After a long absence, I've gone back and replayed Pokémon Rumble World on my 3DS in my spare time while I wait for the Hearts in Shuffle to recover. The only problem is that progress is not going much faster than it was before the long absence. One of these is due to the fact that my Poké Diamonds are limited to what I can get without having to spend eShop funds for them, which I still cannot do. As I've mentioned in my Rumble rollup, more Poké Diamonds means more leverage to obtain more stuff in the game, not the least of which is Hot-Air Balloons to open up more areas and catch other Pokémon.
Getting Poké Diamonds without spending eShop balance is actually somewhat simple. The game allows "visitors" to drop into your game - these are other players you meet by StreetPass, SpotPass, or the "Call Someone" option. And each time you meet five visitors from any of these, you earn a Diamond. The "Call Someone" option, which nets three random players from the Internet, is free for the first time you use it each day, and then costs 10 Play Coins thereafter, exactly the maximum you can earn in a single day. Afterwards, the visitors may sometimes offer gifts of Diamonds when interacting with them.
Big batches of Diamonds are obtainable through "King's Requests", the mission mode of the game. By clearing the missions and completing the objectives, many Diamonds can be earned, though this takes some dexterity and patience. Finally, in the in-game shop, you can also grab one-time bundles of 10 Diamonds for fulfilling certain objectives, mostly related through incoming visitors as above. Even so, all of these methods require efforts that are not very little in dedication and/or time.
So the crux of the matter is that I could use the help of more Rumble World players around me. I find that I'm not quite a dexterous player, so it can be hard to complete the missions in order to obtain Diamonds, and I find it preferable to just venture and catch Pokémon while hoping to have stronger ones to aid the missions. For that, new Pokémon areas really help, but the last few Hot-Air Balloons require an immense number of Diamonds that is hard to obtain in a short time, except with some help from visitors and the Diamonds they provide. And thus I need visitors to keep the Diamonds rolling in.
Getting Diamonds, if you don't or can't use eShop funds to get more, is definitely a challenging part of this game aside from the gameplay itself. So much of the game is designed around them that it's hard to progress further with just a small amount. Yet, getting Diamonds through other methods is a gargantuan effort that requires patience and skill. It seems in my case I'll have to settle for gathering up a lot of those in addition to the Diamonds themselves.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Ad Astra per Aspera... and the Third Games
"Ad astra per aspera" is Latin for "to the stars through hardships". So it means to go through difficulties first before achieving greatness, which is practically true everywhere, including in playing the Pokémon games. Nowadays, however, when it comes to Pokémon and stars, it's mostly about speculation about the third game complement to Sun and Moon, which many players think it will be Stars. Speculation is loud and rife, but nothing is set in stone yet due to many uncertainties.
Historically, the main series of games had third-game versions up to the fourth generation; these offered the same gameplay as the primary pair of that generation, except with a few different twists and turns. It is this fact that I appreciate that kept me playing all the third-game versions rather than playing the other game of the main pair. However, none of the remade games came with a third-game version, and in the fifth generation, the paired games were followed up with a second pair of games rather than a third game proper, while the sixth generation nothing was ever realized.
Considering this history, the future of "third-games" seems bleak. Back during the time of the sixth generation, speculation was also plenty, but nothing ended up appearing, though it looked like a third game or a second pair was a natural. In current times, this is exaggerated further because the 3DS does not have a successor set for it, though most players already assume that the Switch is poised to take up this role, even more so since the Pokémon games are starting to lag (cf. my post about 3D and 2D). If a third game is coming, the name is a consideration in addition to the platform - we might not even have "Stars" as its subtitle, as possibilities like "Earth" are also intriguing. Everything is up in the air.
The history of "third-games" for the Pokémon games is both established and uncertain, due to their past succession for the former and recent happenings for the latter. Speculation is fine for hoping that one may come, but until one is announced, speculation remains only trading figments of imagination about what and how the game will be. In the meantime, thinking about "Stars" is a fine thought, for it also rings true in Pokémon that greatness is a follow-up to hardships. We can only hope it will turn out in this manner.
Historically, the main series of games had third-game versions up to the fourth generation; these offered the same gameplay as the primary pair of that generation, except with a few different twists and turns. It is this fact that I appreciate that kept me playing all the third-game versions rather than playing the other game of the main pair. However, none of the remade games came with a third-game version, and in the fifth generation, the paired games were followed up with a second pair of games rather than a third game proper, while the sixth generation nothing was ever realized.
Considering this history, the future of "third-games" seems bleak. Back during the time of the sixth generation, speculation was also plenty, but nothing ended up appearing, though it looked like a third game or a second pair was a natural. In current times, this is exaggerated further because the 3DS does not have a successor set for it, though most players already assume that the Switch is poised to take up this role, even more so since the Pokémon games are starting to lag (cf. my post about 3D and 2D). If a third game is coming, the name is a consideration in addition to the platform - we might not even have "Stars" as its subtitle, as possibilities like "Earth" are also intriguing. Everything is up in the air.
The history of "third-games" for the Pokémon games is both established and uncertain, due to their past succession for the former and recent happenings for the latter. Speculation is fine for hoping that one may come, but until one is announced, speculation remains only trading figments of imagination about what and how the game will be. In the meantime, thinking about "Stars" is a fine thought, for it also rings true in Pokémon that greatness is a follow-up to hardships. We can only hope it will turn out in this manner.
Monday, May 29, 2017
A Hero Looks to the Sky
Every night I look at the sky
Call your name
And wonder where you are
Every night I look at the sky
Baby, miss you
Won't you come back
-- "Look to the Sky", SySF. feat. ANNA (Sota Fujimori feat. Anna Quinn)
It's rare that other game music reminds me of Pokémon, but this one does. Nowadays music for music games is just as good as some mainstream music, and that's saying something. This one that I've quoted is actually a song from DanceDanceRevolution and it represents the composer's debut. The song's been since removed, but the memory of it still sticks in my head, particularly with a figment of imagination that I associate with Pokémon.
For this one, the imagination refers to the Mystery Dungeon series. In the first three games, the protagonist represents a human transformed into a Pokémon, and this memory remains. Taken a step further, it could be plausible that the protagonist misses some aspects of human life, and so the chorus of this song as quoted above represents what could happen with the protagonist between fulfilling all the duties in the main storyline; the protagonist could awaken in the night, look out at the stars, and contemplate. A similar thing happens at the end when the protagonist disappears to return to the human world and the partner is left alone to do the same thing until the protagonist returns to do more things. Either way, it's a romantic imagination.
Game music and especially music for music games tends to be short, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in other musical qualities, and this one does so by virtue of lyrical content. The romance that is evoked in this song is a good one, and good enough to remind me of something Pokémon, even if in the end it's merely an imagination. Still, the imagination is reasonable, and it might as well be true; it's a fantasy situation augmented by the romantic feelings of the song.
Call your name
And wonder where you are
Every night I look at the sky
Baby, miss you
Won't you come back
-- "Look to the Sky", SySF. feat. ANNA (Sota Fujimori feat. Anna Quinn)
It's rare that other game music reminds me of Pokémon, but this one does. Nowadays music for music games is just as good as some mainstream music, and that's saying something. This one that I've quoted is actually a song from DanceDanceRevolution and it represents the composer's debut. The song's been since removed, but the memory of it still sticks in my head, particularly with a figment of imagination that I associate with Pokémon.
For this one, the imagination refers to the Mystery Dungeon series. In the first three games, the protagonist represents a human transformed into a Pokémon, and this memory remains. Taken a step further, it could be plausible that the protagonist misses some aspects of human life, and so the chorus of this song as quoted above represents what could happen with the protagonist between fulfilling all the duties in the main storyline; the protagonist could awaken in the night, look out at the stars, and contemplate. A similar thing happens at the end when the protagonist disappears to return to the human world and the partner is left alone to do the same thing until the protagonist returns to do more things. Either way, it's a romantic imagination.
Game music and especially music for music games tends to be short, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in other musical qualities, and this one does so by virtue of lyrical content. The romance that is evoked in this song is a good one, and good enough to remind me of something Pokémon, even if in the end it's merely an imagination. Still, the imagination is reasonable, and it might as well be true; it's a fantasy situation augmented by the romantic feelings of the song.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Takara Tomy Pokémon XY Pikachu Plush Doll
Remember that camera+doll offer that I saw the other day? To be honest, I already have a high-quality Pikachu doll, minus the camera of course. This one is a rare find among fans in my area, and for a good reason: this doll came directly from the Land of the Rising Sun by way of one of my relatives, who knows that I am a big Pokémon fan and got it specifically to satisfy that reason. It's something that I welcome and appreciate so much, even considering the quality and appearance of the doll.
The doll is not quite big; it's about 25 x 25 x 15 cm all around. Even so, the details of the doll are excellent. I like how the digits on the hands and feet are easily visible and tangible in addition to the curvature around the limbs. The facial and body proportions are aesthetically pleasing; the elements of the face are big enough to make the face look cute and the stripes on the back fit the body. The tail is not fluffy, but then again this is an official merchandise and therefore the standards have been set. Even the left ear is slightly offset on the vertical as a quirk. Every detail makes this doll what it is.
This doll came attached to a paper base, but as with anything Pokémon, I like the base as much as the doll. So the base is not leaving this doll; it'll remain to be a part of the display for this doll. I say "display" because I do not intend to use this doll for actual doll purposes, at least not for much of the time. It's just too pretty and too cute for the latter, but this works great for the former. That the base and the doll remain intact together serves this purpose well.
Such a rare doll is totally worth having, with or without a camera in tow. In that regard, I'm pretty blessed to have just this doll with all its visible features and quirks. I can't hope to have every single Pikachu doll there is, but to have something as great as this is just plain wonderful. For those who do go to Japan and like Pokémon and/or Pikachu, it is highly recommended to pick up a doll like this on the way back; it can be an expression of gratitude later on, as with this one.
The doll is not quite big; it's about 25 x 25 x 15 cm all around. Even so, the details of the doll are excellent. I like how the digits on the hands and feet are easily visible and tangible in addition to the curvature around the limbs. The facial and body proportions are aesthetically pleasing; the elements of the face are big enough to make the face look cute and the stripes on the back fit the body. The tail is not fluffy, but then again this is an official merchandise and therefore the standards have been set. Even the left ear is slightly offset on the vertical as a quirk. Every detail makes this doll what it is.
This doll came attached to a paper base, but as with anything Pokémon, I like the base as much as the doll. So the base is not leaving this doll; it'll remain to be a part of the display for this doll. I say "display" because I do not intend to use this doll for actual doll purposes, at least not for much of the time. It's just too pretty and too cute for the latter, but this works great for the former. That the base and the doll remain intact together serves this purpose well.
Such a rare doll is totally worth having, with or without a camera in tow. In that regard, I'm pretty blessed to have just this doll with all its visible features and quirks. I can't hope to have every single Pikachu doll there is, but to have something as great as this is just plain wonderful. For those who do go to Japan and like Pokémon and/or Pikachu, it is highly recommended to pick up a doll like this on the way back; it can be an expression of gratitude later on, as with this one.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
A Test of My Resolve: I Still...
I still need you
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you
-- "I Still...", Backstreet Boys
I don't know everything about Pokémon. In fact, I don't know everything about everything. So there are always things I don't know in addition to things I know. And recently I discovered something about Pokémon that if I were any more foolish, I'd turn away and give it all up. But I won't, and there is a reason why... and there is a connection with the above song.
As I've said in the very first post on this blog, inspiration is one of the reasons why I started this blog. Many things that I've posted about in this blog show that Pokémon has a lot of inspiration going into it as well as going outwards. Inspiration is the driving force behind why so many regions in the world resemble real-world ones, as well as creations like pillows and shirts. In short, inspiration is everywhere when it comes to Pokémon.
To turn away from this inspiration is tantamount to denying that it isn't. It would additionally deny my own inspirations that result from Pokémon, not all of which I have divulged in this blog. So here is my resolve: I won't turn away regardless of what I know or don't know, and what I am capable or not capable of doing in regard to Pokémon. I can only regard it in a better light, the same way as Ash becomes a better Trainer.
This is why the song above came to mind. Even for Pokémon, things happen sometimes without my knowledge until I find out what, how, and why things are the way they are. Irrespective of that, inspiration still flows in and out of it, and this is something to be appreciated. I still think Pokémon has a place in my heart because of that inspiration, no matter how things play out. It's one that I need, and it's one that I care about.
I still care about you
Though everything's been said and done
I still feel you
Like I'm right beside you
But still no word from you
-- "I Still...", Backstreet Boys
I don't know everything about Pokémon. In fact, I don't know everything about everything. So there are always things I don't know in addition to things I know. And recently I discovered something about Pokémon that if I were any more foolish, I'd turn away and give it all up. But I won't, and there is a reason why... and there is a connection with the above song.
As I've said in the very first post on this blog, inspiration is one of the reasons why I started this blog. Many things that I've posted about in this blog show that Pokémon has a lot of inspiration going into it as well as going outwards. Inspiration is the driving force behind why so many regions in the world resemble real-world ones, as well as creations like pillows and shirts. In short, inspiration is everywhere when it comes to Pokémon.
To turn away from this inspiration is tantamount to denying that it isn't. It would additionally deny my own inspirations that result from Pokémon, not all of which I have divulged in this blog. So here is my resolve: I won't turn away regardless of what I know or don't know, and what I am capable or not capable of doing in regard to Pokémon. I can only regard it in a better light, the same way as Ash becomes a better Trainer.
This is why the song above came to mind. Even for Pokémon, things happen sometimes without my knowledge until I find out what, how, and why things are the way they are. Irrespective of that, inspiration still flows in and out of it, and this is something to be appreciated. I still think Pokémon has a place in my heart because of that inspiration, no matter how things play out. It's one that I need, and it's one that I care about.
Friday, May 26, 2017
What's Appenin' (Mobile Games)
Thanks to the runaway yet momentary success of Pokémon Go, Pokémon has also fully embraced mobile gaming in some ways. And just recently, another mobile game app with Pokémon has been released. There are now a total of four official mobile game apps with Pokémon, all of which are attractive, though with the situation and load on my phone, I'm not in the position to download them; should I get a new phone, I will definitely download the game apps to play them. Here are my takes on the three current other mobile games aside from Go:
Shuffle Mobile. As I've mentioned in my earlier post about Shuffle, Shuffle Mobile is the exact game as its 3DS brethren, except it started later than the 3DS edition. That means the mobile edition is great for those who want to free up space on the 3DS and/or delegate it for other games. Since I started playing on the 3DS, I'm not interested in migrating to Mobile, more so since progress is not transferable and I really do not wish to take care of two progresses of the same game. If I do download this game, it will be to tinker with and opine here about it. Otherwise for me its role is limited.
Duel. I'm told by my friends that this game is like a board game with abstract strategy. Back when this game was released, a bunch of my online Pokémon friends really got into it and talked about it quite fervently as they played. Looking at the game, it looks like a typical mobile game with all the frills and challenges. I am interested in downloading and playing this, although I'm also concerned that I may become addicted to it as with Shuffle. I'll reserve judgment after I play.
Magikarp Jump. This is the one that has just been released, and it's quite an odd one because it features what most fans recognize as the most pathetic Pokémon there is. But within the realm of this game Magikarp appears to be venerated for jumping and looking different. The cartoon graphics just add to the differentiation of the experience. As with Duel, I will give it a try and hope not to get addicted.
Pokémon mobile games seem to run the gamut from the iconic (Go) to the innovative (Magikarp Jump). They're nothing like the main series of games on the Nintendo handhelds, but at least they take Pokémon into new directions of gaming in which longtime fans can take interest and non-hardcore gamers can enjoy. I for one welcome this and other new takes to come on Pokémon mobile gaming.
Shuffle Mobile. As I've mentioned in my earlier post about Shuffle, Shuffle Mobile is the exact game as its 3DS brethren, except it started later than the 3DS edition. That means the mobile edition is great for those who want to free up space on the 3DS and/or delegate it for other games. Since I started playing on the 3DS, I'm not interested in migrating to Mobile, more so since progress is not transferable and I really do not wish to take care of two progresses of the same game. If I do download this game, it will be to tinker with and opine here about it. Otherwise for me its role is limited.
Duel. I'm told by my friends that this game is like a board game with abstract strategy. Back when this game was released, a bunch of my online Pokémon friends really got into it and talked about it quite fervently as they played. Looking at the game, it looks like a typical mobile game with all the frills and challenges. I am interested in downloading and playing this, although I'm also concerned that I may become addicted to it as with Shuffle. I'll reserve judgment after I play.
Magikarp Jump. This is the one that has just been released, and it's quite an odd one because it features what most fans recognize as the most pathetic Pokémon there is. But within the realm of this game Magikarp appears to be venerated for jumping and looking different. The cartoon graphics just add to the differentiation of the experience. As with Duel, I will give it a try and hope not to get addicted.
Pokémon mobile games seem to run the gamut from the iconic (Go) to the innovative (Magikarp Jump). They're nothing like the main series of games on the Nintendo handhelds, but at least they take Pokémon into new directions of gaming in which longtime fans can take interest and non-hardcore gamers can enjoy. I for one welcome this and other new takes to come on Pokémon mobile gaming.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
A Camera and a Pikachu Doll
I went down to the mall today for an errand, and a Pokémon-related thing caught my eye. As I passed by a camera shop, I noticed that the shop displayed Pikachu dolls along with the cameras. It turns out that the shop has an offer going on: by buying a certain model of camera, a Pikachu doll is given as a gift. This is a really, really nice offer indeed because the camera is from a popular excellent brand and the bonus is something that I love. However, I'm not likely to get it - even if the doll is tempting enough - for the practical reason that I need to save my money and spend it elsewhere, which is why I'm discussing it now.
Even so, a camera is something that I would like to have, though not desperately. I have a separate camera which is a hand-me-down from a relative, but the sad thing is that it is now challenged to work well in regard to its various aspects. First of all, the camera is old, so the resolution is not as good as today's cameras. Second, the battery is old, so it drains quickly, and even on various occasions I've had trouble charging it. While I have a camera on my cellphone, which works for general picture-taking and social media, it's not workable enough for specific photography purposes and with the load on my phone, which is why I'm interested in separating this function from my phone and lighten my phone's load. Regardless, the camera phone is what I've used to take pictures of objects that I've covered in this blog so far, and it's useful enough for that. A separate camera would be even more useful for taking pictures for this blog.
As for the doll, the quality is excellent. It's a step up from even the best dolls that are available in local doll shops. If I can get the doll on its own separate from the camera, I may do just that, but then it would also depend on the price; if the doll is quite expensive, which I suspect it might very well be, then I might just refrain altogether. At that point I'd settle for the doll as being the bonus for the camera rather than getting both separately, and that brings me back to square one.
In the end, a camera is somewhat desirable, and a Pikachu doll of great quality is just plain awesome. To get both at the same time is an exciting prospect, but only if I had the funds to allocate to them, which I don't at the moment. I suppose that I'll have to get by with what I have for now, and perhaps when time passes by, there might be an even better camera and Pikachu doll waiting for me.
Even so, a camera is something that I would like to have, though not desperately. I have a separate camera which is a hand-me-down from a relative, but the sad thing is that it is now challenged to work well in regard to its various aspects. First of all, the camera is old, so the resolution is not as good as today's cameras. Second, the battery is old, so it drains quickly, and even on various occasions I've had trouble charging it. While I have a camera on my cellphone, which works for general picture-taking and social media, it's not workable enough for specific photography purposes and with the load on my phone, which is why I'm interested in separating this function from my phone and lighten my phone's load. Regardless, the camera phone is what I've used to take pictures of objects that I've covered in this blog so far, and it's useful enough for that. A separate camera would be even more useful for taking pictures for this blog.
As for the doll, the quality is excellent. It's a step up from even the best dolls that are available in local doll shops. If I can get the doll on its own separate from the camera, I may do just that, but then it would also depend on the price; if the doll is quite expensive, which I suspect it might very well be, then I might just refrain altogether. At that point I'd settle for the doll as being the bonus for the camera rather than getting both separately, and that brings me back to square one.
In the end, a camera is somewhat desirable, and a Pikachu doll of great quality is just plain awesome. To get both at the same time is an exciting prospect, but only if I had the funds to allocate to them, which I don't at the moment. I suppose that I'll have to get by with what I have for now, and perhaps when time passes by, there might be an even better camera and Pikachu doll waiting for me.
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