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, and Brown - 10 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 even simpler 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

Album: Pocket Monsters Sound Anime Collection

I've actually never done a discussion about a full Pokémon album, let alone one that is of Japanese origin; I have always preferred to discuss individual songs or music pieces instead for all their significance. In this case, though, the whole is more than just the sum of its parts, and thus I've decided to discuss the entire album as a single post. So, the album is called "Sound Anime Collection" because it's effectively the soundtrack to the Kanto saga of the Pokémon anime, certainly with the unabbreviated name of the franchise. Yet it has a few finer points, which are to be elucidated by way of this discussion.

For starters, the album is "bookended" by two Japanese theme songs from the anime, as the ever-popular "Mezase Pokémon Master" in its full version and another titled "Pocket Ni Fantasy" in a cut version. The former is also the album's only music track that is significantly over two minutes long, as the rest of the album is made up of practically the entire musical suite for this saga - 40 tracks in all, many of which should be familiar to viewers on both sides of the pond for their extensive use in the episodes.

Notably, each of the 40 tracks contain audio commentary - specifically, spoken - in Japanese following a "ping", which might not be of interest for those not fluent in the language. Some fans might be interested in having versions of these tracks without the audio commentary for pure listening purposes, and that's something good to go for. These tracks are also subdivided into 16 "chapters" of tracks with certain themes of journeys and adventures, including ones associated with Team Rocket, covering all the bases.

Speaking as a matter of fact, this album also can be regarded to be a complete collection of the music for any segment of the Pokémon anime. Actual background music pieces from different segments or sagas of the anime seem either hard to find or incomplete, or perhaps even both. As such, the existence of this album with all its music tracks is somewhat a rare wonder for even Pokémon itself, with specific regard for the anime. The commentary is a plus for those who might want to dig deep into the music.

As far as the album is concerned, it's a treasure trove for those interested in the Pokémon anime and specifically the music used in it - at least for the earliest of ventures in this regard. The whole of this album may be considered to focus on the background music tracks, which is very true, but it's the other niceties on the album as well as its comprehensiveness that make it more than what it is, making it fit for a discussion.

One year ago: Forgotten Music from Pokémon Go

Two years ago: I'm Spellbound, Wanting Tomorrow

Three years ago: The Old New Addiction: Pokémon Café Remix

Four years ago: Quickies: More Alton-Pokémon Quirks

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/8/2020

Six years ago: The Other Side of "Childhood"

Seven years ago: Making Decisions in Magikarp Jump

Eight years ago: Pokémon Wrapping Paper

Delving into Team Rocket's Motto

Though they now have also departed from the Pokémon anime along with Ash, the villainous trio that is Team Rocket may still be on some fans' minds, including this one. Having been reminded of them, I've decided to gloss over something that is characteristically theirs: the motto they recite practically almost every time they appear. Though the motto is geared toward less savory deeds, there may be room to interpret its terms in a better light, which becomes the point of this post. 

While the initial part of the motto remains "dicey", at least the middle parts of the motto have that possibility for better interpretations. The objective of "protect[ing] the world from devastation" is certainly a prerogative - especially with consideration of today's real world - for continuing the team's efforts, at least if those haven't led to actual "devastation". Then, "to unite all peoples within our nation" becomes a very utopic objective, which as fans of other speculative fiction can attest, it becomes very difficult to achieve, whether with good or evil.

Continuing on, "to denounce the evils of truth and love" is actually a pretty good objective, knowing how truth and love in the real world has evils of their own. For "extend[ing]... reach to the stars above", that's an objective that's always on par with efforts in space exploration, in both the Pokémon world and otherwise. After that, it's just a matter of "blast[ing] off at the speed of light"... and as with the beginning, the last part doesn't really matter for a "better light". Overall, the room for that interpretation seems to be quite wide.

As an aside, it has been said that the form of the motto is actually "misread" by the trio (to a certain extent), which means that the motto is not in true form... making the one read by Cassidy and Butch to be reputedly more true in form as well as "sinister", leaving no room for a "better light" interpretation. That might also explain why quite a bit of the motto as above can be rendered with the "better light" interpretation, perhaps becoming a reflection of the "better side" of the members, given their backstories.

Even if further stories of the Team Rocket trio may not be heard anymore, some of the stories they leave behind are still worth looking into, like the motto they frequently recite by way of their frequent appearance. It might seem that the story of this motto presents an oddity with them being villainous, intending that in the motto yet having the chance for it to be seen in a better light. In a more perfect world, that "better light" may just be theirs for the taking... but until that is realized, trouble and a fight are still on the menu.

One year ago: From Bali with Love: Two Idol Songs for Pokémon

Two years ago: How to Regard the Orange Islands

Three years ago: The Lingering Places of Toxic Pokémon Fans

Four years ago: Taking It All Home

Five years ago: Sponsored PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go

Six years ago: The Persistence of Legendary Raid Hours

Seven years ago: Poké Ball Mini Pokémon Figures

Eight years ago: Metal Unova Cap Pikachu Keychain

Measuring Up Costs (and Travel) for Pokémon Go

It's somewhat obvious by now that for Trainers to get somewhere in Pokémon Go, at least some spending may be in order. The problem may be in quantifying at least some of that spending for what it takes to do just that - travel, get somewhere. With that, I thought I'd take on this topic and provide my own takes for that quantification, to measure up costs for the game and undertaking its activities with the results of those activities.

For example, today is a Wednesday, meaning that there is a Raid Hour. I can choose to deal with that with others in my immediate vicinity, but that can't happen since they're absent. This means I'd have to travel to a place where I can cooperate with others - and there's certainly a cost for that. The specific costs of getting to that place (and then back) may be considered a quantifier of how many raids I should battle in at the very least to get the most out of the travel. This would also include the free passes, which would be quantified equal to a Premium Pass for this purpose - but that's my personal take.

Considering the above, paying more for a trip to go somewhere to play Pokémon Go - like for a special event such as Pokémon Go Fest - would certainly dictate that one would need to go through more activities (raids, Max battles, Egg hatches, and the like) compared to if one didn't go or had alternative arrangements. As for where remote passes fit into this situation, since they can be used anywhere and anytime, they may be considered as "extras" to whatever costs that one incurs for playing Pokémon Go, particularly the travel or transport.

Speaking of, since transport cost is absolute, irrespective of whatever discounts were incurred for that, it is also wise to consider game items in their full costs (also irrespective of discounts) relative to that cost. That would mean getting the at least the same money's worth of items as travel, and then certainly to exceed that to a certain acceptable amount to ensure the worth. It's a bit hard to explain from this point onward, but the gist should be clear that there is an incentive to make parity between play and travel costs.

At any rate, spending seems to be paramount to any accomplished achievements in Pokémon Go, whether for the in-game items or moving from place to place to do the things that make those accomplished achievements possible. The logical step from there is to quantify them and ensure that they're (at least) on par with each other and with the efforts that one takes to do that. It's a challenge that is as challenging as the game itself.

One year ago: Mountains of Faith: Mt. Moon

Two years ago: Cosplay: Idoltopia - Cosplayer Rising Star

Three years ago: Cosplay: "Seventeen Fest"

Four years ago: New Normal... and Still Loving

Five years ago: The Look of Pikachu

Six years ago: There Is Always a Way

Seven years ago: (More) Plastic Poké Balls

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Tomodachi 2

The Little Big Problems of TCGP

As discussed in the preview for the latest expansion to enter TCGP, this newest addition has a happening that didn't happen as it should, resulting in a "vagueness". Not only that, it also becomes a problem - and a big one at that - for this fledgling TCG platform. As it turns out, not everything has been perfect for this game either, with other little issues prior to the current happening. This post serves to discuss all of that, with a bit of a significant emphasis on the former since it's so profound for the game, not to mention Pokémon itself.

The big problem concerns the "immersive" three-Star cards in the expansion for Lugia and Ho-Oh. Their art, which includes the "immersive" animation, was found to have problems of - dare I say - "authenticity", and was pulled within mere hours prior to the expansion's release; it was replaced with a colored background showing the words "New Art Coming Soon", and going into the animation results in a brief black screen. As indicated, both of these cards will have new art (and conceivably animation), but only time will tell when that will happen. It's a really major issue impacting a really major part of the game's experience, and it has become a literal meme weeding into other areas of Pokémon, including a Pokémon Go infographic. In a way, it's "ridiculous" as well since it couldn't have been developed right in the first place.

Meanwhile, other issues in the game - that have been resolved since - are (or were) much more benign. They involved problems of translated texts for the cards not showing up properly for some people or in some circumstances, graphic issues (but minor ones) for some cards and effects applied to those cards, and a few gameplay oddities where certain cards were in play. Overall, if players never heard about them - or had experienced them directly - they might have not known that there were issues. The exception would certainly be the card art above, which definitely affects everyone and anyone playing the game - and, unfortunately and evidently, those who are "neighbors" to the game as well.

Compared to the bugs or issues in TCGL as the other virtual Pokémon TCG platform - and the one that reflects physical play - the ones here are or were not really game-breaking, but again, they do have their impact on the game's experience. Players in TCGL could obviously carry on before these bugs were fixed (and certainly after), unlike in TCGP, where carrying on may not have been feasible. Yet every bug or issue, minor or major, deserves and necessitates to be fixed, and the efforts in both of these games are certainly ongoing as they are also updated, in particular for the currently discussed case of TCGP. 

Every game will certainly have its share of bugs and issues that demand attention for their scope as well as ways of fixing them. In the case of the TCGP platform, its time seems to be at hand and majorly so with the visual problem above. Given how past issues are rectified, there is no doubt that the visual issue will also be rectified - somehow and whenever - and that will remain a due process for this game.

One year ago: Too Many Simultaneous Events in Pokémon Unite?

Two years ago: Brandon's Back in My Town!!!

Three years ago: The Hisui Cup of GBL

Four years ago: Good Game, Poor Communication?

Five years ago: Get Going for School, Pokémon Style

Six years ago: Increased Limits in Go... Indefinitely?

Seven years ago: Cosplay: YASUMI

Eight years ago: Perfection and Excellence

Collecting Stars in Café Remix

By now, those who play Café Remix should be quite familiar with the action of collecting stars as they complete different kinds of puzzles. It seems like an obvious action, but there's also a few more related things and finer points about and involving this action that deserve at least some explanation. It might also help and inspire others to make more progress within the game, which is why I've decided to write up about it.

First up, for those who haven't realized it, stars are essentially items as well. While they're marks for achievements in orders (stages), they can be accumulated, as in the case of main order stars (seen in the Past Orders screen) and for the Monthly Goals or Special Passes (seen in the respective screen). The earned stars are equivalent to however many are earned for completing an order or stage, and if they happen to be from Staff Training and multiple Stamina Shards were used, they'll be multiplied accordingly; this latter bit is especially useful for those who need lots of stars right away. Because they're items, they can be collected outside orders too - but this is more of a special case to be explained shortly.

Stars effectively come in two colors, yellow and blue. Yellow is pretty much reserved for stars that are collected from main orders, including ones that haven't been collected by replaying them through Past Orders and earning them. Blue is for the stars obtained through Staff Training, event orders, and other means outside orders, particularly for use in the Monthly Goals or Special Passes. In any case, yellow stars also contribute to those tracks just like blue stars do, so those efforts do not go in vain - as long as they're made.

The means of earning stars outside of orders is the Collect the Stars Challenge, which presently runs at the beginning and the end of the month (previously, it ran only at the end of the month). Completing its tasks allows one to earn many stars for the tracks as above, even more than from certain orders. The challenge is certainly directed for those who rarely open up the game - furthermore taking part in its run of events - allowing them at least to earn things from the tracks and especially if they paid for things like the monthly Premium Pass. Outside of this, stars have to be collected through the conventional manners as above.

Collecting stars is part of the usual routine for Café Remix and is evident in many ways. But then again, a few parts of it might not be so evident, and it helps to elucidate them in order to be able to take advantage of them for certain gameplay purposes. Regardless, the purpose of obtaining stars as best as possible remains the primary directive.

One year ago: Cosplay: (Program) Japanese Culture

Two years ago: The Prize Machine in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: The Shining Moment: Pokémon Presents, 8/3/2022

Four years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: Madness in Madness

Five years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: What's In, What's Out

Six years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru SX

Seven years ago: (A New) Local Ex-Raid, 8/4/2018

Eight years ago: Pokémon on My Bed

Quickies: What Would Professor Oak Build?

Sometimes, one may need to make do with the things that one has in order to perform specific tasks. This state of affairs might also apply even to Pokémon Professors, with all the things that they do. Every Pokémon fan will recognize Professor Oak, who can be attested to be very knowledgeable, yet is sometimes a little "janky" as well; he might be considered the perfect (and foremost) candidate for having to make (build) things out of practically nothing in order to deal with problems that occur in the area of his laboratory and beyond.

For example, it may be necessary for the professor to keep two distinct groups of opposing Pokémon separate from themselves and even himself while he deals with them for purposes of studying them. Fences and/or separate rooms may already work well for this purpose, but it's also that he will need something more for this purpose. That probably could mean building an effective form of diversion (like artistic arrangements of everyday objects) to get the Pokémon to forget about their separation and confinement, let alone about attacking each other. It's a fascinating challenge and one that the professor may have to readily tackle.

Meanwhile, it is somewhat well-known that some (of Ash's) Pokémon are quite "attached" to the professor, so he would often need to keep them in check while the professor does other activities that don't necessarily involve these Pokémon. That doesn't necessarily mean separating and distracting them as in the previous case, but it could mean having something to make sure that they keep themselves in line and still get what they need - for example, a "feeding time" activity using a Pokémon feeder along with other items that accomplishes the purpose of providing them sustenance while keeping them entertained.

The above situations might be somewhat idealized, yet they are also somewhat realistic given the demands of the activities of Professor Oak. Being a Pokémon Professor who knows a lot about the ways of Pokémon might demand him to combine that knowledge with that of other ways of life in deterministic ways. The question as posed in the title of this post then becomes a way to reflect on all of the knowledge that the professor poses while at the same time being able to express his "janky" side that works and plays well with many other Pokémon.

One year ago: The Adventures of Pikachu and Snorlax

Two years ago: Let's Go on Routes

Three years ago: The Pokémon Unite Phone-Switch Transition

Four years ago: Nostalgic "Coins" of Pokémon

Five years ago: Remote Raids and Invitations

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/3/2019

Seven years ago: Divergent Anime?

Eight years ago: A Hobbled Pikachu... 3DS XL

TCGP: Looking for Sky-High and Deep-Sea Wisdom

The recently continued pumping out of expansions in Pokémon TCGP game has been amazing and sensational, as described previously. Yet it seems to also give pause, in that there is the concern that some things are not (as) happening as they should be. For that, it appears that the latest expansion may (need to) invoke an introspection of some sort, to look for insights. The given places to look for those insights are the deepest sea and the highest sky, and that becomes the heart and soul of this new expansion.

"Wisdom of Sea and Sky" is aptly the title of this expansion. For those who haven't figured it out by the clues above, the highlight Pokémon of this expansion are the Legendary duo from Johto: Lugia and Ho-Oh. Appropriately, most of the other Pokémon in this expansion are also from the region of concern. As with previous expansions, these two Pokémon have golden cards of the Crown rarity and immersive cards of the three-Star rarity... which has been clear in previous ones but now has a "vagueness" to it.

Meanwhile, there are 161 numbered cards in this expansion, which is quite a lot, and it makes it practically a major one. Besides new Pokémon species, there are also a few new Pokémon Tool cards as well as Trainer cards with truly new and wild effects; then, there is the usual boatload of full art cards and Shiny Pokémon cards, padding out the expansion to over 240 cards. This new expansion might keep players busy for quite some time and developers for a bit more due to a certain regrettable state.

For that, regrettably, the above concern has been proven true. The "vagueness" I also referred to above concerns two of the highlight cards for the highlight Pokémon species, and unfortunately, they are the most "highlighted" cards as well. The rest of the details I actually want to save for a discussion in a separate post along with other goofs that the game has had up to the present. It seems rather apropos ill-timed for such a major goof to happen with a scintillating title for an expansion, but that's the way these cards fell.

Considering other aspects aside from the goof, this is a great expansion that many players will have surely waited for with its two highlight Legendary Pokémon, now being here in (almost) true form in the same TCGP style. There's a lot of wisdom to be taken from these two Pokémon, where they reside, and everything in between those levels, with the rest definitely coming from the fallout of the goof. The next step is then introspection to make these cards and later ones the best they can be, wherever they are.

One year ago: The Red and Blue Duality and Pokémon

Two years ago: All My Best Pokémon Friends Are...

Three years ago: (This Is) Just the Start

Four years ago: Heuristic vs. Methodical Trainers

Five years ago: Let There Be No Lies

Six years ago: Topic Balancing, Again

Seven years ago: The Music of Magikarp Jump

Eight years ago: Pokémon Is Everything

On Making the Winning Moves

Something that is common to Pokémon species and the games they appear in is that they use moves of all different kinds and types. Of course, not all of these moves have good results, and some of their necessary qualities are questionable. Yet the fact of the matter is that some of these moves can truly be the keys to victory, and those would be considered good and necessary. Those moves are then the subject of this discussion with regard to their properties and in particular their execution.

Quite a few of these moves are big and explosive - in fact, most (moves that are) Charged attacks in Pokémon Go are like that, and they often finish up a battle with a victor for the side that used one. As for the moves that actually bear these characteristics, being Self-Destruct and Explosion, they may only rarely get their use as finishing ones and in particular winning ones due to their effects, but they might just work out that way in some rare situations. In either case, things may just work out.

Moves that become winning moves, however, may just result in that way as a result of other moves - perhaps, through a "calculated" approach. Dream Eater as a successful winning move would require a cascade of earlier moves that result in a Sleep status for the one the move is inflicted on. More broadly, some winning moves may be the way they are due to stat changes, like those from Flame Charge as a direct contributor or Acid Spray as an indirect one instead. The process is then just as important as the move.

Then, there is a saying out there that a winning move may not be to make any move, which is a respectable manner for certain contexts that involve specific conflicts. In the main series, HP drain of a defending Pokémon by a status might just be the crux of a victory if an attacking Pokémon chooses to go defensive instead. By and large, though, moves have to be made in Pokémon battles, and something eventually has to give, resulting in definite wins and losses that the moves make to happen in their ways.

Whether the moves are good or necessary (or both), they essentially become, well... "essential" to the turnouts in Pokémon battles and in particular for a victorious one. They still depend on their properties to result in massive outright damage, minor "calculated" damage, or even just "collateral" damage, possibly among other situations as well. It's certain that Pokémon species will have their moves, and that much can be depended on, even if the results of the battles themselves may not be as dependable.

One year ago: Loot (or Not) from Pikachu's Indonesia Journey in Surabaya

Two years ago: Panic Parade - Tower Defense, Unite Version

Three years ago: A Nintendo Switch Lite Story: Making Concessions

Four years ago: Pikachu and Squirtle Donuts

Five years ago: On Growing Up with (and Out of) Pokémon

Six years ago: Shadow and Purified Pokémon in Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Type Logic

Eight years ago: Fun at the Beach... or Water Park