The New Park Is Open

Good news for Pokémon fans: the new PokéPark Kanto, the actual real-life version in Japan as compared to games that bear the first word, is now open and fans are really enjoying it. I had already discussed many of its previewed details nearly half a year ago, and now I want to supplement those details by putting in additional tidbits that further highlight the attraction, certainly for the purpose of attracting more fans (and even me) to be able to go there.

Now, one novelty that has been recently highlighted for the new park is the park's own Pokémon Center - as in the facility that fans recognize for healing Pokémon. It's a model of the same facility found in the games, and it even comes with its own Nurse Joy and the interactive electronics that make the facility realistic as well as an experience by itself. Yet it's certainly part of the experience of the park, so one can't forget to enjoy the rest of the park along with this.

As for Pokémon merchandise that is encapsulated under the common modern understanding of Pokémon Center, the park has no short supply of them. But what might be in short supply is the cash that Trainers may have for and/or after buying them, since the merchandise has been reported to be somewhat expensive, even more so compared to a regular Pokémon Center. It seems prospective fans will need to reserve at least some cash to get at all the good stuff.

In order to enter the park, one needs to reserve tickets by the usage of a smartphone app designed for that very purpose. Yet it looks like fans will only be able to reserve tickets for the times farther ahead, since the times closer are already pretty much booked. And then there's all the necessary travel arrangements that are quite obvious even if left unsaid. Prospective fans will surely need to plan ahead in one way or another if they want to enjoy the park.

Celebrations for the new park are also in the games. Pokémon Unite has a Special Kanto Battle mode and event featuring a map that forces usage of Unite Licenses from Kanto, and Pokémon Go has raids that are to reward Trainers with special location backgrounds... or supposed to, as in typical fashion, there is a bit of a "kerfuffle" with it. Some form of in-game celebration is always in order, given the game roots of Pokémon and its continued appeal.

Of course, the real treat is certainly being able to make it to the park in person, which could be a little hard to come by, given the current circumstances and necessities for being able to do so. But once there, enjoyment is certainly the order of the day through the attraction that is the park and the goodies that can be obtained from being there. The park looks set to be a defining feature of Pokémon in real life, always something to seek for its most diehard fans.

One year ago: Best Ways to Shop for PokéCoins and Items

Two years ago: Living on Pokémon Islands

Three years ago: Rise of the Watery Naiads

Four years ago: Go Tour, Next Age and Next Stage

Five years ago: Movie Manga, Local (Re) Edition

Six years ago: In My Full Time

Seven years ago: The Feeling of Disaggregation

Eight years ago: Life with My Raid Group

Nine years ago: Alola-Exeggutor - From Humanoid to Coconut Tree Dragon

Getting "Nutty" with Pokémon

For those in the know, there is a certain thing from the U.S. that is actually very popular around the world, including quite so in Japan and in a way sort-of rivaling Pokémon there. I'm not too involved with it, but just enough to know and be entertained by it. Even so, it might seem possible to discuss it in terms of Pokémon and the other way around - to discuss Pokémon in terms of it. So, I thought I'd go and do just that.

A key part of the "certain thing" is a boy and his dog, which I don't have to say is quite similar to the relationship between Ash and Pikachu. They certainly care about each other in many ways, and I mean that for both cases above. Yet they might differ at times and in some ways, but everything still works out in the end - at least mostly in the former case. The bond is evident in both, and so are the implications that arise.

In a way, the former's pair has been described to be the combination of the "everyman and ideal self", albeit separately. Retaining this line of reasoning for Pokémon, any character in its world, beyond Ash and Pikachu, can be taken as measures of both - although it has to be admitted that Ash does have a lot of that "everyman" quality and Pikachu shows a lot of "idealism" for what anyone, person or creature, can be.

Of course, the "certain thing" is not solely about them. They have their friends, and likewise for Pokémon, there are friends and comrades for every situation. The former can be likened to a smaller, close-knit version of Pokémon Masters EX that doesn't really expand but still has a lot of what is going on in that game. And what goes on is a lot of bonding as well as some friction, as is expected in any human life and relation.

Getting back to Ash and Pikachu, the former has a shirt that bears resemblance to one that is owned by the aforementioned boy, in a way furthering the connection between the two. And though the imagination of Pikachu isn't too unusual - aside from an attraction involving a certain kind of red bottle - the Pokémon benefits from the imagination of his Trainer, achieving feats in battle that may just be unbelievable for others.

The "certain thing" remains a fascination for those in Japan, just like how Pokémon has in turn become a fascination for those in the U.S. and all around the world. Behind that fascination (for either or both of these), it seems easy to draw some parallels between the two things to understand them by way of each other. That's not a "nutty" thing, even if that "certain thing" is, in a way, for all the (Pokémon) kids at heart in a "peanut gallery".

One year ago: Filling the Week with Pokémon Go Activities

Two years ago: The Plush Dolls That Sit Pretty

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/5/2023

Four years ago: The Little Intricacies of PvP

Five years ago: Get Your Game On, Go Tour

Six years ago: It's (All) About Time

Seven years ago: First-Generation Glitches... Plus My Experience

Eight years ago: I Need a Laugh - Pokémon Humor

Nine years ago: Itasha Revisited

The Expanded World of Adventure Effects

Since they were introduced around a couple of years ago in Pokémon Go, Adventure Effects have established themselves as a unique way of enhancing different aspects of the game. I also had posited back then that they could be expanded, and they have been... although the mannerism has been quite different in actuality than what I posited. Regardless, the content for explaining them is rather overdue, so I have to get on in explaining them somehow - and now that I've thought about them, it's pretty much time to do so.

The second batch of Adventure Effects was the product of Pokémon Go Fest later that year and corresponds to the moves of Sunsteel Strike and Moongeist Beam, which are obtained by fusing Necrozma with Solgaleo and Lunala respectively. These Adventure Effects are "Incense-like" in nature, allowing a Trainer to attract daytime Pokémon at night and vice versa, but they also allow time-based evolution that couldn't occur at that time to occur. The perks are pretty neat yet are also somewhat limited, although the moves themselves are useful beyond the Adventure Effects - so the perks being "add-ons" are welcomed. 

Next, the Fusion of Kyurem with Reshiram and Zekrom brought about the Ice Burn and Freeze Shock moves and their Adventure Effects. The latter two need to know their "Fusion" moves and the former needs to know Glaciate in order to result in the new moves. Their effects are also astounding: the latter freezes Pokémon in place (like an "always on" Nanab Berry) while the former slows down the capture circle for more precise throwing. These effects also affect "accessory devices", allowing easier captures even with their usage. With these effects, they can be said to be quite necessary to have - and so are the Fusion forms. 

As for the latest batch of Adventure Effects, they would be Behemoth Blade and Behemoth Bash, which were products of last year's Pokémon Go Fest with the dealings of Legendary Pokémon from the Galar region, as Zacian and Zamazenta. Changing them to their respective Crowned forms with them knowing Iron Head changes this move to the moves as mentioned. The Adventure Effects that pertain to these moves involve increasing Pokémon attack or defense in Max Battles, which may be somewhat useful in a pinch and especially when others are using them in tandem. It's safe to say that it's useful to have these.

One last Adventure Effect, also the product of the above event, belongs to Eternatus, whose Dynamax Cannon when activated strengthens Max Moves, especially ones that have been maxed out. It also costs a bit more resources than other Adventure Effects typically, but that's par for the course of the highly demanding Eternatus. Those who have this super-powerful Pokémon will conveniently have it, and those who don't might just be able to have it at some point in time, along with the Adventure Effect.

Evidently, the feature of Adventure Effects has come quite a way from when it was introduced the first time. The new effects since then are rather varied for the needs of Trainers and even in the scale of their helpfulness, but quite a few will certainly be helpful when Trainers might just need them the most. Expansion of the feature in all the mannerisms above reflects what the various species can do with their powers and how that can manifest for Trainers, who look to enhance their Pokémon Go progress with them. 

One year ago: Max Mushrooms - Between Pokémon and Battles

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/4/2024

Three years ago: Distilling TCGO-TCGL Matters

Four years ago: The Past, Present, and Future of Silph Arena PvP

Five years ago: The Consideration of Gaming Journalism

Six years ago: Lost Player Ties

Seven years ago: The False Gods

Eight years ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 2

Nine years ago: Pokémon and Mahjong Tile Games

Thoughts on Pokémon Masters EX

As I had mentioned, Pokémon Masters EX is one of the games that is evidently region-locking itself out of playability. One of these happens to be... my region, so I wanted to get in some playtime before the inevitable happens - and has happened as of about a week ago. I thought that after that I would then be able to write up a few things about the game, possibly in several posts, but it turns out I don't have enough for consideration of doing that. Instead, I'd like to just put down a few of my experiences and the associated thoughts with them.

I had actually tried to start playing the game even earlier, over a year before. Back then, I did get through the preliminaries with the bare minimum of downloaded game data, but because the rest of the game required a great deal of space beyond what I had (I was on a different device back then), I couldn't make further progress. Luckily, I also managed to bind the game data to my Nintendo Account so that I could jump back in whenever. This approach of "trial versioning" the game to prospective players is unique and laudable, and the binding of game data right away is a vital step that makes things easy - unless one didn't do it or forgot.

The bulk of the game, of course and as detailed early on, involves scouting for Sync Pairs - and "scout" means gacha, and a lot of that. "Freeloading" in this case may not necessarily be a good thing, and with all the paid options in the game, that seems overwhelming even if said Sync Pairs can still be gotten for free (at least just a number of them). As for those Sync Pairs, they're certainly some of the Trainers that fans know and love - even characters that some fans may not have thought of as Trainers. So, they're certainly appealing to Pokémon fans of all kinds and walks of life, even yours truly who doesn't care too much about the gacha part.

For the engagement, at least some of the story is captivating, with the Trainers being gathered on Pasio Island for what seems to be a time of R&R for them, but it turns out to become a struggle against others and the machinations of what brought them to the island in the first place. The storylines go deep and branch out, which is what I like, and I'm sure what others attracted to this game are looking for. It would take a lot of time to explore all the paths of those stories and get what (or who) is required for that purpose, but alas, time dictates (or dictated) how much I could explore in the game before time ran out for me to do so.

Overall, it seems likely that I'd dive into this game from time to time instead of incorporating it into my daily rotation of Pokémon games, and especially if it had been possible for me to delve into the game further with and during the time it was available to me. There may or may not be any indication that I'll ever be able to play the game again beyond the region-locking circumstances, but if that's even possible, then a few more posts about it might be expected on this blog. At least, the true masters that are the characters in this game may just agree.

One year ago: The Legendary Flight, Dynamax Style

Two years ago: Challenges of Relating to People with Pokémon

Three years ago: TCG Live on the Horizon

Four years ago: Standing Guard for Arena PvP

Five years ago: Labyrinthine Expectations

Six years ago: Editing PokéStops

Seven years ago: Under a Truck

Eight years ago: Formality of Ownership

Nine years ago: The Sweetest Days - Ash and Pikachu

Region-Locked Pokémon Games

In these days, Pokémon is practically everywhere, but gaming sometimes isn't. Some games in the bigger world of gaming are only available for purchase and/or play in specific regions of the world, making them "region-locked". Pokémon has largely escaped this problem with many of its games being available in many places, yet it's the part that "didn't escape" that's still a problem. For that, the topic seems to be appropriate and worth it to be discussed, being that it has already become quite applicable.

By now, an apparent one of these should be obvious: the TCGL game is in fact region-locked. The installer (on PCs) and app (for mobile) can only be downloaded from the regions where the game is available for play. Even if the game is somehow installed, the game will check for the location of the player, and if the location isn't in the play region, the game won't allow itself to be played. It's a frustrating one for players who need the virtual TCG implementation through this game and/or already active with it.

Less apparent is one of the currently active mobile games, as Pokémon Masters EX. The game has "shuttered" its service in many locations, and it is in fact the game I mentioned would be making a "precious departure". In doing so, the game is essentially locking itself out of certain regions, even though the game continues to be developed and to be playable in other places. There may be certain reasons for doing so, given the mechanisms of the game, but that may not matter to those who become unable to play again.

Meanwhile, although Pokémon Unite itself is not region-locked, some parts of the game are, can, and have been. Being Chinese-developed, it has a player base there, and it is apparent that the players there have their own server and they may or may not interact with those outside of that server. Then, a certain World Championship event in the past has had parts of it restricted only to certain players in the world, with others being able to play through the full event. The aspect is still evident, if only elementally.

As great as it is having Pokémon in all kinds of ways to play and enjoy it, the fact remains that it's still quite possible for certain Pokémon games to be restricted to certain players in certain places. That has evidently applied to the above games to certain extents, limiting those who can play the games (in whole or in part) by location. Even aspects that apply distinctly to other games can apply to Pokémon games as well, and in this particular case, it plays into and affects the quality of Pokémon being everywhere.

One year ago: Cosplay: Ruang Cosplay First Gathering

Two years ago: In a Trainer's Bag

Three years ago: Being Surrounded by Promotional Cards

Four years ago: NADWPKMN - The Video Series: Episode #1 - An Introduction

Five years ago: Pass Challenges with Pokémon

Six years ago: Total Experience

Seven years ago: Legends Among People

Eight years ago: Pictures Worth Thousands of Words

Nine years ago: Pokkén Sentiments

Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/1/2026

And, well, there is Community Day on the first of the month, the first regular edition with such a manner of featuring the event. Not exactly the first time would be the manner of the featured Pokémon species, but it's still a workable manner nonetheless. For those in the know, the species evokes "a song of ice and fire", but it has nothing to do with a battle for the seat of a kingdom; rather, it has a closer tie to a kind of "vixen" mythology, something that could become innate within someone's body.

With that, the featured species is Vulpix, both the Kanto and Alolan forms - thus, the "double-double" format. Either one certainly evolves to Ninetales of the respective (regional) form, and in the case of this edition, the Kanto form gets the Charged move of Energy Ball and the Alolan form gets the Charged move of Chilling Water. They're not same-type moves for their types, so they're more for coverage in the realm of PvP; in fact, the latter move has profound effects in PvP as demonstrated by its inclusion for Florges some time ago. The main bonus is triple XP, directed for those still on their leveling journey.

The remaining event bonuses are of the by-now standard variety: double Candy and Candy XL chance, three-hour Incense and one-hour Lure Modules with appearance bonuses, trade discounts and more Special Trades, photo bombs, and special backgrounds galore for both Vulpix forms. On the Research side, Field tasks are of the usual variety, though the catching task applied for both forms instead of either one; Timed tasks are gotten if one checked in (of course), and the paid Special Research set is titled "Icy and Spicy" for the qualifiers of both forms - not quite a song, but still entertaining.

Just as entertaining was my decision to do the same thing I had done in January for this edition of Community Day, to spend it with a few faraway Trainers, whom I am now finding to be a real pleasant bunch. I didn't catch as many Shiny forms today as I did last month, but the ones I got were a real treat, as was evolving them and others that I needed into Ninetales for certain purposes. Aside from this process, there was always the process of building up resources for possible future uses. This method and the faraway gathering can stand to be repeated whenever it's possible (and convenient) for me to do so.

On the matter of that "song of ice and fire", this species family with its regional forms - one set being the classically recognized one - is or has become innate with all Pokémon fans from the past to the present. They may have their own "songs" when put into battle, and the two new moves for them that are gotten from this edition of Community Day can just put a brand-new spin on their melodies. In the struggle of Pokémon battles, that may just be the song to listen to and counter as needed.

One year ago: Cosplay: Petstival Cosplay

Two years ago: Overlapping Events in Café Remix

Three years ago: Pokémon Is... A Lifesaver?

Four years ago: NADWPKMN YouTube Channel Open!!!

Five years ago: In Search of Friends or Accounts

Six years ago: Let's Go Fight to the Top

Seven years ago: Wrap the Light Fantastic

Eight years ago: The Workings of Raids

Nine years ago: Poké Ball Food

The State of Nominations, Part 38

It's January, so this month also begins the year's run-up of updates to the progress on my PokéStop nominations. It's a progress that is always inherently bittersweet due to its varied possibilities, both acceptance and rejection alike. Yet after a particularly bittersweet December (even more so, the couple months since the last update), it seems that this nomination update has (to) become bittersweet as well for its progress. Regardless, I have to make the update and see what I can glean from it for current and future progress in this area.

One bittersweet aspect is that my Accepted nominations have become stagnant at 191 from the last update. Then, my Not Accepted ones have increased by 2 to 71, which is arguably more "bitter" than sweet. Further, the most recent nominations to be rejected in this way became as such by what is apparently the automated process new to the system, even before others could vote on them. Of course, I could always put them up for renomination or appeal the rejection, but either way, they would involve serious considerations (more so the latter).

This situation also raises "red flags" for my nomination process, in that it might be risky for me to make nominations of "dicey" places, and the next ones that I make should be of "safe" places (and truly "safe" ones) like houses or places of worship, parks with evident signs, and absolutely unique and absolutely permanent places. It is quite possible that making "dicey" nominations could in fact affect my actual Pokémon Go progress, so now the "safe" nominations are preferred, as is just purely focusing on regular Pokémon Go workings.

Meanwhile, one sweet element is that I've been able to be informed about how my approved nominations have affected players of Pokémon Go and other games. Since October, a "monthly impact" newsletter has been e-mailed to me; the latest one for this month shows that there were 26948 visits by 1252 players in December to the waypoints from those nominations. From the first one, the numbers never went below 10000 and 1000 respectively, so this is rather impressive. This may be an inspiration to try to keep nominating when possible.

After many editions of keeping track of my nominations for PokéStops, one conclusion that I can draw is that the process is not always sweet, and there may be some bitter times alongside the sweet ones, like what is happening now. It's just something to be taken in stride in the bitterness of the moment, while knowing that existing contributions are already sweet and will still remain that way. The progress is ongoing and may need some careful considerations for the future, and bitter and sweet are always part of the equation.

One year ago: The "Stuck" Prize Cards

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 1/31/2024

Three years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 20

Four years ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: (Final?) Selections

Five years ago: Zorua in Mareep Clothing

Six years ago: Reading About Pokémon Lore

Seven years ago: The Magic of 25

Eight years ago: Et Tu, Shuffle? (Thy Hath Bugs)

Nine years ago: It's Been a Month...