Tuesday, February 17, 2026

TCGP: Furthering (with) the Fantastical Parade

The current series of cards in TCGP has been on a roll with their inclusion of Mega Evolution, which I had likened to a "parade" with the same being included in other realms of Pokémon gaming. Recently, that trend seems to be set to continue with a new expansion that has just been added to the game, and its title is literally just that: "Fantastical Parade" is the name of the new expansion, and like a real parade, it has quite a few things going on.

Its pack image is Mega Gardevoir, which makes it clear that the Pokémon becomes the leader of the parade. Another notable member of the parade is Ogerpon, and all of its four mask variants. The rest of the parade comprises Pokémon species from various generations, including different first partner families for each type (Chespin, Scorbunny, and Mudkip) that are as primed for battle as the leader(s) of this pack's parade.

Also of notability is that the expansion introduces the first implementations of Stadium cards in TCGP. There are three of these in the expansion, and they work the same way in TCGP as they do in physical TCG and TCGL: one plays them on the side to introduce certain effects, and the other player can override them with another Stadium card. With it, TCGP becomes even closer in parity to the classical TCG implementation.

For the card composition, there are 155 cards in the numbered section and 79 cards in the overnumbered section, thus totaling 234 cards. It's a pretty good-sized expansion with numerous cards, even if many players may or may not care about most of them - except of course the highlight cards (including the Stadium cards) as mentioned above and whatever cards they will need from this one to make workable decks.

Much evidently still goes on in TCGP, and this latest expansion adds to the many goings-on within the game, with another element of a resurging aspect and one that makes things even more familiar to Pokémon TCG players in general. It is a "parade" by one stretch of that word, and players can certainly opt to enjoy that as much as possible - in this case for even more of the cards that interest their plays, as the TCGP expansion parade itself goes on.

One year ago: Economy of Expression
Five years ago: Gym Takedown Habits
Six years ago: Delayed Costumes
Nine years ago: The Park Is Open
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Monday, February 16, 2026

Go Tour: It's a-Mega Time

OK, this is getting a bit late to write this up, but it's got to be done anyway before the thing associated with it. I'm talking, of course, about this year's edition Pokémon Go Tour, for which the current post serves as a preview of the happenings to come very soon. Now, this season is called "Precious Paths", as detailed months ago, and the occasion of this year's Go Tour seems apt to continue "precious paths" in more ways than one. That along with a few more of the particulars for this year's edition deserve to be explained.

The featured region for this year, following the above, is certainly Kalos, as the region where Mega Evolution was first discovered. True to that, the focus of this year's edition is partly on these big forms in raids. They'll also herald the arrival in Pokémon Go of the first of the "second batch" forms introduced in Legends: Z-A, these being for Victreebel and Malamar. There is also the usual feature of Shiny forms of species from this region, including the debuts for some of them through the usual featuring aspects.

Like past years, there is a "Live" edition of the event scheduled for this weekend, staying put in Taiwan (this time in Tainan) and Los Angeles for Trainers in either hemisphere - and with convenient access - to enjoy. The usual paid features of the "Live" event will return, with one addition: a special nighttime event called "Mega Night", obviously focusing on these big forms and the related Pokémon. It's a two-hour soiree for participants in both places that will be as festive as it will be a big deal with the forms of concern.

Meanwhile, the Global edition, also a usual thing, is scheduled for the following weekend on February 28 and March 1. Yet also as with last year, the rest of the Trainers who didn't get the "early access" for the new things introduced through the "Live" editions will get them when they participate in this edition. They'll still have to divide up the efforts over the two days of the event, but the core of it will still be free - it's the add-ons that will cost a bit more, but they may have at least some bearing on the big festivities.

If the big thing for the region of Kalos is Mega Evolution and its myriads of forms that are and have always been associated in the main series games and their Legends adjunct, then its featuring in any way will invariably involve these big things coming to the limelight. Such is true of this year's edition of Pokémon Go Tour, which becomes a "Mega time" for that big reason and arguably becomes the most "precious" of the "paths" that Trainers tread upon this season. It may just be the surest path for big evolutions.

Seven years ago: Romancing the Ball
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, February 15, 2026

The Many Games at Once Situation

A very long time ago, I had discussed about playing multiple Pokémon games, particularly for the specific case of playing two of them at the same time. I had also included a blurb about the possible case of playing more than two - in other words, many - but it was more of an afterthought rather than a consideration. Now, in revisiting the topic, I have to bring up the consideration for an actual discussion, especially with the inclusion of a situation that reflects the consideration, and rather (disturbingly) well at that.

The situation is that in a video that made the rounds on social media some time ago, a girl was shown to be playing several Pokémon games at once, albeit on different screens. The games included a main series game and Pokémon Unite on two separate big screens and a few other games on smaller screens - Pokémon Go definitely being one of them. The girl was shown to be juggling the plays of the games like a madman (or a "madwoman", rather), and all this took place within the short span of the video clip; however, it is also implied that the actions take place for a longer time and regularly by its premise.

For that, the premise is that the girl is only given an hour each day to play through anything and everything she wants to play... and evidently by the video clip, she wants to play through all kinds of Pokémon games. So, the only option became the setup as seen in the video and the process of going through or juggling through all the games at once and then trying to make progress through each one of them in that manner. In considering the premise as something that is true, it may be that something is restrictive for the purpose of making the achievement happen, even though it is laudable in a way.

Personally, I wouldn't go to the same lengths as the girl in the video, although it is certainly tempting to set up something that is similar to that and play through all Pokémon games that one wishes to play in such a manner. There are, of course, many prompts for this, like the daily actions that many Pokémon games now have and the associated progresses that need to be made for them, so for someone (perhaps I myself) to create the setup for, say, three games at once may be something that could work out somehow.

It is a fact of the present life that Pokémon games are numerous, and the available hours of the day aren't, even if the latter remains the same as they have ever been. Either or both of these can totally be a prompt to play as many of them as possible within one time, just like what the girl did as shown in the video. For the most diehard of Pokémon fans (like me), playing many games at once may just be a consideration for the present, and very much so for all the possible plays that Pokémon now offers.

Five years ago: GBL Progression, Revisited
Six years ago: Words of the Heart
Eight years ago: A Break in the Action
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Valentine's Day 2026: Creature Comforts

Another year, and Valentine's Day comes by almost imperceptibly. Of course, for those who really feel (perceive) it, this day is all about the best of things for the best of people... and of course Pokémon as the core subject of this blog and those who feel a connection to it. For this year's occasion, then, I'd like to bring up the feeling of "comfort", for which some say it could be tied to certain beings or creatures - and thus the phrase mentioned in the title. It also becomes relevant to Pokémon, given the "creature" aspect.

For the phrase, many fans of Pokémon will no doubt feel comfort with their favorite creatures beside them in both action (through the games and such) and inaction (by just being there, like with merchandise). That may have some romantic overtones in some cases, given the penchants of some fans and especially for this particular day, but otherwise the pleasurable aspect may be the only thing that is apparent, and that seems fine for them.

Then there is the aspect of creatures seeking comfort with one another. Some Pokémon species are evidently related to others, and aside from the potential conflicts that may arise, it is possible that at least some harmony can also manifest by their presence in togetherness. That's something ideal to see on any given day, but even more so for this particular day.

If there is any suggestion from both cases above, it is that comfort is important for both creatures and people. In that case, the feeling is one that may just manifest in all the right ways when the Pokémon and the people allow that to come to be.

On this day and even with the state of the (Pokémon) world, there is no time - better and/or more at that - to seek comfort and rightfully so for people and Pokémon alike.

Happy Valentine's Day, and may fans (and creatures) find some comfort wherever they are.

Nine years ago: It's Valentine's Day!
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, February 13, 2026

Simple Pokémon Things

A lot of things in today's world are complex, including some for Pokémon. Much can also be discussed about them, but that's not the point of this post. Instead, the point of it is to discuss the things that are much simpler than those things, which I'm sure that many fans like me can and will be able to appreciate in addition to those complex things. They also span the gamut of the franchise since it itself does span a gamut of things, not to mention the complexity.

In the games, being able to have all the Pokémon that one can get and then enhancing them comfortably could be considered the simplest thing for any player, regardless of effort and possibly the associated funds that go into them. Further enhancement is more of a complex matter, but to have and enhance comfortably is at the least a precursor to that, so the simplicity of this situation is to be appreciated for the first step to more complicated dealings.

Meanwhile, in the realm of merchandise, being able to have whatever merchandise one can get and fits whatever one's situations may be is conceivably not all that complex; it's when they start incrementing that it might approach the complicated territory. Even with many or few of the items, it might not be that hard to place them wherever they're suitable, and with that, the enjoyment may come as simple as obtaining the merchandise items in the first place.

For Pokémon entertainment, having access to them wherever one may be and enjoying whatever that appears - like certain episodes of the anime, or music pieces related to this or anything else about Pokémon - might just be simple enough in a lot of cases. The few cases that aren't simple may provide a conundrum, but once the access is assured, then the simplicity of enjoyment remains for whatever form of Pokémon entertainment is at hand.

Perhaps the simplest takeaway from all of these simple things is that Pokémon enjoyment can be simple in all its kinds of ways, and putting in a bit of effort might add to that simplicity - hopefully before things get too complicated. Again, that's a matter that is better reserved for a different time and place, but any current time and place can and should deserve all the simple Pokémon things above for those who seek enjoyment from them in simple ways as well.

Five years ago: The Love Cup of GBL
Six years ago: What to Nominate
Seven years ago: Cryptic Pokémon
Eight years ago: Two Games at Once?
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Thursday, February 12, 2026

"What's Your Favorite?"

This year's Pokémon anniversary is coming up fast, so this is a good time as any to deal with its particulars. One of them is a recently launched campaign that deals with the species that fans like and enjoy, which would of course be their favorites; accordingly, the campaign is called "What's Your Favorite" to reflect the breadth of possibilities for all kinds of Pokémon fans. It also has a few niceties all around, so it deserves a discussion for all the things that it offers and how they're relevant to fans and the upcoming anniversary.

Kicking off the campaign was a promotional video and essentially an advertisement, as it was shown during the prime spectacle of American football that is the Super Bowl - a rarity for Pokémon itself. The video is star-studded with all kinds of celebrities showing off their favorite Pokémon species, including Lady Gaga, Charles Leclerc, and Tyler Norton. After the occasion, the video became available to be viewed through social media for fans around the world to enjoy and delight along with their favorite celebrity of choice.

Another way that fans can enjoy the campaign is through participating in it, by using Pokémon Go. The game now has a function that allows a Trainer to take snapshots with whatever their favorite Pokémon may be and to add a tag for that purpose. Doing so also awards bonuses through a Special Research set, which can be claimed after perusing the function... which can only happen for those whose devices support AR+, so those who don't have such devices may not necessarily be able to make their contributions for this.

Outside of Pokémon Go, Pokémon Center is gearing up for the campaign by allowing online store users to have avatars of their favorite Pokémon, and the store itself is also promoting merchandise related to the favorites. For example, Lady Gaga's chosen favorite Pokémon is Jigglypuff, so all kinds of Jigglypuff merchandise are being promoted through the online newsletter edition that features her and her favorite. Of course, fans can and will surely shop for goodies that feature whatever their favorites may be.

Everyone and anyone who likes Pokémon will surely have their favorite Pokémon, especially so for as long as Pokémon has been around, with this year being a bit of a significant number of years for that concern. With that in mind, the concept of promoting fan favorites - particularly major fans among the very well-known of people - becomes very much relevant for the occasion of this anniversary (if not for any Pokémon anniversary in general), and fans will be able to fashion that relevance in any way they like.

Six years ago: Pokémon as a Study Aid
Seven years ago: A Pikachu Pillow Keychain
Eight years ago: Anywhere Is
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Quickies: Spirits of Setting Out

Something that may be inherent for many people involved with Pokémon is a spirit that incites or at the least inspires them for "setting out" or also "departure". Such a spirit may involve certain starting points or even midpoints like the "crossroads" that I incidentally also discussed last year on this day (see below). Even more than that, the idea can and would apply to the different people involved with it in different ways, which means different "spirits" as well. I thought I'd take a post to discuss and determine how that could be true for them. 

The different people would be the players (real people) and characters (imagined people) for whom the eponymous species relate. And for many of them, they'd also relate to the spirit of "setting out" likely involves actual movement from place to place, changing environments and certainly the Pokémon in them. It's a spirit that is constantly in flux, but for many of them, they wouldn't have it any other way, for it would be a realistic kind of "setting out". With Pokémon, that also means having many possibilities of their encounters.

Meanwhile, other people are certainly of the resident lot, and for them, their spirit of "setting out" may involve just the local places around them. Yet as anyone who lives with or around animals can attest, there's always something going on with them, so the "setting out" spirit involves facing the new challenges (or even some familiar ones) and continuing to deal with them. Thus, the Pokémon become the "animals" in this case, and the spirit can still apply, even for the most peculiar of ways - although the spirit itself is not as peculiar and just as strong.

Just the act of persisting in life takes a certain spirit of "setting out" to face all its dealings, and that may be even more so with a life that includes Pokémon. By moving from one place to another or letting time pass and doing something good with that time, a "departure" is achieved. It doesn't have to be a valiant one, and it would have to occur in all kinds of situations - perhaps by a certain suggestion - but "setting out" would still be on the order in some way. For fans of Pokémon, any of the forms it might take might just become the impetus for that.

One year ago: Pokémon Crossroads
Six years ago: To Eat and to Lure
Seven years ago: A Pidove Keychain
Eight years ago: Memories of Hoenn
Nine years ago: LINE Pokémon Stickers
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

The 2026 Go Championship Series Cup of GBL

Having discussed about (my) PvP moments in Pokémon Go, I thought I'd follow it up with a direct discussion about PvP itself, specifically a new "cup" or format that is introduced in this season's dealings for Go Battle League - something I haven't done in a long time. The new "cup" or format, as its title implies, is also set to become the one for the Championship Series of this year. It's an intriguing format for a fascinating setup, so I thought I'd deal with it and put up a bit of a discussion and analysis for it.

Compared to past years' mostly open-ish Great League format, this one introduces a lot of restrictions. It's still modeled on the Great League (CP 1500 or less), but now there are allowed and not allowed types: Normal, Bug, Dragon, and Dark are the former, and Flying, Fighting, and Steel are the latter. Pokémon of Legendary and adjacent classes (Mythical and Ultra Beast) are also not allowed, as are Mega Evolution. Further, four species (Froslass, Milotic, Politoed, and Seaking) are allowed regardless, and nine species (Crustle, Morpeko, and Wigglytuff among others) are outright banned. Its details already suggest a radical format, which may be what the competition needs to vary things up.

Bug types seem rather dominant for this format... and in fact, Spidops tops the list, with Ariados not far behind. A lot of species of the Normal and Dragon types also round out the top 20 or so, along with Seaking and Milotic as the best of the other inclusions. The Dragon types seem to make for pretty good leads, while the Bug types make for safeguards, and the Normal types can finish the job with all their varieties alongside their moves. This gives an indication of what teams to build using them, though as always Trainers can bring in their own selections for a little "variety" and "surprise".

For example, I've used Vigoroth, Ariados, and Malamar, and I've had a degree of success with them; I even came close to finding "mirrors" of this team. Of course, there's still some failures here and there for other reasons, so it may be worth it to try other team combinations, especially with what was suggested above.

With this new "cup" or format, the restrictions might seem somehow limiting, but it also does seem to allow a lot of creative freedom with what's available. Given its use as a Championship Series format, it becomes somewhat of a test for all the Trainers just battling casually under the format, as well as those who are actually using it competitively. Its purpose of weeding out the best of the best is surely quite evident for all.

Six years ago: On (No) Coincidences
Seven years ago: Cosplay: Tresno no Matsuri
Nine years ago: Space
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Monday, February 9, 2026

My Best Moments in Pokémon Go PvP

I rarely discuss Pokémon Go PvP nowadays not because I'm rarely involved in its relevant dealings (although that is still somewhat the case now), but more because I just rarely expose what I'm doing in regard to this aspect. Yet I can still assure that I'm still somehow involved with it, and for that, I thought I'd discuss some matters related to the aspect. One of those matters is something that reflects my involvement throughout many of the years I've dealt with the aspect.

That matter is the moments I've had while dealing with it, and not just any of them - in fact, they're the best ones I've had. Admittedly, these moments may be considered few in number, but what few there are, they're pretty significant and their quality can be considered to outweigh their quantity. They're also pretty memorable, which is also part of the prompt for making this post.

A great moment would certainly being able to contribute to my team victories in Factions when I was involved with them for a time. To do that with a nearly flawless record and to bolster the resulting point total is still a great feeling, one that I may never be able to replicate again given my lack of connection with all things Factions nowadays. It is still apt to remember the moments. 

Meanwhile, a more common moment, even nowadays, is to be able to make it through a battle that I thought was going to lose and just barely eke out a victory. Of course, the opposite happens just as frequently and are less apt for me, but the ones that result in the narrowest of victories (like through a last-moment attack) are the excellent ones that deserve commemoration.

Of less common moments, I like it when I can win a battle using common Pokémon against a team of all Legendary/Mythical Pokémon, which has in fact happened a few times, in particular in Master League. It's a kind of validation that sometimes I don't need to have any or all Legendary Pokémon and I can work with what's (more commonly) available, and it makes for a triumphant moment. 

For other Trainers, their "best moments" will surely be different, but for me, the above "best moments" encapsulate my Pokémon Go PvP experience, which has been quite the ride even now. Whether I deal with it frequently or rarely, at least some of these moments may appear to make a great time.

Three years ago: Pokémon Consulting?
Six years ago: Coming Up Roses
Seven years ago: Cosplay: Eien no Kiseki
Eight years ago: Seeking Confirmation
Nine years ago: Time
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Cosplay: Zettai Kizuna

Me: Back in the swing of things.

Ash: Oh, great! I was waiting for when you'd send me to something. 

Goh: But a break is always nice. 

Ash: Well, yeah - that too.

Goh: All right, so this is...

Me: A festival. A small one, but it's a festival. But it's a little bit far...

Ash: You're telling me! It was a bit outside your town.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["More than a bit."]

Goh: Where was it? 

Ash: In a park I've never been to.

Me: Neither have I - so that's why I thought I'd send you there. 

Goh: So, um... the schedule - which you just gave me - doesn't look all that fancy. DJ and dance groups were all the entertainment. 

Ash: Yup, I saw them. Not too fancy for me and our friend.

Goh: So, it must have been the character parade for you.

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["Well, of course!"]

Ash: Yeah! But... I didn't get anything. I even messed up a little.

Goh: Who were the other winners? 

Ash: Let's see... a yellow sword guy, a black armor guy, and a fighter guy were three of them.

Me: Sounds to me like we (and others) were just "entertainment" for them.

Ash: Yeah - I don't think even me being perfect in my Unova outfit would have helped.

Goh: Hmm, at least there was the park. Did you get to enjoy any of it?

Ash: It's a ~huge~ park, so I didn't go too far in it.

Pikachu: Chu~ pika! ["This~ big!"]

Ash: But I'll bet our friend would like to go in it on a normal day.

Me: Well, if the opportunity ever arises, then I'd certainly go there. It is, after all, somewhat far.

Goh: You'll make it a point somehow.

Me: Sure. In the end, today was just a "fun day" thing for us.

Ash: Even I went back early to you because of the distance.

Goh: Of course. That always matters somehow.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["What a way."]

Goh: Anything else our friend can tell us about this one?

Me: Well, the title means "absolute bond", so that might be a slight allusion to us.

Ash: Nice!

Me: And... this is likely the last one before a big rest period - though as with last year, there might be a couple parties and such.

Goh: Oh, OK. That means a big "break" for us. Also makes sense why you'd send Ash here.

Ash: Well, hey - great things all around. And I hope so for the "break" as well.

Me: You bet. It might just be an opportunity to "change up" the swing of things, in it and afterwards.

One year ago: Pokémon Food Memories
Six years ago: Memories and Mnemonics
Seven years ago: Pokémon Clocks
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Smashing the Pidgey Alarm

Something that I struggle with sometimes is waking up at specific times, even with alarms that are set for that purpose. At times I'd wake up as intended and be ready for those times, but at other times I'd miss the alarm completely, perhaps even by going back to sleep. This problem would certainly not be unique to me, as I'm sure others experience it as well. In fact, for those who know, it has a Pokémon instance with a very well-known character, being of course Ash from the anime - and it relates to a key element with a certain Pokémon flavor.

Ash has an alarm clock with a Pidgey motif, and as seen in two episodes of the anime, it was apparent that some vision in a dream caused him to think that it was a Poké Ball, leading him to pick it up and throw it against the wall as if it were one. The result is that the clock gets smashed, which invariably leads him to miss something important; the first time was the Pokémon camp, and the second was the first day of his Trainer career as the selection of his first partner. In some ways, it was as fortunate as it was grave.

In the times where I don't wake up as intended, I feel like I have effectively "smashed the Pidgey alarm" in both literal and figurative manners of speaking, even if the alarm doesn't have a physical manifestation like the alarm clock as mentioned above. Solutions to the problem may not come easily, although I can always prepare them preventively and curatively. Nevertheless, the end result of having a "smashed alarm" beside me just like Ash did with his in those situations can still present itself even imaginatively.

For as long as I need to wake up at precise times to do certain things, there's always the chance that I'd miss it by a little, for which I can easily regroup, or by a lot, for which the "smashed alarm" situation applies. It's a real struggle for many things, even some Pokémon things in real life, and it's a struggle that continues to manifest in different situations and ways related to them. Still, thinking about it in a Pokémon perspective just shows how universally applicable the situation is, even in its fantasy that may just translate to the reality.

Four years ago: All Star, All Pokémon
Six years ago: Turning Around and Back
Eight years ago: An Eye for Pokémon
Nine years ago: Conserve and Cooperate
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, February 6, 2026

The New Park Is Open

Good news for Pokémon fans: the new PokéPark Kanto, the actual real-life version in Japan as compared to games that bear the first word, is now open and fans are really enjoying it. I had already discussed many of its previewed details nearly half a year ago, and now I want to supplement those details by putting in additional tidbits that further highlight the attraction, certainly for the purpose of attracting more fans (and even me) to be able to go there.

Now, one novelty that has been recently highlighted for the new park is the park's own Pokémon Center - as in the facility that fans recognize for healing Pokémon. It's a model of the same facility found in the games, and it even comes with its own Nurse Joy and the interactive electronics that make the facility realistic as well as an experience by itself. Yet it's certainly part of the experience of the park, so one can't forget to enjoy the rest of the park along with this.

As for Pokémon merchandise that is encapsulated under the common modern understanding of Pokémon Center, the park has no short supply of them. But what might be in short supply is the cash that Trainers may have for and/or after buying them, since the merchandise has been reported to be somewhat expensive, even more so compared to a regular Pokémon Center. It seems prospective fans will need to reserve at least some cash to get at all the good stuff.

In order to enter the park, one needs to reserve tickets by the usage of a smartphone app designed for that very purpose. Yet it looks like fans will only be able to reserve tickets for the times farther ahead, since the times closer are already pretty much booked. And then there's all the necessary travel arrangements that are quite obvious even if left unsaid. Prospective fans will surely need to plan ahead in one way or another if they want to enjoy the park.

Celebrations for the new park are also in the games. Pokémon Unite has a Special Kanto Battle mode and event featuring a map that forces usage of Unite Licenses from Kanto, and Pokémon Go has raids that are to reward Trainers with special location backgrounds... or supposed to, as in typical fashion, there is a bit of a "kerfuffle" with it. Some form of in-game celebration is always in order, given the game roots of Pokémon and its continued appeal.

Of course, the real treat is certainly being able to make it to the park in person, which could be a little hard to come by, given the current circumstances and necessities for being able to do so. But once there, enjoyment is certainly the order of the day through the attraction that is the park and the goodies that can be obtained from being there. The park looks set to be a defining feature of Pokémon in real life, always something to seek for its most diehard fans.

Three years ago: Rise of the Watery Naiads
Six years ago: In My Full Time
Eight years ago: Life with My Raid Group
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Getting "Nutty" with Pokémon

For those in the know, there is a certain thing from the U.S. that is actually very popular around the world, including quite so in Japan and in a way sort-of rivaling Pokémon there. I'm not too involved with it, but just enough to know and be entertained by it. Even so, it might seem possible to discuss it in terms of Pokémon and the other way around - to discuss Pokémon in terms of it. So, I thought I'd go and do just that.

A key part of the "certain thing" is a boy and his dog, which I don't have to say is quite similar to the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. They certainly care about each other in many ways, and I mean that for both cases above. Yet they might differ at times and in some ways, but everything still works out in the end - at least mostly in the former case. The bond is evident in both, and so are the implications that arise.

In a way, the former's pair has been described to be the combination of the "everyman and ideal self", albeit separately. Retaining this line of reasoning for Pokémon, any character in its world, beyond Ash and Pikachu, can be taken as measures of both - although it has to be admitted that Ash does have a lot of that "everyman" quality and Pikachu shows a lot of "idealism" for what anyone, person or creature, can be.

Of course, the "certain thing" is not solely about them. They have their friends, and likewise for Pokémon, there are friends and comrades for every situation. The former can be likened to a smaller, close-knit version of Pokémon Masters EX that doesn't really expand but still has a lot of what is going on in that game. And what goes on is a lot of bonding as well as some friction, as is expected in any human life and relation.

Getting back to Ash and Pikachu, the former has a shirt that bears resemblance to one that is owned by the aforementioned boy, in a way furthering the connection between the two. And though the imagination of Pikachu isn't too unusual - aside from an attraction involving a certain kind of red bottle - the Pokémon benefits from the imagination of his Trainer, achieving feats in battle that may just be unbelievable for others.

The "certain thing" remains a fascination for those in Japan, just like how Pokémon has in turn become a fascination for those in the U.S. and all around the world. Behind that fascination (for either or both of these), it seems easy to draw some parallels between the two things to understand them by way of each other. That's not a "nutty" thing, even if that "certain thing" is, in a way, for all the (Pokémon) kids at heart in a "peanut gallery".

Five years ago: Get Your Game On, Go Tour
Six years ago: It's (All) About Time
Nine years ago: Itasha Revisited
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

The Expanded World of Adventure Effects

Since they were introduced around a couple of years ago in Pokémon Go, Adventure Effects have established themselves as a unique way of enhancing different aspects of the game. I also had posited back then that they could be expanded, and they have been... although the mannerism has been quite different in actuality than what I posited. Regardless, the content for explaining them is rather overdue, so I have to get on in explaining them somehow - and now that I've thought about them, it's pretty much time to do so.

The second batch of Adventure Effects was the product of Pokémon Go Fest later that year and corresponds to the moves of Sunsteel Strike and Moongeist Beam, which are obtained by fusing Necrozma with Solgaleo and Lunala respectively. These Adventure Effects are "Incense-like" in nature, allowing a Trainer to attract daytime Pokémon at night and vice versa, but they also allow time-based evolution that couldn't occur at that time to occur. The perks are pretty neat yet are also somewhat limited, although the moves themselves are useful beyond the Adventure Effects - so the perks being "add-ons" are welcomed. 

Next, the Fusion of Kyurem with Reshiram and Zekrom brought about the Ice Burn and Freeze Shock moves and their Adventure Effects. The latter two need to know their "Fusion" moves and the former needs to know Glaciate in order to result in the new moves. Their effects are also astounding: the latter freezes Pokémon in place (like an "always on" Nanab Berry) while the former slows down the capture circle for more precise throwing. These effects also affect "accessory devices", allowing easier captures even with their usage. With these effects, they can be said to be quite necessary to have - and so are the Fusion forms. 

As for the latest batch of Adventure Effects, they would be Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash, which were products of last year's Pokémon Go Fest with the dealings of Legendary Pokémon from the Galar region, as Zacian and Zamazenta. Changing them to their respective Crowned forms with them knowing Iron Head changes this move to the moves as mentioned. The Adventure Effects that pertain to these moves involve increasing Pokémon attack or defense in Max Battles, which may be somewhat useful in a pinch and especially when others are using them in tandem. It's safe to say that it's useful to have these.

One last Adventure Effect, also the product of the above event, belongs to Eternatus, whose Dynamax Cannon when activated strengthens Max Moves, especially ones that have been maxed out. It also costs a bit more resources than other Adventure Effects typically, but that's par for the course of the highly demanding Eternatus. Those who have this super-powerful Pokémon will conveniently have it, and those who don't might just be able to have it at some point in time, along with the Adventure Effect.

Evidently, the feature of Adventure Effects has come quite a way from when it was introduced the first time. The new effects since then are rather varied for the needs of Trainers and even in the scale of their helpfulness, but quite a few will certainly be helpful when Trainers might just need them the most. Expansion of the feature in all the mannerisms above reflects what the various species can do with their powers and how that can manifest for Trainers, who look to enhance their Pokémon Go progress with them. 

Six years ago: Lost Player Ties
Seven years ago: The False Gods
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Thoughts on Pokémon Masters EX

As I had mentioned, Pokémon Masters EX is one of the games that is evidently region-locking itself out of playability. One of these happens to be... my region, so I wanted to get in some playtime before the inevitable happens - and has happened as of about a week ago. I thought that after that I would then be able to write up a few things about the game, possibly in several posts, but it turns out I don't have enough for consideration of doing that. Instead, I'd like to just put down a few of my experiences and the associated thoughts with them.

I had actually tried to start playing the game even earlier, over a year before. Back then, I did get through the preliminaries with the bare minimum of downloaded game data, but because the rest of the game required a great deal of space beyond what I had (I was on a different device back then), I couldn't make further progress. Luckily, I also managed to bind the game data to my Nintendo Account so that I could jump back in whenever. This approach of "trial versioning" the game to prospective players is unique and laudable, and the binding of game data right away is a vital step that makes things easy - unless one didn't do it or forgot.

The bulk of the game, of course and as detailed early on, involves scouting for Sync Pairs - and "scout" means gacha, and a lot of that. "Freeloading" in this case may not necessarily be a good thing, and with all the paid options in the game, that seems overwhelming even if said Sync Pairs can still be gotten for free (at least just a number of them). As for those Sync Pairs, they're certainly some of the Trainers that fans know and love - even characters that some fans may not have thought of as Trainers. So, they're certainly appealing to Pokémon fans of all kinds and walks of life, even yours truly who doesn't care too much about the gacha part.

For the engagement, at least some of the story is captivating, with the Trainers being gathered on Pasio Island for what seems to be a time of R&R for them, but it turns out to become a struggle against others and the machinations of what brought them to the island in the first place. The storylines go deep and branch out, which is what I like, and I'm sure what others attracted to this game are looking for. It would take a lot of time to explore all the paths of those stories and get what (or who) is required for that purpose, but alas, time dictates (or dictated) how much I could explore in the game before time ran out for me to do so.

Overall, it seems likely that I'd dive into this game from time to time instead of incorporating it into my daily rotation of Pokémon games, and especially if it had been possible for me to delve into the game further with and during the time it was available to me. There may or may not be any indication that I'll ever be able to play the game again beyond the region-locking circumstances, but if that's even possible, then a few more posts about it might be expected on this blog. At least, the true masters that are the characters in this game may just agree.

Three years ago: TCG Live on the Horizon
Five years ago: Labyrinthine Expectations
Six years ago: Editing PokéStops
Seven years ago: Under a Truck
Eight years ago: Formality of Ownership
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Monday, February 2, 2026

Region-Locked Pokémon Games

In these days, Pokémon is practically everywhere, but gaming sometimes isn't. Some games in the bigger world of gaming are only available for purchase and/or play in specific regions of the world, making them "region-locked". Pokémon has largely escaped this problem with many of its games being available in many places, yet it's the part that "didn't escape" that's still a problem. For that, the topic seems to be appropriate and worth it to be discussed, being that it has already become quite applicable.

By now, an apparent one of these should be obvious: the TCGL game is in fact region-locked. The installer (on PCs) and app (for mobile) can only be downloaded from the regions where the game is available for play. Even if the game is somehow installed, the game will check for the location of the player, and if the location isn't in the play region, the game won't allow itself to be played. It's a frustrating one for players who need the virtual TCG implementation through this game and/or already active with it.

Less apparent is one of the currently active mobile games, as Pokémon Masters EX. The game has "shuttered" its service in many locations, and it is in fact the game I mentioned would be making a "precious departure". In doing so, the game is essentially locking itself out of certain regions, even though the game continues to be developed and to be playable in other places. There may be certain reasons for doing so, given the mechanisms of the game, but that may not matter to those who become unable to play again.

Meanwhile, although Pokémon Unite itself is not region-locked, some parts of the game are, can, and have been. Being Chinese-developed, it has a player base there, and it is apparent that the players there have their own server and they may or may not interact with those outside of that server. Then, a certain World Championship event in the past has had parts of it restricted only to certain players in the world, with others being able to play through the full event. The aspect is still evident, if only elementally.

As great as it is having Pokémon in all kinds of ways to play and enjoy it, the fact remains that it's still quite possible for certain Pokémon games to be restricted to certain players in certain places. That has evidently applied to the above games to certain extents, limiting those who can play the games (in whole or in part) by location. Even aspects that apply distinctly to other games can apply to Pokémon games as well, and in this particular case, it plays into and affects the quality of Pokémon being everywhere.

Two years ago: In a Trainer's Bag
Six years ago: Total Experience
Seven years ago: Legends Among People
Nine years ago: Pokkén Sentiments
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/1/2026

And, well, there is Community Day on the first of the month, the first regular edition with such a manner of featuring the event. Not exactly the first time would be the manner of the featured Pokémon species, but it's still a workable manner nonetheless. For those in the know, the species evokes "a song of ice and fire", but it has nothing to do with a battle for the seat of a kingdom; rather, it has a closer tie to a kind of "vixen" mythology, something that could become innate within someone's body.

With that, the featured species is Vulpix, both the Kanto and Alolan forms - thus, the "double-double" format. Either one certainly evolves to Ninetales of the respective (regional) form, and in the case of this edition, the Kanto form gets the Charged move of Energy Ball and the Alolan form gets the Charged move of Chilling Water. They're not same-type moves for their types, so they're more for coverage in the realm of PvP; in fact, the latter move has profound effects in PvP as demonstrated by its inclusion for Florges some time ago. The main bonus is triple XP, directed for those still on their leveling journey.

The remaining event bonuses are of the by-now standard variety: double Candy and Candy XL chance, three-hour Incense and one-hour Lure Modules with appearance bonuses, trade discounts and more Special Trades, photo bombs, and special backgrounds galore for both Vulpix forms. On the Research side, Field tasks are of the usual variety, though the catching task applied for both forms instead of either one; Timed tasks are gotten if one checked in (of course), and the paid Special Research set is titled "Icy and Spicy" for the qualifiers of both forms - not quite a song, but still entertaining.

Just as entertaining was my decision to do the same thing I had done in January for this edition of Community Day, to spend it with a few faraway Trainers, whom I am now finding to be a real pleasant bunch. I didn't catch as many Shiny forms today as I did last month, but the ones I got were a real treat, as was evolving them and others that I needed into Ninetales for certain purposes. Aside from this process, there was always the process of building up resources for possible future uses. This method and the faraway gathering can stand to be repeated whenever it's possible (and convenient) for me to do so.

On the matter of that "song of ice and fire", this species family with its regional forms - one set being the classically recognized one - is or has become innate with all Pokémon fans from the past to the present. They may have their own "songs" when put into battle, and the two new moves for them that are gotten from this edition of Community Day can just put a brand-new spin on their melodies. In the struggle of Pokémon battles, that may just be the song to listen to and counter as needed.

Three years ago: Pokémon Is... A Lifesaver?
Seven years ago: Wrap the Light Fantastic
Eight years ago: The Workings of Raids
Nine years ago: Poké Ball Food
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday, January 31, 2026

The State of Nominations, Part 38

It's January, so this month also begins the year's run-up of updates to the progress on my PokéStop nominations. It's a progress that is always inherently bittersweet due to its varied possibilities, both acceptance and rejection alike. Yet after a particularly bittersweet December (even more so, the couple months since the last update), it seems that this nomination update has (to) become bittersweet as well for its progress. Regardless, I have to make the update and see what I can glean from it for current and future progress in this area.

One bittersweet aspect is that my Accepted nominations have become stagnant at 191 from the last update. Then, my Not Accepted ones have increased by 2 to 71, which is arguably more "bitter" than sweet. Further, the most recent nominations to be rejected in this way became as such by what is apparently the automated process new to the system, even before others could vote on them. Of course, I could always put them up for renomination or appeal the rejection, but either way, they would involve serious considerations (more so the latter).

This situation also raises "red flags" for my nomination process, in that it might be risky for me to make nominations of "dicey" places, and the next ones that I make should be of "safe" places (and truly "safe" ones) like houses or places of worship, parks with evident signs, and absolutely unique and absolutely permanent places. It is quite possible that making "dicey" nominations could in fact affect my actual Pokémon Go progress, so now the "safe" nominations are preferred, as is just purely focusing on regular Pokémon Go workings.

Meanwhile, one sweet element is that I've been able to be informed about how my approved nominations have affected players of Pokémon Go and other games. Since October, a "monthly impact" newsletter has been e-mailed to me; the latest one for this month shows that there were 26948 visits by 1252 players in December to the waypoints from those nominations. From the first one, the numbers never went below 10000 and 1000 respectively, so this is rather impressive. This may be an inspiration to try to keep nominating when possible.

After many editions of keeping track of my nominations for PokéStops, one conclusion that I can draw is that the process is not always sweet, and there may be some bitter times alongside the sweet ones, like what is happening now. It's just something to be taken in stride in the bitterness of the moment, while knowing that existing contributions are already sweet and will still remain that way. The progress is ongoing and may need some careful considerations for the future, and bitter and sweet are always part of the equation.

Five years ago: Zorua in Mareep Clothing
Seven years ago: The Magic of 25
Nine years ago: It's Been a Month...
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Friday, January 30, 2026

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/30/2026

This month, Pokémon Go continues to pave the paths that are part of the season aptly called "Precious Paths" as such. After the paths of the end of the year in the previous month, it seems the events this month wants to take Trainers on paths that go over, under, and all around as they begin the year. As usual, that's evident in the events themselves and their content, and with the end of the month nearly at hand, it's definitely time to get the rollup for that rolling.

Kicking off the new year was the usual New Year's event, which actually began on December 31 as the new year is heralded, then ending on January 4. Along with a selection of hatted Pokémon from past years in the wild and raids, this time Blacephalon also took the stage in five-star raids, including for a New Year's Eve Raid Hour; it too gets a special move called Mind Blown, while Trainers can get an avatar item based on the species. Field Research from PokéStops had Stardust, while daily ones had an Incense or Lucky Egg. The event itself had bonuses of double XP and Stardust from raids plus increased chance of Shiny Pikachu with a hat, overworld fireworks, increased legacy Lucky Trades, and extra items and encounters by the paid Timed Research. For many, it may have been an "explosive" rolling start for the new year.

After rolling, Trainers had to get pinching in the Pinch Perfect event from January 6 to 11. The event served as the debut of Klawf as well as Shiny Delmise, two Pokémon that can get a grip on things. They're joined by other clawed and able Pokémon in the wild, raids, and Research; Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher were also of focus with increased Shiny chances for them as well as free Timed Research sets featuring each one every two days; the paid ones had more items and more encounters. Topping it all off were a double XP catch bonus and a Raid Day featuring Kyurem in its Fusion forms plus Reshiram and Zekrom on January 10 with all the usual features. The sharp features of the event may not have left Trainers "in a pinch".

But then, it may drive them to new heights, as through the High Zaptitude event from January 13 to 18. The Wattrel family became a debutant, while Shiny Tadbulb became a special feature, the latter in the wild, 2 km Eggs, and Field Research along with other Electric-type Pokémon while the former through Global Challenges that unlocked special bonuses alongside the debut appearances in the wild and Field Research. The paid Timed Research by the event's paid ticket brought about even more Egg-related bonuses as Trainers discovered what they need in order to soar high and zap powerfully like the debuting species family here.

Pets are precious in the real and Pokémon worlds, so there was the Precious Pals event from January 20 to 25 to honor them. Specifically, there was Shiny Fidough debuting, accompanied by other pet-like Pokémon species in the wild, 2 km Eggs, and Field Research - some of them also factoring into two Collection Challenges. Boosts were also in place for Shiny Goldeen and Fidough, as well as massive ones for Buddy Pokémon and several species that need to become one to evolve, particularly their requirements. Friendly bonuses were also in the paid Timed Research set. However, less friendly are Team Go Rocket, who made a takeover on January 23 onwards to the event's end, bringing with them Shadow Thundurus (Incarnate), some more Shadow species with a Collection Challenge for them, and the usual features, as well as a Shadow Raikou Raid Day on January 24. This event was therefore a real pet-filled whirlwind.

If two weeks prior Trainers went over, they then went under - Into the Depths - from January 27 until February 1. The Glimmet species family debuts in this event as it appears on Routes and Research (Field and Timed), while the wild, 7 km Eggs, and other Research aspects have Pokémon that are characteristic of caves. The exploration aspect is bolstered by a triple XP bonus, paid Timed Research Egg bonuses, and a big glimmer in the sky with a Battle Weekend for Dynamax Ho-Oh on January 31 and February 1. It's a deep and broad scope for them.

Even as Trainers go over, under, and all around through the various paths of the events in the second month of this season, they might just be able to grasp certain senses of "precious" that apply to those events. That might very well be the most important thing for them, aside from participating in the events as much as possible and capturing the Pokémon that they offer.

Six years ago: Bringing It Home
Seven years ago: Three TCG Booster Packs
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Pokémon in 60 Seconds?

Nowadays, Pokémon has a lot going for its numerous aspects, if many of the posts on this blog are of any indication. It can be pretty hard to condense anything that pertains to them into a very short amount of time (like 60 seconds or 1 minute) for certain purposes (like to show off the franchise to the uninitiated). Yet if that were to happen, the results could be rather varied in form but remain attractive for all those who are concerned. With that, I thought I'd make a discussion out of it to see how things might just work out for the effort.

Part of the inspiration for this is that a real long time ago, certain campaigns got creative by including the concept for "60-second movies". They claimed that the people receiving them would get the gist of a movie (or even a show) with relevant dialogue within that stretch of time. This might be something that one could try to apply for the episodes and movies of the Pokémon anime, and the results could be interesting, at least for those who only need the gist - while the rest of the people and fans would probably prefer to watch them in full instead.

Meanwhile, closer to the present, challenges were given to two people to see who could point out specific things appropriately and answer certain questions correctly. The same challenges could be adapted for Pokémon with its multitude of aspects, and the result has to be as entertaining as the challenges in their original form. It might also resemble a certain newly established Pokémon game show and could be made an offshoot of that game show... although it may be more appropriate to let the challenges stand on their own for their sake.

In the simplest of ways to encapsulate Pokémon within 60 seconds, descriptions could be made for certain aspects about them. For example, a question like "what is Pokémon really all about" could demand that an answer be given within that time, and a viable part of that answer - at least based on my views - could involve the "four pillars" that I described such a long time ago, while also including the relevant points about the eponymous species and any other features that can stand to be included within that short (or not) amount of time.

A certain famous figure once said that of timespans that are seemingly very short, they can still be longer than one thinks they are. This certainly might apply well to a span of 60 seconds, which might conceivably fit a lot of things from actions to explanations. With all the things that it has going on, Pokémon could be construed to have a lot of them, and several different kinds of them could be made to fit within 60 seconds, if any of the above points may be considered. For the short and long of it, 60 seconds for Pokémon may just be enough for its multitude.

Three years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 7.5
Six years ago: Expecting the Contrary
Seven years ago: Color Me (Shiny) Groudon
Nine years ago: Fire Power!
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Analyzing the Traffic for My Blog

Dedicated readers will know that I sometimes discuss "meta" content related to this Pokémon blog itself in addition to actual Pokémon content, and this time I thought I'd post another one relating to the former. It concerns the traffic that comes to (and views) this blog, which is undoubtedly important for any site, even this one on my corner of the Internet. Using the information that I obtain from the Stats section of the site management for this blog, I'd like to discuss some particular points of interest about the traffic to this blog.

It should be noted that I can analyze traffic from the periods from a certain time in the past up to the now, although I can't analyze periods that don't involve the now. For this discussion specifically, though, I'd also like to place focus on the overall all-time traffic from the start when this blog was created to the now - although I can also point out specific trends within some specific times in that entire period, which should be just as fascinating as the overall traffic itself. Of course, all this can be tied back into Pokémon somehow.

Now for the pertinent stuff. For views, this blog was relatively "sleepy" from its start in 2017 up until mid-2024 when the views suddenly surged to many thousands, the highest around the end of last year entering this year. Even so, most of that view traffic has been indicated to come from an unknown source (or sources), so I can't exactly point out what they were for. A lot of the view traffic, however, is indicated to come from search engines and social media, which means that at least some people are actively seeking Pokémon content, finding my blog in the process, and then referring back to the content in it in some way.

As well, I can point out the origins of those views. To this point, one-third of the views were identified as coming from Singapore, which is notably the home of Brandon Tan as the prime Pokémon Go player... but the views may have more obscure origins and not be necessarily related to either Brandon Tan or Pokémon Go, the latter still a frequent topic of discussion here. The rest of the views are from my resident country (of course), the U.S., other identified countries, and other unidentified ones, each of them roughly in one-sixth amounts. That may or may not mean something for Pokémon fans in all of those regions.

Meanwhile, the topic of what are those views were viewing - as in, the posts on this blog - is also a pertinent one for this discussion... but I feel like this could be siphoned into its own post because of its rather broad scope and great relevance for many more Pokémon things, particularly the ones associated with those posts. So, I expect the discussion for this one to be made whenever, especially at the point "whenever" becomes relevant.

Even now, traffic is vital to any web site, including this little one - well, maybe not so little now - about all kinds of Pokémon things and how I deal with all of them in some way before writing and showing them off here. With the way that the blog is going, at least some traffic may be expected to come to it for all the posts that I've made and continue to make, and that could become the impetus for including a lot more Pokémon things.

Three years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 7.5
Six years ago: Expecting the Contrary
Seven years ago: Color Me (Shiny) Groudon
Nine years ago: Fire Power!
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

New "Rare" Items in Café Remix

In a recent update, Café Remix revamped the look of its Delivery feature while also adding something else on top of that. That "something else" would be a couple of items that may be classified as "rare" items, which like their main series archetype (as the Rare Candy) provides a supplement for enhancing Pokémon. I thought I'd discuss those "rare" items since they seem rather fascinating for the items themselves and what they supplement.

The first is the Almighty Macaron, which of course supplements the Macarons of various Pokémon types here and can be used in place of them if one is short. Even so, a player will still need to obtain other Macarons each day from the Daily Tasks since these are more readily available, in effect saving these only for emergencies. At least, the newly introduced item is quite supplementary in its regard.

Next, there is the Classic Kitchen Note, which supplements the various kitchen notes for different Pokémon, making this item the first of this kind of item to be introduced after a long absence. Yet it doesn't exactly supplement, as practical usage of kitchen notes would require quite a bit more than one, and one of these may not cut it, with or without possession of the non-"rare" kitchen notes in the first place.

Both of these new items are in fact obtained by Delivery: by paying Golden Acorns for making deliveries or making the daily one, these items are obtained in alternating fashion after every 50 deliveries. Since delivery by tickets don't count, one has to spend the currency or else be patient to get these new items. It's a bit of an implicated pay-to-win situation given the means, and it's not necessarily easy for players to be on top of it. 

As functional as they are, the "rare" items remain "rare" by the way they are obtained and how they function. At least in some ways, their necessity of functioning to supplement existing items for supplementing Pokémon in Café Remix is welcomed and can already be useful right away, even if "right away" means making extensive use of the Delivery feature. The items may just suit the circumstance of the feature renewal and players' states.

Two years ago: Your Journey - A Poem
Six years ago: Spinning Like a Spinda
Seven years ago: The Cards, Revisited
Eight years ago: Changes
Nine years ago: A Loss Is... A Loss?
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Monday, January 26, 2026

My Favorite Vivillon Patterns

Vivillon is an occasional discussion topic on this blog, but it's a fascinating one with regard to anything about Pokémon. The fascination certainly comes from all the different patterns that make the species what it is. It would be expected, then, that some fans might have different preferences for these patterns, and in fact I do too. With that, I thought I'd discuss my own preferences, as the patterns I'm fond of - else, my "favorites".

I actually have a fondness for the Meadow pattern, even if it may be considered the pattern that is "archetypal" of the other patterns. Its design is plain with its pink motif, but I find that a charm considering that other Vivillon patterns may be considered somewhat complex and "busy". Sometimes, simple is best, and the Meadow pattern has that going for it, which also may provide support for its "archetypal" status.

Then, I also like the Marine pattern. In part, the same quality that applies to the Meadow pattern also applies to this one: it's simple (but blue instead of pink) albeit having less of an "archetypal" quality. It's also similar to certain blue and white butterflies in the real world, so there is an element of realism inherent in the pattern - something that also applies to the next one. It's still a pretty nice pattern overall.

As one more pattern that I'd like to mention, the High Plains pattern has its realism by being somewhat in close resemblance to the real-life monarch butterfly, being orange in color and thus true to at least one root of the inspiration for the species. Incidentally, the real butterfly itself resides close to the area where the pattern is found in Pokémon Go, so all of the inspirational characteristics are tied together.

Lovely as they are, Pokémon fans will certainly find some Vivillon patterns to be ones they're most fond of, and the three I mentioned above are mine. The "threads" that tie them together are of simplicity and realism, and those are great characteristics that make things fascinating. Fascination will surely be a present quality for any Pokémon species, not just Vivillon, but it has to be admitted that this species seems quite emblematic of that.

Five years ago: Unity Power
Six years ago: Cosplay: Aishiteru Minna
Seven years ago: SwitchCon
Eight years ago: Private vs. Public Raids?
Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Cosplay: Cosplay Expo Pre-Event

Me: And... this one's different beyond different. 

Goh: It's an "expo"! So... probably like a convention but more.

Me: Yeah, you can say that. I'm told this is the creation of an out-of-town organizer who wants to see big things happen for characters [OOC: cosplay/cosplayers]

Ash: Oh, so that's why the "pre-event" thing.

Me: Pretty much. Also, I have to say that this is (was) a two-day thing, but for convenience, I've decided to cover it all today. That said, you were there yesterday...

Ash: Yeah! I saw a few of your friends for some time, and then I went to raid for Shadow Raikou and then back to you for something you needed help on.

Goh: Oh, I guess that could explain why too.

Me: Yes, um... Anyway, today it's mostly full for this...

Ash: ...but I was hunting for Shadow Chespin around the area too! It took a long time.

Pikachu: Pika pika? ["Too long?"]

Me: [sigh] Lots of things happening this weekend. Anyway, what did you see?

Ash: There were lots of stands for goodies, and a few of your character friends opened booths.

Goh: Didn't our friend say that he wanted to do the same for you?

Me: I really wanted to, but I'm still busy with something very important and ongoing, so I just couldn't make the effort. But I promise at some point it can and should happen.

Ash: I heard you should, from one of your character friends.

Me: See what I mean? That's for when things can happen.

Goh: By the way, it's a character convention, so it's got to have competitions, right?

Me: Of course it does! There was a character parade... but that was yesterday, and the raids happened at the same time, so that's a struggle.

Ash: There was a performance one today.

Me: That's even more of a struggle that I really mean to take on but I haven't been able to for various reasons, technical or otherwise. I'm really, really sorry.

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["You can do it!"]

Goh: We'll be waiting for you. Oh, and how about entertainment?

Me: Based on the schedule, it was dance groups and DJs. 

Ash: I saw them today!

Me: There you go.

Goh: And... I guess the rest of today was about our friend's friends.

Ash: You bet!

Me: Hey, that's better than nothing. All the same, I still we (I) could have done more.

Ash: Maybe you'll get a chance when this is in the faraway place.

Goh: Oh! So you mean this convention is a series? As the "pre-event" for the big thing?

Ash: Seems like it, from what I was told.

Me: That's pretty nice. So, I'll see if I can plan out some things.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu. ["It should happen."]

Goh: After all that, I guess we could say this one has some good things going on.

Me: Especially for what they're promising next.

Ash: Let's see if we can make good things happen!

Goh: I'm rooting for you two all the way. 

Me: We'll see. At that point, it would really be time to "expose" ourselves.

Ash: And our big things.

Me: True, that.

Nine years ago: Keychains!
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)