Cosplay: Greenland Christmas Festival

Me: I did say "others", didn't I?

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

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

Ash: OK, so this is a Christmas festival.

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

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

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

Goh: I think so!

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

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

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

Goh: OK, that's interesting.

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

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

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

Goh: You think they're related?

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

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

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

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["That works."]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goh: So, you just made things lively.

Ash: Yeah.

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

Ash: Pretty much.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["That's all."]

Goh: Now for that "busy" thing.

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

Goh: I see.

Ash: But this one was lively!

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

Ash: So, at least this one won out.

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

Ash: Well, you did what you could.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Of course."]

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

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

Ash: And it's a good time for all.

Me: Mostly. But for me... 

Goh: Oh?

Ash: Oh, I'm sorry.

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

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

Two years ago: Reclaiming Lifelong Truths

Three years ago: My New Current Pokémon Unite Role Preferences

Four years ago: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Uptake

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

Six years ago: New Innovation, New Problems

Seven years ago: Dreaming Big, Making an Impact

Eight years ago: Friend Faves

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

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

Ash: Haha, "my festival".

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

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

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

Ash: OK, Hoenn outfit it is.

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

Me: Great!

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

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

Goh: Oh, and entertainment too.

Ash: The same - bands and dance cover groups.

Goh: But then, the singing competition is new.

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

Goh: All good reasons. How'd you do?

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

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

Ash: You could say that.

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

Me: As for the winners...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pikachu: Pika. ["Works out."]

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

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

Goh: But we do expect some from them.

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

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

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

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

Ash: Yeah, that.

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

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

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

Goh: Hey, yeah! That makes sense.

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

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

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

Three years ago: The Contribution and the Results

Four years ago: Merchandise over Games?

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

Six years ago: Sitting Pikachu Keychain

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

Eight years ago: Movie Manga!

More on Precious Departures

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

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

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

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

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

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

One year ago: TCGP: Expanding into the Mythical Island

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

Three years ago: Scarlet and Violet Uptake

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

Five years ago: What It Takes to Contribute

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

Seven years ago: The Four Pillars of Pokémon

Eight years ago: Nostalgic Returns

Bigger on the Inside

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Six years ago: A Cosplay Departure

Seven years ago: Screenplay Writing

Eight years ago: Good (Life)Times, Again

Old Gimmicks, New Flavors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four years ago: Pokémon Lectures?

Five years ago: Quibbles with Candy XL

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

Seven years ago: Raid Dramas

Eight years ago: Hoenn Pokémon Are Go!

Quickies: On Donuts, Rings, and Lords

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

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

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

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

One year ago: My Most Frequent Flops in Café Remix

Two years ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu Mini Event III

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

Four years ago: Salim Group and Pokémon

Five years ago: Perking up Holidays, Pokémon Style

Six years ago: PvP: After One Year

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

Eight years ago: Balanced Systems Stimulate Civilization

The Next Friendship Level: Forever Friend

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

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

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

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

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

One year ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu 2nd Anniversary

Two years ago: The Remnant Vestiges of Silph

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

Four years ago: "My Pokémon Collection" in Indonesia

Five years ago: On the Statistics for My Blog

Six years ago: Cosplay: Panniversary 3

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

Eight years ago: The First-Generation Surfing Theme

Cosplay: Cosplay Creator and Community Convention (C4) 2025

Goh: Oh hey, C4 is back!

Ash: Looks neat!

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

Goh: What happened?

Me: Remember the time we partially talked about diversions? 

Goh: Oh, that's what happened! 

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

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

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

Pikachu: Pika pika... ["Too bad..."]

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

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

Ash: Here we are!

Goh: OK, anything different from last year?

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

Goh: Well, something else had to be different. 

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

Goh: That's definitely one thing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Me: How about entertainment?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ash: I got nothing this time.

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

Ash: Yeah.

Pikachu: Chu... ["Hmm..."]

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

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

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

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

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

Pikachu: Chu pika. ["That was it."]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goh: But don't sleep on it!

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

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

Two years ago: Sun Matters, Pokémon Matters

Three years ago: Monthly Goals in Café Remix

Four years ago: Buying Games Ahead of Playing?

Five years ago: For the Sake of Something or Another

Six years ago: Putting Things on Hold

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

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

The Journey of a License

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

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

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

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

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

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

One year ago: Favorite Items from Delibird's Presents

Two years ago: My Personal Trainer Fashion Preferences

Three years ago: Indonesia's Own Pokémon Event

Four years ago: The Bugs of Unite

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

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

Seven years ago: Trainer Battles Are Go!!!

Eight years ago: Will You Be There?

Album: Advance Adventure

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two years ago: Increased Irrelevance in Café Remix?

Three years ago: Pokémon Go: Something Extraordinary

Four years ago: Using the Master Ball

Five years ago: Virtual Reality (VR) and Pokémon

Six years ago: Sword and Shield Uptake

Seven years ago: Much Ado About Figures

Eight years ago: The Rainbow Feather of Ho-Oh

"Rare" Pokémon Music

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

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

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

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

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

One year ago: The Importance of Mew in Café Remix

Two years ago: EX Licenses: A Legendary Extra

Three years ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays 2022 - FUNDOME

Four years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights: The Modelers

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

Six years ago: Rethinking Game Linkages

Seven years ago: Passing It On: The Next Generation

Eight years ago: Pikachu Head Collectibles

The Similarity of Some Pokémon Cries

Having mentioned Pokémon cries in my earlier post on a Pokémon soundboard, I now have a bit of a need to address them as well in this rather sonorous "gimme five" week. Specifically, I'd like to address a peculiar property of some of them. Many would expect that the cries are differentiable - and most of them are, but a few are actually quite similar almost to the point of being difficult to differentiate. This state of affairs deserves a bit of exploration for what it is and what might make it that way.

Some of the similar cries are in the early generations. The cries of Caterpie, Butterfree, and Goldeen are the most notable in this regard, having the same two-tone sequence. A little less so but still quite similar are the cries for Scizor and Heracross, which have a sequence of tones that closely resemble each other. Shorter Pokémon cries, and especially ones that aren't exactly "tonal", can also easily resemble each other, as in the case of Ninjask and Feebas, among other possible examples.

Then there are the factors that go into why these cries may be as such. Certainly, the limited resources of the older games on older consoles might have necessitated some resources to be used in creative ways, and the cries of the first two sets of Pokémon above fit the bill. A more obtuse reason that involves the other set is that things simply turn out that way - or in other words, they're coincidental, whether by my own perceptions or others'. The similarity may be both by state and perception.

Yet it should be noted that in modern times, these cries have become more differentiable, at least to an extent. The Caterpie cry is shorter, while the Goldeen cry is a little "buzzier", and the Butterfree cry is the longest of the three. The one for Scizor is slightly more extended and slightly lower in pitch than the one for Heracross, perhaps also sounding a little "rougher". As well, the Ninjask cry is slightly longer than the one for Feebas, making it more distinct. It's still up to a person to recognize them.

Pokémon cries serve to identify the species by the supposed sounds that they make, and for the most part then and now, the species have distinctly differentiable cries to allow them to be told apart, which isn't too peculiar. Yet by the above, some inherent similarities are still evident among some of them by the way that they are or perhaps have been, and that may be a remnant element of peculiarity for some of the species in question. At least, the Pokémon cries are still fascinating and remarkable.

One year ago: The Music of TCGP

Two years ago: Cosplay: "My Town" Food Festival II

Three years ago: Cosplay: The Lidos Cosplay Contest

Four years ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: Selections Once Again

Five years ago: Night Falls, Heavens Rise

Six years ago: Pokémon Center Pilot Pikachu Plush - Narita Airport Ver.

Seven years ago: Stage Coin Tricks in Shuffle

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru F!

The Poké Ball Sounds (...or Sound?)

I'd mentioned about the sounds of the Poké Ball in my first "gimme five" discussion this week that relates to Pokémon sounds and music, specifically a Pokémon soundboard. They're actually pretty iconic as far as Pokémon sounds go, with many fans (and some non-fans) being able to recognize them. Even given this fact, it seems that fans and others might consider only one of the sounds as having that iconic quality. That matter is to be discussed shortly along with a few other pertinent aspects regarding these sounds that still make them what they are. 

So, for many, the iconic sound would be the ball release sound from the anime, which has the distinct pop and lasts several seconds. It was even used to introduce some Pokémon anime features in the past, which affirms its iconic status. The games do have a counterpart for this sound - or most likely it was the inspiration - but it's much briefer (just the pop) and perhaps not as iconic. Yet it's no doubt that the sound represents a starting point for quite a few dealings with Pokémon, so the sound's status is something to be considered for what it is.

On the other end, there is the ball capture sound, which may be considered less iconic but still somewhat distinct. The sound is mostly reflective of the (laser) light that is seen when the ball makes a capture of any kind, whether it's for a new Pokémon going into a ball or a captured one returning into its ball. Likewise, the games and the anime have their own takes on this sound, but the essence of the sound remains the same. Still, its context is limited in the above cases, so while the sound is rather unique and distinct, it may not exactly stick out in memory.

Then, the ball makes a few other sounds, two of them being the ball wiggle and capture success sounds. As predicted, even for these two sounds, the games and the anime portray them in different ways, specifically with regard to "continuity" for the ball wiggle sound and the audibility (in a way) for the capture success sound. These sounds may be considered the least iconic of all the Poké Ball sounds I addressed in this post, but they can also be said to be important signals for the anime viewer or the game player that a capture is about to happen.

Whether or not all the sounds above - or a certain one of them in particular - are truly "iconic" may be left up to the perceptions of certain fans or people, but they're as much a part of the mechanics and charm of the Poké Ball itself, which is already iconic as an object that is also rather symbolic of Pokémon. In that way, the sounds (or the particular sound) become an inseparable part of the representation of the object, and the fans and people will then surely recognize the object in all its different ways, including by its visuals and the sounds it makes.

One year ago: Am I Just a (Poké)Weeb?

Two years ago: Cosplay: Art and Culture Exhibition (ACE) 2023

Three years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Great League, No Restrictions

Four years ago: Casting Out Porygon

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Finding Our Way

Six years ago: A Day (or Year) with Pikachu

Seven years ago: To See and See Not

Eight years ago: A Pokémon Twist to My Phone

Pokémon Soundboard?

It's the final month of the year, and in all previous months of this year, I've put in a series of discussions that I called "gimme five", five posts in one week that pertain to a specific topic. Lots of things happen at the end of the year - if the first week of this month doesn't already make that evident - so in the interest of time, I'm going to clear out that series of discussions over the course of this week. I also already have the topic in mind, which would be "sound and music" - appropriately, since it's close to the familiar holidays and therefore it becomes the "sounds of the season". Needless to say, each discussion continues to be somehow related to Pokémon as the big topic of this blog.

Now, certain apps for videoconferencing have what is known as a "soundboard". During a meeting using the app, and particularly during certain activities, the soundboard can be used to activate certain sounds in response to different happenings. Some real-life settings could also have an actual version of this concept. Bringing this concept to Pokémon, one could conceivably have a soundboard with a Pokémon theme to it, and all the sound clips would be taken from and involve Pokémon somehow. It would be an entertaining twist to generic soundboards, and if Pokémon happens to be the focus of the activity or meeting, then it would be quite appropriately festive.

The question, of course, is what Pokémon sounds would be on such a soundboard. An obvious one would be the cries of several Pokémon, which would cover their presence and representation on the soundboard to be able to be invoked into different contexts. Speaking of species, one can't forget the de facto series mascot Pikachu, which has plenty of sound clips of its own and thus can be potentially included in the soundboard; more recently, Eevee has been gaining traction as a mascot as well, and therefore it can also stand to be included. Finally, Pokémon is rich in other sounds as well, and the most popular of those (like the Poké Ball sounds) could certainly be included.

Back to the context of the videoconferencing itself, a Pokémon soundboard is definitely perfect for a certain platform for doing that and in particular with a certain relation to gaming, one that many gamers will surely recognize in this day and age. Yet it is also true that Pokémon appeals to many people beyond gamers and certainly without some of them needing to play the games, so with that, there is the thought that it may be possible to make the soundboard stand alone and be platform-independent, with certain ways to use it on different ones. This would also open the door to use it beyond videoconferencing, yet still wherever some Pokémon context is useful and needed.

At any rate, Pokémon is about sounds and music just as much as it is about its other forms of media expression, so the "gimme five" topic for this week makes a lot of sense. Starting that off with the topic of a Pokémon soundboard also gets things going on a fascinating manner due to its potentially many possibilities, especially with regard to content, platform, and usage. That also means potentially many possibilities for entertainment as well, something that Pokémon like other great aspects of pop culture do and do very well, certainly in modern times. With that, the "sounds of the season" are off to a good start, and Pokémon can only liven that up even more somehow.

One year ago: Creatures of the Sea

Two years ago: More NPCs in Pokémon Go?

Three years ago: Quickies: Snorlax on the Road

Four years ago: My Current Pokémon Unite Role Preferences

Five years ago: Popular Poké-Shipping

Six years ago: Pieces of a Pokémon Life

Seven years ago: Cosplay: IJF - Cosplayer Rising Star

Eight years ago: (Un)finished Business

Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/6/2025 and 12/7/2025

Well, lots of things are happening this month, so it would be great to get Community Day out of the way, which as usual for December would be the "recap" edition for the year. That would happen to occur in the first weekend of the month and one week after this year's last regular edition, which might seem a little odd, but that's the way things have fallen. So, I have to get on with the write-up for it as well, especially before other things (in and out of Pokémon Go) get on me. 

This year's featured Pokémon are Sprigatito, Karrablast, Shelmet, Fuecoco, Vanillite, and Pawmi from January to May, as well as Jangmo-o, Quaxly, Rookidee, Flabébé, Solossis, and Pikipek from June to November. They in these two sets are what appeared more often yesterday (the former) and today (the latter) from 2 PM to 5 PM, although all of them appeared intermittently from 9 AM to 9 PM on both days. Like last year, they are (were) also the prompt for two Collection Challenges, one set on each day. For the ones featured in Classic editions (Ralts, Totodile, Machop, and Eevee), also like last year, they were also additional appearances in the last 10 minutes of each main hour as above.

Predictably, all of these Pokémon have all of their special moves for their evolved forms from their respective editions, and in the case of Pokémon with esoteric evolution requirements, specific ones were simplified, though they may still have needed some effort. Their bonuses from their editions are also the main bonuses of the main hours, alongside the usual extended Incense and Lure Modules (the latter with the new length) as well as trade bonuses. Flabébé in particular is also still limited to its regional color forms, but the orange and white forms can still be found for all. Finally, the extra paid Special Research contains encounters with each of the Pokémon along with other premium bonuses, and Field Research has even more encounters.

Something that is unlike past years is that none of the ones from the past year were an additional feature for this edition in some way, including being able to get the special moves for their evolved forms. This is also hot on the heels of the loss of the seasonal backgrounds as a feature, though arguably the former is somewhat of a greater loss. Yet the monthly event goes on and so do the Trainers - like me.

For my personal progress, the part of yesterday was my own doing, but the part of today had a bit of assistance in a specific way. And for those who know me and what I'm referring to, that involved a certain someone, for which now we talk about it...

Goh: The recap came early this year.

Ash: It did, didn't it?

Me: Well, that can be good, even though it could mean other things for you and I both.

Goh: But you dealt with things yesterday.

Me: That I did, and I got a few things taken care of, like evolving others you and I had found throughout this year. But today...

Ash: I mostly just caught for you to bump up your stock. But I did find a few real good ones and evolved those too.

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["Very nice!"]

Goh: Nice. But I'll bet our friend would have done the same. 

Me: True, and especially more if it had not rained.

Ash: It rained also today. And really wild too.

Me: Same as yesterday, then. But at least it let up at the end then...

Ash: So I met a couple of your "friends" today. 

Goh: Oh. Did anything special happen?

Ash: Not really...

Me: I kind of regret this, but part of the intent is actually to save money.

Ash: Is that why you didn't get me to a little happening some distance away?

Goh: I see now.

Me: Yeah, that. And then there was the rain, as you see.

Goh: It couldn't be helped.

Pikachu: Pika pika... ["Bummer..."]

Me: Well, I guess that's a wrap on Community Day this year. 

Goh: It has been a good selection this year. 

Ash: And things were OK too... at least a little bit.

Me: Yeah, I agree. Things could and should be better next year.

Now that Community Day is done and gone for this year, the variety of things for it can be said to be quite the assortment, even with some noticeable patterns for them. Both the regularity and irregularity for the event still make it what it is - a time to revel with other Trainers and get the best of and for Pokémon species. That seems to be what matters most.

One year ago: Pokémon Drinks (and Cards) for (a) Good Day

Two years ago: Pokémon Perspectives on Wasting Food

Three years ago: Factions Battlefields, Season 2 Cycle 3

Four years ago: Quickies: Letting the Charcoal Burn

Five years ago: GOtcha Podcast Episode 2: My Way of Playing Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Timeless and Forever

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (and the Power of Us), 12/7/2018

Eight years ago: The Shops of Shuffle

Weekly Challenges in Pokémon Go

Sometimes Pokémon Go implements a feature for everyone, but then as soon as that happens, it has to be removed because of a bug of some sort. The feature that I'm about to discuss in this post suffered from the same fate around the middle of the previous season and only came back just recently, enough for me to make a write-up on it. Of course, that was intended to happen even when the feature was implemented properly, so this can be considered a "delayed" one in a way.

The feature is called Weekly Challenges, and as its name suggests, it presents ways for Trainers to take on and complete tasks within the specified period that becomes the feature's namesake. The addition of this feature also necessitated a change for the last tab of one’s Trainer profile; the tab is now called the "Social" tab, with Party Play taking up one section and this feature in another section - specifically, above it - in boxes that resemble "cards" containing the now separate features.

Up to four Trainers may participate in a Weekly Challenge, and they don’t have to be close by; they may be far apart from each other and can create groups by inviting others in their Friend Lists. Once everyone is assembled, the real fun begins, as they are to complete a long-form task (this initial week is to catch 500 Pokémon) over the course of the week, with great rewards in wait (like this week, Stardust and Friendship levels).

Players who play a certain other ex-Niantic Games game might find this approach familiar, as that game has a "quest" implementation that is strangely similar to this implementation. That might also suggest how the initial problems came about, as the system might have possibly been lifted as-is for use in Pokémon Go, resulting in the flaws of a not-quite-tested approach.

As for the overall impressions of this feature, it could be loosely described as a "remote Party Play" due to its adjacency to that very feature, particularly as described above. Its progress displays - the progress bar on the card, as well as the pop-up screen for each completed quarter - also have some resemblance to Party Play. And of course, the objectives are essentially that, but spread out over the course of a week.

If there is another takeaway for this feature, it is that it represents a "delayed" transformation as well, given all the happenings of the past season, the one in which the feature was supposed to have debuted in. Perhaps the greatest "transformation" is having the feature pave the way for great paths of Trainers pursuing a grand achievement in just a week’s time.

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

Two years ago: On Raid Problems and Their Compensation

Three years ago: It's a Rotom World

Four years ago: Creatures of the Land

Five years ago: Play Where You Are (or at Home)

Six years ago: Time of Posting

Seven years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, Waves 1 and 2

Eight years ago: Watching and Re-Watching

Planning for Pokémon Go Events

After I received a comment a couple of months ago on one of my old posts and made another post inspired from my response, I received another comment in the latter post, which is likely from the same person, given the similar overtones and anonymity. Because of the similar overtones, I thought I'd also present another way of looking at the issue, in addition to the concerns we already brought up. That viewpoint involves the consideration that some events in Pokémon Go may need to be planned for participation in them (or not), depending on the necessity and enjoyment of the Trainer.

It all may be considered to boil down to the principle that one should fully participate in the needed ones and less in the ones that aren't so needed. For example, if an event for Electric types (like last month's High Voltage) comes up and one needs resources for them, then participation in it could be necessary; conversely, something like the Harvest Festival may be less necessary, and then one can stand to do the barest minimum for that purpose. Until the event structure changes radically for the benefits of our concerns, that may be the best approach for the events for optimal necessity and then enjoyment.

For me, the most necessary events right now are the monthly Community Day and the big paid ticket events (Go Wild Area, Go Tour, Go Fest), which I consider to encapsulate much of the spirit of the game with catching, battles, and meeting people. Then there are the various Raid Days and Battle Days, which are smaller in scale but may still have some importance depending on what Pokémon are involved. Most of the other events (as the theme events we brought up) can be gotten through with just the minimal amount of effort wherever I may be at the time, and thus may or may not be too necessary.

The commenter had also implied of having played (or tried to) during Spotlight Hour, a regular "weekly feature". Planning is also useful for these "weekly features", since again some species have their utility and the others are less so. And if one needs them to achieve certain goals - like earning Stardust for certain purposes, or leveraging them to gather with a friend and interacting - then they may have utility regardless. Like other events, their content is announced ahead of time (somewhat), so some planning is quite possible and possibly necessary, even with certain affecting circumstances.

While the responses that I've given in both short comment and long post form may or may not resolve concerns - particularly since the same concerns are still applicable and evidently can and are still voiced - some of the merits may need to be considered at the very least. The run of Pokémon Go events in all their forms is likely to continue without major changes, but if it does, it could surely be a revolution, especially if our concerns are accommodated in the process. What might not change is the planning that goes into playing them, and whether now or later, necessities and enjoyment are still at hand.

One year ago: Pursuing Dynamax and Gigantamax (...or Not)

Two years ago: Seeing "The Whole" with Pokémon

Three years ago: The Trouble(s) with Scarlet and Violet

Four years ago: Glacial Scaling

Five years ago: Go Beyond... Features

Six years ago: The Social Aspect of Pokémon

Seven years ago: More Weather Boosts for Types?

Eight years ago: Game Bugs and Fixing Them

Gaming as a "Business"

For Pokémon or any other gaming realm, it is known that some of the players can take a lot of time to deal with all their intricacies. It's almost as if they've got nothing else to do... or maybe that is indeed what they do to get something out of their life, with or without anything else that qualifies in that regard. In fact, the way that they handle it is like handling a business, which would be that something that people do to make their life what it is. That sounds like it can make for a good discussion, which becomes the point now.

Many players of Pokémon or other games in modern times can stream their plays on social media, and it's quite possible that they'll get something in return from the people or fans watching their plays. Alternatively, their uploaded videos about the games on YouTube - say - including their past streams can be monetized, and they'll get something that way too. In this way, they could stand to play their games and run that activity like a business along with other things they've got going as such, and it'll support their life as well.

Then, running the communities for the games can be construed to be like a business as well. The current example of communities in Pokémon Go practically demands engagement and interaction with players, as well as connections to services for making an impact and quite possibly supporting the community itself. Those efforts almost do sound like running a business, one that a single person may or may not be able to do alone, but then again many communities might just run that way and they're necessitated as such.

Now, I say "business" in quotes because in one of my other gaming circles, a term containing the phrase "no-job" is thrown around in reference to how the players seemingly have so much time to deal with the intricacies of the game in question that they may or may not be doing something else to support that or their life in general. That is, of course, unless the game does support them for doing just that. Such a circumstance may not be generally applicable, even to Pokémon games, but whatever happens, business interests may be at hand.

Games itself - specifically, the processes of developing them - are already businesses onto themselves, but if the happenings of the players indicate, especially in the present, the players too can make businesses out of them, by necessity of the players' demands or the activities of the games themselves. Some of the business happenings are certainly becoming evident, or in some cases already are, for Pokémon as above and other games; it certainly would consume the players' time, but like any regular business, the support factor would be there.

One year ago: Warping Time in TCG Pocket

Two years ago: Unexpected Uses of Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Infographic Furnishers

Four years ago: Forgotten Parts of Games?

Five years ago: Resistance vs. No Effect

Six years ago: Off We Go... to Galar!

Seven years ago: A Sewaddle Keychain

Eight years ago: In and Out of Poké Balls

Cosplay: Matcha Mood Festival

Me: Well, here's that thing I said I'd get to, with us.

Goh: OK, so it was really a festival. It said so.

Ash: Matcha - all about green tea.

Goh: I can tell it was all about food and drinks.

Ash: Yeah! It was all food stands. 

Pikachu: Pi pika chu pika! ["All delicious!"] 

Goh: But you probably didn't get much of that. 

Ash: I was about to - but then I stopped and thought about our friend.

Me: Looks like it was a good thought, because a few days later I needed something else.

Goh: Maybe you can get some of the stuff from somewhere else.

Me: That's a thought. That might just happen.

Ash: And it goes back to you!

Goh: So, how did characters fit in? 

Ash: There was a character parade... but I wasn't in it.

Me: You'd have to pay... and then there was still Community Day to deal with.

Ash: Yeah, it was near the end of it, so...

Pikachu: Chu pika... ["Conflicting..."] 

Me: There you go, so it would have been hard to make time.

Ash: And all the winners were really spiffy!

Goh: OK, so you might not have had a chance after all. 

Me: That was my thought, so Community Day is (and was) the better option and call.

Ash: And that was after Dynamax Lugia with our friend's other friends - the day before too, before the other festival.

Goh: Oh! Dynamax Lugia. That sounds really amazing. And two days in a row!

Me: It has to be. Like I said, I'll have more on this later.

Ash: I met more of our friend's friends at the festival and spent the day with them. I even met someone who we haven't met in a long time!

Goh: Hey, that was pretty nice!

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Very nice."] 

Me: All good for today - or from what I hear, mostly.

Ash: There was actually another festival, wasn't it? I also heard from some your other friends

Goh: Oh, that's news to me too.

Me: There was, but that one was a little far away and might not have been worth it, by its content and the weather.

Goh: If I were to take a guess, it would be because it's all dance groups, and it could rain if you had gone there.

Me: That would be it.

Ash: So the tea festival won out! There was a lot more people here.

Goh: I'd say so too.

Pikachu: Pika. ["Same."] 

Me: Like the name of this festival, I guess things depended on what we are (were) in the mood for.

Goh: I guess for us, that would be Pokémon, lots of good friends, and good stuff to take in.

Ash: I can definitely have some tea for what I missed.

Goh: Count me in!

Ash: I'll arrange something very soon for that - and of course for festivals and conventions to come. Trust me, you'll really need it.

One year ago: NYT Games and Pokémon, Revisited

Two years ago: Cosplay: FUNDOME 2023

Three years ago: Outfit Varieties for Pokémon Go Characters?

Four years ago: For Points and Performance

Five years ago: The Touch of Satoru Iwata

Six years ago: For Want of an EX Raid

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Weekend, 12/1/2018 to 12/3/2018

Eight years ago: Fallen Comrades

Pokémon Go Community Day, 11/30/2025

Before going on the paths of the future, there is one path left from the past that I haven't dealt with, and that would be Community Day for the previous month. Evidently, it fell once again on the last day of a current season, necessitating a precedence for the latter than the former. Still, it has to be discussed somehow, and now is the best time for it after the seasonal stuff has been put forth (and away). The path for that previous edition may be considered to take Trainers on an avian course of action with amazing force.

That "avian course" certainly refers to the featured Pokémon, which was Pikipek, a bird family from Alola. It has a powerful beak, and true to that, its fully evolved form of Toucannon (after Trumbeak) got the Charged move of Beak Blast, a powerful one for all realms. The main bonus was tripled XP, which some Trainers certainly still need well after the level cap increase last season, but all is fine and good for that. The bonuses of double Candy and Candy XL chance are likewise as useful and necessary if only secondary.

Other changes were still apparent. Lure Modules became one hour in extended length (while Incense remained at three hours). This followed the change instituted last month of having more encounters from them, even if it does meant more of their usage (and spending for them). Then there were the usual photo bombs, extra Special Trade, trade discounts, Field Research tasks, and the paid Special Research (here titled "Pecking Order"). It was also stated that this would be the last time for special seasonal backgrounds for the featured Pokémon, which may or may not have appealed to Trainers all this time.

With that out of the way, now it also has to be said that I also had a bit of an "assistance" for this one, and faithful readers will know what that means, also with the necessary switch to conversation mode for that purpose...

Goh: Oh, you sent Ash to do it, didn't you.

Me: That I did, for certain reasons.

Ash: Pikipek is an neat bird - and so are its evolutions.

Goh: Well, I can see that. Its beak is very showy.

Ash: The Toucannon move is good for that! 

Pikachu: Chu pika pika. ["Beware of the beak."]

Me: You did catch as much as you could, didn't you?

Ash: I did, after I battled Lugia with a few of your other friends and then as I went somewhere else.

Goh: Ooh! Lugia, do tell.

Me: I have something to say about that, but not now.

Ash: And then I evolved as many as you think you'd need for all kinds of things. I think I got them all - even one with a background image.

Me: OK, that's great. I can take it from there.

Goh: So, somewhere else - would this "somewhere else" be a thing of some sort?

Ash: Yeah! It was a little festival of some sort.

Goh: I see. So it's all the usual effort by our friend here.

Me: And I'll have more on that soon - I've got to peck at it, though. 

Goh: Ha!

As Trainers peck away at the continued offerings of Pokémon Go, they'll have to peck away at the same for Community Day. This one seems to be appropriate for just that with the featured species and the associated bonuses, and it might just be appreciable enough so they won't "peck down" others for that purpose and others. 

One year ago: Attraction to Genuine People

Two years ago: Cosplay: G100 Spicy Carnival

Three years ago: Event Types in Café Remix

Four years ago: A Lasting Graffiti

Five years ago: Let's Go (Above and) Beyond

Six years ago: Being a "Love Slave"

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Chibi Daisuki! Japan Fest

Eight years ago: A Beautiful Symphony

The Season of Precious Paths

Many of the end-of-season posts I make have hinted at the theme of the next season, usually at the very end of them, and the one for the previous season was no different. The hinting keywords were "path" and "precious", for they make up the title of this season, "Precious Paths". A lot of things, both figurative and literal, have paths - including tales or stories (which are retroactively relevant) and journeys (which are always relevant for Pokémon matters). If any and all of those are precious - that is, valuable - then this season would have their insights.

The season emblem is one that is quite decorated and neatly colored, with a few ribbons and trinkets as well as lots of blue and yellow with a few accents. It's understandable that this season covers the end-of-year holidays (winter in Northern Hemisphere) to come within this month as well as certain festivities that will come at the tail end of the season, so the design of the emblem makes sense much like as it did for the season that came three years ago (see below). All that remains is making sense of things for Pokémon Go and beyond.

For Pokémon Go, as indicated by the season's teaser video and some relevant and available data, this season will feature a few returning Pokémon in certain forms, and new species and forms alike that at least some Trainers have been waiting for. Even the familiar Pokémon Go Tour, the customary early-year big paid event, has been divulged and is to present a few other valuable things when it happens. All of them may demonstrate their precious quality in some way, and all of them lie along the path of this season for them to deal with. 

Beyond Pokémon Go, it is known that all kinds of paths involve meeting and parting in some way, and it seems that for or on the "precious path" of this season, there have been some indications of meetings and partings. Even so, their nature has not been fully understood in some ways, so making strides on that "path" seems to be necessary in order to understand their nature. Certainly, when their times come, they'll likely be divulged on this blog with a sufficient discussion to go along with that understanding.

Seasons have come and seasons have gone, particularly in the case of Pokémon Go. By the indications of this season, they may all be considered to have their directions and valuable aspects. It may be that many of them are understood and a good number are less so; in that case, this season's titular premise may be the cue to try to establish that understanding, specifically for the happenings of this season, after which they might just be able to be reapplied to the past and future to find out just how precious the paths may be.

One year ago: The Season of Dual Destiny

Two years ago: The Season of Timeless Travels

Three years ago: The Season of Mythical Wishes

Four years ago: The Season of Heritage

Five years ago: The Deactivation of My Regional Figure Group?

Six years ago: All the Missing Pieces

Seven years ago: Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee Uptake

Eight years ago: Poké-Friends and Gratitude