The Peak of Delightful Days

After three months, the climax of the latest Pokémon Go season is at hand, and that season is about to end soon - both of which are in my usual regard, regardless of what happens and when they happen. I had suggested that the season would have quite a bit of "fun in the sun" when I introduced it as it began (or was about to), and that is a good starting point for the discussion of its tail end and everything that has happened in it, also as always both inside and outside of Pokémon Go (as Pokémon in general as well).

Considering the events of the game of relevance, they all did leverage the perceived "theme" somehow (including the ultimate event of this month), especially given the typical mid-year happenings of Pokémon Go Fest. Incidentally, there were also some transitions in and out of the darkness, suggesting that countering the darkness may be necessary at times in order to have even more of that "fun in the sun". Of course, most everything should have provided continuous delight for all participating Trainers.

Outside of Pokémon Go, the biggest delight for all Pokémon fans was certainly the World Championships just a couple of weeks ago. While the happenings in other Pokémon games or realms may or may not have been directed to the "delightful days" of this grand tournament, at least some of the events in the lead-up to it had its own kind of elements of "delightful days", some of which involved colorful Pokémon like the Eon Pokémon that are capable of bringing delight to everyone's days.

For many people, this time of year is surely a period of "delightful days", but even within that period, there are still some struggles to be had, if Pokémon Go as the game that furnishes this season's title is of any indication. That may be considered true to different extents for other, different games or realms of Pokémon, and it is effectively a constant determination for bringing wonderful things by all that they offer.

In that sense, the only other constant thing in Pokémon life and other life is change. Seasons change (as will happen soon), things change, and even Pokémon species change, the last one being something that is always evident and replete for this realm. On this last day, perhaps there can be many reasons to celebrate delight - that of the season that has progressed and of the season that is to come and likely promise its own delight.

One year ago: The Peak of Shared Skies

Two years ago: The Peak of Hidden Gems

Three years ago: The Peak of Go

Four years ago: The Peak of Discoveries

Five years ago: Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Six years ago: The Start of a Decked-Out Adventure

Seven years ago: Solidarity Making

Eight years ago: Reunions!

Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/30/2025

Some might have been wondering where exactly Community Day for Pokémon Go is this month, and the answer to that is that it's today, skirting the edge of the season's end (unlike the same month last year, where it was actually at the season's final day). It's a "chirrupy" business for the regularly occurring event, not the least of which is given its circumstances of today. As usual, Trainers would have to steel up their resolve and muster up efforts, given all the importance that the featured Pokémon species may have.

With that, the featured Pokémon species for this month is Rookidee, a characteristic bird Pokémon from Galar. As stated last month, the featured Pokémon had already been decided then, and that's because it was the winner of a poll (by a landslide) conducted on YouTube - the most sensible out of four options for Trainers. Its fully evolved form, Corviknight (which evolves from Corvisquire) also has a Gigantamax form, but that hasn't appeared yet; at least its Dynamax one has, and that will have to do for now. That fully evolved form gets the move of Air Cutter as a Charged move, which may be useful in certain cases. Also as equally useful is the main bonus of this edition, being quartered Egg hatch distance for those who like (and need) to clean out their Egg stash.

The rest of the dealings for Community Day are all the usual things. There would be the double Candy and Candy XL chance for more resources, extended Lure Modules and Incense to get more of the Pokémon to appear, photo bombs for some surprises in catching, and an extra Special Trade and discounted trades for those making the most of it, plus an item bundle for more useful things to get. As well, there are general and unique Field Research tasks, the background Timed Research, and the extra paid Special Research for things to work on - and the reminder that the move window will last until next Saturday for that purpose.

For me today, there was also some assistance in a familiar form...

Ash: That would be with me!

Goh: Hmm, Rookidee, huh. The bird that would become Corviknight.

Me: I think you two might have seen it at least once when you were in Galar.

Goh: I think we did - the flying taxi.

Ash: Yeah. That's a pretty big bird. And now you get to have one too.

Me: With the special move. I already had one but without it.

Ash: OK. You'll definitely need at least some of the Candy and Candy XL that I got by catching for that. And I got a lot!

Me: I'll definitely deal with a few of these for evolution over the next week. 

Goh: Was this together with our friend's "not-so-friends"?

Ash: Yeah...

Me: Well, actually, I also needed Ash to take care of a few things for my better friends, and they came there - didn't they?

Ash: They did. And don't worry, I took care of them.

Me: Afterwards, well...

Goh: There was something else, wasn't it. 

Ash: Uh-huh.

Me: That's for later. Anyway, I think we'll all fly high with this one.

Ash: You can say that again!

Rookidee may be described as a tiny creature with great aspirations... which in fact becomes the essence of the paid Special Research title - "Little Bird, Big Dreams". "Chirruping up" those big dreams may be the task of Trainers before and after this edition of Community Day, and to bring them forth while flying high - in a Corviknight taxi or otherwise.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2024

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2023

Three years ago: Delving Further into (Enjoying) PokéToon

Four years ago: Raids on Different Platforms

Five years ago: Competitive Stage Progress

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2019

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/30/2018

Eight years ago: Stories That You Don't Know

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/29/2025

This particular August has been a hectic month for Pokémon Go, and as a result of that, its event rollup for the month might also be a bit complicated to make. It also might reflect the structure of the events with some overlap among them, or at the least skirting of the events of concern. Still, it's getting down to the wire for this month as well as the season - the latter to be discussed when its time comes - so at least something has got to give for this month, and thus the event rollup comes today.

Going back to July a little bit, last month's overrunning event of Adventure Week had a complementary weekend event in the form of a Research Day featuring fossil Pokémon on August 2. Tyrunt and Amaura were the featured species as Field Research task encounters, while others were in the wild. More encounters could also be gotten with the event's paid ticket. Apart from these, its progression should be rather evident.

August's first real event, overlapping with the end of the overrunning event as above, was the Sweet Swarm event from August 3 to 6. Appropriately enough, it also began with a Battle Day for Gigantamax Butterfree on that very first day with all the usual perks. The main event itself focused on two sweet Pokémon (Combee and Swirlix), with increased Shiny chances for both, extended Lure Modules, and appearance bonuses. Every two days, a Timed Research set for each Pokémon gave encounters and items, while Field Research gave extra encounters. This event was not only sweet but rather simple.

Next, some Cozy Companions took the stage from August 6 to 12. One of these is the Snom species family, debuting in special 7 km Eggs with other buddying Pokémon before going to regular 5 km ones, and Shiny Tandemaus from Party Play (with greater encounters here) and wherever. Wild Pokémon and Field Research encounters were also of the buddying variety. In Timed Research, a free set provided encounters and bonus items, and a paid set by the event ticket had even more. All these were set with bonuses of double XP hatch, an extra Special Trade, and double Friendship levels. Complementing this was a Hatch Day for Munchlax on August 9 and an Origin Raid Day (with Dialga and Palkia, actually an Ultra Unlock) on August 10, both as usual with their perks and a bit of companionship.

Right in the middle of the month, Team Go Rocket instituted a "takeover" period, a usual MO for them, from August 11 to 17. The bonuses were of the usual sort as well - Frustration out by TM, more frequent appearances, and varied IV from raids. New things this time around were Shiny Salandit, Shadow Giratina by defeating Giovanni, and Shadow Kyogre as a Raid Weekend on August 16 and 17. A few new Shadow Pokémon appeared in Grunt encounters, Leader encounters (these of the first partner variety), and Shadow Raids, and a Collection Challenge demanded capturing the first of these. Field Research gave out items, while item bundles were available in the shops. This iteration was actually quite celebratory...

...for this takeover also paved the way for festivities, since the World Championships were on its weekend from August 15 to 17, making it its own event. The varsity jacket Pikachu could be caught during this time, with Shiny being likely. The event also acted as a Go Battle Weekend with the usual bonuses and Timed Research, also with more Pokémon encounter bonuses. Enlivening the event were all competitive Pokémon in the wild, raids, and Field Research encounters, plus a paid Timed Research set for those who can pay for more. The festivities were furthered with certain moves for certain Pokémon, five Special Trades daily, new clothing items (including T-shirts for the live event), new stickers, and special appearance for the Go Battle League, bringing the festivities within virtual reach for all.

With the onset of Go Fest Max Finale, something had to precede and accompany it, and that was the Dark Skies event from August 18 to 23. Over its course, various Pokémon species that are capable of going Dynamax were featured in Power Spots throughout the week, while a few Pokémon from the associated region of Galar are featured in raids in quick succession (which included the two Legendary "big dogs", with two Raid Hours for their Crowned form) and constantly in the wild. Bonuses involved more Power Spots, more Pokémon from them, and more MP to collect, plus a Timed Research set for the first partners and bonus Legendary candy, and increased remote battle limits. All these were obviously for setting up the weekend of the big event, which comes into its own.

Closing up the month - and season as well - is something a little brighter, an event called Sunkissed Shores that started on August 25 and due to end on August 31. It brings the debut of Dondozo, while other beach-themed Pokémon rejoin the fray in the wild, raids (with a double XP bonus), and Field Research encounters. Timed Research offers one free set and two paid sets with the event ticket (which could be paid as part of shop item bundles), with a variety of bonuses among them. Along with the end of the event on Sunday, there will be a Mega Gyarados Raid Day on that day. Given the season's name, it seems fitting to end it with an event that is rather evocative of its spirit.

If this month is hectic, then it might reflect the overall goings-on of the season as well, further with its own ways of making things a little more delightful per its name. That may seem to be a contradiction, but Trainers have always been able to work with and around that to turn hazy days into greatest ones - and especially now with the month and season.

One year ago: Being Emotionally "Invested"

Two years ago: Let's Talk About Blocks in Our Lives

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/29/2022

Four years ago: Respect for Veronica Taylor

Five years ago: The Social Value of Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Adventurous Families

Seven years ago: Media Master

Eight years ago: Catching Up

To Be or Not to Be... A "General"

I had another Pokémon Go topic lined up for today, but it turns out I'm not ready for that, and so is the topic. So, I've replaced it with another Pokémon Go topic that in some sense I should have discussed several months ago but hadn't for some reason or another. Yet now it's also especially pertinent because in a matter of time, it'll also become irrelevant in a sort of way, much like prior discussions involving the topic. That also has tie-ins to and regarding the famous phrase I mention in the title - a prompt for a "question" of sorts.

Now, the topic at hand is the matter of being a "general", which in the past I've used to refer to me reaching the then-highest player level in Pokémon Go at that time, which was 40. A year or so later, the level cap was raised to 50; I then referred to the stretch of levels afterwards as the "post-general" journey, the longest of which happens after I've used up my stored XP for that purpose. What is clear from this is that the "general" thing is a "to be" - or "has been", given the amount of time that has passed since then.

The "not to be" part is whether I'm still apt (or rather, want) to consider myself as one, given the community transpirations of this year as well as what some people think of me and in turn how I think of them. If it were that being a "general" means to copy all their behaviors, good and bad alike, then I want none of it. But if it just means having earned milestones, pinnacles, and achievements while promoting all of that and gameplay positively, then I am all for that and more... and level, XP, and all that jazz would only be numbers, nothing more.

For what it's worth, I have in fact actually reached Level 50 several months ago, on February 21 to be exact - the part that's pertinent to this discussion. The later irrelevance of this will be discussed when that happens, but the present irrelevance remains something to think about. How this fact may have any bearing on my regard as a "general" might very much depend on the viewpoints of the others who have conferred the title among themselves and others, but for other players (Trainers) and readers of this blog, that may be more freely interpreted.

As for that famous phrase and the "question" it prompts, it's also a prelude to a long-winded deliberation about the considerations of life and living (or otherwise). To live as a "general" in Pokémon Go is definitely a good aspiration, yet it seems to mean nothing with consideration of those who throw the title around. To live the good life - in this case with the dealings of this game, but also other Pokémon realms - would have more significant meanings, and for this Pokémon fan, that could only be something much, much better. 

One year ago: Mountains of Faith: Mount Lanakila

Two years ago: Half-Century of the Initiator of Pokémon

Three years ago: Pre-Stage Items in Pokémon Shuffle

Four years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: Divided and United

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/28/2020

Six years ago: Allying with Characters

Seven years ago: PokéVerbalisms

Eight years ago: After the Faraway Tournament

The FOMO Aspect and Pokémon

There are three specific aspects that I would consider related by virtue of them sounding the same and being mentioned at the same time, although a bit of that is due to personal experience. One of them is as mentioned in the title: "FOMO", short for "fear of missing out". It surely refers to how some people don't want to miss out on things, which is good... except for the developed "fear" in this case. It also has a certain applicability to Pokémon, and the goal of this post is to elucidate how that may be - or in some cases already is.

Most specifically, the aspect has been tied to Pokémon Go, for which it can be said that the game exploits the aspect to get its players (Trainers) involved in all the game's events and thereby spend what is needed to do so. This works for the most part, as quite a bit of the things introduced in the game have appeared once or a couple of times at one point and then not repeated again for a very long time. Knowing this, Trainers become influenced to play through and preclude the fear - and then repeat this as more and more events appear.

With other continuously updated Pokémon games like Café Remix and Unite, the aspect also manifests itself in these games in much the same ways, goading players to play to preclude the fear and get the Pokémon and/or items that they need, for which the appearances could be sparse. Meanwhile, the main series games are not constantly updated, but it has started to get into the act of having a number of limited-time events that effectively act the same as ones that are present in the continuously updated games.

Physical Pokémon goods like merchandise and TCG cards are obviously not immune to the aspect, and especially for the latter, for which it is very well-known that scalpers have gotten quite a foothold on the goods. For merchandise, a lot of it is certainly limited by the nature of the goods being produced in only certain quantities and for restrained venues and periods like the recent pop-up store at the World Championships. The aspect thus plays on the effects of these circumstances to influence fans in obtaining the goods... if they can.

Considering the above and how the aspect manifests itself in other areas of life, it's very much a psychological matter, and that matter can be quite pervasive. For Pokémon, it does have the effect of drawing attention to its goings-on and making sure that fans can take part and get something out of them before the goings-on are displaced and the fans miss out. The resolution of this may be questionable in some ways, but there is no question that the aspect is psychologically real, and that's for people (in particular, Pokémon fans) to grapple with. 

One year ago: The Matter of "Specific Evolution" in Unite

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2023 (Global), Day 2

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2022 (Global), Finale

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 8/27/2021

Five years ago: Road to the 25th Anniversary

Six years ago: Blogging on Blogs: The Pokémon Go Official Blog

Seven years ago: My Pokémon Groups on Facebook

Eight years ago: In-Town vs. Out-of-Town Events

Seeking Salvation for Me and Others

Pokémon can be considered to keep me in line in some ways, and this might very well be also applicable to others. What I perhaps haven't really brought up much - apart from a mention some years ago - is the "safety" that it brings for me and others, and how that "safety" can be sought after. I thought I'd bring it up for a discussion at this current point, given I had a bit of a vision (perhaps it could also be construed as a dream) of how things could be without that "safety" and what it means for me and others as we seek it. 

In the vision, there was an electrical catastrophe of a major sort, something that I might say could be caused by an errant Pikachu or Raichu - if it were a Pokémon causing it. Otherwise, it's the sort of thing that I might cause if I were more of an errant person myself, perhaps much like some people who are hanging around in society at present who have more "unsafe" tendencies. There's a sense that I'm kept out of this by being involved with Pokémon matters, and that works out to my benefit - a sought "safety".

For other people, the benefits might be similar in that Pokémon can afford them the best experiences of an ideal and safe humanity - and to keep it that way, given some of the things that occur in the games and its other media forms. Seeking after this "safety" might become a goal for many people, whether or not they realize it, and Pokémon might just provide the means. Some of the efforts in all those media forms at the very least have some good to them, and leveraging them might be the first effort to bring about safety.

At present, there might be a lot of "unsafe" things in the world, and they might continue for a good bit of time, with some of the consequences potentially unknown. The vision I had might represent some of those potentially unknown consequences, even if I'm not the one who brought them about in the first place. What is known well is that Pokémon has a lot of good things going for it, and they might just be good enough for "safety" in this sometimes "unsafe" world; the former is definitely someting to go towards and seek.

One year ago: Network Connections

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Fest 2023 (Global), Day 1

Three years ago: Pre-Puzzle and Mid-Puzzle Items in Café Remix

Four years ago: Go Battle Night Burnout

Five years ago: Continuous Inspiration

Six years ago: Making Others (and Myself) Happy

Seven years ago: Figure Gathering, Again

Eight years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2017 - Yume no Tobira

Cook and Collect, Wherefore Art Thou?

It's been a long time since I've written up one of these "wherefore art thou?" posts, which is indicative that something has been missing in some realm of or related to Pokémon. This time, the concern is for Café Remix and one of its event types - or more appropriately, an element of certain events. As explained over a year ago, the Cook and Collect event type allows players to earn nifty rewards while collecting items from the playfield as one "cooks" by completing orders or stages. Yet since it first appeared, there has been a relative dearth of this event type, and now that prompts this post to be made.

Apart from the Gimmighoul one that continues to recur (as of this post, the most recent one was a few days ago), there have only been a couple editions of this event, sometimes in tandem with the above, one of them featuring a newly added puzzle element of watermelons. After those editions, there really have been no other editions of the event, making it seem that the event type has disappeared, except of course for the recurring Gimmighoul one. Thus, the question in the post title becomes pertinent. 

The reasons for this may be hard to determine, although players' preferences may be an indicator. Evidently, many players of Café Remix are ones who don't frequently log in to the game, so the iterations of Cook and Collect that weren't the Gimmighoul one didn't find favor with some of these players. Though Cook and Collect is progress-limited by day as is the case for the Gimmighoul event and different iterations may obviate this to certain degrees, having progress limited is very much a sticking point.

Now, aside from the Gimmighoul event, only time might tell if more Cook and Collect events will be instituted or if the event type is going to be a "stub". What might be a strong possibility is that multiple events of this type will run (perhaps all at once) in the far future in order to aid players to hire Pokémon they haven't hired one way or another... though this also has other implications for the game that is presently not up for discussion.

While it seems that the Gimmighoul event that is of this event type will see continuity up until the "inevitable", the possibility of other events of this type appearing is very much being questioned at present. Being a constantly updated game, Café Remix always has (and had) its surprises, so the one big surprise right now would be to have events of this type return. That could be as surprising as some of the possible results of the events.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Temples in Our Lives

Two years ago: My "Project Mew" (Or, Why I'm Not Cut Out for It)

Three years ago: More Strides for the Daily Adventure Incense

Four years ago: The Magical Wonder of PokéToon

Five years ago: The Principle of Life

Six years ago: Expecting the Cards

Seven years ago: PokéMusicians

Eight years ago: Wallpaper: Ash XY Tribute Style

Pokémon Go Fest 2025 (Global), Max Finale

The dark happening, the "last dance", and the current Pokémon Go relevance I mentioned in yesterday's post are all certainly suggestive of something, and that something is the "true end" of this year's festivities of Pokémon Go Fest - which considering the preview I made for those festivities, would be an "addendum" to them. It's an actual finale edition that has been absent for a few years and has now returned for Trainers to take part in and bring things to a close. And as stated, the "Max" in the name brings some very huge things. 

That's because this finale edition involves Dynamax and Gigantamax forms of Pokémon, the ones that have appeared up to today. Since Monday and through today, they have appeared more frequently in Power Spots, also through an accompanying "dark" event, which is mostly to be explained in the usual event rollup. Yesterday and today, though, it was (is) the time for the most supreme of these forms to appear, being the Pokémon with Gigantamax forms. They're also accompanied by the Pokémon whose soul gives rise to these forms and more.

All told, that Pokémon is Eternatus, and it too appears in Power Spots intermittently along with those Gigantamax Pokémon of yesterday and today. Like the other Pokémon, Trainers can and will need to battle against it - but not for the purpose of catching it, which will be explained shortly; they'll still earn rewards as normal from the Max Battle, but no capture challenge follows from that. All the other Pokémon can be battled and then caught as normal, which is expected for Trainers to make use of them as they do for Gigantamax Pokémon. 

A word about Eternatus itself is also in order. The form that Trainers battle in the Power Spots is actually a special one called Eternamax Eternatus, and as in the main series games, it's so powerful that it cannot be caught. Trainers, however, will be able to catch a "regular" form of it from the associated Go Pass, and it's the only one they can have and catch. Befitting its enormity, it also has huge power up costs, including its enhancement for being able to be used in Max Battles, given that it's the soul of what allows Pokémon to take part in them.

Speaking of Go Pass, it furnishes mostly resources in its two tracks of free and Deluxe, and the few encounters that it has are all Dynamax Pokémon, perfect for those who rarely battle them. A lot of the resources, besides helpful items, are some Candy for Zacian and Zamazenta, and mostly for Eternatus to satisfy its enormous enhancement costs. Those who strongly want their Eternatus in the best position - especially if it's already pretty good in the first place - will surely have to spend for the Deluxe track for its assistance on the matter.

Since this is (associated with) Go Fest, the raids from this year's edition returned, being the three Pikachu with caps, the train costume Falinks, and both Zacian and Zamazenta in their Crowned form; this last one allows Trainers to earn the Crowned Energy of their respective variants. The Pokémon in the wild are of the current event's own characteristic Pokémon - being ones related to Dynamax and Gigantamax - rather than the ones from the event, but that suits these overarching and enormous forms and its event progression.

On this occasion, I opted to participate in the event in two places: with my local group yesterday, and with a group that is somewhat far away. In both cases, there were battles against Eternatus as expected, but in the latter case, there were also battles with other Gigantamax Pokémon to vary things up and according to the needs of others. The execution of these two efforts was as starkly different as night and day... or the relevant forms compared to how the original Pokémon look like.

Of the finale editions (or ones that could be regarded as such) for Pokémon Go Fest in previous years, this one is arguably the biggest in terms of the Pokémon that are involved in it - perhaps not just because of the forms but also the effort that needs to be put in for battling and catching them. At least, the "royal mechanisms" of the main edition of Pokémon Go Fest might have helped out a lot in that regard, now to vanquish the darkness and further on in the brighter days ahead against others.

One year ago: Cosplay: Community Alliance Gathering 3

Two years ago: Ready System Not Yet "Ready"?

Three years ago: The Fighting Cup of GBL

Four years ago: Flashback to a "Voice Chaos"

Five years ago: Real Fights Over Imaginary Battles?

Six years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2019 - Orihime to Hikoboshi no Monogatari

Seven years ago: Trainers and Musicians Alike

Eight years ago: Pokkén Downturn?

One Last Dance, with Darkness...

Recently, the sky in my area has been a bit dark in the afternoons and unleashed its wet fury, which is a little bit unusual for this time of year. Even so, it might not be too unusual for other parts of the world at the same time of year and day. It's also not as dark as a certain Pokémon happening whose darkness goes far beyond the real happenings as described above, which might be considered almost unimaginable.

The happening concerns a certain situation in Galar where the sky turns really dark and a really huge creature brings forth its presence and power. In the process, the creature might possibly imbue other Pokémon to be able to become really huge themselves and then stand up to that really huge creature. In some circles, this happening is appropriately enough called the "Darkest Day" for all its shady qualities.

As well, in the midst of the adventures of Ash and Goh in the "world saga", they themselves had to deal with this happening and allow it to come to a minor resolution - one that would lead to other resolutions later on. All the aspects of that happening as described above are (were) indeed involved in the dealings of Ash and Goh when it happened, and quite a few things were revealed... but I won't reveal them myself.

In fact, this happening is also related to the games, for which the main series games featuring the region above has all the crucial details. More recently - as in now - Pokémon Go has put into motion something that encapsulates that happening in its own way with all the Max elements that have been implemented. In either case of these games, they may be considered (or are) "last stands" or "last dances" of some sort. 

While meteorological phenomena like the one I described above are incomparable to the phenomenon of the "Darkest Day" as I described, in some sense it might be possible to regard them side-by-side as through this post and all the relevant reasoning that accompanies the happenings. With that, some people might just need to stand up to the occurring darkness and bring forth a "dance" that deals with it in a definitive way.

One year ago: "Spending Better" vs. "Better to Spend"

Two years ago: Quickies: "Toward the Light" with Pokémon

Three years ago: The Dream Archivist/Historian

Four years ago: Survival Mode in Pokémon Shuffle

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Datamining Moments

Six years ago: It's Gonna Be...

Seven years ago: A Mascot Reinterpretation

Eight years ago: Local Hangouts and Pokémon

Narrowing Down Pokémon Types

The 18 types of Pokémon species in the main series games and some related ones didn't come all at once; the majority of them came first and a few were added later, as I had discussed early on in this blog. That's a lot of types to consider, and there may be the thought that some of these types can be narrowed down - in other words, simplified. That has in fact happened for other Pokémon game areas or realms, and that also prompts a bit of thinking and discussion on the approaches and their generality.

For those who are versed with the current TCG era (including the modern TCGP), they work with 10 types: Colorless, Leaf, Fire, Water, Lightning, Fighting, Psychic, Dragon, Darkness, and Metal. There is quite a bit of "subsuming" of main series types with these types - for example, Bug is subsumed in Leaf, Ice is subsumed in Water, and Ghost is subsumed in Psychic. Fairy had also been included in past years as a type, but its expected members are now just subsumed under different types (examples are Wigglytuff in Colorless and Gardevoir in Psychic). The narrowing down of types here seems to work well and explains its persistence.

Meanwhile, Pokémon Unite does have "types" too, although they're not all prominent; they can be seen in the screens that deal with emblems and their collection. The "types" are Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Black, White, Gray, Purple, Pink, Navy, and Brown - 11 of them, all based on colors rather than elementals. As would be expected, there are similar subsuming processes here, only with a few differences (like the Pink "type", which is an obvious nod to Fairy, while there is a bit of "vagueness" for dragons, proper or otherwise). It's comparably simple yet seems to demand as much of the systematics of TCG.

Given the above, it seems that when narrowing down the types, the essentially persistent and necessary ones are the "common" and "starter" types - the ones that pertain or relate to Grass, Fire, Water, and Electric, plus Normal as a supplement. The qualities of darkness and metallicity are also an apparent modern persistence. The other types have some leeway for narrowing down in their regard, especially dragons - again, proper or otherwise - which even in regular Pokémon parlance are a source of contention. These types may be slightly superfluous.

Still, with the way that the Pokémon main series games (and their derivates) are, the 18 types will continue to persist in them for the challenges that they bring. In other Pokémon (game) realms, fewer of them might just suffice to bring similar challenges, and thus a narrowing down is not only workable but also practical for one reason or another. At least, whether many or few, the challenging presence of types in Pokémon is unquestioned.

One year ago: Remembering Past and Present Sponsored Locations

Two years ago: Holowear of Interest, Revisited

Three years ago: The Summer Cup of GBL

Four years ago: My Personal TCG Equipment Wishlist

Five years ago: On the Mining of Data

Six years ago: Mementos of...

Seven years ago: Cosplay Events, Wherefore Art Thou?

Eight years ago: Connection Issues?

#YesToPokemon

Something that some parts of life sometimes could use a bit more of is affirmation, and that doesn't always seem to come easily in those parts. This includes those that are identified with Pokémon, which is the key theme of this blog and indeed also a key part (or many of them) for fans around the world. To that end, it seems Pokémon itself also provides a potential "solution" with regard to this matter, and through social media, that solution is made evident for those whose efforts might just need some of that affirmation.

The "solution" is in the form of a hashtag, something common to social media today. That hashtag, certainly, is the title of this post (#YesToPokemon - following hashtag rules, just simple alphanumerics) and becomes a way of saying "yes" to Pokémon matters. It's especially pertinent if the official representations of Pokémon on social media - whichever one is one's preference - notice something really good from what fans offer and want to feature it in at least a semi-formal capacity, and the hashtag is to affirm.

In fact, that is exactly what happened recently on one platform, with me being a witness to the act of affirmation. A certain master illustrator - without formal ties to Pokémon - drew a piece of fan art that the official representation liked so much. Consequently, the query as described with the exact process above was made and the affirmation response was promptly given; subsequently, the art was featured. It's a dream come true for any fan, and though it may not be a "big break", the affirmation is pretty big in itself. 

Personally, I'm inclined to use the hashtag myself without having anything to offer - unless it may be considered that this blog is the offering. But then again, I'm affirmative of a lot of things that are related to Pokémon, whether they're official offerings or other fans' offerings. If they're all in good spirits, as would be recognized by official Pokémon representations, then that's good reason enough to make the necessary affirmations for me and other fans that can benefit - surely Pokémon would also be open to the benefits.

Even with all the complexity of Pokémon today, and particularly contributions to it from all kinds of sources, there is something to be said about being open to all the good things from them and affirming those things. To say #YesToPokémon would perhaps be the simplest thing one can say to all of that, and if the official Pokémon representations on social media are of any indication, it is that they can and do make those affirmations. Fans can then do the same and then spread the good affirmations all around.

One year ago: Mountains of Faith: Mt. Coronet

Two years ago: How Essential Are Holowear for Unite?

Three years ago: Cosplay: 77th Independence Celebration

Four years ago: Quickies: Officer Jenny, the Keeper of Order

Five years ago: Pokémon and Plant Eaters

Six years ago: The Price of Cosplay Costumes

Seven years ago: Do Unusual Things

Eight years ago: Futureproofing Transfers

The Divide between Official and Fan Art

The recent gaffe of the "immersive" art for Ho-Oh in TCGP also brings up a bit of an issue that affects not only Pokémon but also many other game franchises in the world. It concerns the treatment of art that is specifically made for official media and art that is made by fans for their purposes. More specifically, these two realms can be considered to have a "divide" between them that may be difficult to resolve. Even with that difficulty, there is an imperative to discuss the situation and what it means for both parts of the divide.

Considering the realm of gaming franchises, Pokémon can be regarded as a "friendly" one with respect to fan art. If it weren't, all the fan art out there - including, say, by "Trainer K" - would have been quashed with a certain immediacy. Of course, any art with a highly and particularly evident negative light can still be quashed; this would likely be the course for any other (game) franchise, even for ones that like and appreciate fan art. Not only the art but also image (as in reputation) have to be protected after all, as a human mannerism.

What becomes the primary concern of the divide, as with all sorts of nice things in today's world, is money and how that is brought about by the art in question. Pokémon is commercial, certainly, so there's money to be had from official art. Fans may not necessarily be in it for the money (also in a sense, perhaps in knowledgeable ways), but at the same time, Pokémon also cannot enjoy that benefit willy-nilly from fan art, which sheds a light on the "authenticity" issue that surrounds the aforementioned TCGP art gaffe and its production.

For that, licensing becomes a concern that is drawn into this divide. If something is licensed, especially by prior agreement and intent, then Pokémon can stand to make money off of it - and it should, given how costly official merchandise is these days. But then, there is the difficulty - perhaps close to impossibility - of licensing something that wasn't licensed in the first place, which ties into the issue of making fan art official and yet again ties into that gaffe. The complicating issues make an apparent divide even more stark.

So, apart from revealing more bits about that gaffe, all the points above highlight the situation that official art and fan art are separated not only by their creation process but also the issues that they present for each other, which may not be easily bridged. What may be more easily bridged, however, is appreciation on both sides where legalities aren't involved (too deeply) and positivity is apparent. It seems that there will always be a divide; the question is how to work with and around that divide for the good of everyone.

One year ago: The (Blinding) Light of Evolution

Two years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 8

Three years ago: Deliveries in Café Remix

Four years ago: Furthering Eevee's "Eeveelutions"

Five years ago: More on Pokémon Go Gift Stickers

Six years ago: Red and Riley Keychains

Seven years ago: The Apple and Pokémon

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Nimatsuri 2017

"Bunnelby Holes" with Pokémon

They say that rabbits dig (or at least go into) holes that lead to fantastical places with a lot of things going on in there, so they are called "rabbit holes" by virtue of that. The rabbit has a few equivalents in Pokémon, one of which is the Bunnelby family; incidentally, digging holes might very much be the MO of its members, whether or not the holes might have a sort of fantasy about them. By extension, the holes would then be called "Bunnelby holes" for all the similar things that they have to offer.

As they may hold fantasies, they may be of the plentiful and exciting kind, like a hole that leads to a secret Pokémon paradise with many species and plants. The Pokémon might already be present there, or they might have followed the Bunnelby (or Diggersby as its evolved form) down the hole. Such a paradise could conceivably be enjoyed by the Pokémon or even people who come upon it, and they'd have a great time; this would be the ideal situation and a picturesque fantasy that is not out of imaginative reach.

On the other hand, those same fantasies might be overwhelming in some sort of way, and those who are exposed to them might desire to cast them off instead, at least for a temporary stretch of time. In particular, that would mean not following the Bunnelby and their kin down or into the hole or even getting out of that, the latter being a more difficult proposition. Of course, the fantasies will still be there, and if they're especially in Pokémon species form, they'll be gladly waiting to interact with those who will fancy them.

With the way that Bunnelby (or real rabbits) are and what sorts of holes they might dig or be followed into, different kinds of fantasies, both real and related to Pokémon, might just surely follow. But then, that might also be up to the ones who will do just that, and perhaps most importantly, when they might make a decision for that. The fantasies are likely to be as opportune as the Pokémon species involved with them, and that could be something that fans will look forward for their coming experiences.

So... how far down the "Bunnelby hole" will one go?

One year ago: Observing (and Playing) an Evening with TCG Friends

Two years ago: 3DS eShop Winds Down - Pokémon Games Too

Three years ago: The Old (City) for the New Championships

Four years ago: In the Mix: Pokémon Presents, 8/18/2021

Five years ago: Too Many Items from Raids?

Six years ago: This Is My House

Seven years ago: Local Ex-Raid (and Changes), 8/19/2018

Eight years ago: Pikachu Image Pillow

Simplest Pokémon Games Today

I've discussed on and off about simplicity and Pokémon games on this blog, but it seems I've never actually made a recommendation of what could be played as truly "simple" Pokémon games. Given today's Pokémon game landscape, I can and should make the recommendation, and that becomes the purpose of this post. It's also intended to be written up as simply as possible, given that spirit of simplicity.

With the indications given by its preview, Pokémon Friends is shaping up as a simple game contender for today. Its premise of brainteasers and collections is simple enough for both fans and non-fans to understand, and even if they may still take a little thinking, at least it's not on the same level as other hard-to-the-core present games. It's also simple by the virtue that it's only rather new, and time may affect that...

...as it has affected Café Remix, which is now admittedly packed with elements and may be considered not so simple. Yet at its heart, the gameplay remains relatively simple, and anyone can still pick up on it quickly to get started on it. Keeping it simple might also mean keeping a casual progress, and that might just be manageable. The game might have a lot of content by now, but there is still room for simple efforts.

Then, there's a game that I haven't mentioned for a long time: Magikarp Jump. It was simple then - at least relatively - and it is still simple now. It's so simple that it was reported that a player took many years to attain the ultimate achievement and "beat the game", which is a reflection of how small (and simple) the progress can actually be made. The game is rather eccentric, but simplicity remains inherent.

Many Pokémon games today are nowhere near "simple" due to their development and reach across different aspects of Pokémon. The three games mentioned above may be regarded as exceptions to that, in whole or in part, and their simplicity is manifested in various ways. While they may not substitute for the "full-on" and complicated games, at the least, some Pokémon fans can remain simple even with them.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 8/18/2024

Two years ago: My Current Woes with Café Remix

Three years ago: Hard Times, Fun Times in New Unite Battle Arenas

Four years ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: Selections

Five years ago: The Power of Stories

Six years ago: Cosplay: STARNIFEST 2019

Seven years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2018 - Subarashii Maboroshii no Sekai

Eight years ago: Battle of the Masters

I Want to Be Free (...as a Bird)

Um... well, today's a special day, which should be evident by previous years' posts (see below). Due to some currently prevailing sentiments, however, I don't feel like addressing it directly - although as the prevailing topic of this blog, I can (and have to) always address Pokémon directly. It's like I'm not really "free" in doing so, even with today being a day for "freedom". For that, the desire to be "free" is very strong, and it's something that I and others possess, even with Pokémon in tow somehow.

Some people may consider that birds are the most emblematic animal of freedom, certainly if cages don't become a matter for them and the aspect. In fact, most countries in the world have some sort of a national bird (possibly even more than one), and these birds may be purely representative or deeply symbolic. And when it becomes very much the latter, then it will be present as emblems in various areas or contexts. Conceivably, this also applies - and very much so - for a certain reference area.

With that, the national bird of the reference area is a local raptor, a sort-of hawk and a sort-of eagle. The consideration of its significance is really not for these specific resemblances, nor the fact that it's now a very rare species, which it is. Rather, when the bird takes flight and spreads its tail and wings, it becomes the perfect shape for embodying a certain symbolism that drives national agendas, then and now. As well, the bird isn't particularly gleaming, but the symbolism is quite as such.

When these are taken into account, some of the Pokémon birds that fit into this reference are Braviary, Pidgeot, and Corviknight. The first of these is somewhat agreeable with the species and resemblance, while the others are more agreeable in their impressive symbolism. Yet if purely "impressive symbolism" is to be considered, then there is nothing like Ho-Oh, which in some circumstances may appear as gleaming as that particular symbolism, even if it might be less agreeable in shape and size in this specific regard.

Ultimately, the point of this discussion and the references made for that purpose is to reason for my "freedom" as well as that of others, some of which has been seemingly lost. So it is that birds provide an outlet of reason, whether it would be that certain national bird or the Pokémon birds that resemble its likeness and then that symbolism. The next thing would be to ensure that "freedom" flies high in any form and that my desire (and those of others) are fulfilled on its wings. 

So, yeah, um... happy that "freedom" day. Yeah, that.

One year ago: Seeking the Unity of All Aspects

Two years ago: My Land, Never Gone

Three years ago: Independence Numerology, Pokémon Style

Four years ago: Sparkling, Shining for the World

Five years ago: Rise Up and Live, with Body and Soul

Six years ago: ...And Social Justice for All

Seven years ago: United in Diversity

Eight years ago: Red and White Philosophy

Everywhere and Nowhere

OK, so this sounds like it might tie into the "Pokémon Is Everywhere" discussions from the past few days, but it's more of a "bonus" since it's not about a particular thing, but more of my own thoughts about Pokémon situations, both mine and others. It's also structured by way of something that I occasionally bring up on this blog for all its relevance to me and possibly other affairs, including Pokémon. With that, the rather oxymoronic title provides the insights for how things will go down in this discussion.

The phrase is actually one of my "yearly themes" from way, way back before I started this blog. At that time, I felt like I was being constrained with my activities - which I was - but at the same time, I also felt like I could go anywhere with them. That applied to my Pokémon affairs, which at the time involved fewer games and forms of entertainment than today; I couldn't or did not have the leeway to go anywhere, but by partaking in the activities, I felt like I was somewhere else - a good feeling amidst all my business then.

Nowadays, as Pokémon becomes present in literally "everywhere", as indicated by the previous posts throughout this week, fans can revel in the Pokémon experiences wherever they may be, yet also revel for other fans around the world for their other Pokémon experiences. This would be even more so if they can't go to other places for that purpose... although they may and do indeed desire just that, for which there is nothing wrong with that. The "nowhere" impressions may be as equally strong.

With that, I still have the interest to partake in other worldly Pokémon experiences - one of them being to meet certain figures who are intimately connected to Pokémon, like a certain Sarah - to break out of my "nowhere" state and allow my reach to be able to go "everywhere". For now, I still have this blog, and that's an "everywhere and nowhere" situation in itself, allowing me to provide my takes on Pokémon happenings anywhere (like the World Championships) while being confined to be present in certain locations.

It might seem that being "everywhere and nowhere" is conflicting and thus would be regarded as an oxymoron, as stated previously. Yet the phrase itself seems to present opportunities for current and future happenings, which in the context of this blog includes ones related to Pokémon. That means that even in the middle of nowhere, there is the potential to reach "everywhere", at least in a satisfactory form until one can truly go anywhere and everywhere. The hope is that Pokémon can tag along to all that.

One year ago: Aloha (Alola)! To World-Class Trainers

Two years ago: Aligning Chess and Pokémon

Three years ago: Myst Pillars, Pokémon Pillars

Four years ago: Thoughts of Cards, Again

Five years ago: The Age of Post-EX Raids?

Six years ago: Capital Convergence

Seven years ago: Getting Lucky with It

Eight years ago: I Want to Splurge

It's Everywhere Competitors Want to Be

The last stop on this current "Pokémon Is Everywhere" tour is the grandest stop of all, since this weekend is the Pokémon World Championships, and Friday today is its first day, the day I cover the festivities. Now, this annual Pokémon agenda could be considered localized and routine after all these years, but on the other hand, it is always special no matter what the year is and in recent times it has wide-ranging impacts for Trainers not even at the venue. As such, I decided to "shoehorn" it into this "everywhere" week, regardless of it making perfect sense - and I've even remarked on it (by the title of this post) in a manner that the more affluent of Trainers will recognize.

As for the location of this year's edition, that would be in Anaheim, California, making it a return to the U.S. mainland (and this city, many years ago). The city is also known for it being "hip" (in some way) or being close to other centers of "hip" people (in one way or another), and so the Pokémon also get into the vibe. Notably, that is in the form of varsity jackets that evoke such a feeling by way of association with schools or colleges, and the representing Pokémon (including the de facto series mascot Pikachu) wear this attire for the vibes. Pikachu in particular is not only present in illustrations but also in merchandise form as well as in forms that the games can make use of... but that's for later.

Speaking of the games, the lineup remains consistent with main series VGC (the classic), physical TCG (the "handy"), Pokémon Go PvP (the blitz), and Pokémon Unite (the team-spirited). All the players - that is, the competitors - have certainly qualified to be a part of this event and to duke it out against others of similar caliber, including the representatives of my local area for all of these, which are still part of an entourage with good size. They'll all surely come out fighting in their battles, whether or not in the end they'll be on top.

Now, the World Championships have been in a bit of transition in recent times - besides with regard to the venue - to something enjoyable for everyone, including those who don't compete. For that, including last year's edition, people have been able to reserve Spectator badges as well as spots at a pop-up edition of Pokémon Center, in particular to buy that Pikachu with the varsity jacket outfit. And then there's the possibility of cosplayers being present, which I don't have to say that it would be a dream for me (and Ash) to be able to go there.

In some capacity, Anaheim is also known for a kind of magic that it offers for certain groups of people, in addition to that "hip" thing I keep droning about in this specific coverage. Whether it's magic or "hip", though, Pokémon benefits from that and especially for a grand tournament like this one, returning to that city after many years and certainly with new and modern twists for competitors and supporters alike.

Many players will still dream of competing here, and now many fans too might dream of coming here just for the fun of it. Either one is a great thing, but then it would be even greater to be able to make that dream come true. For those whose dreams have already come true and are here for either, then I wish good luck as always (for the competitors) and great fun (for supporters) in that "hip" and happening place.

One year ago: Respect for Rachael Lillis... in Memoriam

Two years ago: The Matter of Mega Evolution in Unite

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies, Round 4

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/14/2021 and 8/15/2021

Five years ago: Matters of Shadow and Light (Purification)

Six years ago: The Subtle Generational Spoiler

Seven years ago: Don't Look Back... in Anger

Eight years ago: Pokémon Desktop Wallpapers

More on the New PokéPark

As part of my "Pokémon Is Everywhere" series as a "gimme five", I also thought I'd bring up something that was earlier addressed in the most recent Pokémon Presents. Indeed, that would be the new PokéPark thing (PokéPark Kanto), which as I've said is not a game but an actual, real amusement park. Information on it is still a bit scanty, particularly from the video preview, but its extrapolation and discussion should be able to pad it out to an amount that would be as attractive as the real park itself.

Now, as stated, it won't be its own amusement park, but it will be a part of another: it will reside on 26,000 square meters of the Yomiuriland amusement park in Japan - so it will be home "at home". This parcel of land will be split into two areas, a town area (Sedge Town) and a forest area (Pokémon Forest), obviously having the potential for different Pokémon in each and reflecting life as it would be in the Pokémon world, for the people to enjoy and "have fun together" as stated by Junichi Masuda himself.

He further states that the Pokémon that will be present in the park will be insightful for people and broaden their horizons about the ways that the species live and interact - certainly among themselves and given the presence of people. Although it's called "PokéPark Kanto", the species from this region are not to be the only ones present; from the video, a couple of species from Johto as well as Garchomp from Sinnoh are present, so the inclusive potential of the park will be high for Pokémon fans of all ages. 

Finally, though the park will only open in the early park of next year, potential visitors will (or should) be able to reserve their tickets soon, as that will occur closer to the tail end of this year. Given that it's in Japan, they - at least those from international areas - will have to go through the usual hoops of arranging travel, accommodations, and so on in order to make the visit. There's still plenty of time before that happens, and plenty more if travel is for later, but it is still wise to make preparations for it even now.

If PokéPark Kanto is the realized vision of some people's dreams - and it seems to be, given some people's reactions as well as the CCO himself (Masuda) - then it will definitely be a worthwhile place to visit for those who happen to be or plan to go to Japan. More than that, even with it being hosted at its "home" in Japan, its appeal is still expected to be widespread just as Pokémon is already such right now, and that means it aligns with the "everywhere" concept of Pokémon that I presently pose.

One year ago: Looking at Myself as a Pokémon Fan

Two years ago: The Matter of Playable Legendaries in Unite

Three years ago: Cosplay: Japan Overdrive 2022

Four years ago: Let's Talk About Cards for Humanity

Five years ago: Localized TCG: After One Year

Six years ago: Who's That...

Seven years ago: Worldly Reverence

Eight years ago: All in Good (Life)Time

Isyana and the World of Pokémon

Being that Pokémon can be considered to be "everywhere", as the theme I've taken for five posts this week, it certainly has affected or influenced many people. Some of those people definitely can be those from all different corners of the world, including mine. One of those is someone who had risen to fame within the past decade or so and has become a well-known "pop diva" in the country. And as expected, that goes for Pokémon affairs as well.

Isyana Sarasvati is a female Indonesian pop singer whose prime musical activities started in 2014, with her first album released a year later. A few more albums and EPs followed in the years after, which showed off her talent and versatility. She also had a "big break" several years ago by singing the cover of a famous song to an originally animated feature in its live action form. This last bit is an affirmation of the above and is effectively the lead-in to Pokémon matters.

With regard to Pokémon, she appeared last year in a performance at one of the venues of PIJ in the "big city", which I (through Ash) had happened to see. Her outfit for the festivities was a black and yellow one, which was clearly inspired by Pikachu. Later on, for the local dub of the Horizons series of the anime, she contributed a song titled "Makna Dunia" ("The Meaning of the World"), which became the opening theme of that dub. Both of these are certainly significant endeavors.

As her musical style is diverse (recognized as a multi-genre artist) and her fashion sense is a little on the eclectic side, she might draw a bit of comparison to a certain world-famous artist with similar sensibilities, but that's not much for me to discuss. What is clear, though, is that those two qualities can and do make a perfect match with Pokémon, and that has become evident with what has happened. She has certainly left her mark with Pokémon, and more could be made.

Pokémon is already "everywhere" with consideration of many respects, for which place and people are two of those. That has applied well to Indonesia in the past few years, pervading the country in many ways - including for and with the musical artist above. Having a renowned artist like her contributing to Pokémon is a welcomed and fresh take, and that is just another part of the bigger world of Pokémon with an even bigger reach in this world.

One year ago: Mountains of Faith: Mt. Silver

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/13/2023

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/13/2022

Four years ago: NGOCO Podcast: What's Up with Pokémon?

Five years ago: Get Sporty for Sports, Pokémon Style

Six years ago: The Changing of Boxes

Seven years ago: Toy Block Pokémon?

Eight years ago: Cosplay Briefings

Shonen Jump Meets Pokémon

Next on the "Pokémon Is Everywhere" journey is a stop at a bastion of Japanese pop culture. The weekly Shonen Jump magazine features many of the series of Japanese manga (comics) that fans in said country and all over the world recognize and read in some way, shape, and form, which includes through the magazine itself. With that, Pokémon has encroached upon this space through a special collaboration with the magazine and its associated manga series.

The illustrators of the featured manga series in the magazine have recently come up with illustrations of their characters along with a Pokémon species that they might have. Some of them are even in their Mega Evolution forms, which makes sense because the collaboration is intended to promote the newest Pokémon TCG expansion that features such forms. Still, all of the featured Pokémon and series are significant for the authors and their readers.

One of these series is in fact the "flagship" series of the magazine and one that many people know: One Piece. It's also one that I enjoy and have brought up on this blog a few times alongside Pokémon. For the purpose of this collaboration, its main character Luffy is paired up with Pikachu, the de facto series mascot for Pokémon. The "flagship" theory for matching them up thereby makes sense, not to mention due to other commonalities.

All the Pokémon appear just as expressive as the characters they are paired up with, including the aforementioned Luffy-Pikachu combo. Yet it does seem slightly odd that the collaboration came up just as another TCG realm is having problems with its art. Disregarding this situation, all the Pokémon are still emblematic of the series and characters they're joined up with, as well as the fancy of the illustrators that make them what they are.

Collaborations of this scale don't happen often for Pokémon, but when they do, they can be wide-ranging as in this case with Shonen Jump, reaching out to many of its contributing illustrators to contribute their own Pokémon fancy in the style of their manga creations. In doing so, Pokémon ventures to a place where it doesn't normally go, and its "everywhere" status is furthered for the enjoyment of fans and beyond.

One year ago: Absurdly Heavy Pokémon Matters

Two years ago: Rarest Pokémon Merchandise

Three years ago: Dream Pokémon Food from Café Remix

Four years ago: On Pokémon Who Talk and Speak

Five years ago: The Fate of (Monthly) Go Fest and Safari Zones

Six years ago: Localized TCG (Not Quite) Taking Off

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/11/2018 and 8/12/2018

Eight years ago: Cosplay: DANOBU 4

(More on) Pokémon and Quiz Shows

For this month's "gimme five", which I've decided will be within the span of this week, I'm taking a topic instead of a subject. The topic is called "Pokémon Is Everywhere" and as expected, it deals with the spread of Pokémon to certain things, places, and even people - all of which will become evident over this week. The first of these is quiz shows; in the first year of this blog, I had mentioned one such show, but the discussed link to Pokémon was somewhat indirect. This time, I have a few more of these shows and their links to Pokémon, and they're more direct and involved.

Many quiz shows involve answers to questions... or in the case of Jeopardy!, the reverse is true. In fact, this is the show I referenced in a post about those very elements a few months back but not explicitly. As for how Pokémon is (or was) involved, one episode in the past had a distinct Pokémon category with other categories referencing species names; the former had clues that certainly dealt with franchise elements. An aside to this would be the show's current host, Ken Jennings, whose facial expressions may have a faint resemblance to Ditto as I see it, and was in fact the reference and inspiration for that post. While Pokémon might only sparsely appear on the show - although its Pop Culture version may provide still another outlet - at least the mark and reference to Pokémon has been made.

Back to answers to questions, they're the heart of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, the quiz show from UK to the world. Here too Pokémon and in particular the de facto series mascot Pikachu has been involved in a number of situations, either as questions or answers. Yet for some reason, most of the outcomes just don't seem to favor either the contestants or Pokémon itself through the question-answer relationship, which seems to be somewhat more than slightly unfortunate. Still, the presence of Pokémon here and above may be a testament that it is known outside of its direct circles and its elements make sense vis-a-vis general knowledge, which these two quiz shows offer in spades.

Perhaps in consideration of all this, Pokémon decided to concoct a quiz show of its own, as a web series called the "Gotta Catch 'Em All Game Show". It was streamed on Twitch a little while ago and became available on YouTube afterwards. Its particulars will have to be put up for discussion separately as they would exceed the limits of this post, but its mention at the least serves as an adjunct to the already-established quiz shows above, bringing a very specific Pokémon flavor and unique offering to the table.

Quiz (as a subset of game) shows will always be around to test the knowledge of contestants who compete in them, in return giving the people a good bit of entertainment. Pokémon is more closely associated with entertainment than knowledge, but a few of its aspects might just tie into (other) knowledge, and so its appearances on the quiz shows above seems validated, enough for fans and people in general.

One year ago: Cosplay: Dalbo Fest Japan Market

Two years ago: The Championships Come Home

Three years ago: The Currencies and Shops of Café Remix

Four years ago: Great League and Ultra League, Newly Remixed

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Feature Wishlist Realizations

Six years ago: Monthly GO Fest/Safari Zones?

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Personal Feature Wishlist

Eight years ago: Cosplay Scrapbooking

Seeking for (My) Pokémon Unite Friends

If there is anything that is clearly understood about Pokémon Unite today, it is that it's a game for friends to play with friends - certainly being that it's very much a MOBA with maps that require three to five players. Of course, it is also clearly understood that the landscape of the game is very different today than it was when it started, including those who play the game, which also implicates the friends that are made by and for the game. I thought it would be fascinating to discuss and reflect on this, particularly by my own experience.

Those who play the game like me will probably have gotten their friends from being randomly matched up with others in the various of matches of the game. It is a quick and easy way of linking up with others as friends, especially for play within the short term, but it might not necessarily guarantee that they'll still be able to play in the long term. In my case, I've rarely encountered those who have become friends with me early on, so this seems to affirm such a state of affairs. Seeking for these friends now might be a case of futility, even if in the past they provided some utility; it's anyone's guess if that utility might become suddenly useful now.

Meanwhile, the rest of the friend lists might be composed of those who players have obtained through certain groups and especially added through the use of codes. Finding the groups and then the codes may not be the easiest thing, but inputting them to make friends is still the easy part. Yet even then, it may sometimes be hard to determine if the players that were sought in the past can still play in the present, much like the above. In fact, the same thing has been true for me as well, and the difficulty of seeking them to play now seems to have become as great as the difficulty of seeking them in the first place.

As for physical friends for playing the game, they might be the ones who are the hardest to seek and then play with, since they come and go, and the methods of contact may not have been ascertained. But as with other MOBA games, players will certainly meet them during tournaments and have the chance to make friends with them... which sadly hasn't happened for me, having never been to a physical tournament, but I do think it can and will happen someday, which would be good for continuing my game efforts.

Friends in the game can clearly be sought and gotten through various ways - some easy and some hard - though the act of playing with them afterwards may not be the easiest thing, even in my case. They're obviously still needed by the nature of the game and what it demands, so the challenge of seeking them for play is also an ongoing one, just like the changes in the game are ongoing for me and other friends.

One year ago: The Values of Posts, Again

Two years ago: By Experience or By Information?

Three years ago: The Importance of Training in Café Remix

Four years ago: Realized Personal Social Media Experiments with Pokémon

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Events, Conventions, and Beyond

Six years ago: A Tale of Two (OK?) Performances

Seven years ago: Ode to Magikarp

Eight years ago: Snorlax's Awakening

Tournament: Local Gym Battle, 8/1/2025

I had almost forgot that a certain happening occurred a couple of weeks ago, and a few things hindered me from being able to cover it earlier as intended. It was only after looking back at an important aspect of it that I was promptly reminded that I hadn't covered it. So it is that a couple of weeks after the fact, I'm finally able to cover it as intended in order to take up space on this blog... but also to broaden my horizons of Pokémon itself.

That happening would be a Gym tournament that is (was) set up by my local group of players, the same one that hosted another nearly a year ago. This time, it was a more casual ("friendly") tournament, so I didn't have to use my TCG account, but the paid entry requirement and what I get in return out of that was still the same - though obviously the cards are different, due to the progressively changing nature of the TCG.

For that, I was also set up with a different deck based on Ethan's Pokémon (who in Japanese is named Hibiki), specifically the Cyndaquil species family, along with other tricks provided by the Gimmighoul family and Fezandipiti, to name a couple. I had seen parts of it by having logged in to TCGL recently, so I was already slightly familiar with it; it took this meetup and the tournament for me to get familiar with the rest of the deck, especially the play mechanisms that the deck very much relied upon - not to mention the local cards.

With that, the tournament proceeded with four Swiss rounds... and I lost twice and won twice. However, of the two wins, one was a bye (by the odd number of competitors), and in the other, the opponent forfeited; as for the losing rounds, they were sound losses due to me not being able to take advantage of some of the parts of the deck due to oversight of my own or technicality not of my own. In fact, in the second of the losing rounds, the Fezandipiti card ended up in the worst place possible, which would of course be the Prize Card pile.

A friend, who graciously set me up with the deck, says that it's one of the simpler decks to deal with at present, and I'm inclined to agree. Even so, with the way of the deck being what it is, I'd still need to deal with its finer points a bit more, and that's a task that the TCGL platform should be up to the task for, especially with regard to collecting the necessary cards. After that, it's the way I play that will make or break a deck - although it always seems more of the latter.

Being that I had two wins (by technicality) and two losses, I was close to the middle of the standings in sixth place, in the middle among those with the same results. That still had no bearing on the booster pack and special card, which were given to me regardless. In fact, these items were indeed the things that prompted (and reminded) me to finally make this post, even a couple of weeks after the fact.

Even with subpar results, I still managed to make it to a meetup of my local TCG player group and play with them after some time. Incidentally, this one had more than a few people who I know very well, who would be some good friends of mine. That may very well be the important thing aside from having a chance to deal with the cards.

Overdue as this post is, it's still a significant Pokémon happening and experience for me, as an infrequent player and collector of the TCG. The understanding I possess at least helps me to scrape through in situations like these while having a good time with friends, which evidently has happened with this Gym battle edition.

One year ago: Eagerly Expected Pokémon Things

Two years ago: Holding Back: Pokémon Presents, 8/8/2023

Three years ago: Transitioning from Shuffle to Café Remix

Four years ago: Trainer Green and Ash XY Pikachu Figures

Five years ago: Into the Myst

Six years ago: Raid Stories

Seven years ago: Evolution Is a Change

Eight years ago: Historical Pokémon