Speaking of goodbyes, this one happens to be both apropos and ill-timed, and things had only broken out within a day. The Silph Road, and by extension the Silph (League) Arena, has decided to shutter its operations as of this year, even starting at this moment. For many of its users and/or participants, including myself, this may come as a surprise and a shock, as its "institution" may be expected to end eventually, but not this soon. As such, I need to cover it immediately, especially as it seems that there may be no turning back.
As of today, most of the resources and tracker portion on The Silph Road are no longer accessible, except for the Traveler's Card, which can still be used for personal tracking to a certain extent, including for the Silph Arena. (The check-in system for game events like Community Day will function until this month's edition, due out soon.) The Arena itself continues with the remainder of its current individual competition and Factions season, for which the latter ends this month and the former will end the next; after that, there is the postseason for both, which also will be explained in due time. Finally, after their conclusion and on August 1, the site will no longer operate.
Many have expressed their sympathies for both The Silph Road and Silph Arena, both having served the community for seven years, meaning that they (perhaps mostly the former) appeared at about the same time as Pokémon Go itself. That is an impressive achievement, and that applies to the stats as well; some had nothing but praise to give (and the resulting sadness to express). Earlier this year, I had written about the troubles that may have befallen Silph Arena - along with The Silph Road - and its functioning, but based on the above, the users and admins don't seem to have any qualms at all... at least up until the announcement of the immediate shuttering.
Yet the story also goes deep. The fact of the matter is that Niantic had actually lent The Silph Road a "lifeline" a year ago by giving sponsorship to it in exchange for being in the Community Ambassador program. The site really needed it to stay afloat, so all seemed well since then. But then the sponsorship ended, the recent quandary regarding the game happened, and in the end it led to the decision of shutting down everything, at least in some gradual fashion. Crowdfunding was suggested, but it wasn't taken because of the state of the game and declining interest from both users and admins, leaving the only option as above, which is quite unfortunate.
It will still be a while before the entire infrastructure of The Silph Road shuts down for good, but the situation and effects are already felt - if they aren't already so - by what is actually happening in the game that the site serves to elaborate on, assist with, and make competitively viable. After seven years, it seems to be quite anticlimactic and crazy that things have to end at that point, and yet things happen in time - sadly now as The Silph Road prepares to roll on down the road.
One year ago: Useless Rewards in Pokémon Games
Two years ago: The Road to Victory
Three years ago: Seeing Pokémon in Rice Fields
Four years ago: The Exclusive Detective Pikachu Promotional TCG Card
Five years ago: Cosplay: INOCHI 2018 - Yuki no Hana
Six years ago: Cosplay Photography
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hi folks! Feel free to comment, but know that I'll be selecting only the most appropriate and relevant comments to appear. Think before you post.