The State of Nominations, Part 18

After two months, I'm back again to reporting on the state of my PokéStop nominations for Pokémon Go, in particular as assisted by Niantic Wayfarer. This time, the view that I want to take is that of "new strides"; it means not only going to new places to make new nominations, but also new ways to make the effort of doing so. Sure, Wayfarer still takes care of the backend of doing things, but for the frontend of doing things, that's where the "new strides" can be inserted.

In any case, it's helpful to start out with the hard numbers. I've put in 8 new nominations in the system, increasing the number of nominations with the In Queue status to 21, an increase of 4. The other 4 left the In Queue status to become In Voting (which increased by 1 to 16) and Accepted (also increased by 1 to 68), while the other 2 became Not Accepted but not for very long, as they moved to become Appealed. The result is a net of 0 for the former status (still at 61), as well as for Duplicate (still at 11), which is as it should be if the nominations are well thought out.

One of the "new strides" is in making the appeal. In doing so, I also look at the supposed reasons for rejection, and if they don't make sense, then I make the appeal with as detailed reasons as possible. Now I have 3 of those nominations being Appealed, and they don't seem to be about to leave that status any time soon, but that will be for Niantic to decide as things continue to make progress. While I hope to not make appeals for sensible rejections, for anything beyond that, I consider the attempt worthwhile.

By my own counts, I have 37 active nominations plus 3 renominations, an increase of 7 and 1; these also include the Appealed nominations as above, which I consider to remain unresolved. The 68 approvals are a given as above, while the 29 rejections decreased by 1 because one of them became renominated. Superseded nominations remain at 16 and unchanged. It's clear that the "new strides" with Wayfarer are also starting to affect how I review my own status in comparison to what Wayfarer gives me.

For future nominations, the prospect will be to just continue to make them, but I may (have to) inquire for assistance from others, especially regarding areas that I don't have easy access to or just for planning nominations in general. The latter has been a given from early on, but it's worth it to remind myself to seek just that; the former may give me leverage to allow nominations to work out in more places, which is in effect a "new stride".

Two months have passed by, and I've been able to get out more - with certain reservations - and in doing so, I also have to be vigilant in seeking places that can and do need to be nominated, and that does make up "new strides". But then again, making further use of the Wayfarer toolkit, particularly the Appeal feature, also contributes to those "new strides". Regardless, the PokéStop nominations will continue to present them with wherever the turns of the process take me.

One year ago: Pokémon Shuffle Personal Feature Wishlist

Two years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 6

Three years ago: Standing Pikachu Keychain

Four years ago: The Merits of Sleep

Five years ago: Elite Four: "Courses" vs. "Selections"

On Death and Pokémon Species

As I've explained in my previous post yesterday, I learned about a term related to the Pokémon main series games that regrettably has a certain controversy about it. The factors related to that controversy were also explained, being creativity that is falsely understood or interpreted. But could there be a third factor? It seems so, as the original discussion regarding the term brought up something that is rarely discussed around Pokémon: death, specifically of the Pokémon species themselves. This topic has its various twists and turns beyond the controversy of the term, but for the term, it seems especially pertinent.

For that, it appears that a prevailing notion seems to exist. The notion is that "Pokémon don't die, they just faint". In many cases, the notion is not only lingering but also out-and-out promoted, even in the direct face of evidence that death can be or is in fact involved, though still not by combat. This notion also seems to be touted as something that makes Pokémon such a kid-friendly franchise, because death is not "presented". I say "presented" in quotes because one would have to latch onto the indirect implication that death is involved, and presumably kids are mostly of the immature sort that would not be able to do so. Yet whether one is a kid or a grown-up, death is rather unavoidably conjectured in any Pokémon representation, though not as a result of combat.

I keep promoting the Pokémon food chain axioms, and they remain to be true in different ways, as in the ever-popular Pidgeotto scooping up a Magikarp with the latter never to return again, most likely becoming consumed and therefore dead. Pokémon will never debrief these relations except in the Pokédex, but for certain intents and purposes, they may be considered to be accepted. Then there are the graveyards for what are understandably Pokémon, and one does not have to look far for these - there's the famous one in Lavender Tower in Lavender Town, and more recently one on one of the islands of Alola. These places convey not much else but a somber aura, one that is in relation to death if nothing else. That becomes something hard to refute even with the notion above remaining true.

Regarding the relation to the term, the promotion of the term above is more likely the reason that the term is downplayed or even attempted to be positioned as "illegal", since the execution of the situation of the term, even at its most simplest with pure willpower, effectively treats Pokémon as "dead", and that's something not to be presented in an in-one's-face manner, at least in the perception of those who possess an official capacity. The supposed "misunderstanding" is therefore an elaborate coverup to prevent further traction of the term and presenting the "wrong image" that combat results in death. While that may be true, it would also present the attempt of denying death in any manner.

The entire controversy surrounding the term and its related matters seems to bring up the possibility that two separate pictures of Pokémon can be (or are in fact being) painted. One of those is in the "wonderland" perspective that is appropriate for children, sidestepping advanced or realist matters, including the above and for example the Distortion World of Giratina. The other one is in the "realist" perspective that implies the above (but still not addressing it outright) and includes difficult or advanced lore. Neither are wrong, certainly; they're right in the eyes of the beholder, but they're just separate views that are reserved for certain understandings - proper, not false.

Evidently, the controversial situation of the term deepens with "death" mired into the mix. This may make it hard for the controversy, misunderstanding, and everything else about the term to be untangled, but at least a discussion helps to elucidate most things if not everything about the term. Outside of the term itself, though, death remains an obscure yet implied aspect for Pokémon that is not hard to make out. Yet it still remains as a "realist" aspect that may be reserved for those ready to make the understanding, as with that term.

One year ago: The State of Nominations, Part 12

Two years ago: The Leek and Pokémon

Three years ago: Cosplay: Isekai

Four years ago: A Merchandise Dream

Five years ago: Unified Centers and Marts

Inventiveness vs. Misunderstanding

Every day, I'm astounded to find out just how deep Pokémon matters can go. For example, there is a certain term that pertains to the main series games that is well-known among some players (Trainers), but I've never given it much thought myself. It was only when a discussion about it, and a particular situation involving it, came up online explaining its particular details and specific matters that I've given it some thought and thereby have decided to put it up as a discussion on this blog, as Pokémon matters are also my matters.

However, over the course of that discussion, it became apparent that the term had a dicey side about it, even considered "illegal" by the perspectives of some people. I've chosen not to mention the term in this post, but those who follow Pokémon matters as close as I do or even closer should recognize it. Even so, based on the discussion (and the "controversy" that goes along with it), I've determined that the situation is the result of pitting the two themes mentioned in the title of this post: inventiveness against misunderstanding. They're significant themes that apply equally well to the current Pokémon matter as they do to life in general.

For the "inventiveness" side of the matter, the term really does have that in spades. It's tantamount to a challenge and definitely a creatively designed variant of gameplay for the main series games. I'm no stranger to challenges in playing those games, and I've even instituted one of my own in the past. In fact, the challenge that is referred to by the term in its implementation requires no more than willpower to implement, and certainly no special tools that make it "illegal". Yet it seems that the people who perceive it to be as such have missed something along the way, and that leads to the other theme of "misunderstanding".

Regarding that, I'm no stranger to it either. I've explained figments of imagination that were misunderstood as reality or wanting to make them real, and explained facts that were misunderstood as initiators of violent situations. With that, one may still wonder why I have a Pokémon blog if the possibility of misunderstanding is rampant in my personal case. For that, I still believe that through my posts, I can elucidate Pokémon matters without causing further instances of misunderstanding, or to decrease those instances, especially for the matter which I'm addressing and I consider to have had its share of misunderstanding.

I've conferred the matter to a fellow Pokémon player (Trainer) who happens to be of renown in the VGC realm and has in fact been involved with the matter at least once. The person has effectively confirmed that the perspective of the matter above is plainly a mistake and therefore misunderstanding. Yet, I still opt for not using the term until the misunderstanding is cleared up, because by my experience, existing misunderstanding will only breed more of that until it is cleared up, and this matter has the makings of being able to create further misunderstanding that could threaten me, other people, and even Pokémon in general.

As far as Pokémon matters go, the one I've explained above really does go deep. It embodies a creatively challenging spirit that is unfortunately mired up in misunderstanding to a certain extent. Having had to think of it through the online discussion after having not previously needed to think of it, I consider it important to make the discussion myself on this blog in the hope that it can one day be cleared up to allow me to discuss it further than I can right now. At that point, the matter can only become more astounding than ever before.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/28/2021

Two years ago: The Future of LINE Pokémon Stickers

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/28/2019

Four years ago: A New Age of EX Raids

Five years ago: To Teach and To Delight

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/27/2022

For lack of a better description, this month's mixed bag of events in Pokémon Go may be said to be "up high" and "down low" in different ways. Both of the characteristics apply equally well to this month's major or considerably major events, whose "major" qualities are determined according to specific considerations. Apart from that, the events are still unique to be discussed somehow in a rollup, and so that becomes the purpose of this post today.

The month began with the return of the Psychic Spectacular from September 6 to 12, which is evidently the celebration of fantastic beings who may just have the capability of lifting themselves into the air. The primary feature of this edition was Alakazam: its Mega Evolution debuted at this time, and it also had the Charged Move of Psychic when caught or evolved into. Meanwhile, Deoxys in all of its forms and a few Unown forms made their way into raids, with the former also having a Raid Day on September 11. Shiny Elgyem was another debut, helped by a Timed Research set featuring the species as rewards. Needless to say, Psychic-type Pokémon were all over the wild, raids, Field Research task rewards, and even 7 km Eggs, making this one even more "spectacular" and "uplifting".

On September 10, there was also a special "interlude" of sorts with the "Clefairy in the Moonlight" event. The event was dead simple with increased appearances of said Pokémon from 6 PM to 9 PM local time. Though it was that simple, the background of the event is a little more complicated. In the northern hemisphere, there is a thing called the "Mid-Autumn Festival", which falls exactly on that date this year, so the event is a way of commemorating that without mentioning that explicitly. Beyond the confines of that festival, the moon being high up in the sky is still a reason to celebrate, nonetheless for the concern of all the Clefairy. It was a special interlude regardless, and a high one at that.

A new kind of event took place from September 16 to 21, this time going "down to earth" with a very heavy type of Pokémon. It's called "Test Your Mettle", and appropriately, it has metal Pokémon - that is, of the Steel type. Likewise, they were present in the wild, raids, Field Research task rewards, and 7 km Eggs, with some particular distinctions. Togedemaru debuted, appearing in the wild and as Field Research task rewards. Two Ultra Beasts made themselves present in raids in different hemispheres, Kartana in the north and Celesteela in the south. Mega Aggron also became the focus Mega Evolution, also debuting at this time. Tying up everything were Candy (XL) bonuses, Mega Energy bonuses, and a Timed Research set. The grave matter really gave everyone a reason to get back down to earth.

Starting today (and ending on October 3), the Fashion Week event returns. This time, it brings about the debuts of the Mareanie species family, Shiny Furfrou, Shiny Yveltal, and a number of new "fashionable forms", including of Toxicroak and the Diglett family as well as some Shiny ones. As usual, these dapper-looking Pokémon all appear in the wild, raids, Field Research task rewards, and 7 km Eggs, ready to grace the contents of the Pokémon storage of Trainers. A Timed Research set gives fashionable Trainers something to work on, photo bomb encounters give some nifty-looking surprises, and new Trainer fashion items bring everything together for Trainers and their Pokémon to look great - which should "go down well" with everyone.

In essence, this month on the front of Pokémon Go events, things were up and then things were down. But that was in a good way, as the events brought those uplifting and "downhome" things for the interests of every Trainer. Whether they returned or are uniquely new, the events continued to be a mixed bag of major things and minor details that even at a glance are worthy to be pulled all together this month to see their general picture.

One year ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: Two for the Show

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/27/2020

Three years ago: 1000 Posts!!!

Four years ago: Meet Meltan

Five years ago: Pokémon Stuff at a Neighborhood Store

The Original Dance Mix

Pokémon

The journey's just begun

Pokémon

For the better

Pokémon

Team Rocket's on the run

Pokémon

They're friends forever...

-- "Pokémon (Dance Mix)"

Trends come and go in the realm of (dance) music - for those who keep up with the times, there's a certain "electronic" quality about it in the current time. Meanwhile, before current times, there had been the trend of rave for aspiring dance music. Pokémon seems to have not been a stranger to the dance music of the past, and this tune was conceived - on the English side - during its infancy.

As a neat Pokémon tune, it comes out of the selection of tunes that is the 2B A Master album, which has other tunes of specialness or importance to Pokémon, for the early years and beyond. And so it is "dance music" in its own right; it has slow "trance" sections with faster "rave" sections and what could even be considered a "breakdown" in the middle. And all throughout, there are the lyrics, for which the above is only the first part.

In a way, those lyrics also affirm things that are now perennially recognizable aspects of Pokémon: journeys, adventures, friends, teams (including the nefarious Team Rocket), and secrets or mysteries. Customarily, there is also the implicative "pursuit of the best" that is now standard regardless of the form that Pokémon takes up. It almost "goes beyond" this one-time "snapshot" of Pokémon in dance music form.

Fast-forward over two decades later, and trends have continued the coming and going process in dance music and other music. But what has become plainly obvious is that Pokémon and all its elements have managed to survive beyond something that is trendy, even though there have been changes in the forms for its enjoyment. Still, the courting of Pokémon with dance music as above has yielded a snapshot that applies well then as it does now.

One year ago: The Challenge of Uniting Myself

Two years ago: More and Yet More LINE Pokémon Stickers

Three years ago: The Name of the Game

Four years ago: The First English Anime Opening Theme

Five years ago: Strong Opinions

Cosplay: Mini "Cyber" Gathering

Me: Um, so. I want to preface this event/convention discussion with a little "Let's Talk", like we did last time.

Goh: This sounds important. What do you have in mind?

Me: I also want to discuss things - or rather, issues - around them, in addition to what's coming, with you two.

Ash: I understand. I know there's still some problems with you sending me to places, so we still need to keep them in mind.

Pikachu: Pi... ka chu. ["*sigh*... Still is."]

Me: I know. It's hard for me too. So, what do you think is the biggest problem in going to events or conventions today?

Goh: The crowds. It's a big problem with bad, invisible things going around, even when you think it's safe. I mean, take a look at this that I found yesterday. [shows crowd pictures]

Me: Oh dear. That's nasty. It brings back bad feelings, in more ways than one.

Ash: I'll say! For me it's the people who run them. I know most of the ones you send me to are good by good people, but now we know some things aren't what they appear to be, like that one time.

Me: Um... yes. It makes me sad about that too. I'm afraid that it may have caused some of my friends and me to drift apart. We've tried our best, but I guess some things can't be avoided.

Goh: What about you? What's your problem?

Me: My problem is miscommunication. I understand that things change and people make mistakes, but they shouldn't make things go out of control. At that point, something is really wrong with the communication.

Ash: That's bad, but we can deal with it like we always do.

Me: Yeah, you're right. OK, on to this event. It's supposed to be a small thing by the same people who ran the same celebration from last time.

Goh: That should be neat. I followed on it, and I know there's been a few issues that came up - maybe like you said, a miscommunication issue - but it should be good.

Me: But first, I also had you on a detour to meet with another group of my friends to discuss some things. How was that?

Ash: You might need to think about them - I'll leave that up to you. But it can be good if we can make it good.

Pikachu: Pi, pika chu. [Yes, should be good.]

Me: OK. What about the event?

Ash: I almost ran late to get into the parade because my friends were late, but I got in. But the crowd was like you wouldn't believe! Isn't this supposed to be "mini"?

Me: It's supposed to be. I thought it would be just characters, a few people, and some interaction.

Goh: But it looks like it wasn't with all the people. It must be all the buzz from the issues that led to everyone attending.

Me: Looks to be so, Goh. Anyway, how was the parade?

Ash: It was fun, but I took it easy for you. I had my "special journey" outfit and that was all. I couldn't do much else with the crowd and I almost missed the group photo because of something that changed.

Me: Hmm. And how'd things go with the results?

Ash: Nothing for me this time. Maybe it was because it was too simple. But the people who run it have something to give to you that you missed from last time.

Pikachu: Pi pika! ["Here you go!" - hands over a package]

Me: Thanks - I'll take a look at that myself later on.

Goh: So, it seems that all of the above issues - at least to some amount - were in this one as well. But it looks like you two dealt with them.

Me: Yeah, I guess you could say that. Still, I wish I didn't have to have Ash deal with them. If only things were simpler and times weren't as uncertain.

Ash: I'm sure it'll be OK! With Pokémon, we can do anything.

Goh: And that's obviously you, like it is for the both of us.

Pikachu: Pika, pika pika chu! ["Yes, we can do this!"]

Me: Thanks, guys. Let's see how we can make things work for us later on.

One year ago: The "Evolution" of Pokémon Go Special Research

Two years ago: Road to 25th Anniversary: Expectations

Three years ago: A Raid Split?

Four years ago: The First Japanese Anime Opening Theme

Five years ago: Enhancements in Shuffle

The Desire to Refresh

Something that I always remember fondly from the first-generation Pokémon main series games is giving the guards of Saffron City some drinks in order to be then granted access to the city at will, which only could happen once a Trainer was able to get to Celadon City and buy the drinks from the Department Store (and is thus a plot device). It also represents one of the innate desires of people, both real and imagined, which is to be able to drink liquids in order to refresh oneself. The embodied desire is also intricate in terms of its connections.

The three drinks that could be used to refresh the guards are the Fresh Water, Soda Pop, and Lemonade, though it most likely will be the first of these. Beyond their ability to refresh people, they're also "refresher" (that is, healing) items for any possessed Pokémon, healing a certain amount of their HP. It's apparent that Pokémon also need to refresh themselves, and the drinks are appropriate for that. Even so, their functions overlap with those of the usual healing items, though it's clear that those are rather medicinal while the drinks are just restorative.

What may be construed from the inclusion of the drinks in the games is that Pokémon species need them for their well-being just as much as humans desire about having something to keep them soundly fresh. The drink types above are very much able to function as such, even if what humans (and Pokémon species) really need is the most basic out of the three, Fresh Water. The other two options of Soda Pop and Lemonade are still interesting choices for refreshment some way and somehow for humans and creatures alike.

It cannot be denied that refreshment is an important matter for both, especially now with uncertain health challenges - though mostly for people rather than Pokémon. That may just be something poignant in the memory of any person regardless of what the person is doing then, now, and later. But the representation in the old games, at least for me personally, still holds fondness, which translates into keeping in mind the desire to keep myself refreshed.

And now, I think I have to do just that with a drink that I can access right here and now.

One year ago: Tournament: Raid Group Sparring Halloween Cup

Two years ago: The HIStory of the Future (and Now, with Pokémon)

Three years ago: Performance Critique: GACOS LEVELUP J-Song

Four years ago: New Pokémon, New World?

Five years ago: Pikachu with Regional Caps

New Factions Battlefields Plus

After the ending of the first Cycle for the current season of Factions, Silph Arena went back to looking at the data from that slice of time in order to look for insights that can be used for the next Cycle, which just happened to start a couple of weeks ago. And went back it did; like the data from the previous season for the first new-season Cycle, the data from that first Cycle resulted in further insights, which are realized as the new battlefields for this second Cycle. With that, it is time to highlight them again as I did previously for the ones of the first Cycle.

Open Great League and Open Master League are still as they are, with certain restricted lists to nudge the meta toward certain selections while still remaining "open" as "open" can be. One main difference is the number of species in them: Great League now just has 6 species (from which up to 1 may be picked) and Master League now has 22 species (from which 3 may be picked). In addition, Master League now allows Mega Evolution to be put in play, a first overall for the Silph Arena, though only the evolved starters from Kanto plus Beedrill for now, the latter as a free pick and the former from the restricted list. These open leagues are certainly staying to their point.

Meanwhile, Open Ultra League is absent this time around, and for their Specialists and for the first time, there is a themed format or a specific Battlefield for it, and it's called "Celestial". This theme includes a swath of types (Normal, Water, Flying, Rock, Ghost, and Psychic) and extra species (Scizor, Alolan Muk, and even the recently-introduced Overqwil plus three others) while it bans other types (Fairy, Fire, Fighting, and the Water/Ground "mud boys" combo) and species (Mega Evolution as well as Walrein, Trevenant, and Obstagoon plus three others). It's apparent that one has to "launch into outer space" for this, and uniquely, it has to be done with a class of more powerful Pokémon - but that shouldn't be a challenge for seasoned Trainers of this League.

For Field Specialists, two of them deal with a new Battlefield, which is called "Primeval". Here too are "in" types (Electric, Rock, Ice, Dragon, and Dark) and extra species (9 in all, including Greedent and Sceptile) as well as "out" types (Fighting, Ground, and Steel) and species (14 in all, including Umbreon and Crustle). The themed format is obviously a representation of more primordial or ancient times, and the type and species selections for both inclusions and bans make sense in that regard, the latter especially to keep things in check. With some of the hard countering types axed, Trainers will have to dig into some creative picks that include the "in" types and species to counter others of their kind.

The other two, meanwhile, deal with two Battlefields that comprise two returning Silph Arena themed cups. One of them deals with the Timeless theme, and the other deals with the Sorcerous theme. Not much has to be said about these, except that they've been updated to keep up with the times. Timeless still maintains its only starter, but fifth-generation Pokémon are now OK at the expense of banning an extra type (Dragon) and 6 species plus Shadow Pokémon. Sorcerous now allows Shadow Pokémon but bans the Steel type as well as 13 other species. It's been a long time since these themed formats have appeared in some form, and those who now compete in Factions get to experience them anew, regardless for those who are drafted into Factions now.

(Note: for any of these, no Galarian legendary birds are allowed, and for Great League and its related Battlefields, Buzzwole and Sneasler are out as well - certainly for fairness in accessibility.)

It is now the second Cycle of the current season of Factions, and it is apparent that things have (to be) escalated a bit from the paltry selections of the first Cycle. Ultra League getting a themed format as well as Mega inclusion in Master League is especially innovative, as well as the new Battlefield plus the return of two familiar themed formats as such. Trainers in Factions are to make these into whatever they will select to counter others, and the results should be as dazzling as Factions continue to dazzle into the present.

One year ago: Unite Uptake

Two years ago: Making Time, Taking Time

Three years ago: Doubleheaders and Such

Four years ago: Cosplay: Panniversary 2nd

Five years ago: Pikachu and Poké Ball New 2DS XL

Teams in Café Remix

There is yet another key part to the workings of Pokémon Café Remix, and it's a unique one at least in comparison to its predecessor Pokémon Shuffle. Each player is demanded to be part of a team with other players and cooperate for certain objectives, including to earn specific rewards. That aspect alone is important, but there are also other important aspects that are helpful to be explained for further understanding.

A team consists of up to 30 players, and one is demanded to join (or even create) a team after beginning play in Café Remix. Afterwards, if one feels to be underperforming in a team (or else the others are underperforming), then one may choose to leave and join another team. Each team also has a code that makes this purpose easier. It should be noted (as a warning) that some teams may have order requirements, be unlisted (that is, "not public"), and/or require approval, so one has to be absolutely sure before committing such an undertaking. 

Each of the members in a team don't have to be friends with each other (a point that might take even longer to explain), and that's likely the case anyway: friend codes of other members of the team cannot be seen even on the Teams section accessed from the main screen. What one can see, however, is the achievements of the other members, including how long it has been since their last login, which becomes important as a member who is not active for 30 days will be removed from the team and will need to find another.

One perk of joining a team is being able to request for extra Stamina Shards (up to five at a time) over roughly one-day periods, which are then contributed by five of the other members. This is the first thing one sees when one brings up the Teams screen, so it's rather accessible and encouraging. Those who are particularly active will likely to contribute often, which can and should be responded appropriately. The extra Shards can also be accumulated without having to deplete from the maximum of five without recovery.

Most importantly, being on a team allows one to participate in what are called "team events". In this kind of event, everyone on the team contributes what are called "event points" by completing orders (including training orders), and after reaching certain point thresholds, all the members of the team can then reap rewards - recently, after they have been ensured of making their point contributions as well. It represents a collaborative effort that means many things for everyone on a team, and therefore contribution is necessary.

Joining a team is necessary as dictated by the game, but that necessity if managed well is absolutely rewarding, whether for just quick progressions (with extra Stamina Shards) or in the overall grand picture (with team events). Some efforts of contributions will still have to be made to ensure that contributions can then return, but that just becomes another incentive for playing that is as unique as it is important.

One year ago: Mallow and Ina, Chef and Contessa

Two years ago: The Place of Pokémon Go in the Pokémon Ecosystem

Three years ago: Cosplay: GACOS LEVELUP

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/22/2018

Five years ago: Riot of Pokémon Color

The New (Old) Legacy Trainer Challenge

After the recent introduction of the new Theia Sky Ruins map for Standard and Ranked matches in Pokémon Unite, a new challenge was instituted soon afterward that also utilizes said map. The challenge involves a battle with other fellow Trainers as usual (the "new" face that is Unite), but it also involves some familiar faces that longtime (old) fans of Pokémon will recognize, even now. Appropriately enough, it is called the Legacy Trainer Challenge, a blending of the old and the new.

The challenge involves a Standard Match that is played against CPU Trainers. The CPU opponents in this case are (mostly) predetermined and involve five familiar Trainers: Cynthia with Garchomp, Korrina with Lucario, Leon with Charizard, Raihan with Duraludon, and Green with Blastoise. I say "mostly" because one can opt to battle in one of four difficulty levels (Casual, Intermediate, Expert, Ultimate) where the first two has only one or three of these Trainers, the rest substituted by "Ace Trainers" with other Pokémon. The greatest challenge, of course, lies with the last two levels, where the battle goes all-out with all five above.

Each day, a Trainer gets a "challenge token" to initiate one attempt on the challenge, whether with friends or other Trainers. After that, however, one can then partake in the attempt of another Trainer when invited to that match. Therefore, five friends can attempt the challenge five times, each of them creating their own separate lobbies and then inviting the others for each attempt. In this way, Trainers can attempt the challenge as necessary in a day, provided there are willing friends for that purpose. 

Special effects are also all over this unique mode of play. The matching entry screen features all the Trainers lined up on both teams, the human side as they appear. The battle entry has the "legacy Trainers" with their Pokémon as the representing image. Finally, throughout the match, K.O. messages including the K.O. screen has the "legacy Trainer" side shown and represented in images. They make for a totally immersive experience.

It would seem that a CPU match would be meek, and on the lower difficulties, that is relatively the case. But going up into the higher difficulties, the matches are as intense as any match against human opponents. Notably, the featured Pokémon of the "legacy Trainers" are among some of the most commonly used Pokémon by their human counterparts, and they comprise an ideal team of three All-Rounders plus an Attacker and a Defender. Therefore, these matches could be regarded as practice for team building and countering, which are always not as easy as they look, in any case and for any Trainer and their team.

While Pokémon Unite is a newfangled way to play a Pokémon game, there's no reason it can't dip back into the history of other, older Pokémon games, and the Legacy Trainer Challenge proves it can do just that. It's a surprising and workable blend of older Pokémon characters (Trainers) with a new playing field. In that way, it's truly accommodative and fitting of the past that Pokémon has to offer, now in a futuristic form.

One year ago: Pikachu Fidget Spinner

Two years ago: Item Runs in Pokémon Shuffle

Three years ago: Remember, Remember

Four years ago: Community Raid Days?

Five years ago: Pokémon and Party Games

Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies, Round 5

I've been putting up these roundups of Pokémon Go Community Day goodies since I've started to participate in the organized regional meetups, and that has been a great thing. By now, though, the goodies have become standard and there haven't been anything majorly new; meanwhile, the most interesting ones that I haven't got have only been reserved for contest winners, and I haven't had the best results in them. Owing to the above, I've decided that the current one will be last regular one, after which the roundups will be intermittent. Before that can happen, it's time to go over what I got from Sunday's edition of the event.

And... evidently, things have not been much different. Returning from the previous edition is the poster, which by now can be considered to be standard. This time, everything that is expected to be on the poster is present - the logo, the event emblem, the phone silhouette, the disclaimers, and of course the featured Pokémon of Roggenrola for this month. An overstock of posters from past editions is still the norm, particularly this month as it is not that "popular"; this has been mitigated by ordering less this time around, but regardless, there are still many from the previous months to go around - perhaps if more Trainers came.

In the previous edition, I continued to obtain the regular postcard and the Niantic sticker; that remains the case this time. Presently, though, there are returning goodies from the edition before the last. That would be the generic Community Day sticker and the Niantic postcard, for which this time I've opted to display the back side of the latter this time - the front remains the same as it was two months ago. And that's pretty much it this time; like two months ago, water bottles and pennants were distributed... but only for contest winners, as I've noted earlier. Only a future Community Day might tell if I stand the chance to obtain either.

As can be seen above, the goodies have more or less become the same, aside from the poster and the content that is present on it, which is tailored to each individual edition of Community Day. They are certainly nice to obtain on a regular basis, but at the same time, it would be nice to have some different (yet still pertinent) offerings from time to time. The water bottles and the pennant are great in this regard, even if they can only be obtained by winning the contests for which they are offered as prizes. Otherwise, it might be time to come up something new to make things at least a little more attractive as further editions continue to develop.

It has been five editions, and with things remaining mostly the same throughout, I do feel the need to step back and not make it as regular. Of course, that doesn't mean it will stop; as the posters are unique and there's still a chance for earning the stuff I didn't get, I can cover those in an "ad hoc" edition along with new things that may have been gotten since. As well, I'll still attend the regular Community Day meetups for that purpose, for beyond the merchandise and all the aspects within the game, there is certainly the community who I look forward to meet and share our interests for Pokémon and whatever lies in the horizon for that.

One year ago: To Be a Snorlax

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/20/2020

Three years ago: The Friendly Manual

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 9/20/2018

Five years ago: Meeting, Parting with, and Missing Friends

Delivering an Authentic Experience

Lately, I found out that one of the YouTube channels from which I've watched many videos (not related to Pokémon) has an unpleasant dark side about it, and as a result, I've had to cease watching videos from that channel for my own good. It had also become apparent that the videos and the channel delivered an experience, but at least some of it is not "authentic" and may be hard to feel. From this situation, I've taken some pointers in delivering my Pokémon experiences as an "authentic" one, not just on YouTube but also on this blog on general.

For starters, I'm delivering the Pokémon experiences as plainly as they are. Much of those come from my perspectives and/or perceptions, though there is admittedly some aid from external references to help make sense of them. The latter is definitely the case for the "harder" stuff that requires things to be pinned down for certain beyond my experiences, but the former is important and necessary as that is what makes them truly mine. In that way, authenticity becomes evident, as there is a realistic aspect I'm delivering that doesn't necessarily come from others.

Speaking of realism, there is the possibility that mistakes may creep in along with those experiences (an example: a post from four years ago - see below). It is true that they might detract from those experiences, but to an extent, they also provide affirmation that the experiences are in fact genuine and authentic. Mistakes still have to be rectified, of course, sooner if not later, but their presence in uncorrected form remains a testament to that authenticity. Even now, I'm still finding mistakes on my blog posts and correcting them, some easier than others. They then do not threaten the authenticity, but instead bolster it - further after the correction.

The YouTube channel above has also come under fire for "copying", further as the "p-word". In my book, I consider that to be a detractor from the authentic experience, and it is also concern - who knows what else might have been copied, quite possibly poorly no less. Although some of my Pokémon experiences are shared with others, for example Community Days in Pokémon Go, I also bring in my personal aspects, and that is what I feel makes them truly unique and authentic, and not simply carbon copies of those of others. This is something to continue to be kept in mind with further posts here and videos on YouTube.

I still do personally feel a sense of loss in deciding not to watch videos from that channel again, but at the same time, I'm also regaining the authenticity that any of the videos from that channel may have attempted to destroy. And that has served to be a lesson for this Pokémon blogging journey, both here and on YouTube: I should strive to continue to deliver the most authentic Pokémon experiences as possible that blends my own perspectives with general Pokémon perspectives. That should have become evident by now, and it always has to be. 

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/19/2021

Two years ago: On the Transcription of Pokémon Things

Three years ago: Taking Sides on Shiny Pokémon

Four years ago: Raid Time Length Change

Five years ago: Competitive Stages in Shuffle

Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/18/2022

I've just discussed about a facet of Community Day, and that's with good timing and reason, because this month, its edition comes (or came) today. And the previous discussion does have some bearing on the happenings of today with regard to time; aside from time, "effort" and "relations" may also be considered to have some bearing, especially in relation to the featured Pokémon. It also has a certain rocky quality that for the purpose of this edition might also be considered brightly appropriate for the current Season of Light.

Without further ado, this month's Community Day has the featured Pokémon of Roggenrola, a unique Rock-type Pokémon from the fifth generation. It evolves twice, to Boldore and then Gigalith, for which the latter today receives the move of Meteor Beam, a significantly powerful move with a guarantee of boosting Attack in PvP settings. Its Shiny form has been around for some time but is not (quite) common, so that becomes an additional incentive for taking part in the event today, which was from 2 PM to 5 PM, a notable time change to the afternoon.

Also, it has to be noted that evolving Boldore to Gigalith has a steep Candy requirement (the "effort") that fortunately can be obviated with a trade (the "relations"). For that reason, the discounted trade and extra Special Trade bonuses today (both of which remain) are especially important. The main bonus of quartered Egg hatch distance, for getting them hatched and out, and the additional double Candy and increased Candy XL chance for reaping them, are no less important for making great progress in things.

Then there are the standard extended Incense and Lure Modules, photo bombs, extra raid battles after 5 PM (for Boldore and more), commemorative stickers, and paid Special Research (this time called "Rock 'n' Roll" and features the return of Professor Willow exploring the species family with Trainers). There were no group play bonuses this time around, but that seems to not be that necessary - though a Boldore capture bonus as with Zweilous for Deino could have helped, it might also have gotten in the way more so than it helped.

Regular meetups continued to be the thing, and I and others participated as usual. This edition was rather sparse given the relative unpopularity of the featured Pokémon, but quite a few still managed to participate. There was the concern that things could get rained on given the time of the edition, but that fortunately didn't happen. We could freely walk around the park and capture as many Roggenrola as we possibly could for evolving them, and of course, there are the regular festivities.

The big group photo.

The little group photo.

For how I did today, I caught only six Shiny Roggenrola after having had none, one of which was put through a Lucky Trade with good results and was later on evolved fully. Aside from that, a few were also evolved for Great League and Ultra League purposes, even though their usage might be a little unclear at this time. Still, having six from none is a massive improvement, and it is sufficient for now. Even so, I didn't win the "most Shiny forms" contest due to the relative paucity, but all is still fine and may be better later on.

Some editions of Community Day are (or were) special in their own ways, and this one was just that. It had a Pokémon species family with a certain special evolutionary quirk, and it got a really special move to boot. The community meetup is by now a regular thing, but it always feels special somehow as well with the people I get to meet. And this time, they happened to exemplify "effort" and "relations" in some ways. I'd say that comes as a good time for spending a good afternoon with Pokémon and the community.

One year ago: To Care and To Protect

Two years ago: GOtcha Podcast Episode 1: Mega Evolution in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Raid Failures

Four years ago: A Restarted Fever?

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

Best Times for Community Day across Times and Places

Over the course of its history, Community Day in Pokémon Go has been held at different schedules and times, though with the commonality among editions that they're always on a Saturday and/or Sunday for at least three hours. Other than that, the schedules have varied at times, sometimes for different places and times. I've thought about things, and it could be great if the schedules could be adjusted to the characteristics of different places and times of the year in order to make the execution of Community Day more feasible under those circumstances.

Regardless of my propositions to be detailed below, one thing that shouldn't have to be changed is the general timeframe, which is somewhere between 11 AM and 5 PM, exactly as the previous six-hour editions. Any earlier or later, and the event can intrude into "quality time", whether that may be for morning errands before the event or relaxing after the event (with or without certain additional bonuses). Past editions even all the way back to the beginning also have never ventured outside of these time bounds, starting no earlier than 11 AM and ending no later than 5 PM. As they say, don't fix what isn't broken, and these time bounds certainly aren't.

Now comes the propositions. Currently, Community Day is fixed at a certain stretch of local time, but in the past, it has been divided according to hemispheres, north and south. I propose returning that and including a third division: the tropics, to accommodate those who live and play there. Uniquely, it doesn't have to follow its own schedule, and it can follow either hemisphere's "warmer" period but scheduled for the "cooler" time. This works out to Community Day mornings (11-2) for the south and afternoons (2-5) for the north and tropics from April to October, and mornings for the south and tropics and afternoons for the north from November to March. This may also help to sidestep potential weather issues during those times, though this admittedly cannot always be done.

An alternative would be to bring back an extra hour of Community Day and have morning sessions end at 3 while afternoon sessions start at 1. While it has been found that few Trainers participate for the entire six-hour length, the return of an extra hour might provide some flexibility for those with limited participation and regardless of the time of year or the place. This might also allow a "middle" session to be created, from 12 to 4, which ought to yield interesting results. It is true that the featuring of extra raids that yield more appearances in recent times effectively provides the same benefit as an extra hour, but this is sometimes not accessible. It could be better to just give it outright yet still keep the perk for those for whom it is accessible.

By combining both of the propositions above, cooler months can benefit from morning sessions while warmer months can benefit from afternoon sessions for the hemispheres, while the tropics can have the middle session throughout the entire year. It seems that the second of the two propositions above may be the best and most neutral one when times of the year and places of the world are concerned. Yet, the slightly more complicated scheduling might just manifest its benefits if it were to be implemented and managed correctly across all places and times for Community Day.

Community Day has always depended not only on the featured Pokémon of its many editions for success, but also the times of those editions. They have changed and adapted in the past few years according to different situations, and that may still very well continue to be the case. Presently, what may be important is making sure that its scheduling is managed well in order that Community Day remains feasible in Pokémon Go regardless of circumstances.

One year ago: (Un)finished Business, Again

Two years ago: Progressing Through the Go Battle League

Three years ago: At a Starry Night Time

Four years ago: Approaching Field Research Tasks

Five years ago: Restarting Go Fever Among Players

New Pokémon Fossil Watches

Pokémon Center seems to have a thing for Fossil watches. Their earlier Poké Ball Classics merchandise line featured a watch with a background Poké Ball motif, in line with the rest of the items in the line. Now, they've furthered the collaboration with a few new designs for the watches that go beyond the basic Poké Ball design - this time, including a few well-known Pokémon. These watches are of some interest to me, so I've decided to highlight them in this post.

The newly featured Pokémon for this set of watches are the starters from the Kanto region, including the pseudo-starter Pikachu. For the three common starters, each of them are given their own individual edition, as well as an all-in-one edition with Pikachu as what I would call the "icons" edition, which is also available in monochrome and multicolor editions. Finally, there is one more edition featuring Gengar, billed as the "spooky" edition just in time for Halloween, which is to come in one and a half months. 

All of these editions also come with two extra armbands that complement the watch decoration and acts as a spare or alternative for the regular metallic armband. They are also packaged in a box that looks exactly like a Poké Ball, befitting their suggestion of "capturing" them. Finally, it has to be said that these are limited edition pieces... which by now are practically sold out with little hope of obtaining them; one telltale sign for this is that the box contains a plate with the words "Limited Edition" and the assigned number. Needless to say, it is also expensive, as it is a watch after all.

Some fans have noted, likely in jest, that there has been the missed opportunity for Pokémon to include fossil Pokémon on the watches, as these are after all of the Fossil brand in collaboration with Pokémon. While I also admire the connection being established, it is a relatively niche connection even if it is quite appropriate. The ones that are being offered at the moment already look pretty nice, including the alternative armbands, and the set is totally worth it for that.

I also can pick out favorites from the ones being offered, which would represent the ones I'd love to have if I could. My first favorite would be the multicolor "icons" edition, since I like the all-encompassing (all-inclusive) nature of it with the starter Pokémon from Kanto. The special Halloween edition featuring Gengar is also extremely nice and could be a favorite of mine as well as a friend of mine, who happens to be a Gengar fan in some respects as well. In either case, I would swap the metal armbands for the decorative ones since I like their looks and the warmer impressions that they give.

Watches still may not be the first thing that Pokémon fans think of when they think of Pokémon merchandise, but these new watches - and even the prior Poké Ball one - really fit the bill. The current new expansions of the watch series look quite awesome, and the most enterprising fans who can get their hands on them may just really deserve them as they deserve something to keep time with. And that should suit their thing for both Pokémon and watches.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Good Drinks and Good Friends

Two years ago: The Firefighters of Pokémon

Three years ago: Pokémon Cable Bite Accessory - Pikachu

Four years ago: An End to Jumps

Five years ago: Pokémon Suits in Cosplay?

Pokémon Moe Gijinka: To Love and Be Loved

Some pop culture phenomena conceivably (and inevitably) also apply or become applicable to Pokémon. This is especially true for Japanese pop culture phenomena due to their proximity to Pokémon itself. One of those phenomena, as expected by the title of this post, is called moe gijinka. It's a distinct phenomenon that concerns characters and attraction for them, which is why I've affixed the subtitle as above. And as expected, Pokémon has a thing or two in relation to it.

What is moe gijinka actually? This phenomenon involves the creation of human likenesses for non-human or inanimate things - specifically, cute girly representations for those things. Those who are exposed to this phenomenon will likely have seen it in action in relation to operating systems or web browsers, which have their own well-known set of cute girly representations. Virtually any kind of non-human or inanimate object may be given a moe gijinka representation, and this is telling of the segue into Pokémon.

For Pokémon, it means that the species can and do have moe gijinka representations, regardless of the fact that they might be of both genders, not just female as the phenomenon makes them out to be. They may be likened as a "humanoid representation" or "form", although they're by far not the only humanoid representation or form, and in contrast to the fact that some Pokémon are already in humanoid form. Regardless, the phenomenon makes them out to be even more lovable and sweet, if they aren't already as such.

In fact, this is the case for one of my friends who likes Sylveon, as I've mentioned such a long time ago. That friend of mine in particular also enjoys the moe gijinka representations of said Pokémon, and can even be said to be attracted to them. In a different case, I've had friends who cosplayed moe gijinka representations of certain Pokémon, though I confess that I somehow missed the moment that they actually did this, and I would have actually loved to mingle with them with my own Pokémon cosplay flavor.

Attraction is evident when it comes to people and even characters of the female gender. The phenomenon of moe gijinka makes that even more so, in particular for things that aren't even human in the first place, which evidently applies very well for certain Pokémon species. It has been said that love is a many-splendored thing, and in the case of of moe gijinka and specifically that which is related to Pokémon, it seems that the splendor is quite imaginatively deep.

One year ago: Reminiscing Stadium and Colosseum

Two years ago: On Public Communication with Pokémon

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/15/2019

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Trading Stickers

Five years ago: Am I Writing-Challenged?

Into the Deep Blue

The world of Pokémon is based on a planet whose history and appearance is not too far distant from that of the real-world earth. For the latter, it is also apparent that most of the planet is also covered in ocean, which would mean that the same depth profiles would apply as well, with the oceans being deep in many places - hence, the "deep blue". That aspect is something that I'd like to ponder and highlight in this post, in consideration of what it means for Pokémon relations and beyond.

In the depths of the oceans, life is made and supported. Many lifeforms in the manifestation of Pokémon species, from the smallest Magikarp to the largest Wailord, owe their existence to how the sea is like, being shallow in many parts but also deep in some parts. The respective parts provide the environment and the resources for them to persist and subsist as they would be expected to do, and the people can further take advantage of this fact to further their own existence and subsistence.

With that, lately in my area, there have been talks about taking advantage of and making the "blue economy" a vital part of the economy going forward. It is true; most of the area where I am is composed of water - the seas as connections to the world's oceans - and there's a lot to be gained from that. Though the seas appear to fragment people living on land, it can also connect them if they take advantage of that as such. The same would likely be true in a Pokémon sense as well.

Here, I'd also like to take the time to remind myself and others of the verbal expression "to the sea" that a particular public figure has used to promote oneself and the views of that person in TV and beyond. Unfortunately, I have to say that the person's TV program terminated a few months ago, but I'm sure that regardless of the state of the program, the person's view of things, including of the sea, is unchanging. And so it is that my perceptions are pretty much the same since that time.

Much can be spoken about the sea - the water and the things that are present in it - even in Pokémon terms. There's something to be gained from all of that for the furthering of life in any way. From the earlier ponderings up to today's, the takeaways are still much the same, even though it is apparent that a few things have changed. What doesn't change is how the sea represents a certain vital spirit, especially with its presence in the Pokémon world and how that is reflected in real life. 

One year ago: Dancing with Pokémon

Two years ago: It's Time for GOtcha... Podcast

Three years ago: The Appeal of the TCG

Four years ago: A Pokémon Watch

Five years ago: Three's Demise

Longing for Pokémon Donuts

The local arm of an international donut chain with a certain renown last year introduced a collaborative special with Pokémon, and I had covered four editions or variations of them, two donuts at a time. In fact, it seems that those four donuts were the only ones, and the collaboration ended soon thereafter, with the donuts now gone. One year after the fact, now I feel a certain longing for them, for what have and could have been.

Considering the variations that I had tried, a couple of them were fairly standard, while the others tended toward radical. Regardless, they all followed the same formula, in that they were all filled donuts with an glaze topping featuring the images of specific Pokémon. It seems that things may have had to be this way, as regular hollow ring doughnuts might have needed to be considerably modified for this purpose, explaining their absence.

Speaking of absences, it is apparent that Charmander was somehow missed. It is obvious since I started with Bulbasaur and ended with Squirtle, and something was missing in the middle. Of course, this is in part me just desiring completion for completion's sake as is expected for a Pokémon fan, but regardless, it does remain desirable even though the donuts are now long gone with no chance of obtaining them again, if at all.

I still possess the upper part of the box that contained the last two donuts I obtained in order to highlight and review them, and it's still in relatively good condition, which I like especially as an art piece. Aside from the memory of the flavors and the reviews I've put up, this is the only other memorial piece that I possess, and the only tangible one at that. It may also need to be respected somehow by changing its form, though this will take some time.

For all their intended purposes, the Pokémon collaboration did lead to some wonderful-tasting donuts with a whimsical element, which I certainly appreciated, so much that I consider them deserving to be reviewed on my blog for any Pokémon fan who might find them as tasty as I have (affirmed) but cannot get their hands on them. It's now a longing that might be hard to satisfy Pokémon-wise, even if just a regular box of them could and would suffice.

One year ago: The Fate of My Local Pokémon Hangouts

Two years ago: Competitor Ranks of the Silph League Arena

Three years ago: Personal Branding

Four years ago: To Judge and Be Judged

Five years ago: Catering to Old and New Players

One-Minute Cooking in Café Remix

Pokémon Shuffle has Competitive Stages as the way to prove one's puzzle skills against another; its successor Café Remix doesn't miss out on the matter and has something of its own. Here, it is called "One-Minute Cooking", and it's a rightful event of its own in addition to being a "stage". The individual editions are themed after a Pokémon that visits the café, which is likely to be a Legendary Pokémon of an important stature. Besides being competitive, it is also rife with perks and benefits for the featured Pokémon and beyond.

Like Competitive Stages, one is to build a team of four Pokémon - likely of a single element category - though this time it is to cook and serve up food to the featured Pokémon. All of the Pokémon in the team can use their special abilities, along with the leader Pokémon and its skill icon, to clear obstacles that are present in the stage while advancing "phases" and beating the clock. Though it is called "One-Minute Cooking", certain situations (including a "fever" period of increased scoring) can add time to the clock, and there is effectively a pause between each "phase". Regardless, once time runs out, bonus icons are cleared and the final score is recorded.

For those transitioning from Shuffle, there are some important differences. This mode is fully real-time rather than move-based, unlike the latter as the norm for the rest of the game and the duality of the predecessor. No items may be used before the stage starts or even during the stage, so it is purely a test of skills (and leveling up Pokémon) to a good extent - that's why all the Pokémon can use their abilities, not just the leader as is the usual norm for the game, though skill icons are still purely of the leader's skill. Finally, while rewards for certain achievements are given after the event has passed, it is also rewarding in certain other ways.

The reason for that is because as the stage is repeatedly cleared, thereby raising the "fullness" level of the Pokémon being served, one earns Legendary Coins that can then be exchanged in its "Swap Shop" for a myriad of items, as explained in my currencies post. One part of this exchange is hiring the Pokémon outright to help out in the café, and that should be the primary objective. It is still necessary and desirable to obtain as many of the other items as possible, since they include Tarts for raising Pokémon and even extra delivery tickets, Stamina Shards, and Golden Acorns, just to name a few. It becomes a "grindfest" for them, but they should be worth it.

As for the achievement of rewards after the event, that would be accomplished through rankings, which can be similarly viewed (for the top of the top 30 thousand, and nearby one's rank) and analyzed for Pokémon usage like its predecessor. Ranking rewards, though, are a little paltry - being Golden Acorns, Tarts, and a special frame for those higher up - so it can be reasoned that the main rewards are achieved through the "grinding" effort above, which admittedly would be considered more universal. Still, it is helpful to know that one will still be given certain rewards at the end of it all.

One-Minute Cooking is admittedly as much like as it is unlike its predecessor of Competitive Stages, but the overall objective is still the same: one takes on a stage filled with challenges and restrictions, and then one gets rewarded for it, in this case both in progression and at the end. It's a little distanced from the other usual norms of the game, but then so is its main feature of certain Legendary Pokémon. They're the ones who will appreciate the service, knowing that one has just done that for other Pokémon and the café in general.

One year ago: Hidden Tracked Statistics in Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Let's Talk About Household Creatures

Three years ago: And Intelligence

Four years ago: Proud to Be a Clean Cosplayer

Five years ago: Poké-Mobile Devices

The Intricacy of Declining Raid Invitations

It's been over two years since remote raids were introduced in Pokémon Go, and a little less than that for its invitation aspect. The latter has proven to be extremely helpful, as is the greater scope of the feature itself. Even so, there is one intricacy that remains after all this time, which is when one doesn't want to or cannot raid remotely, and therefore "declines" or has to "decline" a remote raid invitation. It's an infrequent issue, but it can and does happen, which is why it deserves some discussion.

Nowadays, remote raid invitations can come from any friend anywhere and anytime, which means that it is completely possible to have multiple raid invitations at one time, and even if there is an intent to raid even just one of them, it automatically means declining the other(s). It is fine if the invitations are for the same raid (which I've been told has happened for and by a friend) but by and large, the invitations would be for different raids in equally distant places. One time, I've received three invitations at the same time in the latter situation, and I've had to pick and choose which one I actually wanted to raid, leaving the others to be declined.

The situation of a Raid Hour or a Raid Day will lead to raids being present in many places at the same time, and if one isn't raiding them locally, then one is likely to raid them remotely. Of course, if one is preoccupied with (assisting) the former, then one will likely be declining the latter, whether or not the inviting party or parties realize that. I too have personally had invitations to raids in other places during such events while I'm dealing with assisting my local, on-site raid fellows, and more often than not, I've had to decline incoming invitations for that reason, which hopefully the inviting parties recognize. It is as I've described in my post proposing the expansion of the online status, which ought to alleviate the situation somehow.

A related matter to the declining affair is changing one's mind about declining them. It may be that someone really needs help with a raid because there were not enough participants the first time an invitation was sent, and the second time is the indication that things are as such. In that case, it may very well be wise to not decline the invitation the second time and to just go for it, provided sufficient resources. It's rare that this happens even for me, as most would already have the raid complete or have given up on it, but if it does happen, then declining surely may not be the best response.

Remote raids will (likely) continue to color raid affairs in Pokémon Go even after things settle down somewhat, so the matter of responding to the invitations for them still becomes relevant in that situation. And one such response is to "decline" them, which may become necessitated or even inadvertent with certain circumstances. It's a hard thing to do - even to make up one's mind about the decision - yet the response may be expected and normal despite everything that could just possibly affect it as an intricacy.

One year ago: Greater Friendship Levels in Pokémon Go?

Two years ago: Getting Feline with Pokémon

Three years ago: This Is It

Four years ago: Cosplay: Club Cosplay Party

Five years ago: Pokkén BanaPassports

Quickies: Building with the "Builder Trio"

Most recently, where I am, there have been many construction projects being started. This includes several in my neighborhood as it starts to fill up, as well as in adjacent neighborhoods with a variety of different structures. All of those projects involve lumber, metal, and rocks in various forms, expertly manipulated to assemble and build up the structures being constructed. If those three materials sound familiar, they're of course the materials that the Pokémon species of the Timburr family are holding. And that's what I'd like to address now in a "quickie" manner, particularly what it means for the manifestation.

The projects all use lumber, though not as part of the structure - more to just keep things in place as they become fixed. Regardless, this is something that Timburr may be adept at as well. Metal is used to an OK extent; it mostly forms the frames of structures though may sometimes be immediately visible. Gurdurr would obviously be in it for that. The majority of the projects, however, do involve the use of rocks or rock-like substances, and that's where Conkeldurr would certainly get into.

It then may be said that I'm living with and around them, and not only that, they're actively fusing what they know and can do in order to build up the structures that I'm seeing take shape in all their fantastic forms. The "Timburr people" might be of a more minimal role, but that doesn't mean they're any less important than the "Gurdurr or Conkeldurr people". What's important is that the three species - as the people "representing" them - are actively working and actively being present to make sure the structures become realized.

With that, their presence is really felt as the construction projects are getting up and running toward completion. The "builder trio", or at least the people acting as their "representatives", are chipping in their efforts for the construction projects, which should turn out well as they should be as a collaboration of their efforts. It would only be a matter of time that we reap all the benefits of those efforts upon the completion of what had been started.

One year ago: Wallpaper: Journeys Gap Ad

Two years ago: Multilingual Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Gym Tours

Four years ago: (A Further) Local Ex-Raid, 9/10/2018

Five years ago: Cosplay: BJF - Shizen ni Modoru

The 2022 Silph Arena Continentals Meta

As with last year, the Silph Arena has a unique "meta" or the themed format for its tournament, and that's no different for this year. The only difference is that the Continental Championships have only recently commenced, obviously (at least in part) due to a different kind of championships - and a more official one at that - having commenced earlier. It also has a boatload of other technical restrictions, but those are beside the point of this post. The current focus is purely on the restrictions of the themed format.

Unique to this year's format (but not to Silph Arena overall) is the way that Trainer teams are selected and composed. Each Trainer brings in eight Pokémon, and upon being matched with another, each selects two Pokémon from the other team to be banned - thus the shorthand "bring 8, ban 2". Because of this method of selection, it is possible to break team cores by simple selection; as such, Trainers need to have substitutes in case the situation described previously occurs. This team selection procedure was actually instituted in last year's world championships for the Arena, but I didn't discuss that. It is then obvious that the reach of the format has been expanded.

Then there are the particulars of the format itself. For the eight Pokémon, all their types must be unique, and they must have two types, though up to two may just have one type (monotype). Aside from this being Great League and Mega Evolution being disallowed, a number of other Pokémon species or forms are also banned. Of these, there are 4 "perennial favorites" (2 of which are "titans"), all 3 Galarian birds (surprise, surprise), 3 Ultra Beasts, and 2 Hisuian forms that may not be selected for teams. Apart from the restrictions as above, it's more or less an "open Great League", though not as open as one might think it is. Then again, it's not a regular occurrence anyway.

Still, most of the top contenders for the Great League continue to apply, so what it really comes down to is certain Pokémon that are picked by one Trainer and then the ones that an opponent chooses to ban, coming down exactly as the process above. The key is again being able to understand teambuilding in general - how it works in general, how things may be interchanged (bringing one's own substitutes), and how one might react to sudden changes (through an opponent's intentional bans). All these are essentially "tested" in the format.

Much of the goings-on of the Silph Arena in the previous season has essentially distilled to the current competition, and this becomes the format for that competition. It's a proving ground for teambuilding - or even, breaking down by the other end - with most of the elements included (and few pesky ones eliminated). Those who make it to this point in the Silph Arena season will likely have understood much about that; those who are able to make it out ought to be considered to show much more understanding of its workings.

One year ago: Capturing Toward the (Pokémon) Future

Two years ago: More Music from Pokémon Go

Three years ago: The Music of TCGO

Four years ago: Cosplay: Tachiagare

Five years ago: My Book of Days

Like a Headless Torchic... or Pokémon

Today, I've had one of those days where it seems I needed to be running around for a lot of things, including a couple of Pokémon ones. In doing so, I also felt like I'm losing my mind as I'm being forced to rush for those things. It's as if I was a "headless chicken" in that way, obviously based on a particular real-world example. Of course, in the Pokémon world, there are no chickens - but there are Pokémon species of the Torchic family, and the real situation adapts to and with this state of affairs including Pokémon.

Unfortunately, the real-world example is rather gruesome and is too far off a tangent from Pokémon, so I won't get into that too much. Rather, it makes one behave like the situation itself, maybe a little like riding the bicycle with accelerated movement while playing the early main series games: going so fast that one bumps into lots of different things, sometimes without heed and being forced to go around and around. That's what today felt like, being demanded to go places while losing caution to certain things.

For those who watch the anime, they will recognize that May's Torchic suffered much of the "headless" symptoms early on in its career. It kept running into things, it couldn't do some things properly, and it became a "problem Pokémon" in general, much like other characters had theirs. That too is an appropriate descriptor for the way that things went today for me: being forced to run and bump, and sometimes not doing things as well as they should be done.

In that sense, being in the "headless Torchic" state is not about being literally having no head, but about losing one's mind - in this specific case, losing my mind. In being forced to rush around like on a bicycle, hitting into a lot of issues (figuratively), and losing track of the proper ways of doing things, I'm in that "headless" state. It's even affected the way I do things here on this blog - though that also relies on a half-mindful and half-mindless secret for doing things.

Much has happened today in that "headless" or mindless state or while being forced in that state, and much more may or may not be about to happen. The least I can do is to try to avoid that state, though at times doing this would be hard. Regardless, that state of being "headless" can be described in terms of Pokémon, specifically that of the "chick" family above. I may just need to knock some sense back into my head - and Torchic's too.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Multiple Pokédexes, Realized

Two years ago: Pokémon Documentaries?

Three years ago: The New Flavors of Pokémon

Four years ago: Other Uses of Pokémon Go

Five years ago: Incubators in Pokémon Go

Rising to the Occasion: Theia Sky Ruins

Throughout the first year or so in Pokémon Unite, Trainers were entertained by the goings-on of the Remoat Stadium battle arena (also called a "map"). There are its high points and low points, but they had to be conquered for success, especially at the highest level - the World Championships, in a glorious first time of its kind. Now, they are effectively demanded to do just that (all over) again, this time rising possibly ever higher than before with a completely new battle arena, for which the venue is high in the sky - most literally.

Enter the Theia Sky Ruins. This new sky-high battle arena or map replaces Remoat Stadium as the venue for Standard and Ranked matches as of the start of the new season earlier this month. Instead of the futuristic environment of Remoat Stadium, Theia Sky Ruins is set in the shambles of a bygone civilization, elevated up high in the heavens. The Magnemite encircling the arena with cameras and information panels should already be an indication that one will really have to elevate gameplay, as does the heroic musical accompaniment.

Overall, the mechanics are mostly the same as Remoat Stadium, but there are both minor and major differences. Bunnelby and Baltoy litter the map, along with Indeedee and Xatu in certain positions; others in regular roles are Accelgor and Escavalier instead of Ludicolo and Tauros, as well as the Swablu family instead of the Combee family as the "herd" group. The arena also has a pathway network that may be described as being more open than its predecessor while being more intricate, even with the similarly-placed and structured objectives.

As for major differences, those concern the Pokémon in the middle. On the lower middle, there are the first three of the "titan" Pokémon (Regirock, Regice, and Registeel), one of which is selected randomly with each appearance and boosts a stat when defeated. On the upper middle, there is Regieleki, which fulfills more or less the same role as Rotom, and in the middle, there is Rayquaza who grants temporary scoring invincibility rather than defenseless goals when defeated, which may be said to be a fairer alternative.

Being that the new battle arena or map is part of Ranked matches right off the bat, Trainers will also have to get used to it straight away or as soon as possible, most likely through several plays of Standard matches. The random appearance of the "titans" in the lower path also introduces a luck-based element that may or may not have to be taken advantage of, depending on who appears. Even going for the middle might be rather dicey and ultimately may have to depend on the will of the team, further underscoring coordination.

Pokémon Unite has only entered its second year, and gameplay only has ramped up since that first year. That said, Trainers may really have to be challenged anew and to greater heights in this second year, and the new Theia Sky Ruins battle arena or map appears to be able to fulfill that nicely with a blend of familiar targets as well as new challenges that should befit Trainers and the Pokémon that they can and will play. Given the situation up to this time, it really is not much of a stretch to say that they need to "rise to the occasion" toward the Theia Sky Ruins.

One year ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: More Selections

Two years ago: The Charisma of Pokémon Personalities

Three years ago: TCG, Order and Chaos

Four years ago: Artistic Routine

Five years ago: Pokémon Song, Indonesian Flavor