The New Flavors of Pokémon

Lately, there has been newly released information on the upcoming Sword and Shield games with a particular twist. Quite a bit of that information pertains to culinary aspects, specifically flavors. Food and cuisine is not often linked with Pokémon, but if they become so, the results may be considered neat, especially for a food fan like me. Such is the case with the recently released information, which shed some additional tidbits on the flavors found in the world of Pokémon.

The first tidbit concerns one of the newly discovered species of Pokémon, Alcremie. Alcremie is a new species that vaguely looks like a lump of cake frosted with a very generous amount of whipped cream, and its Gigantamax form (more on this soon enough) indeed simply resembles a multi-tiered birthday cake. According to its lore, Alcremie can produce whipped cream by itself with flavors according to its coloring and decorations, and at least 15 of these have been discovered, including two dubbed as "matcha" and "vanilla". Not only is Alcremie a spiritual successor to Vivillon, it also demonstrates a possibly wide range of flavors as well, and lots of sweet ones at that.

A second tidbit is related to a new feature introduced in the game, called Pokémon Camp. One thing that occurs here is the act of cooking, which involves a selection of ingredients being combined with a selection of Berries in order to cook... curries, and various selections of such based on the ingredients and Berries. It appears to be akin to the Berry blending feature found in a previous generation, and the resulting curry dishes have similar flavor tags. Curry seems to have become an official dish of sorts.

Both tidbits affirm something sweet and savory as part of the greater world of Pokémon. They may be considered one-dimensional (the same species of Pokémon, the same dish), but they can possess different flavors and tastes. It's quite inspiring to discern just what can result out of these elements for whoever would be tasting them. The possibilities of crafted flavors appear to be unique and diverse.

Due to the rare links of food and cuisine with Pokémon, it's often hard to tell about what might people there be tasting. The newly discovered information should shed light on that and inspire lots of Pokémon fans who are food fans to conceive new things based on them (and, needless to say, buy and play the games). I, for one, am as ready to get in the kitchen as I am to get out and train some Pokémon.

One year ago: Other Uses of Pokémon Go
Two years ago: Incubators in Pokémon Go

Making Things Simple

A certain commercial around my area invites those who view or hear it to make things simple, perhaps with the ways that are mentioned in the commercial. It is arguably a captivating message with the way that things are nowadays. That same message may be considered applicable in some ways to Pokémon, especially with some strides that have been made regarding its games. For these games, those strides may be considered welcomed and appreciable.

Some of those strides are related to the localized TCG, which I've already discussed earlier. From reports from a few of my colleagues, the prices for these have been set for the starter decks and booster packs, and they seem low enough that even I can afford them. In fact, many players seem to agree, as they've gone to pre-ordering these cards for play. The widespread availability situation that I suggested in my earlier post doesn't seem to be anywhere close to be realized, but that may become the next make-it-simple step. This still tells me that players are still welcoming the initial make-it-simple step of localization, and perhaps soon I will too.

Other strides involve the display of Pokémon stats in Pokémon Go through the "Appraise" function. The way that these stats function has been known for a long time, but they have often required the services of certain things to determine them exactly. With the latest update, these stats are now displayed plainly and graphically, though one may still have to mentally calculate a few figures. Moreover, the previous evaluation tiers have now been represented as stars and also now searchable by 0* to 4* (the latter for ones with perfect stats). This is a huge step in making this simple, and it was something that came in handy in last Sunday's Community Day. It will surely be a simple thing onward.

No one really wants life to be complicated. If anything, people want things to be simpler. The latest goings-on for some Pokémon games illustrate that; players want access to something that they can feasibly take in like the cards, and obvious like the new statistics display. It's pretty much like that commercial; if things can be made simple, then why not. In doing so, it becomes inviting to people in general, or even players as in the specific case of the games.

One year ago: The Greatest, Everyday
Two years ago: Pokémon School

A New Pokémon "Wave"

I also have to say that within a span of one week, there has been and will be a lot of great news about Pokémon, a "wave" of sorts. That started on Wednesday morning with a special live stream of a "Pokémon Business Strategy Presentation" that detailed a few new paths for this franchise. That also includes a handful of new games that set out to take advantage of its power, popularity, and prestige.

The first is a new game entitled Pokémon Sleep, for modern mobile devices and due out next year. It's billed as the "inverse" of Pokémon Go: whereas the latter promotes health through walking, the former promotes health through sleeping. Fundamentally, the game will play out through data of the player's sleeping habits. This will work in conjunction with a new peripheral called Pokémon Go Plus + (yes, it's the actual name), which can be used for both Pokémon Go and this revolutionary game. It is indeed that, as with this game, Pokémon has pervaded into yet another crucial part of any person's lifestyle.

The second is Pokémon Masters, also for mobile, but due out this year. The game will feature the "best of the best" Trainer characters and their Pokémon partners that have appeared over the years in past Pokémon games. The gameplay, as demonstrated by a video preview, appears engaging and enthralling, and is likely to capture nostalgia through its novelty. It is something that any longtime fan of Pokémon (like me) will look forward to playing to the fullest.

The third involves a couple of Pokémon games to be "expanded" in some way. NetEase, a Chinese company, will release and develop Pokémon Quest for the Chinese market, which also explains why the presentation was also trilingual, indicating more future involvement with the Chinese market. The Detective Pikachu game, which became popularized with its movie adaptation, is also to be (re-)released for the Switch; what this will constitute remains to be seen, but it may also be indicative that those who haven't played the game should do so ASAP.

The fourth is not a game, but a service, which is called Pokémon Home. It is dubbed as "a place where all Pokémon gather", in the form of a cloud-based service that allows transfer from Go, LGPE, and Bank, as well as to-and-fro the upcoming Sword and Shield games. This service essentially continues or "futureproofs" transfers, and integrates them as well with possible other outside links. The prospect of this seems to be grand for any Pokémon player with all kinds of Pokémon strewn across different games.

Lastly, the press conference also mentions prospects for a new Pokémon Center in Shibuya after their most recent launch in Singapore (as the flagship Southeast Asian store) that is neo-futuristic in style. The Pokémon Shirts apparel line is also planned for customization and expansion beyond Japan, as also hinted by everyone wearing shirts that have some kind of Pokémon design. Lifestyle-wise, this is neat to know.

These new paths for the franchise are all varied, grand, and aspiring. So it seems for one that is almost nearly two and a half decades in its running. It has to be visionary to move forward. And speaking of moving forward, there will be a Pokémon Direct next week Wednesday, which should complement this presentation nicely with fresh details about the upcoming Sword and Shield games. One can only wonder what's next when these are indeed what's next in the "wave".

One year ago: Off We Go... to Alola!
Two years ago: I Need More Rumble World Players

Valentine's Day 2019: Think Pink

It's February 14, and it's Valentine's Day. The core of this day is certainly love and affection, as I've mentioned in the old posts below. But other things can be considered as well, and one of those is the color pink. It has connotations that are worthy to be considered, particularly on this day; these too may be considered in relation to other things, as well as Pokémon as the core topic of posts on this blog.

Pink is certainly the color of love and affection. It's a warm, sweet, and amicable color, even more so than its kin, the color of red; it is thus linked to friendships and sugary things as well. The color indicates gentleness in modest amounts, and in larger amounts may indicate weakness. The charm of pink makes it evocative of girly and playful things. Yet above all, pink also symbolizes harmony and calmness, and can create peace and feelings of relaxation. So in addition to its link to love and affection, pink is a color with soft impressions.

Lately I've been having mixed emotions, so now that Valentine's Day has come, it may be time to take a step back a bit, take a breath, and think about things more calmly - in other words, "think pink", as I've indicated in the title of this post. Far from it being a reference to other things, I've taken it as an literal reference to the actual color and its associated qualities. In doing so, I hope to be able to get a grip on situations and to consider them more rationally. This of course includes things related to Pokémon.

Fortunately, Pokémon Go has decided to do a favor in this regard and has presented a "pink Pokémon special". More of them are appearing in the wild and more Candies can be earned from them. They also crop up in raids and 7 km Eggs. And to help with all this, Lure Modules are extended when they are activated within the duration of this event. There's surely no shortage of pink color here, and so I have to get out, play, and see pink, in order to "think pink" as above. I'm already relaxed just thinking about it.

Pink is a neat color, as far as I'm concerned, and as far as this day is concerned. What's in it for everyone is a way to celebrate good feelings about relationships. What's in it for me right now is a way to calm down and rethink things. What's in it for Pokémon is that it's a color highly associated with many species and forms of Pokémon. Together, they all just seem to work out beautifully, and I do like that.

Think pink, and Happy Valentine's Day.

One year ago: Valentine's Day 2018: Address to a Luvdisc
Two years ago: It's Valentine's Day!

Multiple Pathways to Evolution?

I've already discussed a particular evolution treatment that was recently introduced in Pokémon Go, and now I want to discuss something that's on a tangent to that. In the main series games - or for that matter, any Pokémon game where evolution is possible and becomes a concern, such as in the Mystery Dungeon games and even Go - Pokémon evolve in a single, definite way, depending on the game. But then there's a question: could Pokémon be made to evolve in multiple ways for the same next-stage species in the same game? The most likely answer requires a bit of reasoning.

It is notable that most Pokémon already evolve through a convenient manner: by leveling up in the games where levels are relevant, and by Candies in Go. Not only is this convenient (more or less), this is also pretty much standard and assured. Therefore, given a multiple approach or pathway that involves this manner, this manner is most likely to be selected, precluding other alternative approaches. In fact, after four generations of Pokémon in Go, this is assuredly the only approach, notwithstanding necessary items or other requirements for certain evolution processes. Thus, Pokémon with the standard no-frills manner can be ruled out to have multiple methods.

This leaves the Pokémon that evolve by other means, such as evolution stones and other external methods. These may conceivably evolve through multiple ways, but this also depends on the circumstances. As an example, though evolution stones are obtainable in the games that have them, they may become prohibitively difficult to obtain; another method could provide an alternative. And yet if it turns out a method is actually easier, that may become the preferred method instead, making the multiple-pathway moot. Both approaches then would have to be on par in difficulty of effort to execute, for example requiring either one of two items to evolve to the next-stage form.

The current situation also bears some consideration. There is actually one Pokémon for which the answer to the question above is "yes", and that is Feebas; in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, Feebas can evolve by leveling after maximizing its Beauty contest stat, or by trading while holding a Prism Scale, the former being the GBA game method and the latter being the post-GBA method. Clamperl is the next-closest, though this is for two different next-stage species with two different items. This indicates the possibility of different circumstances for multiple pathways. To move this into Go territory, Eevee currently can evolve into Jolteon by way of random chance; a circumstance may be created so that it can assuredly evolve into Jolteon rather than a random chance, in effect becoming a requirement. The Prism Scale could also be mimicked in Go using a certain item, but this would have to be difficult to obtain to encourage its present method of walking first before using Candies.

With the reasoning above, the answer is indeed "yes", but only in limited circumstances. Pokémon that evolve in non-standard approaches are the most likely candidates for being able to evolve through multiple methods, especially for ascertaining evolution in the inconvenience of other methods. By and large, Pokémon evolution is standardized with certain methods, but for those beyond (or not conforming to) the standard, multiple pathways may just provide alternatives that are preferable when others aren't.

One year ago: The Words of a Pikachu

Items with a Purpose

Any player of the Pokémon games, in particular the main series games, knows that there is a staggering variety of items in those games, and each of those items have at least one purpose. Other Pokémon games use a smaller subset of those items and/or reinterpret some of them in various guises, but the items still have their purposes. This is something I'm convinced of when I have to deal with them, regardless of the Pokémon game in question.

Admittedly, this may be hard to distinguish for certain classes of items. An example is items that restore HP. In the main series games, there is a bewildering array of these items. Though they all perform the same exact function, their differences are in the amounts of HP that they heal. Yet with such a bewildering array, some players may be tempted to keep a large number of only a few items in an attempt to keep things simple. The issue that I have with this is that it almost disregards the value and capabilities of the items. It seems a bit much to think that, for example, a Hyper Potion can assume the function of a Lemonade, given that they are priced differently and the former may be overkill in its function compared to the latter. It seems it may be better to keep both and use either when suitable or necessary.

A key issue that seems to relate into this is determining what to keep and how many to keep. In the main series games, this is hardly an issue since bag space is indefinite, at least in later games. But in a game where bag space is at a premium such as in Pokémon Go, this does become quite a relevant issue. With regard to the values and capabilities of each item, in my view, it is permissible to keep just a handful of the less capable items for when they are perfectly suited and use them up when they burgeon, instead of discarding them without regard, except in dire situations. In that way, at least they may get some use rather than being viewed as a waste of space.

Item usage is and will always be part of the Pokémon games, as items are inescapable from the games and there are many variants from them. Yet it seems that as much as it is dictated by practicality, it's also to an extent dictated by utility. No matter how an item functions, the item may still have a purpose in certain situations. The challenge perhaps lies with the player to determine when the items are best used and to use them at that point, rather than leaving the items to languish or discarding them. At the least, the purposes will be fulfilled.

One year ago: Beyond the Boundary... of Languages

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Much of the things that I and my colleagues do with and around the Pokémon games are directed for the here and now, to make effective use of resources to succeed at the current time. But what about a later time, when we're not going to be necessarily around to do more Pokémon things? That's where the process of leaving a legacy comes in. Of course, the real issue is doing it in a way that it continues or lasts. And that is likely the real challenge.

As I've mentioned in yesterday's anniversary post for my raid group, the group has experienced an influx of new members, some of which have returned to play after a long absence. The problem now is what to be informed to them and how to inform them, since they're likely to carry over the things that we've done. A few people have taken to create and revise FAQs and lists that they can use for reference. This is good, but whether they can make or are making full use of the information is another thing entirely, and this may or may not be happening. It looks like we need to instill all the information so they can process it now and then even pass it on to others later, therefore making the legacy last.

Information is great, but then there are also the efforts that have been done in the games, and those are real legacies to be preserved as well. Thanks to trading in Pokémon Go, now there's a real outlet for lasting legacies to be given to other players, with the hope that they remain as such. I've been given a few of these legacies by a couple of other players, so it becomes my task to keep them as such. Similarly, I've got a few legacies strewn around across older main series Pokémon games, so I've got to remember that I have these and need to keep them as such in some way. Meanwhile, my fellow VGC players have their teams, and while it may be hard for them to be physically preserved for use later, at least every single detail can be recreated somehow, and that's at least a legacy.

For other games, the gameplay is more personal, but there's no reason the same can't be done. I can be considered to be doing it through this blog with the specific tidbits of information that I've detailed. I'm also trying to keep the game progresses alive, though in good condition at the same time. If at all possible, I do want them to be able to be taken up by someone else. This is my legacy, and I do think they could be made to last in the hands of someone capable.

At the least, there are some things that we can do to make sure what we've done in the games last for others to take over once the need arises. Information is a big thing, because what guides players now will be likely to have some use in guiding others later. Then again, it may just be possible to make sure that the actual game progress becomes preserved for someone else, and that would be a good thing too. Legacies are everywhere in the games; the next step is making sure that they're well-left and they last.

One year ago: Cosplay: ACOLYTES 2017

The "Attractors"

One of the neat things about Pokémon is that sometimes there are multiple ways of doing things across different games, and yet they rely on mostly the same principles. One of those things is summoning Pokémon on the field for encounter or battle, which takes place in Go and the main series games respectively. These two games let the Trainer summon Pokémon for an altercation before their capture, and they occur with the help of certain methods or items. I've taken to call these as the "attractors".

In the main series games, the "attractors" are the move Sweet Scent and the item Honey. Pokémon that know the move Sweet Scent can be asked to perform the move on the field, out of battle, in order to instantly summon a Pokémon where one may be encountered. The item Honey does the same thing, and can be also slathered on certain surfaces as an alternative approach. Both of these methods effectively rely on attracting Pokémon by way of their sense of smell, leading them to appear where the Trainer is. And that is quite respectable.

As it turns out, in Go, the "attractors" work in much the same way. A Trainer may install a Lure Module at a PokéStop in order to attract Pokémon in much the same way as an instance of the Sweet Scent move, and they even have similar action animations; this lasts for 30 minutes except in the case of certain events. When PokéStops are not available, the Incense item can be used to achieve a similar effect, in a partial parallel to the Honey item from the main series - though obviously this can't be spread - and the item can enhance or be enhanced by a Lure Module if one has been installed at a PokéStop. These two items effectively boil down to attraction by sense of smell as well.

The point of these methods or items is that Pokémon can be attracted through overwhelming their sense of smell, leading them to come to specific places where a Trainer is present to be battled and/or captured. It's a principle that they all share, even though the games are separated by dimensions and devices. The end result is the same: Trainer and Pokémon meet, perhaps to try to join forces with each other. I find this amazing as much as it is neat.

One year ago: A Hero Looks to the Sky

Shiny Obsessions... Again?

Along with yesterday's Community Day outing, a surprise other happening also broke out in Pokémon Go: Ho-Oh has returned to raid battles again, and as with Lugia two months ago, it has come back with a possible Shiny form. The difference from Lugia is that this reappearance does not replace current Level 5 raid bosses - Latias and Latios - and is instead concurrent with them depending on the region. This presents the possibility of having obsessions all over again similar to how it was when Lugia returned.

Shiny Ho-Oh is also not very different from its regular form; it features white and golden coloration instead of the rainbow-like coloration of the regular form. But again, this return with a Shiny form is a similar circumstance to that of Lugia earlier. It becomes a special thing, especially considering that Latias and Latios are still present, allowing for preferences of desired raid bosses to be satisfied. If a player becomes tired of one raid boss, the player can opt for the other.

This last situation seems to be exactly what is happening among some of my other raid mates in my raid group. They seem to have become tired of Latios and have indicated the desire to pursue Ho-Oh with its possible Shiny form. The only problem is that unlike Lugia's initial reappearance, it seems this Shiny form is incredibly rare; based on first- and second-day reports, very few players obtained Shiny Ho-Oh after the respective raids. This is already looking like a potential detriment and roadblock to pursuing a Shiny Ho-Oh.

Personally, at this point I'm still ambivalent in regard to opting between Latios and Ho-Oh. I already have three Latios, but I would like to pursue up to two more so that the five Latias I have can be "married" to a partner. As for Ho-Oh, an opportune raid that appeared after the conclusion of yesterday's Community Day provided the chance for a first crack at Ho-Oh, and the raid seems to be a smooth progression, so much so that I could foresee going for a few more to see if a Shiny one will appear. And yet, I shouldn't turn this into an obsession just yet, especially when I've yet to realize the Latios quota.

Perhaps things haven't quite progressed into the level of obsessions, but they might very well be if interest continues. I'm still wary about letting this turn into such, however, given that in general the current period of time is supposed to be a cool-down time for everything. Even so, there is the indication that players might be more inclined to aggressively pursue Ho-Oh for its Shiny form. With that in mind, it might be time to take up some of this Shiny obsession once again.

One year ago: Oddest Things with Pokémon

Marathons...?

The word marathon, in a specific sense, means a race that is conducted over a very long distance. In a general sense, it means a continuous string of activities. Of course, anything that's on this blog is related to me and Pokémon, so for me, this post would refer to a Pokémon marathon. It would be something that I enjoy, though I have not had the chance to enjoy this recently. This is even considering the various forms it would take.

One kind of Pokémon marathon that immediately comes to my mind is an anime marathon, which obviously means viewing as many episodes of the Pokémon anime as possible. This would be neat, but no TV channels in my area have planned this to occur, so I'd have to gather the episodes myself, but even then, I'm not fully sure if I can get this to happen anytime soon. It would be rather fun to go through many episodes and digest the plots all at once. It is still a good idea regardless, and if the chance ever arises, then I think I should go ahead and take advantage of it.

Another kind of Pokémon marathon is a game marathon, and the most accessible Pokémon game for this right now is Go. In particular, the most accessible marathon for it is a raid marathon. A few of my fellow raid group members have participated in one of this when Latios first appeared in my area. This too is a neat idea, but there are a few things that hinder this from happening. I don't have a way to get from one raid to another quickly, though this can be aided by my fellow members; I don't have a large stock of Premium Raid Passes, having preferred to have just enough on hand and to save coins for things that matter more; and finally, the current time is a better time for resting rather than a marathon. I can foresee one happening for whichever is next after Latios, but that will still be some time from now.

These are by no means the only two Pokémon marathons that can be realized; these just happen to be the most logical and accessible ones at the moment, even if they're not quite so. They are still marathons in a true sense because they involve a lot of activity all in a row and all at once. I'm sure that soon I would get to do a Pokémon marathon of some sort, and when that happens, I would feel quite pleased - hopefully not too tired as well.

One year ago: Pins and Pins

The Living Dex

The most dedicated of Pokémon fans may have something that is extraordinary, perhaps to put it lightly. That thing is called a "living Dex", which in its simplest sense is keeping one of every single species of Pokémon; because of this, it plays into and is a realization of the "Gotta catch 'em all!" slogan. Given that now there are 800+ species of Pokémon, this is more than an extraordinary thing indeed. There's a lot of things involved in one that make it such.

Some of those things involve the preparation for it. In the most recent Pokémon games, the PC storage allows for at least 900 Pokémon in a single game, which means there is ample space for a living Dex within the game with a few variants of the Pokémon that need it - for example, the new Alola forms of Persian and Dugtrio to name a couple. But of course, the existence of multiple forms may mean that a single game may not be sufficient, which means that a second game may be needed not only for storage, but also to grab its exclusive Pokémon. And if that still isn't enough, perhaps because of the desire or need to keep even more forms, then the Pokémon Bank is definitely necessary. Thus the preparation for one becomes intensive.

What it takes to realize a living Dex is another matter entirely. Beyond the games needed for storage, other games may be needed to complete and supplement the Dex. Capture is a part of the process, as well as acquisition and transfer of Pokémon. This does mean that one should also be aware of any and all mechanisms to acquire specific Pokémon, and then to gather them all for the Dex, which may also necessitate different devices to aid the process. Any way things go, they imply that time, effort, and investment are required.

I know of at least one friend in possession of a living Dex, or so my friend claims; I'll believe it since that friend is a good VGC player too. As for my other Pokémon colleagues, I'm rather certain that quite a few of us don't have one. We've discussed what it takes, and it is a lot of work in any case for one person. Also recently, a challenge involving a living Dex came up (which is also the progenitor for this post), and we agreed that it would take dedication to participate in this, not to mention to realize it and fulfill its requirements, including optional ones. It's a tremendous thing.

The number of Pokémon species is now enormous. Even with that enormity, some players have managed to gather them all into a living Dex worthy of usage to make whatever team is desired, and even for display. Based on the considerations that go into it, it really goes beyond "extraordinary": it's a dedication that is unparalleled and exemplifies all that Pokémon has had to offer up to this point, even one of its well-known tenets.

One year ago: Pastrana and Pikachu

Evolutionary Items and Their Limits

A fellow player in my raid group recently inquired about the use of evolutionary items, particularly those introduced in the second generation and are currently in use in Go. It made me think about the usage of these items in general across Pokémon. As it turns out, it became apparent that many of these items are of limited use, for evolutions or otherwise. This limitation surely deserves some contemplation.

A good example is the Metal Coat item. After seven generations and 800+ Pokémon, only a grand total of two Pokémon evolve with its use: Onix (to Steelix) and Scyther (to Scizor). The item has little use or benefit beyond evolution. Many evolutionary items are of the same fate, though some are not as limited. This leads to wonderings about their existence, especially considering that it may just be possible to see evolved Pokémon like these in the wild and naturally, just like how in the real world animals seem to just be present naturally without intervention. This leads into a consideration of "natural evolution".

While different games implement evolution in different ways (or not at all), it's not hard to see how natural evolution can take place: external stimuli drives Pokémon to undergo changes in their genetic makeup and to trigger evolution at the right time. Leafeon and Glaceon, both of which are "Eeveelutions", go through a process that more or less embodies this principle, rather than evolving by way of a Leaf Stone (which had existed from the beginning) or hypothetically via an Ice Stone. Similar things happen in the real world, but not as instantaneous as this.

The evolutionary items then seem to be a cop-out for this natural process, perhaps because it was not feasible prior. And yet now, it seems to be. Given that practically no other Pokémon use items like Metal Coat for the same purpose, a shift to a "natural" method may be imminent and practical, which again will be different for different games. Demise of the items then follows as a result, which can possibly be a good thing for less complexity.

It's hard to deny the fact that evolutionary items seem somewhat constrained in their use, and that they may never seem to breach this limit. It has been shown that a "natural" kind of evolution is possible, and this just may be the next step. It will likely mean that the items will be deprecated, but that would seem just about as natural as Pokémon evolving in their own environment. And if that ever happens, at least we won't have to wonder about the limits of their use any longer.

One year ago: 3D, 2D, and Everything in Between

Shiny Here, Shiny There

With all the Pokémon games in existence nowadays, some elements have become common to a number of games. One of those elements is the existence of Shiny Pokémon, the differently-colored variants of otherwise normal Pokémon. In the three series I play (main series, Shuffle, and Go), Shiny Pokémon are present in them all, though admittedly to different extents. Yet with all that, my views on Shiny Pokémon are still the same: it's either a lucky gift or something to be pursued but not actively.

It's fairly obvious that Shiny Pokémon are present for nearly all forms, even those that aren't supposed to be officially present. The odds, though, are rather low, so for me, I don't feel it's worthwhile to pursue them, even with the aid of a Shiny Charm. If both VGC and non-VGC players are of any indication, most teams don't have many Shiny Pokémon anyway, which leads me to think that many players are also practical in regard to this matter. I suppose that's fine, given that more efforts can be better devoted to raising a better team than to obtain a Shiny Pokémon; it's exactly what I would do. The breadth of Shiny Pokémon in the games is still nothing short of astounding and makes it a blessing to have even just one.

In Go, the presence of Shiny Pokémon isn't as extensive, but thanks to game events such as Community Day, they're well-publicized. I had a chance to catch a Shiny Magikarp just a couple of days back, and this is a long-standing Shiny form. Since then there have been many more Shiny forms, including during the time Lugia repaid a visit as a raid boss, which I experienced first-hand. The experience is about the same as the main series, so again, this is something I don't wish to pursue actively either, also taking cues from my Lugia experience. It is likewise very nice when the opportunity just so presents itself.

Shuffle too has its Shiny Pokémon forms, though they're even fewer and more selective. The good thing is that once they're captured, they're yours, so it's totally worth it to capture them when they appear. The last one introduced was Shiny Metagross, and it didn't take much effort to get this one. Like any different form, Shiny Pokémon have their own abilities and Mega effects, as does Shiny Metagross. It's hard to expect that every Pokémon here will have a Shiny form, but it is a remote possibility regardless. Until then, all the Shiny forms are still tantalizing to have.

Shiny Pokémon are still much a part of Pokémon as their normal counterparts, even if they're odd, rare, or both. The fact that they're becoming more pervasive is only a testament to this. However they are obtained, they're still quite nice to have, perhaps enough for any player (including me) to be entertained and to entertain others while making progress within the games.

One year ago: Friendly Plays

Icons, Images, and Such

As I've explained in my April Fool's post for this year, Pokémon Go changed its static Pokémon images to 8-bit icons taken from the main series games, and this is billed as an "innovation" as part of the joke. However, in some cases this change seems to work well, as in the Nearby tab at the bottom; sometimes the rescaled static 3D images seem unclear, while the icons are neatly visible. This has gotten me to think about how Pokémon are represented in icons, images, and other graphics, as well as the purposes they may have.

There are, of course, typical representative images of individual Pokémon. These have been around since the beginning, though they are also updated from time to time. In most cases they also show Pokémon from the front, though they can show lateral views as well. For the purpose of just showing or indicating, they are sufficient, though it might be hard to have them in the games. But for media that aren't games, such as books and web sites, they are especially useful. It's expected that every Pokémon will have one of these.

Then there are icon-type images. These may be even more restricted in which parts of a Pokémon to show and may be more optimized for small sizes. Such is the case with the 8-bit icons above, where the icons only show the most important details from the front-left side. This might be the reason why the icons work so well in the Nearby tab. As well, there is also a different icon set which is popularly used in the Pokémon puzzle games of Shuffle and Battle Trozei; they feature either a miniaturized Pokémon or the upper body or head of that Pokémon, as much as can be displayed within a small circle, and this is particularly noticeable in many icons from the icon set. These icons don't see much use elsewhere, yet at one time they have been used in an infographic for Go. It seems that these would be beneficial for any concise/small applications as well.

For the games, they may have their own specific kinds of imagery, including sprites and 3D models, which I've discussed in their own post. Different sprites can be made to have forward and backward views of the Pokémon concerned, while 3D models are all-inclusive. But then, not all games can have either or both, and there may be other types of imagery, including animated ones. The game dictates the graphics and therefore their purposes.

Pokémon are versatile, and it seems so do their graphics, which do take different forms and can be used for different purposes, as the 8-bit icon revival in Pokémon Go. A graphical feature of the main series makes its way to a spinoff game to a humorous effect, but is purposeful as well. I will somewhat miss the 8-bit icons when they disappear after a week, but it's nice to know that Pokémon graphics can and do work when they need to.

One year ago: These Foolish Things Remind Me of Pokémon

What's Played, What's Not, and What's Next

Up to this point, I've played many Pokémon games. Conversely, up to this point, I also haven't played some of the other Pokémon games. But some of that's hardly my fault; after all, Pokémon has expanded far beyond just a single series of games, and every game appeals to different fans as much as they themselves are also different. Even so, it's worthwhile to keep track of which ones I've played and which ones I haven't, and to see what direction to take this in.

I've played at least one of the main series games in each generation up to now, and this is something that I will continue to do for as long as these games continue to exist and have a place in the hearts of fans, which will likely be so. Something I probably won't do is to pursue achievements in the games I haven't played (in particular the oldest ones), and there are a few reasons for this. One is that the old games are old, and unless I obtain the Virtual Console versions, it's just hard to make the ones I have work. Another is that my time is dwindling, and these games take a long time to be played to perfection. So I'm happy with the way I've played the games and to keep this going later on.

A good number of the games I haven't played are the spinoff games, with the exception of some recent ones like Shuffle and Picross. This is an area where I'd like to play some of the games I haven't played, especially if they're radically different from the ways of the main series games In fact, for some of these games, I already have a precedent: I've played Mystery Dungeon but haven't gotten around to the most recent one, as an example, and courtesy of a friend, I've started but not finished the second PokéPark game. There are still many potential directions here and I want to try to take them up for new experiences.

Related to the spinoff games are the mobile games, another area in which Pokémon games have taken hold of. As evidenced by many previous posts, I've had a rousing time (re)playing Go, and this is something I'll continue as it works for me and provides a lot of fun. I'm also interested in playing the likes of Duel and Magikarp Jump as they seem attractive as well, though I'm not interested in replaying Shuffle on mobile as I already have a good thing going on the 3DS. Meanwhile, it's not hard to expect that there may be other Pokémon mobile games in the future, so I'm looking out for this as well.

In the end, I'm now mostly interested in new directions in Pokémon games, and those are present in the spinoff and mobile games, though I'll still play the main series games. Regardless, these remain viable directions for any major fan of Pokémon for playing the games. I know I can't play everything, at least not at once, but as a fan, I'm appreciative of many of the games and expectant of playing them.

One year ago: Pokémon X Food Network ...?

What's in a Name?

One of the great things about Pokémon is that in some games, they can be given nicknames. This allows them to be given a personal touch that reflects the character of the Trainer that owns them. It's a feature that I use whenever possible, and from my observations, so do quite a few other players/Trainers. My experiences have not been too wonderful in the use of this feature, but I still appreciate and use the feature for the personality aspect.

My naming preferences have changed from one game to another and over the course of time. In the main series once, I've used my friend's names, though I've never personally told them that this was the case. I then transitioned to the use of certain character names from TV shows, though things got complicated as more names were used. After that point, I simply used generic lists of names, common and fantasy; similarly, in Mystery Dungeon I use themed lists different than those of the main series. This might sound impersonal, but the names were selected with some consideration of similarity and attachment. Regardless, in all of these efforts, I rightfully believe that I've made tributes to the names and associations.

Still, I suppose it might be just hard for me to make and give names. Some say it might be as easy as naming real pets (and some Pokémon are indeed kept as pets), but I find this difficult too. I've never really had a real pet that I couldn't call as my own, and the ones I owned were already named by someone else or wasn't my pet to begin with. I feel it's a tough experience associating names in the real and the imagined, yet I feel more comfortable for the latter than I do for the former, even with just names from lists.

It's always wonderful, though, to see the names that others come up and have willingly shared. I've seen names that use archaic vocabulary as well as foreign-language terms, bringing them to a greater light. I wouldn't copy these names directly out of respect for their tribute in using the names, but I admire the spirit. I may just change up slightly the way I name my Pokémon in the future.

The fact that Pokémon can be named in quite a few games deserves commendation, even from those who don't give great names like me. There is a certain amount of respect and tribute in the giving of names when effort is put in. So to answer the question "what's in a name?", it may just be "a lot", depending on Trainers' personalities and attachments in regard to Pokémon, which are appreciable nonetheless. At the least I still have some of both.

Strategy Guides and My Pokémon Experience

Strategy guides are extremely helpful things for any game and any gamer, including Pokémon ones. They're called strategy guides because they help in formulating a strategy for difficult parts of games. I've used them a few times over the course of my experience playing Pokémon games, and they're helpful in some ways and less so in others. Even so, I still find them quite appreciable in their relation to Pokémon games.

When I played the original first and second generation main series games, I used strategy guides extensively to plan out my next moves. I was free to develop my own team, but whatever I did next was often dictated by the strategy guides. In starting to play the third generation games, however, I found that I could progress through the game without a strategy guide or at least without frequent use, and that is what I did; since then I've made my way through the games without referring to them much and only did so when I needed a nudge in the right direction.

This, however, doesn't make strategy guides any less useful. They may still be useful for others to a greater degree in making strategies, but just lesser in my case. And even if they're not utilized as much in making strategies, they may still serve as references and documentation for that part of the game, especially if the part is hard and/or time-and-effort-consuming to replicate; I used a strategy guide, for example, to remind myself of what happened during the "Don't Fear Failure!" portion of Pokémon Ranger, being impractical to try to replicate it. Finally, strategy guides just make a good read to discover things, especially for Pokémon games, where many fascinating things may be going on and it's too hard to take them in all at once while playing.

So strategy guides seem to be useful in different ways; they may serve as full guides or just for occasional hints. Even if they're not used as such, they can still be used to refer things or just to read through. In any case they're still helpful for many gamers, including myself. I may not utilize them as much today as I did in the past, but I still have to thank them for their existence. They've escalated my experience with Pokémon games, one way or another.

Going Back to the NDS

I've already explained the NDS Lite that became my workhorse for all kinds of Pokémon games, both in and out of the main series. Now that I've got some downtime, I want to do exactly as I mentioned at the end of the post, and that is to revisit a few of those games. In any case, revisiting is not a bad thing to do, as even my fellow Pokémon friend also did it, even while I was absorbed with my 3DS. So now I would be doing almost the same thing.

I've actually got some unfinished business to deal with on my NDS games. There are a few post-game issues that I still want to resolve on the main series games; I've toiled about the issues in my mind but they have remained a back-burner priority since I've left them. Likewise, there are a few things I still want to experience on the other games outside the main series, and they would make for fascinating ones. I see that now would be a great time to put away some of these issues and try for those experiences.

It would feel a little weird to go back to something that was conceived when there were not so many Pokémon and the Fairy type wasn't present, but that is exactly the experience presented with those games. It can be said that the NDS games are the pinnacle of the experience between the addition of the Dark and Steel types in the second generation followed by changes in the third, and the sweeping changes plus Fairy type in the sixth generation; the number of games released at this point only serves as a testament to this.

So, I'm going back to the NDS for a bit. I'm going back for the things I want to do, and I'm going back for the nostalgia. Both of them are equally fascinating and totally acceptable to do as I revisit the games of this era. At least it will bring peace and appreciation to my mind when I go back to the 3DS games afterwards.

Pursuing Shiny?

I've already discussed the stories of the Shiny, the Pokémon that look somewhat different than their normal appearance. I've encountered them and so have my friends that play the Pokémon games. Now, their different appearance is what gives Shiny Pokémon value; due to their rarity, they are worth having for purely that reason. However, unlike some of my friends, I'm not interested in actively pursuing them for my own reasons.

As I've mentioned, Shiny Pokémon are incredibly rare; the Shiny Charm helps a little bit, but they are still rare even with it. In fact, the encounter rate was just raised in the sixth generation, giving them a fighting chance to appear. The Shiny Charm itself is obtainable by completing the Pokédex, a borderline gargantuan task for one person to do alone and still a major task as a whole. As for Shiny Pokémon themselves, they're different by appearance, but that's about it. They are otherwise identical to their non-Shiny counterparts.

That brings me to my reasons. Because of their rarity even with the Shiny Charm, I prefer not to be obsessed in capturing one. The Shiny trait is also not necessarily inherited when breeding, so this process is subject to the same encounter rate as captures, which means I don't wish to be obsessed with this as well. If I do catch or hatch a Shiny Pokémon, I'll accept it as it is, but nothing beyond that. If I can shape one into a fearsome battler, then that's great; if not, that's no problem.

Shiny Pokémon are great, but they shouldn't be the be-all and end-all for every Trainer to have; after all, the point is that they are rare, and if they weren't, then everyone would have them by now and they would lose their novelty. I'm fine with not fully active seeking them, though I'll accept them as they come. At least they make for interesting stories or conversation pieces when they do appear.

Shiny Stories

In the world of the Pokémon games, a Shiny is a Pokémon for which its appearance is markedly different than usual. It appears very, very rarely but may be encountered a little more often through the possession of the Shiny Charm. Owing to their incredibly low encounter rates, Shiny Pokémon have become part of quite a few stories and experiences by players of the main series of Pokémon games, and that includes me and several of my Poké-colleagues.

I personally have not seen many Shiny Pokémon (that I didn't encounter then catch, or hatch by myself), and in fact, the last time I encountered and caught a Shiny Pokémon was when I played Platinum on the DS. It was this Golbat that I promptly captured when I saw it three years ago on April 11:

Hmm, 42 is the answer...

It was interesting that this catch happened to be for the Pokémon numbered #42 in the National Dex, for the number 42 in some circles happens to have a "prophetic" quality about it. In that sense I was being prophesied to continue playing, and coincidentally at that time I was a bit divided whether to pause playing indefinitely. I got the answer that I needed, it seems.

My Poké-colleagues, meanwhile, are a little more spirited in finding Shiny Pokémon. One of them, who happens to be in a social media group for Pokémon as I am, has recently shared experiences in going back to the third generation remakes to hunt for some Shiny Legendaries, with good results to boot. Another in the same group also has expressed the desire to complete the Pokédex early just to get the Shiny Charm by way of asking others to touch-trade Pokémon until the Dex is complete. It's a commendable though a little forced effort.

The appeal of Shiny Pokémon may be different among us, but they certainly make for wonderful stories and experiences, which are as rare as the encounter rate itself. But like most things that are rare, they are valuable, so long as they are not fully forced upon. It's a difference that is worth appreciating in that regard.