Showcasing Pokémon at PokéStops

Along with (the celebration of) its anniversary, Pokémon Go has also added a new feature. It's a feature that is expected to appeal to anyone, including the less hardcore among Trainers. It's called Showcase, and it is essentially an in-game implementation of a Pokémon contest that my raid group (others as well) occasionally holds when organizing Community Day meetups. The feature had been beta-tested for a time before it went live the other day, and I've had the experience with it that allows me to discuss it presently.

On certain occasions, a PokéStop will have a medal above it, indicating that it is holding a Showcase. Approaching it and tapping on "Showcase" enables one to enter the contest, which demands a certain Pokémon species to be entered - before a specified time limit - to be judged on a certain criteria. The entry process will suggest a certain Pokémon, but another may be chosen to be entered, in particular to replace one that was previously entered before the limit. Once the limit is reached, the Showcase ends and the Pokémon are judged.

Depending on placement, a Trainer will then earn rewards in the form of useful items (Poké Balls and Potions would be the expected norm) from all the Showcases one participated in. This stresses that many PokéStops can hold the same Showcase - with the same theme and same featured Pokémon - and Trainers can participate in quite a few of them, though only to a certain limit, both practical and advantageous. Thus it is apparent that participation is welcomed whenever the opportunity arises.

The previous Showcase, which ended yesterday at 8 PM, was for the biggest Squirtle. I entered in one close to my neighborhood and got a few items out of that, which were promptly used in my activities the following day, affirming their usefulness. It is certain that more of them will pop up at certain times for certain events, so I will have to keep a watch on them as they appear and participate in them when possible. It is certain that others (from my group or otherwise) will do so as well.

From my experience, the current implementation of Showcases in Pokémon Go is rather rudimentary, but it seems to work well all the same, and I and others can stand to gain useful things out of them. They also won't replace the impromptu contests that my raid group holds for own purposes, but both will be complementary and supplementary to each other. The Showcase feature is still a fascinating one and makes sense to be included in the current anniversary run as a celebration of both the game and the Trainers.

One year ago: Making Sense of Field Research Tasks

Two years ago: Go Fest Gets Musical

Three years ago: Everyone's Go Fest

Four years ago: Cosplay: Konbini Anime

Five years ago: ...However Things Turn Out

Six years ago: Shiny Stories

Pokémon Go 7th Anniversary

Well, it has gone through ups and downs and highs and lows, but things are once again at this point. I'm talking, of course, about the anniversary of Pokémon Go, for which this year is the seventh. Now, the number 7 has certain connotations - specifically those related to fortune - and that is all well and good, though the recent tumult with the game may suggest otherwise. Regardless, it is still a fortune that the game has made it to this point, and it remains a point of celebration and discussion.

Over the past year, the Daily Adventure Incense have colored everyone's journeys, including the appearance of the rather "shy" Galarian Legendary birds by the item. Then there were Elite Raids and Shadow Raids that furnished exclusivity and darkness to those who can conquer them. Speaking of conquering, the Master Ball is also now present, which can effectively "conquer" any Pokémon in capture, including the aforementioned Galarian birds. And then there were various little improvements with big effects.

All of the above aspects present their own challenges, as does its Championship Series for the Pokémon World Championships, which has continued seemingly unfazed. Yet as the tumult mentioned above suggests, this year may represent one of the most challenging years for the game because of it. Though it is a little unsavory to be discussed or even brought up in a brighter anniversary post like this, it becomes clear that the tumult has to be kept somewhat distanced as the game continues its stride.

Certainly, there is the associated anniversary event, which started today and will go on over the next week or so. Like last year, the year number of this year's anniversary is being worked into it, which has specific implications - the most obvious one being that 7 is the National Dex number for Squirtle, the very first starter Pokémon of the Water type. As always, the specific details are best left to be discussed in an event rollup as they are just that: particular and extensive.

Now seven years in the making, Pokémon Go is still going, albeit this time with some shaky steps. Still, the accomplishments of the past several years and up to this point are nothing to be discounted despite all the present shakiness. Like the realities of the people who play the game, it may be normal that the game also goes through its highs and lows as well as ups and downs, and this may very well be an important point for them. Whether that's fortunate, that may be up to the people (in front and behind it) to deal with.

Happy 7^th anniversary to Pokémon Go.

One year ago: Pokémon Go 6^th Anniversary

Two years ago: Pokémon Go 5^th Anniversary

Three years ago: Pokémon Go 4^th Anniversary

Four years ago: Pokémon Go 3^rd Anniversary

Five years ago: Pokémon Go 2^nd Anniversary

Six years ago: Pokémon Go One-Year Anniversary

Is Pokémon Second-Rate?

Pokémon for its fans, which includes me, is a great thing for them; they may consider it as being "top of their class". However, perception is a funny thing indeed, and people may feel differently toward different things, including Pokémon. For that, people may feel that Pokémon is "inferior" or even "second-rate", as I've suggested in the title of this post. As such, I feel that I have to pose the question as given in the title of this post and attempt to answer it based on what I can discern from current prevailing situations and perceptions.

A case might help to illustrate certain points, specifically involving the recent Indonesia Comic Con. As I've detailed in the post I made about the Pokémon loot that I had gotten from there, I had won a prize from the general cosplay competition, but it didn't come with a certificate, unless the prize itself is considered the certificate, which is a stretch by any means. Meanwhile, over the three days of the convention, I saw a dearth of Pokémon cosplayers, but this is more of a general observation from the events and conventions I've gone to over the years. And yet, the guest star of the event is Rica Matsumoto, suggesting that more Pokémon cosplayers should have been in attendance. This situation suggests the "second-rate" nature that people may have regarding Pokémon.

Two things might contribute to the situation. As I've observed (and written about) over the years, Pokémon has found much favor with children, even though it is - and has always been - meant for a more general audience. Naturally, when people think about this, they may be inclined to cast it aside and consider it as "second-rate", as it has less to do generally. It's a flawed assumption, and yet it seems to be something many people tend to hold on to as with many other flawed assumptions; I myself have some regarding other things, though I'm also trying to break free from them. And that seems to be the key to shedding the above perception regarding Pokémon.

For the other thing, that would be its (non-)mainstream quality, which I've written about in a separate post but I'd like to touch on because of it being pertinent to the discussion. Since I've written that post, Pokémon has broken a little more into the mainstream where I am, though still not by much, and by that situation, Pokémon can be construed to still possess a "second-rate" situation regardless of what happens, including the visit by Rica Matsumoto as above, which did not seem to generate the expected amount of visitors related to Pokémon. The solution to resolve this seems to be harder.

So, to answer the question posed in the title of this post, Pokémon itself may not be "second-rate", but the perceptions of the people about it is what seems to be as such. This appears to be illustrated by the convention situation and the perceptions as above. It is a bit of a shame for a franchise that has taken the world by storm, and the next challenge may be to get rid of its "second-rate" coat to show that it is truly "top class".

One year ago: Quickies: Living Around Magnets

Two years ago: Poké Ball Luggage Tag

Three years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights - Mewmore Edition

Four years ago: The Art of Pokémon Adventures - 20th Anniversary Illustrations

Five years ago: Variegated Pokémon Patterns

Six years ago: I Side with Pokémon

From Sea to Shining Sea

There's a certain song that describes a certain land as being beautiful, particularly for its landscape from the highest to the lowest places. Further, that also applies across the breadth of the land, which indeed is bordered by seas (oceans) from one end to the other. As such, the song includes as one of its lines the exact words that I've used as the title of this post. The sea as a topic is also one that I've discussed in at least a couple of posts, and it seems appropriate to bring it up once again, albeit with a slightly different context, but still certainly with Pokémon in tow.

In essence, the song asks to come together in appreciation of what that expanse of land (and likely also the adjacent seas) brings for the people. The regions of the Pokémon world also stretch similar expanses, and there is no harm to appreciate the things that those regions bring across their varied landscapes, in particular the Pokémon species that are characteristic of those specific regions and landscapes. The seas would count too in this regard as they are adjacent yet contributing to those regions.

More abstractly, and slightly deviant from the spirit of the song - but more relevant to the line all by itself - is the situation of me as a Pokémon fan where I am compared to where the land is. I'm separated from all the Pokémon fans there by a certain great expanse of sea, but I'm reminded that the fans over yonder are just as loyally attracted as I am, some perhaps even more. In that regard, it may be said that from this end of the sea to that other shining end, there are fans galore who share much of the same senses of appreciation.

As beautiful as the spirit of the land is, it's the spirit of the people who make the land what it is - hopefully in the best of ways rather than in adverse ones. It's something to take to heart for me where I am, even though I'm physically distanced from that land; the same could be considered to be true for the people who are also present in the lands (regions) of the Pokémon world, who ought to appreciate where they are as well, taking to heart their landscapes and the Pokémon species present therein.

Based on previous years, it's not hard to establish which land I'm referring to. It's the United States (U.S.), a place that has shaped me and my Pokémon interests as well. And today is of course its independence day, the Fourth of July. Have a wonderful celebration of your land - and I will too (soon enough).

One year ago: The U.S. as a "Center" of Pokémon

Two years ago: Searching for Myself... with U.S. Included

Three years ago: A Few Words about U.S. (Us)

Four years ago: Welcome to the Jungle

Five years ago: Metal Reversed Cap Pikachu Keychain

Six years ago: The Subdued Hometown Themes

Possible Alternatives to (Preserve) Pokémon Go?

It has become apparent through certain recent reports and experiences, if not already apparent by certain tribulations that I've outlined previously, that despite continuing to present a positive face - as they should regardless - Niantic seems to be showing disinterest (or care) in developing Pokémon Go further. And yet the game has proven itself to be phenomenal, simple, and competitive in all the years that it has existed. This does raise a concern: if Pokémon Go is abruptly terminated in development, even as unlikely as it may be, what are the alternatives that can be taken to preserve (if not replace) the game and all its progress? It presents a complex matter, unlike some of the main mechanisms of the game.

Part of that complexity is that Pokémon Go is essentially unique. Its battle systems are unlike any other Pokémon game, being real-time and action-oriented. Its method of Pokémon capture is only shared by the Let's Go games, though these games came after the initial innovation by Pokémon Go. As such, the only replacement for Pokémon Go is effectively, well... Pokémon Go itself. If it can't be replaced, then the issue of its preservation comes up. Both longtime and recent players (Trainers) will certainly have made progress that may have monetary value, particularly to be put into competitive play within the game or to be transferred to Pokémon Home for further use in the main series games. A way of making sure that the progress remains accessible thus becomes paramount.

Because of its popularity, it may be possible to conceive something that preserves the "data end" of that progress by migration, much like the transition from TCGO to TCGL. All the Pokémon data would have to be able to be read for when the time to migrate comes, and then the migration would have to commence. This process would be expected to have some contingencies, however, which would include the availability of Pokémon Go and whatever would succeed it, as well as the "transfer window" between both. It might be a hard sell given the current state of Pokémon Go and the potential of making something for the succession.

Since it's unique and seemingly irreplaceable, a highly unlikely alternative would be for TPCI and/or Nintendo to just buy Niantic outright and making it their "AR Division", thereby preserving the game as it is, but with the possibility of introducing better development processes unlike what Niantic has been doing (recently). I thought about discussing this topic in a separate post, but due to its rather remote possibility, I decided to include it as a blurb in this general discussion, which is still merited regardless of the current state of Pokémon Go.

As I've noted in the past by way of a certain famous figure, if something is different, it is then also highly likely to be irreplaceable. That would seem true for Pokémon Go itself relative to Pokémon in general, so something would have to give way in order to become an alternative to it or its preservation. Hopefully, it does not have to happen and things can just improve, but with the current state of the game, it may just be a hope to be realized if all else fails.

One year ago: Taking on the Unite Challenge

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 7/3/2021

Three years ago: More Pokémon Go "Goofs"

Four years ago: I Splurged, for Once

Five years ago: Pokémon Yellow Pikachu Shirt

Six years ago: Spicy Tamato

Cosplay: Akazora Fest

Goh: Of course. It's another event.

Me: Certainly. Let me prefix things by saying that this one is a two-day affair - yesterday and today. And I sent you on both days, but with different outfits.

Ash: You got me my Hoenn outfit yesterday and my Sinnoh outfit today.

Me: They were the best ones I could have you wear. Also, as you can see, for convenience, I've decided to have us talk about it all on today instead of separate days like Indonesia Comic Con.

Ash: That's fine! Anything to save you and me from trouble.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu! ["That works!"] 

Me: All right. So, by the name, this event is more of a festival rather than a convention, even though the organizers (Japan Culture Daisuki) are the brains behind the local area's most popular conventions like Daisuki! Japan and ChibiCon.

Goh: So what's "Akazora" got to do with it?

Me: Ara Akazora, the namesake of this festival, is the mascot of said organizer. So this festival is held in her honor.

Ash: That's neat - hey, I think I got to meet her once! 

Me: Oh, really? Where?

Ash: Back in ChibiCon!

Ash: So Ara was with me at ChibiCon.
Imagine this with my Hoenn or Sinnoh outfit and you get Akazora Fest.

Me: Yup, that's her. Nekonoi Katsu is the one behind her appearance.

Goh: It seems that's true here too, looking at what I found.

Me: The reason for that is because she's the official representative for the organizer and the character, I'm told.

Goh: Oh, well, that explains it. Also, you had to have seen her yesterday, apparently, since that was when she was there, I'm told.

Ash: I did!

Me: That's a good thing. Now, what about the structure? What can you tell us?

Ash: It was really simple! There was a food court and communities were on the other side. There weren't a lot of people selling goodies on another side, and across that were the stages.

Goh: There were two stages?

Ash: Yeah! One was for all the usual entertainment, and the other was a square in the middle.

Pikachu: Pi pika, pika chu. [gestures a square in mid-air]

Me: Wait, let me guess - there were lanterns everywhere, just like the setting for your earlier picture with her.

Ash: Yeah!

Me: So you know it was traditional in part.

Goh: What was the entertainment like?

Ash: Yesterday there were dance groups and a DJ. Today there were bands - one of them (Otaku Band) my friend knows really well.

Me: And don't forget, you sang with them a couple of times.

Ash: THIS TIME TOO!!

Goh: WOW!! What did you sing?

Ash: "Mezase Pokémon Master"!

Goh: As predictable as it is amazing.

Me: Well, I guess that somewhat makes up for Daisuki! Japan then. And I'm sure it went well now; if that's the case, we really have Rica Matsumoto to thank.

Ash: Yes!

Pikachu: Pika! ["All right!"]

Goh: OK. So, anything else?

Ash: There were eating competitions on both days. Lots of people also had karaoke and danced together.

Me: Eating competitions are definitely unique, and the last part must be the traditional part.

Ash: You bet!

Goh: You know, the karaoke together thing sounds fun.

Ash: It was! The people behind it opened up a booth and I got to sing all kinds of songs, at least the ones my friend knew.

Goh: No Pokémon songs?

Ash: They said they didn't have any, but they might think about having some next time.

Me: Interesting! This sounds like it could be something else in the works. I will also keep in touch with them.

Goh: Oh, wait - something else. Were there any competitions that are specifically for us?

Ash: Our friend signed me up for the character parade, but that happened yesterday.

Goh: And the results?

Ash: Only three winners, and it wasn't me.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["There you go."]

Me: Well, it's hard to expect a lot more at this point unless we go really far away or have something new up our sleeves. Good try, though.

Goh: And then... the traditional part.

Ash: I got to see a group of girls dance, then everyone got to dance around the middle square stage, before a fireworks show. But I only got to do it yesterday, since today my friend had me finish early to go meet a special guy.

Goh: How special?

Me: Very. I'll have details later on, though mostly not involving Ash. So, what do you think?

Ash: It was really great! You got me to do all the things you want me to do and everything was neat. At least I think it was.

Goh: The character parade was on an unexpected day, but you have to give them credit for trying something different - less of a convention, more of a festival. 

Pikachu: Pi, pika pika. ["Yes, very nice."]

Me: All good points. So it was a wonderful and unique two days, it would seem.

Ash: Yeah, you can say that.

Goh: And it was celebratory!

Me: That is important and in order at times. So thank you, Ash, and I'm sure that more celebrations will be in our (and their) cards soon.

One year ago: Architect(ural) Futures (Features)

Two years ago: The Element Cup of GBL

Three years ago: Descending into the Catacombs

Four years ago: Fast Captures in Pokémon Go

Five years ago: Let's Go Trade

Six years ago: Speedblogging Like a Ninjask

A Virtual Cosplay Card

I have something of the same category as this post that I want to discuss, but I'd like to try something new (perhaps not so new) regarding that, so I'm shelving it for tomorrow. In lieu of that, I'd like to discuss something else that has been waiting its turn. Four years ago, I had created a new version of my (Pokémon) cosplay identity, which would be my cosplay card. Now, I've taken things in a different approach and opted for an innovation: I now have a virtual cosplay card to show that identity in a different manner.

The virtual card is made possible with the aid of a site called Carrd, and the page for it can be found at bp348.carrd.co. Since I still have the cards from the above, I chose to recreate the design as faithfully as possible - and it's still a good design regardless, so it only makes sense. The only things I've added are the customary blurbs about me and a few more social media connections, which had expanded since that time. Now one advantage of this approach becomes apparent: the virtual version is easily updatable to represent my current state.

Selection of this approach was also based on the consideration of the recent state of the world, which is still there but not quite still there, and my thinking of having a way to adapt to that, no matter how late it has been. If nothing else, another reason was the centralization of my digital presence and a way of accessing that easily, even though that might lead to other concerns that I would rather not mention here. Still, anything to establish my interests in Pokémon and do that in a convenient manner is fair game for me.

In testing this new approach, Indonesia Comic Con became the venue for its usage. I've found that over the three days I was there, people were only half-interested in my virtual card, although that seemingly also applied to the physical version, which I luckily had also brought. A friend whom I hadn't met for years told me that the virtual version doesn't really "fly" as people (in particular cosplayers) look for mementos of their meetings with others, one of which is the cosplay card. So on one hand, this virtual version seems to fall flat on my face, even if it does afford some conveniences.

There is also one reason why I delayed to make this post until now. Those who know me really well will know that I experienced a calamity a few years back, and what happened was that on that day, I went and made the post on my cosplay card, in a way "jinxing" that weekend. To prevent it from repeating, I essentially deferred making the post; now that the big occasion has passed, I feel "safe" and justified in making this post on my virtual cosplay card. Though the decision was more subjective than rational, I would consider it an appropriate reflection of my feelings.

Sometimes, good things are serendipitous and experimental, and this virtual cosplay card is one of those. It seems to be an okay alternative (though not a replacement) to the traditional physical cosplay card, made possible by the wonders of the Internet and necessities of current times. As a well-known cosplayer - presently in some ways - and a Pokémon cosplayer at that, the cosplay card remains a necessity for me to get to know people and people to get to know me, no matter what form that may take.

One year ago: Supporters and Speedsters, Wherefore Art Thou?

Two years ago: It's... Bidoof Day?

Three years ago: The First of Us

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Custom Team Keychains

Five years ago: Cosplay: ENNICHISAI 2018 + CLAS:H/ICGP Nationals

Six years ago: My Offerings (or, What I Am Not)