Quickies: Staying Productive with Pokémon

OK, things are about to get incredibly hectic for me within the next few weeks ahead, and those who might have read many of my latest posts might recognize that I've been "stuck in a rut" in regard to their format. Therefore, I've decided to try something new and force upon myself a different format. I call it "Quickies", where I regard a current situation with a Pokémon perspective or a Pokémon situation with different perspectives, all with not more than a few paragraphs (3 to 4 tops). So here I go.

So that "incredibly busy" thing is related to being productive, as the title suggests, though with another thing than Pokémon. Even so, I find that Pokémon in whatever form does help myself pace through whatever it is I'm attempting to stay productive with. Often, a little bit of something Pokémon (like posting on this blog or playing a little bit) helps me to refresh my mind, helping me to not be "stuck in a rut". And it seems that things go both ways regarding this state of affairs.

For both that thing and Pokémon, I have faced a problem in the form of power loss - as in, electricity. It isn't my fault, but the effects are rather profound and leave me literally in the dark. While I'd love to be able to peruse the aid of an Electivire - according to its role, and perhaps that one with the best stats possible in my Pokémon Go storage - that's really only a pipe dream, and I'd have better luck finding something equivalent to a Litwick or Lampent, as one of my Pokémon Go fellows suggested when it happened.

I suppose Pokémon gives me a reason to stay productive, even if some things are purely imaginative. That boost in productivity has to be important to somehow keep myself going and, in the end, everything Pokémon that involves me as well. I'm sure that whatever will go in the next few weeks will benefit from this as well and I can reap the Pokémon benefits at an eventual point in time. It's going to be a heck of a time in the weeks ahead, and hopefully Pokémon and this new blog format will help with that.

One year ago: On (No) Coincidences

Two years ago: Cosplay: Tresno no Matsuri

Three years ago: Hoenn (Fully) Confirmed on Go

Four years ago: Space

"Colored" Moves in Pokémon Games

This month's Community Day in Pokémon Go featured something unique, in that there are both Fast and Charged Moves as the special moves for a Pokémon species. What's even more unique is the latter move, which as I've stated, comes with a specific type. This constitutes a neat phenomenon in Pokémon games in that a move may have effects of different types depending on different circumstances, which can be said to give a move its "color". It's a phenomenon that started and is definitively present in the main series games, but it also really comes into its own in Pokémon Go.

In the main series games, the move of Hidden Power, despite being assigned as a Normal-type move, has an effect (and thus "color") of a certain type that is different from species to species, and even individual Pokémon of that species; the type can be determined through specific means in different games. It is the "classical" instance of this phenomenon. In Pokémon Go, Hidden Power works the same way, except that the assigned type of the move is explicitly shown beside the move, for Pokémon that possess the move. In this way, it makes it possible and convenient for one to be able to collect Pokémon that possess all 18 possible types of Hidden Power, which for a fact some people have attempted to do. It is a niche move, but the quality is special regardless.

The move of Weather Ball in the main series games is assigned a Normal type, but its type actually changes according to weather. It is Fire when sunny, Water when raining, Ice when there is hail, Rock when there is a sandstorm, and Normal otherwise. In Pokémon Go, the move is typed or "colored" in the same way as Hidden Power above, and its types correspond to any of the possible types above. The previous case of Weather Ball-Fire for Roserade is one example; other cases are Castform with Weather Ball-Normal and Abomasnow with Weather Ball-Ice. Water and Rock types for Weather Ball may also be expected. Castform notably possessed this move as its "signature move", but in all cases, now the case is no longer apparent.

While nothing has been explicitly said and not much has been revealed, the move of Techno Blast as the "signature move" of Genesect in Pokémon Go is indicated to be able to possess "color" by different types as well. If in the main series games the type of the move is determined by the Drive that Genesect holds (Electric for Shock, Water for Douse, Fire for Burn, Ice for Chill, and Normal without), in Pokémon Go the move is typed or "colored" accordingly and becomes a special move of Genesect in possession of certain Drives. So far, only Genesect with Techno Blast-Fire has been unleashed thanks to the Unova Celebration, but it doesn't seem hard to expect that later on there will be more Genesect possessing their corresponding Drives with other "colors" of Techno Blast. That much can already be expected.

It is amazing that some Pokémon moves can have type or "color" effects beyond their assigned types. The main series games demonstrate this quite well with the effects that relate to three moves above, and yet, Pokémon Go also provides a unique take on the phenomenon by actually assigning types to the same move, varying it for different Pokémon as above. While the action of the two games can be regarded as different as night and day, it is nice that the latter maintains some reference points to the former, especially in regard to moves and the "colors" of types associated with them.

One year ago: Coming Up Roses

Two years ago: Cosplay: Eien no Kiseki

Three years ago: Seeking Confirmation

Four years ago: Time

The Sweetness of "Attractors"

A unique facet of the world of Pokémon is how certain creatures that bear the name can attract with or be attracted by certain things. These things, which I will call "attractors" for the purpose of this post, have a key characteristic in that they are sweet, and that is definitely something attractive for most beings. What probably comes to mind, especially mine, is just how sweet those things are, particularly in their ability to attract Pokémon. That leads to the conception of this post in order to flesh out the sweetness of those "attractors". Specifically, I'm considering a few well-known things that do the job.

One of those things is the move Sweet Scent, or at least what results from the move. It is usually depicted as a pink cloud and/or a shower of pink petals. The petals, of course, are reminiscent of cherry blossom or sakura petals, and similar plants tend to produce similarly sweet-smelling things. The pink cloud that results can be construed as being redolent of the smell, allowing it to attract Pokémon of different kinds. Yet, it also has to be considered that different Grass-type Pokémon have different capabilities, and this might possibly affect the quality of the Sweet Scent. The Roselia species family, for example, which is expected to be capable of Sweet Scent, would be expected to have a more rose-like smell than a cherry-like smell. Regardless, the capability would remain the same.

In the Sinnoh region, it is possible to encounter golden trees with a sweet smell. These don't attract Pokémon all on their own, but if one had a jar of Honey in possession, then the bark of the tree could be slathered with it, and it would eventually attract Pokémon. There would be no question that the Honey would be similar to the same object in real life, but because of its evidently attractive and sweet quality, it could be construed to be sweeter and still more fragrant than the actual object in real life. The fact that it could be slathered on trees might also lead to the conclusion that it's a little stickier, perhaps like the sap from certain kinds of trees. The attractive force would still be its heavy sweetness. 

Of things that attract Pokémon, it's hard to escape items that many Pokémon Go Trainers frequently put into use: Incense and Lure Modules. They emanate a general or specific sweet aroma to attract Pokémon. With the pink cloud or petals present by putting them into use, the principle would perhaps be not much different than a Sweet Scent, but the aroma would be considerably different depending on the general or specific aroma intended to attract any kind or specific kinds of Pokémon and which item is used.

The "attractors" of the Pokémon world are quite varied, but they are united by the way that they work, which is by exuding sweetness to draw Pokémon, at which point they can then be battled and/or captured. They are all unique just as the Pokémon themselves are unique, and they can seemingly work with attuned levels of sweetness. That should be sweet enough for any Pokémon and their Trainers in any kind of attracting situation.

One year ago: Memories and Mnemonics

Two years ago: Pokémon Clocks

Three years ago: (It's a Wonderful) Local Ex-Raid, 2/8/2018

Four years ago: Serena-Shipping: "Heaven Help My Heart"

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