The Matter of Pokémon Devolution

When talking about Pokémon, fans (and maybe some non-fans) will surely be familiar with the process of evolution, as the changing of species from a lesser form to a greater form. What is rarely talked about is the reverse, which is called "devolution" by analogue. It's obvious why few people talk about it, since no one really wants their evolved Pokémon to "devolve". Yet the process exists in certain ways, and it deserves a bit of discussion.

The process has come into its own in the TCG - particularly most recently - with some cards that command the process to be performed by removing the top evolution card of a Pokémon, forcing it to devolve to the prior stage. It's a bit of a nasty trick, but then the cards that enable this to happen are also relatively few; it's still a trick for players to look out for because the results and side effects may be as unwanted as the process itself.

Meanwhile, outside of the games, the anime has depicted "devolution" - albeit in an illusory fashion - with some Pokémon seeing the lesser forms of themselves through some prompted imagery. Like the cards in the TCG, though, instances of these are few and admittedly not as memorable (or even definitive) as other scenes, including those that depict the inverse process - even if it's still somehow possible through certain Pokémon powers.

Given the constraints of the process, it can be seen why the process is not often evident. It represents a physical reversion that in real life and practically derived settings would be impossible to do. In most cases, the process is (or would be) almost "tantamount" to time travel, which even with some Pokémon powers in play is still limited in capacity and may not necessarily have the expected and intended effects for the process.

Still, the existence of the "devolution" process may be considered a demonstration of what some Pokémon species may actually be capable of, even if that may not be all that evident or practical for them in whatever settings they are involved. Evolution as its inverse will remain the dominant process of Pokémon development as is true of the reality that moves ever forward, yet some "backwardness" may serve as an added intrigue.

One year ago: PokéParkour

Two years ago: Moon Matters, Pokémon Matters

Three years ago: From Draft to Post: The Thought Process of Pokémon Blogging

Four years ago: Pokémon Unite Halloween Event

Five years ago: Being a Scanner or Diver with Pokémon

Six years ago: On Tap for Go

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Repeat, 10/28/2018

Eight years ago: At the Movies: Episode 698 - "Movie Time! Zorua in 'The Legend of the Pokémon Knight!'"

Cosplay: BEF Fun Coswalk

Me: Now, this one actually took place today instead of yesterday, but just in the afternoon.

Goh: OK, how'd you two get ahold of this one?

Me: A friend told me about it. 

Ash: And I thought it'd be nice to go to it!

Pikachu: Pi pika! ["Looks great!"]

Me: And so you went. 

Goh: So, this is a, um... festival, yes?

Ash: It was! For businesses and the like. There was food outside and beauty stuff inside a building. And it was completely free. 

Goh: So you should have gotten in fine.

Ash: I would have, but they wanted me to check in first. It was a bit complicated...

Goh: Sorry about that. But then, the competition should have been fine.

Ash: And then... I got hung up by the staff who said it was only by invite. 

Goh: Wait! But then, how'd you get in?

Ash: Another staff member signed me up. 

Me: Hmm. I sense disconnect and complications in the staff about this festival.

Ash: After that, it was fine!

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["All good."]

Goh: Then you met your friend's friends.

Ash: Just a few. There were nine of us in the character parade [OOC: cosplay walk].

Goh: That sounds neat. 

Ash: Oh, uh... They did ask us to perform longer than usual - up to three minutes. 

Me: Hmm, that's fairly long. It's almost like a mini-performance.

Ash: But I did try to fill time just fine.

Goh: How about winners? 

Ash: Three got a really fancy goodie bag. Everyone else got a smaller one - I did too. 

Me: Well, that's OK. And it may not be too too useful, but let's see what I can do with it.

Goh: I hope you enjoyed the festival along with that.

Ash: Sure! I got a little something for our friend to keep things full.

Me: Thanks. I think it works out well.

Ash: So yeah, I think this was a surprise for all of us.

Pikachu: Pika. ["Sure."]

Goh: It's not so often that something like this comes up. But they can do better if there's a next time.

Ash: That! I'm sure they wanted a crowd and all, but it was a Monday. 

Goh: There is that. You could say it was a "diversion for success".

Me: There you go. Something tells me that more successful diversions are needed - and coming too.

One year ago: Cosplay: Japanese Culture - Anniversary Edition

Two years ago: The Future of My Pokémon Cosplay Costumes

Three years ago: Equivalent Spirits

Four years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: The Penultimate Resolution

Five years ago: Pokémon Go as a Gacha Game?

Six years ago: Explaining the Supernatural

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/27/2018

Eight years ago: Expecting Something Special

The Lustery Brilliance of Vivillon

Of all existing Bug-type Pokémon, Vivillon has to be one of the most, if not the most unique Pokémon species of the type. The reason for this is certainly its multitude of patterns that are begotten from certain locations, in one sense of the games they're featured in and of the real world as an extension of that. There's a certain brilliance in all of this - in particular, a "lustery" one - and with that, I've decided to take a post to discuss that quality.

The luster would definitely come from those multitude of patterns, which exemplify a number of different colors that aren't often seen in Bug-type Pokémon that are similar in form, even though they are mostly present in the wings. There is additional luster in the form of "powder" since the species family is known for its ability to use "powder" moves, which in certain ways would enhance the appearance of the patterns on the wings.

Some could say that the brilliance would look a little "papery" because of the way they look; they're almost like the motifs found on certain kites, especially homemade ones for example, which are often made out of paper. Yet the luster and brilliance are still there, and the "papery" description may not be all that apt, and the "lustery" description remains the more apt one given the characteristics mentioned above.

I originally wanted to combine this discussion with an external aspect that is actually the "prompt" for the discussion itself, but after looking further into it, I found that the "prompt" may not be all that great to be included in the discussion. The above is actually what remains of the discussion "prompt", and it may be further considered a bit of a "reminder" for what makes the discussion as it is for the relevant Pokémon species.

All Pokémon of the Bug type dazzle in all their own ways, but the ways of Vivillon, also pertaining to the species family of which it is a part, are particularly dazzling. It is certain that all those wing patterns that it has are part of that dazzling deal, and so may be other aspects related to it and its species family. That dazzle is certainly the lustery brilliance that the wing patterns bring and in turn how that would be seen and perceived by all.

One year ago: The Light of My Pokémon Spirit

Two years ago: Let's Go Get the Party Started

Three years ago: Censure, Cut, and Correct: Errors in Pokémon Transmission

Four years ago: Pokémon Music on Vinyl?

Five years ago: Usage Experience of Go Plus Peripherals

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Sinister Cup

Seven years ago: Two-Sided Stories

Eight years ago: Pronouncing Pokémon

Let's Talk About The Ends of the Universe

Me: Well, um... it's been a long time since we did one of these "Let's Talk" sessions without it being tied directly to some character thing, so I thought we'd go for it.

Ash: OK, I'm up for that!

Goh: Directly... so there might be something indirectly going on?

Me: There might... or there might not... but it could be all the same.

Ash: I think I get you. 

Goh: So then, what are we talking about?

Me: Well, have you ever wondered how things would be at the ends of the universe? Yours and mine?

Goh: Wow, all the way out there? I can't imagine!

Ash: I guess I'm with Goh on this one.

Pikachu: Chu pika pika. ["And I'm with you."] 

Me: You know, I have to be honest: I can't either. But let's try to start somewhere closer, like the space closer to our home planet.

Goh: OK, so if it's that far, then that's just beyond where Rayquaza lives. 

Ash: And then there's the Minior too!

Goh: Oh, right. All the colorful ones. But then you go farther away, and...

Ash: I heard that that's where Deoxys might come from - a floating rock in space.

Goh: And then we have more rocks, the stars, maybe other planets, and then... what else?

Ash: Could Pokémon live there? Could there be other things living there?

Me: It seems to get rather lonely out there. Or maybe we already are.

Goh: Hey, um... that's a good point. But then... what about the "ends"?

Me: Based on what I've seen, it could be that other universes border ours.

Goh: Oh, I think I've heard the term - "parallel universes".

Ash: I think that was the thing we went to when we met our "doubles".

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["The second world."] 

Goh: That makes sense. But could we - would we ever get to them regularly?

Ash: Oh, right! The one we went to was kind of limited.

Me: They say two regions can be connected by a "wormhole", but none has ever been found - no less between universes.

Ash: That would be neat if that ever happened.

Me: As you say, there may be limits - and if we can't break them, then we can work around them... maybe.

Ash: So what could be in these other universes?

Goh: Well, our friend is in one, we're in another, our "doubles" are in yet another...

Me: Who knows? But they say they exist, so to me, you two are somewhere out there in another (aside from being here right now in a "talk").

Goh: In that case, we feel the same way.

Ash: So do I!

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Count me in."]

Goh: And I see what you're getting at with this talk. It's about finding us - and ourselves.

Ash: Yeah! But you don't have to go to the end of the universe to find "us". We're already here.

Me: That's true in many ways. But if it could ever happen and the means are there... then why not.

Goh: It's never really space or time that separates us. It's our feelings.

Me: And even at different ends of the universe (or universes), that may be all that counts.

One year ago: Bringing Things to the Forefront in Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Hot Springs with Pokémon

Three years ago: Virtual Voices for Pokémon Characters

Four years ago: The New Tournament Pantheon

Five years ago: Type Logic: Of Light and Darkness 

Six years ago: One-Upping Ash

Seven years ago: Dilemma of Colors

Eight years ago: Pokémon XY Pikachu Freezer Bottle

Battle Ribbons in Pokémon Unite

Any aspect of Pokémon games or other media, whether big or small, is apt for me (by my consideration) to write about and discuss. The latter is applicable to one aspect of Pokémon Unite that some might overlook yet it has certain meanings of this own; it also may be of interest for certain players to achieve and then promote, which they likely will. As can be discerned by the title, that aspect is what is called "battle ribbons", which apply to the Pokémon, or more specifically the Unite Licenses they correspond to.

There are three of these battle ribbons: green, blue, and red. These ribbons are earned by earning battle points by playing with a Pokémon and its corresponding Unite License of choice, with green needing 30 thousand, blue needing 85 thousand, and red needing 165 thousand. Since earnings of battle points are slow, even with frequent play, it takes time for them to be accumulated and collected for the Pokémon; in fact, there is a sense that the system benefits players who specialize in one or a few Pokémon, since they'd need to keep playing and playing with those Pokémon in order to attain the ribbons.

My state is reflective of that condition and those efforts. I have three Pokémon with green ribbons and none with blue or red, although one Pokémon is closing in on a blue ribbon, and there are others closing in on a green ribbon. Still, the efforts to get them past the "close" stage certainly won't be minimal and will take a little bit more out of me. It also won't be a primary concern, although the concern of using the Pokémon is still primary and will surely aid in the achievement of the ribbons, sooner or later.

In the promotion side of things, the ribbons can be seen in the pre-battle matchup screen for the selected Unite Licenses by the players. They then may be taken as indications of players who specialize in playing with those Pokémon, and they thus may be the ones to be watched on the map and if necessary be dealt accordingly. Other than that, they are still signs of posterity and achievements of dedication for players.

While the battle ribbons in Pokémon Unite are indeed small and may go unnoticed, there's still something to notice and regard about them, in particular the way that they are to be earned and the possible meanings and implications they may have when they are visible for others. With the right efforts, attaining them would be a matter that is just as important as doing anything else in the game and figures into overall successes.

One year ago: We Welcome You to Pokéween

Two years ago: Changing Post Topics on the Spot

Three years ago: Pokémon (Pikachu) Loot from Utsuru KJR

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/24/2021

Five years ago: Type Logic: Of Dragons, Fairies, and Steel

Six years ago: Pokémon Annual 2019

Seven years ago: Items with a Purpose

Eight years ago: Beyond the Boundary... of Languages

My Staff Member Progress in Café Remix

The last time I updated anything related to my personal progress in Pokémon Café Remix was somewhat over a year ago, when I detailed the state of leveling for my staff members at that time. Given that quite a bit of a time has passed, it seems right to make another update on the progress, but this time, I want to take a different focus. Instead of focusing (mostly) on their levels, I want to focus on how many staff members I actually have, which could be considered a more extensive way of evaluating how far I've gone through the game, as well as the paths I haven't explored for that purpose. 

So, the numbers are in: I have 67 Pokémon staff members fully raised to Level 25, 12 in the levels between that and Level 20 (the "working group"), and 103 at Level 20 or somewhere close to that. Overall, that also means I have 182 Pokémon staff members in total, which is a very big number. Considering the time that I've been playing - and the time before where I didn't play - that's significant and yet also expected for the best progress possible with all that the game continues to offer today.

Going back to leveling progress, because of the extreme overabundance of resources for leveling, it seems easy to just level up the Pokémon immediately as they are hired, particularly to Level 15 at the very least to unlock all their skills so they can be usable in any stage. In fact, by the above counts, that has been exactly what happened: all the Pokémon I have were leveled up as soon as I had them, further in order to avoid wasting resources, as there is such a thing as being unable to earn more.

Yet even with all that, I'm still missing quite a few Pokémon. The culprits are those that can only be gotten from Delivery and that I can never seem to encounter before they are rotated out for others, or those that can only be gotten if I purchase the monthly Premium Pass - which I don't, being mostly a "freeloader". Then there are still likely others from the time I didn't play that haven't been made available through regular or special means since they first appeared. I'm still interested in these.

With all the staff members that I've hired and subsequently leveled up in Café Remix, I'm definitely fulfilling a core intent of the game and setting myself up for future offerings for the game, which means doing even more of those actions by way of what those future offerings would bring. At that point, it just means trudging on and keeping the Pokémon staff going to make the café more lively each time.

One year ago: Pokémon and Steampunk

Two years ago: Memories of Unova

Three years ago: Cosplay: CyFest 2022

Four years ago: Creepy Pokémon Flashbacks

Five years ago: Minimum Play with Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Performance Critique: Akatsuki no Matsuri 2 J-Song

Seven years ago: A Storybook and a Reference

Eight years ago: A Successor Has Been Named

Pokémon Agility Contests??

Lately, I've been on a kick of watching agility contest videos (as in, ones that involve dogs), with them having been suggested to me during my off time. They can be rather dazzling to see when the participants do them right - and quickly, as the contest name suggests - yet just plainly entertaining even if they don't. That, of course, got me to thinking about how the contest might be applied to Pokémon and what species might be involved, as a way of considering how the contest might pervade the world.

If the contest's moniker is of any indication, the Pokémon that could be involved in them would be ones that can learn the "Agility" move... but given that both big and small Pokémon know the move, and that the real contest features predominantly small-ish animals, then the Pokémon that would be involved in the contest would be smaller ones, preferably those who know the given move. Of course, they might not have to know it to participate, and their results would lean to the "entertainment" aspect as above.

Before going on further, it has to be noted that technically, Pokémon already has its own "implementation", if it may be considered as such, of an "agility contest". That would be the spinoff game of Pokémon Dash on the Nintendo DS, which by now is a relic for the concern of many fans. The name of the game itself already has such allusions, if its core activity of making Pokémon race doesn't already suggest as such. The core activity itself might be somewhat different than an actual agility contest yet not too far off either.

Yet it may still be apt and creative to try to combine elements from the two aspects above (the real contest and the game) for creating an "agility contest" that is truly unique for Pokémon like the game but reflects the sensibilities of the real contest. That would also mean dealing with timing - an important sensibility in this regard - in addition to any other entailments and proposed features of the contest. After that, things depend on how workable the resulting contest would be for everyone and even the Pokémon.

As for my own dealings, I'm likely to continue to watching those videos of real agility contests for the entertainment and pleasure they bring, at least for a little bit of my most recent spare time and while I'm not dealing with Pokémon matters. Then, when I come back to dealing with Pokémon matters, I can then think about the contests again in a Pokémon frame of reference... or then deal with that realized "implementation". Either way, I seem to be due for some "fast times" for Pokémon matters or otherwise.

One year ago: Pokémon Airships

Two years ago: Cosplay: Tanoshii Matsuri

Three years ago: Stamp Events in Café Remix

Four years ago: Just Waiting on an Absol

Five years ago: On the Variety of Go Plus Peripherals

Six years ago: A (Not So) Little Anniversary

Seven years ago: Resilience

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Arigatoo...!!!

Too Many Pokémon Go Events, Not Enough Variation??

Some days ago, I received a comment on one of my older posts that pertained to what can be said as the "extreme" multitude of events in Pokémon Go. Admittedly, the post had a lot to do with what I would call as "day events", the likes of Community Day, Max Battle, and Raid Day as well as full-paid events like City Safari. The commenter (who for some reason chose to remain incognito) also noted that what I would call "theme events" are also as numerous, both in quantity as well as duration; this also has its side effects, one of them being the lack of variation that the situation creates. I responded that I could make a fuller discussion of this - obviously in a post - and that becomes the very point of this one.

The gist of the problem, as I stated in my response, is that the theme events have gotten longer; where they used to be only a few days tops, many of them have extended themselves to span a week or a duration close to or effectively that. Then, the "break" - the days with no elements of particular events, even regional ones - are also shorter as a result, being only approximately two days long. The shorter break consequently results in having less time to deal with the Pokémon that are featured during the season, which is a crucial part of the season system since its inception, and is seemingly cast aside as a result.

For a particular example of how dense things can really get, July's events for this year shows how they can really pan out. The events in that month, including the one that would carry over into the next, all lasted six days; the only full "break" days were all on Monday, and there were four of them (three if the one with the Summer Concert is not counted). Since the events started at 10 AM and ended at 8 PM local time on the respective days, that afforded another 12 hours of a "break", not even amounting to a full day even if it did technically span the period of three days. This becomes the situational concern.

Going back to what the commenter said, many of the theme events often feature a selection of species that are hard to escape from, being particularly present in all places. Such a situation certainly can and does become boring, and it may be evident of "desperation" and a "cash grab", exactly the same points I raised as for the day events in the previous post. These sentiments of the commenter are understandable, even with the good intentions of the theme events as they are executed.

Responding to that, I proposed that the theme events may need some rework. As an example, while some featured species may be needed for "grinding" (for example, Gastly and its family may be needed for PvP in all leagues, Mega Evolution, and Max Battles), others have less utility and may be better off not as being the primary promotion, yet still featured in some way as with Research. Then, even shaving off a day from the theme events can cut the boredom and allow seasonal variety to appear again; it may also be possible to have other midweek events.

Whoever the commenter is, an interesting point was raised regarding theme events and their current state in Pokémon Go, with them becoming numerous in quantity yet somehow lacking in variety. Even now, such is the state of the matter, and its future may demand resolution that appeases every Trainer, including the two of us. It's just another thing that this Pokémon blog is a prompt for bringing up and dealing with.

One year ago: Visiting Pokémon Go Trainer Friends

Two years ago: The First-Generation Wild Pokémon Battle Theme

Three years ago: Possible Participation in Pokémon Unite Tournaments?

Four years ago: All for Pokémon Communication

Five years ago: "To the Sea" with Pokémon

Six years ago: Some Pokémon Commercials

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/21/2018

Eight years ago: Pokémon Brand Parodies

Cosplay: Toys & Hobbies Week 2025

Ash: I was wondering when you'd get to this!

Pikachu: Pika pika chu. ["Finally."] 

Goh: Oh, Toys & Hobbies happened on Sunday?

Me: Technically, it happened over the course of last week, but the last day (Sunday) is the big day for us, as it was last year and two years ago.

Goh: And this is unusual for us - we're not discussing it on the day of. 

Me: No - I wanted to try something different and focus on just the festival the other day. Although... I may have to evaluate things still.

Goh: OK, so... I'm sure it was like all those times.

Ash: Sure. Three places in the same mall - a game zone, a racing zone, and a toys zone.

Goh: My guess is that you must have spent more time in the toys zone.

Ash: Yeah! Everyone was there too. It was so crowded.

Goh: Like, convention-level crowded?

Ash: You could say that.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["Really."] 

Me: Hey, when it's been going on for three years, you know people really want to go to it.

Ash: I heard from a friend there was another festival with the same thing in the same town - and not many went there. 

Me: Well, see, there you go. We'll deal with friends later on... but I'm sure yesterday was the day of the character parade.

Ash: It was! I got into it with my Kalos outfit.

Goh: And then...

Ash: It didn't win against about 100 other characters.

Goh: Oh, that's rough. It must have been a "lottery" again.

Ash: I thought others could win too, but they didn't.

Me: Yeah, the usual. At least it was free, and so was the festival.

Ash: Right!

Pikachu: Pika! ["Yup!"] 

Goh: Maybe you did other stuff to enjoy the festival?

Ash: I did look around, but didn't play the games - and there were some Pokémon cards on sale, but they were pricey. Our friend might be interested in some gaming tools too.

Me: Hmm. I would be interested, if not for the price, for the cards and tools.

Ash: I got to play a Pokémon game that our friend has been wanting to play.

Goh: Neat!

Ash: But I only got one Pokémon out of it...

Me: That's OK. I'll deal with the rest of that myself, whenever.

Ash: And... someone gave me a Pokémon card display of Flareon!

Goh: That's pretty nice!

Me: I'd so say myself too. I could really discuss it for myself. 

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["Very nice!"] 

Goh: What about the "friends" aspect?

Me: I was going to say that I thought my local friend was going to come, but it turns out the person couldn't. So, who did you meet?

Ash: I met a few of your friends outside your communities. We basically hung out almost the entire day and on my way back to you.

Goh: That's great, even if your local friend couldn't come. 

Me: Indeed. So, after three years of the festival - or maybe it could also be said to be a convention - there may always be something great to do, to see, and to experience.

Ash: With everyone!

Goh: They all knew what it's all about.

Ash: We do too.

Me: At the least, we'll know what to expect for toys, hobbies, and all things related to them.

One year ago: Best Watching Experience for the Anime

Two years ago: Tabletop RPG for Pokémon?

Three years ago: Pokémon Species Fan Collectives

Four years ago: Battling Against Pokémon... and Algorithms

Five years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights - Comic Dub Special

Six years ago: Cosplay: Akatsuki no Matsuri 2

Seven years ago: Santorini and Sootopolis City

Eight years ago: To Genwunners: Get with the Program!

The Essential and Avoidable Qualities of Pokémon Go Level Tasks

Talking about the new leveling journey for Pokémon Go and its new level tasks prompts me that a good discussion can be made on the latter. Specifically, the discussion concerns the qualities of being "essential" or not, and being "avoidable" or not. These qualities, independent of the progression a Trainer can make on them, can then determine how they can be used by Trainers to level up or even defer that progression, the latter especially given that they earn lots of items in the process. Both of these qualities are then useful to be discussed for their relevance to the level tasks. 

In this regard, "essential" refers to how necessary a task is to be performed in regular play, with or without the task in question. The task of "walk 25 km in a week" (an old task) and "trade Pokémon caught 300 km apart" (both old and new) are not really essential to be performed in regular play, but they do help with some of the gameplay. On the other hand, making Nice or better throws and powering up Pokémon are routinely essential in order to attain certain successes in the game, especially ones related to battling. For the level tasks, the essence is certainly to advance leveling progress, but they also help to make the essence of the actions in regular play evident.

Meanwhile, "avoidable" in this case refers to the possibility of not having to do a task and to wait for other or better opportunities before doing them, such as a task that when completed will surely result in going up a level. Any task has the potential for this, but tasks like "win 3-star Raid with Pokémon of CP 1500 or less" (also an old task) and "power up Pokémon to maximum CP" (old and new task) do quite exhibit a potential for avoidance. Then there are the tasks of exploring - even for long distances - and earning Stardust that no matter how much or little one plays, they'll eventually complete themselves, making them truly "unavoidable". Neither is leveling up, really, but progress can be paused at least for a little bit of time with some of these tasks.

Where and what does this leave players or Trainers? The combination of these two qualities gives a way for Trainers to establish how they can or will proceed with their level-up efforts. A less essential and more avoidable task can be saved (intervened) for last or whenever they really need it, while a more essential and less avoidable task is more likely to be complete itself without intervention, though not necessarily first. For example, the "crazy" players will likely have their platinum medal tasks completed unavoidably despite not being (too) essential, and more normal ones can try to save some for level-up holdovers when they get to certain high levels with tasks for them.

"Avoidable" and "essential" might not be the first thing one thinks of when describing the level tasks for higher levels, yet it does make some sense since many of the tasks are long-form in nature and end up furnishing lots of rewards when they are completed and the level increases. The tasks can then be factored into however and whenever one regularly plays Pokémon Go and be worked on accordingly with consideration of the two qualities above, and the effort becomes a journey in itself, even before and now after the renewal and replacement of those level-up tasks.

One year ago: We Groove, We Battle, We Rise

Two years ago: Changing Map Elements in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: Pokémon, Lucky Love in Teenage Heaven

Four years ago: Breakthroughs Involving Pokémon

Five years ago: The Challenges of the Juvenile

Six years ago: Pokémon Movements in Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Being Young and Proud

Eight years ago: PokéNumbers

The New Leveling Journey of Pokémon Go

While all the most recent hubbub this week - on this blog, at least - was directed to the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the most significant transformation in Pokémon Go this season, as the increase of its level cap, also happened during that time. That transformation also brings forth a new leveling journey along with other things for that journey. Since all of that has happened, it's a good idea to discuss about the happenings and even include my own take on those happenings, as what it brings forth for me.

So, while the associated XP Celebration event ended at the local time transition to October 15, after which the increase was expected to occur, there was actually a kerfuffle as its scheduling was actually the local time of the developers - that is, U.S. Pacific Time - meaning that most of the world got the increase on October 16. The usual reactions to a kerfuffle for the game - a common one by now - followed but didn't last long, and soon everyone was absorbed in what the level cap increase offered for their gameplay.

As expected, everyone leveled up proportionately to their earned XP, and those with at least 85.8 million leveled up to Level 70. At that point, they'll have to complete the tasks and either collect XP (or use their "banked" amount) to go to the next level. Furthermore, all the tasks, needed XP, and level-up rewards - the latter two even for all prior levels - can be seen, so Trainers know what they expect to get and need to do. This is a real improvement from the previous limited view, again one that maybe should have been implemented a long time ago.

Regarding these tasks for Level 71 and beyond, one in each set involves collecting a certain number of Platinum medals, while the rest are composed of long-form tasks that are supposed (or at the least designed) to take quite a bit of time to complete. Yet some "crazy" Trainers, however, might find a way to complete some of them in a single day... which in fact happened for the Level 71 tasks before they were stopped cold by a Level 72 task that explicitly requires it to be done within a span of seven days. As such, it'll take some time for the higher levels.

Because the XP can be seen and calculated, it is also easy to determine if one has enough for all those levels, regardless of the tasks needed to go through them. For example, I have 208 million XP, which is just a little more than what is needed to get to Level 80 by XP alone (203.3 million). Of course, that's only in a dream, and the reality of the tasks is what I'll be facing; that's pretty much the only thing to face, though, and whatever XP is earned along the way only "sweetens the pot" for what will take place after the tasks are done.

In any case, all of that constitutes the new leveling journey for Trainers in Pokémon Go with the new level cap. Yet it's a journey that is as familiar as it is new for anyone who gets involved with the game, for its task mechanism for higher levels is essentially recycled and the XP itself is never new. Only the spirit may be new along with a few of the numbers involved in the leveling progression, and that may just be spirited enough for the case of this game as it continues to provide the same challenges with all different Pokémon.

One year ago: Bringing Raids Closer in Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Quickies: Gifts of My Heart

Three years ago: On the Giving and Taking of Collections

Four years ago: Keeping Pokémon Cities Weird

Five years ago: Starting with the End in Mind

Six years ago: October (on the) Road

Seven years ago: The Moves Pokémon Know and Use

Eight years ago: Second Remakes?

A Big (Mega) Time DLC

For the last discussion of the "gimme five" surrounding the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, the topic to be discussed is a big and weighty one, not only in terms of scope but also in terms of cost - additional ones, as a matter of fact. That, of course, implies a paid DLC for the game, which is in fact the case... or will soon be. It's also profound due to its timing - precisely at the beginning of the game's life - as well as the content that it provides, and therefore it has to be discussed alongside the release of the game proper.

The DLC is called "Mega Dimension", and at the core of it, Hoopa is present. As advertised as early as last month (through certain information channels), it also brings forth Mega Raichu, split into X and Y forms as with Charizard and Mewtwo. Whatever else the DLC brings is not yet known as the DLC is still in a bit of development and will come somewhat later on, but it's already available for purchase now; those who do that will get the bonus of an outfit that can be worn even while the main game is in progress.

What becomes rather apparent is that the DLC is a way of restricting some content behind payment, otherwise called "paywalling". Even if Raichu isn't (quite) as popular as its "devolved" brethren, it still conceivably has a certain legion of fans, and they'll appreciate the addition of Mega Evolution to it - in two forms, no less. To have that "paywalled" behind DLC instead of being in the main game outright could be considered a bit of disappointment, particularly with the popularity of the content in question for fans.

Meanwhile, Ranked Battles will obviously be carried out online, and online services on the Switch console require the subscription... which can be thought of as an indirect "paywall" or DLC. In fact, the reward for the first season is the Mega Evolution of a particularly popular frog, and thus content is already being "paywalled" as I speak. It's only pertinent to the actual DLC as above by its similar nature, but it bears mentioning with consideration that the DLC is already in the works to supply actual paid content.

Having DLC present for any game may be controversial to some extent, and now it is apparent that the new Legends: Z-A game can't escape that controversy, as it has a (planned) DLC of its own. It's an additional scope with an additional cost for elements of possible interest, and it is furthermore being presented early on in the dynamics of the main game. That makes it a big-time thing for a big-time game - or rather, "mega", in light of the major concept that the game and its setting revolves around and brings back.

One year ago: Old-Time Watcher's Dream

Two years ago: Mission Bingo in Café Remix

Three years ago: A New Set of Pokémon Dolls

Four years ago: My Qualms in Taking On Ranked Matches

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/17/2020

Six years ago: Wallpaper: Pokésoft Mix

Seven years ago: The First Sinnoh Saga Japanese Opening Theme

Eight years ago: Pokémon and Trains

Legends: Z-A Unleashed

OK, so the big day is finally here. Today is the day that the follow-up game in the Legends (sub-)series is released after a long wait. As has been previewed, it already promises many elements of interest and excitement, including a whole lot of new Mega Evolution forms. How that then translates to the interest and excitement of fans is to be seen today and throughout the coming times as they go through this new game and all that it offers.

For some, the first order of business may be to unlock Ranked Battles as the primary in-game competitive endeavor. This also has other implications that involve a certain aspect to be detailed separately, and is already associated with the game. It is certain that some players (Trainers) will look into the competitive endeavor as soon as possible, although completion of the game to certain points for this and its competitive materials is necessary.

Some others might just not deal with that (too much) and just take in the game as is, being that the return to Kalos and the return of Mega Evolution are the more enticing aspects to go through in their entireties. And there's no shame in that, since the original games were big on these, and they made them bigger still. That also goes for Lumiose City as this game's central focus, now bigger than ever with a lot of big things inside it as well.

As for local reactions among my fellow fans, they seem to be muted, whether they're the ones with vested interests in the main series and its ilk or just remotely interested ones who play other Pokémon games (TCG, Pokémon Go, and so on) more than the main series, which is known for its "barrier to entry". Of course, some of these "barriers" - including the apparently muted reactions - might just be broken down sooner or later to show the true reactions.

Now that the game has been released, the biggest thing for Pokémon - besides this game and Mega Evolution as the key "big" aspect - may just be making this second-of-its-kind game a really big success, also given that a big momentum is ahead. For now, there are other big things to deal with and within this game, and dealing with that will be big (or even bigger than big) for whichever big Pokémon fans are concerned.

One year ago: (Half-Hearted) Attempts at New Unite Event Formats?

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/15/2023

Three years ago: Taking Raids to the Elite Level

Four years ago: Quickies: Real Interest in Pokémon Sweet Treats

Five years ago: Hunting for Rewards from the Go Battle League

Six years ago: Where I Want to Go

Seven years ago: (Improving the) Local EX Raid, 10/16/2018

Eight years ago: Trainer Fashion

Making Mega Evolution a Persistent Concept?

Also as stated earlier, I would bring up Mega Evolution as a discussion topic, since the concept has been made a key part of the game and the associated region. It too has waded its way to other Pokémon game realms, in a way cross-promoting the game. Yet for all that, the concept hasn't been exactly persistent in the regular main series games, seemingly only returning by way of the alternate Legends series. The issue then centers on how a persistence could be achieved for the concept, especially for the main series games, regular or otherwise.

But first, it may be helpful to gain insights from the lore behind the concept. It is said that some of the stones in the Kalos region possess special powers, and people found they could use them to allow certain Pokémon to gain access to the concept form, something that is larger than even their own lives. But then, in Hoenn, others also independently discovered the same thing for other Pokémon, and then there's the matter of Rayquaza accessing it by a Meteorite and strong wills from people who are linked to it.

The lore above thus concerns the original main series game as well as the related remake game with the concept. It suggests that there is a significance in both of the regions where the concept is (was) featured with major incorporation of it into the gameplay and lore. This is then compared to the seventh-generation games, where the concept was just there but not seemingly having any significance in gameplay and lore, even though it did feature in them. So, the featuring part of the concept is easy; the integration part may be harder.

Persistence for Mega Evolution, then, may seem to lie in being able to have it being a good  (or key) part of the games where it can be featured, and then having something new to complement the feature and make it engaging for the players. Many Pokémon even now still don't have a Mega Evolution form, and future instances of the concept being featured can stand to have new forms for species that don't already have it, in the same way that the remake games featuring the concept had that to complement its original feature.

Mega Evolution has been a fascinating concept since its debut, and its preservation (albeit not its persistence) has been somewhat surprising as well with the assistance of other games beyond the main series. For the latter as well as any other Pokémon game, making it persist is the greater challenge, but the two takeaways above of incorporating it well and contributing something new to it appear to be important for maintaining its persistence. After that, the only challenge is having the "mega" guts to keep dealing with it. 

One year ago: Renewing the Anime, Revisited

Two years ago: Cosplay: Road to CHoCoDays 10th

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/15/2022

Four years ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: Expanding the Collection

Five years ago: Strange Eggs, and Getting Estranged with Eggs

Six years ago: Rekindling Old Games

Seven years ago: Ultra Ball Hanging Ornament

Eight years ago: Cosplay: MAXcited

The Future of the Legends Series

As I've stated, the future of the Legends series may make for a good discussion, and that's what I've chosen to take up as the next topic in this "Legends: Z-A week". Granted, it's a topic that's a bit "far out" as topics go since only the next member in the series, the one that makes it as such, is just being released. Yet there seems to be no harm in trying to establish what the future might hold for this new (and newly established) series of Pokémon games.

The first consideration would certainly involve the region. Two regions have already gotten the treatment (Sinnoh as Hisui and Kalos), and there's still a lot of potential out there. Given the strong Legendary connections, Alola could make a perfect target for an in-the-past approach like the first game, while Hoenn does so likewise for in-the-future like the second game. Other regions may also be possible with surprising developments.

Included Pokémon would certainly be a given. The featured region would certainly have to have its characteristic species, but beyond that, considerations might just go any which way. Species appearing in a region from a later generation retroactively appearing is always an interesting prospect, especially how to make them work as special features. As for older species, they're a natural, but they can also have finer points and surprises too.

Finally, timing is a major consideration as well. The current Legends game is actually being released at a point closer to a momentous time, and the current time may be considered an inter-period between major milestones. If another Legends game is in the works, it would have to be situated between other major Pokémon milestones and take advantage of that so that fans can in turn take advantage of the new game for their needs.

Considering the above, the future looks to be promising for another iteration of the Legends series, but the content and timeframe could be anyone's guess - though certainly at least a few years in the future, likely to continue drumming up Pokémon interest while being in the "doldrums". That may be a future worth waiting for, and while waiting for that, there's always the current iterations of the Legends series for planning out that future.

One year ago: Nobody's Perfect

Two years ago: Cosplay: MCP Mini Contest 

Three years ago: The Evolution Cup of GBL

Four years ago: A Pokémon Best Friend Dream

Five years ago: Workouts, Exercise, and Fitness with Pokémon

Six years ago: Community vs. Central Management

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Akatsuki no Matsuri

Eight years ago: Never Stop Exploring

How to Regard the Legends Games

I have to be up front and say that this week, the long-awaited Legends: Z-A game will be released - specifically in three days' time. As such, I thought it would be a good idea to take this month's "gimme five" and discuss its eventual release and topics surrounding the game, including Mega Evolution as something touted of the game and its featured region (Kalos). For that, the first topic concerns the game together with the previous one (Legends: Arceus), considering both as a (sub-)series now established by the new and upcoming game.

That first topic in particular concerns how to regard this newly formed Pokémon game series. I had earlier characterized the previous game on its launch as a "spinoff", but considering what has been presented, that might seem "improper". Sure, the game has different mechanisms for battles with wild Pokémon and others, but many things line up with the main series games, like the selection of starters (first partners) and other battle aspects. A Legendary Pokémon is also featured much like the main series games from the second generation onwards.

Furthermore, in the earlier game, Pokémon are kept in "pastures", which are essentially boxes under another name. Meanwhile, the new game will have a form of ranked battling and other online conveniences similar to the most recent main series games of Scarlet and Violet - but this will be further allocated in different posts over this week. And then, there is the highly evident inclusion of Mega Evolution, a revival of a past main series mechanism and with many new entries included, likely alongside the old ones as well within the game.

Based on the points presented above, it can be regarded that the Legends games are most like the main series games with a number of "riffs" or changes. As such, they can then be most aptly considered as "main series alternates", not unlike a "third game" (something that has been long absent) yet also so far removed from the concept - which may be why it could have been so hard to see it all this time. This too opens up a myriad of implications that may be better reserved for later discussions alongside the links to the main series.

Although possible future installments of the Legends games - something that's definitely up for a later discussion - may further tie into the idea above yet separate from its predecessors, including the original main series games they are (or will be) based on, considering the new game series as "alternates" still very much makes sense. That "making sense" will need to be carried over if and when more games of the new series are planned, and of course for the next new game that won't be long now before it's finally released.

One year ago: Cosplay: Axis Cup and Cosplay Festival

Two years ago: Unexpected Collaborations with Pokémon

Three years ago: Pokémon Café Remix Burnout?

Four years ago: Tournament: Raid Group "Relaxed" Lunar Cup

Five years ago: The Day-Night Cycle and Pokémon Games

Six years ago: Cosplay: KAI ESports Exhibition

Seven years ago: Pokémon and Adventure Games

Eight years ago: Respect for Ikue Ootani

Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/12/2025

If there is the indication that Pokémon in many ways resemble many animal (and partially plant) species of the real world, they're likely to be structured and made up of the same stuff, which biologically would be cells. Cells are literal powerhouses, for those who know their biology, and their micro scale power is just as great as the organisms that they make up on the macro scale. Coincidentally - or not - a particular Pokémon species family exemplifies their power like a big cell (or a mass of them for the evolved versions), and they're the subject of this month's edition of Community Day in Pokémon Go.

That species family would be that of Solossis, the literal Cell Pokémon, which evolves into Duosion (Mitosis) and then Reuniclus (Multiplying). In this edition, the last of these gets the special move of Charm, a familiar Fast move common to many Pokémon that now becomes available for the Pokémon in question; it's known for certain PvP plays, possibly making it helpful there. This gets complemented by the main bonus of triple Stardust from captures, always a lucratively useful one. Due to the incoming level cap increase, a double XP bonus from captures is also in play along with the current efforts to obtain more of that.

As usual, there are other applicable bonuses or aspects. They would be double Candy catch and Candy XL chance, extended Incense and Lure Modules, an extra Special Trade and discounted trades, and photo bombs. Then, there is also the paid Special Research - this time titled "Solossis Cell-ebration" - and Pokémon with the seasonal special background, which are now also available from random captures in the wild. Tasks in the paid Special Research have also been rearranged and slightly simplified for more convenient progression, and regular Lure Modules that are still active or activated after the main event can still lead to encounters.

Meanwhile, there are a few other changes, not all of which may be favorable. Due to the special background now being available in the wild, the week-long Timed Research becomes redundant and has been eliminated. Some Field Research tasks for the special backgrounds are also modified to be less "collaborative" - though certain other tasks are (and have been since the last Community Day), but this last bit is for a discussion outside of the scope of this post. Finally, the evolution move window is also restored to just within the day up to 9 PM, also partly the consequence of the elimination of the Timed Research as above.

For my own experiences, I thought about taking things somewhat farther away, but then I opted out of the plan due to other needs. Instead, I chose to meet a local friend to deal with the "collaborative" tasks after meeting other friends for other purposes, while the rest of the day was spent by myself - not exactly "community" in one sense but it still is in other senses. I obtained a good haul, including one with the best possible stats and a Shiny with a special background, both of which anyone could be proud of.

Of the featured Pokémon in the current "transformative" season, the one for this month may be considered its "highlight" in a way, as a rather big cellular wonder that can undergo two transformations to become something more than itself. It may also be a testament to the powerhouse wonder that cells are, whether they're ones that make up real-life organisms or possibly make up Pokémon species. Psychic powers may or may not be involved (being the type of the pertinent species family), but biological powers still certainly are in some ways.

One year ago: I'd Rather Be... With Pokémon

Two years ago: Performance Critique: Bunka no Tenkai J-Song

Three years ago: Pokémon Café Remix Personal Feature Wishlist

Four years ago: Thrills and Spills in Quick Unite Battles

Five years ago: The Deprecation of HMs

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/12/2019

Seven years ago: Finding and Re-Finding Players

Eight years ago: The (De Facto) Series Mascot

Performance Critique: Nihon Carnival Cosplay Walk

After a long time of making performance critiques for musical performances, I have a chance to make a critique for a cosplay performance again, being the original intent of this series of posts. Unusually, it's also for a cosplay walk, which I refer to in my in-character discussions as a "character parade" and something I rarely (OK, pretty much never) can get ahold footage of. But as I've discussed, if it happens that I can obtain the footage, then it can almost be assured that I will make the critique somehow.

The source of the footage for this critique is a video on social media, specifically a Reel on Instagram. The Reel comes at the perfect time for me to use it to make it into a critique... as well as at an absolutely critical time since its creator is currently embroiled in a controversy unrelated to the competition. Therefore, it is imperative that I grab the footage just in case it disappears and then be able to make the critique any time - but preferably close to the moment rather than farther away from it.

The "confidence" shot.

For this walk, I chose to start off Ash with what I call the "confidence" motion. This seemed to work great, except that I did have to scuffle a bit for the ball to extract it. As such, there is a bit of a technical factor that affected this motion. I will likely have to make sure that the ball can be extracted more cleanly next time I perform the motion, since it's such an important first impression - and I already have certain plans for that.

The "throw" shot.

Next, I also chose to throw the ball. This is the plastic ball I've used for quite some time now, and I chose to throw it rather gently to keep its condition. Unfortunately, it also gained momentum and rolled off the stage. It's also not the first time that has happened. For a future performance, it seems I will need to bring along an old fabric ball in case I want to try this rather "daring" motion again.

The "wonder" shot.

Closing off this walk were a couple of motions I call "wonder" and "run". The former is slightly designed to "fill time" slightly, and the latter is intended to be an alternative and creative ending compared to how I've done walks in the past. Both of these definitely work this time, though some of the judges may also have been left "wondering", in particular for the former. Whether these had any bearing on the final evaluation is unknown to me.

The "run" shot.

Overall, the walk is approximately 40 seconds in length, though the footage I got appeared to be trimmed (particularly at the "wonder" motion), so including the intro and the trim, it may be closer to 45 seconds. This seems fine for this competition - they were expecting walks of up to a minute in length - though for this and competition with similar demands, I could have slowed down my movements a bit to fill even more time. For ones that demand shorter lengths, then a cutting of the movements is in order.

In any case, this particular walk has been satisfying to perform and can be satisfactorily adapted according to the demands of other competitions. It also has finally allowed me to fulfill what I had really intended this series of posts to be, to deal with cosplay performances and review my efforts in them. Yet since then, it also has been evident that performances with Pokémon can come in any form, so this post series can and still will deal with all of them.

One year ago: Haptic Feedback in Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Searching Again for My PvP Competitive "Fire"

Three years ago: Pokémon Airlines in Its World?

Four years ago: Lunar Mysteries of the New Season

Five years ago: Making (Personal) Breakthroughs in the Go Battle League

Six years ago: Shuffle Secrets

Seven years ago: Pokémon Game Journals

Eight years ago: All That He Wants... (Is Another Victory)

Poké-Cartomancy?

Cartomancy is the act of divining fates from cards - in other words, fortune-telling using those cards. In the world, the most common cards that are used for this purpose are tarot cards containing some novel cards that complement that very purpose, although regular playing card decks can also be used with particular methods. This then leads to the pondering that other cards could be used to do so, and within the scope of this blog, that would mean the cards of the Pokémon TCG.

What would be conceivable is that a player who possesses the usual 60-card deck used for TCG matches would go to a "cartomancer" who can also deal with Pokémon cards as well as the usual purposed cards. The deck would be shuffled and cards would be drawn from it, and then divinations would be made according to the cards that are turned up, much like the process with the other purposed cards. Something that would also be conceivable is that the elements on the cards - like the moves on Pokémon cards or the descriptions of Trainer cards - would be part of the divinations, with other elements possibly contributing to them.

Yet challenges are certainly abound. A big and obvious one is that there are many, many more Pokémon cards than there are for the other purposed cards, and more and more of the former are being made all the time, as veteran players can attest. The divinations may have to have (or be based on) certain ground rules that pertain to most of these cards, and perhaps more importantly can be proactively applied to cards that will be developed in the future. In that respect, card descriptions are consistent (and standard) in this regard even if the cards themselves are different, and like the purposed cards, they'll have certain interpretations.

Divining fates or the future, with cartomancy as the specific form based on cards of some kind, is an activity that may only be loosely grounded by what's on the cards, but could still be thought of as a fun interpretative exercise. The cards of the Pokémon TCG would be an unusual basis for performing the activity in comparison to the purposed cards that are more established, but then that may go back to the "fun" part, and the rest of that future may be determined through other means.

One year ago: Quickies: Color Neighborhoods, Pokémon Style

Two years ago: Kecleon Role Wonders

Three years ago: Pokémon Mascots for Existing Sports Teams

Four years ago: The Music of Unite

Five years ago: How Simple Is Pokémon Really?

Six years ago: Illusions of Success?

Seven years ago: People-Adventure or Pokémon-Adventure?

Eight years ago: Kanto Starter Keychains

Café Remix Event Structure, Revisited

It was only about a year ago that I discussed the newly reworked (at that time) structure of in-game events for Café Remix, which in a way was to (somewhat) alleviate the malady of efforts that had been previously needed for them. Since then, further changes have been made for it, rendering my earlier post obsolete. Given what has transpired, I've decided to take out a post to revisit the topic, review the changes, and extract its implications.

The first change to that structure was having just either one of the mini-events with Audino or Eevee as previously discussed, which was then followed by a longer event in individual or team formats, featuring an old Pokémon that revisits the café. These would remain concurrent with a prime event with the usual given formats plus the Cook and Collect event with Gholdengo and Gimmighoul, and of course Mission Bingo with all that it offers.

Eventually, the old mini-events were retired, the prime events were slightly reduced in length, and the only concurrent ones were the longer "return" event to the end of the prime event as well as Cook and Collect. A further recent change removed the event play requirement for Cook and Collect, and the Gimmighoul Coins can be obtained by regular stage play instead. Then there was the addition of Café Pop-Up, for which less is better said.

With these changes, there is admittedly a process of implementing simplification and added workability to the events. The "return" event in particular brings hope to all players to get the Pokémon they may have missed before or to augment their outfit grade if they already did. On the other hand, shorter prime events will mean more of them and more work to do for them, so that may be the most dire consequence of this arrangement.

Of course, there is always the potential for the event structure to change further since the game is continuously updated, but the changes over time since that specific discussion on the topic merits to be discussed as well. The most puzzling thing about Café Remix, aside from its stage play, may just be structuring the events for the best form, and its current form with the changes may be the best one yet, if not at least for the current time.

One year ago: Fonts in Pokémon Presentations

Two years ago: Getting United with Unite Squads

Three years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru (for KJR)

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 10/9/2021

Five years ago: On the Buying and Selling of Gameplay Elements

Six years ago: Hunting for Physical References

Seven years ago: What Pokémon Eat

Eight years ago: Pokémon Jigsaw Puzzle

TCGP: Luxuriously Deluxe (...Pack ex)

A little less than a month ago, I noted about "pack fatigue" in Pokémon TCGP, its implications, and what could be done about the situation. It seems the developers of the game may have listened and have now brought forth a somewhat unique solution for that situation. That solution could be said to be a new expansion - slightly ironically - but in some respects it may not qualify to be called that, and it further offers a bit of a "luxury" for the same efforts of opening packs to collect the cards that are contained within them.

The (not-)expansion is called the "Deluxe Pack ex", and its packs work a bit differently than those of prior expansions. Only four cards (instead of the usual five) are contained within each pack, but at least one of the cards will have a rarity of four Diamonds or higher. What makes it a "not-expansion" is that most of the cards in the packs are ones that have been featured in prior expansions, so it affords a good deal of "second chances" to collect them, especially the rare cards. In that case, the cards will be indexed in both the earlier expansion and this new one, even if the expansion may not be as such.

Because of the pack structure, a few things related to it work a little differently. One of them is Wonder Picks: by nature, they always cost three Wonder Stamina (at least), and they have an additional two Pack Hourglasses to make up for the missing card... which some might stumble upon if they're really unlucky. Furthermore, the (not-)expansion and its packs will only be available for a limited time, which would be the span of this month, after which things might just return to regularity. Speaking of regularity, even with fewer cards but a guaranteed higher-rarity card, the packs of this (not-)expansion still cost the regular 12 Pack Hourglass if more are desired to be opened beyond the limits of free openings.

For the cards that are unique to the expansion, a number of Pokémon have received cards with different art on them - including quite a few with full art - and some Legendary Pokémon also have their Shiny cards here as well. Several old cards also have new art that are of the Crown rarity, which are obviously even harder to get due to the massive number of cards in the numbered section here (over 350). Like previous expansions, there is a new three-Star card of the "immersive" variety, and it celebrates the first and all previous expansions with its art. At least in this respect, it really is one.

If the contents of this "not-expansion" are to be considered, the potential for catching up is quite high, but then there is also a good possibility of getting the extras that are included with it. As a solution to the "pack fatigue", it may very well be imperfect (including by its limited availability timeframe and other associated quirks), but it can still make for some headway while being entertained alongside the new content. That in itself could be said to be the "luxury" that is afforded by continuing to deal with this and other aspects of the game.

One year ago: The New Event Structure of Café Remix

Two years ago: Latest Pokémon Fun on Social Media

Three years ago: Surrendering in Pokémon Unite

Four years ago: Record-Keeping in Pokémon Games

Five years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: Taking Stands, Taking Chances

Six years ago: Someone Else's Points

Seven years ago: A Poké Ball Keychain

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Kisetsu no Matsuri

The Charjabug Scuffle in Pokémon Unite

Though the anniversary celebrations for Pokémon Go for this year have already somewhat passed, that doesn't mean that the game can't experiment with new play modes as it had done for that very occasion, moreover ones that are similar to that. Recently, such a new mode has been implemented, and the dynamics of it are as similar as they are different to the previously implemented play mode, forcing players to enter a struggle to charge up their sides all the way to attain victory over the opposing side.

With that, the new mode is called "Charjabug Scuffle". This too is a 3-on-3 Quick Match, set in a "city garden" map. The Pokémon have to pick up the two Charjabug on the map in order to  charge their side's meter and earn points, with greater charging for those in the middle circular "terminal". There is no time limit; instead, the victory condition is whichever side charges up 300 points first. Obviously, teams will attack one another to knock off Charjabug and claim it to charge up their side, which will also demand some defending.

Further like the previous play mode, the Pokémon will have leveled up and need to have their moves chosen. Smart attacking and defending is then required for the Pokémon to keep the Charjabug close to the middle if possible and charging up their side. The "final stretch" moment occurs when a team has scored 250 points from picking up Charjabug, and it has a similar urgency. Of course, they also can and do have to take advantage of the entire map to try to retain possession of Charjabug and keep the scoring going.

Something that I didn't mention for Electrode Volleyball is that it also had a mini-event for earning points by completing daily battle tasks with the play mode and exchanging the awarded points for different and unique items. Charjabug Scuffle has a similar mini-event with similar tasks and a similar selection of items. Players will be challenged for these each day in order to earn the points and then the items.

Meanwhile, I have to say that my experience with the play mode has been hit-or-miss. When I play, it seems that either my team is doing really well and crushing it, or the other team is doing really well and crushing me and my team. This situation may also have something to do with certain team members that may be erratic in their movements or may not have a full understanding of the challenges of the map.

Regardless, it's those challenges that players can face right now in another fast play mode for the game that is different from the usual norms, yet still requiring the same skillset for those challenges. That skillset will demand players to charge things up to succeed with others while keeping the other side from doing the same; the results may be a jolt or a burst of energy that is as fresh as any development that has been made for the game.

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Four years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Master League Classic

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Phones and Gadgetry

Six years ago: Livestream and Let Livestream

Seven years ago: Cosplay: SJF - Tomodachi 3

Eight years ago: Iron Trainers?