Focused Pokémon Collections

There is a trend among younger Pokémon fans, particularly in Japan and particularly those who collect Pokémon merchandise - in great quantities, no less. These fans and collectors have shown their tendency and effort to collect a lot of merchandise that specifically tie to one particular Pokémon species, perhaps even similar models (like dolls) related to them. I've taken to call this particular style of collection as "focused collections", and now I also want to discuss their merit and demerit, as well how it might apply to me and other Pokémon fans I know.

A big merit is that the process (as a trend) shows its dedication, much like how I have nearly all of Ash's outfits for cosplay. It would show that they really like that Pokémon and they want it in as many forms (maybe even sizes) as possible, and with different fans liking different Pokémon, it can show that all kinds of Pokémon can have their dedicated fans, much like these ones. The only real demerit would perhaps be the impression that they seem to be "hogging" all the Pokémon merchandise for the particular species, even if they didn't go and buy it all from one store. Other fans pose the same considerations, given their comments on these collections.

As for me personally, I tend to be eclectic in collecting Pokémon merchandise, so I may not exactly be described as a "focused" collector. That said, I do have a fondness for Pikachu, so that forms a basis of my collection, essentially becoming a "partial focus" in a way. Others may or may not show such a focused tendency; for example, one of my friends who likes Sylveon might just be interested in getting a lot of things tied to it if given great amounts of resources for that purpose. Meanwhile, I have another friend who is practically in the "Mimikyu fan club" but that friend doesn't go overboard with "focused" merchandise like the specific fans above.

The idea of collecting all kinds of Pokémon merchandise for a selected species might appear to be insane - and it is, if the pictures of these collections are indicated to be as such. Even so, there is a certain heart, as possessed by the collectors, in these "focused collections" that is only matched by those collectors who are more diverse (or eclectic, as in my case) in collecting Pokémon merchandise. With that, some Pokémon merchandise collectors may indeed "focus" themselves in other to diversify them and the merchandise, and that trend could just persist.

One year ago: I'm On to Your Vitals

Two years ago: My Pokémon Boost Emblem Progress in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: Tournament: Arcaviary Tournament - Arcana Cup

Four years ago: BJ Podcast: The Varied Nature of Japanese Fans

Five years ago: Reminiscing Pokémon Karaokemon... and More

Six years ago: More "Countermeasures" for Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Performance Critique: Bunkasai 2019 J-Song

Eight years ago: Shiny Obsessions... Again?

Nine years ago: Oddest Things with Pokémon

Yo! ...Pokopia

The recently released Pokémon Pokopia game may still be fresh on the minds of many fans, including yours truly and even if they are beset by certain challenges that make it hard or even nearly impossible to play the game. That "fresh on the mind" aspect may then prompt other thoughts that involve the general outline of the game and expanding it to some other realms, where the game's aspects may not be as prominently involved... or perhaps rather differently.

Specifically, I've thought up of such a realm. It's about a group of friends - of whom only one is a human - exploring various situations in a world that seems to arise out of nothingness. That seems to be in parallel with the premise of Pokopia, where the main Ditto character assumes a humanoid form and deals with other Pokémon in the same way. Furthermore, I've already given a not-so-obvious hint in the title of this post, which may take a little rearrangement.

Meanwhile, that group of friends is composed of other creatures, which would be understood naturally as Pokémon species in the Pokémon sense. Two of them would be a Donphan as a persistent friend of the humanoid Ditto, and a Dachsbun as a playful companion to said character. The interactions of these three would define a lot of the dynamics that go on in the realm I'm thinking of, and especially if the realm were to be placed in Pokémon vice versa.

Yet they are not the only ones, for those who know what I'm thinking of. There is also a bird that doesn't have a lot to say most times, but when it does, it could be quite expressive - for which it could perhaps be described as a Chatot. Then there is a duck that might be thought of having a personality of its own (but not entirely clueless), for which a Ducklett would be fitting in this regard. The Ditto would interact with these two as well to explore the situations.

With all of that, it should be fairly obvious what I'm bringing up, at least for Pokémon fans who like and recognize the other realm. Somehow, it too could tie in well with the spirit of Pokopia as a recent Pokémon game spinoff that presents a neat premise and lovable characters - and so too does the other realm. It is then not hard to see how the two realms could go together, at least in the mind, to show that there is something to be built and gained from various times.

One year ago: The Deprecation of Community Day Goodies

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 5/19/2024

Three years ago: Need Some Help, Niantic?

Four years ago: Bits and Pieces of Pokémon Merchandise

Five years ago: The Hum of (Pokémon) Life

Six years ago: Better for the World

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 5/19/2019

Eight years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 5/19/2018

Nine years ago: On the Mystery of Dungeons

Raid RSVP and Scheduling in Pokémon Go

One of the latest features to be introduced into Pokémon Go (and that I haven't covered at this point - which I'll do now) is being able to set a battle time for an upcoming or ongoing raid battle and to indicate interest and/or reserve a spot for that battle time. This feature, which as the title of this post indicates, is the scheduling and RSVP feature. It sounds like a convenient feature that possibly has some nice things about it - and it does, which is also why I've decided to cover it right now.

For an upcoming nearby raid, Trainers can view a raid boss Egg and tap the RSVP button to select a battle time - usually as the Egg hatches and in 10-minute intervals thereafter. Doing so indicates one's willingness (but not requirement) to participate, and others can be invited, even remotely, to join. The process is nearly the same for an ongoing raid except that the button is on the right side of the usual "Join" button. And of course, one can also indicate not to join afterwards (as a last resort) or to be unsure - much like for Campfire meetups.

As for Trainers joining remotely, they will be notified if another Trainer does send an RSVP invite to a faraway raid; if they accept, then the raid invite will be placed under the new RSVP tab in Nearby, an included feature with the above. Regardless of location, Trainers will then be notified that the scheduled raid is about to begin, and they can make their local and remote preparations for that purpose. The rest of the raid process occurs normally as with a typical raid wherever one is concerned.

What benefits are furnished by making an RSVP? Besides being able to gauge the interest of other Trainers in raiding (including the faraway ones) and establishing convenient times for doing so, those who make an RSVP actually receive a few more Premier Balls during the post-raid bonus capture challenge. This is also very convenient, in particular if the Trainers present in the raid aren't friends or at least are at low levels. Thus, it seems that if a schedule and RSVP can be made, it might be very well worth it to make them.

Evidently, even little features like scheduling and RSVP for raids in Pokémon Go can have somewhat of a big impact, and that is true for the aspects that it has and the benefits it offers. The ability to establish times for battling and getting as many Trainers in on the action as possible is a way of creating and allowing for involvement, which fits in with the community aspect of Pokémon Go that is always promoted, then and now. That too is a good thing aside from making efforts to be involved in the raids themselves.

One year ago: Cosplay: Soundgaku - Echoes of Instruments

Two years ago: And Now, We Go

Three years ago: Every Day Is a Grind

Four years ago: New Factions Battlefields and More

Five years ago: One-Day Pokémon Adventure

Six years ago: Trivia Questions and Answers

Seven years ago: Trainer Image Cards

Eight years ago: Marathons...?

Nine years ago: Pins and Pins

Before Things Get Expensive

This post may be considered a continuation of a post I wrote up a couple of months ago about maintaining an appreciation of Pokémon even when the economy is at a bit of a downturn. In fact, it seems that downturn might be extending itself given the current circumstances where I am currently present and even elsewhere. With that, it seems that I need to revisit the topic to give it some more considerations with current Pokémon goings-on, for me and others, and in particular before certain prices get even more out of hand.

For us, it's likely that we may have typical goings-on in certain free Pokémon games with paid elements. In that case, there may be the prompt to both "stock up" and "save up" on some of those paid elements (like coins in Pokémon Go) - to buy what can be bought and to use what has been bought judiciously and only when absolutely needed. It's already sometimes a difficult thing, but it may get even more difficult with those current circumstances. Therefore, there is an interest in "stocking up" and "saving up" for peace of mind.

Meanwhile, it's also necessary to keep the things used to enjoy Pokémon, whether they're the devices (consoles, phones, and others) or the collected or earned merchandise, in working order. It may be expensive, in particular for the former, to fix things if they happen to break somehow in current times and buying new ones is out of the question, especially given that either of these things may be sourced from resources elsewhere other than local ones. In any case, their functioning may need to be kept regardless for life to go on.

Certainly, it's undeniable right now that everyone is living in a strange time, perhaps even stranger than a fever dream brought upon by a Gengar. That strange time also could possibly mean more expensive things on the horizon, for Pokémon or otherwise. With that, continuing the previous discussion seems to mean to make a reminder to keep things as viable as they can at and given current prices, which means the above points. Until the strange time passes (and the dream is gone), even Pokémon may still go on.

One year ago: All the Pokémon Q's and A's

Two years ago: Royals of the Universe

Three years ago: The Sunshine Cup of GBL

Four years ago: The New Structure of Factions

Five years ago: Quickies: Bike for Pokémon

Six years ago: Everything Is Electric

Seven years ago: A Wonderful PikaWorld

Eight years ago: Beyond Gyms and Trials

Nine years ago: A Pokémon Pencil Bag

Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 5/16/2026

It's been four months since an edition of Community Day Classic, so Trainers in this game have been eagerly expecting another one - and it comes today. They're also as eager to prepare for things related to Go Fest, which is coming up soon, in fact - something I also need to preview soon enough. Both of these contribute in different ways to the affairs of today, certainly one way of which is the bringing back of an old featured Pokémon species as a second chance for whoever might really need it.

And that returning species is Deino, which was last featured in June 2022 at a high-low point for the event. It and its species family has the Dark and Dragon types, which has relevance in some way for the happening above. In contrast to last time, this time the main bonus is triple catch XP, perhaps since the main edition this month already had its Egg hatch distance bonus. Since it's a Classic edition, there is also no double Candy bonus to speak of, which means Trainers have to find ways to make (up) the effort for that.

The special move for its fully evolved form of Hydreigon remains the significantly powerful Brutal Swing, a move of the Dark type. The rest of the bonuses align with how the event is executed in current times. That would mean 1-hour Lure Modules and the appearance bonus, 3-hour Incense, photo bombs, special backgrounds, Field Research tasks, community Timed Research, and a paid Special Research set that retains the past title ("Field Notes: Deino") while mixing up the task contents once again as the edition mixes the then and now.

Once again, today became another personal opportunity (for me) to meet up with a faraway community - while getting a few other things done on the side. Even though there were some reception problems, I was still able to take advantage of the opportunity to build up resources for the species family, and now with the onset of those with special backgrounds, evolve the best ones in that regard. Some disappointments may still remain, but definitely not at the community meetup, and they can be addressed later on.

Now, as for the preparatory aspect, darkness is the force that counters light, at least certain ones that are deemed to be less of a blessing. What that light will likely constitute is, again, part of the Go Fest preview, which will come later on. Regardless, having Community Day - and a Classic edition, no less - to prepare for that is a good idea, and it can be leveraged for other purposes as well. Like in the past edition, the dark and irate qualities of the Pokémon remain with it and not the festivity.

One year ago: Pokémon Without Borders (...for Me and You)

Two years ago: Please, Let Me Grow Old with You

Three years ago: More Available Regular Formats for General PvP?

Four years ago: How Far Should Pokémon Be Translated?

Five years ago: Command and Conquer, PvP Style

Six years ago: A Multicultural Cast

Seven years ago: Carry On Carryin' On

Eight years ago: The Living Dex

Nine years ago: Pastrana and Pikachu

(The Best of) Community Ambassador Waypoint Labels

If you play Pokémon Go and attend the now-standard community meetups, you might see and recognize that recently, wherever they meet, they have extra waypoints (as PokéStops, Gyms, and even Power Spots) with the name "Community Ambassador Campsite" followed by a word label of some sort. It's an intriguing approach for these waypoints, so I thought I'd cover them somehow on this blog for what they are worth.

Now, these labels are certainly intended to help point out at which "Campsite" Trainers are to gather, battle, and/or socialize, which is why there are indeed many of these labels. In fact, I had planned to try to cover all of them, but it doesn't seem right to try and do that with the multitude that they offer. That is why the title of this post contains "the best of", as I've decided to pick out the most interesting ones of the collection.

Some of these labels seem to represent what qualities a Community Ambassador should really possess. Out of the multitude, I pick out "Positive", "Accepting", "Engaging", "Friendly", and "Dedicated" as the most representative (as well as currently relevant) labels. These qualities are what I would consider to be part of a consummate Community Ambassador, for which the process of registering as one should have been able to reflect.

Of course, Community Ambassadors also need to interact with other Trainers, so some of the qualities can and should describe that process too. For that, I've chosen the "Encouraging", "Helpful", "Creative", and "Innovative" labels, again as the representative and currently relevant ones. These qualities ought to be evident for both Community Ambassadors and Trainers, and that would also say something about their relevant processes.

Although most of the labels are adjectival, there are also three nominal labels - "Opportunity", "Energy", and "Integrity" - that seem out of place (the adjectival forms would have to be "opportunistic", "energetic", and "integritous") yet are in fact there. Given the representation that the labels convey, they could be regarded as places where the spirits presented by the nouns might manifest themselves the strongest at a meetup.

The presence of these labels - as well as the waypoints themselves - is a new one (at the least, it might be for some who have dealt with the dynamics of "ambassadorship" in some regions). What's not new is the fact that labels of all kinds can carry (or be imbued with) some power of representation with them and their application, and if anything, these labels applied to these waypoints might just hint at their collective power.

One year ago: Day Turnovers in Pokémon Games

Two years ago: The Blood of Youth

Three years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Foul Noctowls Elite (SA Factions)

Four years ago: Steering and Nearing with Tsunekazu Ishihara

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 5/15/2021

Six years ago: Coming Full Circle

Seven years ago: Everything Old Is New Again

Eight years ago: 15 Minutes of Fame

Nine years ago: Fallen Comrades

Pokémon Games at the Arcade

Pokémon is not known to be a major influence in arcade gaming, especially given the fact that its first games are what is known in the trade as "consumer software (CS)". Nevertheless, many years after the fact, Pokémon games did break out in the arcade, albeit having only a relatively minor presence - which in fact still lingers even today. I've decided to round up a few of these Pokémon arcade games, which I have to say is an idea that had been in the works for about a year but only could realize now.

One of those games is Pokkén Tournament, something that WCS fans approximately a decade ago would recognize. The game did get its start at the arcade, and it was played with an actual handheld controller that would be a hint of its eventual presence as a console game and in the competitive arena. Although the game has exited the competitive Pokémon scene and it can now be considered a "niche" game, its legacy has been cemented, and fans can still play it if they are interested in it.

Next, there is (or was, to be explained shortly) Pokémon Tretta. This game features combat using Pokémon tokens in square form against the CPU, as well as capturing Pokémon to earn their tokens. Mega Evolution was also involved, in particular with an accessory. Unfortunately, the service for it ended a somewhat longish time ago, and the arcade machines themselves weren't widespread - in fact, limited to certain regions too. Still, the game that follows this one carries over the mechanics. 

That next game would be Pokémon Mezastar. While still only playable in some select regions (including how accounts are handled), Pokémon tokens are still used, though this time they're elliptical instead of square. Species from the seventh and eighth generations also appear, including those with Gigantamax forms. The fast-paced combat is engaging and could become addictive, especially after one play or even a few, and it further demonstrates the advancement of this game after its predecessor. 

It's still a relative rarity to find Pokémon games at the arcade, particularly when there is the concern of regional availability as with the last two games above. Yet it's also important to know that Pokémon has an arcade presence in some way, which is impressive given its start in console gaming and even if it will likely remain more well-known for that, compared to arcade gaming. Fans who see any of these games might just want to play them for the experience that they have to offer.

One year ago: The State of Playable Legendaries in Unite

Two years ago: Alive, in Life

Three years ago: Consolidation: New Café Remix Updates

Four years ago: Starter Pokémon in the Wild

Five years ago: The Retro Cup of GBL

Six years ago: Going Elite with TMs

Seven years ago: Detective Pikachu Burger King King Jr. Toys - Arcanine

Eight years ago: Round Pikachu Keychain

Nine years ago: Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 12