Quickies: Comparatives and Superlatives

In languages, "comparative" and "superlative" refer to degrees of comparisons by modifiers, often adjectives - for example, much/many ➡️ more ➡️ most. The second of these is the comparative degree (having a quality by a greater amount), and the third of these is the superlative degree (having a quality by an even greater amount). Since this is on a Pokémon blog, it's a given if the above can be tied to Pokémon in some way, and there are a few of those ties or applications.

A comparison that sticks out in my head is the spoons of the Abra species family. They go from having no spoons (Abra) then one spoon (Kadabra) and two (Alakazam) and even five (Mega Alakazam). The middle two - or the third one - are the comparative(s), and obviously the last one is the superlative. Across species families, there are those with few alternate forms (either Darmanitan comes to mind), middling numbers (Oricorio and Deoxys), and multitudes (Vivillon, Arceus), and these obviously highlight their comparative degrees.

Of course, comparisons could also go in the other direction (or even others), and they'd still have a sense of those degrees. If larval Pokémon are to be considered by its puny quality, then the (a) superlative here would be Tynamo, while the comparatives would be Poliwag and Tadbulb. In the intra-family department, Gastly is the lightest of its kin (the superlative) while Haunter is not that light (the comparative) and Gengar and its Mega Evolution are downright heavy. Yet how the comparisons play out are still evident.

Even though many more comparisons are to be had elsewhere in Pokémon (and there are just as many that cannot be detailed here, as this is a "Quickies" post), at a glance, they all still illustrate the idea very well. Regardless, the idea of comparisons in language is not only present but also key to some of its relations, especially for understanding the world. In a sense, that also could be construed to play well with the Pokémon world, and in this way I'm also making the understanding by the idea.

One year ago: My Mental Health with Pokémon

Two years ago: All the Silph Arena Themed Cups Prior

Three years ago: Travel to Atlantis

Four years ago: Reminiscing More of My Early Days with Go

Five years ago: A T-Shirt for One's Journey

Six years ago: The Wonders of Weather in Go

Seven years ago: Going Back to the NDS

In the Round: Yogibo Beanbag Chairs

Continuing the "four fours" series for this month on the topic of Pokémon Center merchandise, there's one that has been touted somewhat recently. It had been only available in Japan, but now it has (or had) been made available to preorder by way of the facility. Furthermore, it's geometrically and affectionately pleasing, the latter having to be practically a given for any fan of the franchise. The merchandise is the one stated in the title of this post, and it's indeed something that delivers Pokémon whimsy in a rather circular form.

These beanbag chairs are distinctively shaped more or less like a sphere with appendages on them - the legs being of the featured Pokémon. Speaking of which, as featured in the Pokémon Center e-mail, the Pokémon adapted for these beanbag chairs are Jigglypuff, Gengar, and Lechonk, which I have to say makes for good adaptations. It stands to reason that any Pokémon with a roughly circular shape about them - even including the possibility of Spheal - make for fine adaptations to this concept. As presented, the size of the chairs also makes them not only for good "show-off" pieces but also functional ones.

While I will likely never obtain one to possess or even for an actual physical review, I can deliver some of my indirect sentiments instead. I've sat on beanbag chairs before, and they can be rather pleasant if they are in good condition and/or are well-made - particularly, I like the ones that don't go "smoosh" when one sits on them. These Pokémon beanbag chairs should be able to deliver on quality, as should all Pokémon merchandise, although I'm inclined not to sit on one of these too much should I be able to encounter one for any purpose, including to get a feel for them.

Nevertheless, as the beanbag chairs were first originally available only in Japan, its expansion of availability to other places shows the interest that some fans may just have for this particular merchandise. And it happens to be one that is geometric and affectionate for beanbag chairs shaped like particular Pokémon, obviously also being somewhat functional as well. Being truly "in the round", these Pokémon beanbag chairs make for merchandise that is uniquely shaped yet still very much expressive.

One year ago: Am I Suited for a Pokémon Unite Team?

Two years ago: Go Battle Events on Different Timescales

Three years ago: Raid Achievements in Pokémon Go

Four years ago: New PvP Challenge: Premier Cup

Five years ago: Local EX Raid (and Mix-Ups), 7/10/2019

Six years ago: The Currencies of Magikarp Jump

Seven years ago: My Trusty NDS and Pokémon Games

The People I Meet in My Pokémon Dreams

Recently, I've had another Pokémon dream, but it was so disjointed that I wasn't able to remember much of it by the time I woke up - and moreover, I had to hurry to something when I did. One important part of it that I do remember, and still do at this point, is meeting a person in the progression of the dream. It's such an important point that I've decided to expand it into a full-fledged discussion, considering not only that dream but also other, previous dreams, of which many are on this blog. The discussion then centers on people of different kinds, the ones I meet in my Pokémon dreams.

The person whom I met in that dream happens to be one of my good friends who also plays Pokémon Go, and as such, friends are one kind of people whom I encounter in Pokémon dreams. They're obviously instrumental in supporting me in my Pokémon efforts as I am in supporting theirs; though in the dreams these efforts may not be as clarified as they should be, there's a sense that they still are, whether or not I sense that as the dreams come into my mind. That may just serve as the driver for any Pokémon effort I undertake when I wake up.

Sometimes, in my dreams, I see characters from the wider Pokémon universe, and even I may become a character myself; they are regardless another kind of people I meet. Even if they're not exactly me - or in a strict(ly more figurative) sense, it's me cosplaying as them - my encounters with them in my dreams may just serve as the important dynamic in those dreams, and that may allow the dream to persist for some time before I wake up. When I do, that might also add to my impetus to cosplay them - or at least plan for that purpose.

Perhaps the people I encounter the least - in other words, very rarely - in my dreams are those with a very high status in relation to Pokémon, like those from The Pokémon Company or celebrities connected to Pokémon (Rica Matsumoto would be one of them). If they do appear, it would seemingly be with a "cameo" status; yet it still seems to be enough to classify that as being able to meet them in my dreams.

Many people can evidently be present even in my Pokémon dreams, providing me with a chance to meet them, whether directly or indirectly. Whatever happens in those dreams, by meeting the people, they are effectively contributing to support my Pokémon experiences as well, at least if only within my sleep. Once I wake up, though, the support may just manifest in a different way - maybe even the best way.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 7/9/2023

Two years ago: On Defining Fans by What They Do

Three years ago: Twilight Wings Addendum

Four years ago: Pokémon Primer?

Five years ago: Picking Battles

Six years ago: Cosplay Cards

Seven years ago: Ghosty and Me

Let's Talk About "Summer Fun"

Me: OK, after wracking my brains for a good few hours, I've decided to deal with yesterday's "sending Ash" prompt with a "Let's Talk". But I also want to consider mixing it up a bit.

Goh: What do you have in mind?

Me: Well, usually when we have one of these, we'd talk about your experiences, then mine, and then the stuff I'm getting at. But for this one, I thought we'd all pitch in to a given topic before dealing with the "stuff".

Ash: We can do that! That sounds like fun.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu! ["Let's have fun!"]

Me: All right, that ties in nicely. So today's topic - if it can be called that - is "summer fun". Thoughts?

Ash: I think of pool parties - or something at the beach!

Goh: That might have been something back in Alola.

Ash: Sure - but that also happened in other regions too.

Me: And it can happen with different places in my case as well, like this trip I once took.

Goh: Oh, fun! You had a few Pokémon too.

Me: I did. I could even find some of them there.

Goh: And even if you couldn't find wild ones, you could make do with some floats or toys.

Ash: I'd think there are a few.

Me: There are indeed.

Goh: Yup - those do fit the bill.

Pikachu: Pi pi pika chu. ["I like the one with me."]

Me: And then... there has to be other activities in the summertime, like having a campfire and looking out at the stars.

Goh: That's fun too. Have you ever done that?

Ash: Well, um - I think there was that time I looked up at the stars, and there was a picture of it. Do you have it?

Me: I still do.

Goh: That's very vivid. Now with a lot of new Pokémon, we might see more variety up in the sky.

Me: That's true. Now, about the campfire part...

Ash: There were a few times in Alola.

Goh: You know, Alola is coming up a few times. I think it's safe to say that Alola has an "eternal summer" thing to it, so there's always a chance for "summer fun" there.

Ash: I think that's so right. You could really have it all year long.

Goh: But then you'd have to have things like festivals and so on.

Ash: Of course! And those don't have to be by the water or the sea.

Me: Certainly. You might remember one that was involved with a little thing of the night sky - at least I do.

Ash: Oh, I think I do too. That was a hectic thing up in the mountains.

Goh: I guess it wasn't so much about the festival itself.

Pikachu: Pi pika... ["More than that..."]

Me: Festivals are indeed part of the summer celebration, but they can kind of get hectic, as you say, when other things are involved.

Ash: I'll say!

Goh: They can be really fun once you get past the hectic part.

Me: I would say... there's some truth in that.

Goh: Say, this doesn't have anything to do with the "sending Ash" thing yesterday, does it?

Me: Um... actually, it does. Remember the thing that I asked you to go check out?

Ash: Yeah! It was a festival near where you live... but I didn't and couldn't go in.

Me: I wouldn't have wanted you to go in anyway and stick out. The story is long, complicated, and... potentially controversial.

Goh: So that's why you sent Ash to the tournament instead, and "in place of" you.

Ash: With my Unova outfit - I forgot to say that yesterday.

Me: Yeah... All I can say is that I personally also assisted to set up the festival the day before. If the tournament wasn't there, I'd have just sent Ash to roam around (but not inside) the place.

Goh: But if you did that, maybe Ash would still stick out.

Pikachu: Pi... pika. ["So... maybe."]

Me: That could be true.

Ash: I think it was. I saw some people with red shirts around the place and I thought they'd spot me.

Me: I wanted you to try to stay around for longer, but it seems the concern is verified.

Ash: But it looked like a lot of fun from what I saw (and heard in getting back to our friend).

Me: Probably the usual stuff. Anyway, the tournament pretty much sealed the deal for us.

Goh: I'd think so.

 

Me: Let's leave it at that and get back to "summer fun". So it's a lot of celebrations for a lot of things.

Goh: The water, the sky (stars), and the land (festivals). Hey, that sounds familiar...

Ash: That always does. There are Pokémon for them as well.

Goh: Of course! So they're all one for the summer.

Pikachu: Pika! ["Sure!"]

Me: And the fun may just be had wherever, whenever, and with Pokémon.

One year ago: Cosplay: AORUS Community Gathering

Two years ago: Converting Non-Fans to Pokémon Fans

Three years ago: Every Word Is a Prayer

Four years ago: Dream of Pokémon Life

Five years ago: "I Could Tell You, But..."

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/8/2018

Seven years ago: Pursuing Shiny?

Tournament: Dusk & Dawn Raid Group Open Great League

Me: OK, so this is a tournament, and there are no characters involved - but I'm covering it through a "Let's Talk" because...

Goh: You sent Ash, and you have your reasons.

Me: Indeed I do.

Ash: That's fine. It's not like the faraway tournament, but I'd be glad to battle for you.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu! ["I'm in support!"]

Me: OK, great. So this would be the first time since a bit of a long time ago that my raid group held a PvP tournament - in person, no less. And there was an incentive for me to participate... as well as sending you, due to certain things I can't explain just yet. 

Goh: I'll bet a lot of things had changed since then.

Me: Sure. The method of organizing them has, for one thing, and that's what made an earlier tournament.

Ash: And there's lots of new Pokémon! 

Me: That too, so it's never much the same over time. I've chosen six that could work for that purpose, with this regular all-purpose format

Goh: Let me take a look... it seems varied enough, even if that's the best you can bring out.

Ash: I'll try to make them work!

Pikachu: Chu pika. ["They could work."]

Me: That's always the thing. Now, the place is a little distant, but getting there shouldn't be too hard.

Ash: I did change plans just like you told me to if I needed.

Me: Yeah, sometimes getting to places can be dicey.

Goh: So how many people (Trainers) were in it? 

Ash: When it started, there were 14... but one person - I think? - didn't have a team and got taken out. And then two others didn't show up when they should, so they got taken out too.

Goh: I guess 11 was not bad - the important thing is how you did.

Ash: I thought I'd get a "bye" in the first round since the other Trainer didn't show up, but then that happened, and I got shut out.

Goh: Ouch.

Ash: In the second one, the Trainer really didn't show up - and it was already two rounds now, so the Trainer also got booted out. I got a free win.

Me: In my opinion, that should've happened much earlier.

Ash: Then I shut out someone else in the third. The fourth one was really exciting because I got to meet one of our friend's seniors!

Goh: Wow! How did that turn out?

Ash: I lost, but barely - it was on the last Pokémon, and...

Goh: I see. Say no more.

Pikachu: Pika... ["I'll say..."]

Me: So two wins (one from a "bye") and two losses. I looked it up, and we ended up seventh overall.

Ash: But the first-place Trainer was, um... an "associate" of all of us?

Me: Oh! I know what you mean. In that case, we could consider ourselves to be "sixth".

Goh: OK, I'm looking also, and... you'd have ended up fourth (or a virtual "third") had you won that battle.

Me: In any case, either of us barely missed on the top three. But yeah, this is an OK turnout. We can try to do better next time.

Goh: What did you do after that?

Ash: We just hung out - but we also got into a Shadow Entei raid. The one I caught wasn't too good.

Goh: Interesting! But I guess not much else.

Ash: No, but then our friend suggested me to go somewhere and check out...

Me: ...the original intention of why I sent you instead of just being myself. I'm still trying to figure out how I (we) would address this - and obviously not yet. In the meantime...

Ash: I'm game for another tournament!

Pikachu: Pika chu pi! ["And for the support!"]

Goh: I'm sure there'll be another chance in the future. 

Me: With the way things keep changing even in the most prime of formats, the question is always not "if" but "when".

One year ago: Showcasing Pokémon at PokéStops

Two years ago: Making Sense of Field Research Tasks

Three years ago: Go Fest Gets Musical

Four years ago: Everyone's Go Fest

Five years ago: Cosplay: Konbini Anime

Six years ago: ...However Things Turn Out

Seven years ago: Shiny Stories

Pokémon Go 8th Anniversary

As usual at this point in time in the year, there is the occasion of the anniversary of Pokémon Go, which I cover on this day. This year, it's the eighth, another lucky number in some respects. It could be considered a "swaparoo" from last year (see below)... and come to think of it, the updates over the past year have had a certain "swaparoo" quality to them, and that's something to discuss - also as usual - and other goings-on as well as the interpretation of all of these for the lasting state of the game up to the present day.

One of the most important things in this things in this department was the "Rediscover" update earlier this year, totally turning around the appearance of the game from what it was before. Then there were Routes, Party Play, and Showcases, all collaborative or competitive features with certain "swaps" in their efforts among Trainers. Yet other features like the ready system and Adventure Effects changed ("swapped") states readily for certain benefits. It may be true that the "swaps" could be a bit of a stretch, but the capacity can't be ignored.

Perhaps the biggest "swaparoo" over the year was the "proper" entry of ninth-generation Pokémon species, before the same could occur for the eighth generation (even though a select number of species preceded it). Therefore, this eighth anniversary has a shade of "nine" in it, a distinct "swap" in any case. Word has it that next year, the reverse "swap" will occur and there will be a shade of "eight" in the ninth - but that's to be explored if and when the time comes about for it to be realized. Some things may just have to "swap" and give way.

Even the traditional anniversary event had a bit of a "swap" of its own, starting late last month and ending just three days ago, instead of it starting or currently progressing at this point. Yet there are reasons, one of which would be something concurrent otherwise, but that's to be explained (rather than "swapped") later on. It's still a part of the fabric of the usual events in the game, especially given its present anniversary; as such, it just has to be executed in some manner, even if it does (or did) mean "swapping" things around to make that happen.

The years have gone by, but it has become apparent that Pokémon Go cannot be "swapped" for anything else, if I hadn't already made that clear last year around this time as well. Though the features and Pokémon may also have had certain instances of "swaparoo" as evident by the above explanations, it may still be fairly lucky that all these (mostly) held up to the scrutiny of Trainers - just like the repute of this year's number, following on last year's. Some things may still be in for "swapping", but that should be for the better now.

Happy 8^th anniversary to Pokémon Go.

One year ago: Pokémon Go 7^th Anniversary 

Two years ago: Pokémon Go 6^th Anniversary

Three years ago: Pokémon Go 5^th Anniversary

Four years ago: Pokémon Go 4^th Anniversary

Five years ago: Pokémon Go 3^rd Anniversary

Six years ago: Pokémon Go 2^nd Anniversary

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go One-Year Anniversary

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