Hype and Habit and Pokémon

As is typical of many of my discussions involving Pokémon things, they are based on other things that I also pick up. This time, I picked up yet another topic from something shown on TV. A speaker on TV had been talking about how in dealing with certain initiatives, one may start an initiative with the "hype", but then the challenge is maintaining the initiative as a "habit". The initiatives in question are only very distantly related to Pokémon, but after considering what had been said by the speaker, I considered the topic to be somewhat relevant to Pokémon affairs, and that's what led me to write this post.

"Hype" is something that many gamers are familiar with, not just those that deal with Pokémon. When a new game comes about, especially a revolutionary new game, then there's likely to be "hype" or excitement for that new game. It's a neat thing to jump onto the "hype" to expect and/or play the game as it's released. But the next stage would be to make that "hype" into a "habit", meaning something that's sustainable to be continuously done and beneficial in doing so. I've discussed Gartner's "hype cycle" before, and that may be considered to tie into this topic, as the second part of that "cycle" may be considered the "habit" part after the initial "hype". Therein lies the challenge and something fascinating related to Pokémon.

For me personally, I've gotten past the point where anything Pokémon, not just games, is something that is a "hype", and they therefore become a "habit" in this case. I'm inclined to consider those things as something that I'm not just excited about, but also something to look forward to getting into whenever possible. This includes the Pokémon games on the Switch, for which I still do not have the means to play. But because of being compelled by "habit", I do wish to get into them as well. For all other Pokémon things, they'll have to wait their turn when my "habit" gets to them. The force of "habit" also explains why I've kept this blog going for a long time now; it has become more than the "hype" that I had when starting it.

Looking at those who deal with Pokémon and whom I know personally, "habit" has pretty much taken over them, whether it's for one game or another, or even something non-game as figures or the anime. They may get really excited throughout, but once they deal with the Pokémon thing, then it becomes business as usual. This indicates that they get over the "hype" quickly and fit whatever is their thing into their lives. I recall one of my figure fellows receiving many different shipments of figures, which could be full of "hype", especially to figure fiends, but for the person, it becomes just something normal, a "habit". If anything, they're like me and this blog I have.

Perhaps the takeaway for the above is that the Pokémon affairs above simply fit and work well (or can be made to be as such) for the respective people. The way to make them fit and work well then becomes the way that they become routine as a "habit" beyond the initial excitement that is the "hype". For different things and even Pokémon things, the challenge to make this happen could be a veritable one. But if successful, then one will find oneself with something long-lasting as a "habit" in contrast to a temporary "hype". That seems to be good for the initiatives the person discussed as well as those of a Pokémon nature.

One year ago: Cosplay: Erafun Cosplay Contest

Two years ago: Cosplay: Art and Cosplay Stage "PANSOS"

Three years ago: How Many Is Too Many?

Singing My Hearts Out: After One Year

A year ago, when physical events were still in full swing and as lively as can be, I made the effort to liven up one of them (see below) with the help of a band and sang my hearts out on stage, certainly with Pokémon in tow. I've already discussed the lead-in to the occasion in two different posts, one about the effort and another about the influences, and now that it's one year after that very wonderful occasion, I wish to reminisce it and discuss how it might shape up, especially once physical events return to allow that to happen.

Of course, what happened exactly one year ago wasn't the end of the story. A few short weeks later, I got to do the same thing at a different event with a different band that also influenced this effort. And that was practically it: for the rest of the time up until chaos broke out, there wasn't another chance to collaborate with the same two bands or even others, and by the time chaos broke out, it was too late. However, as consolation, the members of the latter band did occasionally contact me over a video call after that point, and that helps to ease all of our longings... or at least most of them, as the greatest longing is certainly performing and singing on stage. We're all waiting for that.

And for when that happens, I have a few visions in mind. Part of those visions relate to the songs I'd like to sing or even what the band would like me to sing. Obviously, if it concerns me, then Pokémon is of concern. The two songs I've sung with the two bands remain as obvious choices for anything that I want to sing or what the bands want me to sing on stage. Especially, if they know my command of English, they will likely want me to sing "Pokémon Theme" with them. But I'm certainly open to any Pokémon song, even the newly released "Acacia" or "GOTCHA!" song, and this is also a personal target in other ways as well.

Then, there is also the matter of the venue and the timing. The first time I sang, it was during a minor event and in the morning, which cannot exactly be said to be "prime time". The second time, it was in the evening, but the event was still minor; moreover, it happened on the "sleepy day" of the event. In either case, the audience was minimal. I'd love to be able to sing at a major event in front of a larger audience than ever, such as Daisuki! Japan (which could be said to have "missed the boat" of safety earlier this year, sadly); I have to say that I also "missed the boat" on being able to do so earlier, in a way. Next time, we ought not to miss it.

It's been a year since I made it on stage, with Pokémon, and at an event, but in a very different way - one that involves my vocal abilities and a great appreciation for themby others. By the same token, I have to appreciate the fact that this is one of the things that Pokémon has allowed me to do, along with my usual cosplay at those same events. At this point, it's still a waiting game for when the situation can allow both to occur comfortably. When that happens, it will once again be the time to sing my hearts out, perhaps like never before.

One year ago: Cosplay: Project "Untitled"

Two years ago: The Joys and Sorrows of Raid Marathons

Three years ago: Late-Night Lure Party

The Pokémon Evolution (and More) Music

The Pokémon games have many different characteristic pieces of music, though many of them are distinct to or for certain games or certain generations. Only a handful of those pieces are relatively constant in sound over a wide swath of Pokémon games. One of those is the music that accompanies Pokémon evolution (and trades; also starting from Generation 2, Eggs that hatch). It's a distinct piece of music that signals that the events are happening or bound to happen, and that distinction is very much iconic in and out of the games.

The music piece begins with a four-note introduction before it goes into the main portion of the music, which has a repetitive cadence of alternating notes with a few other notes and shifts from time to time. Such a cadence creates a feeling of expectation that builds up as the piece and process continues. When the process concludes, the piece ends with the "success" sound, with the last part of the piece looping if necessary, for however long it takes. It's a distinct structure that has applied for as long as the piece has existed in the main series games.

In Pokémon Go, the piece exists as well for both the cases of evolution and Egg hatch, though the piece is arranged slightly differently, likewise for the accompanying "success" sound. One of the ways that it is so is that it is missing the four-note introduction, though the rest of the piece is quite similar, and there are practically no circumstances where the piece needs to continue to loop at the end. Its arrangement in a trade is also slightly different during Pokémon selection. The existence of the piece in all its similarity shows the intent to maintain some commonality with the main series games, from which much of Pokémon Go is based on.

Beyond games, the piece is applicable in much of the same contexts, particularly evolution. Over three months ago, in a highlight of YouTube videos on Pokémon animation, I highlighted poopooghost and the Pokémon evolution animations of the creator. The music is indeed used in that very context; early on, the utilized form was its original 8-bit rendition in the very first games with some arrangement liberty, while more recently, very different arrangements have been used, including a recorder vs. guitar version for the evolution of both forms of Zigzagoon. In a way, the distinction of the piece is maintained through these creations.

As a distinct piece, it's hard to not argue that the piece for evolution, Egg hatch, and trade is very much indicative of that. It's been kept that way in the main series of Pokémon games, and beyond those games, the piece remains connected to all those situations, preserving the distinction. It wouldn't be a stretch, therefore, that if the piece is heard, even as little as its introduction, one should know that the events are about to happen. It's a testament to how much distinction a particular piece can carry, and this one has much of that.

One year ago: Pokémon Go: A Colossal Discovery

Two years ago: Balance of Topics

Three years ago: Kids (...or Trainers, Fans) These Days

The Halloween Cup of GBL

As I've detailed in my October Pokémon Go event rollup, the mainstay and effectively traditional Halloween event has something new this year for those who are inclined to progress in the Go Battle League. That something is a challenge for it called, appropriately, the Halloween Cup (or just Halloween, seen as a theme). It is something new in the vein of similar challenges by the Silph League Arena in the form of their monthly rotating themes, and therefore it can and should be discussed in the same manner.

Like the Silph League Arena themes, there are a few restrictions. Since Go Battle League can and does utilize the three standard CP-based leagues, it has to narrow down the field: the cup or theme is based on the Great League with its CP restriction of 1500. The types are also restricted; for this, the allowed types are Bug, Poison, Dark, Fairy, and Ghost - all the standard creepy, spooky, and seemingly magical stuff - including associated dual-type Pokémon. Already, it appears much like the SLA. The only big difference is that it only lasts for one week, also as I've detailed earlier: Tuesday is the last full day of it, or half a day in some parts of the world. Therefore, this cup or theme is seasonal and will likely return next year for the festivities, perhaps with a few changes by then.

Based on the experience of myself and fellow Trainers, three Pokémon already come out on top as a frequent meta: Alolan Marowak, Galvantula, and Azumarill. While I'm fortunate to have two out of three of these available thanks to SLA tournaments and GBL battles in general, I also have to be aware that other Trainers will have them too. Luckily, picks for secondary or further teams are available, including Victreebel, Toxicroak, Umbreon, and Wigglytuff. Creation of secondary teams is a good idea in general, especially since the Party feature makes it easy to do so, and then to get going in battle almost immediately. For this cup or theme, good choices are already evident. 

After having battled with this cup or theme for nearly a week, I can deliver my viewpoints. This cup or theme offers a neat SLA like experience within the confines of the GBL, being the only option available to commemorate the occasion. One week seems to be OK for this, though diehards might want (or have wanted) this to stay for longer; this might be an indication that future similar GBL events should be adapted to the schedule. As for my personal progress with it, it has been up and down. Sometimes I can win several battles and then lose a few others; since I'm already Rank 9 in GBL in general, this doesn't fare well for my progression, as I need a mostly constant stream of wins in order to bump my rating to the necessary 3000 for going up to Rank 10. Still, that's a general problem beyond the scope of this cup or theme, but I suppose this cup or theme is still beneficial for progress in some ways.

This special "new" challenge for the GBL - maybe more familiar to those often involved with SLA - is still both refreshing and unique, being effectively the first time something of this kind is in play for the former. It offers something nice to celebrate the occasion by which it is based, and just that seems to be sufficient, other than the fact that it helps with progression with the GBL. Even though the real occasion of Halloween has just passed, this cup or theme is likely to remain fascinating, even next year should it come into play again.

One year ago: Later, Psyduck

Two years ago: Hardcore (Dis)United

Three years ago: Duff Knows Pokémon

Halloween 2020: Facing the "Spooks"

...which brings me and everyone to the ultimate bewitching highlight of October, known far and wide as Halloween. If last year (see below) I felt estranged by it, this time I - and most likely many more people around the world, including Pokémon fans - feel more greatly spooked by it. The reason is of course because of current global conditions that are perhaps more spooky than any kind of Halloween trick. They have unleashed "spooks" (in addition to existing ones) that have totally turned over every fabric of life, including some related to Pokémon. It can be such a wonder regarding the matter of facing those "spooks", and yet they must be faced.

There are a few aspects that are to be followed in the struggle against those "spooks", but I won't reiterate them here, and they are to be followed regardless. What I will touch on, though, is other aspects that complement that struggle and can stand to apply to Pokémon affairs as well. One of those is "don't panic" or "remain calm"; by doing so, all kinds of advancements and/or decisions can be made in a rational manner even if they don't turn out as expected. Another one is "be alert" to anticipate changes that may occur, then to adapt to the changes as they do occur. In different kinds of Pokémon battles, both aspects apply to some facets of the battles, which can then be followed to help assure victory or at the very least allow for it to occur. 

When it becomes necessary to face the "spooks", as with the current global situation, then a person has to be quite prepared, for which the above aspects may very well help to do so. That also means not overstepping the bounds of what a person can only be demanded to do, lest the global "spooks" overwhelm and therefore defeat the person. Pokémon and its associated battles have their own different kind of "spooks", but they can overwhelm and defeat in the same way, except through preparations in the same way as above. It is hoped that the "spooks" will be driven away and good and happy returns will result - only those, if preferred.

Today, there was a different kind of "spooks", though. And...

Me: I asked you earlier to try to go catch a few Alolan Marowak from a few Gyms. Did you get them?

Ash: I did! I went to all the Gyms that was easy for me to get to and I raided them. It was amazing - they're all over the place! Alolan Marowak is pretty strong, but your Pokémon could deal with it with no problem.

Me: Neat, huh? This Raid used to need two people at least, but if you're prepared, then you can really work on it alone.

Ash: One of your faraway friends also invited me to a raid in their Gym, and I got that.

Me: OK. So how many did you get?

Ash: I got nine: six off your free passes from yesterday and today, and two off premium passes, plus that remote invite. They weren't Shiny, though.

Me: Well, that's unfortunate. Luckily I already have a different Shiny one. The ones you raided should all know the Shadow Bone move.

Ash: They do! I guess they should be neat. And it was fun to raid while with my Alola outfit.

Me: That was the consideration. I think I may be able to do something with all these Shadow Bone users. Thanks a lot - especially for going out in the rain.

Ash: Don't mention it. Things worked out with these spooky things.

For the uninitiated, that would indeed be the realization of the Alolan Marowak Raid Day that got canned last year, but it worked out this year on the most appropriate day of all days. They brought out another kind of "spooks" in a time filled with them. And this year it becomes as such, making us able to get what we couldn't get before. In a world filled with "spooks", there are many different kinds of them, as with this one. Yet it is certain that with a little effort, peace of mind can bring peace to even the wildest of "spooks", with or without a visible appearance.

Happy Halloween 🎃 ...and stay safe. 👻

One year ago: Halloween 2019: Taking My Chances

Two years ago: Halloween 2018: The Tricks to Treats

Three years ago: Happy Halloween!

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/30/2020

Last year in an event rollup for Pokémon Go (see below), I noted that it was relatively uneventful and that likely the most important event would be the Halloween event, which is always a mainstay, as past years have indicated. This time, though, there is (or was) a load of events in addition to that, so it has become a stark contrast to that. It can also be considered one of the months in recent times that is most packed with events. That said, I still have to roll them up, so that becomes the task of this post and my own big task before this month ends.

There is a definite pattern to this month's events, though, and they involve weekly and one-day events, so it helps to use that to structure my rollup. In the first week of the month, there was a week-long (Paris) Fashion Week event to celebrate its start and a collaboration of Pokémon with fashion brand Longchamp. During the event, certain "fashionable" Pokémon became the focus, including some with totally neat costumes that can be gotten in various ways. Midway through that event, Niantic celebrated its fifth anniversary, and this became a one-day event on October 4. The single focus on that day was a Timed Research set to be completed on that day, and many bonuses were active to aid in that effort and to celebrate the day in general. The start of the month could be considered to have been quite celebratory.

October is a distinct month in terms of seasons, and to commemorate that, a "seasonal change" event started out for approximately half of a week. The focal point of this is the debut of Pokémon known to change with the seasons, which would be none other than Deerling and Sawsbuck, presently in its Autumn form to coincide with the northern hemisphere season. Pokémon with a natural theme were more active, as with Berries that are gained. Amidst the event, there was also a Limited Research featuring Meowth of all forms on October 10, though in execution, it was mostly about the Alola form, and Shiny forms seemed to be scarce compared to other similar events. Both were still somewhat well-timed and appropriate for the affairs of the seasons, which will certainly change again soon.

After the seasons changed, it was also time for Team GO Rocket to change in all kinds of ways, including the Pokémon they bring, except for their nefarious intentions. It was at this time that the Strange Eggs also began to appear from superior positions within this organization. More importantly, this event also this marked the appearance of a new Special Research with focus on this team of not-so-great people, and awaiting at the end of that Special Research is a familiar Pokémon, especially to those who participated in this year's Go Fest: Mewtwo in its Shadow form, which also marks its general availability. The main event that lasted for a week went well, but later on there was a goof on Shiny Shadow Pokémon that demanded compensation. The corresponding one-day event for this is Community Day, but that doesn't need to be explained, not in this post at least.

And then there is that mainstay event, the Halloween event, that started a week ago and is ongoing. This year, the event is a lot more festive due to the appearance of lots of new Pokémon forms, including costumed Gengar and Sableye, Mega Gengar, Galarian Yamask, and Shiny Spiritomb. The latter two are part of this year's "A Spooky Message" Special Research, and even Spiritomb can be gotten just through Field Research, making them less of a rare commodity in general. Complementing this event is yet another one-day event called "Catch Mastery" that tested the mettle of Trainers in catching Pokémon, with Drifloon as a feature of the event, as well as the realization of last year's cancelled Raid Day, and a special one-week Go Battle League challenge. The latter two are very special and needs to be given more information that can fit in this post, but everything around the event is truly "spook-tacular", even this year.

With that, the month of October this year has become a rather eventful one, with a few long events and just as many short events. Things are always happening in Pokémon Go, so it would be no surprise if they do keep happening, especially in the manner that they do (or did) this month. Halloween is regardless a mainstay, especially with the day being tomorrow, and this year it's bigger than ever in the face of challenges that are also bigger than ever. Perhaps to face the "spooks", one only needs a larger frame of mind, and it may be that all the events this month provide just that.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 10/30/2019

Two years ago: Community Day Workflow

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Halloween 2017 Event

Road to 25th Anniversary: Getting Warmer

So, yes. I did have an inkling of a plan to have this post made once a month ever since I started bringing it up in August and then again in September. It is a very significant anniversary that I and likely others are patiently waiting for. And if there are any indications toward that anniversary this month, it is that things are getting warmer for that, thanks to the happenings just within this month. As such, the way to remind about that upcoming anniversary would be to review those happenings this month, which fits in with my plan.

The most poignant and sentimental happening that should signal that impending anniversary would of course have to be the "GOTCHA!" music video that was just released before things turned over into this month. Beyond the happenings in the games that would then occur, this one really set the tone (ahem) for the month even before the month began. And it really unfolded within the month, based on the micro happenings related to solely that. It is best to cover those in a different post, of course, but it's safe and sufficient to say that this happening pretty much is something of its own.

The two most popular Pokémon games, the main series games and Pokémon Go, had their own significant happenings. As noted earlier, the Crown Tundra as the second part of the Expansion Pass for the Sword and Shield games had been set for release a week ago, and it was, with at least some good reception. The Pokémon Go and Pokémon Home linkage is to be established soon, though as of today, it has yet to happen; this month, though, was busy in other ways and through other events for as much as the former is concerned... but certainly that needs yet another different post. Even so, the significances are quite apparent.

All these happenings are a fair indication that the situation for the anniversary is indeed warming up. It has to, since by now the stated anniversary is only a few more months in the making, and for a special one as this one is, special things have to be begotten. The music video alone is special enough and already makes things very warm for all fans, particularly those from the very beginning. At present, the challenge becomes translating the happenings into a warmth that absolutely any fan of Pokémon from however long will enjoy. More of that has to come in the lead-up to the anniversary.

Four months away for that anniversary is still a long way off, but as many people can attest, long will eventually become short, and in this case fans of Pokémon will have a gleaming anniversary on their hands. And at the moment, it may suffice to say that things have warmed up. The real fever pitch will be during the time of the actual anniversary, but it also can't hurt to have just a little taste of that even today, early on before it. With that, I'm certain that keeping tabs on things as they unfold is a good idea, and that will be the way things go.

One year ago: Psyduck Is Missing

Two years ago: Expression of Care

Three years ago: Three-Line Episode Summaries