The Lingering Places of Toxic Pokémon Fans

Some two years ago, I wrote about how some Pokémon fans can embody a certain negative "poisoning" spirit, which would indeed be called "toxic". Unfortunately, such people are not likely to disappear any time soon, and worse yet, they may be found "lingering" in various places, specifically in certain social settings on the great Internet. I've observed Pokémon social circles on the Internet for quite some time now, and I've been able to identify a few places where these toxic fans might linger and cause discomfort for well-meaning fans.

One of those places is the comment sections of various YouTube videos. The freedom needed to afford more fans the chance to comment on these videos regrettably also lets in these less-than-desirable fans. In particular, the "live chat" of premiered videos like Pokémon Presents may have many of them, often creating rapid cascades of (sometimes nonsensical) comments during a premiere that is just as hard to read as to follow along. For that reason, I often ignore (much of) these comment sections in favor of enjoying the videos as they are.

Nowadays, a person is likely to be involved in different groups on social media, and fans are likely to belong to one or more Pokémon groups. Yet it is in these groups that toxic fans can also persist, sometimes invisibly until they make themselves evident in interaction. As defined in the previous post, continued negativity in interaction is what makes people toxic, and once that becomes evident, it becomes hard to deny. At that point, well-meaning fans like me will have to reconsider involvement with them and, if necessary, their groups.

Before the transition to current forms of social media, there were online forums on the Internet - specifically, ones related to Pokémon - and with the numbers of fans that flock these places, there were bound to be a few less-than-desirable ones. Though I could not personally tell with certainty, I am likely to have interacted with a few of them during my time on certain online forums. The slower nature of communication on these forums makes the interactions with them less evident until they are discovered to be as such.

Pokémon is big nowadays with a legion of fans that is just as big. Yet it's not hard to tell that certain sizable segments of these fans are "poisoning" ones, and they still persist today, moreover in certain places on social media and the Internet. It becomes up to well-meaning fans like me to be wary of such places and the people contained therein, and to know when to stay and court the positive people as well as when to pull out and avoid interaction with the negative people whose "poisoning" spirits represent ruinous ways of enjoyment.

One year ago: Taking It All Home

Two years ago: Sponsored PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: The Persistence of Legendary Raid Hours

Four years ago: Poké Ball Mini Pokémon Figures

Five years ago: Metal Unova Cap Pikachu Keychain

Cosplay: "Seventeen Fest"

Me: This one might be a little strange, and that goes for the title too. But bear with me.

Goh: This event's really called "Seventeen Fest"?

Me: It is, but the way it is called locally is different but means the same thing. So I chose to call it in a way lots more people would be able to understand.

Ash: I understand.

Me: The number 17 is special for the local people this month, you see.

Goh: Guess I'll be patient for that.

Ash: So what have I got today?

Me: You're in the character parade and singing competition. It's rare that an event in my local area has a singing competition, so...

Ash: ...we've gotta get in on it.

Me: Excellent.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu. ["Can't beat that."]

Goh: Do you already have a song for Ash to sing?

Me: I do, in fact. It's the perennial, the classic, "Mezase Pokémon Master".

Ash: That's always nice. I'll just have my regular outfit from Kanto and Johto for this one.

Me: Why not. That too is a classic. As for the location of the event, you should be familiar with it.

Ash: Hey, it's the same place as the Community Base Party! But it's downstairs, not upstairs.

Goh: So you could call it the extension of that.

Ash: I think it is. The people who run it said so. And they're our character friends.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu. ["Nice to see them."]

Me: OK, tell me how it went.

Ash: It was short. I signed up, sang, performed, heard about the results, and left. Just within four hours.

Goh: That's unusual, because your friend usually sends you for a full day.

Ash: But... I did help out my friend a bit before that.

Me: I see that; thanks for the help. True - most of these events are much longer than that. But this one seems to be just purely for a quick entertainment.

Ash: I had fun when I sang, but I think the sound got to me. I think one of your friends got a recording for you.

Me: I'll check it out. And the performance?

Ash: It went wham - and bam! The people told me I could go on stage and run toward the people, so I did. It was great!

Pikachu: Pika chu, pi pika chu! ["True, it looked amazing!"]

Me: Tell me the results.

Ash: No win. It was 2 out of 16 for singing and 4 out of 28 for the parade.

Goh: The competition is always tough with that many people (or characters) entering and that few prizes.

Me: You're telling us. It could be far worse with many more, and that means delaying the event further.

Ash: I thought it was going to be three and a half hours.

Me: Usually there's always some kind of execution holdup, like people not coming when they're called. For that reason the singing competition is sometimes limited to a certain number of people.

Goh: But it doesn't look like this one was?

Ash: It wasn't. Luckily everyone made it. Anyway, I had a great time - Pikachu too.

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["A great time!"]

Me: That's all that matters in the long and short of it.

Goh: I'd say.

One year ago: New Normal... and Still Loving

Two years ago: The Look of Pikachu

Three years ago: There Is Always a Way

Four years ago: (More) Plastic Poké Balls

Five years ago: Cosplay: Tomodachi 2

The Hisui Cup of GBL

During the Hisuian Discoveries event, I noted that there was a special format for the GBL, and that format is what I'd like to detail now. As expected, in line with the featured region and to suit the event, it is called the Hisui Cup. It is also in line with all other specific region-based formats in the past. Even so, as special as it is, it seems that it may not be so special after all. This is mostly because of the characteristics of the format and what they entail.

For this Great League-based format, as with the other region-based formats, Pokémon with Dex numbers of 387-493 are fair game. Based on that fact alone, it is apparent that the format includes or essentially covers the Sinnoh Cup, which had debuted much earlier. Hisui is, after all, the old name for the region, so it's clear that two region's formats will share these same exact Pokémon, and the stipulations and implications there also apply here.

There is yet a main difference. Hisui Cup also includes all current extant Hisuian forms in Pokémon Go, which presently involve Growlithe, Voltorb, Qwilfish, Sneasel, and Braviary, as well as their evolved forms where appropriate, also covering the new species Overqwil and Sneasler. There are still some of these missing, so the Hisui Cup may very well be due to return some time after their addition, whenever that might be.

While the meta from the regular Sinnoh Cup continues to apply, they also face competition from the Hisuian entrants of the Qwilfish species family, wherein both of them are viable to a certain degree. Both species are of the Water and Poison types, and they pose some problems for certain high-ranking members of the meta. The other Hisuian members are fairly less important but may be "spicy" in certain situations.

Essentially, the Hisui Cup (at this point, at least) could be regarded as "Sinnoh Cup+" with mostly the same sensibilities though with a little different "flavor" added in. That flavor is a distinct one of the past but brought to the present day in a novel manner in Pokémon Go courtesy of Legends: Arceus. The format itself regardless remains as novel and special as all other region-based formats in challenging the mettle of Trainers against one another.

One year ago: Good Game, Poor Communication?

Two years ago: Get Going for School, Pokémon Style

Three years ago: Increased Limits in Go... Indefinitely?

Four years ago: Cosplay: YASUMI

Five years ago: Perfection and Excellence

The Shining Moment: Pokémon Presents, 8/3/2022

Before proceeding with other Pokémon affairs, especially personal ones for myself, it's important to know about what's on tap for Pokémon for this time and beyond. That comes courtesy of a Pokémon Presents late in the day my time yesterday, which is why I opted to cover it the very next day instead (like the first one that happened this year, only sooner). And after taking in all the divulged information, I would say that the descriptor for everything Pokémon that was addressed in the presentation constitutes "the shining moment".

The first of these "moments" are the Pokémon World Championships that are due for its pinnacle later on this month. As I've highlighted numerous times, this time it's a meeting of old traditions and new waves, at least in the sense of included games. The place for it is somewhat of an old and new matter, but I'll save that for when things actually get going. It's a reminder that Trainers around the world have vied for their "shining moments", and with the pinnacle, there is effectively more of that incoming, as the Trainers headed for the grand competition will show their brilliance against the best of the best.

Other "shining moments" involve the presently active games. Pokémon Go has its "summer festival" of Pokémon Go Fest set to reach a conclusion this month, which is set for Ultra happenings - more on this later. Pokémon Unite has recently celebrated its first anniversary, and things are still going on in festive ways, including in new battle arenas, celebratory mechanisms, and certainly new Pokémon incoming. Pokémon Café Remix has a dynamic event with a returning Legendary Pokémon and two more of them slated to come through its Delivery function. Then, there's Pokémon Masters EX with its three-year anniversary, a Trainer Lodge incoming, and... something brilliant in the shadows? Much still has to be revealed.

Finally, the thing that everyone has waited for is information on the new Scarlet and Violet games due out later this year, which I can only highlight at the moment. There is the new region's name, the openness and non-linearity of it all, new Pokémon species that include a new regional form, adventures with the "box legends" in speed and in stride, multiplayer adventures, and a new special mechanism for this generation (which some dubs as the "gimmick") that involves a form change into something glistening and over the top. The last one is truly fitting, but the others are definitely new and shining for these games.

Pokémon has always had its share of "shining moments", but the things that were detailed in this edition of Pokémon Presents have their own "shining" qualities rather evident. This is especially true in some of the games with their anniversary-focused events as well as that glistening kind of form change in the new generation games to come. And they're all on tap for the current time and onward this year, with many chances for current Trainers to "bathe in the light" of what has been, is, and will be "shining".

One year ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: Madness in Madness

Two years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: What's In, What's Out

Three years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru SX

Four years ago: (A New) Local Ex-Raid, 8/4/2018

Five years ago: Pokémon on My Bed

The Pokémon Unite Phone-Switch Transition

Being that I have a Nintendo Switch today, I can play Pokémon Unite on my phone or on the console. Complementing this is the fact that players or Trainers on both of the platforms are able to share progression (cross-progression) and are able to play together (cross-play). This situation being able to occur is a great thing, but for them, it will likely require some transitioning in different ways in order to maintain and ascertain success wherever one plays.

For starters, those looking to allow the transition to occur must link (bind) their data to a Nintendo Account, as this is where the Switch will save and read the data played there; naturally, those starting on the Switch will have done that (allowing for mobile play by logging in), while those on mobile will need to do it if it hasn't been done (before playing on the Switch). There's a bit of a jarring transition in the latter process - which I found when I transitioned - but after that, it should be mostly smooth swimming.

Or not. Perhaps the most difficult part is adjusting to the controls whichever way the transition goes. When I transitioned to the Switch, it was also to the mini controller that I also obtained, so I basically needed to relearn all the basic mechanisms from moving, choosing and executing moves, and all the way to sending messages and reactions to others, which took a bit of time. It was only later that I regained enough confidence to play in Ranked matches again, but in any case it's quite doable and possible. Those making the opposite transition might have an easier time, though it could be harder to maintain two separate skill sets.

It is also worth reminding that the Unite Club Membership, or at the least some of its elements, cannot make the transition. The elements for which this condition applies can only be played on the respective platform where one signed up. Therefore, it is likely that even with the transition carried out, one will have to (be able to) keep playing on both platforms to maintain utility of the Unite Club Membership, though it may be certain that the bonuses that make the transition are regardless useful as ever.

The possession of both a mobile phone and a Nintendo Switch might bode well for players or Trainers of Pokémon Unite, in that they can transition between the two, albeit with just a few things of concern. Once all the concerns are wrapped up, only the gameplay remains, and that could be just as well as ever with the transition. It's something I've willingly committed to, and I'm certain that the benefits are already quite evident.

One year ago: Nostalgic "Coins" of Pokémon

Two years ago: Remote Raids and Invitations

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/3/2019

Four years ago: Divergent Anime?

Five years ago: A Hobbled Pikachu... 3DS XL

(This Is) Just the Start

No matter who you are

Won't you come into my world

Like a shooting star

Take this journey with me to the heart

Can't you see that this is just the start?

-- "Shooting Star", Scarlet Division

As I've just divulged yesterday, I finally have a Nintendo Switch (Lite), even if both the obtaining and divulging was only after some years and some months respectively. It marks the beginning of another Pokémon journey... and it's only such a beginning. It makes me think of this song, for which the title is most fondly remembered as the last three words of the quoted chorus above, but it's actually not that; the real title is exactly as attributed above, being a different part of the chorus instead.

This song may be construed as a declaration and a call to follow one's passions, especially after having experienced misdirection. The verses are representative of the declaration ("to do the things I've always set my heart on"), while the pre-chorus and chorus are representative of the call ("will you take me there"). Obviously, romantic love is implied as a specific "passion", but I and I would think other fans would consider Pokémon to be applicable. One could imagine this song on the lead-up to choose a starter Pokémon and as the journey then starts, which could be and should be something "taken to the heart".

If there is another way to associate this song with Pokémon, it would be with the title of this song. Those in the know would certainly associate it with the Mythical Pokémon of Jirachi, for whom stars in the sky - especially ones that move across it - are highly evocative, as are the wishes that are made in them. Some of those wishes might pertain to passions, and others still might pertain to romance. However that goes, the sentiments of this song should apply equally well, and they can and may just serve as the starting point for the wonderful journeys ahead.

For those who think that this song is not that well-known, it is famous in another way. The drummer of the band (Scarlet Division as above) for this song is Jamie Oliver; he is famous more as a chef, but his drumming skills are really good as well. Further, this song in a short form (the chorus above) is also the theme to one of his old shows, entitled Oliver's Twist, which I'm sure cooking show fans in different parts of the world will have seen at least once. So, the song might be more associated with cooking than it is with Pokémon, but the messages remain pretty much the same.

Every journey certainly has a beginning, even if that beginning might be a little hazy and it takes a little something to clear up that haze and get the journey going straight to where one wishes to go. The song above may be considered to encapsulate that in a general sense, and for whom journeys in Pokémon are a concern like me, it may just do that to a different level of sense. For now, the sense is with my new Nintendo Switch Lite in hand and taking that to wherever Pokémon might go.

One year ago: Heuristic vs. Methodical Trainers

Two years ago: Let There Be No Lies

Three years ago: Topic Balancing, Again

Four years ago: The Music of Magikarp Jump

Five years ago: Pokémon Is Everything

A Nintendo Switch Lite Story: Making Concessions

This is a story a few years (and a few months - more on this soon) delayed in the making, but it's worth telling about even now. If earlier posts are of any indication, the title means only one thing: I now have a Nintendo Switch - better late than never, as they say. And the version of the console that I opted for is a Nintendo Switch Lite, which as I've touched on three years ago, is the smaller and more portable version of the regular Nintendo Switch and might be of certain benefits to Pokémon fans like me. I can attest for this, but I'll let the story tell the tale now.

Shown with the external controller.

Now, this Nintendo Switch Lite came by way of a friend... which just happens to be the same friend from whom I had begotten my 3DS XL Pikachu Limited Edition (see first link above). The story is pretty much almost the same: he was looking to sell it off, and the first person he contacted was yours truly. In a way, he's also a bit of a console "purveyor" among my friends, so that worked out. After considering many things - which are part of the "concessions" I've made and will be detailed shortly - I chose to take up my friend's offer, including an external mini controller that he also offered and I thought would be useful. All this happened three months ago, but I chose to be tight-lipped about it, even as I dealt with the episode on my YouTube channel for which this is pertinent, preferring to discuss it when the time is right, and that time is now.

As for those concessions, there are perhaps but a few. I had been (toying with) thinking about buying the regular Nintendo Switch so I could take advantage of all that it offers, but thinking about it twice made me realize how cumbersome it would be for me personally. I would be tending to keep it just either in handheld mode or docked, and feel constrained to make the "switch" between the two. The size of the regular console in the former mode has some heft to it, something that poses a problem for my clumsy tendency; it also takes up space, something that I've realized has become a premium where I am. Finally, there is of course the price, regardless of whether it's new or used. By buying the Switch Lite, I've conceded docking for portability, regularity for convenience, expanse for space, and splurging for saving. And all of that I had considered in buying my friend's Switch Lite, which is now mine. Further, I also conceded the Sword and Shield Limited Edition, which I could have gotten from my friend if I had waited, but that would have meant further waiting, so in effect I also conceded the wait.

Yet, all is not lost (conceded). From what I've read, the Switch Lite is for most intents and purposes is still a Nintendo Switch, and many games and peripherals can still work with it, including external Joy-Con controllers as well as custom controllers like the one I also got from my friend. The few games that don't may not be of too great an importance, moreover since my focus is on Pokémon games more than anything else. The important thing is that it plays all the Pokémon games I can, want, and need to play, which at this point is something important to be gained rather than conceded while still being without a Switch. And that I've definitely gained over the past three months, which I will let unfold with further posts.

Shown here with Unite active.

For now, I can preview the games that I've got on tap. I have Let's Go, Pikachu!, which I have to admit I had bought close to two years ago, having also intended to buy a Nintendo Switch at that time shortly after but never materialized until now; this is actually hinted in a post. I have Unite as shown above, for which the progress I've carried over from my phone by having linked it to a Nintendo Account. Finally, I've also got Café Remix, which I've somewhat gotten addicted to. Certainly, there will be more, but those are for other posts beyond this tale of a new (or rather not-so-new) console.

I've had to make a few concessions for this "major breakthrough" in my gaming efforts, but it's clear that Pokémon is not something I'll concede. Therefore, a Nintendo Switch remains something personally pertinent, and now that I have one, I can make new strides and continued strides in Pokémon as it appears on this console. And it makes for a fine story to be told at the right time (now) on my Pokémon and blogging journey.

One year ago: Pikachu and Squirtle Donuts

Two years ago: On Growing Up with (and Out of) Pokémon

Three years ago: Shadow and Purified Pokémon in Pokémon Go

Four years ago: Type Logic

Five years ago: Fun at the Beach... or Water Park