A New Order of the Ages...?

OK, it's July 4 again, so it's the day that the United States commemorates its independence. Since several years ago, I began the norm of discussing it (by a theme related to the country) along with some relevant Pokémon matters, and that remains true for this year. The theme taken last year was a Latin saying found on a piece of national imagery... and yet it's actually one of two on that imagery, like either Plusle or Minun. With that, I figure I need to discuss the second of the pair, moreover since now there is some relevance and importance to some other Pokémon matters.

That second saying is "novus ordo seclorum", which means... more or less the words in the title of this post. Its apparent history is that it's a reinterpretation of a phrase found in a certain classical Latin piece - which I would consider to be of interest to me, but I digress - and it was chosen (along with the saying above) to represent the dawn of the new country, implicatively as a place of independence and freedom, spiritually speaking. It then goes back to the occasion of this day as the commemoration of that.

As for the relevance of this with Pokémon matters, recall that years ago (see below), I had written about how the U.S. can be regarded as a "center" - a focus place, so to speak - of Pokémon happenings. That is still true today, although recent upheavals outside of Pokémon (not to be discussed here) might seem to make that fact a little less on the pleasant side. It's as if the saying above is realizing its premise, only in a darker direction. Even people beyond Pokémon affairs feel exactly this way, as if the spirits above are becoming lost.

With that, what would be needed for this "center" to become viably pleasant for Pokémon players - since a few Pokémon events (like the World Championships) are invariably held there - is... perhaps the phrase itself, but in a better direction for the country. What's done is done, and it's clear that the current situation of an age shift has been nightmarish, but that doesn't mean it can't change again for the better, as far as all Pokémon fans are concerned.

Independence for this country has been a wonder such a long time ago, which might just explain the choice of using the saying in the national imagery. That seems equivalent to the wonder Pokémon has aroused in a fraction of the time of that independence. Time keeps on changing and ages keep on shifting, and for all that is good (like Pokémon) in this world, the ages may need to shift again for the country before it's too late.

But what is never too late is wishing well for the independence of a country, especially as the pertinent occasion comes up for Pokémon fans there and all other people of interest. On that note, that is just what I'd like to do - to wish well on the occasion - and hope that the ages may newly turn for the better.

One year ago: Blessed Be These Efforts

Two years ago: From Sea to Shining Sea

Three years ago: The U.S. as a "Center" of Pokémon

Four years ago: Searching for Myself... with U.S. Included

Five years ago: A Few Words about U.S. (Us)

Six years ago: Welcome to the Jungle

Seven years ago: Metal Reversed Cap Pikachu Keychain

Eight years ago: The Subdued Hometown Themes

Redecorating with Café Remix

I had noted in this year's anniversary post for Café Remix that the present one is a "visual" anniversary because of something recently added to the game. That feature is rightly called "customization", but it's also really about "redecorating" because... that's what it really is. It's still pretty early, but the gist of the feature seems to be readily understandable even now, so I thought I'd go ahead and make a discussion out of it.

The customization involves placing Pokémon and furnishings in different parts of the café in order to make it look unique, reflecting what the players may like. The ten different areas of the café can have specific Pokémon placed in them (some more than one), while the Entrance and Lounge (currently) can have different furnishings. It's pretty much a certainty that other areas might have furnishings later on as a development.

Customizations are made by going into the feature from the main café screen and selecting a specific area to start. Here, one then places Pokémon with specific outfits - and if applicable, furnishings for areas that have them - and then confirms the selection. Layouts can also be saved as "blueprints" and then restored at any time, and even Pokémon can offer layouts automatically. They're all pretty nice touches.

How does a player obtain furnishings? Many of them can already be obtained through certain achievements - including the star front signboard for completing main orders - and some can be obtained through exchanges at currently ongoing events, which has resulted in their shops expanding for this purpose. As such, the feature is essentially being ingrained as "spiffy extras" for those who can and do go the extra mile.

Although for some players the café already looks great with the way that it has always looked, some may certainly want to make it look even better, and so the addition of the customization feature satisfies the desires of those players. Yet everyone can still take advantage of the feature to make their café really their own, and with that, players are bound to go on a "redecorating" spree for celebrating this "visual" anniversary and beyond.

One year ago: Team Rocket Apparel from Pokémon Center

Two years ago: Possible Alternatives to (Preserve) Pokémon Go?

Three years ago: Taking on the Unite Challenge

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/3/2021

Five years ago: More Pokémon Go "Goofs"

Six years ago: I Splurged, for Once

Seven years ago: Pokémon Yellow Pikachu Shirt

Eight years ago: Spicy Tamato

TCGP: In the Garden of Eevee(lutions)

TCGP continues a sensational run of new expansions with a recent introduction of one more of these, as a mini expansion or Themed Booster Pack. After the "crisis" of the previous one, it seems that there is a need to relax and let loose - and what better way than in a garden full of Pokémon, specifically one with a bunch of familiar ones with four legs. So it is that the new Themed Booster Pack is called "Eevee Grove" (incidentally, just "Eevee Garden" in the Japanese version) for its primary focus on this species family.

Being a large species family, it literally offers something for everyone, and so the Themed Booster Pack has all members of the species family in question in common card form and rare full art form, some of which are also in the ex variant. Any or all of them will likely be the targets of players, whether or not they'll use them in battle - though like the other expansions, there are suggested decks that illustrate how certain species may be or are meant to be used, and from there it's just a leap away from custom decks with greater powers and more species.

Speaking of more species, besides the Eevee family, the mini expansion pack also contains other Pokémon to pad out the expansion to 69 numbered cards, as with the previous Themed Booster Pack. Even so, the mini expansion does seem to be following on the Alola momentum of that and the previous major expansion, and still contains many Pokémon from this region. Meanwhile, the full art and Shiny Pokémon cards continue their role of adding bulk to the mini expansion and offering other rare possibilities for players to collect.

Notable cards in this mini expansion pack include the three-Star full art Eevee ex card as its only Immersive card with a special, familial showcase, as well as the game's first "pick one of two" card as an Item card. Either of these will surely see some use in battle, though it is likely the former that will see greater use since it is the key to having more evolved forms of Eevee (that is, "Eeveelutions") in battle. But then, for collectors, all cards are notable - even the rare ones that are hard to get.

Paradise is often said to be hard to conceive, let alone to find, though many conceptions will invariably involve a garden of some sort. For those involved with Pokémon, such a garden would likely contain a variety of Pokémon species, and some of them might just come from the family of Eevee. That imagery is what the TCGP seems to have gone for to introduce another expansion to continue a sensational run of them, and now all players can enjoy and relax in the conceptual paradise of cards.

One year ago: The New Successors of Silph

Two years ago: Cosplay: Akazora Fest

Three years ago: Architect(ural) Futures (Features)

Four years ago: The Element Cup of GBL

Five years ago: Descending into the Catacombs

Six years ago: Fast Captures in Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Let's Go Trade

Eight years ago: Speedblogging Like a Ninjask

The Vibes of Go Fest... and a Festival

Me: Well, I said "friends" would be involved, didn't I?

Goh: OK, that's fair. If you say that, then Ash must have been involved too.

Ash: I'm here! And was there at Go Fest. And... I guess this makes it three years in a row.

Me: Yeah, something always seems to come up on the second day.

Ash: I'm fine if you're fine with that.

Me: Why not?

Goh: So this was for the second day, and you battled Zacian in raids.

Ash: It's an awesome Pokémon! With Zamazenta too - remember that time in Galar?

Pikachu: Pika pika pika! ["It was a big time!"]

Goh: Sure. That was a really big time - and now you two got to experience it (again).

Me: I hope you got all the spiffy Zacian just like I did for Zamazenta yesterday.

Ash: I got three Shiny ones and seven ones with a card image.

Me: Excellent! Just like that exactly.

Ash: And I traded one each of the card image ones with your friends. It wasn't perfect, but it looks like it'll be OK.

Me: Great!

Goh: Aren't these the "friends" you two have problems with?

Ash: I was with the ones who still hit it off OK, but then... there were the hard ones being hard - even if they weren't being hard on me.

Goh: Oh. That must have made you not comfortable.

Ash: Yeah... so I just moved after I couldn't stand to raid more.

Me: Luckily, there was a little festival I could have you drop by instead.

Ash: It was perfect!

Pikachu: Pika chu pi. ["Good thing."]

Goh: OK, so you actually went to that instead, not like in past years where you didn't.

Me: Emphasis on the "drop by", since Ash wasn't actually in attendance and can't partake in the usual things - so I (we) can't even say too much about it.

Goh: I see. And the usual things - you mean, like a character parade, if there was one.

Ash: There was, but like our friend said, I couldn't make it in. I just went on with mostly Go Fest stuff while at the festival while I met your other friends - good ones.

Goh: Hey, should be better than the ones before. Did everything work out for Go Fest?

Ash: I think I might have missed a couple of things, but I really did try to catch the Pokémon. 

Me: Well, let's see what I can do to make things up if there is an event with similar content. 

Goh: So then... our friend mentioned "vibes". I guess we have to talk about feelings as well.

Ash: Our friend really said it - this Go Fest is "royal", and big time, at that.

Goh: I can't disagree. Zacian and Zamazenta do make things that way.

Ash: And for the festival, it had really great vibes too for the characters and entertainment. I think they were mostly dance groups.

Pikachu: Chu pika... ["Good vibes..."]

Goh: It might be the usual vibes, same as Go Fest in general.

Me: But something always makes both of them different - the festival this time while we're on Go Fest, and for Go Fest it's obvious.

Goh: You can make them however you want to make them.

Ash: And they'd be great with the right people - and friends! 

Goh: Why not? 

Me: If the feelings are good, then they'll be mutual. 

One year ago: Tournament: Retro - Rainbow Cup by AIGA e-Sports

Two years ago: A Virtual Cosplay Card

Three years ago: Supporters and Speedsters, Wherefore Art Thou?

Four years ago: It's... Bidoof Day?

Five years ago: The First of Us

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Custom Team Keychains

Seven years ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2018 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Eight years ago: My Offerings (or, What I Am Not)