Dealing with Go Pass Offerings

Now that the Go Pass is more widespread in Pokémon Go beyond the prime paid events (Go Tour, Go Fest, and Go Wild Area) and their associated prelude events, I consider that it is necessary to provide tips - based on my experience - for dealing with what they have to offer. It certainly makes the events a lot more exciting and rewarding, but at the same time they have a few quirks that one can take advantage of according to one's needs and situations. Hence, the tips may just be useful in that regard.

First up, aside from purchasing the Deluxe track through the in-game shop, it can also be purchased through the Web Store, and like most other purchases, it has more value that way. In fact, many will feature just the Deluxe track, Deluxe track with extra ranks, and Deluxe track with extra ranks and more bonus items as purchasing options - each of them valued differently, of course. It is up to the player to choose the best option for them and how far (in rank) they've progressed on the Go Pass accordingly.

With that, if a player is already set to want or need the prime item of a Go Pass (such as the Lucky Trinket or a Bottle Cap), that player should buy the Deluxe track right away - with the rank boost if necessary or applicable - and deal with the extra rewards as they come. Otherwise, if the player is still unsure, the player can defer purchase of the Deluxe track until the last moment the Go Pass is available... which I've done in the past. Still, that does mean dealing with a lot of rewards all at once.

Speaking of which, the "Claim All" button makes it easy to get everything - especially if only "petty" rewards are left - but a player should try to claim certain rewards as their usage potential becomes apparent (like Poké Balls for a capture event) instead of waiting until the end. Pokémon encounters in the past had to be dealt with individually, but although they can now be dealt with in a sequential manner by "Claim All", it's still advisable to manually go through them one by one for what they may be.

Last but not least is making sure that one earns all the points one needs to go up through the ranks. On the initial few days, there is often a limit, but on the final days, there are no limits - and thanks to Daily Discoveries, Mondays are double point days. Players will have to check which actions earn points for a Go Pass by tapping the rank progression points, especially for the days for which limits are set. Whatever the tasks, some commitment is surely needed to ensure good progression on this.

The Go Pass is now certainly a vital part of minor and major events in Pokémon Go, and as such, knowing how to deal with it for its paid aspect and rewards can be quite helpful to make sure that the effort of obtaining and using the rewards measure up to what was paid (or not paid) for them. The aspect will be here to stay for the events ahead - even if their rewards are fleeting due to the way they are used up - and there will certainly be some lasting impressions from making good use of all that it can offer.

One year ago: Pokémon and (Other) Sports: New Inroads

Two years ago: The Profile of My Saved WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

Three years ago: Silph Arena Web Site Quirks

Four years ago: All the Trainers Are Nemesis

Five years ago: Moody Friends, Moody Pokémon

Six years ago: The Primary Warning of Pokémon Go

Seven years ago: Local EX Raid (and Nothing), 4/4/2019

Eight years ago: Gambling Not Permitted

Nine years ago: One Thing

Pokémon Paths on Water

There are two ways of interpreting "paths on water": it could be a track on land (or other surfaces) that is bordered by water on two sides, or it could be a course that is fully or almost fully present on water. Both of these "paths" are present in the real world in various guises. Since the Pokémon world is based on (or a mirror of) the real world, it is conceivable that they would also be present there - and in fact, they are. For that reason (and one more), it seems apt to try to make a discussion out of them somehow, which this post attempts to do.

For the first kind, some examples are noticeable across various regions in the Pokémon world. The causeways on the eastern side of Kanto are particularly long instances in this regard, while the one in the Hoenn region for a pond between Petalburg City and Rustboro City is a shorter one. Then there are the strips of land under the Cycling Road in the latter region, serving as the alternate track (for non-cyclists, especially) to that venue. These paths definitely cross or pass through water and thus satisfy one of the interpretations of the phrase above.

Meanwhile, the second kind is particularly evident for the first few early regions where one is expected to have a Pokémon that knows the Surf move for carrying the Trainer across water (and a requisite Gym badge to be able to do so) to go through various region portions that are almost completely over water - termed "sea routes". Later regions don't follow the mechanic as much, although Alola does allow actual surfing to be able to travel across certain islands. In a way, you see the path when you see them, a concept that does take some effort to grasp.

What about the phrase itself? Well, for me, that's evocative of a musical piece with the exact same title by Yanni, an artist I'm obviously fond of. It's actually a fast-sounding piece that could be construed as a remix of another one of his pieces, which I might or might not get to on this blog at a later point in time. The vision that I have is a dynamic one of literally hopping across water, which is evocative of traversing the "sea routes" as above. Then again, it is also very much evocative of the surface paths as explained; in either case, Pokémon can play into that.

"Paths on water" do conjure up certain images and interpretations, particularly for traveling over them; they're certainly likely to appear in some places where bodies of water are present, and moving over them might be literally and figuratively quick, as quick as the sound of the mentioned musical piece. And in all of this, Pokémon can become relevant by the presence of such paths in the world as well as the imagery of being with them on these paths according to the circumstances. It's a vivid and lively one for Pokémon fans, and especially me.

One year ago: A Unite's Dozen of Victories

Two years ago: Three Pokémon Visions in Dreams

Three years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Sac and The City (SA Factions)

Four years ago: The Type Is Wild

Five years ago: Cosplay: "How Are You, Communities?"

Six years ago: Subcultures and Specialties

Seven years ago: Pokémon and eSports

Eight years ago: Fondness for Latias and Latios

Nine years ago: A Story of Love, A Story of Passion

Quickies: Washed-Out Altaria

Many fans will recognize the "cotton bird" that is Altaria as the evolved form of Swablu. It's certainly an impressive-looking creature with its wings that are literally made of "fluff". Despite that being the case, what may be less known is that those wings can actually be quite delicate; said wings can actually lose their fluff when exposed to water (and particularly a lot of that), making it and the Pokémon seem "washed-out" as a result.

This situation has in fact been depicted in the anime at one point in time. An Altaria was shown as having been exposed to a lot of water, turning its wings from a fluffy wonder to a limp shade of itself. Understandably, the wings had to go through a drying process in order for them to return to their glorious appearance, and the situation becomes a practical confirmation of a Pokémon oddity that may or may not be known by many.

Meanwhile, as a more sentimental and personal relation to this phenomenon, at times I feel like a "washed-out" Altaria myself, in the sense that I feel like I was flushed with great quantities of water spiritually or figuratively, and not in a good way either. Like the actual Altaria being incredibly moistened with that water, I'd have to go through the "drying process", which may not necessarily be simple or brief according to the situation.

The example of Altaria losing the fluff in its wings due to exposure to lots of water may seem comical at the surface, but beyond that, it can be rather serious for real Trainers who possess this very species in this world. Dealing with it could be an effort in itself, analogous to dealing with feelings of figuratively going through the same thing. At least, Altaria remains majestic even with this situation and conundrum that could make it less so.

One year ago: My Prospects for Pokémon Virtual Console Games?

Two years ago: Going through the 13s

Three years ago: Seeing Polkadots in the Silph Arena

Four years ago: Language Bridging Songs

Five years ago: Getting Collective and Connective with Pokémon

Six years ago: Quizzes and Knowledge

Seven years ago: Going For New Competitions

Eight years ago: Artistic License

Nine years ago: I Found You, Black and White

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.

One year ago: April Fool's Day 2025: Balls for You and Me

Two years ago: April Fool's Day 2024: Making Good (Excellent?) on Things

Three years ago: April Fool's Day 2023: For the Birds

Four years ago: April Fool's Day 2022: Life in Duplex

Five years ago: April Fool's Day 2021: Aipom Business

Six years ago: April Fool's Day 2020: Truth in a Post

Seven years ago: April Fool's Day 2019: Objectivity and Subjectivity

Eight years ago: April Fool's Day 2018: Stepping Back, Moving Forward

Nine years ago: It's April Fool's Day!

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

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/31/2024

Three years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 21

Four years ago: Consume and Create

Five years ago: "New Daybreaks" for Pokémon

Six years ago: The Long-Winded Side of Things

Seven years ago: Cosplay: ONEGAI Bunkasai 2019 - Eiyuu no Uprising

Eight years ago: Mauville's Progress

Nine years ago: Nostalgia: Episode 672 - "Here Comes the Trubbish Squad!"

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.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/30/2025

Two years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 27

Three years ago: Adjudication for PvP Tournaments

Four years ago: More on Wayfarer (and Links to Pokémon Go)

Five years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: Beckoning Specials

Six years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 3

Seven years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Cup

Eight years ago: Lugia Raid Burnout

Nine years ago: Ice Is Nice with Pokémon

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.

One year ago: The State of Nominations, Part 33

Two years ago: New Gatherings for Blessings and Success

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/29/2023

Four years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 15

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Regional Event Rollup

Six years ago: Pokémon Go: A Drive to Investigate

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 3/29/2019

Eight years ago: Takara Tomy Pokémon MonCollé Friends: Pikachu

Nine years ago: Pokémon Mechanical Fan