Wednesday, April 1, 2026

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.

Nine years ago: It's April Fool's Day!
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026

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
Four years ago: Consume and Create
Eight years ago: Mauville's Progress
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Monday, March 30, 2026

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.

Seven years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Cup
Eight years ago: Lugia Raid Burnout
Nine years ago: Ice Is Nice with Pokémon
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Sunday, March 29, 2026

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.

Nine years ago: Pokémon Mechanical Fan
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Saturday, March 28, 2026

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.

Two years ago: One Item, Indefinitely?
Three years ago: Rainbow Pokémon Fantasies
Nine years ago: A Pikachu Wall Hanging
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Friday, March 27, 2026

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
Seven years ago: Ingress and Out
Eight years ago: Pokémon in Common Terms
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Thursday, March 26, 2026

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.

Five years ago: Be the Winning Team
Six years ago: Looking for Good News
Seven years ago: Nominating PokéStops
Nine years ago: Slowpoke Moments
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