fixed, after which they should return once they are as such. This means that the issue becomes just another one in the long line of issues that have impacted Pokémon Go, further showing the level of intricacy that the game has, not just for Team Go Rocket but in general.

However, their absence does pose a few problems. For those who have reached a certain level post 40, Team Go Rocket becomes essential for 3 out of the 4 tasks to be achieved to get to the next level, and obviously without them, these tasks cannot be completed, let alone worked on. An auxiliary task given in a Special Research during one of these levels also requires Team Go Rocket, and the same therefore applies for that. In general, Team Go Rocket is also useful as an outlet to dump (that is, use up) excess Potions and Revives, and if nothing else to gain essential Stardust, XP, and Shadow Pokémon to boot. The problems are therefore multiple and compounded.

That would explain the longing that is experienced by many Trainers, even I myself to some extent. I'm on the brink of transitioning to the crucial level I mentioned above, and it becomes an annoyance if I cannot work on the tasks as intended, if not in general for the above. Some Trainers also may not have dealt with Giovanni and his Shadow Legendary Pokémon of choice this month for one reason or another, and they need Team Go Rocket to do just that. The longing is definitely pronounced for many.

They say that "absence makes the heart grow fonder", and in the case of the absence of Team Go Rocket, it may be regarded as not only fond but also uncomfortable, being that they are now a practically integral part of the Pokémon Go experience. Given this situation, it may be considered that their return is important, even if they never do well for some reason, so that Trainers can do well on other things.

One year ago: Impressions of Chef Mallow

Two years ago: Choosing Pathways

Three years ago: And Again, I Dream

Four years ago: We're All Tied to Pokémon

In Need of Rotom, Right Now

Every person may need certain Pokémon at some point or another, perhaps even I myself as a pretty big fan. One Pokémon I might stand to use right now is Rotom, which dedicated fans know that it can come in any of a number of forms. Some of the forms have a neat appearance and may be as helpful as their appearances would suggest... though "maybe" seems to remain the key word. That seems to make for a good point and counterpoint for a discussion.

On one hand, the more transformative forms (that is, besides its normal "spirit" form) look like objects that are helpful in some way or another. The Fan, Mow, and Wash forms are understandably as such - the last of these resembling a washing machine - and they seem to be able to make quick work of the situations to which they are relevant; the Fan form would appear to make the air comfortable and the Mow form would deal with grass in the garden efficiently, while the Wash form can deal with laundry as expected. The Heat form is a stove and the Frost form is a refrigerator, and they could be expected to be aids in the kitchen with the ways that they can help to deal with food items. All of these have some relevance with all the household things I want and need to get going right now.

On the other hand, Rotom in whatever form might actually be more trouble than it is worth. In all of these cases, the forms may be the result of the Pokémon "wreaking havoc", particularly with the machines which they resemble. Therefore, they might actually do an even worse job compared to the actual machines. It is also known for a fact that the Rotom Dex (while not being an actual Rotom form so much as it is Rotom in a device crafted to house it as it provides power) is also as annoying and troublesome as it is welcoming and assistive. With that in mind, I probably would not trust any of the Rotom forms to do their intended functions vis-a-vis the actual machines, though I could place minimal trust on Fan Rotom to make the air comfortable, so long as it doesn't blow everything around me out of order.

In any case, the demand is still warranted, and there is still a potential for Rotom to be helpful in some way with however it looks like. It has to be admitted that all of its forms have a semblance of proper functioning according to what they're supposed to do, if not for their potential unhelpfulness. Like some things in life, it may become a battle of balancing to bring out its helpful qualities based on the devices it resembles while keeping its unhelpful qualities in check.

One year ago: Fanboys and Fangirls

Two years ago: The First Unova Saga Japanese Opening Theme

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 4/15/2018

Four years ago: Dialectics

Great League, Remixed

As with the Silph Arena, particularly as evidenced by its themed cup this month, the Go Battle League or GBL might be apt to try new things for its PvP battling formats, seeing as it can and has done so. Currently, it has something simple in place along with the "vanilla" Great League format, and that would be a slight rehash of the Great League format, entitled the "Great League Remix". This format was devised based on data gathered from the previous run of the Great League during the current season of the GBL.

That data would be the top 10 most frequently used Pokémon at that time, which for the Great League Remix becomes the "ban list". The banned Pokémon are Venusaur, Raichu, Marowak, Azumarill, Umbreon, Skarmory, Swampert, Galvantula, Stunfisk, and Talonflame. Remarkably, for the three Pokémon with regional forms (Raichu, Marowak, and Stunfisk), both the original and regional forms are banned, and thus if one counted forms instead, there are 13 forms in total that are banned. Because they are frequently used, the restriction becomes significant. 

With certain Pokémon being banned, this allows room for other Pokémon to come out more frequently, some of which are tops in the meta. Medicham, Bastiodon, and Altaria have always been leading contenders with or without the banned species, and they are likely to be used more frequently at this point. Some of the more surprising leaders include Cresselia (particularly with a certain move), Wobbuffet (but powered up with Candy XL), and Machamp (as a Shadow Pokémon). All of these have the potential to be present given the means.

Based on experience, other Pokémon that can support the meta and are not part of the banned list also have the potential to be more present. A big one that I've noticed is Politoed, and it's no surprise, as it has appropriate stats for Great League. The "big two" Fairy types of Clefable and Wigglytuff remain quite useful in some regards and every so often appear; I notably prefer the usage of the latter myself. In general, though, the possible support Pokémon are still varied, and it may be suggested to prepare for anything.

On the whole, it seems that while the banning of certain Pokémon doesn't change the landscape of the Great League too much, with certain Pokémon being more available to fill in the slots left behind by the absent Pokémon. Yet even so, there's still enough intricacy for anyone participating to watch out for, enough that it does become something even just a bit different and new. In that sense, the "remix" is as intended, with the same sound of the Great League but a slightly new arrangement of it.

One year ago: On Pokémon and Computing

Two years ago: The Fullness of the Cup

Three years ago: Cosplay: GAME - Games Animation Marketplace and Exhibition

Four years ago: True Colors (...of a Logo)

Whence I Am, Whence We Are

I have to admit, the current time of year might be considered a mellow time of year for certain groups of Pokémon fans, including (and obliging) myself and many of those I'm in contact with. It is certainly part of the time of that "big rest" I mentioned in my post about some fancy donuts, and that may have certain effects. In fact, those effects may have already occurred, as yesterday's post was actually kind of rushed even though it didn't have a "Quickies" tag. With all that goes on in this world, it seems that I and others must make do with whatever and wherever. The situation brings to mind a certain musical piece by Enya, titled "From Where I Am".

This wouldn't be the first time I've had to convey the feelings of a musical piece in relation to current situations and Pokémon situations, as around one and a half years ago I did the same for another musical piece, thinking about it in both a realistic sense and a Pokémon sense. In this case, both of the above situations converge, forcing the people involved (fans like me) to deal with things as they are and where they may be. Evidently, yesterday's post happened even with a rushed state of affairs, which could be considered a wonder for anyone wherever they may be, and the musical piece seems to fit that nicely.

As for Pokémon affairs, this piece also makes me recall that one episode of the Alola saga where Ash departs to the island with the Alolan Exeggutor and had a certain adventure there. It was a totally "from-where-he-was" situation with all that happened in the episode and how he eventually resolved and/or got through them all. Some moments might in fact be able to be set to the very piece of music that I describe, at least in the way that makes sense to describe the spirit of the piece in relation to the episode.

It's still hard to change that the current time is a mellow time, at least for certain people and those who are linked to them, for which I am connected as such. Even with this being the case, life goes on and Pokémon things go on. There are still things to do considering both aspects, maybe just like how Ash did the things in that one episode. Wherever one may be, everything ought to progress somehow, and it may be that the Enya piece captures all the sentiments for that in its musical quality.

One year ago: Levels and Half-Levels in Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Cosplay: INOCHI 2019 - Sengoku Jidai

Three years ago: Shiny Here, Shiny There

Four years ago: Friendly Plays

Differing Amounts of Pokémon Knowledge

Those familiar with the Pokémon games will no doubt be also familiar with the Pokémon Professors that grace them. They have a major amount of Pokémon knowledge that very much suits them. Of course, not everyone is a Pokémon Professor, and among many of them, the levels of knowledge are also different. It is perhaps a good idea to try to reconcile the acceptability of these different levels of knowledge among the people.

Among them, a great number will surely have high amounts of Pokémon knowledge. This would very much benefit what they do, as Trainers, breeders illustrators, photographers, and many more. Come to think of it, many of them do hands-on work involving the Pokémon, most of them very much directly, and such work will surely demand such an amount of knowledge. Yet it may be that some hands-off workers, like those who manage Pokémon storage and transport, will require if not benefit from high amounts of Pokémon knowledge. For them, Pokémon knowledge is above all else helpful and supporting of their work.

For others, lesser amounts of Pokémon knowledge may be sufficient. People who deal with field jobs may not need very much of the knowledge, though some may be helpful; as an example, power plant operators will most likely benefit from knowledge of mostly Electric Pokémon and perhaps a moderate amount of others. Someone who is a market vendor may only benefit from a knowledge of local Pokémon, and much more may be too much. Then, those who work from or at home may only need a small amount of knowledge, perhaps some related to Pokémon they may have around. Some knowledge for them is better than none, but certainly not too much.

Not every person is expected to be a Pokémon Professor that possesses much knowledge, but it has to be admitted that for those that aren't, Pokémon knowledge remains appropriate for what they do, in whatever amounts that suit them. The knowledge may still be considered to be pertinent and relevant somehow, and that may just be OK. On that note, Pokémon knowledge may be appreciable and acceptable in appropriate amounts for anyone for whom Pokémon is a likely concern.

One year ago: Pokémon Helmet Covers?

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 4/13/2019

Three years ago: Go at Home

Four years ago: Paint It, Picross

Pikachu and Bulbasaur Donuts

Pokémon and food are no strangers to each other, as the latter is often used to promote the former as with a snack pack I discovered a long time ago. What about Pokémon directly on food? Well, the result could be something like the food items I'm discussing in this post. They are real donuts with a Pokémon twist, and I just had to get these in order to try them out and make a review of them on this blog.

These are Pokémon donuts that are marketed by a local chain of convenience stores - which also has corporate links to the local TCG - but the donut brand itself (Mister Donut) is a big one in Japan. And while the donut brand itself is of such a renown, these donuts are really only available locally, as the display had the words "For sale in Indonesia only" at the top, in a little part off to the side. So, I'm effectively bringing a taste of a local food linked with Pokémon for those who are simply curious and especially cannot come down to try it for themselves.

The packaging of these donuts is pretty neat as well. For buying just a couple of donuts, one gets a yellow bag of similar imagery as the display, with Pikachu, Poké Balls, and doughnuts, plus the respective wordmarks of the related entities. If I bought a few more (particularly, if I chose to "clean out the case"), I may have been able to obtain a box instead, which might have been just as great if not better. But it still looks great nonetheless.

The two donuts with a Pokémon twist are "shell donuts" with Pikachu and Bulbasaur. They're called as such because they have a glossy "shell" as a topping. The one for Pikachu is yellow and the one for Bulbasaur is chocolate, though the two Pokémon appear in their original colors. They are likewise a "shell" applied on the base, though they are likely made first for concerns of precision and mass production.

As for the taste, that would certainly be a matter of individual preference. The Pikachu donut conceals a chocolate and banana filling, which is neat but may be a little surprising in taste for some people. The Bulbasaur donut instead has a chocolate and avocado filling, which might be even more surprising, yet strangely, I find it more preferable than the other one. It is clear that both of these donuts have fillings based on tropical fruits (suiting the color of the respective species) given the country where they appear, but that shouldn't be a total surprise and they should find favor with those who buy them.

Overall, the best descriptor that I can give to these donuts is that they are "appropriate". The fruit flavors are appropriate to the species they identify, the donuts are appropriate to market itself and Pokémon locally, and the concept is appropriately executed even for my liking. (Even this review is highly appropriate before a time of "big rest", so to speak.) The leverage to market foods based on Pokémon seems to be a pretty nice idea given the local TCG links, and they may be worth snapping up by local fans of the franchise.

One year ago: I Believe, in Love

Two years ago: (Wet and Wild) Local EX Raid, 4/12/2019

Three years ago: Wallpaper: Pokémon 20th Anniversary

Four years ago: Pokémon Couriers?

Pokémon Go Community Day, 4/11/2021

Community Day for Pokémon Go is here again, this time still on the early side but not by much. Even so, "time" and "timing" seem to be the keywords for this edition of the event, for reasons soon to be detailed. They have to do with the featured Pokémon, certainly, as well as the setting of the event in general. It is known that some people have regarded the current times as the "new normal" with new situations and new ways of doing things, and the current edition may be considered to have some ties to all of those.

Without further ado, there are the particulars. This month's Community Day features Snivy, the Grass-type starter Pokémon of the fifth generation. Therefore, the special or exclusive move (for its second evolution Serperior) is obvious, being Frenzy Plant. The regular bonus is tripled Stardust for captures, which should benefit those who are hungry for Stardust and can't get enough. The paid Special Research is titled "Snivy in the Sunshine" and discusses how it is a family of sunshine-loving Pokémon. And in these current conditions, everything else (extended Incense, photo bombs, and so on) are still the same, though the Community Day Box does provide Mossy Lure Modules (which do allow Snivy to appear as well) for a change, along with the other standard components.

For those being observant, this is the first time since January 2020 and practically since the onset of current conditions that the Community Day features a starter Pokémon that is not a rehash of a previous edition. Unusually, the Shiny forms of the species family had also been released earlier as part of the Unova Celebration earlier in January of this year, and therefore a few isolated Trainers may have had the chance to obtain the Shiny forms as early as way back then instead of during a Community Day as is typical of the starter Pokémon, being that they usually receive said form when a Community Day is established for them. It can be said, then, that this Community Day represents a small step in "getting back into things". As for other timings, this Community Day happens to be neatly placed before a period of rest for certain groups of people, and it seems to be rather fitting in that regard.

My efforts today could also have been said to do the same, as I attempted to hit up one of my raid subgroups in order to connect with the people in them, and I successfully did just that, becoming a change of pace from the way I executed the previous two editions while still becoming an outlet to get in some walking exercise and some fresh air. Still, I couldn't stray too far from the ones I've met in those previous times - especially for the purposes of trading and interacting - and I did get a chance to hit them up as well for that very purpose. In going through all of these, I ended up with 11 Shiny Snivy (one of them having very good stats) and a selection of Serperior with possibly different uses.

Considering what just had transpired with Community Day for this month, the time seems to be right to get back into the swing of regular things by the way of this edition of Community Day, and the timing is somewhat perfect as well. While it may still not be good times in the world of today, Community Day may always be good regardless, especially with the right execution. If today's world is a "new normal", then it may be apt to describe Community Day for Pokémon Go as something "normally renewed".

One year ago: Three Simple Rules for a Great Adventure

Two years ago: The Songs of the Detective Pikachu Trailers

Three years ago: O Charizard

Four years ago: Romanticism of Tall Grasses

Harkening Back to "Versus Guides"

One of the earliest and most influential things that helped to cement my liking and appreciation for Pokémon is something that helped me progress through the first-generation games of yore. That would be the strategy guide published by Versus Games, which is unlike any other strategy guide published for these breakthrough games. In fact, the guide became my preferred strategy guide for that very reason, and the guide has many features that contribute to the uniqueness and thereby my preference for it.

Something that sets apart the guide from others is how the guide went into detail regarding Pokémon encounters in various places. Whereas some other guides used only general descriptors, the guide used quantified percentages derived from statistical observations of encounters in the areas in question for the games; the creators actually made the statistical observations by tracking the encounters and then establishing representative percentages for each Pokémon involved. If this sounds exhaustive, it likely probably was, but it may be considered to add value to the guide.

The above is one of the things that makes the guide richly detailed. It also was richly detailed in other ways, one of the things being the information on Trainer encounters and possible game paths when possible or necessary. The Pokédex contained in the back of the guide spared no detail either and was both pretty to look at and very informative of what the Pokémon can and can't do. A final tidbit of rich detail came in the form of an accompanying poster, which for the guide is an illustrated listing of the Pokémon contained in the Pokédex. This last bit became something I was proud to put up in my room at that time.

With the onset of the second-generation games, Versus Games also made guides for the second-generation games, but this time setting some things apart: they made an abridged "Adventure Guide" for Gold and Silver, and when Crystal came about, the full guide approach returned for it. I too obtained these guides to help me continue on my journey through them, and with their usage, I helped myself get a feel for the Pokémon main series games such that when the third-generation games came, I no longer needed to be (too) reliant on guides to make my way past the things they offered.

The guides are by now a relic and a rarity even among devoted fans like me. But the attention to detail to them is amazing, beyond what can be regarded for pretty much any other strategy guide on the games of concern. With the efforts that the creators devoted to the creation of the guides, some fans are bound to appreciate them and even value them as a way of getting through the games; I would say that I can testify as such, as much as I appreciate and value my liking of Pokémon that has persisted to this very day.

One year ago: Let's Get Going Today

Two years ago: Expecting the Detective

Three years ago: Bandai Pokémon Sun & Moon Pokémon Lover Mascot 6 - Wobbuffet

Four years ago: Evolution Revolutions?

The Sound of Instant Gratification

There is a Pokémon element that is small but carries a great deal of meaning. It is one that has remained unchanged from the first main series games to more recent iterations, and appears in a variety of contexts yet is recognizable for its significance. As can be expected by the title of this post, that element would be a particular sound in those games, and that sound would be the "all Pokémon healed" sound. Given its significant usage and meaning, I'm tempted to give it another title: I call it the sound of "instant gratification".

The sound is extremely simple in structure. It only consists of five notes, which in key-independent form is 5-5-5-3-1', where the last note is of the next higher octave. It is certain that other embellishments can be added, like accompanying chords, but the basic form remains the five notes above. The significance of the sound is of no question: when the sound plays, all of the Pokémon in the party of the player Trainer are healed, recovered, the whole nine yards. The sound is most commonly associated with a Pokémon Center where a Trainer goes to get the party healed, though certain places other than a Pokémon Center will also allow for this to happen.

In fact, any situation in which the sound is played (though some substitute the generic heal sound instead) effectively signals that the Pokémon of the player Trainer has been fully healed as such. One of the transitions in one of the games notably contains the "heal all" sound, but drawn out and lower in pitch in such a way that if one doesn't listen closely, one might miss the occurrence of the "heal all" sound and not realize that the "heal all" process had in fact occurred. Beyond the games, the anime has implemented the sound in various Pokémon Center settings to indicate that this has occurred for certain Pokémon, including but not limited to those of Ash.

Now, I'm tempted to call the sound above as the sound of "instant gratification" because... well, it is. There is something gratifying about being able to heal all of a party at once without much expense and effort, and the sound signaling as such means that the gratification is given immediately or instantly, and thus "instant gratification". The fact that it can occur at (in)opportune moments means that the gratifying power can be earned at the spur of the moment and is likely to be a virtue rather than a vice. And even if the sound occurs in a non-player context such as in the anime above, the gratification can be felt immediately by the viewer regardless, as an example.

If there is ever a collection of small things that are representative of Pokémon across all kinds of times, this small but significant sound signifying all Pokémon in party healed is a prime one for inclusion. It's short and recognizable, and its effects are significant and profound. Those same effects can be significantly gratifying in an immediate manner, and therefore it is not at all inappropriate to consider the sound as one that brings "instant gratification", no matter what the circumstance may be.

One year ago: Pokémon Upbringings

Two years ago: Benefits

Three years ago: Ex-Raids and Cancellations

Four years ago: The (Current) Fate of the Megas

Doing Well on Pokémon Quizzes, Right Now

Around a year ago, there was the quiz that I took by way of the national association of VGC players, which was in similar fashion to an older quiz by my local figure group. I didn't do too well on it, but thanks to my post on it, I'm able to recollect what happened with it. Today, some sudden affairs have forced me to deal with a certain kind of quiz, though it is quite unrelated to Pokémon. Yet that (in addition to the previous situation) got me thinking of how would I do in a Pokémon quiz if one were to be administered right this moment. The answer would have to depend on the material content of the quiz and how I relate to those materials.

If the quiz were to involve (generally) specific knowledge about Pokémon species, such as names, types, species descriptors, relationships, and so on and so forth, I stand a chance of doing reasonably OK, though I have to confess that my Generation 8 knowledge is at the moment still not very cohesive due to lacking familiarity with the generation. Still, some of the mess-ups could be significant(ly embarrassing) and I may not be able to forgive myself for it. I would rather wait until I'm sufficiently caught up until I would opt to take a quiz with a material content as significant and important to Pokémon such as this one.

On the entertainment front, there could be a quiz on the various details concerning the games, the anime, and possibly even books, manga, and other media. This quiz I would be more willing to take at the moment, given the association quiz in the past. If the materials are significantly diverse, the chance to do well should be good as well, but the potential to mess up is still as large as ever, also like that previous quiz. While it may be more forgivable than not doing well on a quiz of species knowledge as above, I'm sure I'd still feel bad about it regardless. But then not every Pokémon fan is expected to know everything at hand, and that may be the only consolation.

At this point, it may seem that the only Pokémon quiz I'll be able to do well on is a "personality quiz", which to my knowledge some quiz collections have incorporated alongside quizzes of hard facts. By all standards, everyone - being any Pokémon fan - can do well on this type of quiz purely by the numbers. But beyond the numbers, it may be that a subjective evaluation might put me over the top in certain Pokémon respects. I'm certain of the evaluative end, as I precisely had to make a subjective evaluation along with a numerical evaluation that one time I was the Pokémon-minded evaluator for others of different mindednesses. Others could certainly do what I do regarding how Pokémon is for me, and I would be tops as a result.

In any case, Pokémon quizzes are diverse, and I may be able to do well on some and not as well on others, even right now with all the business I have going on. It would have to be the one perfect quiz that I'm able to do well on all points and be able to come out on top. It could be a knowledge quiz, or it might be a personality quiz, but it is certain regardless that Pokémon quizzes remain fascinating for this one fan.

Now, I think I have to get back to doing really well on that quiz matter.

One year ago: Voyager of Glory

Two years ago: You Can, I Can

Three years ago: (Continuing the) Local Ex-Raid, 4/8/2018

Four years ago: On the Road Again

Let's Go Meet New and Old Friends

Since it was introduced, the feature of friends in Pokémon Go has brought interactions to a different level. It has helped to make them more meaningful and more beneficial for those who are involved. Yet, as with real life in general, friends come and go; for Pokémon Go, this is especially truer as not everyone may have enough time to devote to play or is located in the same area. Recently, though, two new features have been introduced that should help for both incoming new friends and persistent old friends alike.

With so many Trainers who play Pokémon Go, it may become difficult to deal with those who have established friendly relations, especially when one is at or near the limit of 200. The first new feature should be a blessing for the situation: the limit has now been raised to 400, after a very long wait. This comes with a friendship update that synchronizes all friends across all Niantic games: if they play the others, they'll be friends in those games as well, and in fact, the sync update was first delivered before the update that lets more friends be added freely. The increased limit should bode well for those who manage multiple communities, especially those that are separated by great distances, as well as those who link up with very far away Trainers for the purpose of remote raids or even remote battling as currently necessitated by the Silph Arena, for which any or all of these require ample friend slots. The increased limit should be more than ample for that, provided that one does not immediately fill up the new space in the friend list with new friends, necessary or otherwise.

For older friends (in the sense of Trainers both before and after the friend list was introduced) as well as complete newcomers, they ought to benefit from the next feature. That would be a referral program to aid one another along the journey. Trainers who are active may now possess a referral code that can be given to inactive but returning Trainers (after at least 90 days of inactivity) or to new Trainers starting their journey. The two Trainers can then complete tasks similar to Research that are in sync with each other, and these tasks have many nifty rewards for both of them. They will have to play smart, of course, but the rewards should be the greatest incentive. This feature had been tested in Australia prior to its global debut, and the fact that the feature was accepted rather rapidly is and should be a testament to its extreme utility. It also has an achievement medal attached to it, which demands observation of the progression of this feature.

Today, friends have become especially important in Pokémon Go due to things that are conferred by these relationships. The two new features above can be construed to be reflective of this fact, with the friend limit being greatly increased and a referral program aiding upstarting or restarting Trainers. The features should assure many more interactions in the future and certainly bring the Trainers involved to even higher levels in their Pokémon Go journey wherever it takes them.

One year ago: Leaping off Ledges

Two years ago: Scat-Poké-Land

Three years ago: Let's Go Research

Four years ago: Caravansary

Quickies: Going to the Safari

I used to live in a place that is quite nearby from a major safari park. Though I have only the slightest recollection that I had ever visited the place, it became a corner of my life back then. The cornerstone of my life today is Pokémon, and it too has links to the safari park, at least as a concept, as some installments of its main series games contain a "Safari Zone" that by and large replicates the concept. Yet there is one important difference: whereas the real safari park is more like a wildlife reserve where one goes to see animals as they are up close, the Safari Zones of the Pokémon games are more like hunting grounds from which one comes away not just with an experience but useful Pokémon for different purposes, including but not limited to battling.

Even with my faint recollection, one thing I can verify is that one goes into the safari park in a covered vehicle and has to stay there during the time that one is in the park. In contrast, one goes into the Safari Zones with oneself and the tools that one need to capture Pokémon. Evidently, the safari can be a dangerous place (or definitely is, in the case of the real-world park), whatever the creatures that might be present. At the same time, there is a sense that the creatures of Pokémon may be a little less dangerous in this regard - with people being allowed freely inside without some sort of protective stipulation - and the relationship of mutualism is somehow honored between the creatures and the people.

Today, "Safari Zones" live on as regular real events for Pokémon Go... or would be, if it weren't for the current conditions of the world. And while the safari park of concern may be open at times and allow for visitors to enjoy the park as intended, it may perhaps not be the best idea to do so while things in the world are still not in good condition. It is still fascinating that people of both worlds can go to the safari for different ways of enjoying the respective creatures of their world. I, for one, might just be interested in recollecting my old memories of the safari park if it ever becomes appropriate; in the meantime, the Pokémon kind of "safari" might just be the thing to tide over until the former can actually happen.

One year ago: PvP Charged Attack Technique

Two years ago: Friend Cascade

Three years ago: Icons, Images, and Such

Four years ago: These Foolish Things Remind Me of Pokémon

Pretty Colors of the Prism

Something that organizers of PvP battling in Pokémon Go might face at the moment is how to create novel formats that are beyond the ordinary "vanilla" or open format of the established leagues, as well as the typical modifications applied to them to change things up a bit, most likely simple restrictions of different types. Even then, these simple restrictions might prove to be a bit too simple, and something else needs to be restricted in a significantly wilder manner in order to make a difference. The current themed cup of this month for the Silph Arena may just be one of the answers for that situation.

This month, the theme is called "Prismatic". It's called as such because the theme involves colors, being those of the Pokémon. Some setup of the team is also in order. Besides the standard Great League basis and no Mega Evolution - plus, Shadow Pokémon are not allowed this time - as mandated for a Silph Arena competition, one selects a team of 6 Pokémon, and each of these Pokémon are to fit 6 color groups: red, blue, yellow/white, green/black, brown/pink, and purple/gray. Each of these color groups contain a selection of Pokémon (40-50 or so) that may be chosen for that group, which may be seen on the page for the themed cup. The additional stipulation that no species may be duplicated also becomes important, as the forms of Wormadam, for example, are divided according to these color groups, and they cannot all be chosen.

This themed cup represents a radical structuring for Pokémon allowed for it as well as the teams that appear in it. The overall breadth of available Pokémon has been narrowed down to less than a few hundred, and of those Pokémon, they may only be selected as part of a team in specific ways, by color restrictions. Those color restrictions are similar to those for the Rose Cup of a past Silph Arena season or even the Love Cup from GBL some ways back, but expanded with more colors; this time, they're also designed not to intermingle within a team and only when that team is put into battle.

As usual, a selection of species always leads the pack as the meta. It has been suggested that the meta for this has three "domains": "ethereal" Pokémon with mostly Psychic, Flying, Ghost and Fairy types, "fighter" Pokémon - not necessarily of the Fighting type - that can deal blows of different kinds, and "natural" Pokémon of types like Grass, Ground, and Ice that represent things from nature. The three "domains" deal with the next one down the list or back to the top. This meta framework may have to be kept in mind while constructing teams representative of the colors.

And those colors are pretty indeed. While they are not exactly representative of the spectrum an actual rainbow, they do represent the abstraction of the color spectrum of Pokémon present in Pokémon Go and have been "shoehorned" as such. That "shoehorning" also becomes an incredibly novel way of restricting available Pokémon to make a format that is definitely different than most other similarly usual formats, in the ever-continuing struggle to "shed light" on new Pokémon battle challenges based on the colors that make it up.

One year ago: Writer Shortcuts

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2017 T-Shirt Replica

Three years ago: 1000 Pokémon Species?

Four years ago: That Way You've Got

Moody Friends, Moody Pokémon

I have lots of friends. Some of them, though, may have wildly varying emotions. One moment they may be happy though slightly sad, then the next they may be really sad and a bit angry, and after that they are very angry yet happy, and so on and so forth. In these states, they can be described as people who are "moody". There is, however, something else that can be described as moody, and that would be certain Pokémon species. That would be because for the Pokémon of concern, "Moody" is an Ability that they may possess in the main series games.

This Ability has a rather unique stipulation: at each turn of a Pokémon battle, one stat is raised by two levels and another stat is decreased by one level. Under the right conditions, particularly an extended battle with many turns, this may lead to a Pokémon having a sufficient number of raised stats to be able to affect the opponent seriously. Not many Pokémon may have this Ability, and for those that may have it, it is a Hidden Ability, making this Ability somewhat rare even for the Pokémon who may have it.

The resemblance of the workings of the Ability to the real-world situation is uncanny. The friends that I described above are very much like that, being up in one emotion and down in another. Though they don't accumulate emotions in the same way that raised and lowered stats accumulate in battle in the main series of Pokémon games, the ups and downs of their emotions do resemble the mechanism of the Ability. There is no telling how they might feel at any given moment nor how they would feel the next. Similarly, the workings of the Ability are just as unpredictable as the shifts in their emotions.

As for this being a "Hidden Ability" of some of my friends, I wouldn't regard it too much in this manner. In fact, because of the way many of the rest of my friends are, it would probably not be considered a "Hidden Ability"... unless some other ones of them too start to undergo mood swings like the ones for whom I consider the Ability pertinent in its workings in comparison to that. At that point, it really would be a "Hidden Ability" that they somehow changed to while I'm not even aware that it happened.

At this point, I will pretty much have to accept that a select few of my friends will have this odd shifting behavior in this feelings - up, down, and all around. I am also rather accepting that the behavior mirrors that of an (Hidden) Ability for Pokémon in the main series games as well as the existence of the Ability itself. The Ability is something that one might face or potentially use in battle, whilst the mirrored real-life behavior is just something I'll have to deal in the battle that is interacting with them as best as I can, perhaps without inciting how the Ability works in that sense.

One year ago: The Primary Warning of Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (and Nothing), 4/4/2019

Three years ago: Gambling Not Permitted

Four years ago: One Thing

Cosplay: "How Are You, Communities?"

Me: Well, OK, so there's this thing. It's not really an event, but it could be considered a "test bed" for one.

Ash: Oh! Looks nice. Sure, I'll take it up.

Me: The concept is that the organizers wanted to check up on communities, hence the title. Of course, within communities, there are also great individuals, like you and me, so they want to check up on them as well, including us.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu?  ["I'm not an individual?"]

Me: Well, Pikachu should count too.

Pikachu: Pika! ["OK!"]

Ash: So what do you want me to wear?

Me: How about your Kalos outfit? That seems simple enough for now. And I think it might be time to try something new with it.

Ash: Like what?

Me: Oh, uh... Hmm. Looks like it's not going to work out at the moment. So let's just roll with the usual. There will always be time later on for when that happens.

Ash: OK, that's fine. So I got there, while doing a few Pokémon things for you, and it doesn't seem like much.

Me: That could be understandable because of things that go around.

Ash: That was at first. But then it got a bit more lively in the evening with some music.

Pikachu: Pika chu, pika! ["Nice music!"]

Ash: Oh yeah, I got into the act: I sang five Pokémon songs in a row for everyone!

Me: Wonderful! That should be a great substitute for not being able to go to places with singing competitions.

Ash: I guess it could be like practice for them.

Me: Sure, you can think of it that way. Any other things of interest?

Ash: I saw a few people bring in their community things. They look neat, but you don't seem to deal with them.

Me: Believe me, if I did, I would have brought them in with you.

Ash: And that was all, really. It was just like a big gathering, and you sent me in to update on you.

Me: OK, so not much more to speak of. As for that "test bed" for that event, I think this ought to do nicely.

Ash: I'll be glad to take part if that happens.

Pikachu: Pi pika pika chu. ["So do I."]

Me: It should be a good thing.

One year ago: Subcultures and Specialties

Two years ago: Pokémon and eSports

Three years ago: Fondness for Latias and Latios

Four years ago: A Story of Love, A Story of Passion