BOGO Offers for Pokémon?

Along with the previously discussed FOMO aspect, I also had mentioned two other closely associated aspects to that - at least, by my personal experience - and ones that sound rather similar. One of them is now the subject of this post: "BOGO", short for "buy one get one". It may be that the relation of this aspect to the previous one (and perhaps the third, which will be discussed whenever) will appear rather superficial by way of that experience, but then there's a way of tying that aspect to Pokémon as I have done for the previous one.

Whether they're Pokémon fans or just ordinary ones, people will likely have heard or seen this aspect in relation to purchasing things. Essentially, it's a form of a discount where one buys an item and gets another one (of the same or similar kind) along with that item. Given this link, it becomes evident that the aspect is most pertinent for Pokémon merchandise, something that one could expect to buy one of and get something additional, although a few other purchases related to Pokémon might also qualify to have this aspect. 

Looking at the current offerings on the Pokémon Center web site, there may not be much leeway in anything that might allow a BOGO offer to take place, but the major end-of-the-year festivities are on tap, and even minor BOGO offers could be offered then... and may have been in the past, though that seems hard for me to discover for one reason or another. Meanwhile, the offerings of current Pokémon games with paid purchases often have bonuses, especially for those who purchase the offerings for the first time, and selected offerings may essentially be a BOGO offer for those who know when and how to look.

In attempting to relate this to the previous aspect, it's quite possible that BOGO offers might stimulate a FOMO feeling because of the way they are often limited-time. That may be especially so if one doesn't know how long the offers have appeared and how much longer they might be around for. In that respect, at least some games per the above may have lessened the FOMO feeling by way of informing how their "BOGO offers" have been and will be around, but even with that, at least some of the feeling might persist.

Perhaps it may be hard at times to justify the presence or existence of BOGO offers, or things that can be construed as such, for Pokémon matters. Yet as part of dealings and transactions, it may just sometimes make itself present, albeit not explicitly. As subjective as the relation is between this aspect and the previously discussed aspect, explicating them, that link, and the possible connections to Pokémon may still be warranted, and it may just be the prompt for looking out for and not missing the next (form of) BOGO offerings.

One year ago: Going Big in Galar Part 2: The Other "Big"

Two years ago: The Shared (International) Journey of One Piece and Pokémon

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/18/2022

Four years ago: To Care and To Protect

Five years ago: GOtcha Podcast Episode 1: Mega Evolution in Pokémon Go

Six years ago: Raid Failures

Seven years ago: A Restarted Fever?

Eight years ago: What I (Really) Like About You - Pokémon

The Problem of Scalpers and Pokémon

I have been mentioning a few times this year the issue of how scalpers have become involved in Pokémon matters and thus affected them. The focus, though, has been less of the latter and more on the former, and so the effect might not seem evident. Yet the effect is arguably just as important as the phenomenon in the first place, so it has to be discussed even to a certain length in order to understand what has taken place and its essence.

When the Van Gogh collaboration surfaced with its promotional card, those who "invaded" the museum in a flurry to obtain the card were undeniably of the scalper sort, causing somewhat of a hassle for its distribution and forcing a bit of a rework for this purpose. Thus, the effect becomes an illustration of how scalpers have caused problems for the distribution of Pokémon merchandise and how this necessitates changes in the method for doing just that.

Later on, it was apparent that scalpers had gotten ahold of Pokémon merchandise offered by McDonalds in Japan with complete disregard of the food that it's supposed to come along with, leading the franchise to cancel a later promotion for another series that is just as popular as Pokémon and surely has scalper problems of its own. Here, the effect goes beyond the merchandise itself and it poses further problems for distributing parties.

Meanwhile, TCG players in the U.S. still find it hard to get ahold of cards, for which it is cited that the display shelves of a major retailer for it is often seen empty - likely because the scalpers have gotten ahold of the products before actual players have. Evidently, the effect in this case becomes the burden of the players, whose need for the physical product cannot be fulfilled due to the products being in the hands of the scalpers rather than among players.

Out of these happenings that are brought upon by scalpers, their effects can be said to be somewhat profound for the fans of Pokémon merchandise and those who provide them, and it becomes a major problem for all. The solution to that problem, that which will satisfy the fans and providers while excluding the scalpers, may still need to be worked out; hopefully, concern will remain with the merchandise itself and not those who scalp them.

One year ago: More Waypoint Usage in Pokémon Go?

Two years ago: Cosplay: Helloweebs on the Road & TM Town Festival

Three years ago: Best Times for Community Day across Times and Places

Four years ago: (Un)finished Business, Again

Five years ago: Progressing Through the Go Battle League

Six years ago: At a Starry Night Time

Seven years ago: Approaching Field Research Tasks

Eight years ago: Restarting Go Fever Among Players

Getting Tired of Packs in TCGP?

As has become evident, throughout this year, the TCGP implementation of the Pokémon TCG has come out with expansions (and thus, packs) one after another in monthly succession. That makes for a great deal of content - not all of which have been perfect - but it can also be overwhelming to the point that it makes some people or players tired of them. This becomes an undesirable condition that may lead to other undesirable things for (the state of) the game, and it demands a few perspectives for its understanding.

This condition is also referred by a certain player as "pack fatigue", which encapsulates the above sentiments quite well. The novelty of opening card packs from a new expansion is conceivably replaced by a sense of frustration, boredom, and tiredness when it comes to getting the last few numbered cards, which may not be all that easy to get. And then a new expansion comes in too quickly, which repeats that. Although it's possible to battle with the already obtained cards, the intervening timeframe may not allow that to happen comfortably. The game also seems pressured to put things out quickly, leading to the above problems.

I myself feel that sense of tiredness, losing the novelty from the addition of expansions quickly and not having the downtime to battle and try to make use of the cards I've already gotten. Moreover, since sometimes I don't log in frequently enough for getting the cards as well as certain events, it feels like I can't keep up with them before the next expansion shows up and I'm thrust into the "new expansion roller coaster" again. If things didn't happen so quickly, I would be able to enjoy them more and not be pressured to get everything done within the period of one month as is now apparently their norm.

Could there be a way to rectify this situation? The answer may be "yes": for the next expansion, both major and minor, the period can be extended to one and a half months, and the events in them can have their durations adjusted as well. This ought to allow time for players to get all the cards they want and/or need, and their development can become not so rushed as well. Following that, a lengthy break of expansions for concurrent maintenance (while still allowing the game to be played) can be implemented before "the next big thing".

For many things, it is certain that rushing them may not be in the best interest. The expansions and packs in TCGP over the course of this year look to have that "rushed" quality for them, which in turn may be "rushing" the energy and feelings of some players, and perhaps even the game itself. A pause to not rush the things in the game might be beneficial at this moment to allow further enjoyment without the tiredness that has developed for players or otherwise.

One year ago: Dynamax in Pokémon Go: The "Big" Bones

Two years ago: Being a Pokémon... Weeaboo?

Three years ago: New Pokémon Fossil Watches

Four years ago: Let's Talk About Good Drinks and Good Friends

Five years ago: The Firefighters of Pokémon

Six years ago: Pokémon Cable Bite Accessory - Pikachu

Seven years ago: An End to Jumps

Eight years ago: Pokémon Suits in Cosplay?

Cosplay: Foodtopia Festival (S4)

Me: So, here's that "thing" from yesterday.

Ash: It was this festival again!

Goh: OK, that's not too bad. And... I think this would be the fourth time. Same deal and all.

Me: I think so. They didn't say explicitly, but this would be "Season 4" if they actually said it.

Goh: Like all the times before, there had to have been competitions.

Me: Sure! But... it seems they wanted to try some different things, so a few things changed.

Ash: There was no singing competition this time!

Goh: Oh, what a bummer. So you couldn't do anything our friend would want you to do.

Ash: Yeah. But then there was Community Day, so I still couldn't even if I could.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika... ["It wasn't going to happen..."]

Me: I'm pretty sure that it would have been smack-dab in the afternoon right at the same time as well.

Goh: But they had to fill time - so what did they have?

Ash: I heard it was a dance cover competition. But I didn't see any of it.

Me: It was absolutely that. One of my friends told me he'd participate in it. But yeah, this is something we really can't deal with.

Goh: And there had to be entertainment... oh wait, according to the poster, looks like it's just dance groups.

Ash: Didn't get to see (most of) them either.

Goh: Not surprising since our friend isn't fond of them.

Me: That's true.

Goh: The thing that stays has to be the character parade... yes?

Ash: Yup! But I didn't get in even though there was still time when I got to the place.

Goh: Hmm? Care to explain, our friend?

Me: Well, let's think about it this way. Did you see the parade?

Ash: Almost the entire thing, in the evening.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu. ["A good time for it."]

Goh: That's actually kind of nice. 

Ash: There were 25 or so characters.

Me: And how about the winners?

Ash: Just three. All friends of yours, and they've been winners before. And I think the judges know them - and us.

Goh: I see where this is going. So it was a good call not to sign up, just like that one time.

Me: See, this is too easy. And hard for me to shell out cash if that was just going to happen.

Goh: Yeah, I get that. So, after all, the day was just for meeting friends of our friends.

Ash: I'm just fine with that!

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["Sure thing!"]

Ash: And... I guess it might take some time before our friend can put us in something, somewhere. 

Me: If better opportunities present themselves, then that will happen.

Goh: Hey, at least there was food this time. 

Ash: A lot! But I only tried a bit from your friends.

Goh: Oh. Well, next time.

Me: There will be good food, good friends, and good times - hopefully all at once.

One year ago: In Search of New Posting Styles

Two years ago: The Nonviolent Approach to Pokémon

Three years ago: Pokémon Moe Gijinka: To Love and Be Loved

Four years ago: Reminiscing Stadium and Colosseum

Five years ago: On Public Communication with Pokémon

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/15/2019

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Trading Stickers

Eight years ago: Am I Writing-Challenged?

Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/14/2025

Some people might say that September is a pleasant month. One thing that might make that so is all the colors that might be present throughout the days of the month, and the sight of colors is indeed relaxing to many. Colors also apply very well to Pokémon species, of which some of them have forms that vibrantly show off these colors. This may or may not have been the guiding principle for choosing the featured Pokémon of this month's edition - which incidentally is on the same date as last year's (see below) - but the colors are still evident regardless for this edition. 

Those colors are certainly of Flabébé, this month's featured Pokémon and its species family. As discussed in a post, it has five colors (of their flowers), which in Pokémon Go is distributed according to specific areas of the world - "regional", it can be said. That makes it the first Community Day with forms that not everyone in the world may have. Even so, the event is advertised with the white and orange colors, the global but rare ones. Regardless of color, evolving it to Floette and then Florges during the span of the next week allows the latter to learn the Chilling Water move, a Charged move of the Water type with usefulness for PvP. Further, the usual stringent evolution requirement to evolve Floette is temporarily simplified to just earning seven Buddy Pokémon hearts - truly a necessity if one wants to evolve several.

Because of the regional specificity, a few things also apply to Research. The Field Research encounters are of the regional color as well as the global colors. The background Timed Research encounters are of the regional color, while the paid Special Research encounters are of the global colors. As such, this isn't an opportunity to obtain the colors of the other regions, but more to obtain special versions of the ones that are available wherever one plays. Of course, one can deal with the ones from other regions if one already has them.

As for the rest of the aspects, this month's main bonus is quartered Egg hatch distance, always a useful bonus for an addition. Then there are the usual other bonuses of double Candy and Candy XL chance, extended Lure Modules and Incense, photo bombs (of the regional variant), an extra Special Trade and discounted trades, and item bundles in the shops. They're all regular, even if the featured Pokémon isn't.

Oh, and there is (was) a bit of an irregularity for me today for dealing with this edition...

Goh: That means Ash, doesn't it.

Ash: Here I am! (And there I was...)

Me: Well, we don't need to talk too much about Flabébé and its kin, since we know you two have a history with them while you were adventuring.

Goh: Yeah, you know about that, especially the white flower one.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika chu. ["I like yellow myself."]

Ash: I captured a lot of them today! But the only Shiny ones were for the blue one.... 

Goh: So, the blue one is for the place where you are.

Me: It surely is. I don't know if I'll be able to get the white and orange ones - if ever - but I can try a few things.

Ash: I met your better friends of your "friends". And then I went somewhere else for even better friends.

Goh: Oh, so that must be a for a thing going on somewhere.

Ash: It was.

Me: We'll deal with that separately. But hey, it makes for a "flowery" day today with all the people we met.

Ash: Nice one!

If the defining characteristic of the Flabébé species family is the color of their flowers, then as suggested by the title of the paid Special Research ("Flower Power"), the botanical aspect is their key to make things lively. Of course, that goes for the appearance aspect as the color, and that comes in spades to make this month's Community Day a real pleasant one.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 9/14/2024

Two years ago: Watch What I Say

Three years ago: Into the Deep Blue

Four years ago: Dancing with Pokémon

Five years ago: It's Time for GOtcha... Podcast

Six years ago: The Appeal of the TCG

Seven years ago: A Pokémon Watch

Eight years ago: Three's Demise

Mega Evolution on Parade

In the past, I had discussed about Mega Evolution in different framings, a minorly pessimistic one when it apparently seemed to be put to rest, and a slightly hopeful one after it has taken a foothold in Pokémon Go. Fast-forward to today, the concept has seen a resurgence, which could be described as a "parade" of sorts; not only that, fans of the past and present are quite receptive of this resurgence and particularly how it's being presented. This current state of affairs for a Pokémon evolution form that almost became a bygone one definitely demands attention and addressing, particularly for the relevant factors contributing to it - as in the games that will feature them.

Along with the prior discussion, I had postulated that it might take something new to bring it back to prominence and provoke a good response. Now, that something has become clear: that would be Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which takes the setting of Lumiose City as the heart of Kalos, the region that heralded Mega Evolution in the first place. In fact, new Pokémon with this evolutionary form have been revealed, from Mega Dragonite during the latest Pokémon Presents to those for Victreebel, Hawlucha, and Malamar in various (and quirky) social media announcements, and just now through a "final trailer" for other expected and unexpected species. Much, much more will become clear(er) when the game gets released next month, with this cavalcade heralding that clarity.

Then there is the TCG (physical as well as Live) with the coming Mega Evolution expansion. Some of the featured forms will certainly be for the "first batch" species that fans already know and recognize, and players will need to deal with them as "ex" cards that evolve from their earlier stage forms. Obviously, there was some planning for this to coincide with the Legends game as above, and that works out well for the momentum of that game while bolstering the TCG itself - allowing it to "take part" in the parade, in a way.

Meanwhile, there has been word that over the course of the remaining part of the year, Pokémon Unite will finally implement Mega Evolution for Pokémon other than Mewtwo (that has been the pioneer and yet still the only one as such even now). They'll be a sight to see when they finally appear, and their "ground rules" may also become evident at that point, but it is clear that Pokémon Unite has offered its contributions to the parade. 

Of course, Pokémon Go will take everything into account. In fact, nearly all of the "first batch" species now have their forms in the game, or will eventually. That means the "second batch" from the new Legends game will follow suit, whether it's during this rather "form-changing" season or all the other ones that will come afterwards.

From its beginnings in the sixth-generation games, Mega Evolution truly has had its ups and downs. The momentum of the main series games that featured them is one upward moment, followed by the almost immediate downward one of their nearly becoming deprecated. Then there were just sporadic inclusions in other facets, before the current almost full resurgence with a "parade" heralded by a game that promises to be sensational. Like any parade, at least some excitement is to be had as its participants appear, and with the ones above for Mega Evolution, fans will definitely be set for a good time as they watch the "parade" pass by.

One year ago: On Half Decks and Full Decks

Two years ago: Spoiler Alert

Three years ago: Longing for Pokémon Donuts

Four years ago: The Fate of My Local Pokémon Hangouts

Five years ago: Competitor Ranks of the Silph League Arena

Six years ago: Personal Branding

Seven years ago: To Judge and Be Judged

Eight years ago: Catering to Old and New Players

Theia Sky Ruins, Subterranean Edition

Closing up the run of this week's discussions on Pokémon Unite matters is one that is of great interest and importance. Starting this Battle Pass season, Ranked match players continue to deal with the Theia Sky Ruins map as they have done for a few years now, but with a few differences. The discussion was originally planned to focus on the most major element of those differences, but it turns out there is more than that. As such, I decided to expand it to cover the importance of its elements taken together. 

And taken together, the overall gist is as suggested in the title of this post: the map now comes in a "subterranean" edition. What makes it as such is that the central "legend pit" now has Groudon instead of Rayquaza, which when defeated grants faster scoring of goals and increased power instead of a protective shield. Its appearance is fairly obvious: the pit is now bordered by pools of magma rather than dense clouds. It has always been apparent that the "legend pit" is important, and now it is more so.

That, of course, is not all. A few other things are changed, specifically the titan "axis" in the middle. Sometimes, the original trio and Regieleki will swap places, while Regidrago will appear in the middle early on to boost goal scoring when defeated, marking its first time showing up in a map for Ranked matches. Herds of Natu might also show up in the center, and the two outermost goal zones might have different point requirements. As such, the changes are quite spread out.

Dealing with the map might require a bit of strategy changing for those who are already acquainted with the previous edition. The titans being shuffled around might prompt some players to choose Pokémon they don't normally play in order to deal with any or all of them. Certainly, reiterating the above, players will want to go into the "legend pit" in order to take down Groudon for themselves before the other team does so, or the consequences might indeed become very dire for them otherwise.

Opportunities for new supremacy might just arise with these latest changes to affect the Theia Sky Ruins map that has been in place as the venue for Ranked matches in Pokémon Unite for some time - something that is not likely to change any time soon, apparently unlike the map itself. The appearance of Groudon in lieu of Rayquaza brings the sky-high map down to earth (perhaps a little bit under that), and this and the other new or mixed-up elements will pique and challenge players with all that they can offer.

One year ago: No Lies... and Lies

Two years ago: A Win for the Ages

Three years ago: One-Minute Cooking in Café Remix

Four years ago: Hidden Tracked Statistics in Pokémon Go

Five years ago: Let's Talk About Household Creatures

Six years ago: And Intelligence

Seven years ago: Proud to Be a Clean Cosplayer

Eight years ago: Poké-Mobile Devices