Nine Years... in My Item Storage

So, as of this post, it completes a full nine years of blogging about Pokémon on all kinds of topics, from hard ones related to the games and the rest of the Pokémon franchise fandom to soft ones related to much of my own experiences and at least a little bit of some of other fans. Like previous years, to close off the year, I take a concept or mechanic - mostly from the main series games - and attempt to apply that to all that I've blogged about within that time. The concept I've chosen for this year is item storage (or Bag, when talking about general-purpose Pokémon Trainers), something that is evidently needed for those main series games but is also applicable to other Pokémon games with their multitudes of similar yet different items. 

When I started this blog, I didn't have much of an inkling of what I'd post about, and I'd often choose random topics to discuss - like a Trainer starting out with only a few items in their Bag. In more recent times and especially this year, those "random topics" have settled into a kind of "regularity", like for a Trainer having a ready stock of various kinds of items in their Bag, ready to use them when the opportunity strikes. My regular event rollups and coverage for Pokémon Go, updates on certain progressions for all kinds of Pokémon games, and some days of the year with posts dedicated to more esoteric topics are examples of the evident "regularity".

Many items, in and out of the main series games, are certainly of the "enhancer" nature, like the hold items I discussed a year ago (see below). But the main series games also have a host of what are called "key items" that serve to advance the adventure in some way. My takes on all kinds of Pokémon aspects, like the ones in the "gimme five" series posts throughout this year followed by other facets of the franchise have elements of both enhancement and advancement - in many cases depending on how readers and other fans look at them.

Quite incidentally, nearly two years ago, I had discussed the amounts of items Trainers may have in their Bag in general, and the points that I had discussed there (re)apply into this end-of-year discussion with the more general topic of item storage. For the concerns of this blog, the path taken can be said to be the "moderate" path with sufficient items (or discussions) that free Trainers - or fans - to take whatever Pokémon path they want or need to take for them. 

Yet much recently, there has been the concern of "maxing out" the items in my storage, which can and still do happen in games that impose such limits like Café Remix and Pokémon Go, and the associated problems that come with that. That translates to this blog as having issues in composing posts and having to cope with them like Trainers use up their excess items.

Nine years is a pretty long time for blogging efforts, especially in my case where I devote them to a specialized topic, in this case Pokémon. Even more specialized within that is the body of items that make up one's storage in the games of the franchise or wherever they apply.

Looking into my "item storage", it seems that I've got a varied lot of items in it, like the posts on this blog, and that has to be shown off within this year and the next. Cheers! 🍒🎈🎀

One year ago: Eight Years Holding Items

Two years ago: Seven Years with Usage of Field Moves

Three years ago: Six Years & The Conferring of Statuses

Four years ago: Five Years - Extended Healing

Five years ago: Four Years, Taking Damage and Healing

Six years ago: Three Years: Making My Moves

Seven years ago: Two Years of Evolution

Eight years ago: One Year Full of Pokémon

Realizing Agreements

The fire

Making me clean

Making me fly

Spinning me 'round and 'round

Spinning me 'round

The fire

Within your eyes

This mystic time

I've known before

Once before

The flame

Within my heart

Agreements made

Are now realized

Like before...

-- "Agreement", Kitaro (vocals by Jon Anderson)

As for a song to really close off this year, as I've discussed others in all of the past years, I had to think and really think about it, and I settled on the above quoted song in the end. "Settled" becomes an appropriate word, for its title ("Agreement") has that very connotation. It's an intriguing connotation to say the least, and framing that in the Pokémon experiences I've had this year on and off this blog is something that can and should be done.

But first, the song itself needs to be discussed. This is one of the few vocal songs by this "new age" composer, though the vocals are provided by a singer better known as the vocalist of a certain band. It's also a pretty long (and slow) song, of which the first pre-chorus and chorus are quoted above. As a result, its flow and lyrics are pretty drawn out, which applies to the themes and imagery, and ultimately how the song can relate to Pokémon.

The most curious part of the quoted lyrics as above is of course the "fire" and "flame" that have certain effects, if many Pokémon species of the former type are to be considered. The song itself suggests a kind of "delirium" with these elements as well in light of what has been quoted above, and with all of the goings-on in Pokémon this year, players and fans might find themselves in that kind of "delirium", trying to seek agreement with the happenings.

Seeking agreements is of course one thing; realizing them is quite another. Throughout this year, that has been a challenge, as I had addressed with my review in light of the "yearly theme" I supposed for this year. Even now, coming to terms with what is expected to make an agreement happen may still be difficult for several Pokémon matters - not the least of which are remnants of other matters - and may be further challenging with the "delirium".

If this song has any other indication, it may be that realizing agreements might require one to make sense of and make peace with the world, and that is similar in spirit to other songs and musical pieces by this artist. That is an "agreement" in itself, and the same would be true for Pokémon matters and happenings, especially those that have been present over the course of this year. The next agreement might just be to make sure that all of those turn out for the best.

One year ago: The Road Never Ends

Two years ago: Tales Told, One by One

Three years ago: Someday, Soon...

Four years ago: ...Is There Still Time?

Five years ago: Return to Believe

Six years ago: (Extra-)Ordinary Days

Seven years ago: One Day, in Life

Eight years ago: When I See You Again

Five... for Fighting

It's almost the end of the year, and it's time for the usual series of reflection posts dealing with this blog, my life, and Pokémon in different kinds of ways. As I noted at the beginning of the year, I chose (or "deemed") the theme of this year to be "Give Me Five", a theme that not only has a numerical dynamic to it but also implications of some "rest". Yet given how this year has transpired for me personally and Pokémon in general, there is something to be gained from it, and that may not necessarily involve a "rest".

For that, in fact, there have been some struggles within the realm of Pokémon games, like the major Unite update that came along with some major criticism, or the updates to Pokémon Go that bring lots of new things to enjoy yet just as many issues to deal with. These struggles are in stark contrast to the expected "rest", even though moments of the latter can still be found. Like a certain saying - "there is no rest for the weary" - Pokémon fans like me may be tired of the goings-on, but they'll just have to struggle ("fight") alongside the "rest".

With all that have gone on within the year - for the Pokémon game affairs, and specifically for me, Pokémon affairs beyond games such as cosplay - I'm finding that I'm struggling in the interplay between the "fight" and the "rest" for them. That includes for this blog, which may be reflected in certain ways that a few readers, friends, and other people might detect if they are observant enough. And yet I still have to make sure that the "fight" and the "rest" are there.

Meanwhile, the choice of titling for this post should be quite familiar to music fans, as it's the name of a rock band, of which one song of theirs had already been brought up on this blog for discussion with general Pokémon affairs. Since the band is mentioned again, I feel that it is proper to offer another song of theirs, one appropriate for this specific discussion:

I can't stand to fly

I'm not that naive

I'm just out to find

The better part of me

I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane

I'm more than some pretty face beside a train

And it's not easy to be me...

-- "Superman (It's Not Easy)", Five for Fighting

Aside from the certain superhero that becomes the title of this song (and in fact many of the themes raised within), its subtitle may be considered representative as the general gist of those themes. For this current discussion, it's not easy to "struggle" and "rest" - moreover at the same time - when there are affairs involving something as universally liked as Pokémon.

Out of all the years I've blogged and for Pokémon in general, this might be one of the most difficult given the "fight" that Pokémon things have had to offer and the "rest" that I should be (have been) able to get alongside them. Yet rest assured (ahem), I'll still need to continue my struggle with them, even if "rest" may have been out of the question, for what's left of this year and into the next year for Pokémon and beyond.

One year ago: Cosplay: M-ZONE E-Sports Festival & Elpico X-Mas

Two years ago: Going... Going... Gone

Three years ago: The Answer for Two and Two

Four years ago: Plus One, and...

Five years ago: A(n Un)Clear Vision?

Six years ago: Cosplay: MC & "Reflections of Love" End of Year Events

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (Above and Beyond), 12/29/2018

Eight years ago: In Lieu of a Book

Cosplay: ChibiCon x ICC Competition

Goh: I knew it! All in...

Ash: ...ChibiCon!

Pikachu: Pika! Pi Pika! [imitating the ChibiCon ditty]

Me: Yeah, same old song and dance (more "song" than "dance", but you get my point).

Goh: It's Sunday, so this has got to be Day 2.

Me: Indeed it is.

Goh: Also, it's the end of the year, and you'd usually have that awards thing for this edition. There doesn't seem to be any this time.

Me: You know, I was wondering about that. I would have been notified weeks ago about any movement on this front. But as you say, it doesn't seem like that worked out for this year.

Ash: I guess that's why you sent me on this day! Well, besides the thing from yesterday.

Me: Sure. But there's also another reason.

Ash: Hey, I met your girl fan and really faraway friend! 

Me: That is it. 

Goh: They must be really close to you - and each other.

Me: So we are. We decided that this should be an opportunity for us to meet, have fun, and update on things - while we go to the convention.

Ash: We did that! Especially for your... "Delia"...

Me: Um, yes. The new Kanto and Johto outfit I sometimes send you with is strongly linked to her. And that's what you have now.

Goh: Oh. That's deep.

Pikachu: Pika... [dejected]

Ash: So, we did talk about that and a few life things over lunch, and then we explored the convention together.

Goh: And then they met your friends, and your friends met them.

Ash: We didn't get to meet a few, though. 

Goh: Well, maybe next time.

Me: I guess that could be hard. And how was the convention? Same old, same old?

Ash: Yeah! Lots of booths, lots of goodies, and... lots of people in the middle of the day!

Me: OK, that's a lot to take in. I think everyone got something.

Ash: I just got freebies. You know how your things are.

Me: Sorry about that. Maybe the next time ChibiCon gets going, I can have you get more things.

Goh: So, looking at the schedule, they have two stages - one for band and performance, the other for dance groups and DJ. Did you get to see any of them?

Ash: Just really briefly. We all had other things to do, like during the ICC thing where there was a talk about "fantasy" things. I thought our friend would be interested in that.

Pikachu: Pika chu pika. ["A good talk."]

Me: Very much, so I don't mind you missing the performances.

Ash: After that, we just hung out together. Your "girl fan" left first, and then I left to come back to you.

Goh: So today was more of a "hang out with friends" thing than a "hang out at the convention" thing.

Me: Yeah, you could say that. And it's a good thing that no intense Pokémon thing was happening.

Ash: I did catch a few holiday Eevee for you!

Me: Except that. But that doesn't really matter too much.

Goh: What was important were your friends and a good place for you all to be in.

Me: So, the convention delivers on that again, even if a lot of things are still the same - including the crowd.

Ash: Let's try to get in when it's not so crowded next time! 

Pikachu: Pika pika pika? ["Is that possible?"]

Me: I will always try to do that, but it depends on the scheduling and such, like with our friends today.

Goh: I'm sure things will work out. By the way, this is the final Sunday of the year... so no more conventions or festivals until the next. 

Me: If there are, not ones I can really send Ash to.

Ash: OK, so this year has been pretty good, and this one closed things up well.

Goh: So it did. Best of luck for the ones in the next, then.

Me: I can't agree more. We'll talk again when we get to them when the year turns over.

One year ago: Getting Down on All Fours

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2023

Three years ago: Pokémon Problem, My Problem

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2021

Five years ago: Road to 25th Anniversary: Life Goes On

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/28/2019

Seven years ago: Soul-Searching and Pokémon

Eight years ago: From Journal to Blog

Cosplay: Amphoreus Year End Cosplay Finale

Me: OK, it's the end of the year, and there's a couple of special things to make it lively.

Goh: One of them is today.

Me: Sure enough. And hey, Ash will find it familiar.

Ash: Oh, it's a follow-up to this one with the futsal!

Me: Why, yes it is. This one doesn't have sports, though.

Goh: So where is this one? 

Ash: At the usual mall - like for the "break party" from earlier this year.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika chu. ["Nice to go back there."]

Goh: Oh, that's great! So we can expect a lot of the same things. 

Ash: So there was singing - but I didn't sing... (I did feel a little sad for our friend by a song they sang.)

Goh: OK, it's not like you're always asked to do that. What about that sad thing, though?

Me: I'll save it for the other special thing. Go on for now.

Ash: All right. And then there was dancing by the ones who can...

Goh: Obviously not you.

Ash: Not well enough, haha. And little games - I got a sticker by playing...

Goh: Well, that's OK.

Ash: And the character parade.

Me: That's all you (and me in some way).

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yup!"]

Ash: There were only 10 of us, and I had my Kalos outfit.

Goh: Where were the others?

Me: I can think of a reason... but we'll deal with it at the end.

Ash: I got the idea that I wanted to try doing the Mega Evolution thing, but then I forgot while I was in the middle of doing it on stage. And I was the first one up!

Goh: Huh. I guess I can get why you were tripped up.

Ash: But it was OK - because everyone won something.

Goh: Oh wow. That rarely happens. What did you win?

Ash: Best, um... "husbu".

Pikachu: Pika, chu... ["Hmm, wonders..."]

Goh: Have you ever heard of this term? 

Me: Mm-hmm, it's a technical term. But I can't say too much. All I can say is that people like us for who we are.

Goh: OK, I trust you. 

Ash: And you should get a little something good out of that soon - alongside this goodie bag.

Me: I will look out for that. So, it's a good day for that.

Ash: Yeah! A friend helped me get there and back to you.

Goh: That's awesome. 

Ash: And all of this in just a few hours - I even picked up something that our friend needed.

Pikachu: Pi pi pika! ["Double duty!"]

Me: It's good to take advantage of the opportunity, before that other special thing.

Goh: Before we get to it... would that be the reason?

Me: Oh, yes. And Ash will be dealing with it.

Ash: I think I know what it is!

Goh: I think I have an inkling too.

Me: Of course you do. But that's tomorrow.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2024

Two years ago: Being a Pokémon "Ambassador"

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2022

Four years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: The Road in Kaleidoscope

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/27/2020

Six years ago: Pokémon and the Furry Fandom

Seven years ago: A Tripartite Conversation

Eight years ago: I Can Hear Your Voice

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/26/2025

Before things are lost even further and need to be found, there is the rollup of Pokémon Go events for this month to be made. As the events that kick off a season called "Precious Paths", they could be considered to start to pave those paths and bring forth a few appreciable things for those who still play the game. Yet it also comes at the end of the year, so there is that fact to be factored into the events - and therefore the paths and appreciation as well, which this rollup serves to unfold in some way.

Starting off the month and this season was a path into a familiar recent region, as the Journey to Paldea event from December 2 to 9. The highlight of this event was the debut of the Nacli species family, a rocky and salty one. With double XP bonuses for raids and evolving, selected species appeared on alternate days to be caught for two Collection Challenges rewarding Larvitar and Bagon, with these two Shiny boosted. Other Pokémon of the region also appeared in raids and Field Research encounters, while the paid extra had small bonuses and even more encounters. This event was also complemented by a Go Battle Week from December 4 to 7, as well as the separately explained Community Day; with that, it becomes a culmination to and mingling of several paths.

In this month, it was also time to pep up and prep up, and that came by the Well Armed event from December 11 to 16. That's because the event featured Fighting types, along with the debut of the Clobbopus family. That had to occur by way of completing a Global Challenge about Max Battles, which also rewarded other species in the wild and Candy bonuses from those battles, complementing the event's double Candy bonus. Meanwhile, those Max Battles also offered Dynamax Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan, with an associated Shiny boost. Other Pokémon in the wild and Field Research encounters were of the Fighting and occasional Water types, and the paid extra had Candy and Max Particle bonuses among others. Once pepped and prepped, Trainers could also take on Gigantamax Snorlax again in a Max Battle Day on December 14 with all the usual perks. Of course, the pep and prep could be construed to be in more than one way for the present time.

As is expected of this time of the year, the holidays are at hand and so is the Winter Holidays event, of which Part 1 took place from December 17 to 24. For this year, Sudowoodo and Charjabug come to enliven things, the former with a tree costume and the latter with a tree costume, able to evolve to Vikavolt. They can be raided for and in this part also caught in the wild, along with a bevy of seasonal and Ice-type Pokémon. In the Egg department, 7 km Eggs also have seasonal(-costumed) Pokémon, some of which in this part also got a Shiny boost. A few of the seasonal Pokémon also appear in Field Research encounters. This first part also introduces a Go Pass with the usual free and premium tracks to last through the entire holiday period, with lots of encounters, items, and bonuses, especially for those who pay for the premium track, as well as new avatar items with the new costumed Pokémon. Complementing this first part was a Celestial Research Day on December 20 featuring Solrock and Lunatone. All told, there was a certain brightness to this part.

Part 2 of the Winter Holidays event continued where Part 1 left off from December 24, with its end coming later on December 29. This part retains the Eggs, Field Research encounters, Go Pass, and avatar items from Part 1; it also rewards coal... in the form of the Rolycoly species family making its debut in the wild and raids. This time, Pokémon may also drop items when caught, and some wild costumed Pokémon get a Shiny boost. More seasonal and Ice-type Pokémon also join the festivities in the wild and raids to make this part even livelier, and the liveliest part is its peak, the Winter Weekend on December 27 and 28 (that's today and tomorrow), with a special feature on holiday costume Eevee through a Timed Research set, and the opportunity to level up the Go Pass as much as possible on these two days. It may be a little less bright in this part, but it's still quite festive.

The end of the year often (also) represents the end of many paths that have been traversed throughout the year, but for Pokémon Go this season, the paths are already getting started. And that start comes at a bit of an appropriate time for the usual festivities at the end of the year, which have their own appreciable paths to follow. With that, it's time to end the year and get the next one started so that, in turn, the paths of that one can start.

One year ago: Pokémon Through the Ages: The Radical Era and The Future

Two years ago: Pokémon Face Off Figures - Charmander and Mew

Three years ago: Cosplay: Trans Mini Fest

Four years ago: Pokémon Unite Holiday Event

Five years ago: My Missing Pokémon Pieces in 2020

Six years ago: More on Sunner and Me

Seven years ago: Wallpaper: 20th Movie - Remember and Continue

Eight years ago: The First: Episode 001 - "Pokémon - I Choose You!"

Lost and Found Christmas

And then, the day itself comes. Christmas for many is a time of great cheer, especially when the conditions are normal. But when they're not, it can be a bit of a confusing time - and the moment of the holiday might be in a lost-and-found state. So it is that with a happening that befell my personal affairs, as well as some distant people finding themselves in a quagmire, I thought I'd discuss this state of affairs for the holiday, and certainly I'd include the pertinent Pokémon experiences for that and more.

For the "lost" part, there have been a few occasions of Christmas that I've had where Pokémon was an included part. One of them happened to be the occasion where I also obtained the relevant Pokémon album, which was indeed adjacent to the time. I know now that I can never get the occasion back by the above happening - although that's probably the case regardless. For the others, they might also be shuffling themselves and the Pokémon things they still have, so at least a bit of the day is "lost" for them.

On the "found" side of things, in many of the past years, I've been able to get into certain happenings close to or exactly on the occasion - one of them earlier this week - that enable me to put in Pokémon. These would represent me "finding" them and therefore "finding" a kind of Christmas to celebrate. As others recover from their quagmire, which could take until the next time Christmas comes around, they can also find their Christmas celebrations; with luck, some of those might just involve Pokémon.

The ways that things are "lost" and "found" on this day might be considered an oddity, given the festivity that's in the air. Yet it is understandable that life happens with or without an upcoming or ongoing festivity, in particular the one of this very day. Losing or finding oneself or the associated happenings would then be expected along with the progression of life (and certainly Pokémon things), but with the festivity at hand, one seems to just need to go along with it and find only what really needs to be found.

I'm still at the moment trying to find myself after the happening above while contemplating the Christmas happenings I've lost and found alongside Pokémon. Others may be in the process of trying to find their footing after they have lost hold of it, and still others may be in the process of finding Pokémon things that can complement them in whatever state they're in. In all of these cases, at least there is still today and the hopes that it implies or brings - just maybe to lose the "weight" and find the "wings to fly".

Merry Christmas. I hope that (Pokémon) spirits are always found and never lost. 🎄

One year ago: A Natural (Pokémon) Christmas

Two years ago: The Colors of (Pokémon) Christmas

Three years ago: Much Ado About Christmas

Four years ago: Keeping the (Pokémon) Christmas Spirit

Five years ago: Merry Christmas... in Fantasies

Six years ago: I Like Christmas, Merry Christmas

Seven years ago: Christmas Bash: Concept Album?

Eight years ago: Merry Christmas!

The Party Opener: It's All About That Bash

Who's that Pokémon

At the Pokémon Christmas Bash

Who's that Pokémon...

Brock: It's Brock...

Misty: ...Misty...

Ash: ...and Ash!

Who's that Pokémon...

Jessie, James, Meowth: Team Rocket's having a blast!

Who's that Pokémon...

All: Happy holidays from the Pokémon cast!

-- "Pokémon Christmas Bash", from Pokémon Christmas Bash

As I had said last year (see below), I'm running out of songs to feature from the "legendary" Christmas Pokémon album that is the above, and in fact there are two songs left. One of the songs is appropriately enough the opener (first track) and title track of this album, which sets the tone of the album; perhaps I should have featured it first or much earlier such a long time ago. But that is no matter, and now I can feature it in a "first and last" manner.

So, this opener and title track puts in the context of the songs of the album: a Christmas party where Ash and co. as well as Team Rocket - plus Professor Oak, not stated here but implied in the other tracks - gather for the celebration of the holiday. This is explained by Dexter (the voice of the Pokédex) in the first verse, also its only appearance on any of the songs in this album, after which all other characters in the context shine.

In fact, the following verses feature Brock, then Misty, then Ash, and finally the Team Rocket trio. They all explain what they're up to for this party and what their holiday wishes are - and those might involve romance, attraction, zeal, and a different take. Then there are the choruses, which echo their sentiments; the last one is quoted above, which features everyone alongside the lyrical vocals and Pokémon voices that tie everything together.

Many of the elements of this album, as I've noted time and time again in different places, are seemingly rather "ridiculous" for either Christmas or Pokémon, as various perceptions might suggest. The album starting off with this song and the way it is, however, also does suggest that the intent is to ease in the listener to all the quirkiness of the album, which would then make them not so quirky and in fact rather believable. 

Of course, by discussing this song, that means there's only one song left to discuss from the album (the "last last"), and that would have to come next year. For all that the album offers, as both Pokémon and Christmas, the important thing remains the celebration of either and/or both. And when it's "all about that bash" - no "trouble", or at least just a little bit here and there - even Pokémon still has a place amidst the goings-on of the season.

One year ago: Giving Pokémon Gifts... with Santa Included

Two years ago: The Pokémon Intrigue Before Christmas

Three years ago: It's Gotta Be... A Big and Red Guy

Four years ago: The Mistletoe Dangled Over...

Five years ago: Christmas Song, Really

Six years ago: Let's Go Play with Buddies

Seven years ago: Keeping Homes in Hearts

Eight years ago: Cool Wintry Song

TCGP: A Crimson Blaze Rages

Moving on to Pokémon and other related matters, there is the matter of something new for the mobile implementation of the TCG. That would be expected to be in the form of a new expansion, which in this case would be a mini expansion or a Themed Booster Pack. Now, like most prior Themed Booster Packs, this one also continues a major expansion that precedes it. After Mega Evolution first arose in this game, the natural step is to continue it, and that comes in the form of a "blaze of glory".

"Crimson Blaze" is the name of this Themed Booster Pack, and as indicated by its pack image and orange border, its focus is on the Charmander species family. More specifically, that would be on Mega Charizard Y as the embodiment of that evolved form's Fire-type side. True to that, the main "immersive" card features the species family and this specific Mega Evolution form all in the card image. It's a real blazing wonder that any player can have and play, if they can draw the right cards from the packs.

Besides Mega Charizard Y, the mini expansion also has the Mega Evolution forms for the other first generation fully evolved first partners, as Venusaur and Blastoise. It also has the Mega Evolution forms for Steelix and Lopunny, along with a selection of other complementary Pokémon that include a few Legendary Pokémon - two of which are from Kalos. Speaking of said region, one of the Crown rarity cards is a Pokémon with an "edge" on it, and the Supporter cards feature familiar faces from a familiar journey.

For the card numbers, the numbered section has 69 numbered cards, and the overnumbered section has 34 cards for a total of 103 cards in all. Its full art and Shiny selections, certainly in the latter section, have a few fascinating Pokémon in them that will surely please anyone who draws them within a pack. The Trainer card section is rather small in the number of cards, and their functions may be considered as "limited"; it seems their appeal would be if their full art versions are encountered upon, for both collection and play.

Given the contents of the cards in this mini expansion or Themed Booster Pack, they may be taken as a "special selection" for fans of Mega Evolution, and especially for a particular Fire-type Pokémon that has fascinated many fans since the early days of Pokémon, even into the present day. Its "blaze of glory" always burns bright for those fans, and those playing TCGP right now can harness that aspect in Mega Evolution form with this new mini expansion or Themed Booster Pack, keeping the flame raging.

One year ago: Quickies: Delivering Punches and Kicks

Two years ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays 2023 - 10th Anniversary

Three years ago: Café Remix: Pay to Win?

Four years ago: 2021 Pokémon Center Merchandise Highlights

Five years ago: Playing Pokémon on the Quick

Six years ago: December for Love

Seven years ago: Quick Ball Tin and Pokémon Coin

Eight years ago: Perspective

Felitsa and My "Delia"

In my local area, Mother's Day falls on a specific day of the year instead of on a designated (day of a) weekend of a month. And it happens to be... today, of all things. It's a day I've never really touched on because of its variability across the world, and in fact the variability of the relationship in my case. But now, I have a reason to address it, and of course that involves a few Pokémon things attached to them as well.

Every Pokémon fan will recognize Delia as Ash's mom, who as I've discussed may have some connection to the moon. No doubt, she has quite a bit to do with how Ash is and has always been, as depicted in the anime. And even if that's not particularly evident, at least a few things can be discerned from the moments when they're both together and then separate. Many Pokémon fans might just have similar impressions of (and to) the two.

As for my own, I have to say that my relationship has not been quite like Delia and Ash - or to be more precise, similar in some ways but quite different in others. It's a lot more strained and certain moments are not as pleasant, so we tend to be aloof. All the same, the influence and marks are still there; that includes this blog, which stems from my Pokémon dealings, which ultimately stems from my time in the U.S. alongside her.

Then there's "Felitsa" as mentioned in this post's title. Felitsa is the mother of Yanni, an artist I often mention on this blog; in fact, a music piece is dedicated to her by her name as its very title. The name has connections to the Latin word felix, which means "happy" and is itself a name; the same is true for "Felicia", "Felicitas", and others. The point is that there is some element of happiness involved.

Now, though... happiness is cast aside in my case, for I've lost my "Delia" - not exactly on this day, but just a couple of days ago. Regardless, the momentum is close enough on this day that it simply had to be brought up. Even with all the variability involved as per the above, one of the constants is indeed Pokémon... which is why I do think of her as my "Delia", not the least given the fact of my cosplay efforts.

So, on the occasion of this day, it's still appropriate to reminisce, for a lot of my other current happiness does stem from "my 'Delia'". For other Pokémon fans, they might just have their "Delia" of concern - and hopefully at least a little bit of that is also "Felitsa". Whenever they celebrate their Mother's Day, then that too becomes a good day for all happiness that has resulted. For now, thanks and so long to my "Delia".

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/21/2024 and 12/22/2024

Two years ago: Performance Critique: Toys & Hobbies Week 2023 Anisong

Three years ago: Mixing In and Out of GBL

Four years ago: Getting in the Mood with Pikachu

Five years ago: Muscle Memory and Pokémon Games

Six years ago: Cosplay: Chibi Daisuki! Japan Fest 2019

Seven years ago: A Pikachu Hand Puppet

Eight years ago: I Claimed My Team

Cosplay: Greenland Christmas Festival

Me: I did say "others", didn't I?

Goh: Another one this weekend! It must be busy.

Me: No kidding. But we'll have more on that a little later on. For now...

Ash: OK, so this is a Christmas festival.

Me: Right, a short one. Have a look at the schedule.

Goh: Ooh, that is short. Only a few hours.

Ash: And it looks like the entertainment is all dance groups.

Goh: I think so!

Pikachu: Chu, pika pika! ["A short dance!"]

Me: I'm sure you can tell why that is, especially by the location.

Ash: Oh, it's a market outside a neighborhood!

Goh: OK, that's interesting.

Me: The story that I got is that it's to celebrate the opening of the market, at least in part.

Goh: Like the card game shop about a year ago.

Ash: I saw ads for it while I was there.

Goh: You think they're related?

Me: I think that may very well be the case. 

Goh: So, there was a dance group, and then... a character parade.

Ash: I got in this one! It was free (with something else to do).

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["That works."]

Goh: Nothing to lose - maybe a lot to gain?

Me: I read there are six prizes. But then a lot of characters might want them.

Ash: Sure did! There were over 20, and all of them looked great.

Me: Yeah, I thought that might happen. That goes along with the "busy" thing we'll deal with soon.

Goh: And that meant... you didn't get anything.

Ash: No - it all went to them. And even they had to battle it out. I knew some regular prize winners that didn't win.

Goh: So, you just made things lively.

Ash: Yeah.

Goh: After that, a few more dance groups, and then it was done.

Ash: Pretty much.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["That's all."]

Goh: Now for that "busy" thing.

Me: OK, so there were actually two more festivals some distance from this one, happening at the same time.

Goh: I see.

Ash: But this one was lively!

Me: I'm not sure about one of them, but I heard the other didn't get many visitors.

Ash: So, at least this one won out.

Me: You can say that. One of them had a singing competition... but in the end I chose this one for you because it was the closest and easiest to get to.

Ash: Well, you did what you could.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Of course."]

Me: Oddly enough (or not), they were all Christmas-themed somehow. 

Goh: It's absolutely the season, so it was really the time.

Ash: And it's a good time for all.

Me: Mostly. But for me... 

Goh: Oh?

Ash: Oh, I'm sorry.

Me: More on this by myself soon. At least others will have a good Christmas now.

One year ago: Cosplay: ChibiCon 5 x ICGP Regionals 2024-2025

Two years ago: Reclaiming Lifelong Truths

Three years ago: My New Current Pokémon Unite Role Preferences

Four years ago: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Uptake

Five years ago: What If Pokémon Didn't Exist?

Six years ago: New Innovation, New Problems

Seven years ago: Dreaming Big, Making an Impact

Eight years ago: Friend Faves

Cosplay: Sayonara Kotoshi 2025 - Isshoni, Kagayaki no Mirai e

Goh: Hey hey, it's "your festival" again. 

Ash: Haha, "my festival".

Me: Hmm. It is indeed, and it's on my "home turf", so I (we) should support it, like last year. And this time...

Ash: There's a singing competition! I want to be in it.

Me: You sure can. In fact, I'm giving you "Advance Adventure" to work with.

Ash: OK, Hoenn outfit it is.

Pikachu: Pika chu pika! ["Nice choice!"]

Me: Great!

Goh: So... everything's the same as last year?

Ash: In the same place - with a lot of the same booths for food, merchandise, and community.

Goh: Oh, and entertainment too.

Ash: The same - bands and dance cover groups.

Goh: But then, the singing competition is new.

Me: Apparently so, and that's why we're jumping on it - also since we've been absent from one for a long time.

Goh: All good reasons. How'd you do?

Ash: I nailed it! I had a lot of fun too. And just before it rained somewhat hard too.

Goh: Again like last year. Almost everything in this one was a repeat.

Ash: You could say that.

Pikachu: Pi pi pi pika... ["Almost all the same..."]

Me: As for the winners...

Ash: The three of them were all girls. So the boys didn't get a chance.

Goh: Huh. I guess you two will have to set up something for next time.

Me: Looks like it. And there was also a character parade like last year, but...

Ash: I wasn't in it - and I could tell who was going to win right away.

Goh: Well, looks like your eyes are getting sharper for noticing this.

Me: Or it was already obvious from the very start.

Goh: Hmm. By the way, last year you had Necrozma raids going on... did anything Pokémon also happen at the same time this year?

Ash: I went to look for Solrock and Lunatone by doing tasks around the festival! But I couldn't do much since it was also raining.

Me: Even if I were to do it myself without a festival, it would be a challenge with the rain. At least it's an independent thing. 

Pikachu: Pika. ["Works out."]

Me: OK - takeaways, nags, and final thoughts.

Ash: I think they did great this year! Except maybe for bossing all of us around a bit too much.

Goh: But we do expect some from them.

Ash: Sure, in a way - like getting my bag searched.

Me: Oh, you mean it was like me being at the airport?

Ash: Yeah, you know the feeling. And maybe they can set up the area much better.

Goh: It's an open court, right? And then they have to put up barriers and all.

Ash: Yeah, that.

Pikachu: Pika, pi pika. ["Blocks, here and there."]

Me: Yeah, this is kind of hard. But things were still good overall, from what I can tell.

Ash: They hope it would be shining, even - like the subtitle of this year [OOC note: it means "together, to a bright future"].

Goh: Hey, yeah! That makes sense.

Me: Well, there's hope for bright futures just yet, with this one and others. 

One year ago: Pokémon Through the Ages: The Expansive Era

Two years ago: Let's Talk About When Money Talks

Three years ago: The Contribution and the Results

Four years ago: Merchandise over Games?

Five years ago: Pokémon Go: Tap... Tap... Tappity-Tap...

Six years ago: Sitting Pikachu Keychain

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 12/20/2018

Eight years ago: Movie Manga!

More on Precious Departures

I'd said earlier in this Pokémon Go season's opening post that it being called "Precious Paths" would imply meeting with certain things but also parting with yet other things. The latter is now what I want to bring up, also in the specific context of them departing - a context that may be considered to go deeper in some ways. For that, I do want to dig deeper in some of the contexts while keeping others shallow, at least for the time being.

The elimination of Aeos Coins in Pokémon Unite would certainly be a departure for the game, even with some of its shades remaining through the item exchange and another feature - for those who are observant. It has apparently become a departure that many have not taken too well either, making it "precious" in another way. Whether or not this will lead to a precious departure of a different sort, that is for players to determine.

Meanwhile, a different Pokémon game, one that I rarely mention by itself on this blog by virtue of not playing it, has apparently been making the rounds on ending its service and playability in certain places first. A significant place in relation to that is also coming up, and it'll be a "precious" departure for it when that happens. How that will play out for me in covering it here is a bit of a doozy and might even constitute a "departure" in itself.

As for applying all this back to Pokémon Go, the game that is behind the season itself, at this point it might still be a little vague. However, considering some of the events and happenings on tap for this month and the next, a fair bit of it can be considered a "wrap-up for loose ends" for this year, and that may be taken as a "departure" in some ways, with the hope of things coming out better for later happenings this season.

Sometimes the most precious path might be the one that one has just treaded, and all of these Pokémon game happenings strongly indicate that, even with Pokémon Go as the "umbrella" for their interpretation. Any departure will certainly be reminisced somehow, and reminiscing these seems to become something to do on the "precious path" that is this season. With that, the season continues to progress and depart along its points.

Now... it seems I have to address a relevant precious departure for me very soon...

One year ago: TCGP: Expanding into the Mythical Island

Two years ago: The TCGL Experience... From My End

Three years ago: Scarlet and Violet Uptake

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/18/2021 and 12/19/2021

Five years ago: What It Takes to Contribute

Six years ago: Creations Without Drama: Cosplay Teaser for 12/22/2019

Seven years ago: The Four Pillars of Pokémon

Eight years ago: Nostalgic Returns

Bigger on the Inside

Fans of certain fictional series might recognize a concept related to certain things in those series, in that they are "bigger on the inside". The concept is obvious enough, suggesting that those things are internally more spacious than their outsides - in particular with regard to size - would suggest. This concept may be considered to have a place in Pokémon as well, with the way that certain small things here can (do) or may just encapsulate bigger things.

As expected, one of those things is the Poké Ball. Like a certain encapsulating time travel device, there is the thought that its inside portion is actually much bigger - otherwise species behemoths like Rayquaza and Eternatus won't be able to fit. Else (or perhaps in addition), there is also a "compression" factor in play that allows Pokémon and environments to fit in such a small space, much like archive files on a computer. Whatever happens, there is some universal agreement that the Poké Ball is definitely "bigger on the inside" somehow.

Then, there are the dungeons in different Pokémon regions. Often, from the outside and in particular their entry points, they might appear to be pretty small. However, as soon as one steps into and navigates them, one realizes that they're actually pretty big. In fact, it could also be considered that the actual dungeon, if it were to actually exist, would also be quite big by actual standards. This too is similar in regard to a different game outside of Pokémon, for which the "bigger on the inside" is also a hallmark of some of its areas.

In similar fashion, the regions of the Pokémon world can be considered to be a lot bigger than their illustrations and manifestations would suggest. If their real-life models have anything to say, it may be that they're similar in size and in scope, and one would definitely be dealing with something major. In this case, the "inside" is the true nature of things, and that true nature is being able to fit all the Pokémon, people, and other things within that true expanse. The "bigger on the inside" concept thus has its own way of manifesting here. 

Something to be gained from the "bigger on the inside" concept is that not everything that is depicted is true to their scales, furthermore if they have things that lay hidden within them. So it is that the fictional series have big things inside seemingly little compartments - and for that matter, so does Pokémon. In some sense, size does matter... and yet that size may also depend on things as they are on the outside followed by what really goes inside them.

One year ago: Make Like Pokémon Leaves and...

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies: Extras and All

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/17/2022 and 12/18/2022

Four years ago: Let's Talk About Making Teams Work

Five years ago: "Seasonal" or "Occasional" Gamers

Six years ago: A Cosplay Departure

Seven years ago: Screenplay Writing

Eight years ago: Good (Life)Times, Again

Old Gimmicks, New Flavors

By now, Pokémon Café Remix has many gimmicks that are used in regular rotation in its puzzle stages - some certainly more than others. Each of those gimmicks in turn need to be dealt in certain ways in order to clear them, whether by linking Pokémon icons or using special icons (megaphones and skills). With so many gimmicks and only so many ways to clear them, it is potentially possible to have some that are very similar if not outright the same, and the latter case could be construed as giving "new flavors" to old gimmicks.

As an example, more recently there has been the addition of "bottle-type" gimmicks that if not cleared with a Pokémon that can handle them directly, they would generate other gimmicks. In one case, the soda pop creates soda bubbles if cleared by hitting it normally, and the mayo jar results in mayo when cleared in the same manner. Their mannerisms and usage of older gimmicks lend them their "new flavors".

Even more recently, chocolate cookies have been added, which require three hits for a normal clear. This is pretty much the same as the whipped cream, which is cleared in the same manner if not using a Pokémon with the specialty for it, or special icons. In fact, the appearance of the cookies is rather similar to whipped cream, only being chocolate-colored, which further suggests the "new flavor" aspect to the gimmick.

While new and old Pokémon alike can adapt to new gimmicks, the latter in particular through kitchen notes that are waited for them, it may be that it's hard to adapt new gimmicks in other ways that are different from the current gimmicks in their existing ways. Even so, whether that may or may not be necessary could depend on the puzzle stages and events to come, and in turn the implementations of the gimmicks.

Café Remix already has plenty of puzzle gimmicks to challenge old and new players alike, and they're still rather challenging in the puzzle stages where they are concerned. The next concern and challenge may then be having gimmicks that are nicely adapted to them, and it may be that in the process, some old gimmicks may just have some "new flavors". 

One year ago: On Free and Paid Mission Tracks in Pokémon Unite

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/16/2023 and 12/17/2023

Three years ago: Cosplay: IR X'Mas + Cosplay Party

Four years ago: Pokémon Lectures?

Five years ago: Quibbles with Candy XL

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/14/2019 and 12/15/2019

Seven years ago: Raid Dramas

Eight years ago: Hoenn Pokémon Are Go!

Quickies: On Donuts, Rings, and Lords

It was a few years ago that I brought up a few local Pokémon donuts that are the result of a fascinating collaboration. The longing I felt for them a year later is still felt even today to some extent. Aside from these special donuts that are solid, though, most donuts are in the shape of rings with a hollow center, a characteristic shape that allows heat to penetrate and cook the pastry. Of course, rings will allow other things to pass through their middles, as any person can attest, and for Pokémon, a particular ringbearer comes to mind.

That ringbearer is certainly none other than Hoopa, whose rings have passed through quite a few particularly powerful Pokémon, many of the Legendary sort. I sometimes refer to the Pokémon as the "lord of the rings" (with apologies to a certain author of a famous fantasy series) because with such powers, it does seem rather appropriate to consider the Pokémon as a kind of "lord" with certain divinations - or powers - that enable the rings to manifest and then pass through those specific Pokémon.

Meanwhile, the ringbearer is known for another whimsy that goes back to the first of the mentioned topics for this post. The whimsy concerns donuts, certainly, and the Pokémon is linked to them by a certain kind of fascination, one that obviously has something to do with shape. The latest Legends game (ZA) furthers the connection with donuts in its expansion DLC, while going somewhat further back, Pokémon Unite had its Hoopa event with a donut baking aspect that further cements its fascination link.

A lord with such a whimsy might not sound too "lord-like" in one sense. Yet given that it is still possible for it to get a lot of what it wishes for, it's still a "lord" in many ways. And if the "lord" wishes for donuts, then it is likely that it is what it shall have. As for me, now I feel interested in getting donuts just by the virtue of writing up this post, though they may never hold a candle to the Pokémon donuts I covered so long ago. Still, their ring shape is a testament for passing things through, and at least one of them might be hunger.

One year ago: My Most Frequent Flops in Café Remix

Two years ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu Mini Event III

Three years ago: Performance Critique: CHoCoDays 2022 Fun Karaoke Challenge

Four years ago: Salim Group and Pokémon

Five years ago: Perking up Holidays, Pokémon Style

Six years ago: PvP: After One Year

Seven years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, Waves 3 and 4

Eight years ago: Balanced Systems Stimulate Civilization

The Next Friendship Level: Forever Friend

Many years ago, I had discussed the possibility of more friend levels in Pokémon Go beyond Best Friend, along with how I would have proposed the system. That proposed system, though, admittedly could be considered somewhat complicated, and an actual implemented system might just be simpler. Now, Pokémon Go has provided the answer to that conundrum, and it in fact has been implemented for all Trainers to take advantage of after having been tested by others just a few weeks earlier.

The next friendship level above Best Friend is called Forever Friend. Trainers attain this after 180 days of interaction in total (90 more days after attaining Best Friend), which would have correspondence to my proposed Ultimate Good Friend level, but without the Lucky Friend requirement. Its XP bonus is the same as that of Best Friend (150 thousand), and interestingly, it can be attained again in connection with another feature related to this addition, which is to be detailed separately for all its significance.

Presently, however, no one has attained this level. That's because everyone starts with the friend level that they have attained to now, and even Best Friends will still need those 90 days to interact. Moreover, the testing period was also short, and the global rollout was only a few days ago. At least in this way, no advantage is conferred to anyone who is already Best Friends with others and (would) have interacted as needed; every Best Friend is essentially "starting fresh" from that point, on up to become Forever Friend.

Because of the "forever" aspect, it may also be considered that the level would be the "final" friendship level - or "ultimate", referring back to the posed terminology as above. With the possibility of attaining the XP bonus repeatedly (again, alongside that specific feature that I'll discuss when the time is appropriate for that), that also supports the consideration. With the "forever" aspect, many friends will certainly remain on one's Friend List; accordingly, the limit of friends has also been increased to 650 to accommodate this.

Friendship is always a big thing in Pokémon Go, and the addition of the Forever Friends level seems to clarify that even further. It will take some work - in the three months of this season and beyond, for both Best Friends and non-Best Friends - to get to that level, but the payoff can be considered big as well, with that feature that I keep hinting about. Friendship is also a simple thing as long as one keeps interacting, and Trainers in Pokémon Go will certainly keep doing that for as long as possible, and now when "forever" is a concern.

One year ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu 2nd Anniversary

Two years ago: The Remnant Vestiges of Silph

Three years ago: My "Friend Experience" in Playing Pokémon Unite

Four years ago: "My Pokémon Collection" in Indonesia

Five years ago: On the Statistics for My Blog

Six years ago: Cosplay: Panniversary 3

Seven years ago: Only for You, For Your Eyes Only

Eight years ago: The First-Generation Surfing Theme

Cosplay: Cosplay Creator and Community Convention (C4) 2025

Goh: Oh hey, C4 is back!

Ash: Looks neat!

Me: Indeed, C4 is back. But I have to preface this by saying that it was supposed to have been back earlier this year.

Goh: What happened?

Me: Remember the time we partially talked about diversions? 

Goh: Oh, that's what happened! 

Ash: Yeah. I got to the usual place and it was dark. We found out too late that it was cancelled. 

Goh: Or rescheduled, since it's now today.

Me: Right. It was supposed to be for that fateful weekend - specifically Day 1 that day - but then lots of bad things happened around the place.

Pikachu: Pika pika... ["Too bad..."]

Goh: Well, that was then, this is now. So this is a Sunday - this would be Day 2, yes?

Me: Indeed. Day 1 was yesterday, but it turned out that I had a couple of things to do then, and I wanted to send Ash on this day to make up for last year, so...

Ash: Here we are!

Goh: OK, anything different from last year?

Ash: The booths look almost the same, and what they had was almost the same too. Even the communities - the music game and tile game ones - and food were in the same place. 

Goh: Well, something else had to be different. 

Ash: Oh, there was a show space in the middle of the convention space entryway. 

Goh: That's definitely one thing.

Ash: But you know something else? I met Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy - actually them this time.

Pikachu: Pika chu! Pika pika. ["Finally! For real."]

Goh: Wow!! That's a real treat for us.

Me: That rarely happens. It's a great moment.

Ash: And then I met lots of our friend's other friends all day - even at the show space where they had a talk show and a comedy space.

Goh: Isn't that neat? All great things to happen at a convention.

Me: How about entertainment?

Ash: Dance groups and bands - one of them Otaku Band!

Goh: Nice! It's as if our friend planned this.

Me: I did say I had plans, like before. It's a good thing they're on stage today... and so are the competitions.

Goh: There was a character performance, and then a parade... but I'm in the second one.

Me: I really wanted you in the first one, but I'm scant on resources and time - and I had wanted you to go with your Kalos outfit anyway like I had planned previously.

Goh: There's the planning - how about the results?

Ash: I got nothing this time.

Goh: Well, that's OK. I guess it wasn't time.

Ash: Yeah.

Pikachu: Chu... ["Hmm..."]

Me: So, I think we got everything. After you did all that, I had you go on a side trip to another place to meet...

Ash: Your figure friends! I haven't seen them in a real long time.

Goh: Hey, they're not "deactivated" after all!

Me: I guess that's true - just dormant for a long time. And this was really needed while you were there.

Ash: We had a good time seeing each other for about an hour. And then I went back to you.

Pikachu: Chu pika. ["That was it."]

Goh: OK, so other than the hiccup earlier this year, I think they have this "character market" down pat.

Ash: I think so! This could be a regular for us.

Me: I'm very sure of that. I will surely send you whenever possible... and let's see about that character performance.

Goh: I think I need to poke and prod you for that.

Me: Keep poking and prodding. I'll get to it somehow.

Goh: Oh, by the way, there wasn't anything else Pokémon going on today, was it?

Ash: I battled for G-Max Snorlax a couple of times, but that was it.

Me: I already took care of it much earlier, so I didn't need to deal with it again.

Goh: But don't sleep on it!

Me: True - for this convention or otherwise. Great things will and should happen for it next time.

One year ago: Cosplay: Sayonara Kotoshi - Atarashii Kaze ni Narou

Two years ago: Sun Matters, Pokémon Matters

Three years ago: Monthly Goals in Café Remix

Four years ago: Buying Games Ahead of Playing?

Five years ago: For the Sake of Something or Another

Six years ago: Putting Things on Hold

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (Double or Quits), 12/14/2018

Eight years ago: Tears of Life... and Being Moved to Tears

The Journey of a License

Going back to game matters after nearly a week not discussing them, now I need to deal with a recently pertinent matter for Pokémon Unite. As I mentioned in my post warning about the expiry of Aeos Coins and their usage for purchasing Unite Licenses, they would then be obtained in a new and different way aside from outright purchase with Aeos Gems. That way is called "License Journeys", and it's a radical way that is to some extent also still oriented to payment; now, its tale also needs to be told. 

Each existing Unite License is now placed in tiers (or they perhaps could be said to be "levels"), and to earn them, players now have to earn what are called License Points. Once all the License Points for one Unite License are earned, the tier or level is cleared, and players move on to the next License Journey. Some tiers, though, allow a selection of a Unite License that would be earned later, and they'd essentially move down to that tier. Pikachu also happens to be the first, and the rest go in a unique order.

How are License Points earned? Presently, they can be earned through the Battle Pass; the free and premium tracks contain set amounts, the latter certainly more than the former. In lieu of Aeos Coins, the daily missions now award prize boxes that when opened also sometimes give out License Points. Speaking of that former currency, if a player still has that stashed away, they can also be exchanged for License Points... although that will likely only happen once the more attractive rewards have been gotten.

The new system admittedly has a few (but not too many) advantages. Through the system, the game now does expect players to branch out and get new Unite Licenses periodically instead of perhaps becoming stuck indecisively, in part through the hoarding of Aeos Coins when the currency was active. Then, for new players at least, the system also ensures (some) gradual progression through existing Unite Licenses and to try some things before committing to certain roles. Yet that may be all there is.

On the other hand, the disadvantages are also rife. With this system, gone is a lot of the "free choice" that had been previously afforded, especially for not spending any amount of real money (by way of Aeos Gems) to get specific ones, particularly for "specialization"; so, it's either "pay up" or "deal with it". In fact, lots of negative reactions have been generated with the new system for the reason above, with regard to payment or dealings. In that respect, the old system may have been more functional.

With the new system for obtaining Unite Licenses, the path may be rather strict and not wide open as with the old system, which is certainly regrettable. All the same, it becomes the current journey for making one's way through the possible Pokémon players can play in this game. It's also still a relatively young journey, which means the path can change yet again as it has changed to go down this path, and hopefully for the better. It may be the wildest journey yet for this game, now unfolding before all.

One year ago: Favorite Items from Delibird's Presents

Two years ago: My Personal Trainer Fashion Preferences

Three years ago: Indonesia's Own Pokémon Event

Four years ago: The Bugs of Unite

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/12/2020 and 12/13/2020

Six years ago: Performance Critique: Pokémon Theme feat. Otaku

Seven years ago: Trainer Battles Are Go!!!

Eight years ago: Will You Be There?

Album: Advance Adventure

To finish off this "gimme five" week - the final one too this year - with the topic of the "sounds of the season", I've decided to make another album discussion or review. It's conceivably another one from the Japanese side of things, since it is admitted that this side has more albums than others. Yet it also has its own dynamics, one of them being the "dynamic" album that becomes the one that I'm addressing in this post.

Said album is called "Advance Adventure" because it contains the first opening theme for the Hoenn saga since it's literally the title track, as well as its first ending theme, "Soko ni Sora ga Aru Kara" - the latter of which I haven't discussed but I might just do so in the future. Both of these in typical Japanese anime soundtrack fashion also have their instrumental or karaoke versions following the regular vocal versions, making them convenient for fans who want to sing them... like me at conventions and festivals with Ash's help.

Padding out the rest of the album is a small selection of background music pieces from the anime for this saga. It's nowhere near the entire collection as was practically the Sound Anime Collection that I discussed earlier, but it's a fine selection as far as things go. The one that I enjoy the most from this selection is the piece called "Tatakai", which many fans will recognize as one of the battle themes of the saga, played in various contexts for the main characters. While the other pieces might remain "rare", at least the ones here aren't.

With the small selection of songs and music on the album, it is possible to consider the album as an "extended play" for either set of tracks, even if taken together they just barely exceed the limit for a true "extended play" and thus qualifies it as being an "album". As an initial selection of the music for the Hoenn saga, it has the bases covered, which is a good thing - perhaps the only one aside from the songs themselves. It might have been hard to expect more from this album - at the time - but now fans don't have to settle for less.

Many things about sounds and music that pertain to various aspects of Pokémon still exist out there, like the overall body of music for the Hoenn saga, of which this album is only a small subset of that. They'll certainly have opportunities to be covered on this blog, further beyond this "gimme five" week that is dedicated to them, and likewise for other topics that have been discussed in this year. For now, this "five" is a "wrap".

One year ago: Pokémon Through the Ages: The Formative Era

Two years ago: Increased Irrelevance in Café Remix?

Three years ago: Pokémon Go: Something Extraordinary

Four years ago: Using the Master Ball

Five years ago: Virtual Reality (VR) and Pokémon

Six years ago: Sword and Shield Uptake

Seven years ago: Much Ado About Figures

Eight years ago: The Rainbow Feather of Ho-Oh

"Rare" Pokémon Music

I had said this week would have posts related to "sound and music", and yet I haven't covered anything about the latter somehow. For that, now I'd like to do so with an actual topic related to Pokémon music. Now, quite a bit of music related to Pokémon is commonly found, if one knows where to look for it; a lot of this is the various opening and ending themes, as well as some related songs. But some music could actually be considered "rare" and hard to find or come upon, and that becomes the focus of this discussion.

One of these kinds is the background music from the anime, aside from the ones in the Sound Anime Collection album. As implied in that post, these pieces rarely surface outside of the anime - if at all - and practically the only place where one can hear them is the anime itself. That also might partly explain why the English dub of the anime, past and present, have used music pieces unique (original) to that dub, with some of the originals being hard to access. In turn, the unique pieces are "rare" themselves for the same reason.

Another kind is some of the backing tracks, instrumentals, or "karaoke" versions of certain Pokémon songs. On the Japanese side, most of the time, songs have their instrumental parts alongside when they are released; there are some isolated works, however, that don't seem to have theirs alongside, and then those instrumental parts become "rare" as a result. On the English side, instrumental parts are rather difficult to come by, even for popular Pokémon songs, and this exemplifies the "rare" classification.

Music from the Pokémon games mostly belong on the "common" side, again in particular if one knows of the resources for obtaining them (for those who know). But some of the older games might have their music pieces stuck in that game, and there may or may not have been efforts by certain fans to preserve them, making them also "rare" consequently. Even for some modern games, music preservation efforts may or may not be underway, and for the games without such efforts yet, its pieces may be considered "rare".

Whether or not certain pieces of Pokémon music are "rare", many fans of the franchise (and perhaps even a good deal beyond) will certainly enjoy all of the available music pieces by listening to them and even interacting with them. It then follows that if more music pieces could be made available, this could occur to an even greater extent. For now, it should be noted that a portion of Pokémon music is not all that "common", and their enjoyment may be limited as well. Some musical breakthroughs may just be needed in that regard.

One year ago: The Importance of Mew in Café Remix

Two years ago: EX Licenses: A Legendary Extra

Three years ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays 2022 - FUNDOME

Four years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights: The Modelers

Five years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights - "Gotcha!" Versions

Six years ago: Rethinking Game Linkages

Seven years ago: Passing It On: The Next Generation

Eight years ago: Pikachu Head Collectibles