Pokémon Paths on Water

There are two ways of interpreting "paths on water": it could be a track on land (or other surfaces) that is bordered by water on two sides, or it could be a course that is fully or almost fully present on water. Both of these "paths" are present in the real world in various guises. Since the Pokémon world is based on (or a mirror of) the real world, it is conceivable that they would also be present there - and in fact, they are. For that reason (and one more), it seems apt to try to make a discussion out of them somehow, which this post attempts to do.

For the first kind, some examples are noticeable across various regions in the Pokémon world. The causeways on the eastern side of Kanto are particularly long instances in this regard, while the one in the Hoenn region for a pond between Petalburg City and Rustboro City is a shorter one. Then there are the strips of land under the Cycling Road in the latter region, serving as the alternate track (for non-cyclists, especially) to that venue. These paths definitely cross or pass through water and thus satisfy one of the interpretations of the phrase above.

Meanwhile, the second kind is particularly evident for the first few early regions where one is expected to have a Pokémon that knows the Surf move for carrying the Trainer across water (and a requisite Gym badge to be able to do so) to go through various region portions that are almost completely over water - termed "sea routes". Later regions don't follow the mechanic as much, although Alola does allow actual surfing to be able to travel across certain islands. In a way, you see the path when you see them, a concept that does take some effort to grasp.

What about the phrase itself? Well, for me, that's evocative of a musical piece with the exact same title by Yanni, an artist I'm obviously fond of. It's actually a fast-sounding piece that could be construed as a remix of another one of his pieces, which I might or might not get to on this blog at a later point in time. The vision that I have is a dynamic one of literally hopping across water, which is evocative of traversing the "sea routes" as above. Then again, it is also very much evocative of the surface paths as explained; in either case, Pokémon can play into that.

"Paths on water" do conjure up certain images and interpretations, particularly for traveling over them; they're certainly likely to appear in some places where bodies of water are present, and moving over them might be literally and figuratively quick, as quick as the sound of the mentioned musical piece. And in all of this, Pokémon can become relevant by the presence of such paths in the world as well as the imagery of being with them on these paths according to the circumstances. It's a vivid and lively one for Pokémon fans, and especially me.

One year ago: Pokémon and (Other) Sports: New Inroads

Two years ago: The Profile of My Saved WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

Three years ago: Silph Arena Web Site Quirks

Four years ago: All the Trainers Are Nemesis

Five years ago: Moody Friends, Moody Pokémon

Six years ago: The Primary Warning of Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (and Nothing), 4/4/2019

Eight years ago: Gambling Not Permitted

Nine years ago: One Thing

Quickies: Washed-Out Altaria

Many fans will recognize the "cotton bird" that is Altaria as the evolved form of Swablu. It's certainly an impressive-looking creature with its wings that are literally made of "fluff". Despite that being the case, what may be less known is that those wings can actually be quite delicate; said wings can actually lose their fluff when exposed to water (and particularly a lot of that), making it and the Pokémon seem "washed-out" as a result.

This situation has in fact been depicted in the anime at one point in time. An Altaria was shown as having been exposed to a lot of water, turning its wings from a fluffy wonder to a limp shade of itself. Understandably, the wings had to go through a drying process in order for them to return to their glorious appearance, and the situation becomes a practical confirmation of a Pokémon oddity that may or may not be known by many.

Meanwhile, as a more sentimental and personal relation to this phenomenon, at times I feel like a "washed-out" Altaria myself, in the sense that I feel like I was flushed with great quantities of water spiritually or figuratively, and not in a good way either. Like the actual Altaria being incredibly moistened with that water, I'd have to go through the "drying process", which may not necessarily be simple or brief according to the situation.

The example of Altaria losing the fluff in its wings due to exposure to lots of water may seem comical at the surface, but beyond that, it can be rather serious for real Trainers who possess this very species in this world. Dealing with it could be an effort in itself, analogous to dealing with feelings of figuratively going through the same thing. At least, Altaria remains majestic even with this situation and conundrum that could make it less so.

One year ago: A Unite's Dozen of Victories

Two years ago: Three Pokémon Visions in Dreams

Three years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Sac and The City (SA Factions)

Four years ago: The Type Is Wild

Five years ago: Cosplay: "How Are You, Communities?"

Six years ago: Subcultures and Specialties

Seven years ago: Pokémon and eSports

Eight years ago: Fondness for Latias and Latios

Nine years ago: A Story of Love, A Story of Passion

April Fool's Day 2026: A Shade of Difference

March goes and April comes, bringing with it that tricky day known as April Fool's Day. As is typical of today, there are certain shenanigans for various things, including Pokémon. Over the course of many years, those shenanigans have surely become differentiated in many ways, and this year wouldn't be an exception to that. For this year's occasion, that seems to make a good point for discussion... along with how that may be reflected in certain "shades" that apply to people, Pokémon, and everything in between.

Surely it is obvious that people and Pokémon are all different, even among those who share a common element; as examples, that would be background for people, and type for Pokémon. The "shades" then could be their colors - in a literal sense of the word - as well as the features that they possess, like for outfits and such (also in a different literal sense). That's more of a material for a typical day, so for a bit of a silly day like today, something else has to play into that and the happenings to make them "shenanigans". 

For that, the "shades" have to be things that make them stand out in all their silliness and present considerations for what they mean to them. There will always be reasons for this, of course, but then the reason of today being April Fool's Day might just make things stand out and be meaningful even more to the parties of concern. Pokémon elements can present such a potential, especially if prior years are considered.

Now, today's "differences" are best addressed, like in previous years, with a talk about them with some familiar parties for that case:

Ash: Hey, it looks like there's a Mimikyu nearby!

Me: Hey, thanks! I'll go catch it. 

Goh: Ooh. It looks like Pikachu, but then there's something inside there.

Ash: You don't want to know.

Goh: Absolutely.

Pikachu: Pi pika... [shudders] 

Me: And, well, since you're here, how about you raid for Regidrago?

Ash: I did just that - but I didn't get a Shiny one. Or anything special.

Me: Huh. I guess there are tricks afoot with the raids.

Goh: I think they're tricky, whether on this tricky day or not.

Ash: I know! One of them even ran away.

Me: I suppose that's what makes things different.

Ash: And then there was Pikachu and Mimikyu appearing at the same time in the same hour!

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["Hey, hey!"] 

Goh: It really is a tricky day this year!

Ash: Some things just don't change.

Me: But a little difference like Mimikyu this year is always nice. 

Well, it seems the "shade of difference" for this year has become evident. But whether they're "tricky" or "shady", some differences keep things going and may just something to think (and talk) about for all the forms they can take for Pokémon and beyond.

Happy April Fool's - it's a tricky and different world out there, now and ever.

One year ago: April Fool's Day 2025: Balls for You and Me

Two years ago: April Fool's Day 2024: Making Good (Excellent?) on Things

Three years ago: April Fool's Day 2023: For the Birds

Four years ago: April Fool's Day 2022: Life in Duplex

Five years ago: April Fool's Day 2021: Aipom Business

Six years ago: April Fool's Day 2020: Truth in a Post

Seven years ago: April Fool's Day 2019: Objectivity and Subjectivity

Eight years ago: April Fool's Day 2018: Stepping Back, Moving Forward

Nine years ago: It's April Fool's Day!

The State of Nominations, Part 39

Meanwhile, for this edition of updating what's going on with my PokéStop nominations, I thought I'd do things a little (well, somewhat) differently from previous updates. Given the way that things have been somewhat recently, I'm going to update on them mostly philosophically rather than objectively, but still with reference to what has gone on with them. It's also been a somewhat questionable time for those nominations, so this update is a further "stepping back" since the last update for the consideration of the aspects that apply to them.

Considering the very many nominations that I've made (over 250 in all, both Accepted and Not Accepted), I do believe that I've stayed within the corridor of what makes them fit as waypoints and therefore PokéStops in Pokémon Go - furthermore in other games that draw elements from the same system. The ones that are (were) Accepted should exemplify that quality to a great extent, while the Not Accepted ones can (may) be considered as attempts to "bend" the corridors a bit while still staying within them - despite the unsuccessful results. The system has to become the "proving ground" in this regard as best as it possibly can.

For the objectivity, I can still provide the monthly impact numbers for January (informed in February) and February (informed in March - this month). For the former, there were 23863 visits by 1119 players, and for the latter, there were 32207 visits by 1286 players. Those are still impressive numbers by a long shot, and they ought to be a further affirmation of the quality of the waypoints as I have detailed above. Whatever it takes to maintain and even increase those numbers is going to have to be determined by how I continue to deal with the nomination system - as well as how that system deals with me and other players.

Having dealt with the PokéStop (and waypoint) nomination system for the better part of many years, it can be said that there have been many ups and downs. Right now, there is a lot of the latter and a little of the former, and that is very well reflected in how I'm dealing with writing up the status for that, as I usually and regularly do on this blog. Something will have to give way, certainly, for further advancements and improvements to that, and they'll still hold both philosophical and objective answers as the process continues.

One year ago: Thinking About... Us

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/31/2024

Three years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 21

Four years ago: Consume and Create

Five years ago: "New Daybreaks" for Pokémon

Six years ago: The Long-Winded Side of Things

Seven years ago: Cosplay: ONEGAI Bunkasai 2019 - Eiyuu no Uprising

Eight years ago: Mauville's Progress

Nine years ago: Nostalgia: Episode 672 - "Here Comes the Trubbish Squad!"

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/30/2026

For the first event rollup of this season, it's also wise to precede it with a foreword. Along with the changes as mentioned for the daily sub-events, a few changes have also been set "in motion" for those events, seemingly measuring up to the season's moniker of memories also being "in motion". So, as it stands, a lot of things do seem to be on the move this season, including the events in the first month to be rolled up below.

With regard to those changes, certain events will now have Go Passes associated with them, certainly with free and deluxe tracks. The latter of these, as the paid track, also replaces event tickets that used to accompany them, meaning more rewards and regular ways to obtain them. If they don't, they will be noted accordingly, and if they do, the rewards will be explained briefly - which will be the case for this and future rollups. And then there's the regular weekly structure of them... which is evident even way before this season.

Now, kicking off the season was the 30th Anniversary event from March 3 to 9, certainly for Pokémon in general. The main part of the event covered the Kanto region, with almost all of them appearing in the wild (with some Ditto surprises), aside from regionals and "super" Legendary ones. Raids featured Pikachu with Trainer caps and evolved first partners from this region, and Field Research featured select encounters and nifty items. The event also had a Go Pass of 100 ranks mostly filled with Pokémon encounters from said region plus some Candy and increased catch XP (Tier 1) and catch Candy (Tier 2). This event's "Community Saturday" - a sub-event called "All Out" - also extended over the weekend, featuring Incense that could attract almost any kind of Pokémon, save "special", regional, and some Mythical ones. They were also complemented by raids of Pikachu with Trainer caps (all of them) plus selections of Legendary, Mythical, and Ultra Beast Pokémon, and furthermore with 2 km Eggs full of "baby" Pokémon. It was a total celebration in every sense, especially for all kinds of Pokémon.

Since the new game was released, there was also the Pokémon Pokopia Celebration event from March 10 to 16. Ditto is the star of that game, so the event has it as a feature, with new outfits and backgrounds as well as changing into different Pokémon. Those Pokémon are some of the ones also featured in the game, with highlights for Sudowoodo and Zorua (in the wild with increased Shiny chance) as well as Lapras, Snorlax, and Dragonite (in raids and Field Research with backgrounds). The rest of Research comprise Field and Timed tasks with items and encounters, along with Collection Challenges for some more encounters - but no Go Pass in this instance. Rounding out the event are bonus XP for spinning PokéStops, a mask avatar item, and commemorative stickers for the occasion of the release of this fascinating new game.

Bug-types are the regular feature of the Bug Out event, which returned from March 17 to 23. This one featured the debut of the Blipbug species family (mostly through raids) and the usual cavalcade of species of this type - all in the wild, raids, and Field Research. For this iteration, three species (Paras, Cutiefly, and Combee) were specially attracted along with Sizzlipede to Lure Modules over two-day periods for each, and the former three had increased Shiny chances. Meanwhile, this event also featured a Go Pass of 60 ranks with items and encounters, plus bonuses of double catch XP (Tier 1) and increased catch Candy (Tier 2). For the "Bug Catchers", this iteration of the event was also a "commotion in motion".

This time and onwards, I'll also roll up "Community Saturdays" on their own (other than Community Days) if they don't pertain to specific events like the anniversary event as above. The pertinent ones for this month are the Water Research Day on March 21 featuring Lotad, Feebas, and Clamperl - a "replay" of the very first one that happened many years ago - and a Battle Day for Gigantamax Pikachu on March 28 with increased MP collection limits and bonus paid items. There was definitely a "memory in motion" and something larger than life (in a way) in these other "Community Saturdays" in the month.

Having set into motion changes alongside the expected movement, the events that kick off the season in this month are somewhat indicative of all that can go on with Pokémon (now in Pokémon Go), both retrospectively and prospectively. In that sense, they make for some good memories that will stand the test of this season and surely be carried onwards.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/30/2025

Two years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 27

Three years ago: Adjudication for PvP Tournaments

Four years ago: More on Wayfarer (and Links to Pokémon Go)

Five years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: Beckoning Specials

Six years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 3

Seven years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Cup

Eight years ago: Lugia Raid Burnout

Nine years ago: Ice Is Nice with Pokémon

Pokémon Sacrifices

It has been confirmed that a potential (and personal, for me) Pokémon opportunity will be in conflict with another Pokémon opportunity, one that is more long-standing and will probably work out better for me than the one that will conflict with it. As such, in order for me to be able to take part in either one - even if the conflicting one is of great interest - one of them needs to be "sacrificed". The situation and its demands present a point to be discussed, and that can extend into other points of "sacrifices" for and involving Pokémon. 

Now, that Pokémon opportunity has always involved a degree of sacrificing a little (OK, maybe quite a bit of) time and perhaps money, yet at the same time - more recently in fact - it also has involved sacrificing myself (socially) in the presence of other people. With that being the case, there is a sort of reluctance to take the opportunity for the social sacrifice that it might incur. Meanwhile, the other Pokémon opportunity has had less sacrifice of time, money, and social concerns, but it might present a sacrifice of other, bigger things instead. Yet given the above, better workings might not be something to be sacrificed for things.

Meanwhile, my dealings with Pokémon may have involved sacrifices for certain things at certain moments (one of them may be something that happened several years ago), even if I don't consider the dealings as actual "sacrifices". Even so, certain efforts may still demand sacrifices of some sort - again most likely time and money - and that's just something that I have to balance. What's somewhat clear is that Pokémon itself is hard for me (and likewise other fans) to sacrifice, since I keep coming back to it and it's a source of a lot of good things, and in that way some Pokémon things just don't apply by this very regard.

All this talk about sacrifices also brings to mind a certain song with the keyword by one artist I enjoy listening to. Its lyrics convey matters that relate to romance, but generally interpreted, there is a certain applicability of it to the Pokémon matters conveyed above:

And it's no sacrifice

Just a simple word

It's two hearts living

In two separate worlds

But it's no sacrifice

No sacrifice

It's no sacrifice at all...

-- "Sacrifice", Elton John

The "two hearts" and "two worlds" as in this quoted chorus of the song may refer to both fans and non-fans of Pokémon alike. In that respect, the alignment of them with regard to matters of Pokémon may then be the determinant of what makes up the "sacrifice".

Even if there is still some time for me to make up my mind regarding the opportunities that I had mentioned above, the sacrifice is still certain for (one of) them. Yet for Pokémon, some things may just be better off, in appearance or otherwise, if they are allowed to pass... which is another remnant of the song above. The best Pokémon opportunity is then what works out for me and others in a good way - and that is something not to be sacrificed.

One year ago: The State of Nominations, Part 33

Two years ago: New Gatherings for Blessings and Success

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/29/2023

Four years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 15

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Regional Event Rollup

Six years ago: Pokémon Go: A Drive to Investigate

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/29/2019

Eight years ago: Takara Tomy Pokémon MonCollé Friends: Pikachu

Nine years ago: Pokémon Mechanical Fan

Cosplay: SB Urban Fest

Me: OK, break's over - now it's time for some great festivals, conventions, and such. 

Ash: Starting with this one!

Me: Well, yes. It's kind of far away and it's a bit short, but you'll find that it's worth it.

Goh: You must have a reason for that. 

Ash: Our friend told me to go to a mall first... to play a dance game and to battle and catch Gigantamax Pikachu!

Pikachu: Pi, pika pika chu! ["Hey, I resemble that!"]

Goh: Oh! Well, that is important for our friend, then. 

Me: You'd better believe it. So that's a second agenda and side benefit, since the festival (for us) doesn't start until the afternoon anyway. 

Ash: Yeah, so after the dance game and battles, I went to the festival in the city square. I was a little late, but I got to see them start out with a lucky draw game.

Goh: Oh. And then there was...

Ash: ...a violin and guitar performance. Then I was called up to help with some magic tricks.

Goh: Sounds nice.

Ash: The last thing I saw was some singing, before the character parade in the evening.

Goh: OK, well, this all sounds like a Bocchi Noizu festival, but... far away?

Me: Well, you might be right - they are after all supporters for the festival.

Pikachu: Pika pika? ["Don't you think?"]

Goh: Anyway, how'd the character parade go?

Ash: I think I did great with my Sinnoh outfit. But I wouldn't know how I really did, since I had to run back to our friend as soon as I was done.

Goh: Wow, really cutting it close.

Me: Thinking about it, I probably might not have wanted you in it if it was going to be that close.

Ash: I was a bit nervous too! That I wouldn't make it back in time - but fortunately I did.

Goh: What about all the other characters?

Ash: They were all really nice, so I think it's fine if some of them won instead of me.

Me: If we both didn't have commitments, I'm sure I would have let you stay, but yeah.

Goh: But the festival was good at the least.

Pikachu: Pika chu pika pika! ["A lot of food!"]

Ash: And I had a good day too with the battle and the game.

Goh: I'm sure you did.

Me: We knocked out a few agendas with a single travel.

Goh: Well, there you go.

Me: Based on that, great travels might make for some great times, like this one.

One year ago: Real Deal Myst for Pokémon T-Shirt

Two years ago: One Item, Indefinitely?

Three years ago: Rainbow Pokémon Fantasies

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/28/2022

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/28/2021

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/28/2020

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (and Priorities), 3/28/2019

Eight years ago: More on Ali (and the Early Manga)

Nine years ago: A Pikachu Wall Hanging

Electrode Volleyball Rises to Prominence

Last year, Pokémon Unite introduced the Electrode Volleyball play mode as a limited-time offering to celebrate its anniversary. This year, said play mode is on a roll and even climbing to new heights - a "prominence", so to speak, which is why I've described it as such in the title of this post. The rise to that "prominence" is a fascinating one for what it means for the play mode and this game as a whole, and it can stand to be explored.

The biggest thing for that is a World Tour featuring the play mode: a series of competitions that will take place online in the next month or so, for the top regions where the game is played. Competitors can even enter individually (and then team up later on) and certainly as already-formed teams. The competitions are being promoted with fanfare that rivals the standard competitive mode, which makes it truly a peak for the play mode.

Meanwhile, the play mode itself has essentially been available indefinitely as a Quick battle map in addition to the usual daily map rotation and any other special event maps, of which at this present time there are in fact two of the latter. Since the play mode tends to go much quicker, it presents itself as an alternative to other Quick battle maps, which is a good side benefit other than now being able to support the above competition.

For additional support of the tournament, there are two accompanying game events. Both of these involve taking part in and/or winning matches of the play mode; one has the ultimate reward of a Platinum emblem for Electrode and the other has rewards of items and temporary Unite Licenses every five battles won up to 101 of them. Both of these events need at least some grinding effort but are certainly worth it to an extent.

Having described Pokémon Unite as a "sports game" earlier, the Electrode Volleyball mode becomes a real testament to that. The new competition takes the mode to new heights and shows off a different competitive potential for the game in addition to the existing one. That may just allow the game to have a "sticking" factor in addition to a "smashing" factor by the above, for enabling another kind of Pokémon competition to take place.

One year ago: When Two's a Crowd...

Two years ago: On Pokémon Valuables

Three years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Majestic Force Elite (SA Factions)

Four years ago: The Irreplaceable Difference

Five years ago: Quickies: Finding Pokémon in Trees

Six years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Ingress and Out

Eight years ago: Pokémon in Common Terms

Nine years ago: Cosplay: CLAS:H/ICGP 2017, Regional Edition

Champions Expectations

The recent "anniversary edition" of Pokémon Presents had also shed further light on Pokémon Champions, the next way of experiencing main series-like battles that will also be accessible to all (by way of its planned mobile version). Its usage for this year's World Championships as it is planned - also as I had noted - would carry lots of implications for it as a "battle client" game. It is then (now) high time that I discuss those implications along with some expectations for the game, its playability, and Pokémon in general.

Because it's for use in the World Championships, by implication and expectation, the game will have to support the VGC format. That means supporting the standards that are in place now (and in a way as they have been) and potential evolutions of the format (perhaps not in style, but surely any restrictions that are applied and un-applied to the battles and teams). There are interesting prospects in this regard for old Trainers returning to face the VGC format - I would be included here - and new Trainers that want to try to deal with it.

Meanwhile, there is the use of species. The game will surely be able to allow players to procure species from within it by certain means, but it is also a certainty that Pokémon Home linkage, as explained, will allow the breadth of species from the main series games (in particular, those that are already VGC-capable) and even those imported from Pokémon Go to be used. They'll still be subject to any standard or restriction that will apply as above, but as an implication and expectation, many species will become fair game for this purpose.

Linking with others is also an expectation for its orientation of battling with others and an implication by the way that other Pokémon games also facilitate the means in order to allow players to engage others in battle. That further ties into the expected use of the games in the World Championships and the implied means of engagement in that setting. While it is likely that species management and the associated engagements for that will be carried out through Pokémon Home, some engagements for this may just occur here.

  

Since April as the month of the game's release is coming up very soon, answers to these expectations and implications will also be due out very soon as well, once players (Trainers) on the Switch get their hands on the game first, followed by the prospective players on mobile platforms later on. Accessibility as a core tenet of those expectations and implications, not to mention the purpose of the game itself, remains vital to it and will define the future for the battles in the associated competitive Pokémon realm.

One year ago: TCGP: A Battle in Space and Time

Two years ago: For Want of Rotom Devices

Three years ago: Faster Leveling for One-Minute Cooking?

Four years ago: Ready System for Pokémon Go Raids?

Five years ago: Be the Winning Team

Six years ago: Looking for Good News

Seven years ago: Nominating PokéStops

Eight years ago: Envisioning More Local VGC Tournaments

Nine years ago: Slowpoke Moments

Outcast Journeys with Pokémon

An outcast is a person who loses a sense of belonging to a place or group by the perceptions of others in that place or group. It is an unfortunate fact of life that such a state of affairs continues to occur for some people, and even with relation to Pokémon. As such, I thought I'd bring up the matter and discuss it with specific relation to that, framing the instances as "outcast journeys" that involve Pokémon in various ways.

One of those "outcast journeys" is the one that occurred in the first Mystery Dungeon games, where the player character is forced to travel along with Absol after becoming considered an outcast in the initial location of the games. It's an emotional journey to say the least, and plot-wise, it becomes the way that the characters are initially developed. The "outcast" sentiments are certainly strong for this particular case.

Thinking about outcasts brings to mind Porygon, a Pokémon species that became an "outcast" through a major appearance that resulted in an unpretty occasion. I've already discussed the particulars of this journey some years ago, but it's worth repeating for this discussion for its relevance. Even if the Pokémon is on a bit of a resurgence in modern times, that "outcast journey" still becomes a part of it, an inseparable one no less.

Meanwhile, there's my personal journey through various Pokémon affairs that in some cases have also led to me becoming classed as an outcast through them by various people, both with and without direct connections to the matter of concern. But then it seems that certain other fans also share the experience of becoming an outcast, so the experience isn't unique - yet the results seem to be all the same for us.

No one really wants to become an outcast, but as explained above, it just seems to keep on happening, rather unfortunately and sometimes unexpectedly. The same applies for certain Pokémon matters, for which this becomes the case and an "outcast journey" is initiated by that situation. Life still goes on, even if one were to become an outcast in some way, and for what it's worth, Pokémon could be something that may alleviate that.

One year ago: TCGP: The Triumphant and Divine Light

Two years ago: Who's on Who's Side?

Three years ago: Pokémon Rites of Passage

Four years ago: Weathering with Politoed

Five years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 9

Six years ago: The Difficulty of Sickness

Seven years ago: All I Learned with Pokémon

Eight years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/25/2018

Nine years ago: "Grow Old Along with Me..."

Being a Pokémon Fan... In This Economy

One of the shows I regularly watch on TV is a talk show on matters of the economy, both local and global. It helps me to understand what's going on in the world and develop my plans for various things, including Pokémon. Meanwhile, one of the buzzwords that is currently popular is "in this economy..." a reference to how the current economic situation of the world is at a downturn. That makes for a captivating idea for a discussion, so I've decided to take the idea and run it for a discussion, with particular regard for subsisting as a Pokémon fan. 

For that purpose, that would mean spending for Pokémon things and games that are warranted (to support what has been furnished) and enjoying the rest with as low a cost as possible (to be able to maximize what can be enjoyed). In this way, both sides of the economy of Pokémon things can benefit somehow and they'd still be able to subsist. Of course, with particular focus on fans, they can and should focus on the Pokémon things that they are truly involved in, to make the most of those things to make sure they're economically satisfied.

In line with the above, there is also the good principle of trying to keep things as official as possible, by buying official (and officially licensed) merchandise, although given the state of things, it may very well have to be limited. Certainly, this is not a prompt to end creativity, for that creativity is helpful in the creation of Pokémon items that are lower in price for certain purposes, perhaps other than collection. Official merchandise is still the way to go for a lot of Pokémon merchandise, and it may stand the tests of time and economy.

And then there are friends and communities for Pokémon games and things, both at the local and global scales. Interacting with all the people in them is certainly cost-effective, even if they can't actually substitute for those things in the first place. Something like a Pokémon figure group that allows for collection, discussion, and photography - which is exactly what I have over the years past - fits the above regard, again even if the figures aren't exactly economical, both then and now. The interaction may be more valued than the substance.

The current global economic situation may not resolve itself anytime soon, and that may make it somewhat difficult for Pokémon fans to get on in this state of affairs. Yet if any of the above are of any indication, Pokémon affairs may have a way of resolving themselves by what its fans choose to do and obtain with regard to it, and then interact with others of their kind. It's a fascinating thing, even in this economic state... and for me personally, that talk show may just continue to shed light on my current and next moves for Pokémon.

One year ago: Revision Roundup

Two years ago: Direct vs. Quiz Selection

Three years ago: Performance Critique: Mezase Pokémon Master feat. Otaku

Four years ago: More Berries for Pokémon Go?

Five years ago: The Future of WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

Six years ago: Virulent Impacts

Seven years ago: From One Path to Another

Eight years ago: (Again a) Local Ex-Raid, 3/24/2018

Nine years ago: The Many Forms of Pikachu in Shuffle

Making Sense of the Unite Style Holowear

Players of Pokémon Unite are likely to recognize the Unite Style Holowear for some of the included Pokémon in the game, but they're also likely not to pay serious attention to it. One of the reasons may be as I've explained some three years ago, in that the Holowear is too plain, making it not worth its value even in monetary terms. With that, I thought about discussing this family of Holowear and the aspects that pertain to it in order to understand it better and see why the justification above applies to it.

The basic two styles of the Holowear family are the Orange and Purple styles. These two colors have a strong representative basis, in that they refer to the two sides of a team-on-team match in the game - purple being for the left-side team (and customarily for the active player), and orange for the right-side team (therefore also indicating the opposing team by the above). As such, the colors are fundamental, yet still just seem too "basic"; even the Holowear does simply look like a basic kit, which is OK for real sports but maybe less so for MOBA.

Recently, some Pokémon have also obtained new styles of this Holowear family, the Red and Blue styles. Now, these colors should be familiar to many and especially longtime Pokémon fans for their duality across different Pokémon games (including main series ones), being put into opposition as two extremes of the spectrum of certain games. Even with the addition of these, they still look simple, as with the other two styles. While that is certainly for the purpose of maintaining commonality, the simplicity becomes more pronounced.

With that, the value of the Holowear in and of the family becomes evident, supporting the view of them being plain. Even so, it may still be neat to have them, just not for and by their intrinsic value; in that regard, the cost of the Holowear in the family can stand to be reduced or be made attractive to be obtained through means that don't involve (direct) monetary spending. The older Orange and Purple styles can benefit anyhow by everyone having them, since they're already "long in the tooth" as far as this game is concerned.

Being that Pokémon Unite is essentially a Pokémon "sports game" (especially with some recent facets) in addition to being a MOBA, having something like the Unite Style Holowear does make sense in that regard. Still, in light of the above, the plain aspect is a bit of a detractor for the Holowear itself, its value, and where it fits in the game. Being able to just have it in simpler and cost-effective ways may be the fairest approach, and that fairness can then continue to be reflected in the various play modes of the game.

One year ago: On Max Particle Management

Two years ago: My Essential Orbs in Mystery Dungeon

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Goodies: Changing Faces

Four years ago: Crazy for Pinap Berries

Five years ago: My Favorite WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

Six years ago: Continue Our Videogame Innate Desires

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/23/2019

Eight years ago: The "Generals"

Nine years ago: Pokémon Food... For Us

The Café Remix "Pokémon 30" Anniversary Celebration

Since the onset of this year's major Pokémon anniversary, Café Remix has held a celebration event for that occasion, certainly using its usual event frameworks. Since the content of the particular event is fascinating and a little more involved than the usual content furnished through the frameworks, I thought I'd cover it as a whole, especially with regard to what has been made available up to this point.

As demonstrated by its initial promotional image, the event features the return of various first partner Pokémon from all generations, this time with a special "Commemorative brooch" outfit for each of them. This also becomes an opportunity for some players to hire the Pokémon if they hadn't already through other means, for getting the outfit also means hiring the Pokémon and making it available for play. The outfits are available through daily stamps and Mission Bingo, so that means logging in frequently and making the most of plays.

The celebration also began with the fully evolved first generation first partners, as Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. They were respectively obtainable through an event, a special pass, and deliveries. Of course, a player had to make the effort through the event, purchase that special pass, and hope for some luck with deliveries, unless the player bought an instant hire ticket for the last one. They're still the usual mannerisms for the game, so players had to deal with them as best as they could.

Meanwhile, the event is transitioning to the feature of other special Pokémon, like an Eevee with a new five-star outfit to be gotten through deliveries, as well as a Garchomp with a different outfit through a currently ongoing event. The café is also presented with a special main screen music that incorporates some chiptune elements that hark back to the time when Pokémon first appeared on the Game Boy. For as long as the celebration is still going on, these elements will certainly be present to make things lively.

While Café Remix is present many years after most Pokémon elements have already appeared, the current anniversary celebration makes for a good callback to many of those elements, including some of the first that apply to Pokémon in general. It becomes a fascinating and lively celebration for players of this puzzle spinoff game, and old and new players alike can appreciate all the offerings of the merriment.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 3/22/2025

Two years ago: Ghost Pokémon... and Being Ghosted Myself

Three years ago: Changing Go Battle League Ranks and Titles?

Four years ago: Respect for Sarah Natochenny

Five years ago: Pokémon SM KFC CKM Toy: Rockruff & Premier Ball

Six years ago: Celebi @ Everywhere

Seven years ago: At the Same Time

Eight years ago: Shiny Lugia Obsessions

Nine years ago: A Passion for Red

Ten Points of a Pokémon Life

Going back to that certain time I mentioned a few days ago, today's kind of the prime time for that, so I want to go over it again and certainly with Pokémon in tow - moreover since in previous years, I've done just that (this one being last year). For the occasion this time, I've decided to reflect things with a song... but it's kind of obscure - at least to most readers who would be expected to read these posts - so I'm not going to use it directly in the reflective discussion. I can, however, use the central idea that is posited in the song, like what I did a couple of years ago, to get my points across. In fact, there is a multiple of them.

 

Now, the song that I'm thinking of discusses "ten points", at least for the version I'm closer to and enjoy more. The other version of this song has "five points" instead, which means that it is also simpler in that regard, but then the one with "ten points" can be considered to "subsume" the one with "five points", so regardless, I'd like to use the one with "ten points" to deliver my views. And as I've said above, the song is kind of obscure, including with respect to the content of those points - but I can extract their essences and make them relate to Pokémon for the purpose of this discussion, which is essentially the point (ahem).

For the ten points, the first two concern respect for the (created) things in this world and their sources, which when Pokémon becomes a concern, the likes of Arceus and Mew become relevant somehow along with all other Pokémon species. The next three points then concern respect for people who educate and bring up others to be what they can be (here Pokémon Professors and families fit the bill), as well as for the land, for without the land neither people nor Pokémon would be able to survive. Those are all great points.

The next five points would concern "spiritual" matters, but in the context of Pokémon, they can be made "semi-spiritual". For that, the first four of these could be construed as each of the individual "four pillars" that I had explained such a long time ago, and respecting and making relationships according to these pillars. As for that last point, which perhaps might be the most important one, that would be to smile whenever possible - and obviously Pokémon can help in that regard, to make all of its fans as happy as possible every time.

Despite being taken out of their original context, all of the ten points above seem perfectly applicable to and reflective of Pokémon matters. That is a great thing regardless, but even more so for a special time that becomes the context that frames this post. With that, it also seems that no matter the number of points (ten or five as in the above), the whole point is still to celebrate life, happiness, and Pokémon in all their best and greatest glories.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Social Impact

Two years ago: The Charm of Open-Air Pokémon Markets

Three years ago: Tournament: Arcaviary Tournament - Ionic Cup

Four years ago: The Route Themes of Journey Beginnings

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Waiting Games

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Toxic Cup

Seven years ago: Gender Appeal

Eight years ago: At a Loss... in Lavender Tower

Nine years ago: GSC Nendoroid Series #425: Red

TCGP: The Wonders of Paldea in Packs

As I mentioned in the previous Pokémon Presents edition, the matter of a new expansion for TCGP is something that I need to get to, and now I'm finally able to get to it. After several of these that are oriented to Mega Evolution, the newest one provides a respite from that and has the setting of the most recently recognized region and generation in this world. That would be Paldea, certainly, and the expansion is thusly called "Paldean Wonders" to reflect all that is fascinating from this region and featured in the expansion.

For that, the expansion is a minor one (a Themed Booster Pack, as it is so given) with nearly all of the Pokémon in the expansion being ones from said region, including the first partners and a few others that are emblematic of the region. The pack image indeed contains these Pokémon species and presents them as potential targets for players opening the packs for this expansion. As with other expansions, that may take a good bit of time to fulfill.

Since Trainer cards have grown in diversity of kinds, I thought I'd discuss the ones contained in this expansion as well. This minor expansion also introduces 1 Item card, 1 Pokémon Tool card, 5 Supporter cards, and 1 Stadium card. That's a good number of selections to have and go through, so some players will be rummaging through packs for them just as much as they'll be rummaging for the Pokémon that they will want and need to use in the battles.

Meanwhile, the expansion itself has 93 cards in the numbered section and 38 cards in the overnumbered section, making it come out to 131 cards in total. That's somewhat more than most other minor expansions or Themed Booster Packs, so the "rummaging" potential is also somewhat greater as a result. That would be especially true if full art and/or Shiny cards are a concern, for which the 38 overnumbered cards are still quite a bit and rare too.

If this minor expansion or Themed Booster Pack is an indication, the most recent species entrants to the world of Pokémon are still fair game and of interest even in this virtual TCG form. This new one then encapsulates the most essential aspects and presents them as "true" wonders that might just show dominance on the card playfield.

One year ago: Monopoly Pokémon Edition, Then and Now

Two years ago: Can-Do with Pachirisu

Three years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Pallet Town Ruby (SA Factions)

Four years ago: ASMR with Pokémon

Five years ago: All I Can Do, with You

Six years ago: Sad Music from Kanto

Seven years ago: A Girl and a Fan

Eight years ago: The Place to Be

Nine years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki Japan 7 - Wanderlust!

The Legendary Flight, Unite License Style

Players of Pokémon Unite will recognize the "Legendary Flight", as the three Legendary birds of Kanto and the first generation, in their appearance in "legend pits" on certain maps and for their partial playability in the Catch 'Em map. Now, though, and as a part of commemorating the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, players can (or will) be able to enjoy them in full playability, certainly through the game's system of Unite Licenses and by earning them through a game event... aside from paying them outright and immediately with Aeos Gems, also as usual.

The three birds are given the roles of Defender for Articuno, Attacker for Zapdos, and All-Rounder for Moltres. At present, the Zapdos event is about to end in a few days, having started a couple of weeks ago, and the Moltres event is in full swing with it having started just a few days ago; the one for Articuno will certainly start in due time. The game's login screen is also showing these three birds above Theia Sky Ruins for the purpose of promoting the events and occasion of getting them to be able to play with them in all the game's modes and maps.

Having the three birds in fully playable form certainly increases the number of fully playable Legendary Pokémon in the game, and by quite a bit with the successive additions as in this case. As for the three birds having the above roles, they are the "standard three" that are expected in a usual five-on-five battle, so any of them can be used to meet the expectation; obviously not all three at once are expected in the same battle for a team (especially if other restrictions are in play), but any or all of them could be handy for players with role experience.

With their presence now in full playability and not just partial as with the presence in the Catch 'Em map, the "Legendary Flight" takes to a much greater height in Pokémon Unite, particularly with the potential that they hold, if the partial playability (for Articuno and Zapdos) is already an indication of that. Moltres then completes the trio and its dimension in actual gameplay, and players will have to prepare themselves for the potential tricks that they may hold in that regard. Yet that may be a good (and major) thing for the context of the major anniversary.

One year ago: 3000 Posts!!!

Two years ago: Rethinking Pokémon-People Relations

Three years ago: Cosplay: Culture Festival

Four years ago: Pokémon of Overlapping Roles?

Five years ago: The Post Malone P25 Virtual Concert

Six years ago: No Sight, No Mind

Seven years ago: Fashion Statements by Pokémon

Eight years ago: PokéTerminology

Nine years ago: Cosplay Hair

Life Is Bright, Light Up Your Life

I have a certain discussion topic in mind as a tangent that I still wanted to discuss but with still some relation to Pokémon, and I had wanted to discuss it today. However, the more I thought about it, the more I felt unprepared to make that discussion. So, I've decided to shelve it and prepare another discussion instead (in a way, rather on the spot as well). Now, in considering that the discussion topic is fading in its "light", I thought about bringing up another topic that is related to "light" and certainly will be brought up with inclusion of Pokémon references.

That topic concerns a certain saying that is more or less represented by the title of this post. It's relatively obscure in origin, but the meaning is bright - literally. In a surface sense, it means to bring light into life as light brings brightness into one's life. In a deeper sense, though, it means to make contributions to life to make it a brighter place (than ever) and then bring back that brightness into one's own life. That seems evocative of many things, including Pokémon.

Perhaps the brightest thing in Pokémon is the spectacle that is presented by the various battles that take place involving them. They often present light play by way of the moves and resulting attacks, but most importantly, they can also show how far the contributions of others, including the Trainers associated with them, have influenced outcomes. In this way, the saying as presented above manifests itself in a somewhat extraordinary manner through Pokémon.

Of course, light doesn't have to be always present in Pokémon battle; it can also be present outside it, like in the fleeting glimmer of a passing Jirachi or the glow of a Pokémon using Flash to illuminate the darkest of areas. As for their contributions, with regard to people or Trainers and whether they're in front of or behind them, all of them have certain roles that translate into influences for and from what the Pokémon do as they bring their light to them.

Light is never in short supply, also for as long as certain bright things are present, and by the saying above, people and Pokémon can bring their own "light" in different ways. For that, it seems that its discussion alongside Pokémon seems to be warranted intermittently (especially if another topic is on hold), to present any semblance of related and possible contributions.

One year ago: Trading Cards in TCGP

Two years ago: New Controls in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/18/2023

Four years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: "Over" Time?

Five years ago: New Pokémon Go Bonus Hour Experiments

Six years ago: On Blogging and Microblogging

Seven years ago: Character Songs

Eight years ago: "You Shall Not Pass" - Hard-to-Access Gyms and PokéStops

Nine years ago: Alton : Food :: I : Pokémon

The Department Stores (of My Life)

Early main series Pokémon games featured an in-game place called the Department Store, located in one of the major cities in the games' regions. These could be thought of as a substantially expanded Poké Mart in those places, where the Mart is not a part of the Pokémon Center as it is in later games and thereby regions. I thought I'd carry this topic for an actual post - after having only mentioned it as an aside in some earlier posts - and bring in some philosophical musings, given that in some places of the world, this current time would be the time when some people might be rushing to real department stores for what they offer.

Like their real counterparts, the place is divided into floors with staff selling different items on each floor. Getting to each of these floors and then getting the items needed for continuing the adventure is an exercise in reading into what's there, how much one can spend, and what it takes to get the items - especially from the vending machines on the rooftop. It's an exercise that the people as mentioned above might have some familiarity with (and so do I), and when it comes time for that, people (and Trainers) might just have the power to go all out.

As mentioned in a very old post, a later iteration of the Department Store also featured sales of certain items on the rooftop at certain points in time. The items that can be obtained from these sales may or may not be what Trainers need, but it may still be fun to make the effort to obtain them. So too do occasions occur at the places where the real people (and I) shop - as I perhaps can attest all too well - and there is the fun to be had out of that, which means going to them whenever the occasion strikes and to take advantage of the visit for many things.

While the Department Stores only had an early presence in the main series games, those who interact with the games, then and now, will realize that dealing with them in the games may not only be necessary at certain times but also can present an outing opportunity of its own. With the ways that they are as described above, as well as their parallels to reality, they make for places that will certainly supplement Pokémon goings-on in more ways than one.

One year ago: The Legendary Challenge in Pokémon Unite

Two years ago: Pokémon Plush Dolls of All Kinds of Sizes

Three years ago: Tools for Solving Pokémon Go Problems... and Life Problems?

Four years ago: Quickies: Trees, the Symbol of Life

Five years ago: The Sentience of Pokémon

Six years ago: There Are Monsters Outside

Seven years ago: "Monkey Trio" Keychain Figures

Eight years ago: What's Played, What's Not, and What's Next

Nine years ago: Pokémon X Food Network ...?

The Three "Peculiars" of Pokopia

While I can't cover Pokémon Pokopia directly due to a few reasons that I've outlined in a post that also apply to other fans who are likely also interested in the game, I can cover a few more things about the game in a somewhat indirect manner. One of those things is the presence of several Pokémon that have established themselves as a part of the game (even by now) and to be quite identified as such - three of them, in fact. They're also quite odd by species standards, and for that, I've applied the term of "peculiar" to them.

One of these is a different take on Pikachu, which goes by the name of "Peakychu". It still resembles Pikachu by many respects, but instead of being brightly colored, it is instead very pale in color - in a way, quite "ghostly". Its ear and tail are also considerably "limp", almost affirming its "ghostly" perception. Yet a Pikachu by any other name is still lovable even if peculiar, and that fits the bill for this entity of the Pokopia realm.

Then there's "Mosslax", which is evidently a take on Snorlax. Instead of the familiar blue-and-white coloration of that species, it is mostly a shade of mossy green, with white still showing on its face. Its sitting position is quite indicative of it staying in that position (perhaps unlike a normal Snorlax), allowing moss to grow on it and making it what it is. It's a Snorlax lookalike that is rather receptive to nature, even peculiarly on its own body.

As the last of the "peculiars", there is "Professor Tangrowth" - for which the species name is obvious. That also goes for its appearance, being differentiated from a normal Tangrowth by its white tufty vines on its head. Like the human professors of the main series games, it is expected that the player Ditto will interact with it for some sage advice... which isn't totally weird, except maybe for the circumstances of this strange world.

Getting ahold of a chance to deal with Pokopia and its strange realm will automatically mean getting a chance to deal with the "peculiar" creatures above that resemble (or take off from) some popularly recognized species. That may be the strangest thing yet, aside from not being able to play the game at present, but goodness and strangeness will come in due time.

One year ago: Too Many Events for Pokémon Go??

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/16/2024

Three years ago: Starting and Restarting Pokémon Go

Four years ago: On the Intricacies of the Battle Pass

Five years ago: Localized Legendary Pokémon

Six years ago: Brushing Up on Pokémon Mythology

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Neko-Neko

Eight years ago: Our Glory of Love

Nine years ago: Multilingual Pokémon

I Want to Play Pokopia, But...

So, the newest Pokémon game, a spinoff title entitled Pokémon Pokopia, had been released some days ago on March 5, also as I mentioned in the latest edition of Pokémon Presents. The game 's life simulation aspect is by no means unique, though the game itself is as the first of its kind for Pokémon. Further, the challenges that preclude one from being able to play the game are unique as well, and a lot of players share the same challenges... including yours truly. For that, I'd like to discuss those challenges and dealing with them.

First and foremost, the game is only for Nintendo Switch 2, so those without the console are obviously challenged in this regard. Even with the fact that the game supports Game Share, a feature of that console that allows others (even on just a Nintendo Switch) to play, it still takes someone with the former console to get things started - and of course, they'll need a copy of the game, but I'll get to this shortly. Regardless, a console remains a necessity, and the prospective Pokopia players will need to get that going somehow.

Then there's the game itself. By certain reports, the game costs around 70 USD, making it on par with a main series game of modern times. Furthermore, it's too big to fit on a game card, so even physical purchases will provide a key instead to download the game. Prospective players will thus need to have ample space on their consoles' internal storage, a daunting one if they already have filled it with many games. It seems that players will not only be filling the spaces of their worlds but also the spaces on their own consoles.

Most importantly, even if the above prerequisites are met, players may not be able to spare some time to actually play due to other commitments, including for other (Pokémon) games and especially if competitive matters are at hand. Even so, one of my VGC friends have taken time out of whatever schedule there may be and has played the game, proving that it's quite possible for that friend. For others (like me), that may not necessarily be the case. As I've said, the game itself is a "timesink", and that may not be ideal for some.

With all of the reasons above, many of which also apply to me, it seems it could be hard for me and other players with similar reasons and applicability to justify being able to play the new Pokémon life simulation game anytime soon. But for those who can fulfill everything above and make their way to live in Pokopia, that might be a lucky break, something that other fans and players hope could happen to them. As they say, where there's a will, there's a way, and the will to live in Pokopia might just lay out the path for that.

One year ago: From Niantic to Scopely

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

Three years ago: Quickies: Flying With Lugia, On Demand

Four years ago: Investing in a Battle Pass?

Five years ago: A Year of Living Dangerously

Six years ago: Cosplay: IAM COSPLAYCON

Seven years ago: The Pokémon Search Bar in Pokémon Go

Eight years ago: Ash and Pikachu, DJF 2018 Style

Nine years ago: A Psyduck Headache

Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/14/2026

First off, for those who recognize it, today is Pi Day (for the mathematical feature), so it would be rightful to serve up pies (the culinary treat) on this day. It seems Pokémon Go had also decided to serve up the "pie" that is Community Day on this day, both the one that represents this year's helpings as well as this season's helpings. There is also a helping of the "pie" that represents the first partner Pokémon species in this edition, and now comes the time to explain all of that and how tantalizing things are.

Having said all of that, this month's featured Pokémon is the veritable Scorbunny, the first partner Pokémon of the Galar region. It evolves twice into Raboot and then Cinderace - and the latter will certainly be able to learn the move of Blast Burn, which is true for this month. It can also learn its signature move of Pyro Ball from this point onwards with the help of a TM, which may be useful as an alternative to the above. Meanwhile, the main bonus of this edition is quartered hatch distance, which means a time to get Eggs hatched on and out.

As usual, the regular bonuses of double Candy and Candy XL chance, three-hour Incense and one-hour Lure Modules (plus extra appearances), trade discounts and extra Special Trades, photo bombs, and special backgrounds apply. Then there's Field Research, Timed Research (for those who check in to community meetups), and the paid Special Research entitled "Hoppily Ever After" - a suggestion that may be taken for granted nowadays.

On this occasion, I chose to go with the local community meetup due to the prevailing "break" - which also prompts reminders of why I should and shouldn't deal with it. I caught a sizeable number of Scorbunny that were Shiny, had backgrounds, or both, and I evolved the best of the best out of my usual roster of things to evolve for Community Day. Now I have a game plan for what to do with the resources I obtained today... and for future Community Day meetups.

This family of rabbits that can deliver fiery kicks might be relevant to those who play soccer for that very reason and association, but with regard to the species themselves, there will always be a place for them somehow in battle with how they've been involved in Pokémon Go, including today. With that, the "pie" piece has been served to satisfaction.

One year ago: 100 Years, 1 Million Memories

Two years ago: Cook and Collect in Café Remix

Three years ago: Serving up Paldea with a Twist

Four years ago: To Share and To Care

Five years ago: Berry Cuisine

Six years ago: Pokémon Anime Song Remixes?

Seven years ago: Profits on the Side

Eight years ago: It's Pi Day!

Nine years ago: Pokémon and Puzzle Games

Bemoaning the Fate of Spotlight Hour

With the new Pokémon Go season and its structure of "daily activities", it has become evident that one of the long-standing ones in this regard has met its demise and has been eliminated from that structure. I'm of course talking about Spotlight Hour, and this is even after how I had noted its apparent persistence several years ago. Though this is not a Tuesday (it's a Friday, which has a different "activity" as above), I'd still like to discuss this change, the factors that might have gone into that, and the current situation after the change.

For the factors, it seems the "disgruntled" individuals like someone who had commented on one of my old posts might have grown in number, and thus the demise satisfies them. Or as an alternative, the turnout for the weekly activity or sub-event might have decreased, even gradually from the point where I had noted that persistence. These are certainly only theories, since Niantic-Scopely have the final say on what led to the change, besides trying to make things more regular for Trainers, the substance of the body of changes.

Personally, I've always found Spotlight Hour (and its added bonus since that experiment) a useful part of the week's run, especially if it could be integrated into an ongoing event as has been the case several times over its course. It becomes an opportunity to get resources for some hardly appearing Pokémon and sometimes even others through its bonuses - or even just Stardust by catching, if the opportunity presents itself. For me, therefore, it's a bit of a loss that other event kinds may or may not be able to make up by their content.

Speaking of, what about its "substitute", Showcase Tuesday? I don't find it an "elegant" one as such, and it would work better if Spotlight Hour was still present but integrated with it. The sparseness of Showcase PokéStops, even in my area, makes this activity not too useful: in fact, the nearest one to my home is several hundred meters, and it's not practical for me to walk back and forth to that Showcase in order to take advantage of the activity. Again, if Spotlight Hour was still around, then it might be somewhat of an incentive for that.

Now that Spotlight Hour is for all its essence "gone", Trainers may have to rely on and take advantage of ongoing events in order to build up the resources that used to be able to be so conveniently gained from the activity or sub-event. Even its substitute may be better off being in tandem rather than separate from it. In that sense, I'm really "bemoaning" the loss of the activity or sub-event and the fact that now it seems it's not too persistent after all. With that, only persistence remains in seeing how Pokémon Go can progress without it.

One year ago: The Lightning and the Thunder

Two years ago: Let's Talk About A Break for the Light

Three years ago: Here Comes a Factions Cycle

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/13/2022

Five years ago: More Pokémon Go Quality-of-Life Improvements

Six years ago: The First Hoenn Saga Japanese Opening Theme

Seven years ago: The Poké Ball Classics Merchandise Line

Eight years ago: Yes, Even More Pokémon Stickers

Nine years ago: Every Day We're Shufflin

Dreamy Visions... in Plush Form

After discussing three songs with certain dreamy visions, now I want to discuss some actual Pokémon dreamy visions... albeit in merchandise form. Many fans are of course familiar with Pokémon evolution, by which some species "upgrade" into other forms. Some people have visions of the process for their Pokémon, and it might also be construed that some Pokémon species themselves might have the same visions. Those visions are perfectly encapsulated in a new and recently released line of merchandise.

The line is called the "Little Daydream" plush, and the concept is that the featured Pokémon in plush doll form are themselves holding miniature plush versions of what will likely be their evolved state. Kicking off the line is Charmander, Pichu, Wooper, Togepi, and Munchlax, all of which hold their ultimate evolution forms - save for Pichu, who holds a Pikachu instead, which can be construed that Raichu is an optional and/or undesired objective for it. All of them also look in a dream-like state, befitting the line's name.

Even the first three of these are available in a more miniscule keychain plush form, which looks just as charming as the bigger plush versions (and certainly more affordable, given the state of the world nowadays). If I had the option of getting any of these, I'd love to have the one for Pichu, Charmander, or both, in either the regular or keychain form. I'd also love for the line to be expanded in the future, with more first partner and/or baby Pokémon, as I'm sure many fans also have the same interest for this plush doll line.

Dreams always have ways of manifesting themselves in certain realities, and the most recent certain reality for Pokémon merchandise is the line above with some cutesy Pokémon species holding cutesy visions of what they'd like to be. The concept is rather fascinating and fits the views of those who always have dreams on their minds, and the expansion potential is not only apparent but could be somewhat desired. Given those "dreamy visions", some fans may just have this line of plush dolls on their minds for some time.

One year ago: To Hold Hands and Love

Two years ago: What Lurks in the Pokémon Night

Three years ago: Cosplay: Unity, The Story of Us

Four years ago: Let's Talk About Challenges in Connecting

Five years ago: Making the Case for Open-World

Six years ago: Possibility of a "Basic League"?

Seven years ago: Beta Testing

Eight years ago: Taking the Go Train

Nine years ago: Worldly Inspirations for a Small World

Clear Shades of the Past

Now, it seems it's real for me

The farther away you go

The closer you are to me

I will keep and let it grow

This love you gave to me

So deep within my heart...

-- "Nuansa Bening (A Clear Shade)" (interpretive lyrical translation)

OK, OK, one more song for Pokémon experience - this time because it's rather important and close to the moment. The song now is a local song for which I've quoted the chorus and gave it a translation that one (you) can sing to if that's the choice. The relation to Pokémon will certainly be interpretative, but it also has an indirect link that ties into the importance and the moment as I've mentioned. All of those things now demand explanation.

The song has the title as such (even if only mentioned in one place) because it's about the feeling of attraction one person that is unbounded and leaves a certain feeling in that person's heart - the "clear shade", in a manner of speaking. It's a very romantic feeling, whether one has gotten close to a significant other or perhaps even separated. And it seems that this point may be relevant to the situation that applies to the song and its associated artist.

As for fitting this song with Pokémon, "moments of everlasting togetherness" would fit the bill given the above interpretation. As suggested by the title of this post, perhaps they could apply not only to moments of the present but also of the past, ones that are likely to be quite fondly remembered and whatever mix of entities is involved (people and Pokémon).

Now, this song has been sung by a different artist in the more distant past, but in modern times, it's known for being one of the signature songs of Vidi Aldiano despite being a cover - which is why I didn't tag the artist in the quote. Vidi also happened to be one of the featured local artists in the big local Pokémon event from one and a half years ago, on Day 1 - the day before I (Ash) went there. With that, the Pokémon relation is evident, and...

...I'm sorry to say, said artist passed away a few days ago after a long battle with cancer (which also strikes a chord for me personally). Due to the Pokémon ties, the importance and the moment become evident as well. Many of the artist's fans have been grieving, and I'm sure those who saw his Pokémon performance then may also be in such as state.

With the song's imagery, clarity is certainly something that many people would wish to see for all their current and past moments, especially romantic ones. Some of them would certainly have this song to thank for being able to do so, and even now after the passing of the modern artist, some of those clear moments - including for Pokémon - will remain.

One year ago: Here on My Mind, Here in My Dreams

Two years ago: To Be a Jumpluff

Three years ago: Postcards in Pokémon Go

Four years ago: On the "Grass Divas"

Five years ago: Quickies: Surf's Up, Surf's Down

Six years ago: The Wonders of the PokéRap and Beyond

Seven years ago: Quantity and Quality

Eight years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest 2018

Nine years ago: Have You Seen My Childhood?