Paldea in Pokémon Go: Catching Up, Skipping Out

A bit of a breakthrough has occurred for Pokémon Go. In the past couple of days, Trainers might have noticed a certain medley of starter Pokémon species that hail from a region that is representative of the number 9; it's the happening I noted at the beginning of this new season. No, that's not an illusion; those are indeed Pokémon from the Paldea region and therefore of the ninth generation. They're part of an event, with details to be explained later on in the month as usual. But what is important right now is that the happening, also as I've noted, is a bold move that turns heads because of what it means for the approach of including Pokémon in the game.

That ties in to the matters of "catching up" and "skipping out" as indicated in the title of this post, and it's wise to start explaining with the first of these. The inclusion of the Pokémon species as above means that Pokémon Go has caught up with the current generation, notwithstanding the gaps from previous generations that still need to be filled in, including the one for the second matter to be explained shortly. That's a significant thing, because it means the game can become current if it needs to be; eventually, there might be a point where the game only needs to be updated with mostly new Pokémon rather than old ones, and that is an interesting prospect, to have a currently competitive Pokémon game (roughly) on par with the main series games in content and scope.

But then there is the matter of "skipping out". With the above, it becomes clear that the starter Pokémon of the previous (eighth) generation has been skipped, which is the first - and possibly the only - time this will happen, since it seems a trivial matter to add them whenever it becomes appropriate to do so. At that point, the scenario of roughly equal content and scope will likely be on the horizon and the matter of "skipping out" becomes moot. For a game that has had all previous starters in sequence, it seems like such a big deal, but in the end, it's just an optional formality. Pokémon Shuffle and Unite skip starter Pokémon around due to them needing adaptive content more than sequential content, though in more recent times, Pokémon Go may be argued to be needing this as well.

In any case, it seems that the second matter has been blown out of proportion and the first matter is the only one that matters. The addition of any new Pokémon to Pokémon Go is certainly appreciable, especially with the above (the starters from Paldea) being some of the more recent ones known to Pokémon in general. Though the addition does seem "out-of-band" given how things have always been in Pokémon Go, that is much less of a concern compared to the concern of Trainers having something to experiment and battle with. That too is rightfully not an illusion, and it's the reality of things in the game, no matter how old or new the Pokémon are.

One year ago: Rising to the Occasion: Theia Sky Ruins

Two years ago: Chiki Balls Pokémon Coins: More Selections

Three years ago: The Charisma of Pokémon Personalities

Four years ago: TCG, Order and Chaos

Five years ago: Artistic Routine

Six years ago: Pokémon Song, Indonesian Flavor

Why Do I Still Play Pokémon Go?

My previous discussion of how my return to playing Pokémon Go is the way it is also has another indication: that I'm still playing Pokémon Go in the midst of its turbulence. This does lead to an important question regarding that very matter, which has been clearly stated in the title of this post. I'm actually inspired to make this post by someone else answering this exact same question and giving the reasons for the answer - and now it seems to be my turn to do so. And while that previous discussion may be considered to provide some of those reasons, now I'd like to give a few others.

One reason is that I consider Pokémon Go to have an element of realism and/or immersion: it's the closest thing I can have right now to being in the Pokémon world, and it takes no mental or spiritual tricks - just a smartphone takes me there. I (and others) can chase after Pokémon and have a thrilling time about it, just like when Kecleon first appeared. I can capture and battle with Pokémon in real time, and that's satisfyingly real, even if life aspects are ignored - though they can be made up through Pokémon facets less tied to the games. As far as I'm concerned, the immersion and realism is genuine and unique.

I also consider Pokémon Go to have the best sense of accessibility for Pokémon, whether to understand it or just to get into it. Its "free to start" nature only helps in this regard; it's the simplest and most bare-bones form of Pokémon that parallels where it began, the main series games. In fact, I would advocate someone who knows nothing about Pokémon to pick up Pokémon Go to ease the explanation of the pertinent details that make Pokémon what it is, and after that point, the hope is that they'll develop the appreciation. Even I, who has been a long-time fan, think the simplicity is warranted even for myself. That translates into a very good form of accessibility.

Lastly, I still play because I feel that doing so regardless would support Pokémon, not so much Niantic as the developer, even though they can and should benefit as well. It's been known that a lot of the turbulence has been in part caused by, again, the antics of Niantic, if the support that I provide ultimately goes to Pokémon, then I feel that I am validated nonetheless. I still have to abide by good conduct in providing support, but that should come easily with good faith. This is also similar to other Pokémon games I play whose developers aren't Game Freak:  I'm playing a Pokémon game, not so much something belongs to the developer even though it still is.

Even with all the troubles that the game may possess presently, I still find it of some value to play Pokémon Go. It still has that quality of realism and accessibility that is part of why I'm sure many people were attracted to it in its early days, and above all else, it's still a Pokémon game, part of a body of many games of this franchise. With all that and the significant progress I've made in the game, the natural option is to continue, perhaps also to ensure that the game continues as intended and maybe - just maybe - that its turbulence will soon pass and enjoyment continues to reign.

One year ago: Pelipper's Carry-Ons

Two years ago: The Silph Arena Continentals Meta

Three years ago: Multiple Pokédexes in Pokémon Go?

Four years ago: Local Tailors and My Cosplay Costumes

Five years ago: A New 3DS Story: A Second Monster Home

Six years ago: Personalities

Point of (No) Return?

Well, September 5 is the day I returned to playing Pokémon Go after a year of absence, which happened many years ago (see below). It's something I've discussed from year to year with different focus topics, and this year is no different. This time, though, I want to discuss a rather difficult topic. Recent times might be considered turbulent times for Pokémon Go, with some people getting (back) into it while others are getting out of it due to the antics of Niantic (ahem). Given this situation, I'm prompted to think of my own, specifically what would have happened if I never returned that day, and the prospect of turning back on it all right now.

For the former, I probably would have continued my ill-fated career in VGC battling; while it could have meant finishing the main series games in time one after another, I might still have continued to struggle with the competitive complexity, including the processes of breeding and training. Else, I could have actually shifted to the TCG and started dealing with TCGO much earlier, building up a sizable collection and along with it the knowledge to play. In either case, Pokémon Go wouldn't have taken a big chunk of posts on this blog, and perhaps most of the content would be somewhat different in both order and topic. Yet it seems that I would eventually get into it, but not as extensively as today. 

As for the latter, that would definitely be a hard thing to do. The reason is that my progress has already become extensive, having Pokémon that are primed for raids, Gym battles, and even PvP. Even with that year's absence back then, I've essentially caught up with all the events that happened well after that time and especially Pokémon Go Tour. For competitive play, even if I'm still not the best and may or may not ever make it to a major competitive venue, the mastery is significantly more advanced than I could ever dream of for VGC and other areas of competitive Pokémon like the TCG. 

In essence, I'm essentially facing a "point of no return" with my progress in Pokémon Go, as the title of this post would suggest without any punctuative embellishments. Notwithstanding a possible "apocalypse" for the game (heaven forbid), it is practically impossible to go back to the way things were before that extensive progress, let alone the fact that it can still be tied to the main series games if I wish to shift again, even if that would be highly unlikely. Further, the extensive progress can also be used to assist other Trainers to try to get to where I am now and beyond, through trading, battles, and so on. At this point, it's simply not feasible to discount all the progress that I've made.

The turbulence that surrounds Pokémon Go at present has proven to be very dynamic for Trainers, especially for those who have gone back in and those who have gone out. I've made my going back in way before the turbulence started, and I think of it as a fruitful "point of return". It seems inconceivable to think of what would have happened if I was in a state of "no return" to Pokémon Go back then, and now it has become a "point of no return" to any preceding condition, even this turbulence. It seems that now I have my place, whether it's on this "return anniversary" or any other day I play Pokémon Go.

One year ago: Return Back, Return Forward

Two years ago: Returns in Various Guises

Three years ago: Returns Come and Go

Four years ago: Return, Return, Return, Return...

Five years ago: A Happy Return

Six years ago: Here I Go (Again)

TCG Live Is Live! (...Mostly?)

It seems some posts on this blog are delayed by certain issues, some of which are beyond my control. This post is one of them, and the  "issue" - at least I deem it as such - is apparently one that has existed even its early days. Nevertheless, by the title of this post, it can be discerned that it as well as the "issue" pertain to the newest platform for playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game virtually, as Trading Card Game Live or TCGL for short. It was finally released on June 8, displacing the previous incarnation, Trading Card Game Online (TCGO), which I've already detailed in a couple of earlier posts. Now that it was released and has taken hold, I'd like to go into some detail on it.

At a glance, the TCGL platform is not much different from its predecessor; most things that can be done on TCGO can be done on TCGL. Still, there are some differences of note, one of them being the visuals; this is, of course, apparent on the main screen, but it's also quite apparent on the playfield, which now contains some new special effects as cards are played. The "Done" button is now the "End Turn" button, clarifying its function, and is situated next to a group of player indicators. From the main screen, a toggle between Ranked and Casual play can also be selected for those who desire to switch between those play modes. The transition from the earlier platform thus should not be too difficult.

So too is the task of migrating, at least for new players. Upon logging in with a PTC account used to play TCGO, a "data transfer" screen will appear; "Migrate" is the clear and best option here, since the TCGO has been discontinued already and it's better to bring extant data anyway. The process doesn't take long and afterwards, it's time to begin playing... after a series of guided battles with the new professor of the game, which I recommend not skipping to get a feel for the new interface. Then it's just a matter of tying up loose ends (redeeming codes and the like) before beginning play.

Now, I'd like to discuss the "issue". The TCGL has been advertised as a "global" or "around the world" release, but in reality, that seems not to be the case. A certain part of the world is in fact excluded from the release (unable to download the desktop version) and players there may have to take "roundabout" approaches in order to play; furthermore, the mobile version also throws up a "not available in this region" message from official means, confirming the exclusion. It also seems to have persisted since the days of the beta, which is strange and/or regrettable. This is exactly why this post has been strangely delayed.

Regardless, now Pokémon TCG Live is (mostly) live and is primed as the next-generation platform for the virtual version of the TCG. The features ought to be similar as the previous TCGO platform - which they are, in fact - but enhanced as they should be for a successor platform. At this point, it's just a matter of getting into it (for both players and their TCGO data, if applicable) and make great progressions in the "live" scene of the new platform with new and old Pokémon cards alike.

One year ago: The Food Element Categories of Café Remix

Two years ago: YouTube Pokémon Highlights: The Lighter Side

Three years ago: Worlds Within Worlds

Four years ago: The New PvP Charged Move Mechanism

Five years ago: AFA ID in Memoriam

Six years ago: Cold as the Winds

The Pole Position of Adventures Abound

Pole position

Push a little harder

Hey now, life is every minute

All or nothing

Living on the limits

Hey now, I'll race you to the finish

-- "Pole Position", Ace of Base

OK, so there is one remnant detail from the end of Hidden Gems that I haven't covered as stated, and it deals with the song above. As expected, it's another song from the rather apropos "Hidden Gems" album of this once-popular music group. Now, the "pole position" in racing represents the best starting place for a top competitor, which is often for the lead, and therefore the initial lead belongs to that competitor at the very least. As such, the figurative "pole position" in this case is a marker of the beginning of Adventures Abound, the new season.

Like a majority of this music group's songs, the grand theme of this song is romantic love. Specifically, it's about pursuing such a love as well as keeping up with such a love, at and beyond the so-called "pole position". It may be that to do so, one would have to expend efforts that could be deemed as extraordinary, and this song attempts to capture that aspect as well; this becomes particularly evident as in the quoted chorus as above.

In tying this to Pokémon and in particular the current Pokémon Go season, some adventures could be of the "fast lane" variety, requiring speed in order to catch up with them. And that may already be known to be required even for some adventures that are part of this season. Trainers at the forefront of this (the "pole position") will likely recognize the necessary effort and need to make the "final push" in order to get through them.

Much can be discerned about this Pokémon Go season and associated happenings, and it has only barely begun. Yet that's still where things stand: the race has just left the "pole position" and is on its course. It will still take a bit of time for it to finish (precisely, three months to the end of the season), but with quite a bit of pushing hard to the limits as this song would suggest, much should be gotten out of it in Pokémon Go and beyond.

One year ago: Tournament: Raid Group Open Great League

Two years ago: You Made Me a...

Three years ago: Let's Play and Pokémon

Four years ago: Pokémon and Music Games, Revisited

Five years ago: (Late and Great) Local Ex-Raid, 9/3/2018

Six years ago: Bandai Pokémon XY Swing - Pikachu

Pokémon Go Community Day Classic, 9/2/2023

Right off the bat, Trainers in Pokémon Go are thrust into Community Day this season and this month, only it's a Classic edition - and not the main one of the month - as a "second helping" of what had been previously served. Considering the featured Pokémon, though, it may be considered a "third helping" or even a "fourth helping", depending on how they look at it. It also serves as a gap-filler for a couple of previous Classic editions and completes their circle of being featured again.

Because Bulbasaur and Squirtle have been featured, the one to close the circle (and fill the gap) would be Charmander, which is the featured Pokémon of this edition. It was previously featured in March 2018 and October 2020 with two different special moves, Blast Burn (Charged) and Dragon Breath (Fast) respectively for its final evolution of Charizard. And... both of them come back for this Classic edition, affording the opportunity to obtain both of these moves at once and to have some "doubly special" Charizard. The main bonus is also the same as both edition: tripled Stardust from captures, once again satisfying the "hunger" of Trainers who really need it for all their purposes.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Classic edition without the inclusion of modern perks - although the October 2020 edition already had introduced most of them. Regardless, they involve extended Lure Modules and Incense, photo bombs of the featured Pokémon, and the paid Special Research (here just titled "Charmander Community Day Classic"). The Mega Energy perks for Charizard from that previous edition (in Timed Research, Special Research, and Field Research) were all retained, giving yet more opportunities to obtain Mega Energy to evolve Charizard into both of its Mega Evolved forms. Aside from that, as with all other Classic editions, the features are minimalist but effective.

I spent this edition of Community Day Classic with my raid group at the same place that used to host many regular editions, the most recent being a notable "makeshift" one. I intended to use the opportunity to build up resource stocks, but everyone (and I) ended up on a chase for Charmander with the best possible stats - three times over, due to the sharp intel of the community. While I (and a friend) missed the first one, we caught the other ones, and for some fortunate others, they turned out to be Shiny. It was a tiring affair that detracted slightly from my intent - and presented a Research hitch - but it worked out well, and the rest can be made up whenever.

A rare Classic photo op.
Also slightly makes up for Go Fest.

No matter how many helpings, it seems that for a featured Pokémon like Charmander and its species family, even more than one is never enough. But that does mean (and always means) many opportunities to fill in the many purposes that all the members of the species family have. And if anything, there is no shortage of takers, as my community demonstrates. That also seems to be true no matter how early it's held, including today as the second day of the month and the season. It's a hot topic, much like the Pokémon.

One year ago: Cryptic Field Research Tasks?

Two years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: A Necessary Outreach

Three years ago: Mega Evolution Quibbles in Pokémon Go

Four years ago: Two Flavors of Pokémon Stickers

Five years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru! -the fifth-

Six years ago: (Self) References

The Season of Adventures Abound

Toward the end of my latest end-of-season post, the "buzzword" for the next season should have been pretty clear, which would be "adventure". Fittingly, the new season is called the Season of Adventures Abound. It should be noted that Pokémon Go is seemingly phasing out the "Season of..." moniker, shifting to just calling the seasons by their titular description, in this case just "Adventures Abound". Therefore, the title of this post deviates a bit from that, but it's been so long in the tooth now that I still call it just as it is, with the "Season of..." moniker.

Regardless of how it is or should be called, the season's contents should be rather obvious. There is to be wandering (and wondering) all throughout this season, and considering past seasons that take place around the same time, the agenda should be quite packed. In fact, it starts tomorrow of all days, with an event that should have a familiar tone and shade. Another thing that will color the season, initially if not all over it, is the number 9, which in current times has become a prime directive for Pokémon, and that may be why Pokémon Go has embraced it, in a move that turns Trainers' heads. Anyway, everything ought to be reflected in the events of this season as it transpires now.

As for current happenings outside of Pokémon Go and in other Pokémon games, they may be regarded as adventures that have an inward quality rather than outward as with Pokémon Go. The reason is because it seems that most everything they possess for an adventure has been "baked in" and all it takes is just to "dive right in" to get things going. There might be some expansive facets, but on the whole, the adventure may already be lying in wait within the games (and if present, the possible linkages to other games and/or Trainers). Yet there may be no shame in that; it's just a different kind.

Names and qualities aside, adventure is practically a key part (or to be more precise, a collective experience) of Pokémon, and no matter what one plays, one is sure to get into an adventure. In effect, that may be what this Pokémon Go season is attempting to remind: that the adventure is always present, and if one looks hard enough, in great quantities. On that note, the plethora of adventures stands to begin to be discovered from this point onwards.

One year ago: The Season of Light

Two years ago: The Season of Mischief

Three years ago: Let's Go Mega Evolve

Four years ago: Cosplay: Creators' Super Fest by AFA (Regional)

Five years ago: Between Bugs and Features

Six years ago: Takara Tomy Pokémon XY&Z Pikachu Halloween Mascot - Ver. D