What's Hot, What's Not, and What Else for Champions

I haven't dealt very much with Pokémon Champions recently, but I'm still observing some of the particulars that pertain to the game. For that reason, I want to cover some of them in a post, so I've thought of covering them in a "what's hot, what's not, what else" format, which serves (and had done so, in a different context) as a general overview of various particulars for different things. Now, that becomes applied to Pokémon Champions according to some of the particulars I've observed from both sides of play and development.

Starting with "what's hot", tournaments are still hot for the game and getting hotter, also for the fact that the annual Pokémon competitive happening is approaching. That said, the game is also desired to have a feature for hosting custom tournaments in-game, which would help to alleviate the external burden. Then, the battle arena is also desired to have some variety, which aside from the Pokémon may be something that's as varied as it's going to get (to be expounded shortly). These "hot" aspects surely keep the game going.

Then there are the "not" aspects. For all of its playability, the game hasn't included pre-evolved species, which might just be able to do some marvelous things depending on the species in question. This is a particular complaint of one of my VGC friends, who hasn't gotten to playing this very game for that particular reason. As such, the game is slated to include these at a later time - obviously not now with the peak of the competitive season at hand - and by then, my friend and others can take part in the experience with those Pokémon.

As for "what else", the game has some elements that will likely remain as unconsidered for inclusion. They are replays and skins, which are clearly considerations that are influenced by Pokémon Unite (the latter notably called Holowear there). And that seems to be warranted; the former is becoming a relic in said game, and the latter just adds bulk to the game, which is not necessary since Champions is already bulky in its initial edition. Even with the interface having resemblance, the features need not to resemble the other game either.

Reviewing the aspects as mentioned above, Pokémon Champions is still in its early days despite having been around for several months, at least for the Nintendo Switch edition, and much more still lies in wait for the game to bring it to maturity like main series-style or VGC battling has in all its years. The players and developers both still have a lot to deal with for the game, especially with the upcoming competitive season transition into the next one, and once that happens, more aspects may just need to be scrutinized as above.

One year ago: Quickies: What Would Professor Oak Build?

Two years ago: The Adventures of Pikachu and Snorlax

Three years ago: Let's Go on Routes

Four years ago: The Pokémon Unite Phone-Switch Transition

Five years ago: Nostalgic "Coins" of Pokémon

Six years ago: Remote Raids and Invitations

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

Eight years ago: Divergent Anime?

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

Cosplay: Halloweeaboo Vol. 6 - Natsukoi

So, it is to my knowledge that Ash and Goh won't be present too often this month for um... reasons - including research. Today, then, there is...

Red: Hello. Those two are something.

Me: Yeah, you can say that. Anyway...

Red: You want me at a festival today. Sure thing.

Me: Yes, it's one that sometimes Ash could make it to.

Red: Well, that's great. For that, let me try a little something for you along with my classic outfit.

Me: Oh, you got the hair done a bit! Perfect.

Red: It took a bit of time to get to the place where you'd usually have that, but it's OK. 

Me: And it's somewhat needed too. 

Red: So then, the festival is at the rooftop level of a mall. 

Me: Yup, it's back to the usual place after it went somewhere else.

Red: Hmm, that one had a singing competition. This one didn't.

Me: I heard about that - but then, I don't think I can get you to sing anything.

Red: No, save that for when Ash comes back.

Me: But there are character competitions - team performance and single parade.

Red: I'll take the latter for you, then. Especially since I gussied up for you.

Me: Sure. I couldn't plan out a team performance anyway even if I wanted to.

Red: And it looks like this festival always has a lot of people - and characters.

Me: You better believe it.

Red: Including in the parade, 40 with me. 

Me: And how'd that turn out?

Red: Didn't work out for me. The winners were great, though.

Me: Yeah, that seems to be the case, with or without you.

Red: And I got to see a bit of the performances. They were... interesting.

Me: I'll bet. Oh, by the way, dance groups for entertainment, yes?

Red: Yup, saw a couple. And a dance party near the end.

Me: Uh-huh, so standard for current times. Now, what else did you do?

Red: I got to hang out with a few of your friends and have fun - and eat, up until the end before I got back to you.

Me: Haha - well, that's always a necessity when I send you or him.

Red: Hey, and you got me to go somewhere again.

Me: So, I got to fulfill that commitment.

Red: The festival scene here is lively, even if it has really changed.

Me: It has, and this festival is one of those changes. As an aside, this edition has the theme of "summer love".

Red: I don't know about love - even though we like Pokémon - but this was a good "summer" day for a festival.

Me: Yup, I do believe it is.

Red: So, where to next?

Me: I have an idea - but wherever it is, there certainly will be some "hello" greetings involved.

Red: Like here! Nice one.

Me: Of course.

One year ago: TCGP: Looking for Sky-High and Deep-Sea Wisdom

Two years ago: The Red and Blue Duality and Pokémon

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

Four years ago: (This Is) Just the Start

Five years ago: Heuristic vs. Methodical Trainers

Six years ago: Let There Be No Lies

Seven years ago: Topic Balancing, Again

Eight years ago: The Music of Magikarp Jump

Nine years ago: Pokémon Is Everything

More Increased Limit Ideas for Pokémon Go?

Quite a few years ago, for Pokémon Go, I discussed about several limits and how they may be raised, and since then, some (but not many) of them have been realized - the last being the friend limit, which is now up to a whopping 650 to accommodate the "permanence" of Forever Friends. The others have been accommodated only at times but not indefinitely, which could still sometimes be frustrating. Meanwhile, recently I've thought of other limits within the same game that could be raised, so now it's time to make a "sequel" post of sorts to discuss those other limits and the possibility of raising them... or not, as the case may be.

One of those limits is the placement of Pokémon in Gyms and Power Spots, which are still at 20 each, a number that has remained so for the former and only newly instituted for the latter. While the latter is fine given their paucity, the former may need to be raised, if only slightly to 25 as a possible value, to accommodate the many Pokémon that Trainers have as well as the possibility of not being able to go out often. Such a limit would probably also need to be explored with regard to the capacity of the Pokémon Go servers to handle it. 

Meanwhile, the swapping of Buddy Pokémon is still limited to 20, which is a modest value. Yet it may not be modest enough for some, especially if they're involved in certain battles that suit them in the Buddy position due to being a Best Buddy. Similar to the above, an increase to 25 might just accommodate those who swap Buddy Pokémon day in and day out for all kinds of purposes, including but not limited to that mentioned purpose. It's a slight augmentation that in some Trainer cases should improve the way they handle Buddy Pokémon.

As a last limit increase idea that I'm presenting now, it is known that Max Particles are used not only for battling at Power Spots but also to power up Max Pokémon of all kinds from those and other encounters. Therefore, it could be plausible to have the daily earning limit for them to be increased even just slightly from 800 to 1000 to allow an accommodation for powering up. While various concessions already seem not to warrant this - including the current ways to earn them - the thought of the idea may be the only important thing for it.

The common thread for all of these "raise limit" ideas does rather seem to be "accommodate", and that could also apply well to some limits that have been raised in the past, whether they were temporary or indefinite. With the game having gone on for 10 years - a long time for a game of its kind(s) - some limits sometimes have to be surpassed to achieve all the things that could be achieved, and now will be as the game and its ideals continue on.

One year ago: On Making the Winning Moves

Two years ago: Loot (or Not) from Pikachu's Indonesia Journey in Surabaya

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

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

Five years ago: Pikachu and Squirtle Donuts

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

Seven years ago: Shadow and Purified Pokémon in Pokémon Go

Eight years ago: Type Logic

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