Cook and Collect, Wherefore Art Thou?

It's been a long time since I've written up one of these "wherefore art thou?" posts, which is indicative that something has been missing in some realm of or related to Pokémon. This time, the concern is for Café Remix and one of its event types - or more appropriately, an element of certain events. As explained over a year ago, the Cook and Collect event type allows players to earn nifty rewards while collecting items from the playfield as one "cooks" by completing orders or stages. Yet since it first appeared, there has been a relative dearth of this event type, and now that prompts this post to be made.

Apart from the Gimmighoul one that continues to recur (as of this post, the most recent one was a few days ago), there have only been a couple editions of this event, sometimes in tandem with the above, one of them featuring a newly added puzzle element of watermelons. After those editions, there really have been no other editions of the event, making it seem that the event type has disappeared, except of course for the recurring Gimmighoul one. Thus, the question in the post title becomes pertinent. 

The reasons for this may be hard to determine, although players' preferences may be an indicator. Evidently, many players of Café Remix are ones who don't frequently log in to the game, so the iterations of Cook and Collect that weren't the Gimmighoul one didn't find favor with some of these players. Though Cook and Collect is progress-limited by day as is the case for the Gimmighoul event and different iterations may obviate this to certain degrees, having progress limited is very much a sticking point.

Now, aside from the Gimmighoul event, only time might tell if more Cook and Collect events will be instituted or if the event type is going to be a "stub". What might be a strong possibility is that multiple events of this type will run (perhaps all at once) in the far future in order to aid players to hire Pokémon they haven't hired one way or another... though this also has other implications for the game that is presently not up for discussion.

While it seems that the Gimmighoul event that is of this event type will see continuity up until the "inevitable", the possibility of other events of this type appearing is very much being questioned at present. Being a constantly updated game, Café Remix always has (and had) its surprises, so the one big surprise right now would be to have events of this type return. That could be as surprising as some of the possible results of the events.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Temples in Our Lives

Two years ago: My "Project Mew" (Or, Why I'm Not Cut Out for It)

Three years ago: More Strides for the Daily Adventure Incense

Four years ago: The Magical Wonder of PokéToon

Five years ago: The Principle of Life

Six years ago: Expecting the Cards

Seven years ago: PokéMusicians

Eight years ago: Wallpaper: Ash XY Tribute Style

Simplest Pokémon Games Today

I've discussed on and off about simplicity and Pokémon games on this blog, but it seems I've never actually made a recommendation of what could be played as truly "simple" Pokémon games. Given today's Pokémon game landscape, I can and should make the recommendation, and that becomes the purpose of this post. It's also intended to be written up as simply as possible, given that spirit of simplicity.

With the indications given by its preview, Pokémon Friends is shaping up as a simple game contender for today. Its premise of brainteasers and collections is simple enough for both fans and non-fans to understand, and even if they may still take a little thinking, at least it's not on the same level as other hard-to-the-core present games. It's also simple by the virtue that it's only rather new, and time may affect that...

...as it has affected Café Remix, which is now admittedly packed with elements and may be considered not so simple. Yet at its heart, the gameplay remains relatively simple, and anyone can still pick up on it quickly to get started on it. Keeping it simple might also mean keeping a casual progress, and that might just be manageable. The game might have a lot of content by now, but there is still room for simple efforts.

Then, there's a game that I haven't mentioned for a long time: Magikarp Jump. It was simple then - at least relatively - and it is still simple now. It's so simple that it was reported that a player took many years to attain the ultimate achievement and "beat the game", which is a reflection of how small (and simple) the progress can actually be made. The game is rather eccentric, but simplicity remains inherent.

Many Pokémon games today are nowhere near "simple" due to their development and reach across different aspects of Pokémon. The three games mentioned above may be regarded as exceptions to that, in whole or in part, and their simplicity is manifested in various ways. While they may not substitute for the "full-on" and complicated games, at the least, some Pokémon fans can remain simple even with them.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 8/18/2024

Two years ago: My Current Woes with Café Remix

Three years ago: Hard Times, Fun Times in New Unite Battle Arenas

Four years ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: Selections

Five years ago: The Power of Stories

Six years ago: Cosplay: STARNIFEST 2019

Seven years ago: Cosplay: B-Bunkasai 2018 - Subarashii Maboroshii no Sekai

Eight years ago: Battle of the Masters

Collecting Stars in Café Remix

By now, those who play Café Remix should be quite familiar with the action of collecting stars as they complete different kinds of puzzles. It seems like an obvious action, but there's also a few more related things and finer points about and involving this action that deserve at least some explanation. It might also help and inspire others to make more progress within the game, which is why I've decided to write up about it.

First up, for those who haven't realized it, stars are essentially items as well. While they're marks for achievements in orders (stages), they can be accumulated, as in the case of main order stars (seen in the Past Orders screen) and for the Monthly Goals or Special Passes (seen in the respective screen). The earned stars are equivalent to however many are earned for completing an order or stage, and if they happen to be from Staff Training and multiple Stamina Shards were used, they'll be multiplied accordingly; this latter bit is especially useful for those who need lots of stars right away. Because they're items, they can be collected outside orders too - but this is more of a special case to be explained shortly.

Stars effectively come in two colors, yellow and blue. Yellow is pretty much reserved for stars that are collected from main orders, including ones that haven't been collected by replaying them through Past Orders and earning them. Blue is for the stars obtained through Staff Training, event orders, and other means outside orders, particularly for use in the Monthly Goals or Special Passes. In any case, yellow stars also contribute to those tracks just like blue stars do, so those efforts do not go in vain - as long as they're made.

The means of earning stars outside of orders is the Collect the Stars Challenge, which presently runs at the beginning and the end of the month (previously, it ran only at the end of the month). Completing its tasks allows one to earn many stars for the tracks as above, even more than from certain orders. The challenge is certainly directed for those who rarely open up the game - furthermore taking part in its run of events - allowing them at least to earn things from the tracks and especially if they paid for things like the monthly Premium Pass. Outside of this, stars have to be collected through the conventional manners as above.

Collecting stars is part of the usual routine for Café Remix and is evident in many ways. But then again, a few parts of it might not be so evident, and it helps to elucidate them in order to be able to take advantage of them for certain gameplay purposes. Regardless, the purpose of obtaining stars as best as possible remains the primary directive.

One year ago: Cosplay: (Program) Japanese Culture

Two years ago: The Prize Machine in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: The Shining Moment: Pokémon Presents, 8/3/2022

Four years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: Madness in Madness

Five years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: What's In, What's Out

Six years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru SX

Seven years ago: (A New) Local Ex-Raid, 8/4/2018

Eight years ago: Pokémon on My Bed

Making a Difference: Pokémon Presents, 7/22/2025

Well, that (bi)annual happening I referenced in this year's Pokémon Unite anniversary post is none other than an edition of Pokémon Presents. Sometimes there's just one of it in one year, but other times there are two of them in one year; evidently it's the latter for this year because there had already been one earlier. And if there's a second one, then that means some of the information is important and can't wait for the usual anniversary edition. It may be construed as a way of "making a difference"... which becomes highly evident.

First up, dedicated fans and viewers who tuned in early could catch a one-hour long DJ Pikachu performance featuring tunes from the first generation games from the early game to the endgame, all remixed in typical DJ fashion but still with different styles. This is certainly different from earlier iterations that don't have actual "pre-show" entertainment, and though it's not really part of the presentation proper, it's still pretty much adjacent and rather complementary to it, something to be considered for future iterations of the presentation.

The actual presentation, meanwhile, is approximately half an hour long and contains all the expected info and more. One of those is for the upcoming World Championships in Anaheim, CA in the U.S., with a preview of the festivities. This was followed by info for existing games: Scarlet and Violet (main series) with a new battle event, the physical TCG with card content for the new Mega Evolution expansion, Pokémon Go with a really big wrap-up, Unite with its anniversary festivities, Café Remix with a seafaring event, Sleep with a beastly trio event and a new area, and Masters EX with a new Sync Pair and bonuses - all of them a handful and varied.

Entertainment is also hot on the list. Pokémon Concierge, the stop-motion series on Netflix, now has a preview of its upcoming episodes slated to premiere in September. Speaking of stop-motion, the "kings" of it - Aardman Animation - also want in on Pokémon, and they've come up with a different animation featuring Sirfetch'd and Pichu, also teased here and slated for release in two years. For more realistic entertainment, there is also PokéPark Kanto - not a game this time, but a whole amusement park in the flesh (at least, a subset of one); it's due to open early next year. All the entertainment will come in due time.

Also hot are new games on tap. The first is a wholly new game called Pokémon Friends, which combine brainteaser puzzles and plush collections, available now on the Switch and mobile platforms. Meanwhile, Pokémon Champions has revealed more of its mechanisms (a "Recruit" feature and stat adjustments), which may just affirm its "battle client" spirit, as well as a planned release next year. As for the eagerly awaited Legends: Z-A game, it'll be due in three months and its most tantalizing additions are revealed here as well, including a new Mega Evolution of a very familiar dragon. Worlds of differences seem to await players and fans alike.

If certain worldly and life principles are of any indication, being different is not necessarily bad, and this edition of Pokémon Presents had that quality in spades. This edition had that for its introduction, the new content to existing games, the forthcoming entertainment forms, and certainly all the new games that fans can't wait to get their hands on and play. They're all important and beyond the usual norms, and that may be useful for Pokémon in general, as the maintenance of norms while occasionally breaking them for variety.

One year ago: Seventh Anniversary of My Raid Group

Two years ago: Cosplay: Shokumatsu

Three years ago: Respect for Zeno Robinson

Four years ago: More on Ideal Raid Lengths

Five years ago: The State of Nominations, Part 5

Six years ago: Movie Manga, Part 2 (Really 2)

Seven years ago: Pokémon Style Figure Sun & Moon 2 - Mimikyu

Eight years ago: Cosplay in a Bag

Café Remix Delivery Disillusionment

Around two years ago, I had noted that one of my "woes" with Café Remix concerns the Delivery feature, for which I've pretty much gotten all the "common" rewards and the "rare" rewards seem rather out of reach. That situation is still pretty much true today, and in a way, it has expanded into a kind of "disillusionment" when dealing with the feature in general. It's a feeling that may be considered as odd in some ways and typical in others, and it seems necessary for me to take a post to write up about it, especially in light of recent happenings.

For that, recently I had obtained a five-star outfit for Espeon (and thus the Pokémon itself) through the feature, using a ticket with a specifically greater chance of obtaining this. The "disillusionment" arises because most times I've used similar tickets for other rare rewards, they never seem to come any more often than paying up Golden Acorns for running a Delivery - or 10+1 of them - without any specific greater chance of certain rewards. In fact, there are still Pokémon I'm missing that could only come from Delivery, and they're supposedly not too rare when they come up - yet they still don't come regardless.

Being that the Delivery feature is a thinly veiled gacha, it might seem that subpar results are to be expected at certain periods of time, and thus the "disillusioned" feeling is one to be shrugged in those times. Still, with the way of some of its aspects (as the directed tickets above with the greater chances) and again in consideration of the "common" rewards having been gained as above, the "disillusionment" is rather warranted. That then leads to the reduction of expectations for what can be gained through the feature now and for the foreseeable time ahead - again, unless something changes somehow.

It seems that my "disillusionment" with the Delivery feature in Café Remix will continue for some time, even if at times the coveted rare rewards like the one above are obtained, in an apparent contrariness to that "disillusionment". Similar sentiments (and situations) may also be shared by others, which becomes another reason for me to address them as in this post. Whether or not that's true, what remains true is that the Delivery feature will continue to persist, and at least some rewards may not be as illusory.

One year ago: Let's Go Make Some Fusions

Two years ago: Cosplay: Onokatsu Japanese Festival

Three years ago: Cosplay: Community Base Party

Four years ago: Go Fest in the Time of...

Five years ago: Starting from Somewhere

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Version 1?

Seven years ago: Daily Tasks

Eight years ago: Flying Quirks of Charizard

Redecorating with Café Remix

I had noted in this year's anniversary post for Café Remix that the present one is a "visual" anniversary because of something recently added to the game. That feature is rightly called "customization", but it's also really about "redecorating" because... that's what it really is. It's still pretty early, but the gist of the feature seems to be readily understandable even now, so I thought I'd go ahead and make a discussion out of it.

The customization involves placing Pokémon and furnishings in different parts of the café in order to make it look unique, reflecting what the players may like. The ten different areas of the café can have specific Pokémon placed in them (some more than one), while the Entrance and Lounge (currently) can have different furnishings. It's pretty much a certainty that other areas might have furnishings later on as a development.

Customizations are made by going into the feature from the main café screen and selecting a specific area to start. Here, one then places Pokémon with specific outfits - and if applicable, furnishings for areas that have them - and then confirms the selection. Layouts can also be saved as "blueprints" and then restored at any time, and even Pokémon can offer layouts automatically. They're all pretty nice touches.

How does a player obtain furnishings? Many of them can already be obtained through certain achievements - including the star front signboard for completing main orders - and some can be obtained through exchanges at currently ongoing events, which has resulted in their shops expanding for this purpose. As such, the feature is essentially being ingrained as "spiffy extras" for those who can and do go the extra mile.

Although for some players the café already looks great with the way that it has always looked, some may certainly want to make it look even better, and so the addition of the customization feature satisfies the desires of those players. Yet everyone can still take advantage of the feature to make their café really their own, and with that, players are bound to go on a "redecorating" spree for celebrating this "visual" anniversary and beyond.

One year ago: Team Rocket Apparel from Pokémon Center

Two years ago: Possible Alternatives to (Preserve) Pokémon Go?

Three years ago: Taking on the Unite Challenge

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/3/2021

Five years ago: More Pokémon Go "Goofs"

Six years ago: I Splurged, for Once

Seven years ago: Pokémon Yellow Pikachu Shirt

Eight years ago: Spicy Tamato

Café Remix 5th Anniversary: Evolving the Vision

This is one Pokémon game anniversary I rarely discuss on this blog (and wasn't there for its early editions), but since it's happening and it's on a bit of a significant number, I thought I'd discuss it regardless. So, Café Remix - including its earlier iteration of Café Mix, has reached the age of five, which is starting to become somewhat long. But that is still impressive, especially considering what the game was and now is.

If what is presently known in the game as extra orders are of any indication, being the way puzzles were first presented, the game (as Café Mix) had a rather rudimentary start to things even if the mechanics pretty much carried over to Café Remix. The extra orders still being present as they are - and giving out rewards for their completion - means that the game still stays true to its roots even with all the changes.

Speaking of changes, I was just barely there for the initial iteration of the Delivery feature before its turnover to giving outfit levels, and it's a profound change that even now may or may not be warmly received. The change in maximum levels that came with the addition of Macarons has been a great dimensional extender, however, and staying on top of this matter becomes the key for endeavors in the new event puzzles.

Meanwhile, the current anniversary would be aptly considered a "visual" one, adding several new features enhancing the look of the game - to be detailed later, of course. Apart from that, the game goes on in the same state as of a few months ago, and no major shakeups are expected. There might still be a few minor shakeups, but that will be if and when they are announced through the game's News feature.

Five years is not a short time, but again, it's still a significant number of years to reach. That quality also very much applies to what Café Remix has to offer in its present state and after its change-up from Café Mix. Now it seems that players have to bring their own significance to what is offered and how much time they can offer in return given the above - a time that, like the past five years of the game, seems to just fly by.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Not Becoming Ourselves

Two years ago: Cosplay: Indonesia Comic Con - Pop Asia 2023, Day 1

Three years ago: 2000 Posts!!!

Four years ago: Cosplay: YASUMI 2 - Sunday Holiday

Five years ago: Lifestyle Gaming

Six years ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2019 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Seven years ago: Gym Rework, One Year Later

Eight years ago: Pokémon Go Gym Rework

Frustrated by Café Remix Score Missions

In Pokémon Café Remix, a few of the game's Mission Bingo boards sometimes - OK, often - contains a task that states that the player has to earn a specific score on an event puzzle, one that ends with a certain digit. This sounds easy until it is considered that the score must be the one obtained after bonus points are taken into account, which can sometimes make the score shift by one or many points in any direction. This has the potential to cause frustration, and in fact, it already has for yours truly; for that, I've decided to make a discussion out of it.

The problem with the task is that its objective almost becomes totally dependent on luck - in the parlance of this and other similar games, gacha. Even if the Pokémon icons could be manipulated to earn certain point values, the kicker is still the bonus points, which are seemingly arbitrary in value in affecting scores as the above. I've had several runs where the point value I obtained was never the one I needed, whereas at other times, I got the required point value almost immediately. The results seem as arbitrary as the points.

For the case of One-Minute Cooking, it is possible to sidestep the effort needed for the task in some cases by clearing megaphone and skill icons (which give out bonus points), manipulating icons to the needed point value, then quitting the stage. Doing this will still allow the player to earn points for the task and the event, but hopefully in a quicker fashion; it might also take a few more stamina, but it's worth a try if the needed point value never seems to come up even with best play, which becomes the source of the frustration.

With Slow Cooking, the effort (and frustration) is magnified as one has to complete the entire sequence of puzzle stages to earn points for the task and the event, and quitting mid-way simply annuls the attempt. A player might try to rush through the puzzle stages and earn points wherever they can be earned while making progress, but this runs into the arbitrariness challenge of the bonus points, which are still earned during (and after) play of the stages. This situation might demand that a balance be struck between best play and rush play.

An appropriate saying for this situation seems to be that "sufficiently advanced technology cannot be distinguished from magic" - in this case, the former being Café Remix scoring and the latter being luck. Both might just play into the completion of the Café Remix score missions and the frustration that ensues when trying to complete those missions. Even so, at least some understanding can be made in trying to complete the missions properly, with a little luck for seasoning, and that may alleviate some of the induced frustration.

One year ago: Pokémon Calendars

Two years ago: Recent Visual Improvements in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: For Discerning Kids and Adults Alike

Four years ago: Subspace Emissary Buddies Poster

Five years ago: Names, Markets, and Issues

Six years ago: Code Affairs

Seven years ago: Number One for...

Eight years ago: 15th Feature Film Mini-Figures

Sidekick Pokémon in Café Remix

In addition to being the leader Pokémon for taking orders (playing stages) as well as support Pokémon in those circumstances, some Pokémon also have another role. They can become what are known as "sidekick Pokémon", and they can affect the actual puzzle play without being visibly present in them. They too have other details and features associated with them that can go unnoticed - even for me, who has been playing for quite some time - so there is an impetus to go over those details and features for the benefit of everyone.

All currently available sidekick Pokémon are of the Legendary or Mythical category, and incidentally (or not), they have been obtained through an event of some sort - the first one of these being Mewtwo through the inaugural edition of One-Minute Cooking. Up to three of them may be involved in play, with one designated as the Chief. Mewtwo was the only one at the time it was introduced, so everyone conceivably used it; now with there being many of them, players can (wisely) choose and use different ones among them.

That's also because each of these Pokémon have different skills, from adding more time to One-Minute Cooking to increasing score to decreasing megaphone creation cost. Further, the skills can be made to be stronger by powering them up with the use of Sidekick Candies... which players should have obtained along with the Pokémon from the associated event. The maximum is level 5, which takes a lot of the item, but level 3 is fairly accessible and should be a primary goal for players and the Pokémon that will be most useful and frequently used.

Pokémon with sidekick skills can be used just like any other Pokémon as leader and/or support in an order (stage), but that would mean taking them out of the sidekick lineup, even just for the purpose of training them. It's most likely, then, that leveling up the active ones would use tarts and the others can be trained as usual. Nevertheless, it's the sidekick skill that's most important to be powered up, and the Pokémon leveling can be done whenever it's feasible and as the lineups - for actual puzzle play or sidekick - are changed out as necessary.

Speaking of, players should ideally change the sidekick Pokémon lineup to suit the puzzle being played, but if they're like me, chances are they'll forget and tend to leave the lineup in a specific formation, particularly when a certain major Pokémon visit event is ongoing with the usual formats (One-Minute Cooking or Slow Cooking in all their incarnations). At the least, changing the sidekick lineup according to these formats and whatever puzzle content is involved with them would still be a good approach.

Understandably, it would seem that sidekick Pokémon are an easily missed aspect of the orders or stages in Café Remix. Yet, there is quite a bit of potential that lies with the aspect, especially for those who have played through the events to get the Pokémon for which the aspect applies. All that is left is to consider the Pokémon that are involved and select them for usage in the various puzzles while also upping their capabilities, making them truly what they are for their powers of puzzle assistance.

One year ago: Cosplay: Helloweebs Spotlight Event 2024

Two years ago: Silph Arena Factions Postseason, Season 2

Three years ago: The Advancement of TMs

Four years ago: Road of 25th Anniversary: On with the Show

Five years ago: Friendship and Community

Six years ago: Gatherings for Blessings and Success

Seven years ago: Reconsidering Trade Evolutions

Eight years ago: What's Appenin' (Mobile Games)

Presents in Café Remix

Besides the obvious ones or ones that I've already explained, Café Remix has a few features that might be considered "obscure" or easily overlooked. One of the features that could be considered as such is one called Presents. As its name suggests, it has something to do with things being given out - in this case being items - but the workings go a bit deeper than that, and that makes it perfect to be discussed to some extent.

The items in this case are those that are obtained from events that occur frequently over the course of the game. Specifically, for events that rank players and give out rewards based on the ranking, their rewards are sent to Presents rather than claimed directly by the player. It represents a fair alternative, since some rewards might contain item amounts that push beyond the collection limit for a player - a matter for a separate discussion.

Meanwhile, items from other sources can also be held in and given out through the feature. They may come as compliments or from the "operations team" for certain updates, especially as apology gifts due to specific issues. And if one forgets to claim some items from the Monthly Goals - as I have discovered recently - they too may appear in Presents to be claimed through the feature. That makes it a versatile one.

Still, the feature has another limit besides the collection limit as above. Only 200 reward bundles can be kept, and beyond that, they would be deleted... although it's likely one will claim most or all available bundles before that happens, especially with the "claim all" button on the lower middle of the screen. All this certainly happens when the player accesses the feature through the menu option from the main café screen.

With all that goes on in Café Remix, especially now with consistent regular events taking up most of one's play efforts, it can be easy for a player to overlook a few things, like the Presents feature and the items that may be sent to it as a result of various circumstances. But once a player is able to make good use of it through understanding its particulars as above, more good efforts may just manifest and make themselves more obvious.

One year ago: Labors of Love

Two years ago: Tournament: SWEEP JR vs. Majestic Tiger Elite (SA Factions)

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Mega Evolution Rework

Four years ago: Like a Slowking Without the Shell

Five years ago: Seek and Ye Shall...

Six years ago: Transcending to a Beautiful Harmony

Seven years ago: Old Memories, New Memories

Eight years ago: Indie Pokémon Stickers

Revision Roundup

Every so often, a current Pokémon game - necessarily of the spinoff type - will include a "revision" of some sort to something that I've covered previously, some of which is to my chagrin and others being to others'. It just so happens that three games that I have quite a bit of stake in at present have all recently included something to that effect, so I thought I'd "round up" the revisions and cover them all at once instead of making separate "treatises" for each when the matter becomes majorly pertinent.

The first one comes from Pokémon Unite, where Theia Sky Ruins returned as the map for Ranked matches after a temporary soirée with Remoat Stadium right around the time of the franchise anniversary. The situation thus perfectly described that state of affairs, as it became a perfectly designed throwback. Meanwhile, the latter's (re)incarnation as the "First to 500" play mode is persistent as of yet... but this could be due for a "revision" of some kind in the near future, hopefully for the better rather than otherwise.

Café Remix also has a "revision" to the now-regular event structure. Instead of the same two team and individual point events during a major one, just one of them occurs, and that is followed by a minor points event that extends to the end of the major event, overlapping with a Cook and Collect event for Gholdengo. This has the effect of allowing other older Pokémon featured in past events to come back, which is definitely a good thing for those who missed them or didn't get as much as they could for them.

And then, there is Pokémon Go. The recent Go Tour event had been advertised to include a pose, but this didn't materialize, and the mention was removed. However, fortunate Trainers caught the mention of the missing pose, and ultimately compensation had to be made - though not in the form of a pose. It's a "revision" that's typical of the way things have been done for the game, and in its second life, there may just be other "revisions" that further characterize the (future) happenings of the game.

"Revisions" are common - and part of the norm - for continuously updated games of the present, including some Pokémon ones. Depending on the effects and quality of the aspects involved in the "revisions", as well as the results of the "revisions" themselves, they may be anywhere from pleasantly acceptable to necessarily repetitive, if the above instances illustrate as such. Yet it's hard not to expect at least some "revisions" in current games, and people on both sides of the gaming table need to deal with them wisely.

One year ago: Direct vs. Quiz Selection

Two years ago: Performance Critique: Mezase Pokémon Master feat. Otaku

Three years ago: More Berries for Pokémon Go?

Four years ago: The Future of WhatsApp Pokémon Stickers

Five years ago: Virulent Impacts

Six years ago: From One Path to Another

Seven years ago: (Again a) Local Ex-Raid, 3/24/2018

Eight years ago: The Many Forms of Pikachu in Shuffle

Ever Onward: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2025

Following Pokémon Go Tour, the matter of Pokémon Presents from the anniversary day for the franchise also needs to be dealt with, in similar fashion as a couple of the past years (see below). Last year - which was discussed on a different date - I brought up the theme of "continuity" for how the things brought up in the presentation at that time followed on for certain Pokémon things. This time, it may be said that those things kept following on to the future, which is why I've settled on the descriptor and theme as in the title of this post.

"Onward" truly describes the situation of existing games. Pokémon Go had Go Tour as its announcement (of course) with another early twist, while Café Remix had an announcement of a very apple-y festival. Pokémon Unite is getting three new Unite Licenses, two within the next two months, and TCGP has a new Themed Booster Pack. For other games, Sleep is getting the tale of the "moon islands", Masters EX is getting two new supreme Sync Pairs, physical TCG is getting Mega Evolution, and current main series games (Scarlet, Violet) are preparing the fully evolved starters for gleaming things. The games are all moving forward in some way.

Then, other areas are also moving forward. For Latin America, certain games and the physical TCG will be localized in Latin American Spanish, which ought to allow more of its speakers to enjoy Pokémon in that language. Pokémon Concierge, the stop-motion animation series on Netflix announced two years ago, will also receive new episodes, while its first four will be available on YouTube for a limited time. They're steps that hopefully will please many fans.

Last on the discussion agenda is new games on tap. A new game has been announced, which will be called Pokémon Champions; it looks to be in the style of the Stadium or Colosseum games, which also might mean a possible entry of VGC-style battles, and is therefore a way of experiencing them in a different manner, something that I had postulated several years ago, on this very day (also see below). Then, there was also a "first look" at Legends: Z-A, showing that the game too is really moving forward, including with regard to its time setting.

It might seem that fans have needed some reassurance that some Pokémon things - especially the very last one I brought up - are moving forward somehow. The things announced in the "anniversary edition" for Pokémon Presents may provide that reassurance, as well as show that they're proceeding "ever onward" for the next things to serve the enjoyment of the fans. In that way, the fans should be able to make much of the same moves in the same direction.

One year ago: Cosplay: Utsuru 8.5

Two years ago: It's All Relative: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2023

Three years ago: Newfound Glory: Pokémon Presents, 2/27/2022

Four years ago: More PokéStops in Specific Areas?

Five years ago: Re-Experiencing Main Series Battles

Six years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest x ICGP Regionals 2019

Seven years ago: Investing for PokéCoins

Eight years ago: To Pre-Order or Not to Pre-Order?

Spending for Café Remix Deliveries

It is known that in Café Remix, some Pokémon and their outfits are (and could only be) obtained through the Delivery feature, essentially an implementation of gacha. Many Delivery runs - that is, gacha draws - can be made for free daily, but to get at the more lucrative rewards, one will likely need to spend for extra runs or draws with Golden Acorns, possibly proxying real money if it was used to obtain them. Now that so many rewards are at this "lucrative" point and I've had to experience the spending several times over, I thought I'd make a discussion on that spending and how it should ideally occur.

Recall that each additional immediate Delivery costs 3000 Golden Acorns, or 30000 Golden Acorns for 10 of them plus one free. If there are still lesser rewards to be obtained, the former makes sense, but if only the "lucrative" rewards are left, then the latter makes more sense, as someone would be expected to spend for more Delivery runs due to the reward rarity, and the individual runs themselves would be cheaper - even the supposed "free" one. Of course, one could just spend on the multiple runs all the time, and some savings would still be justified with all the gained rewards from them.

As for the overall grand total of spending for them, at least for a stretch of time, one could very well be advised to stop after, say, 100000 Golden Acorns spent and getting none of the "lucrative" rewards, even when multiple ones are present. That said, if the latter is the case, then one should spend some Golden Acorns anyhow, but perhaps only to a practical limit, given that free Delivery runs are still present. Beyond limits, it seems there's a sense that one may just be wagering too much for them and it might make more sense to purchase an Instant Hire ticket (for a Pokémon) instead to get it over with. 

The notion of "gacha" is always a finicky thing, and that seems to be true even in this Pokémon puzzle game spinoff, especially with the pertinent issue of making the spend for it - as I have myself, prompting the creation of this post and discussion. It may just be that one can keep spending as little as possible, which might still make some "lucrative" rewards unobtainable, or spend a lot to get the rewards while taking a toll on Golden Acorns (and possibly real money) as a whole. Such a finicky state of affairs may just require finicky viewpoints to regard them, as with gacha in general.

One year ago: A Journey's Anthem

Two years ago: Let's Talk About Living and Letting Go

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 1/22/2022

Four years ago: Best in the World and Universe

Five years ago: On the "Invisible Forces"

Six years ago: Fan Art... for Me!

Seven years ago: Costume and Cosplay Checklists

Eight years ago: Pokémon World + Hero's Come Back = ...

My Team Status in Café Remix

Meanwhile, on the front of Pokémon puzzle spinoff games, on my personal end there is the presently popular Café Remix. Specifically for my personal discussion, I'd like to bring up the matter of teams, which are so important for many happenings in the game. Regarding this, I've had to go through a process that I didn't think I'd have to go through, and that is reflected in the current status of my team and what it was before today.

I'd been happy with the team I initially selected, but lately, many of the members had been underperforming (in fact, not at all). The team had been continuously going through inactive member turnovers - ones who hadn't logged in for 30 days being removed from it - and this even involved one of the players who had been tops in the past along with a "friend" of that player. Clearly, it was time for drastic measures.

For that, I elected to leave the team voluntarily and seek a new one. This, however, had the caveat that I wouldn't be able to join one within a span of 24 hours, which meant not being able to contribute to a team-based event if there was one - and in fact, there was. The game gave a warning and confirmation regarding this matter after viewing the team info and tapping "Leave". Luckily, that gave time for me to find a prospective new team.

After the 24 hours had passed, I joined a new team, which I chose according to the progression of most of its members as seen in the team search preview. The progression of the current team event was also evidently much further along than my previous team. While it remains to be seen how I will fare with this new team in general, at the least I am in good company with the team's current state.

So it is that my current team status is one that is formerly of one team and now another through leaving and rejoining. It's a last resort, but it just might be necessary for things to improve in the game, especially if the situation above happens. Given its caveats, it's also necessary to recognize when one should undertake the process if needed. Regardless, it also means that teams are just as necessary for the good of progression here.

One year ago: The Ultimate Journey: A Journey's End

Two years ago: Tournament: Trainers' Sparring Battleground Ember Cup

Three years ago: Let's Talk About A Fourth Party

Four years ago: I Need Good Energy

Five years ago: After Tournament, Because of Tournament

Six years ago: Keeping Up with VGC

Seven years ago: Here Comes an Ex-Raid

Eight years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 2

My Most Frequent Flops in Café Remix

I've had a good deal of success in Pokémon Café Remix up to this point, but that didn't come easily. More to the point, I've found myself making a few errors or "flops" from time to time that affect my gameplay in certain ways. I've identified three of the most frequent ones I made, and I thought I'd make a discussion about them in order to provide a bit of perspective on them, for me and other people who play the game.

One of my most frequent "flops" is having a chain of Pokémon icons stuck in a certain place, whether behind a wall or along certain gimmicks. If that happens, there is a chance that I cannot continue the chain, as the Pokémon icon leading the chain actually has a limited reach in this case and it may not be enough to hook another icon. It's a little frustrating when that happens, and the only hope is that it doesn't happen even more frequently.

Next, sometimes my finger slides off or otherwise inadvertently loses contact with the screen, thus ending whatever chain I might have already started. Since I play on my Nintendo Switch Lite, this might be attributable to the small size of its screen and/or the fact that it has no bezel to keep my finger on it. If I played the smart device version, things could be a different story... or it might be all the same, depending on the circumstances.

Besides the "flop" of unintended grabs that I had earlier described in a "woes" post, which is still applicable even now, there is also the slightly related "flop" of not being able to aim some of the icons correctly, like Pokémon icons through a gap or skill or megaphone icons at certain gimmicks. Sometimes it seems a certain precision is needed to avoid this "flop", which I might or might not have depending on the times or moods of the day when I play.

A lot of things in Café Remix depend on successful chaining and/or aiming of different icons, and those many things are also affected by errors or "flops" that players make. Certainly, by the above, I'm not an exception to the phenomenon, and it's all I can do to avoid any or all of these "flops" while I play. That may not always happen, but what can always happen is a measure of success from what happens in the puzzles.

One year ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu Mini Event III

Two years ago: Performance Critique: CHoCoDays 2022 Fun Karaoke Challenge

Three years ago: Salim Group and Pokémon

Four years ago: Perking up Holidays, Pokémon Style

Five years ago: PvP: After One Year

Six years ago: Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys, Waves 3 and 4

Seven years ago: Balanced Systems Stimulate Civilization

The Importance of Mew in Café Remix

By now, many Pokémon that become staff members in Café Remix are important with their skills or significance in one way or another. Yet it seems that of them, Mew has a particular or specific importance, especially with the features associated with the Pokémon in this game. As such, I've opted to make a bit of discussion regarding this observation by highlighting those features or aspects that make it as such. 

Perhaps the most important feature or aspect is its puzzle skill. For its regular outfit variant at the least, by obtaining one skill icon and using it, it becomes a useful minor area hit; however, by obtaining two skill icons and combining them, all icons in the puzzle area are hit, clearing them if applicable. This has many implications, one of them being a large puzzle score. As well, with the way Slow Cooking is today, if done there, it instantly fills up the Fever bar and leads to another Fever time that is likely to be in the next stage, provided that doing so clears all icons. Because regular outfit Mew is also of all types, this could conceivably be applied to many puzzles. The Pokémon skill alone makes for a rather apparent importance.

Meanwhile, another outfit (the Fresh outfit) is offered for Mew through an event pass called the Café Opening Pass, and it is similar to the Camping outfit in that it has a five-star skill, albeit with the effects being different from the regular outfit as expected. Even so, the event pass, as expected by mobile game standards, requires payment and therefore the outfit is a paid or even "premium" aspect or feature. Regardless, it seems the aspect or feature is to be available indefinitely and has been as such since it was first offered with the event pass revamp, and that seems to establish its importance aside from the regular outfit as above.

Recently, the game also updated with a new Mew Challenge, displacing the previous implementation, as the way to eventually hire Mew as a staff member by developing its associated menu item. The new challenge involves completing orders and other tasks, appropriately to #151 (as its National Dex number). Old players simply get the rewards and clear the challenge, while new players will need to go through it. In any case, the new challenge and rewards are also further affirmation of the importance of the Pokémon.

Though all Pokémon in Café Remix will likely show how they can become important through certain play aspects, Mew is evidently important in many different ones as above and will likely remain so with them. That continued importance will likely serve players well in addition to any Pokémon that become café customers and eventually staff members.

One year ago: EX Licenses: A Legendary Extra

Two years ago: Cosplay: CHoCoDays 2022 - FUNDOME

Three years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights: The Modelers

Four years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights - "Gotcha!" Versions

Five years ago: Rethinking Game Linkages

Six years ago: Passing It On: The Next Generation

Seven years ago: Pikachu Head Collectibles

More Changes to Slow Cooking in Café Remix

Around half a year ago, I detailed about some changes to the Slow Cooking format in Café Remix, varying up and improving some aspects of the format from its initial incarnation. Yet, a few nagging aspects may still have been left hanging... and it seems for that, the game went for another round of changes to improve the format further, and that is with a Cooking Festival event that is currently taking place. It seems these are worth to be detailed as well like the earlier time, and I've designated this post for that purpose.

This first change actually also applies to its "speedy sibling", One-Minute Cooking, but it really comes into its own here. Now, recommended Pokémon for a stage can be chosen directly from the list (if said Pokémon has joined the staff) instead of having to go into the Pokémon selection screen to do so, thereby saving one step. As usual, though, one Pokémon applies as the leader for one dish being cooked, so it's still necessary to have some different Pokémon, but at the least if the need to change arises, then the process is simpler.

Fever time, which was implemented in the last batch of changes, also received improvements. Now, when Fever time is achieved, an extra move is added, guaranteeing that it can be used to clear icons and gimmicks to advance and/or earn points - or just the latter if achieved at the last moment of the final stage. Regardless, the extra move is awarded as soon as the gauge is filled, for which if it happens along with clearing a stage, Fever time carries over to the next stage - as long as it's not the end of the final stage.

Speaking of stage transitions, when a stage is complete (or when all moves have been used), all remaining skills and megaphones on the stage are activated to clear icons and/or possibly remnant gimmicks, just like as they do at the end of One-Minute Cooking, giving out minor additional points. They may also clear out Café Likes - as in the current implementation - but they won't clear out +1 Moves, not even in the middle of a run, and they won't contribute to the Fever gauge either. This change seems to be just to maintain commonality as above.

In a way, these current changes are not many, but they are very much meaningful, making things a little easier and bearable for the players. Regardless, these are also the second set of changes to the Slow Cooking format, which may be considered to continue to highlight its certain deficiencies - although mostly no more, now that the changes have been made. The next step may just be ensuring that players can take advantage of everything to keep on getting high scores and serving the café customers with great service as usual.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 11/5/2023

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 11/5/2022

Three years ago: The Structure of Factions

Four years ago: Spending Afternoons with Eevee(lutions)

Five years ago: Where My Voice Gets Heard

Six years ago: Dexterity, Pokémon Games, and Me

Seven years ago: Team Harmony

The New Event Structure of Café Remix

Earlier this year, I had noted some instances where events in Pokémon Café Remix overlapped one another, whether intended or not. They may be seemingly reflective of poor planning and/or oversight, also making them "grind-fests" for players. It seems, though, since that time, the game has gotten its act together and made a structure of overlapping events that helps to keep pace with a single prime event and increase interest in it.

The prime event - taking the form of a major Pokémon visit, Outdoor Tea Party, or Cooking Festival, along with the associated frameworks of One-Minute Cooking or Slow Cooking - is made to last for two weeks as the primary structure. This might seem a long time, but considering that players like me are also occupied with other things besides this game, it makes sense to have it that long. Furthermore, it works out for players of any skill level and allows them to play through the prime event without being rushed.

Along with the prime event, there are also mini-events that start a few days after the start of the prime event and lasts for several days each, one after another. They are "Audino's Cooking Drills", an individual points event; "Vee Vee's Cooking Class", a team points event; and a recurrence of Collect with Gholdengo within the Cook and Collect framework. All of these simply furnish additional items (the likes of Tarts, Golden Acorns, and Milestone Cookies) and can be played through by just playing the prime event, making them convenient adjuncts to the prime event without adding more "grinding" burden to the player.

Mission Bingo is also appropriately scheduled and often simplified to just three bingo cards for the duration of the prime event, with fewer multi-day tasks compared to what was in past bingo cards. What tasks are present now still require quite a bit of "grinding", but they're often for elements related to the prime event, thus also making them convenient adjuncts like the mini-events above. Thus, by just playing the prime event continuously - with occasional ventures to other efforts - many objectives can be accomplished.

Overall, the new structure for events solves many problems related to effort and disinterest while adding many opportunities for bonuses, making the "grind" that is still necessary for the prime event more rewarding and less pressured. After the old overlap, this should be considered as a welcome change, and one that should be able to remain for the longest time possible for players to take advantage of all its benefits.

One year ago: Latest Pokémon Fun on Social Media

Two years ago: Surrendering in Pokémon Unite

Three years ago: Record-Keeping in Pokémon Games

Four years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: Taking Stands, Taking Chances

Five years ago: Someone Else's Points

Six years ago: A Poké Ball Keychain

Seven years ago: Cosplay: Kisetsu no Matsuri

High-Score Skip in Café Remix

Some time ago, Café Remix updated to put in what could arguably be considered a minor feature, but has some major implications. As I've mentioned at times, the play of this game tends to be intensive at times to the point that "grinding" may be required to great extents. The newly added feature may just be a way to alleviate some of that "grinding", particularly for certain prime events, which have become the norm in this game along with that "grind".

As can be discerned, the new feature is called "High-Score Skip", and it does what one expects it to do. By using the feature, one can skip play of an event stage (One-Minute Cooking, Slow Cooking) with the highest score obtained up to that point. The score also factors into what collectibles can be earned - including those from Cook and Collect - if the stage was actually played, and those collectibles are earned as well. It is obviously a boon for "grinding" efforts.

Yet there is a catch, as with many things. For each event, skips equal to one play can be made for free multiple times, but only once a day. Skips equal to five plays and ten plays can also be made, but both are limited in quantity, and moreover, they require payment - something that some players may be short of these days. Once the available skips have been made, like it or not, players will have to continue the "grinding" process as expected normally by actual play.

Initially, it was the free once-a-day skip that was implemented starting with a previous event, but now all of the above choices are available. Some players, possibly like me, may also have thought that the Skip Tickets implemented for Daily Training could be used for this purpose, given that some players now have burgeoning quantities of it, but this turned out not to be the case. The feature is thus simply its own initiative, albeit still tied to the prime events.

Now that the feature is fleshed out, I also want to discuss about "best practices". It is clear that the once-a-day skip should be made as late as possible early in an event when a high score is not yet definitively established, and then as early as possible later on when a high score is more or less affirmed. As for the other skips, that may depend on time and money one has, as well as how much effort can actually be put into playing with or without their use.

"Grinding" is an inevitable and always pertinent matter and effort for Café Remix these days with its prime events, but at least the new High-Score Skip feature eases some of that effort, even if there is a price to pay for using its more advanced iterations. Nevertheless, this seemingly small addition could and should mean great things for some players, one of those things being a partial freedom from "grinding" when circumstances can allow that to happen.

One year ago: Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu Mini Gathering

Two years ago: Quickies: Building with the "Builder Trio"

Three years ago: Wallpaper: Journeys Gap Ad

Four years ago: Multilingual Pokémon Go

Five years ago: Gym Tours

Six years ago: (A Further) Local Ex-Raid, 9/10/2018

Seven years ago: Cosplay: BJF - Shizen ni Modoru

The Cooking Festival in Café Remix

As part of its fourth anniversary, which is significant but this year not enough for me to merit a post of its own, Pokémon Café Remix had put in another event format. This format might be its most dynamic yet, for it plays off of both rivalry and collaboration. The café has always been and will always be its own entity, but another entity came to challenge that - one known for its dark looks and purple twists, which goes by the name of Team Crunch. This sets up the primary dynamic of the format, which goes by the name of Cooking Festival. 

In responding to the challenge, the player along with the team band together to serve up things to please a certain judge. The serving up of those things uses the One-Minute Cooking stage framework that has additional gimmick items - the Café Like item, cleared by just making chains next to them when they appear - to be collected to support the café and earn items. In short, it's a special version of a team event with a predetermined stage framework, different from the usual incarnation of a team event with general play.

By collecting Café Likes, everyone on the team can earn certain rewards, including a new Pokémon staff member and the associated items - Cookies are certain, but other boost items could be possible in later editions - as well as the usual consumable items and whatnot. But like a usual team challenge, everyone has to contribute (optimally) to get all the rewards, and in fact they have to in order to earn the first few items. After that, it may depend on the activeness of the members of the team as a whole.

Going back to the "challenge" aspect, the Café Likes are also translated into points that counter those of Team Crunch, and this plays out in a series of cooking battles that take place in one- or two-day intervals, with the winning side being determined afterwards. Obviously, the café has to win for posterity, and in the first incarnation that ended yesterday, my team won all six battles. It is perhaps for the best that one does not find out what happens if a battle is lost... which means contributing as much as possible anyhow.

The dynamic of Cooking Festival is certainly unique, even if some of its demands are just fulfilled by regular play - and quite a bit of that, at that. Yet, it's also a team event, which means that only so much can happen if the rest of the team aren't up to the task. To keep Team Crunch at bay and still earn lots of nifty rewards may still serve as the primary incentive, and that may be just enough to keep things going, especially on the current and apropos occasion of the game's anniversary where lots of things can and do happen.

One year ago: Is Pokémon Second-Rate?

Two years ago: Quickies: Living Around Magnets

Three years ago: Poké Ball Luggage Tag

Four years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights - Mewmore Edition

Five years ago: The Art of Pokémon Adventures - 20th Anniversary Illustrations

Six years ago: Variegated Pokémon Patterns

Seven years ago: I Side with Pokémon