Even More Post Categories

I've had half a year to think about it, and I've decided to undertake the division of post categories on this Pokémon blog according to what I posed earlier at the beginning of this year. I've put in the initial effort, and that has led to the creation of those categories, but now they're slightly different from what I planned, and there is something new as well. The effort doesn't stop there as well. With that, I'd like to take a post to explain what I've done and what else needs to be done.

The big thing is the breaking up of the "Events" category into four new ones. The new ones are "Game Events" for happenings in the games that are not necessarily reflected in real life, "Community Events" for happenings that are initiated by local groups of fans and linked to certain Pokémon happenings, "J-Events" for Japanese pop culture events where my cosplay is likely to be featured, and "Tournaments" for competitions with the games. These four new categories ought to cover all the events that may just involve Pokémon and my presence, and work well for some time ahead.

One new category that isn't related to this restructuring is the "People" category. This category is intended to contain posts with relations to certain persons who are definitively related to Pokémon or maybe just one step removed from that. This would include key figures linked to the franchise or even those with certain renown, for which Pokémon is included. It might be considered one step forward in relieving the burden of the "Musings" category, which indeed has continued to burgeon since the last time I reported the number of posts in it (now: 781). Much still needs to be done should that category be reorganized as well.

As with the earlier reorganization of "Game", some work remains in the reorganization, being the leftovers from the prior category that haven't been reorganized. In fact, the reorganization of the former is still ongoing and has not been finished, even well after the fact. Further, it seems that the reorganization may have let some pages end up in the "Musings" category, essentially dumping them there rather than reorganizing them as intended. Therefore, the reorganization of this may become the rather pertinent next step to be undertaken. Yet it is understandably a massive next step due to the number of posts.

Five and a half years of posting has led to a massive number of posts, many of which have required reorganization every so often. Evidently, as that number balloons, so does the number of categories, which I've effectively just increased with the current reorganization. It may be that the creation of a category structure for posts on this blog may be regarded as a work in progress along with the posts themselves. But that seems to be par for the course, considering that Pokémon itself is always in constant development.

One year ago: The Reality of Pokémon Battles

Two years ago: Aliens Among People and Creatures

Three years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Rainbow Cup

Four years ago: Gifts That Keep on Giving

Five years ago: After Six Months: Poké-Paradise in a Blog

Pokémon Adventures: Sword and Shield Manga, Volume 1

If three years ago I obtained the art book for the Pokémon manga series of the same title (Pokémon Adventures), this time around and recently, I've obtained the continuation of the manga for the eighth generation. Rightfully, it is subtitled as Sword and Shield, taking after the games of the same titles. Hidenori Kusaka serves as the story writer for this series, in tandem with Satoshi Yamamoto on the illustration.

This also makes it the very first volume I've owned of this manga series. I recall seeing a copy of an earlier series of the manga a very long time ago, though I did not pick that up for various reasons. This time, seeing as I've enjoyed the art book and desired to become a reader of it, I opportunistically picked up a volume; out of several, I chose this one because of its relatively current state, which might spur my playing of the games (I haven't).

And that brings me to an important point. For those who haven't noticed the running theme, especially based on the art book I showed off earlier, the manga series is based on the games, and its characters are more or less faithful to them. In fact, the "preface" to this volume indicates that indeed, the author and illustrator duo have played the games that become the basis for the manga series, in this particular case Sword and Shield.

Currently, I'm taking my sweet time reading through this entire volume, which is made up of seven chapters that are given the moniker of "adventure". That is rather suitable for this manga series in entirety, and this first volume represents my own beginning to that, which was jump-started by the art book that I possessed earlier. Much lies on the path of Sword and Shield, and that certainly goes beyond this first step of mine into this Pokémon manga series. 

One year ago: Blogging on Blogs: Jurnal Otaku Indonesia

Two years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Sorcerous Cup

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/29/2019

Four years ago: Monotype (of) Sorts

Five years ago: 3DS Circle Pad and Pokémon Games... Plus My Experience

Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies, Round 2

Like the previous month, Community Day this month in my local area was extra special because of the gathering and due official support for it. That also certainly meant the goodies or merchandise as with last month. And for this month, those goodies are... more of the same. Even so, there are some slight differences from the previous set of goodies, so they need to be covered all the same.

Now, as with last month, I received a poster - in fact, I received two of them. The first one on the left is for promoting the edition of Community Day this month, naturally featuring Deino. The second one on the right is for promoting the edition from two months ago with Stufful. The former needs no explanation, but the latter has a good story behind it. The story is that the person who helped to make things happen - also a member of my raid group - received the stock of Stufful posters along with the stock of Deino posters for distribution, so it became a similar story as last month except that the overstocked poster is different. As a matter of fact, the Alolan Geodude poster from last month was still overstocked, so those who didn't get Stufful got that instead, as Stufful is given out on a first-come-first-serve basis. It becomes obvious that I got in rather early, allowing me to get Stufful.

Most of the items in front also need no explanation; the right item is the phone hook with the Poké Ball variant rather than the logo variant, and the middle item is the postcard "voucher" with the code for in-game items, which I've already redeemed but still choose not to show. The left item is new and unique: it's an actual Niantic sticker. If in the game itself one can obtain the Niantic sticker for Gifts by way of special events, this is the real version of that, only it doesn't have the wordmark on the bottom like the in-game sticker. I'm currently hard-pressed to find a place to put this sticker on, however, so it may be some time before I decide to stick this on somewhere, much like the Charmander stickers from a while back.

On a slight tangent, the meetup the other day was also supported by a small-scale business that gave away food packs for those who got a really heavy Shiny Deino. I was one of them, and I got one of the food packs. It's not really related to the game or the event (nor is it shown in the picture above), but it still bears mentioning as the meetup becomes the impetus for this "giveaway" and mini-contest, of which I was one of the lucky winners. Similar giveaways have occurred for meetups in other places long before official support came about.

After two (plus one) editions of Pokémon Go Community Day with official support, now it seems that I have an idea of what goodies can be expected for future editions, certainly for as long as official support is maintained. Yet there may just be certain differences, as has been evident for the last one, so some coverage could be deemed necessary. That may just be something that helps to make each Community Day unique.

One year ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: Going to the Far Side

Two years ago: A Virtual Figure Gathering

Three years ago: The Path of (the) Silph

Four years ago: Go Gets Social

Five years ago: LINE Pokémon Themes

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2022

Well, since I've made the event rollups for Pokémon Go in previous years (see below) on this very day in the month, I might as well make it on this day again. Now, since this month has the global Pokémon Go Fest, which is unlike past years, that event effectively steals the spotlight from other events in the month. Yet it is precisely those other events that also become a defining characteristic of this month, so they continue to need to be covered, which is the purpose of these event rollups.

Hot on the heels of the global Pokémon Go Fest was the return of Adventure Week from June 7 to June 12, which as with past editions involved lots of exploration and lots of Pokémon of the Rock type, specifically fossil Pokémon. Of particular relevance this time were the debuts of the Amaura and Tyrunt species families, the respective ones of the sixth generation. They along with the fossil Pokémon of prior generations appeared in Field Research rewards, with a selection also appearing in the wild and Eggs. Raids, meanwhile, were focused on other Pokémon of the Rock type, but that is particularly fine for this event. Increased XP for spinning PokéStops (double for visited, 5x for unvisited) helped seal the deal for the event.

Adventure Week is also one of the events that are affected by the completion of this year's Pokémon Go Fest, granting it an Ultra edition. As a result, it gained the bonus of halved Egg hatch distance, Unown F joined the foray as a Level 1 raid, a Timed Research set became available, Adventure Sync rewards were increased the following week, and June 12 became a Research Day sub-event. That sub-event featured special appearances of the new fossil Pokémon in the wild, alternating over a four-hour period; Cranidos and Shieldon shared the spotlight and had greater Shiny chances, while a selection of other Pokémon of the Rock type complemented the appearances and helped to get things done.

The biggest thing yet for Pokémon Go is having it being featured in the TCG, and to celebrate that, the TCG Crossover event is held from June 16 and will end in three days. This event involves many of the related Pokémon, having them appear in the wild, including a new TCG cap Pikachu; it also serves as the debut of the Wimpod species family. Ditto and Meltan too are of special regard, the latter now being able to be Shiny again for this event with reduced Mystery Box waiting periods, and the former with new transformations. Lunatone and Solrock are also in it for global appearances, after which they will switch hemispheres like prior solstice events. Field Research features rewards of Pokémon of higher evolutionary stages, which become important for completing Collection Challenges, six starting in the first week and three in the second week. Raids naturally complemented all the involved Pokémon.

Even with the global Pokémon Go Fest edition scheduled for this month, the other events were or are in no short supply of providing enjoyment of Pokémon in different ways. One of them is even influenced by Pokémon Go Fest itself to become a grander version, while the other is just naturally grand in the scale of other Pokémon things. While the event themes are relatively less due to Pokémon Go Fest, their content is anything but, and they all still comprise spotlights in their respective ways and deserve to be told as well.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2021

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/27/2020

Three years ago: Club 40 ID Tournament Memorabilia

Four years ago: Leaders

Five years ago: A Little Dream

Cosplay: Outfest 2022

Me: Didn't think it was going to be so soon after the last one, huh?

Ash: Wow! It's neat that there's another one. But are you sure it's OK?

Pikachu: Pi pika? ["Is it OK?"]

Me: It's OK, at least for now. More on this shortly.

Goh: This one has to be real different.

Me: It is, and it's what I usually send Ash to do. He's here to have fun, and that means I have fun too - that, and so we can try our luck with the competition.

Goh: Oh! What kind of competition?

Me: This time, there's a parade and a partial performance. It's not always as simple as it looks, and there are often many characters in it - hence, try our luck.

Ash: Hey, you never know what might happen!

Me: That's a truth. OK, so I'm told this is just a clothing bazaar, but they have competitions to make it lively.

Goh: I'm interested in the clothes!

Me: Yeah, so am I.

Ash: You might have to think about it again, because some of the clothes that I saw were really big - even for me!

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika pika. ["Maybe just too big."]

Me: Well, that might not be so good after all. But you're in it for the competition anyhow, so what happened?

Ash: I got to the place early so I could eat out with a character friend, which almost didn't happen. The whole thing started later in the afternoon.

Me: I have to say that I kind of regret sending you somewhat early, because something happened for me personally early in the morning, and it's been hard for me to get over it - though that's kind of not related. Go on.

Ash: It took everyone a while to get ready. Maybe everyone and even the hosts should have been more prepared. The parade was just a simple tour of the place, but the performance was the greatest part.

Goh: I want to know about that.

Ash: Everyone performed for about a minute, and when I came up, lots of people cheered.

Goh: Wow!!

Me: I have to take some credit for that. We've been coordinating this for years, and it's nice to know that people still remember after a long time being absent.

Ash: Yeah! Lots of people wanted to take pictures. It's so great that we can still do that.

Me: I'm sure it is. How many characters were in the competition?

Ash: About 20 or so.

Goh: That's a lot. I'm sure they were all spectacular.

Ash: You bet! There were warriors and idols, and then there's me.

Me: Of course, I have to ask about the results. Who won?

Ash: Three warriors and a ninja teacher - the same one from last week.

Me: Hey, that's neat! I'm glad he can win, even if you didn't. It almost feels like you did.

Goh: That's a good way to think about it. I mean, you all know each other.

Ash: I agree. But it also feels like we won hearts, and that's great too.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["Surely."]

Me: OK, so back to the safety thing, I actually wanted to send you out of town for another event on the same day, but this one came up suddenly, and it's local, so I feel it's safer (and cheaper).

Ash: That's OK.

Goh: I hear that things are starting to get worse again.

Me: That's the other part of the safety thing. I think this could be the last one for a bit of time if things are getting worse again, so be glad that has happened, and really nicely at that.

Ash: I don't mind. Safety is important.

Pikachu: Pikachu! ["Important!"]

Me: Once things are safe again, the pace should pick up again.

One year ago: On Becoming an Early Adopter

Two years ago: Gift Stickers in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Pokémon and the Visually Impaired

Four years ago: Retro Music and Modern Music

Five years ago: More LINE Pokémon Stickers

Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/25/2022

Community Day in Pokémon Go this month came fairly late as well, much like the edition of last month. However, in a sense, the featured Pokémon is a little late to the Community Day party as well, and it's one that Trainers have long desired and/or forethought that it was going to be Community Day fodder. Happily, that time has come... though that may not seem to jive with the Pokémon species itself, which has the identifier of Irate (that is, "angry") Pokémon.

With that, the featured Pokémon for this month is Deino, a Pokémon of the Dark and Dragon types, which applies well to its extended species family; it's also another case of making the pre-existing Shiny form of this Pokémon more widespread. Evolving it fully to Hydreigon during event hours gives it the Charged move of Brutal Swing, which is new and of great interest for PvP purposes. This month's edition has the main bonus of quartered Egg hatch distance, along with double Candy and increased Candy XL chance bonus, which should help those who need to get Eggs hatching and out as well as those really needing Candies.

Lure Modules and Incense are extended to three hours as usual, and photo bombs, stickers, item packs, and the paid Special Research (titled "Field Notes: Deino") are still present, the last with gifting ability. A few changes this time around: the item pack of extra Ultra Balls are absent, forcing a reliance on friend Gifts and PokéStops for them; meanwhile, instead of Professor Willow, Rhi from the Ultra Beast Recon Squad, who appeared on the second day of Pokémon Go Fest this year, guided the paid Special Research in lieu of the former, who has also been "absent" since. The absences may just be confounding.

As with the past two months, trade bonuses (discounts and extra Special Trades) are retained, as is the "Group Play Bonus"; for the latter, if enough Pokémon are captured close to a Lure Module, Zweilous as Deino's next of kin appears in the wild, available for capture. Something new for this edition is the appearance of Zweilous in special Level 4 raids after general appearances end at 2 PM; defeating it in groups and on-site (remote passes cannot be used to participate in these raids, even when invited) allows Deino to appear once again for 30 minutes in the local area surrounding the Gym. Due to this, the "move window" is extended to 7 PM, after which the event ends properly.

For my personal experience, local meetups are once again a thing, even where I am, where one returned. This time, the meetup was formally established at that park close to my home, which brought out even more Trainers from the woodworks, including some new ones and others who I thought had become absent. Like before, goodies were the order of the day for those who come, and earlier coming attendees could stand to get more of them. Sub-communities also received cloth banners (seen in the second photo below), while the regular banner returned, this time to welcome everyone who has really taken the effort to gather up to make today's gathering another successful one.

Photo taken earlier on...

...and later on.

The function of Community Day, in addition to gathering up sociable links as above, is to shape the best Pokémon out of the resources that one possessed, and I did just that. I obtained only three Shiny Deino, while others were luckier and got more. I evolved the best ones I had, which I had also made a prior Buddy Pokémon. Two more were evolved for PvP purposes, one of which was Shiny. Finally, I also evolved a Lucky one, which was the only one I had even with taking advantage of a single extension by a raid and trading with a friend. It was overall a good personal turnout, like how the meetup was.

Many things still went on for this Community Day, but then, many things always go on for Community Day. That includes whether or not it comes late, and whether or not the featured Pokémon itself has been expected. In any case, no Trainer can stand to be "irate" even when the subject is as such; it should be taken in good stride and with good company, in order to make it the best as best can be.

One year ago: Who Floats - Pokémon Floats

Two years ago: Uniting the Heart

Three years ago: Evoked Emotions

Four years ago: Promoting Local Establishments with Go

Five years ago: Four Notions

The Pokémon Unite Club Membership

For hardcore players (Trainers) of Pokémon Unite, they may desire new and exclusive ways to enhance the playing experience, including by paying for exactly that. Those people may just be able to find that in a facet of the game that was recently introduced, which is the Unite Club Membership. By paying a certain amount of money each month, one can obtain access to a number of perks that make gameplay all the more attractive for its subscribers.

At the heart of this new subscription system are the "skins" that can be used by the Pokémon, which are called Holowear. For the purpose of this system, subscribing members are granted access to an exclusive "Holowear of the Month" as well as limited Unite Licenses of Pokémon with certain Holowear. The latter is obviously temporary, but the former really becomes the hallmark of the subscription and can be used for far longer. Given the price of the subscription, this is likely what some might pursue and continually use.

If that's not the case, then they and many others are likely to be pursuing the perk of daily Aeos Gems. Each day, one is rewarded 40 of these, which adds up to 1200 a month, definitely not a small amount. That amount can be used to purchase other items and customizations, including another Holowear if desired or even a Battle Pass; the choice is up to the player Trainer to make, as if the Gems were obtained by normal purchase. One would also have to be diligent in claiming this bonus to make the best and full usage of it.

Besides Holowear and Aeos Gems, there are also other nifty bonuses for subscribers. They can use decorative speech bubbles that are more than just ordinary speech bubbles that everyone else uses, and they get special picture frames (the round edges around their Trainer avatar in the Friend list) as well. They also can potentially obtain Holowear early after release with a certain discount, which could be a real plus for those who are crazy on Holowear. Regardless, these bonuses comprise some "extra extras" for those who subscribe.

There is just one caveat - along with its implications - in subscribing. Although Pokémon Unite is designed for cross-play and cross-progression, the membership is limited to either mobile or Nintendo Switch, and the claiming of perks and bonuses is to be done on the device on which one is subscribed, and specific ones are only available therein. Others, meanwhile can be freely used on whichever device one may play on, and this might necessitate keeping the game on both devices in order to subscribe on one and play the remnants wherever.

Clearly, subscribing to a Pokémon Unite Club Membership requires some commitment up front, but after the commitment is made, the newest and most exclusive perks and bonuses are abound and much is to be taken in and enjoyed by a player Trainer. That may just be able to lead to an extremely improved gameplay experience, particularly for those for whom Pokémon Unite has attained hardcore status in their gaming hall of fame.

One year ago: Until Perfect, Until Appreciated

Two years ago: Let's Talk About Grievances

Three years ago: The Show Must Go On

Four years ago: Jumping the 'Karp

Five years ago: Married... to Pikachu?

2000 Posts!!!

Before going on with other Pokémon-related stuff that I want to cover, there's something special that I'd like to discuss. With this post, I have achieved 2000 posts on this blog, one for each day of the year up to today. It's a milestone that follows the one for 1000 posts, which occurred some three years ago. Now, the number "2000" is special, not the least because it's part of the (English) title of a Pokémon feature film or movie prominent around that year. It also helps to mark that Pokémon was in part a turn-of-the-century phenomenon at the time, which was also marked by some concerns with that year. That also seems to be a good framework for discussing this milestone as it happens.

The concerns of that year, which began in earnest a few years before, was that certain things would collapse spectacularly, just like the two events I've covered and participated in years past (see below) to a personal extent. Succinctly, the collapse of three years ago was rather personal and had significant effects therein, and that of last year was due to organizational shortcomings but still had personal effects; many people thought things could go either way or both ways back then. In fact, they didn't, and life went on as usual, including Pokémon, which was still in its infancy at that time. The collapse was hyped but didn't happen, while in my case, the collapse did happen, but the effects were hyped.

In a way, reaching 2000 posts leads me to perceive that I've "weathered the storm" as others did around that time above, in my case particularly with Pokémon. Indeed, the past three years - particularly since the 1000 posts milestone - have been a flurry of things, with most of that flurry being caused by other goings-on in the world. And to have "weathered that storm", all it took was to do the thing that I've always done on this blog: continue to relate to Pokémon through its happenings and personal experiences, which has worked out well even now. Back then, people continued to live, and the "storm" just passed on by; this current "storm" hasn't really passed, but at least I've "weathered" some of it.

A long time has passed since my first post on this blog, in which I stated that I might post once a day, and that has been realized even up to today. The first 1000 posts were a mix of great times and not-so-great times, while the next 1000 were marked by many challenges similar to the time of the year with the same number, perhaps with more still to come. The answer to both could be said to be just to go on living, which people did at that time without too much regard for the concerns, and now with all that has happened but with just enough caution for the situation. In either case, Pokémon is still a thing, and in my case, Pokémon is always a thing, now ready to move onward with it for many more posts to come.

One year ago: Cosplay: YASUMI 2 - Sunday Holiday

Two years ago: Lifestyle Gaming

Three years ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2019 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Four years ago: Gym Rework, One Year Later

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Gym Rework

The Catch 'Em Battle Arena

Over the past few weeks and ending soon, Pokémon Unite has entertained player Trainers and the Pokémon they choose with a new battle arena. Typically, in a battle arena, there are certain Pokémon that only appear as field enemies, meant to be defeated and captured for their bonuses but not played. This new battle arena (or even mode) now allows one to play as some of those unplayable Pokémon, and it's titled Catch 'Em, appropriate to what one typically does for these Pokémon.

The arena is based on Mer Stadium (and is thus a Quick Battle), but with additional different Pokémon hotspots. Araquanid/Dewpider and Electrode are found in the lower and upper paths, Avalugg and Drednaw are found in the middle "jungle" path, and Zapdos, Regigigas, and Articuno appear in three "legend pits" in the middle from bottom to top. All of them are "best-of" representatives from the other battle arenas, and they along with Ludicolo and Tauros in the middle "jungle" can be caught and then played.

Defeating and catching any of them allows one to swap once to and back from the caught Pokémon, receiving a playable version of them with two main attacks. This even applies to the three Legendary Pokémon, who have the special property of making opposing goal zones defenseless when attacking them with the Pokémon. The swap, of course, should be made strategically regardless to maximize usage and potential, considering that they cannot score themselves; only the original chosen Pokémon can score, and they must do so at appropriate times.

Evidently, some Pokémon remain unable to be played, for example Aipom and Lillipup, but these two have higher-level evolved forms that may just necessitate them becoming Unite Licenses in the future; Rotom, which appears, remains specialty regardless. Also, with so many Pokémon and objectives, it may be easy to become flustered, but since the ultimate objectives are the same as other maps - with the subtle nuances of using captured Pokémon - it is still necessary to focus on them in order to win.

Pokémon Unite has come some ways today, with all the ways of playing and the Pokémon included, even ones that typically are "dormant" in certain battle arenas. The new Catch 'Em battle arena essentially "awakens" their potential for one to make use of and succeed. Though it remains a Quick Battle and therefore niche, it still becomes an interesting insight to the Pokémon that are typically unplayable, which then bring enjoyment as one gains the ability to play them even temporarily.

One year ago: All for a "Pokémon (Pikachu) Meal"

Two years ago: Dub Absence, Again

Three years ago: Tournament+Cosplay: Club 40 Indonesia Tournament

Four years ago: Food Chain Axioms

Five years ago: Technology, Good and Evil

The Fossil Cup of GBL

Go Battle League in Pokémon Go started out a new season this month along with the overall Pokémon Go season itself, and it has promised a slew of new formats (themed cups) along with some returning old ones and the usual leagues. The first of these has taken place over the past week, and it's as ancient as it is modern - and it's called the "Fossil Cup".

With a Great League basis, this format limits the types of Pokémon that may be used to three: Rock, Water, and Steel. Other secondary types that accompany these types also remain fair game, but this also leads to its source of problems, which will be discussed shortly. The point is that these three types represent the types of most extant fossil Pokémon, and thus they can certainly be utilized in this format. Yet one probably would not want to use them if only for one important reason.

That reason, which is also the source of its problems, is that even with the restrictions, this format lets in all kinds of "obnoxious" Pokémon that aren't even fossils to begin with, and they'll certainly clobber not just the "true" fossil Pokémon but also each other. Registeel is tops in this regard, and it's a Legendary Pokémon, not so much a fossil (at least, not under its usual interpretation). A disproportionate number of Water Pokémon occupy the top 25, along with outliers like Ferrothorn and Escavalier. Cradily just makes it in at the bottom of that, and it's the best out of the "true" fossils.

In fact, others and I have found that the Grass type, coupled with one of the types above, becomes a very useful counter to two of the three of those types. A personal choice of many (and mine) is Ludicolo, an uncommon Pokémon in general PvP but one that shines here, even making the top 10. With the Water type that it has, it can wreak havoc unto itself as well as the Pokémon of said types above. Such a prevalence might demand Trainers to keep their Rock types safely sequestered as well.

So, it seems by the above, this format is lacking the "ancient" quality from the fossil Pokémon, yet it's completely modern thanks to its accommodating of various and potentially challenging Pokémon. It is still an enlivening addition to this new and current season, and it's one that won't go "ancient" until its time has really come with all the battles that it offers.

One year ago: Community Day Patterns

Two years ago: Another Anime Dream

Three years ago: Cosplay Card, Fourth Version

Four years ago: Local Ex-Raid (and Complications), 6/21/2018

Five years ago: Resets and Redos

I Love You, As Long As You Are

I don't care who you are

Where you're from

What you did

As long as you love me

Who you are

Where you're from

Don't care what you did

As long as you love me

-- "As Long As You Love Me", Backstreet Boys

Previously, I discussed about a song that is promoted like a Pokémon song and may be considered a part of its "extended family", yet it may still be construed to sound general with few, if any, links to it. That gives me the prompt to discuss a generic song that is quite unrelated to Pokémon, but necessarily involving Pokémon. It's part of my experience, just like with other songs that I've discussed in the past, only more so this time.

Like the previous song, this is a generic pop song and love is necessarily involved. It also came out somewhat earlier but is still contemporary to the other. The primary difference is that the song is by a boy band and not a girl group, and then there's the Pokémon matter as above. The overall message of the song, best encapsulated in the chorus quoted above, is unconditional love to a stretch of the term, no matter how one and their partner may be.

In that same way, the mutual attachment that Trainers and their Pokémon have ought to be unconditional as well. Once the two have bonded, their goals and feelings are shared, and they have to work together to realize them. This would be regardless of their backgrounds (including species ones for Pokémon), origins, and histories, which are cast aside for what is truly in common - perhaps love wouldn't hurt to be had as well.

The "interpretative soundtracks" for the dubs of the Pokémon feature films or movies have done a good job of making pop music jive with the series, particularly the previously discussed song. While the song above came out just a little before that time (and before Pokémon really got popular), with just a little stretch of reasoning and imagination, there's no reason that the above song can't fit in with Pokémon as well, particularly its most important living elements.

One year ago: Trainer Rank in Pokémon Shuffle

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/20/2020

Three years ago: Thematic Battles

Four years ago: Losing Touch and Keeping in Touch

Five years ago: Pokémon Exclusivity

Say You Love Me (Not)

Don't say you love me

You don't even know me

If you really want me

Then give me some time

Don't go there baby

Not before I'm ready

Don't say your heart's in a hurry

It's not like we're gonna get married

Give me, give me some time

-- "Don't Say You Love Me", M2M

Continuing the (in some ways out-of-band) love discussion that started with an item from the main series games that has an effect on that, there is this song by a popular two-girl group... or rather, this song is what made the two-girl group popular - at least, during their time - and what's more, it can be said that Pokémon has a stake in making it as such. It may be surprising for Pokémon fans and music fans alike.

This song is one of the songs, in a medley, that play during the ending of the English dub of the first feature film or movie (Mewtwo Strikes Back) and is part of the "interpretative soundtrack", along with another song I discussed over three years ago and a couple of others. Overall, the sound of it is very much a pop tune about love with nary a link to Pokémon. Yet it does figure prominently, specifically in the promotion of this song.

Like many pop songs, this one has a music video - two in fact, one with the elements of the movie and one without. Furthermore, both of these utilize specific versions of the song, which differ by exactly one line near the beginning of the song, and it otherwise remains the same. Even the cover of the single is heavily tied to the movie and its "interpretative soundtrack". That's a lot of Pokémon links for a song that may seem to hardly evoke it.

As stated earlier, this song is about love, specifically one that may be construed as coming too early. It implies that love develops with time, and when the time is ripe and the parties are ready, love may then be considered to foster. It's highly evident even in the quoted chorus above. The message is quite general(ly romantic) and the link to Pokémon would need to be extracted deep from its superficial promotion.

Because this song is tied to the first movie, the message may be considered to be relevant to the newly conceived Mewtwo. Team Rocket conceived it as the clone of Mew, though it was vastly different from the latter. As such, it was on a "sabbatical" of sorts to find its purpose; it wasn't "ready for prime time", like a love that hasn't matured - the very point of the song. That love and Mewtwo needed the time to be ready, and so the song fits in a way.

Music fans are likely to regard this as an exemplary pop song regardless of its links, but for Pokémon fans, this song arguably has a special place, thanks to its promotion by way of the first movie, at least in dubbed form. That would be no surprise given its qualities for the former as well as its ties for the latter, but the song's message itself may just be the biggest surprise... until all is truly ready in love, Pokémon or otherwise.

One year ago: Earthing with Pokémon

Two years ago: Taking Pictures of Pokémon

Three years ago: LINE Pokémon Emoji

Four years ago: The Super Incubator

Five years ago: The Badge Arcade Hit Its Limits

Cosplay: Mini Futsal Gathering & Cup 2022

Me: It's been a long time, but now here's something for us to enjoy.

Ash: Nice!

Pikachu: Pika! ["Nice!"]

Goh: What about me?

Me: You can enjoy it too, even as an observer through us... at least until someone can help to send you.

Ash: I'm sure something can happen!

Me: Right, you never know how unexpected things can be. So, this is perhaps like one that I sent you to two and a half years ago. There's a little bit of ball game (arena soccer, futsal), a little bit of characters, but a lot of fun.

Goh: Wait, so what would Ash have to do in a ball game?

Me: Oh, not much. Here is mostly about having fun. And I know there aren't any competitions here, but that should be OK for now. Hopefully after this, things can pick up the pace.

Ash: I'm fine with that. So... It really was a lot like last time. The school kids were having a tournament, and the other characters and I cheered them on.

Me: And I'm sure you met the ninja teacher coach again.

Ash: Yeah! We hadn't met in a real long time. He didn't have his student from last time, but he at least had his real students that he coached.

Pikachu: Pi pi pika chu! ["The ninja teacher!"]

Goh: Hold on - a ninja teacher?! That must have been a sight to see!

Me: I'm sure it is. That's why we've got to find a way to send you sometime.

Goh: OK, so what else happened?

Ash: The tournament happened. It went all the way to the finals, and I think the ninja teacher coach got a really good result.

Me: Well, that should be neat for him. But I guess, there wasn't anything special for the characters, huh.

Ash: No, there weren't. I guess cheering on was our part.

Me: Hmm. But I'm sure you had a good time as any.

Ash: Yeah! I wouldn't have traded it for anything else.

Goh: You know, from what you tell me, I like the sound of everything. I heard that somewhere else in your world, Pokémon has been connected to the sport.

Me: That's indeed true. Maybe the ninja teacher coach could have taken some cues from that campaign.

Ash: I'd like to have seen that for myself!

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["So do I!"]

Me: Today was still a good day for a ball game - and if it can involve Pokémon and other characters, why not.

One year ago: Pokémon Words from the Coach

Two years ago: Pokémon (PKMN) Presents, 6/17/2020

Three years ago: On Copyrights

Four years ago: Boxes of Go-Goodies

Five years ago: There Is Only One Ball

Knotting Destinies and Love

The peak occasion for celebrating love in real life may have passed some months ago, but there's no harm in bringing up the topic every so often. The main series of Pokémon games deal with the topic in some ways too, in particular for Pokémon in battle, who may inflict and be inflicted with the status of "infatuation". A related item for that status is Destiny Knot, and it's something that I've been thinking about most recently as I've been thinking about Pokémon in the usual different ways.

Destiny Knot has a unique function; it is a held item that Pokémon may bring into battle. If a Pokémon in battle inflicts the "infatuated" status on a Pokémon holding this item, the inflicting Pokémon also becomes inflicted with the "infatuated" status as well. Since the status prevents Pokémon from attacking most of the time, having both inflicted equalizes conditions, at least hopefully. It also fulfills the premise of the item, which is based on strings that some couples in love tie to each other's fingers to symbolize their link.

While the battle mechanics of this item are normal and expected, the variety of Pokémon that might just use this item (or be on the receiving end of that) could be something to think about. They might contrast each other in size and/or hard to be pictured as being attracted to each other, yet could be made possible by the held item and under the right circumstances. The item and the status are still battle strategies after all, and regardless of the Pokémon involved, they still might apply in different ways.

As a novelty held item in the battles of the main series games, it may or may not get much use, but its properties are unique enough that some Trainers might cleverly and/or sneakily use it. And certainly for me, it has been a sticking point in my recent Pokémon affairs despite not directly dealing with it. There remains much intricacy in the dealings of love even beyond that celebratory time, and one Destiny Knot might just prove to be a part of that intricacy somehow and however it may be used.

One year ago: The Mystique of the Slowpoke Well

Two years ago: Good Storage Limit Counts

Three years ago: I'm a "General"!

Four years ago: Viewpoints and Preferences

Five years ago: Hounds and Hyenas, Canines of the Dark

Voice Acting, for Me and...

I've discussed pretty much all the major voice actors for the Pokémon anime, at least the ones related to the extremely well-known main characters, which can be found in the archives on this blog to the right. What I haven't discussed is my personal connections with the art form and how that can still connect to Pokémon. And it is an art form, for without it, most animated things wouldn't be what they are today, including Pokémon. It would thus make sense for different people to deal with it, including myself in some capacity.

At the least, I'm in connection with people that deal with it. One of those people is the girl fan who I've known for years now and still do. She's been involved in (amateur) voice acting for as far back as I can remember, and it's been a key part of that history as our networks connected. I do have to say, though, that she has been less involved in the art due to various reasons, but I still consider her to be still very much connected to the art, something that will always stand out and moreover is connected to Pokémon.

Through her in part, I've also gained connections to a network of voice actors of similar caliber and level, all of them also pop culture fans (not necessarily of Pokémon, though I'm sure some are as well) and creators of what are called "fan dubs" as well. The possibility of creating a Pokémon fan dub might be slightly remote at this point, but it's something that isn't out of the question, and quite a number of them will likely want in on it should one pop up. Regardless, I'm happy to maintain this connection for formality.

Yet the biggest question would be how I personally deal with it - as in, would I want to voice-act something related to Pokémon in some way? The answer would be yes, absolutely. It would likely be assigned for me rather than be something of my own choosing (which would be obvious for readers of this blog). But since I'm a Pokémon fan, it would be an assignment that would carry much honor for me, even if my skills are rudimentary, and I have to stand doing it in the best way possible.

Voice acting will always have its connections to Pokémon with the anime and amateur voice actors who are ready to take up the challenge of fan-dubbing something about it. It also has some personal connections for me beyond my dealings as a Pokémon fan... and maybe some personal desires that could just be fulfilled in the right situation. It's an art form that deserves appreciation, whether or not it is connected to Pokémon and whatever form it may take. However that ends up, I'm glad to be tagging along for the ride.

One year ago: Personal Social Media Experiments with Pokémon

Two years ago: Go with the Flow

Three years ago: The State of Officialness

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/16/2018

Five years ago: Limited Editions

For Discerning Kids and Adults Alike

Every so often, the subject of Pokémon being for kids in addition to everyone comes up, sometimes with interesting situations or issues. Recently, that has been the case, though that will be discussed in this post a little further on. In the current situation, the situation or issue involves how grown-ups enjoy the same Pokémon things as kids... or perhaps not, as the things that are enjoyed may be totally specific to them - and that's the segue into the situation or issue.

That situation or issue involves "sum", the animator that I brought up in a YouTube Pokémon highlight close to two years ago. Since then, the animator has been especially productive in Pokémon animations in different settings, sometimes in rather sensual ones...  and so has YouTube itself. Against the will of the animator, YouTube has gone through many of the artist's videos and marked them as being for kids, severely limiting their social function for those who aren't as well as their monetary function, and this is regrettable.

It has been posited that the law has something to do with the situation. According to U.S. law, YouTube is not supposed to collect revenue from videos that are directed for kids, including if they contain something like Pokémon, which is in some ways directed to kids. As such, it hunts down videos with (what may be deemed as) "kid-safe" material - even if it wasn't marked as such (without knowledge of its entailments) in the first place - and disables the respective functions as above. Even poopooghost, another artist mentioned in the same YouTube highlight, has had experience with this matter and even came up with a way around it.

Personally, I consider this as having the assumption of "if it's a 'toon, it's for kids" at work. The problem is shoehorning everything animated or with kids subjects as being for kids, without consideration of the content itself or even taking into account how older audiences enjoy the content (and are willing to pay for such content). It's an issue that has been around - by my experience - even long before YouTube and may be considered to have taken up another form and presence on YouTube, one that benefits really no one at all.

Still, it cannot be denied that Pokémon continues to be something that kids enjoy, even though many fans like me are arguably adults. That's something that cannot be taken away even with further developments; instead, it has to be managed well so that kids can continue to enjoy the content directed to them, but also so that older, adult audiences can enjoy their content in the ways that best apply to them and the ones that created the content in the first place - for the ones discerned, in either case.

One year ago: Subspace Emissary Buddies Poster

Two years ago: Names, Markets, and Issues

Three years ago: Code Affairs

Four years ago: Number One for...

Five years ago: 15th Feature Film Mini-Figures

Sending Champs to Be Champs

The Asia Pacific Pokémon Go World Championship Qualifiers have ended, and a winner has been crowned, who is ready to duke it out on the global stage of the World Championships later this year. There's just one problem: that winner has to muster up the resources by oneself to go there, unlike for other regions, where the winner gets a travel award for that purpose. It's a slightly - all right, maybe somewhat - disconcerting and depressing story that actually isn't new. In fact, similar stories have been heard for even athletes of common sports. Because of that, I thought I'd take a post to express my thoughts and deliver insights on the situation.

On one hand, the organizers of the qualifiers have been somewhat accommodating, not just for the local qualifiers in my area but also the ones across the region. They've gathered the best of the best and now they've come out with the "cream of the crop". However, and on the other hand, without accommodating that "cream of the crop" for greater success on the global stage, there's a sense that they might find the "cream" a little "sour", so to speak - and yet the "cream" is "fresh" and should taste "sweet". These sentiments are shared by quite a few Trainers, even some who I recognize and even communicate with directly.

As is usual in the Internet culture of the current day, the situation has given rise to at least one meme. That meme likens the fact of the winner above not getting a travel award (while those of other regions do) to the person not being able to get a piece of the "pie", or rather "cake", that represents the travel award that the winners of the other regions do receive. It becomes apparent that to save face, it's imperative that the winner be sent to the World Championships lest the situation become immortalized in jest forever.

Meanwhile, in order to obviate controversy and just get things going, a fundraiser on GoFundMe has been started to help this winner finance the primary transportation to get there - the plane tickets. The most poignant thing about this is that it's not even started by an Asian, but a European as a goodwill gesture. At present, the fundraiser has only reached 5% of its goal, but that can and should change in the days ahead. Anyone who wishes to contribute is suggested to do so, in line with the above.

It is obvious that in order for champs to become all that they can be, they have to be able to compete and see if they can stand to become champs among others of the same caliber. That may be something that the organizers of the qualifiers above should have realized, particularly as other qualifiers do assist with the travel award, the key to realizing true champs. The global stage of the World Championships are still some time away; there might be just enough time to realize the sending of the Asia Pacific champ who is and could be more than that.

One year ago: Remembering Missing PokéStops and Gyms

Two years ago: Pokémon Conventions?

Three years ago: Integration Prospects

Four years ago: More Pokémon Paper Things

Five years ago: Poké-Crafts Made out of Paper

Yoshinoya ID Pokémon Merchandise

After going over the latest Pokémon promotion with a Japanese fast food chain that is also local, it would make sense to go into the merchandise that is being offered. There's quite a few of them after all, and prospective fans may already have their sights on some of them or even have obtained them by now, as it's been a few days since they appeared. I happen to fall into the latter camp, and I accomplished that, certainly because the purpose is to make a blog post on them, and now's the time to make one.

Of the four that I mentioned yesterday, the most accessible and practical one - at least by my considerations - is the pouch. It measures 16 cm by 20 cm, which should be enough to hold a few practical daily items. This one also comes in one of six designs that is selectable when purchasing a meal directly at the restaurant. I chose the "Blooming" design because it looked pretty and variative, though all of the designs are cool, and maybe I could have picked another, as I found that one design is rather popular. Whichever design that is picked shouldn't be a problem; finding a good use for it may be the real one.

The second-best one that I got would be the refrigerator magnet, which can only be gotten with the kids meal. I lucked out in getting the Pikachu one out of the several designs without having specified which one I really wanted, so one would have to make sure about this if one were to order the meal. Regardless, its function is clear, though perhaps the magnet might not be too strong; I would recommend using it to hold lighter sheets of paper, or just as a simple decoration, as many fridge magnets are expected to be.

Finally, there's the bowl. It's the most pricey of the three that I got, but it's very, very nice in appearance. It's a standard rice bowl from the restaurant, and it looks like Pikachu is on the bowl - it's a yellow bowl, and it makes for a statement if one were to have it out and use it in the manner of the same generic bowls that the restaurant uses. On that note, I would probably use it, but very, very sparingly to keep its appearance.

In a way, I somewhat "splurged" for these, but I like them and don't mind that I've gotten them with all their usability, no matter how sparingly they might be. Regardless, they all look extremely nice, and they fulfill that quality if nothing else. Local fans who share the same sentiments that I do must be on track to obtain some of the merchandise from this new promotion, possibly the same ones that I obtained. And when they do, they ought to find their greatest use, no matter how that might be realized.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Pursuing Our True Selves

Two years ago: There's a Time and Place

Three years ago: Chaos and Darkness

Four years ago: Singular vs. Multiple Focus Legendaries

Five years ago: I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

Yoshinoya ID Pokémon Promo

Something that can be gleaned about Pokémon, particularly in the years that I've written about it on this blog, is that there may be all kinds of ways to create promotions with Pokémon, though some ways are arguably more effective (and amazing) than others. That would seem to apply for Yoshinoya, a chain of Japanese fast food restaurants that also has a local arm in the country and outlets in major cities where I am, including mine. And for those promotions, they've gone "all-out" this time.

I say "this time", because this fast food chain was also the one involved in an older Pokémon promotion earlier this year, one that I've written about. That one, however, can be said to be much more limited and minimal, utilizing items that already exist (leftover? TCG packs) with the (not-so-)minor addition of a Pokémon flyer. It was also more directed toward kids, as the TCG packs themselves are gained by ordering the kids meal. That was last time and four months ago; this time, it's decidedly different and more extensive.

The starting point for that would be the restaurants themselves, which have gotten a little Pokémon makeover. Many outlets now have images of various Pokémon as well as Ash attached to walls or even placed in freestanding fashion. These are not just to make the Pokémon "vibe" evident; visitors can take photos with them, upload them on Instagram Story, and be able to earn a discount on their next meal. The effort makes a fair use of social media, but then that's normal in this day and age. What's beyond normal is the other things that are involved, in the form of merchandise.

As with the previous promotion, one part of it involves the kids meal, which begets refrigerator magnets from a number of different Pokémon designs. For something a little larger, artsy, and more utilitarian, one can elect to spend, with their meal, for a canvas pouch to hold daily items or special things. The most special items are the ones that people can spend more on and are related to food, as a bowl for eating and a tumbler for drinking from. It's clear that the promotions are on a whole another level now.

For any fan of Pokémon, promotions are surely the way to enjoy the franchise while enjoying other good things in life, like great food. Yoshinoya has some of that, and their earlier promotion was just a small step in this regard. This time, the steps are much larger in their "all-out" effort, and they're noticeably much more enjoyable and should be so, both in and out of the individual outlets. And for local fans like me, they couldn't be happier to eat some great food and get Pokémon things along with them.

One year ago: The Floating City Awaits

Two years ago: As In As All...

Three years ago: Nationally Challenged

Four years ago: Before Gold and Silver

Five years ago: Red on a Bike

Finding Reasons to Sing and Connect

Find a reason to sing - for the you I want to see

You who taught me how to sing about my life and everything

Find a reason to sing - you'll be there beside me too

Though this song is just a tune, it is still a gift from me to you

Connecting, connecting, with your song

Connecting, connecting, with your dream

Connecting, connecting, with your life

Connecting with you

-- "Connecting", music by halyosy, adapted lyrics by Merobean

Way back some three months ago, I had talked with Ash and Goh about some challenges in connecting and how that might be resolved. There's actually a second part to this, and we've alluded to it in different ways. And it all has to do with the song for which the lyrics have been quoted above, which like many songs I've discussed has little to nothing to do with Pokémon, but otherwise colors and describes my Pokémon experiences to a certain extent.

This song is about being able to relate to someone else that helps to bring meaning to the things that someone may do, particularly in making one's voice heard in a musical manner. That someone else becomes the "voice of reason" or "essence of being", even "raison d'etre" in a way. More than that, that "someone" may just be a bunch of people, as this song is designed to be one that combines many spirits who share the same sentiments with each other. Covers of this song have been made in groups as such to honor that spirit.

If a Pokémon takeaway can be made from this song, it may be that the song describes not just the relation between people and other people, but also people and Pokémon, the ones whom Trainers are intricately connected with (ahem) and people may share the same sentiments. It's such a general message that it can be conceivably regarded to apply in many settings, and Pokémon may just be one of them.

Now, the challenge part is that I'm supposed to sing this song, or at least parts of it, for a collaborative project that I hoped would result in something. However, it seems that the project may have become abandoned, with neither hide nor hair of it. Even if it wasn't, it seems I've been let go from it; recently I've found that I'm not able to access the usual methods of gaining information for it. In any case, I've decided to just write about it for a sense of closure.

Even so, the project is still open in my mind, and I've thought about making a somewhat different version of the song (and necessarily singing it, of course). The lyrics for that version would have further relations to Pokémon - maybe with a little help from other pop culture just to get things going. I've already concocted an adaptive version of the chorus as quoted above to illustrate my point:

Find a reason to sing - you can battle all for me

Wanna teach the world to sing, all in a perfect harmony

Find a reason to sing - all that you will be for me

Wanna hold you in my arms and wanna keep you company

Connecting, connecting, with your world

Connecting, connecting, with your life

Connecting, together, inspired

Connecting with you

Much still needs to be done if I wish to bring this little project idea to actual completion, unlike the previous project above (with me in it). But if my experiences with Pokémon have shown anything, I've discovered the "connecting" spirit in different ways, enough to consider this song relatable to Pokémon after having taken up the project unsuccessfully. That may just be the true reason to sing and connect, among all the things that have transpired in and out of Pokémon up to this very day.

One year ago: Justification for Writing My Blog

Two years ago: Low-Bit Fantasies with Pokémon

Three years ago: Field Research Task Reporting

Four years ago: The Myth of Shiny Pokémon

Five years ago: On Skateboards and Pokémon

Bots in Pokémon Unite

As of late, some matches in Pokémon Unite might have certain peculiarities going on. They might have had lopsided scoring patterns, or they might have had team Pokémon moving erratically to and fro. With these happenings, it may be valid to suspect that the Pokémon in a team might be controlled by bots, or automated computer players. The issue of bots in various games comes up from time to time, and for Pokémon Unite, the issue appears to be relevant as well.

In some matches with bots, they have a hard time scoring, which becomes evident at the end with 0 points for the Pokémon of concern. In other matches, notably with the recently introduced Catch 'Em battle arena, they have been seen to be stuck between two objectives, moving back and forth between them though never getting to either one. Besides scoring and movement, some bots may be able to be discerned by name, though this may not be a sure thing, as are their other behaviors. One may have to be not too hasty in reporting them if they're detected.

Some matches that I've been in may have been indicated to have the involvement of bots. In some Quick matches, I became the only one who scored any and all of the points in the match, effectively winning it for the team. While I'm glad to have been credited with a win for those matches, I've felt that there was something missing from them, aside from human involvement. In other matches, I've felt something was off somehow with the way my teammates have been battling and scoring, though I have a hard time telling if they are bots or not due to my attentiveness to other things, and I can't say much more than that.

With the game being intended for human play, the presence of bots is certainly questionable. They seem to be just afterthought fillers for some players - likely antisocial ones - who can't muster up a team by their efforts and had to resort to automation. Further, they don't seem to be all that helpful anyway based on the above, even for indirectly affected players like me. They also certainly won't fly for real team competitions, which absolutely require human players or else. The bots are still a novelty for what they can do... but perhaps not much more than that.

For as long as the bots are present, though, some matches in Pokémon Unite might remain somewhat peculiar. This includes whether they turn out as much-too-passive helpers or even not-so-active forces that tip a match to either end of winning and losing. In any case, human involvement is still much more lively and engaging, which has to be a main point of this game, rather than automated systems that apparently can't seem to be extensive in assistance as they should be. 

One year ago: Arena Factions, Assemble

Two years ago: The Persistence of Pokémon Spotlight Hours

Three years ago: To Hold or Not to Hold?

Four years ago: Variegated Pokédexes

Five years ago: Pokémon and Sports

For Elemental and Pokémon Periodicity

In my post about Pokémon classes and classification, I noted that they run through and repeat across generations, making it possible for one to see its "periodicity". Something else that has this quality is the periodic table of the elements, an indispensable tool for many chemists. Their similarity in this regard has led them to being juxtaposed, particularly in a slightly jocund (in jest) manner. For me, there's also a personal connection regarding that, so I feel the need to discuss it, especially after the classes and classification post, which I made yesterday.

The in-jest portion is that there are people who remember the lineup of Pokémon species (according to the National Dex) and thus their periodicity, while they can't remember the same for the chemical elements. The jest comes from the fact that the latter is real-life knowledge that is useful in different areas, while the former is pop culture knowledge that is niche compared to the rest of life. Yet it seems that the periodicity of the latter makes (or should make) it easy to remember, just like the periodicity of Pokémon species as established.

On the other hand, both may be thought of as specialized knowledge that not everyone needs to know, at least in too great of a depth than what is necessary. As such, they might not matter much for whom the knowledge is not a primary concern. For those whom the knowledge is a concern, though, their periodic qualities are useful to know and in fact may be the key to knowing a lot, including their order, properties, and adjacencies among other qualities, all of which are evident for the chemical elements as much as Pokémon species.

Personally, I make no compromises: I find knowing both important. By this blog, I'm a darned great Pokémon fan, but I also have a darned good grasp of many things about chemistry. Therefore, for the latter, knowledge of the periodic table of elements is important for me to know the relations among the elements, and for the former, knowledge of the National Pokédex is important for me to link all the species together. Even with certain limitations of citing things right off the top of my head, at least I can quickly discern some facets.

A chemist relies on the periodic table of the elements for the grand picture of their existence. Meanwhile, a Pokémon fan relies on the National Dex for referencing species from past to present. Both of them can and are established to have a sense of orderliness and most importantly repetitiveness in a key and elegant manner. Though it is possible to regard both in jest, the importance of both in their respective areas is still a serious matter - particularly if both of them are truly realistic concerns for relevant people.

One year ago: Birdkeepers, the Real and the Imagined

Two years ago: Pokémon Hanafuda

Three years ago: Limited Research Methodology

Four years ago: The Spirit of Giving

Five years ago: A Faraway Tournament and a Charitable Spirit

Classes and Classification of Pokémon

All Pokémon are unique in their own ways in shapes, sizes, and skills. Yet with all of them being rather varied, certain Pokémon can still stand to be put into classes and therefore have certain classifications. These classes highlight a common denominator about them that is undeniably characteristic and can hardly be changed even with time. It would be helpful to discuss about them and what makes them as such.

Even those who have been "long in the tooth" will recognize some of these classes and how they're evident. The starter Pokémon (and their evolved forms) comprise one of these classes as they're given out when one starts a journey in a respective generation; even though later journeys don't start with them, their starting quality "adheres" and they continue to be labeled as such. Likewise, with Legendary Pokémon, their rarity and impressiveness form the quality that applies to this class, which for even Pokémon of later generations are still rather demonstrative. It is not likely that they will ever shed the characteristics, and the classes continue to apply. This too is the case for the Ultra Beasts from the seventh generation, as they will remain as such even if no new species join them later on.

These classifications are of course distinct from species identifiers, for which every Pokémon species has one, though they're not necessarily unique or broadly applicable, and furthermore are truly different. Arcanine, for example, has the species identifier of "Legendary Pokémon", but this is different from the classification that still bears the term even today. This still makes for a good jest, but it's nothing more than that; the identifiers remain different and separate from the classes that are being discussed here as applicable to multiple species and not just a single instance. Such is definitely the case for Mythical Pokémon as the popularly-known adjunct to Legendary Pokémon.

Being that the classes apply across different generations, there's a certain repetitive quality about them, or what would chemists recognize as "periodicity". In fact, it's possible to arrange Pokémon by respective classes and generations and have that come out as something that resembles a periodic table... but this is starting to make a digression - one that deserves its own discussion, I think, and not here. The gist should be pretty clear in that they apply again and again, and thus the quality continues to become evident in periods or even series, for those still trying to get a grip on things,

It is plainly obvious that Pokémon species differ among themselves in many characteristics, but it is also obvious that certain qualities are shared even across Pokémon species of different generations, in a manner that allows the quality to apply perfectly even as things change. That would be the essence of the classes and classification that Pokémon species have and continue to have. The sameness that they provide, even with how different the species are, provide a timeless reference point that remains understandable.

One year ago: Battle Box for Pokémon Go?

Two years ago: Game Freak with Mario on the Side

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/8/2019

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 6/8/2018

Five years ago: Poor Zygarde

NADWPKMN - The Video Series: Episode #3 - The Games I Play

I mentioned in the first video on the accompanying YouTube channel (and on the write-up of the second video) that making videos takes longer than making posts on this blog, and it's (still) true. Between the Pokémon things that I do and other things that I do, that may mean being short on time to make videos or even not at all. But being that I now have a YouTube channel, and moreover to escape the "terrible twos" and a situation which will become evident later, I decided to get another episode up. So now I have that third episode, and as always, I've embedded it below for convenience.

The title and effectively topic of this third episode is "The Games I Play". As expected, the episode covers the Pokémon games. Much of it is about the present ones that I play on the Nintendo 3DS and my phone, but there are also mentions of the past and likely the near future as well. Those who are curious about just what games I play or have played might want to check out this episode. Of course, those who keep up with me on my blog will already know what I play, but the episode is still enough for an active and insightful look.

One fascinating characteristic about this episode is that it is the longest episode that I've made yet. It's nearly 11 and a half minutes in length, whereas the others have been less than 10 minutes. Yet the long length is necessary so I could show off some of the actual games that I play, and that's mostly evident in the middle portions where I do exactly that. It's also to help illustrate one of the points of my discussion, being that the Pokémon games are always being played and always relevant to Pokémon discussions just like this one.

Aside from the length and topic, the video for this episode is also a venue for experimenting my video editing skills. In watching the video, there might be a few apparent additions that weren't present in previous ones. Though it is true that so far my run of videos have been experimental in a way, that should also be evident in this one. The primary reason for that is certainly because there are things I may or do want to add to future episodes, and now I can do that on a smaller scale before taking on the same for a later episode.

Now that the "terrible twos" has been avoided, it's time to be able to run free to be able to engage my current Pokémon happenings and future ones as well. This present episode should be a fair indicator for that as well as what ought to happen in future episodes. They'll still take some time before they can show up, of course - whether by design or occurrence - but the "showing up" portion should be an affirmation now, as I commit not only to blogging but also a YouTube channel that becomes the extension for that.

One year ago: Mastering Balls of Hands and Feet

Two years ago: It's a-Mario Time

Three years ago: Going Big in Galar

Four years ago: Pokémon Archetypes

Five years ago: New Paradigms

Prankster Possibilities

A friend and I the other day discussed a newfangled object that we had been trying out and - much to our chagrin - were slightly disappointed about. Moreover, my friend posited that the object could be used to prank people, and whoever would do it would effectively be a prankster in that regard. The main series of Pokémon games also has a "prankster" of a different kind, and it's one that may just affect certain battles as the Pokémon themselves are affected on the giving and receiving ends, and it's something that I thought of in this case.

In those games, Prankster is an ability that certain Pokémon have, for some Pokémon as a Hidden Ability and others as a default one. Its primary function is to allow status moves to have a greater priority of being able to hit first. It was introduced in the fifth generation and has been revised a few times since, the most notable addition being that it doesn't apply if the opponent is a Pokémon of the Dark type (in other words, they're immune). It's an ability that has its uses if a Trainer were to use any Pokémon that has it.

Considering the above, a Pokémon that has the Prankster ability is intended to cause mischief by having its status moves be able to hit first. That opens the door for a variety of reactions to be caused due to certain statuses being inflicted first-hand. It's analogous to more realistic pranksters that target others, with the primary intent of eliciting a reaction from the "victims" first, followed by their own. Becoming a real prankster is highly not recommended, of course, but being one as a Pokémon in battle may have its advantages.

So long as the "victim" is not a Dark type, at least, the Prankster may just be in command. The way that the ability works is not very substantial in theory, but in actual practice it could be rather significant - just like some pranks by real pranksters. Back to that object that my friend and I were discussing, it seems that the pranking possibility is high and feasible, even if we may not be the ones to do it (and never will). I'm certain that if it were to happen, the prankster would live up to the Pokémon ones that can do the same with their moves.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 6/6/2021

Two years ago: Repetition for Reputation

Three years ago: Be with You, Always with You

Four years ago: (The Least) Local Ex-Raid, 6/6/2018

Five years ago: Pokémon Direct, 6/6/2017