Pokémon Go Community Day, 2/7/2021

Well, knowing that there's a big event later on this month, it would be good if Community Day can be held early on in the month, and in fact, it's held today. This month's Community Day can be said to be strange and/or unexpected, but as far as Community Days go, it could also be said to be normal and/or expected. This includes what I went through in order to experience and play through the event today, but I suppose there's something in it for everyone, and all those qualities are "something" indeed.

As always, there's the matter of its "bones". The featured Pokémon this month is Roselia; perhaps of all or most Pokémon, this one could be considered a strange one for the event. Like Machop last month, its Shiny form is already available but not commonplace, and this is also a big chance to get it. By evolving it to Roserade, it gains the Fast Move of Bullet Seed and the Charged Move of Weather Ball with a Fire typing - and yes, it means that this is the first time there are two special moves (both Fast and Charged) for a Community Day Pokémon at the same time. That alone should already be unexpected. What is less unexpected is that the moves tend to be useful in PvP, as with most recent cases as well.

The regular bonus is reduced Egg hatch distance, and that's for a good reason: it's to allow quicker hatching of Budew (the baby form of Roselia) from 2 km Eggs that can be obtained during the event. In that sense, it's the same case with Magmar and Electabuzz previously. Further similarity is evident with an extra Timed Research for additional Sinnoh Stones. Otherwise, the Community Day incentives for editions during the current conditions remain the same even today. Then there's the Special Research, this month titled "Stop and Smell the Roselia" and featuring a discussion of the characteristics of Roselia, which like last month could be obtained for free... if one had purchased the event ticket for Pokémon Go Tour a few days before Community Day, with the January purchase making both months free. With that, the Community Day edition for this month is quite normal yet strange.

What I expected for today was to go on a good outing in order to take advantage of free time for the event. What I didn't expect was the scale of it, and additionally becoming reunited with a fellow Pokémon Go Trainer that I had lost contact with over the past couple of years, and spending time with a couple of others, including one very close one and one for a sudden Lucky Trade. But that's what happened, and I'm somewhat glad that it worked out this way. I did try something a little different this month in that I enlisted a Buddy Pokémon of similar types that can Mega Evolve in order to gain more Candies per caught Pokémon; it somewhat makes a difference, and this may become a viable modus operandi in future editions and whenever possible (as in Spotlight Hour). For evolutions, I evolved a few good ones and a viable Shiny one - nothing special, though the Roserade I received from the Special Research turned out to be exceptional, which is not always the case.

There's still a bit of time before that major event of the month, but it may help to get the momentum going with an event, and what couldn't be better than Community Day. By now, Community Day is rather ingrained with its expected specifics, but there's a good amount of room for some unexpected things to occur. Whether that's strange or normal, that may be up for the Trainers to decide. However, what all Trainers will decide on for certain is to have fun, and that should be true today and for the big event that comes later this month.

One year ago: Turning Around and Back

Two years ago: Local EX Raid (with "Friend Boost"), 2/7/2019

Three years ago: An Eye for Pokémon

Four years ago: Conserve and Cooperate

Movie Manga, Local (Re) Edition

It's been some time since I discussed anything related to Pokémon books or manga, but that's mostly because I haven't had something new to discuss on this front. Recently, though, I was able to obtain something - actually, a couple of things - that's both kind of new and kind of old; they're new because I don't have them, but they're also old because I already do have them in a sense and in some form. Nevertheless, I feel they may be of some use and are valuable additions to my Pokémon collection, so here they are.

These are local (that is, Indonesian language) editions of the Pokémon manga that are adaptations of the feature films. They are published by a renowned national publisher that also manages the publication of local editions of other Japanese manga from other very well-known and popular series. In that sense, the publisher can be considered quite reputable. Compared to the English versions (for the one on the left at least), these are about half as thick, more compact in length and width, and one-fifth of their retail prices, but contain more or less the same content. So they're fairly affordable for the locals, though I have to admit that I got these on sale, both for half off, and I got lucky.

The one on the left needs no introduction, as it is the local version of the movie manga that precisely started off my collection of Pokémon manga, for which I obtained the English version some years ago. The one on the right is a little more complicated. It's clearly an adaptation of the "I Choose You!" feature film, but it also has the "Remix" tag attached to it and is a single volume, unlike the two-volume adaptation (which I'm informed also exists locally, but I didn't find them when I got these). Both will be read when I get to them, and I'm especially curious about the one on the right.

Personally, I'm happy to own Pokémon movie manga any which way - provided I'm able to understand them - but these local editions are significant too, in comparison to, say, the English editions. The fact that I also got them on the cheap can be regarded as a fortuitous perk. But the biggest perk of all would be the valuable additions to my collection and the potential enjoyment that I will have with them, possibly leading to other things as well. The Pokémon aspect remains key to all that and so much more.

One year ago: In My Full Time

Two years ago: The Feeling of Disaggregation

Three years ago: Life with My Raid Group

Four years ago: Alola-Exeggutor - From Humanoid to Coconut Tree Dragon

Get Your Game On, Go Tour

A certain group of main series players and Smash Mouth might like to have a word with me regarding the way this post is titled, but no matter, for it nicely describes the matter to be discussed in this post.

Since the onset of global conditions, the way that Pokémon Go holds its in-game events has changed dramatically, from the regular Community Day to the occasional various paid-ticket events that are instituted. They became totally new experiences in comparison to how they were previously done. I posited last year that there is a possibility for this to be developed further while conditions still persist before settling down, and it actually has. Last month's celebratory events were actually a nod and lead-in to that new development, and before things progress any further this month, it's time to discuss about it.

Enter Pokémon Go Tour. This new event is slated for February 20 and it is another event with a paid ticket. It has the makings of a Pokémon Go Fest (and could be construed as its "winter" edition), but it's much more than that. The upcoming edition, which will feature the Kanto region and its elements, and is therefore the complementary anniversary event for the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, essentially replicates the experience of the original Red and Green (Japanese) games. This includes the version exclusives and trading for them, only this time in Pokémon Go format for everything, including raids for Legendary Pokémon. The paid event ticket will even demand the selection of the version for this purpose.

With this month being the real anniversary month for Pokémon, it only makes sense, and after a quarter-century, it makes even more sense to start off at the beginning. While there's no indication that the event could be extended to other regions as later editions, the generic emblem for it suggests that it could be as such, in the style of Go Fest at some point. That may just happen, but for now, the Kanto edition is the most pertinent and most important one for the impending really major anniversary of Pokémon in general.

Arguably, Pokémon Go itself has been a new experience for Pokémon, unlike the main series games the franchise has started off with. Yet both still remain important for the most fervent of fans, even in any condition such as the current one. If anything, this new kind of event seeks to establish that exactly through a spiritual link between the two, in fact almost demanding one to get their game on, and in the case of Pokémon Go, to go on a tour.

And in the process, everyone (that is, all Pokémon Trainers) would become all stars. Major anniversary or not, that seems to be well-deserved.

One year ago: It's (All) About Time

Two years ago: First-Generation Glitches... Plus My Experience

Three years ago: I Need a Laugh - Pokémon Humor

Four years ago: Itasha Revisited

The Consideration of Gaming Journalism

This blog has been going on for over four years, and I think I've got a good thing going. However, I think it can and should lead to even better things. One of them is something that recently came to my attention, and based on the title of this post, that would be something called "gaming journalism". Being that Pokémon is to a good extent about games, this would be fitting for me and well within my capabilities. As with many things major and minor that can be possibly related to Pokémon, it needs to be considered to some extents, particularly with a post on this blog.

I first heard of the term through one of my main series fellows in the respective group. We were discussing the views and disclosures of another person in the group, and the term and topic came up for what would be a good way for the person to channel those views and disclosures. While the other person has dismissed the topic with the remark that it might be risky for the person, I found the topic to be relevant enough and we discussed it separately. An important result of that discussion is that we agree that a blog is a good stepping stone for this endeavor of interest.

Another result of that discussion is that gaming journalism befits even so-called "niche" games that are outside the mainstream. I've already discussed the "mainstream" quality of Pokémon in a different post and that continues to apply regardless of its perception by different people, particularly in my case. But being that I also play certain game genres (adventure and puzzle), these can have a place in gaming journalism, and I can incorporate them as well. These would be outside of my Pokémon endeavors, but I don't see why they can't have a certain focus as well in addition to Pokémon.

Now, journalism is often associated with its products, and therefore a discussion on products of journalism is relevant with this topic. As they stand, blog posts may or may not be considered products of journalism, most likely due to their personal content - they're akin to an "op-ed" piece in that case. The challenge for me to step up my journalism "game" in this regard is to be able to write more objectively about the games that I play, including Pokémon. That I already do quite a bit on some of the posts on this blog, but more needs to be done for something along the lines of true journalism.

"Gaming journalism" definitely piques my interest, given this blog and how languages and writing are intertwined within my life. It would also allow me to work in games that I play, especially Pokémon as my interest and the subject of this blog. To some extent, it could be considered to be something that I'm already doing with this blog, but not all the time. But if anything, this blog can be an indication that I may (and should) be able to step up to that with all that I have on hand and possibly more as time goes on. That would have the potential as another good thing that would get going.

One year ago: Lost Player Ties

Two years ago: The False Gods

Three years ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 2

Four years ago: Pokémon and Mahjong Tile Games

Labyrinthine Expectations

In the structure of things for SLA as I've discussed last month, there was no monthly themed cup in favor of a bit of a break and a different kind of action. But of course, the season has to continue, and it does so with a themed cup this month. Now, PvP battling in Pokémon Go is as simple as it is complicated, and that may perhaps be the spirit that the SLA themed cup for this month tries to capture. It's almost as if one is present in a labyrinth, and one can come out on top if one is able to find the way out. Appropriately enough, this month's themed cup is named "Labyrinth".

For this month, the restrictions are somewhat different. As always, the themed cup necessitates battling in the Great League, which should go without saying at this point; Mega Evolution is also absent thusly. There are theme restrictions, but they are not of specific types for a team, rather in a team: a team can have only one Pokémon for a specific type - for example, if one has Venusaur on a team, no other Pokémon may have either the Grass or Poison type. There is also a multitude of species restrictions or "bans", which includes among others Azumarill, G-Stunfisk, and Machamp, and the full listing (16 species total) can be seen on the page for the themed cup. Other than that, all viable species remain fair game.

This themed cup bears a certain resemblance to the Fusion Cup of last year, except that dual types are not absolutely required, and they may in fact make things harder to build a team as they may block off useful slots for other Pokémon of their type. Barring the team type restrictions and the species "bans", it can also be considered a slightly modified open Great League format. Because of the way this theme is structured, it prevents Pokémon popular across different themes as "meta" from coming out, as well as teams made up of an assortment of species with one type being the same (monotype), though the latter may be of least concern as monotype teams in practice rarely make a well-formed team.

Even so, it is possible for some species to make it well in this themed cup. A-Marowak is not on the "ban" list and can continue to stand up to Ice types and deal with "titans" of the Steel type. The latter may provide backup against the former and certain Pokémon in the Dark realm. the "fighter" realm is also another backup against both as well as Ground types. Ice types themselves can deal with the Dark realm and Ground types, and Ground types go back to A-Marowak. These species and more may be selected through a selector chart to make teambuilding easy, but on the whole, many species from these realms are likely going to become top picks of many Trainers.

After a break from the action last month, it's time for Trainers to get back into the SLA action, and it couldn't be better than something simple enough to follow and yet complicated enough to have its own dynamics. Without some of the backbones of earlier themes, this could be construed as a "proving ground" for both Trainers and Pokémon, old and new alike. The elements have been placed in the labyrinth, and they all have to find their way out. Once that is done, it may very well be that the actions to be made in this "labyrinth" and the next will be completely different.

One year ago: Editing PokéStops

Two years ago: Under a Truck

Three years ago: Formality of Ownership

Four years ago: The Sweetest Days - Ash and Pikachu

Pass Challenges with Pokémon

Some social media challenges are creative and worth to be followed, unlike those that are silly and potentially dangerous. One of the former is a challenge (or rather, a group of them) called a "pass challenge", where people take videos of them passing an object from one side to another as if they're actually giving the object from one person to another, all the while doing something with them. Thus interred, it can become a very creative challenge. In the hands of a few capably creative people of different fandoms, it can be even more so, and because this topic is being discussed on a Pokémon blog, the direction also becomes understandable.

The original incarnation of the challenge, as found on specific social media, is a "pass the brush" challenge involving a makeup brush to highlight one's face. In its evolution, the challenge may have cosplay costumes incorporated to show a transformation of the person. True to that, one of the fandoms that I relate to created a "pass the book" challenge some time ago with a specific transformation sequence for those involved in it to become certain characters. Back to incarnations that less involve cosplay, a "pass the cake" challenge may be predictably incurred for special occasions such as anniversaries or commemorations, or else it could be something else highly related to them. The possibilities are naturally endless, and they could be really simple or really complex.

The same would naturally be true for Pokémon possibilities. Of these, there are a few intriguing ones. A very obvious and well-suited one would be a "pass the ball" challenge, where one receives a Poké Ball, does something, then passes it to the next person; that something done could involve cosplay as expected above, or it could reveal other Pokémon things. Some challenges that are suited for the respective owners would be a "pass the doll" or "pass the figure" challenge; these would naturally demand something specific to be owned, and that may be something that is difficult for certain people, especially in these times. It can be seen that these may not be ideal choices even for groups of fans that have them, and a better option would be to tailor one of the more general ideas above with inclusion of Pokémon elements. All the possibilities would certainly be attractive regardless.

The "pass challenge" is, by its design, something very creative for both its creators and its viewers. It is also evidently very much adaptable with different things and scenarios as well as different fandoms. Predictably, Pokémon is included, and even this challenge can have its specific twists for that fandom. Keeping that in mind, there is much to explore for this challenge and many ways to make the challenge relevant across all kinds of situations, for which it is certain that Pokémon fans would be interested to take part in.

One year ago: Total Experience

Two years ago: Legends Among People

Three years ago: Pictures Worth Thousands of Words

Four years ago: Pokkén Sentiments

In Search of Friends or Accounts

One of the most currently demanding things about Pokémon Go is the management of friends through its system. It can be a fun yet troublesome thing to deal with. Apparently, there is yet another troublesome issue: that of Trainers who are searching for "accounts" instead of "friends" through the system. This issue is one that I've had to deal with at times to the point of affecting my friendship relationships. Because of its gravity of associated problems, I've chosen to discuss this issue in a post of its own.

Perhaps it is best to start with what I consider the "bleak" side of things, that of Trainers looking for "accounts". Their goal is to have friends not for the sake of being "friends" (trade partner, raid helper, Gift giver, and so on). One of their likely goals is to gain XP through the system up until the Best Friend level, and sooner or later after that has occurred, the bond is then broken. Another possibility is that they not only manage their own accounts, but also help out others in certain ways, and when that happens, accounts of other people may be relegated to only be bonded with others for the sole purpose of assistance.

I've had both of the above cases happen. For the former, it has happened at least twice with Best Friends who no longer feel they have any use for me, and I was cut off without warning in both cases, and I still feel that I was robbed of their assistance even today; for the latter, it has happened with a Best Friend who likely feels that I'm better off bonded with another Best Friend who is sometimes assisted by that other friend, leaving me helpless if my Best Friend isn't being assisted. In all cases, it's clear they were considering all other aspects than the friendship bond, and therefore they're looking for "accounts".

As for Trainers looking for "friends", that becomes rather obvious. They're willing to do all the things that friends can do as above, to go through the system of friend progressions no matter how and what, and after reaching the Best Friend level, to stay as such to still be able to do everything. And if they for some reason are unable to continue at any of these points, then it would be possible to amicably separate with understanding. All of these would be something difficult to do, but they are all still quite possible regardless of distance and communication.

This is, in fact, what I've been able to do with one of my Best Friends ever since the beginning with that friend, and it has been quite worthwhile. While I haven't had a case of amicable separation as the above, I've had a few cases of forced separation due to certain circumstances, though I tried to make them as amicable as possible. In my particular case, given my side of things and others' side of things, it could be seemingly difficult, but I am sure that everything can work out well. For all the Best Friends (or any friend) that I have, I want things to continue to work out.

The friendship system of Pokémon Go can have its demanding moments, and the issue I've illustrated above is particularly demanding based on the severity of the issue. I personally would prefer that most Trainers of Pokémon Go to be searching for "friends" like me, but this isn't a perfect world, and there will always be those that are searching for "accounts". In that regard, there will always be problems as the progressions of friendship continue, but hopefully just as many ways to resolve them.

One year ago: Let's Go Fight to the Top

Two years ago: Wrap the Light Fantastic

Three years ago: The Workings of Raids

Four years ago: Poké Ball Food