Sunday, July 26, 2026

Five Creatures on a Torn Island

Just a few years ago, I wrote up a fairly imaginative post about six places that can correspond with six Pokémon types - although now that I think about it, I could have made it seven and seven, but I won't discuss that now. What I will discuss, however, is a follow-up or "sequel" to that post, since the six (plus one) places also do follow up to a sequel in a manner of speaking. It'll still have the Pokémon relation, but also in a different manner: this time I'm not bringing up specific types, but definite species instead along with the setting.

That setting, as predictable by the title, is a torn island that suffers from degradation by the environment, although in a way, there is also some human influence in that degradation. It sounds like a harsh and unforgiving environment, but both Pokémon species and their real-life counterparts (animal species) have been known to survive in settings one would not expect life to be able to persist. Of course, sometimes there may be such a thing as "too harsh", and some of these species may just fit the bill to be "saved" - more on that shortly.

Now, the five creatures - in a certain order - correspond to the Pokémon species of Mantine, 
Heracross, Politoed, Lapras, and Wailord, perhaps quite roughly in both scale and appearance. All of them make their marks on the environment as well as people (yes, there are people too) who deal with them in their everyday life. Still, it has to be said that they might be on the darker side of things in this environment, but that's not to say that there are people who revere them for all the good that they bring.

Back to the "saving" part, it would certainly take some effort to save a few of the mentioned species above that exist in this setting, particularly given that the commonly recognized (or even archetypal) forms of the above are pretty big to begin with, especially Wailord. They would also have the potential to become "regional forms" given their environment, much like what has happened in other Pokémon regions. Yet when Pokémon is brought up as a topic, perhaps there are not many things that a Poké Ball can't fix.

Many of the places I've mentioned (and far more beyond - which might be able to serve further "sequels" of this and the previous post) in fact have odd and intense characteristics that make them unique. That would certainly apply to many Pokémon species as well with their own odd and intense characteristics. Then, if they match, or at least if the species profiles match as in the above case, it makes for a pretty neat imagery of how Pokémon might just be able to relate to these places and others beyond them.

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Saturday, July 25, 2026

Cosplay: Japaniversal 2026

Me: Remember last month when I tried to send Ash to a festival and it didn't happen, so he went to Community Day instead?

Goh: Oh. This must be it.

Me: Indeed. So, this is the one that got delayed a month. But that's also a good thing, because...

Goh: No Pokémon happening today?

Me: Nope.

Ash: All right! I can be at the festival all day!

Pikachu: Pika chu, pika! ["That's very nice!"]

Ash: So, um... I've never been here before.

Me: That's right. This one has been going on for many years, but it never worked out for us for one reason or another (including a month ago) - but now we can get to it.

Goh: Who's holding the festival?

Ash: Another place of study, much like one of our friend's.

Goh: OK, that's pretty interesting. But how was it like actually today?

Ash: They had all the stands and booths out on a big parking lot. Last time there was construction outside and a little inside, so that's why they delayed it.

Goh: I see. But won't it get hot outside?

Ash: Actually... It did, huh.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu... ["Really hot..."]

Ash: Luckily there was shade in the nearby building.

Goh: Luckily. I'd love to know how many stands there were.

Ash: Not a lot. Just a few food stands and booths for goodies.

Goh: Hmm. It doesn't sound too big to me.

Me: I have a suspicion about this, but let's continue on. As for competitions...

Ash: Hey, there's a singing one! I'm sure you want me in that.

Me: Sure! And you happen to be with your Hoenn outfit, so...

Ash: "Chiisaki Mono" it is!

Goh: Would you look at that - a chance for "redemption".

Ash: Yeah. And our friend is much better now, so we can really do it this time.

Pikachu: Chu pika! ["All right!"]

Goh: I guess we'll deal with how you did first.

Ash: I did fine. Maybe I messed up slightly? But I didn't forget anything - mostly.

Me: Well, that's OK. How many others were there?

Ash: Nine others, with three prizes.

Goh: A pretty good chance...

Ash: ...but I didn't get any of them.

Me: Huh. Well, there's always next time.

Goh: By the way, was there a character competition? Usually a festival like this would have one.

Ash: There was! A parade. But I saw only four get in, and they all looked really good, and it costs double to get in...

Me: So you probably wouldn't win, and it's more effort on my part.

Goh: Oh, OK. Good thing you tried to put your Eggs in one basket.

Pikachu: Pika, chu pika... ["Yes, a lucky break..."]

Me: The rest of the day must have had some entertainment.

Ash: Yeah, a couple of dance groups and a band, plus a dance-off.

Goh: That's still not much. So... how big is this festival really?

Ash: Well, the parking lot was big, but not a lot of people came.

Goh: Maybe our friend knows something?

Me: I heard that there were two other local festivals in the vicinity, both of which also have either singing or character competitions - at the same time as this one.

Ash: I heard that too! From your friends at the festival.

Goh: Well, I think we have the answer then. Those two "stole" visitors from this one.

Me: Yeah, I think you're spot on, Goh. It doesn't help that this is the one that got rescheduled and "ran into them".

Pikachu: Pika pika chu? ["Could be different?"]

Ash: I guess I probably would have ended up in either of them too if this wasn't around.

Me: That would likely be the case.

Ash: But I think the students did a good job after all that's happened.

Goh: Maybe you'd like to go again next year?

Ash: Sure! If our friend can make it happen.

Me: Like today, if it happens to be a "free" day, then I'll surely give it a shot for you.

Goh: That could be interesting.

Ash: Right!

Me: At that point, the festival might just stand up to its "universal" name. 

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Friday, July 24, 2026

The Continued Appeal of Rayquaza

Rayquaza (roughly correct pronunciation: rekweiza) is a Legendary Pokémon that is part of the land-sea-sky trio of the third generation. Of the trio, however - as well as considering the bevy of Legendary Pokémon in general - it could be considered to have the greatest appeal for fans, and furthermore, that appeal is also a lasting one by the same considerations. At this point in time, I thought I'd take out a post to discuss how that may be so for that Pokémon species as well as fans like for whom the appeal is relevant.

By many accounts, it is an inherently strong Pokémon... apart from its Dragon and Flying types that leave it quite vulnerable to the Ice type. It lives in the sky, and it protects the heavens and earth, so it has to be quite strong. Going back to that trio, it also mediates the other two - particularly given their Primal tendencies - and so the strength comes into play in that regard much like a parent with two misbehaving children. It's quite anecdotally and emblematically appropriate to the factor of that appeal for fans.

Then there is its Mega Evolution, which dedicated fans know that it comes by heart - and a piece of space debris, in addition to a special move. For those who know the lore, there is also a particular person attached to it: Zinnia, whose role could be described as a "custodian" of its Mega Evolution as seen in the post-game storyline in the remade third generation games. Speaking of which, the Mega Evolution form is fascinating, with regard to both its shape and the way that others can gain access to and take advantage of it.

Perhaps just as memorable and appealing is the myriad of its other associations. They would include the color green (its dominant body color, becoming black when Shiny), the Greek letter delta (the title of its post-game storyline and a part of its overall shape), and intense storylines (the seventh movie or feature film, as well as the first series of Mystery Dungeon games). Of course, other fans are free to ascribe other associations based on their experiences with this Pokémon, but all of these are representative of many of them.

With the way that Rayquaza is, it has a lot going for it, including the ways that it might appeal to Pokémon fans - whether certain segments of them or universally across many segments. It is also evident how the appeal and specifically the factors that contribute to that appeal have a certain lasting quality about them, with some being rather memorable and others being quite distinct identifiers of the Pokémon. Rayquaza itself will certainly continue to roam and protect the sky as its home, while those on land (and sea) will have their attachments to it.

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Thursday, July 23, 2026

Pokémon Research in Pokémon Unite

Stepping back from the "turmoil" I discussed for the fifth anniversary of Pokémon Unite, one of the game's more recent aspects is something that deserves discussion. It's an event framework that essentially builds upon one I discussed just over a year ago, which since then has also applied to non-Legendary Pokémon. The new framework, which I call "Pokémon Research", becomes another novel way for players to obtain Unite Licenses as certain Pokémon enters.

With this framework, players collect research "tokens" that when used, they fill a gauge with item rewards, for which the last item is the Unite License for the Pokémon. To collect research "tokens", players complete missions that award one "token" each, which comprise Daily Missions (new tasks each day, one of them is a simple login one), Weekly Missions (new tasks each week, updated Mondays as with Battle Pass tasks), and Special Missions (one-and-done tasks for the event). It's definitely more task-based than the other framework but the ultimate goal remains the same, being to earn that Unite License during the event if possible.

Because of the task requirements, the framework can be a bit burdensome, especially since the "tokens" can only be collected by the framework, and that some tasks - notably Daily Missions - are tougher than they seem. For that, as with the other framework, Aeos Gems can be used to alleviate the burden: an individual task can be cleared for just a meager 5 Gems, while the whole gauge can be filled with a good number of them, depending on how far along a player is. This, of course, should be considered as a last resort if a player missed several days.

Now, I was about to call this "Legendary Research", but then I'm reminded that it has been similarly used for Mega Evolution Unite Licenses, thereby making it not-so-Legendary. Furthermore, the "research" bit is also a bit of a misnomer, as the framework can also appear with it being applied as "training" instead of "research" for both Legendary Pokémon and others. Like the other framework, the application potential of this to certain Pokémon is diverse, although it has only become strongly connected with some strong examples.

Different ways of getting certain Pokémon as Unite Licenses in Pokémon Unite at the least keeps some of the game engaging, amidst all the "turmoil" it currently faces. The "Pokémon Research" framework satisfies a need for that, and its task-based approach remains wide open to however way one plays the game. And "play" is exactly what one needs to do to keep up one's progress in this particular game and keep it relevant with all its new and old things.

Three years ago: Cosplay: Shokumatsu
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Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Pokémon Unite 5th Anniversary

As with past years, I'm covering the anniversary of Pokémon Unite on this day. This year's anniversary also happens to be a bit of a special or notable one, as it is its fifth anniversary - a half-decade of its presence. That said, the special quality seems to be less evident recently, and in lieu of that, there is what could be called "turmoil" instead, which implies quite a bit of not-so-good things. Yet there are still good things to speak of, so for this anniversary, I would like to discuss that "turmoil" in both of the sides that it presents.

The greatest "turmoil" would be the elimination of one of its main currencies and its partial conversion to a system that may or may not afford a lot of freedom in its elements. In fact, the deadline for converting that currency has recently passed, and players may or may not have gotten all that they can from the conversion and subsequent dealings with the new system. After this many years with the game, it may not necessarily be what players need, even if they can deal with the new system just fine and the intricacies of the game after.

Meanwhile, the continued competitive presence of the game presents a "turmoil" in and of itself, but it seems that the "turmoil" might go deeper, given the state of the game. I've already outlined all the concerns about that a month ago, but it bears reminding and repeating. In this fifth year of the game, those concerns still need to be paid attention to, even as the game continues to "make it" - and hopefully not "break it" somehow.

On the good side of the "turmoil", the anniversary event is (or has been) in full swing, and it offers the usual bonuses and brings about a different kind of "turmoil": one of a Legendary kind. A bunch of Legendary Pokémon are joining the game, not as "pit bosses", but as actual playable Pokémon; two have already done so, and two more are incoming. Whether or not that's a sign of more impending "turmoil", that may be up to the players to determine.

Half a decade is not a very long time, but it isn't short either. In that span of time, Pokémon Unite has demonstrated its capacity for a novel kind of Pokémon battling and competitive spirit. It makes for a good "turmoil", even if that is marred by the not-so-good aspects. The hope is always that everything will resolve, as is the case with matches here.

Even now, some of that "turmoil" is still felt in some way. For now, happy fifth anniversary to Pokémon Unite.

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Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Interface Skins for Pokémon Go??

If Pokémon Go is always looking for new features to improve the overall gameplay experience (and possibly to milk money out of players or Trainers), then I've got a good one, which then becomes the subject of this post. Some applications or games are known to be able to have different appearances for different users, which can be accomplished through the feature of "interface skins". Certainly, that is not something that's currently present in Pokémon Go, so now it's something I'm throwing out for its execution and possible related ideas.

The idea for this feature came about from the recent interface glitches of Pokémon Go, which at one point in time I've experienced (perhaps others as well) as a different image replacing the background of the capture summary dialog. At that time, it happened to be a wood texture, and it fit almost perfectly with the dialog, apart from sizing and the effect it had on the dialog text. This happy accident actually worked well, even though it had some flaws as it manifested, and brought about the idea that I'm now explaining in this post.

Were the idea to be implemented, some things would certainly need to be considered or even changed. Readability of text is a concern, especially given the above experience (where the wood texture was dark and made the text darker), so perhaps it would be best to stick to lighter "skins". Then, drawing routines would have to be modified to accommodate the "skins" and make sure they mesh well with the current interface, and that's a lot to consider - as well as potentially prone to even more glitches, if the game's development is of any indication.

As for the possible "skins", Pikachu and Poké Ball motifs are the most obvious ones and need to be included somehow. Given the above, environmental and adventuring motifs are quite possible as well - ones that represent the land, sea, and sky, as examples. This then leads to tie-ins with Pokémon types, possibly one for each type, but Grass, Fire, and Water as "basic" ones would be prime. Finally, for the "milking money" aspect, some "premium" and ornate skins could be considered for special occasions or immediate purchase.

Sometimes a fault can lead to some interesting ideas, and the idea of "interface skins" for Pokémon Go is one that arose from one such fault as explained above. Implementing the idea is another matter entirely, with all of the above concerns and suggestions being valid. Still, it doesn't seem to be half bad, and the feature - if it were implemented - would be a nice visual touch and possibly another opportunity to rake in some cash from players or Trainers. At any rate, the game and its gameplay experience could really benefit in more ways than one.

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Monday, July 20, 2026

On the Times Square Mewtwo (Event)

As a part of the promotion for this year's Pokémon Go Fest (in a sense), a special event that was could be attended only by invitation was held at Times Square in New York City. The one-off event involved a mass raid for Mewtwo with similar execution as the ones in the regional Go Fest editions (and a particular instance to be detailed soon), and the Mewtwo obtained from the event is very, very special - so special, in fact, that it has generated a discourse of its own, which means that it's also fitting to generate a writeup on this blog.

What makes said Mewtwo special is that it is a guaranteed "hundo" (perfect, with the best stats possible) with a location background - although a lucky few will get a "shundo" with it being Shiny. That special quality is a big part of the discourse, and a controversial one at that, since those who were invited essentially got it with no effort - aside from getting there and taking part in the first place - while the rest of the player base struggle with their chances for all three of its particular aspects as above, which does seem quite unfair for them.

In fact, some of said Mewtwo are now being attempted to be distributed in unsavory ways - not to be mentioned here - and the more emotional of players or Trainers are feeling less motivated to play. They're certainly consequences of the special one-off event and its ultimate reward, for which if it hadn't been instituted, the ones who were invited might feel it's unfair for them with the state of the world today and the effort they expend in order to get to the event. It can be seen that there are several sides to the story, both good and bad.

Certainly, the reason for going through all this is to replicate - or to be more precise, realize or put into actual manifestation - a scene in the very first trailer for the game itself, for which without it, the game wouldn't have become embedded in the Pokémon fandom as well as in general conscience. This is another good side to the story, even if on the other hand the experience for the game has not been rosy in many of its happenings, which is certainly part of the less-than-stellar side of it. Much then could depend on specific player regards. 

On that matter, it has been discovered that the raids (Mega Mewtwo or otherwise) for the second day of the Global edition of Pokémon Go Fest experienced problems for many around the world - even for some close to me - so they will be repeated this coming Sunday. Some have posited that they might as well be compensated with an additional Mewtwo encounter as an analogue of the Times Square event; although this won't be the case, it still shows that many still have their impressions of said event and ultimate reward, however distant they are.

The Times Square event for Mewtwo and Pokémon Go Fest in general is still impressive in its gathering power and reward, even though the controversy that it generates is also just as impressive, and especially so for those who didn't participate in it. There's something to be understood about it for everyone in connection to it, and it could serve as an example of what can and can't be done for future Pokémon Go events, particularly those with a promotional nature. They all will still need to tow the fine line of experiences of those who play the game.

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