It's Time for GOtcha... Podcast

All right, this has been kind of hinted over some of the posts from the past couple of weeks, but it's something that I'm somewhat pleased to finally get off my mind and out in the open. A year ago, I threw out the conjecture that I may be willing to create a podcast, given enough time to say what I want to say and do what I need to do to get that going. And while that hasn't happened by the virtue of my own efforts, it has happened thanks to a collaboration with a really good friend. I now present... GOtcha Podcast, a podcast about Pokémon Go and a little about Pokémon in general. The podcast is under my friend's name, but I have a stake in it regardless, enough that I can call it "mine".

With that in mind, I want to formally introduce my friend, partner, and host for this podcast. His name is Handoyo Saputra, and he's actually not a stranger to this blog. He's the "Techno Captain" that I addressed also about a year ago: he manages said web site in addition to what he does day in and day out. He's also a darn good Pokémon Go player, even competitively; he's the little-known first Ace (yes, the SLA rank) in our country that I referred to in an earlier post, and though he's been on a recent downturn, he's knowledgeable enough that I still consider him a good reference. We have maintained our presence in the past few SLA tournaments by our raid group, including one where we ended up battling each other. We consider his PvP prowess and my Pokémon involvement to be a good match for this podcast.

The idea for this podcast came about a few weeks ago. Handoyo pitched the idea to me and I immediately agreed. The next week, we started recording the first episode, and this was hinted by my post on social values of Pokémon Go, as we recorded that very day. Episode 1 was quickly wrapped up, edited, and uploaded, and we were off to a great start. The next week, we worked on Episode 2 and even had a great time; that's when Twilight Wings came up in the discussion. It was also then that further issues of copyrights came up, which I duly noted in my discussion of Let's Play videos. We had already planned Episode 3 to be made, but other things came up and we've had to shelve it. But I'm sure that the time will be right soon and we can get working on it.

In our initial planning and episode, we set out to include three segments of different content, and we did. The first is updates on events, happenings, new features, and so on and so forth in Pokémon Go. The second is trivia on a featured Pokémon or perhaps a family of them if relevant. The third is what we call "PvP Corner", as special discussions on the hot-and-happening PvP scene. All these segments will continue to be part of the podcast as things go on. In the second episode, we started off with an introductory segment, though this could easily be repurposed - more on this shortly. We also added a new segment at the end called "Weekly Challenge" where we set goals on things for us to achieve, similar to in-game International Challenges that crop up during special times, but more specific for us, and we would compare progressions each week. Since Episode 3 hasn't been made, we may be considered to have "extra time" to complete them. Apart from that, we seem to have a good thing going.

As can be surmised, this was intended to be a weekly podcast. But with Episode 3 being delayed, it seems that we might try to make this whenever the week permits us to make it; I suppose this is a personal hope of mine (and maybe his as well). Special editions are perhaps not out of the question as well if and when something big in Pokémon Go comes up - and current situations die down - and we can be there for it, cover it, the whole nine yards. In a later edition, we might also try to invite a few special guests to be interviewed, using that variable segment; perhaps they could be top local players, other fans, top national players, and so on. We might also look into other means of recording if that can be the case, especially once we ultimately desire for this to be available on YouTube as well. Right now we're only doing voice, but visuals will surely become important for a YouTube edition. As with any social initiative, we're also open to user input to make things a whole lot better.

I've been part of podcasts before as guests (see above), but this is the first time I'm in the "co-host" position, and I have to say I enjoy it. Handoyo and I have our regular outlets for informing the masses through writing, mine being this blog and his being the news portal, but this podcast is certainly another thing. It represents our combined efforts to bring out something engaging for the Pokémon game we have in common, being Pokémon Go. We have our perspectives - being that I'm a longtime Pokémon player and he has a way with PvP - and that makes this podcast unique, perhaps enough to appeal to those who don't play Pokémon Go. We really enjoy playing Pokémon Go as something that exists within the breadth of things that are Pokémon, and if our experiences playing the game and making this podcast are of any indication, we can take that enjoyment to Pokémon in general, and bring along listeners for the ride.

The podcast can be heard through the following services:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6L9926mTSbAekglsFrQ4V4

Anchor: https://anchor.fm/gotcha-podcast

While the podcast is in Indonesian, I've been cleared, in a way, to provide an English translation for the episodes, which will be on this blog... eventually. That will take time, of course.

For now, I hope you enjoy. Let's keep going, and see you next time!

One year ago: The Appeal of the TCG

Two years ago: A Pokémon Watch

Three years ago: Three's Demise

Competitor Ranks of the Silph League Arena

I've written about the Silph League Arena (SLA) every so often, as the online community competitive adjunct for Pokémon Go, and at times there can be something to discuss about it. At this time, I've found that its competitor ranking system is quite fascinating and relevant in some ways. It is indeed important, as it is how all the competitors become compared to one another in their proficiency in the various tournaments that various communities organize as part of that major competition.

The system is rather simple. As the competitors - Trainers - win rounds and battles, they progress through the ranks and come out higher than other Trainers. Yet this can also work in the opposite way: if they don't win, it may be possible for them to move down in rank, particularly if they're on or near the border between ranks. The number of competitors also factor into the ranking quite a bit; more Trainers that are involved in a single tournament make it more likely for a Trainer to advance greatly through the rank progressions - something that I can attest when I participated in the big national tournament over a year ago. Apart from that, the system presents itself very well.

The most common ranks of Trainers in this system are the lowest three ranks: Trainer, Rival, and Challenger. Everyone obviously starts at the Trainer rank, and after some successful tournaments, they can move up to the Rival and Challenger ranks. In the season that ends this year, I was only at the Rival rank since I didn't participate in many tournaments, let alone become successful in them. In the year before, which involved the national tournament as above, I progressed to the Challenger rank - and perhaps, if it weren't for that tournament, I would still be stuck as a Rival. In any case, I'm still just a low-to-middle rank competitor, and others are much better than me and possess higher ranks.

Those higher ranks would be Ace, Elite, and Legend. A Trainer would have to be significantly good at battling, even winning many tournaments, in order to achieve these higher ranks. A select few of my Pokémon Go fellows have achieved the Ace rank, while the top national Trainers (who they might just be in contact with) are of the Elite rank, and the top of the very top Trainers in the world are of the Legend rank. Unless I get better somehow, I don't have much hope of reaching these lofty ranks, and it especially wouldn't be possible with this year's season ending soon and a new one about to start soon after, where everyone starts anew. This is yet another important point.

The SLA is a big competition, as it involves all Trainers all around the world. But for such a large competition, its ranking system is remarkably simple, save for the effort that is required to advance. Considering all that occurs in the tournaments and competitions, that simplicity seems to set its competitors or Trainers free. They become free to compete in and do whatever it takes to come out on top, which could be a lot of effort. The effort is still rewarding for Trainers of Pokémon Go like me who want to say and prove they are the best.

One year ago: Personal Branding

Two years ago: To Judge and Be Judged

Three years ago: Catering to Old and New Players

Let's Talk About Household Creatures

Me: I kind of want to explore a certain subject from both a realistic and Pokémon perspective. So I thought I'd do a "Let's Talk" about it.

Ash: Why not? Let's talk it over. Maybe I'll enjoy your perspective and you'll enjoy mine.

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["That's fine!"]

Me: OK. So this time I want to discuss about "household creatures" - creatures that you and I might find around houses, whether it's real in my world or in the Pokémon world.

Ash: That's neat. I think you and I might have a few of those.

Me: Indeed we do. But for this discussion, I'd like to limit it to a few, three in fact: dogs, cats, and rats. Those three are pretty common in my real world, and they should be for Pokémon too.

Ash: I think I see what you're getting at.

Me: Let's start with rats. Some time ago, I dealt with an actual rat problem, and it wasn't pretty. These can be very pesky.

Ash: Well, they can be the same for Pokémon too. You might have seen Rattata and Raticate in Alola - they're big, black, and troublemaking. It took Yungoos and Gumshoos to take care of them.

Me: I could have used their help, I think. The rats were quite terrible.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu? ["What about me?"]

Me: Pikachu, you're very different. I know you're technically a rat, but you and your kin can be less destructive.

Ash: I wouldn't say that. Pikachu can have really great power, if you've seen what happened early on. And they can still do what rats do.

Me: True. I guess it's because I'm so used to seeing Pikachu of Trainers like you, not so much wild ones.

Ash: I know. It can have a way with your mind. Let's move on to the other two.

Me: So now we have dogs and cats. They are definitely lovable, more so than rats, and that should be the case for the real world and the Pokémon world.

Ash: Sure! Some Pokémon are dogs or cats. They can be great pets at home when people don't battle with them.

Me: Yes, I'm sure some are kept at home for that very purpose. Let's start with dogs. Houndour or Poochyena are probably too wild for home, but Snubbull or Lillipup should be great.

Pikachu: Pika! Pika pika! ["Yeah! I'm sure!"]

Ash: I guess I'd agree. That Stoutland that I met in Alola might have started out at home, maybe even from a Lillipup. It was found in a home after all. And who could forget that Snubbull in Johto. It might have liked to be more at home if its owner wasn't so fussy.

Me: And then it evolved into a Granbull, and that made for a heck of a time.

Ash: You can say that again. But the Stoutland was really nice, until it left. And that was sad for Litten. I understand your world lost a great cat some time ago that was like that Stoutland, so I know how you'd feel.

Me: OK, so this is a great segue into the last topic of cats. Lots of cats are present in my real world like that one, but Pokémon has its cats.

Ash: True. One I liked was May's Skitty way back in Hoenn. That was a neat Pokémon, and its Assist attack could make it do a lot of things. It was May's hero in some Contests, and it was impressive.

Me: As I recall, it was also very playful.

Pikachu: Pikachu! ["Quite so!"]

Ash: I can't disagree with you.

Me: Indeed. And then there's that Litten, which incidentally became yours.

Ash: Right! It moved on from Stoutland to become a part of my team, ready for new things. I am glad for Litten.

Me: You had to be. So, we've talked quite a bit about these "household creatures", but it seems our discussion has also quite branched outwards from the "household".

Ash: Yeah. I guess it means that they can be everywhere, not just in people's homes. But that's great for Trainers and just other people.

Me: Yes. Pokémon or not, we have to enjoy and respect them as they are and as they can be.

Pikachu: Pika! ["True!"]

Me: This discussion about some "household creatures" has been very enlightening. It was limited to a few of them, but they all have something to be thought about.

Ash: And I'm sure that you and I will continue to have great views on this and other stuff you might want to talk about.

One year ago: And Intelligence

Two years ago: Proud to Be a Clean Cosplayer

Three years ago: Poké-Mobile Devices

Getting Feline with Pokémon

Recently, I've found out that one of the most popular felines - cats - on the Internet had passed away, and I'm half a year late to the announcement. Yet I've also enjoyed the presence of that cat for a time, as I also enjoy (having the company of) real cats. Even as a Pokémon fan, I'm quite heartbroken to hear about the news. That leads me to think about all the felines or cats that have graced Pokémon from past to present and how much they mean as I enjoy both the real ones and fantasy ones.

Many generations of Pokémon have characteristic feline species. One doesn't need to look far to the first generation for Meowth and Persian, which can be annoying in their own ways. The Skitty family in the third generation looks almost like aliens as much as its two members are quite funky. The Glameow family of the fourth generation has two species with stark contrast between the two. Fifth generation has the Liepard family, which is quite sly. Back to Meowth, it even has two regional forms in later generations of decidedly different characteristics and even specific evolved forms for both. The felines that are out there are quite dazzling in appearance and personality, just like some real felines.

Interestingly, a few of these felines have a bipedal appearance, unlike (most) real felines that are quadrupeds. A few of these may still walk on all fours at times, but the ones I refer to are almost thoroughly known as bipedal creatures. With their appearance, it might seem to make them lose a little of their feline charm, yet by virtue of that bipedalism, they also identify themselves closer to people, the creatures that might appreciate them even more than those of their own kind. This has in a way been affirmed to be the case for a particularly famous Meowth. Whether or not this is the case for others, it's a total fantasy for cats or felines, and the people also benefit from becoming closer with them.

There is one more case of a remarkable feline. That would be the case of a certain Litten in the anime. It started off life by caring for an elderly Stoutland, who also taught it a great deal about things. After having gone through so much, the Stoutland departed, leaving Litten on its own. But it wasn't in vain, for Litten found its way to an even more charismatic companion. Though a canine or dog, the Stoutland bears some hallmarks to the (not so) recently departed Internet feline figure, including its old age, and now in a way I feel like the Litten to that Stoutland. Spiritually, Litten has moved on, and it seems to be a time for me to do so as well from the departing of that feline figure.

Nothing can replace that feline figure - not even the felines or cats from Pokémon - but at the least the latter has their unique charms. I'm quite content to see and enjoy the fantastic felines from this latter side as much as I enjoy real felines that I can tangibly interact with, and in the case of that feline figure, one that appeals through the screen for all its fans. Like the departing of the Stoutland (canine as it may be), it's just something to bear in feline form. Rest in peace, and now it's time to get back into Pokémon and perhaps its felines as well.

One year ago: This Is It

Two years ago: Cosplay: Club Cosplay Party

Three years ago: Pokkén BanaPassports

Multilingual Pokémon Go

Pokémon and different languages is a hot topic (for me at least) and much can be discussed about it. Along with the names of the Pokémon themselves, the games themselves are multilingual, not the least of which is the main series games... but I'll save the discussion pertaining to those some other time. Right now I want to discuss the multilingual topic as it pertains to its popular mobile installment, Pokémon Go. Behind its most common appearance as its English version, it is multilingual in ways that one may (or may not) expect.

Those who have witnessed players in Japan or at least have seen screenshots from Japanese players will note that the game is completely in Japanese. Less commonly, players of certain major languages in the world to which Pokémon has been localized have the game in the language of concern. The secret to this multilingual trick is simple: the primary language of the phone is set to that particular language. Thus, by changing the primary language of the phone, Pokémon Go can appear in that language. I don't have a chance to try out this trick as switching my phone's language may have far-reaching consequences besides switching that of the game, but I can stand to do it if I had an experimental phone.

For those of the respective major languages, Pokémon Go can be playable with the interface being in that language. For those not of the languages, Pokémon Go will likely default to English. This too has a simple reason, one that goes beyond the simple language aspect of the game. English is the international language of communication and trade, even in parts where it is not spoken much, and therefore it may be expected that some players will know English - perhaps to a reasonable degree and with basic reading ability - enough to play the game and be somewhat successful. One of my Pokémon Go fellows has Indonesian as the primary phone language, and other apps are localized, though not Pokémon Go - a simple evidence of this happening.

Lately, though, there may be evidence that Pokémon Go may be about to expand (or perhaps has expanded) localization efforts. A screenshot was posted of the Pokédex page for Bulbasaur, but it was in a language one would not expect: Thai, the language of the people of Thailand. Of course, since the Pokémon TCG is localized there, it may not come as a surprise that it would eventually appear in Pokémon Go. Given this, there may be similar hopes that an Indonesian localization may eventually be realized because of the local presence of the TCG in the country - at least, that's the hopes of another of my Pokémon fellows. What will come of this may remain to be seen.

Being that Pokémon has its fans in high and low places, possibly those with languages of their own, Pokémon has to try to cater to those fans if at all feasible and/or possible. Pokémon Go provides the facility for this through the same way that other smartphone apps are localized, and it may show great potential to be expansible for minor localizations of Pokémon. The English version will still be the norm for places and people who don't need to deal with Pokémon in their language, but it's nice to know that the facility is there for languages that enable this to happen.

One year ago: Gym Tours

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

Three years ago: Cosplay: BJF - Shizen ni Modoru

More Music from Pokémon Go

Over two years ago, I wrote a post on (some of) the music of Pokémon Go. As stated, like any game and Pokémon game in particular, music makes a game. But the music I've detailed in that post only scratches the surface of all possible music in the game. Moreover, since Pokémon Go is a game that is frequently updated, there is the potential for new music to be added, and that has in fact been the case since then. I figure that it's time to discuss a few more music pieces from Pokémon Go, particularly of unique parts in the game that some may not realize.

When one plays with one's Buddy Pokémon, there is music that plays in the background. The piece is mellow yet upbeat, and it suits the friendly atmosphere of taking the time to play with a Buddy Pokémon, no matter what it may be. The music may be on the long side - more than what may be needed for all things that can be done to play with a Buddy Pokémon - but it may be quite captivating to listen to once one hears the music, and one may be tempted to play with a Buddy just for the sake of hearing the music. That still may be a good thing for the Buddy Pokémon, and the Trainer gets bonus ear candy.

Since they've made their way to Pokémon Go, Team Go Rocket has wrought havoc in all kinds of ways, and they have their own accompanying music pieces. The most important ones are the Grunt encounter music, which is more or less like the encounter music in the first-generation main series games but with the characteristic Pokémon Go instrumentation, as well as the Grunt battle music, which has a chilling aspect to it. Team Go Rocket send to intend to threaten Trainers even with their imposing music, but the same should also drive proactive Trainers to keep them at bay.

Even the most recent addition to Pokémon Go, Mega Evolution, has its share of unique music. The Mega raid lobby music is quite different from regular raids, and so is the raid itself. It has a dramatic feel that some would say is a carryover from the sixth-generation main series games, which is the point when Mega Evolution was introduced in them. The flavor of the music also tends toward a rock or electronica sound that suits the gravity of the situation, which is to face a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in battle to take it down and gain as much energy as possible for a Trainer's own Mega Evolution.

The three areas above still doesn't cover the entire breadth of music that Pokémon Go has, but they're sufficient to illustrate a point. That point is that the changes for an ever-changing game like Pokémon Go can reach into deep points such as the game's music, and it does. Though for many the music may be hidden by the virtue of them turning off the setting, music remains a key part of the experience, and it too has to suit. Pokémon Go is already unique in many ways, and the music makes it even more so.

One year ago: The Music of TCGO

Two years ago: Cosplay: Tachiagare

Three years ago: My Book of Days

Pokémon Documentaries?

One of the most popular game series of all time - I trust you know which one if you know about me very well - is on its way to having an officially sanctioned (in a way) documentary about it. Unfortunately, that game series isn't the one that becomes the subject of this blog, which is Pokémon. As such, it got me to think about the workings of a Pokémon documentary if one were to be made in the way that the documentary for the other game series is to be made. It becomes a possible idea and something to think about, given that Pokémon has pervaded this world for nearly two and a half decades.

Being that the documentary for the other game series involves the real experiences of those involved with that series, a similar full-fledged documentary for Pokémon would have to cover the same. The creation of the first games, the achievement of worldwide success, and the lasting power of that success are all possible ideas for coverage to be included in such a documentary. This coverage might also necessitate coverage of the hiccups along that path, though it may detract from the overall sense. Fans would be an integral part of this, so it would make sense to include them as well somehow. The overall content of the Pokémon documentary could resemble the one for the other game, but that wouldn't be a bad thing.

Though it probably wouldn't qualify as a documentary per se, concepts or objects regarding the games and anything related could also be covered to resemble a documentary. In fact, it may just be possible to take some of the concepts or objects and apply them as topics or themes related to coverage of the realistic side of the documentary. This becomes yet another segue to yet another important point: relative to that other series, which can be considered to be niche, Pokémon is so big and continues to be as such, and a documentary of a single part may not suffice. Multiple parts may be necessary to cover Pokémon through the years, and for continued coverage later on. There stands to be many directions for this documentary.

Those many directions are already evident in the "documentary" content already present in different corners of the Internet. Quite a few are related to Pokémon Go as the big Pokémon thing from four years ago, though a few touch on the real experiences that would indeed make a full-fledged documentary - one of them being the popular "incident" from near the beginning. Still others focus on pure gaming aspects, in one case speedrunning the video games and in another case being the appeal of the TCG. A full-fledged documentary would have to try to make sense of all of these, including how many parts they all can fit and the engaging stories they present.

The other game series I've touched on is indeed engaging for its fans, creators, and practically everyone involved. That seems to be why the planned documentary found favor with them. For Pokémon, there may not be anything in the way of official documentary projects in the works, but existing content can already provide insights on how things can be carried out for this initiative, for all the content that have been presented in the games and beyond, as well as the connections to the relevant people. And with nearly two and a half decades of existence, it may just be about time for this to happen.

One year ago: The New Flavors of Pokémon
Two years ago: Other Uses of Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Incubators in Pokémon Go